Photo Challenge - March 1 UP!

I began the photo challenge in January.

I think I will try and participate and post this month. We shall see.

March 1 = Up.

While pottying the pups I heard this baby screaming. Seemed a lovely way to start March to me.



Not only is he gorgeous, but the day mimics him.

The ability to soar with such leisure....

bliss.....





Here is our month plan:



Visit for in days to come for more....

Lenten Plans

Sam: snack better (more fruits and veggies) and teach mom chess
Anna: treat Sam more humanely and see Hunger Games
Me: frown less and laugh more (and, I smile and laugh lots), start couch-to-5k and work on those boxes in the garage.
all of us: walk dogs more, exercise more, enjoy each others presence

Yes, my mom work is complete.

Sunday Scribblings - REST

Pauses in time to rest and enjoy the quiet moments. Greatness in the beauty a calm soul can see.

Rest is not simply for the wicked.

The ‘Rest of the Story’ is every day, every hour and every moment. What is the rest of your thoughts, your dreams, and you desires?

I seek and search and scrape to find a few moments of utter peace, daily. This is a new determination, perhaps a goal for the rest of my time on this earth. Seek that moment or two or four to rest and grasp the lovely. I have found so much in those moments. I will continue to look in there as I rest my mind from all the hubbub and wackiness.

http://sundayscribblings.blogspot.com/

(image from Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah taken October 2009)

Happy Valentine's Day

(what starts out sad ends in a twist of hope and joy)


Dear old Valentine,


I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for releasing me from your grasp. This is a day to remember those sweet times. There were many more than a few. But, it also a day to celebrate the future good times and happinesses we will all enjoy now and in the future. We can and will prevail. We are strong and determined.


We don’t need tempestuous behavior and spoiled adults to placate. We need maturity and co-parenting. We all have our own stories and woes. We support and love each and every one of our friends. We celebrate today the absence of your drama, even if we are in the midst of some of that drama. Realize it may not in our home with us any longer.


We celebrate the martyrs today. And that we are not among them. We appreciate Geoffrey Chaucer and his courtly love that has tainted the hearts of women waiting for that white knight and of men searching for their princess.


We don’t need candy, flowers, dinners, and jewels. We need love and in its simplicity with the honor and commitments, respect, adoration and generosity of spirit that should accompany love.


With all the anger, drama, bitternesses we feel or have felt, we all want the same things: happiness and security for ourselves and our children today and every day hereafter.


We are not sad today. We are jubilant with the what-ifs and the gorgeous day that is today. We are pleasantly surprised by the gentle touches from our friends and families.


Sunshine, lollipops and rainbows,
Everything that's wonderful is what I feel when we're together,
Brighter than a lucky penny,
When you're near
The rain goes and
I know, that it’s
Sunshine, lollipops and rainbows for me.
(mostly by Gore Lesley)


Mostly, we breathe a sigh of relief that we can breathe and smiles and laugh and cry and that these actions are our own. We love what love stands for and that it is good. We relish those moments of pleasant peace and gentle moods.


Thank you, my friends for supporting me when I want to bash heads, kick shins or simply vent and shriek. You are my TRUE VALENTINES, I love you.


**** this began as a letter to help a friend on Valentine's and ended up being more reminders of why the day was important and how we continue to travel down our paths***

Getting Organized

I have struggled getting organized. I am not there. I have fits and spurts. My goal is to finish unpacking this year. I mean I've lived here for a long time. I may make it I may not, but I will try.

I am currently working with a plan:
1) mail... 1 stop. I had recently spent hours organizing mail and files. I am not quite done with old medical flies but the rest is pretty complete. I vowed never to do it again (this probably isn't true, but I can hope, right).. But, this week, I have brought the mail in and handled it. When I let the dogs out after getting home, I deal with the mail. Why haven't I done this before?

2) have a cleaning plan in the house (now I don't have Ellen's house)so I can vacuum or sweep the house on Mondays (I actually do it daily... have you met my dogs). But, I do dust on Tuesdays now.

3) Using the 2012 Declutter and Organizing - this has been working, so far. Today, I have to declutter a bedroom shelf, I can handle it.

4) Don't leave a room empty handed. This isn't as bad as you'd think. I always am moving stuff around. And sometimes, I pick something up to put in the donate box.

5) yes, that donate box. I have one. I have it hidden in the spare shower right now, because I can't decide where to put it, but it has stuff in it. That is a start.

Wish me luck.

Baseball!

