Small Town Living at Its Best

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall have everlasting life.











Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Outdoor Wednesday


First of all, I'm SO jealous of everyone posting their beautiful spring photos when we have cold and icky weather yet. The only blooms we've had were the crab apples and they lasted 1 day, then got frozen to an ugly color of brown - like everything else.


So, in order to be able to participate, I'm still digging photos out from the past. The ones I've posted are from last September, in Colorado. We spend the last weekend of September every year, staying at the Embassy Suites in the Denver Tech Center area and take day trips many different directions. This past year, we went up to I believe it was Idaho Springs to enjoy the town. I will quit talking and let you enjoy the photos.











There were many places to eat, sit, shop, and share time with our friends.




Don't you just LOVE this bench!


We also enjoyed some "indoor" things while we were there!
Thanks to
http://asoutherndreamer.blogspot.com/ for this fun Outdoor Wednesday!!!

Another Last Day at Work

My going away flowers




For those of you who don't know me, I'm a Physical Therapist Assistant who has been traveling the past 2 years, hence the email travelinmeme.....So AGAIN today, I said goodbye to my patients, friends and staff in the nursing home where I work. This is actually the 2nd time I've "left" this home. The first time I was gone 2 weeks and they called and asked me to come back. THAT was 6 months ago.

It's always hard to leave when I go, but I have so much trust in God that I need to move on, to give my skills, love, and attention to someone else, somewhere else. I get attached to the residents and they to me. Again today there were 3 loving, wonderful ladies all over the age of 80, cryin' their eyes out when I left. They don't think they can get better without me. A wife of a patient came to give me a hug and still is positive that if it weren't for me, her husband wouldn't be walking to this day.

The hard part is that I have been able to live at home and drive to work for the past 10 months, so as it appears I will be living out of a suitcase again, I'm a little bummed. The unfortunate thing about living where we do is there are so few opportunities to make good money and stay close to home, so I chose YES chose to travel so I can make more money - pay off my bills and be home later (I guess).

2 Years ago, I lived in a Motel 4 days a week, then drove home on Friday night, went back on Monday morning etc., etc. I did that for 9 weeks, then moved to an apartment for the next 9 months that was 1 1/2 hours from home. Again, I was only home on weekends. When given a chance last year to get paid to drive that 1 1/2 hours to and from work every day I took it, and was lucky it lasted as long as it did.

Like I said, I believe with all my heart that God has his hand in my plan, and I need to do what he asks me to do. This has been proven every assignment I go to, as I will explain. As strange as it seems this is what has occurred so far..... The first place I was sent was in a town I'd never heard of, and was 7 hours away from home. I walked in the door that first day, and to my surprise- the woman (girl) who was my MAID OF HONOR 35 years before, was sitting at the desk in the administrators office. She and her husband had moved to that area a long time ago and we had lost track of each other. We spent the next 9 weeks getting to know each other again and enjoying our renewed friendship.

My next assignment was only 1 1/2 hours from home and I actually had some distant relatives that lived in the area. I may have expected to see them, but I didn't expect for one of my friends from high school to be sitting in the administrators office when I walked in the door. AGAIN, we hadn't seen nor heard from each other for years, but had the next 9 months to renew our friendship. 4 Weeks after I got there, her son was killed in Iraq. I couldn't believe that I was there at that time and place, and am so honored to get to know her and her family again and all they have been through.

This last assigment was a struggle from day one. It was a different Rehab company that I was working for, and they had power struggles every time we turned around. The nursing home was struggling with some issues too, and I've wondered many times what I was thinking when I took the job. However in January, I looked out my office door and there was someone from back home that was interviewing for the job of Director of Nurses. I had worked with her before, and have a great deal of respect for her and her job ethic. I made sure that the administrators that were doing the interviewing knew that I highly recommended her for the position. I told them that I that Melissa would bring a sense of continuity to the position that was needed. I also knew for a fact that people enjoy working with and for her and that staff retention would be better with her as their DON. I knew too, that she had achieved a high level of respect for other people and would be an asset for interdepartmental communications within the facility. That, and of course I would LOVE to work with her. To make a long story short - she began her job last week. So, now she's there, and I'm not! Huh! I guess my reason for being there was to help them find an absolutely awesome nurse and director of nurses. She has my HU-Rah!

I have a few days of looking for a job now. Don't know where, don't know when, but always know why - and that's because God has a purpose for me and a plan. I look forward to learning what he wants me to, to living the way he wants me to, and being the kind of person that if you know me - you want to know God too. I don't believe in luck - I believe in blessings, and once again I feel truly blessed to get to do what I do. Thanks to all of you that have been there-done that with me. I love you all.

Calamity Kim's Give Away


You have to go see what Calamity Kim is giving away!!!! It is awesome!!! I love blogging!
Check it out!!!!

http://calamitykim.typepad.com/calamity_kim/2009/03/calamity-kims-apron-celebration-giveaway.html

NOW!!! DON'T WAIT!! LOOK NOW!!!!

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Foodie Friday

I have to share my favorite 3 ingredient recipe!
Buy the cheap Cinnamon Quick Bread or Coffee Cake mix, one can of apple pie filling and 3 eggs. Place base mix (bread or cake) in a bowl, add eggs and pie filling, mix thoroghly. (You may have to cut the apple slices in smaller pieces with some of the cheap brands.) Layer 1/2 of the mixture in an 8x8 sprayed glass baking dish, sprinkle with 1/2 of the cinnamon streusel, then the 2nd layer of mix with the 2nd half of the streusel. Take the spoon handle and swirl the cinnamon in, making circles that are pretty, but not too much. Bake 35 minutes on 350, will be nicely browned and not too done. This is one of the most moist coffee cakes you can make and SO simple! Cut into 9 pieces, serve on your favorite dishes with a fantastic tablescape.




If you serve this in the morning with fresh coffee when it's warm, it's a great addition to your breakfast. If you add a dollup of whipped cream or frozen topping and serve it cold, it makes a great dessert! You chose!

Go to http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com to see more fun on a "Foodie Friday"!!!!

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Tablescape Thursday

We spent a week in Cabo SanLucas, Mexico in December at an

all-inclusive resort. They have tablescapes that are awesome,

fresh fruits and chocolate that are carved, use of food in ways

I never thought of. I was so impressed, I actually took photos

of them and thought I'd share. When I asked the staff, they

said that everything is done fresh for every meal, and the items

change 3 x a day! What dedication! Thanks again to Susan


hosting Tablescape Thursday! And if you want to go to Mexico, I'd
be glad to go along!
















Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Another Outdoor Wednesday!!!

On our way north from Albuquerque, we stayed in the mountains. I didn't think anything could compare to our balloon ride, but this too was an amazing experience!


Many hours spent rocking away our troubles.




The yard at the cabin is enclosed to prevent "unwanted" visitors such as bears, rattlesnakes, and wild horses.
We had to stop by a winery and sample the grapes!

We visited an alpaca farm and saw some adorable babies.


We went sight seeing around the area and found old buildings, wild flowers along the roadside were very pretty!
Every evening we had a glass of wine from the winery! Thanks to Susan at http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/ for this reminder and another Outdoor Wednesday!

Monday, March 23, 2009

Three or More Tuesday


Here's my "three of more". I guess this is just in time for Easter, but I leave them up year 'round. I have always loved eggs, and the first ones I'm showing are cloisenae' that I bought many years ago. The biggest one is 15" tall, the smaller ones are 6" tall each. They are very intricate and I just love to look at the detail.






These are my "Wizard of Oz" collectible eggs.
There are 6 of them, each depicting a differnent
scene from the movie. That will have to be my
"three or more of something" next time, because I have a LOT of Wizard of Oz stuff!