Seriously, who was the genius making sliding pants white?! These are kids -- BOYS at that. They can't stay in a 'clean' room and stay clean. My child can get dirt on him and never move off the seat.





I know the decision maker on these pants WASN'T a mom or the guy who washes the heck out of those pants after games. My kid has ground in mud, grass, and other unknown icks into his new sliding pants. I use spray-n-wash, oxy-clean, bleach, and even dawn. Most of the yuck does get removed with a hot wash. HOWEVER, there is always SOME left over. I know, I know, it shows he plays and enjoys and has fun. I know, I don't want them sparkling white, but black or dirt colored pants aren't an option!?


Sigh, I am not the best laundress, but boy, he likes dirt. So, we will have dirty pants, yell, scream, cheer for both sides when a play is good, encourage, burn in the sun, sweat to death, get eaten by mosquitoes, eat popcorn, sip an Icee, laugh and love the day.







Of course, if we are ever in the majors this is the goal, isn't it?



Dirty pants show your efforts and that you have your eye on the goal! We may never make the majors, but we will play with all the heart and love of the game every practice, very game, and every time we just have a catch. We love the game. GEAUX!

Mom, I love you - cont.

From last night:

s: Mom, you posted it! Ugh, how am I supposed to be all tough when you show that.
a: the soft and squishy side?
me: Hush!
a: he is squishy!
s: mom, it's ok for me to have a squishy side?
me: yes, love, please never lose it.

How can he not be a sweetheart? He's got many moms dibbing him for their daughters.


What I deal with:
My kids are such sibs: they fight ALL the time, 'hate' each other, wish they were only chidlren (well, that is the older more than the younger), and would bet up anyone who said or did the same things against their brother/sister. I think that this may be true sign of love for pre-teen angst-ed kids, love to hate and never admit to love.

I make them hug each other. Best punishment ever. And privileges are ALL revoked until hugs are completed, WITH FEELING!

Mom, I love you

‎'Mom, I love you.'

Best 4 words! Sam held my hands during the funeral, whispered those 4 over his shoulder and then leaned back and added 'always.'

These words were uttered to me yesterday at the funeral of my infant cousin, Slayed Hayes Cole. My children attended their first funeral. I wasn't sure how'd they do, and they impressed me. It was not an easy day. 5 hours of driving with a funeral, 2 cemeteries (we visited the graveside for Slayed, Papa and Grandma's graves are at the same cemetery. On our way out we stopped at the kids paternal grandfather's grave and maternal great-grandparent's graves, as well).



I posted it on facebook and some responses are the words I wanted:

Joanne C: All the money in the world couldn't buy you a gift as good as that.

Adam R: It's a fine young man that can tell his mama that he loves her.

Melinda G: Has any momma put "dibs" on Sam for their daughter? If not, put my name at the top if the list for Becca!

Kimberly W: He's a sweety Shannon. You're so blessed!

I am.

February 7 - 9, 2011

Last few days....





Sam loves the last of the milk... REALLY! 2/9/11

















Do I have Chocolate on my face? 2/8/11
















WE love this place! Cocoa with whip for A and without for S. 2/8/11











There are some habits that are hard to break. But, I at least put it on the edge of the sink now, right?! 2/7/11










What a stoves look like when dogs can turn on the burners when the wag their tails. Seriously! 2/7/11

Superbowl to the Green Bay Packers!

Great day for a Super Bowl.

I wore my Saints t-shirt. I didn't drink champagne. Scream happiness to people I didn't know but who were m best friends for the night. I didn't head to the quarter after the game. Run into co-workers in the Old Absinthe Bar later finding out, he was kicked out the absinthe bar for rowdiness). Did stay out until un-Godly hours AND make it into work on time.

Congrats to the Packers. I cheered for the commercials! But, I do love cheese.


Gunnar wants to play with those kids SOOOOOOO bad.










Anna did a great job.

Feb 4 - Superior and Banana Bread Kids taking pictures today

It was crazy at Superior.









Don't look at me mom and don't smile.










Anna and I made Banana Nut Bread... She REALLY did all the work!

Feb 2 and 3

So, the groundhog didn't see his shadow and I am freezing.... where is the spring...

One day the Angel Trumpet might actually bloom.
















Loving the flame and hoping the power doesn't go out...

What a way to stat February

Nasty weather came through town today....

Ellie

Ellie is my old lady, my sweetheart, my love. I picked her out as a pup. She was 3 weeks old when I picked her up and she talked to me. rrr rrr rrrrrrr, she was telling me all about it.

She was the most precious puppy. The perfect lab pup! I love her so much. She is 13 and a half.

Funny, today is my old dog, Ruger's birthday. We had him when I was a kid. He was an incredible dog. He would gladly let a robber in but he'd never let him out. He died my senior year of high school. I swear Ruger and Ellie are related somehow.





El, short for Ellie Sue (LSU, work with me people), is a love. She tolerates the kids and the younger pups. She will play ball until she falls over. She will tell you and the kids when it is time for bed. She is the alpha now that we lost Brook-Lyn. She took charge begrudgingly and with grace. She has done most things with grace. Her eyebrows tell epics stories and her tail can swipe any table of items. Her patience with us in general is great, but her jealousy is palatable. She hates others to get hugs and kisses unless she is involved. She can bark on command, but we forgot to teach her the command to stop.

She is truly a gift.

Photo 364

1/26 when pets got bad










I read a few weeks back about a girl who took a picture a day for the past 4 years. She prints them out and put them in albums... I decided to give ti a try. So, as not to bore my facebook friends, I will post here.

I started on January 20 (and even figured out my date on my camera was wrong a few days after)


1/20 My first photo, appropriately food based! Taco Truck and not bad, I say!








1/21 2011 Abita Strawberry is wonderful and ready in stores...









1/22 Matt Lane... such a precious face.









1/23 Jax in motion, ready to leap onto the forbidden counter - AGAIN!
















1/24 My beautiful, A!












1/25 Laughing with Abandon









1/26 Road Construction in BR














1/27 Gunnar waiting for Callie


















1/29 St. Louis Cathedral, NOLA











1/30 St Patrick's Church, NOLA

The Pan

My life is chronicled in the scars on a pan, which is an old lid to a roasting pan and not a pan at all. There are hundreds of scores on The Pan; each represents a golden memory to me. Each mark a moment in time, when my grandparents were still alive and loving me. Each nick a brand on my heart, a gauge in my soul. Each tally a batch of joy, happiness and a physical representation of the loves I have had and are lost to me, except for the precious memories I hold dear.

My grandparents made the holidays for me, for all of us, I think. We’d get up at o’dark thirty and drive in, my little sister touching me or looking at me or being just generally annoying. It was forever to get to Nannie and Poppie’s…. 4 hours. They’d wait for us. My cousins couldn’t open presents until we made it. I am sure there is still some resentment there. Christmas morning became easier when we moved to Louisiana. My aunt would call at the crack of dawn to make sure we were ready to go over to Nannie’s. How excellent to share the joy of Christmas with my family year in and year out, I miss this time.

My grandmother and grandfather would bake treats together when I was much younger. Nannie was dictatorial in her kitchen, ordering the ‘STIRRER” to continue stirring. Aside: Nannie, was dictatorial pretty much everywhere. Poppie would simply stir, but it was HIS hand holding The Spoon, stirring in The Pan. Poppie teasing and making jokes the whole time. Nan and Poppie taking a break from the cooking to enjoy their 4 o’clock cocktail of Haughton water, a low ball glass full of ice, vodka and a splash of water (just a good dollop).

They made all types of treats in The Pan and in their kitchen. The candies, cookies and treats were on a card table in the dining room. We’d steal goodies all weekend. All except the fudge; it was wrapped and walked out to the garage freezer and stacked in perfect rectangular battalions that Robbie and I would destroy ‘sneaking’ pieces. There is NO way to make a fudge packet wrap the same way twice, especially after Poppie wrapped them. I know now, they always knew we stole fudge. But, I don’t recall ever getting scolded for it. We got in more trouble with the rum balls for obvious reasons.

As the oldest grandchild, I remember the most. I feel sad that my baby cousin, Kasey, has so few of her own personal memories of my grandparents. But, we fill her head often. I fill her stomach each year with fudge, too. My uncle, Connie Mack was bequeathed The Pan after my Nannie passed away in 1993. He uses it all the time, just as it should be. (He does say it was the only think he was left by ‘that woman.’ He says it with love but if you knew Nannie, you giggle.) I was given The Pot and The Spoon previously used in the confection creations. Annually right before Thanksgiving, I am LOANED The Pan. The loan is for 1 month. I have wrapped it up as a Christmas gift to return it, just put in the pan drawer, I even put it in his truck once. The rule is two-fold: I MUST give The Pan back and I MUST deliver fudge!

This is such a bitter sweet labor. I can’t make the fudge in any other pot and the handle is falling off this old one. The Spoon is still great. But, The Pan will eventually be scored through. What will we do for fudge then? Each mark, score, tally and cut are images burned in my brain and in my heart. I am thankful for the times I had with Nannie and Poppie. I love them more each year that passes without them. I have two batches of fudge so far this year and as they did, I share with so many. It isn’t the same, but I know Nannie would be able to offer sage advice on how to improve the recipe. I keep listening, one day I will hear the whisper of her advice. Until that day and well, until next month, The Pan, The Pot and The Spoon are together for their annual fudge making. I hope you enjoy the fudge. It isn’t as good as theirs but it is my attempt at finding that remembrance and offering that joy to all.

Scrap, ETC - Win free spot to their event

I would LOVE to win a spot, and you would love to win a spot too (I promise). Especially if you live in the SouthEast and it wouldn’t be difficult for you to travel to the Atlanta area. We’ve been “challenged” to post about this great contest (and event) on our blogs, so here you go:

No April Fool’s Joke!!!
You can win a FREE space to the Event!
Five of you!

Yes, you read that right!

We are giving away FIVE spaces to the Scrap ETC event!

And we have FIVE ways you can win:

1. Post a comment on the blog.
2. Tell your friends to come and post a comment, and if they do, tell us that they referred you! Both of you will get a chance!
3. Post this contest on your blog—and post a link in the comments!
4. Post a link in the comments to anywhere else online that you have posted about this!
5. Post it on your facebook or twitter status—and let us know that you did!

We will draw the names Thursday morning,April 2nd!

Start posting NOW!



For updates and registration info:
ScrapETCEvent09
If you miss anything, don’t worry, you can check it out
at Scrap ETC.com

So there you go. And if you do post on the blog, mention me (so I have an extra chance to win-thanks!).

Luck o'the Irish to ya!

Hello, my name is Shannon and YES, I am Irish!

Tidbits:

1. The potato crop was traditionally planted in Ireland after March 17

2. Blue not green is the color originally associated with St Patrick. “St Patrick’s Blue” is used on Ireland's Presidential Standard or flag, while the Irish Guards sport a plume of St Patrick’s blue in their bearskins. The emphasis on green is thought to be linked to “wearing the Green”, a symbol from the 18th century on, of sympathy with Irish independence.

3. St Patrick is patron of fishermen in the Loire, where a legend associates him with a blackthorn bush. The saint is said to have slept beneath it, and when he awoke the next day, Christmas, the bush flowered, and was said to have continued to do so every Christmas until its destruction during the First World War.

4. A regiment of the Mexican army in the 1846 War between Mexico and America was named after St Patrick. Members of the Batellón de San Patricio included Afro-Americans freshly liberated from the slave plantations of the South, and the soldiers were granted Mexican citizenship afterwards.

5. The first St Patrick’s Day parade took place in 1737 in Boston, followed in 1762 by New York. George Washington allowed his soldiers a holiday on March 17, 1780 as “an act of solidarity with the Irish in their fight for independence.”

6. Until the 1970’s, all pubs were shut in Ireland on St Patrick’s Day, and the sole venue selling drink the annual dog show. Lenten fasting – and the obligation to abstain from meat – were lifted on the day, which most families would begin with Mass.

7. St Patrick’s Day is a public holiday in Ireland and also in Monserrat "the Emerald Isle of the Carribean,” so called because it was settled in 1633 by Irish migrants from St Kitts.

8. According to legend, on the day of Judgement, while Christ judges all other nations, St Patrick will be the judge of the Irish.

9. Since 1962, tons of green dye are tipped on St Patrick’s Day into the Chicago river, although the quantity has reduced, for environmental reasons, from 100 to 40.

10. Should you wish to carry on celebrating St Patrick after March 17, in the United States, you might visit the four Shamrocks in the USA including Mount Gay-Shamrock, W.Va or the nine cities named Dublin, including Dublin, Ohio (the largest Dublin in the U.S.) and Dublin, Georgia.

We love good clean MUD

They love it - REALLY

One day I want to go and get some real pictures of the event. But, here are the few taken in Feb:

They began cleanish! (That is David Boykin with them)




Dainty Miss Priss



We do not have a picture of when Sam went for a swim. But, here is Daddy cleaning the bike after the dive. Sam, literally, was dog paddling in a huge puddle.



And my Favorite:

Why, YES, they are Blue Jeans!

Welcome to our 44th President

Welcome, Mr President.




'...all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness...'

'Greatness is never a gift.'

'... we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist...'

Quite right. Amazing and remarkable to behold:





'Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

Thank you. God bless you. And God bless America.'