Here's the detail!


This egg below was given to me by my husband one year for valentines day. It is Swarski (I should have looked up how to spell it!) crystals.









I have another one that is very special. It is made from an very
large egg, but not large enough to be an ostrich, so I would guess
a goose maybe? It came from a friend in California one year for
Christmas, and I've always treasured it.










Thanks to http://gypsycorner.blogspot.com/ for hosting me at my first "Three of More Tuesday"
Don't forget to check out many more things there!

Metamorphosis Monday



I just HAD to do this, since I haven't been on the blog road long enough to have photos of so much I do, but I just couldn't NOT participate! So here it is!



Don't know if you listen to the weather this time of day, but I needed some comfort food. Within 4 hours of us they have tornado warnings, within 2 hours of us the interstate is closed because of prarie fires, and here the wind is blowing up to 68 mph.


By now you can close your eyes and smell the baking of Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies, and if you really try, you can feel the warm chocolate as you bite in to one. I promise these cookies can keep your mind off of any worry you might have, and you can sink into a chocolate coma and escape the realities that drive you crazy!


I hope I helped you bring back some wonderful memories this afternoon, and I'm so glad you stopped by! Take a couple of cookies along for your drive, and hurry back soon! Thanks Susan, for hosting another wonderful Metamorphosis Monday! Go to http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ for more fun!

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Tablescape Thursday - My First!


I decided to give myself a challenge when doing my first tablescape. I decided that I would go to Walmart, and whatever flowers were on close-out I would buy them and make my tablescape around them. That way I couldn't plan it out too much ahead of time, and it added an extra twist for me! There were a dozen pink-tipped roses for $5.00, so that's where my inspiration came from. I love to use my Wexford serving pieces so that was pretty easy. I was inspired by previous tablescapes that I'd seen on Susan's http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ that suggested that dinnerware could be purchased anywhere. I found these dishes last week at Goodwill for $6.0o for a 4 piece place setting, including salad bowls, dessert plates, and cups and saucers. They are white with silver trim, and I can see me using them a lot. Hope you enjoy my tablescape as much as I do yours. I promise I will do better as I go along!

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Everyone loves a bed


Did you ever think about your bed? Or should I say, do you ever STOP thinking about your bed? Everyone talks about their bed, several times a day. You hear people say they wish they were in bed, or they had trouble getting out of bed. When we are on vacation, we miss our bed. When we are in the hospital all we can think about is getting home to our bed. When you stay at someone else's house you always compare the bed you are in to YOUR bed. Someone is always trying to get you into bed (or out). You must always make your bed before you leave in the morning. It's important that your motel room maybe has double beds, or a king size bed. If you are having a bad day, it's because you woke up on the wrong side of the bed, or maybe got out of bed late. My bed seems to call my name some days......

The bed you sleep in says a lot about you as a person, or as a couple. We had a water bed for 30 years of our marriage. Now back in the day when we bought it, it was the popular thing to do, so it said we were up-to-date, "with it". We loved the water bed and for a long time it was us. It was not only "with it" but comfortable. All of our friends had water beds. Sleeping in a different bed when you have a water bed at home can wreak havoc with your back, believe me. A water bed could be difficult to get out of after you've had surgery, or was so good for your back that you didn't need surgery. (Depending on who you talk to.) There were water beds with baffles, and water beds that had waves so big that when one person got in, it threw the other person out the other side. The sheets were funky and when you tucked in one side, the other side came untucked.

Two years ago we got a new bed. It's a California King metal bed that is very pretty and was reasonably priced. The mattress is one with a pillow top, that literally swallows you when you lay down. What it says about us, is that we are more concerned about comfort and getting a good nights' rest than anything else. It says that we have changed our priorities, that maybe that we are getting older(?).

I personally LOVE my bed. It's where I do a lot of things. I talk to God every night before I go to sleep, snuggle Pa, (no kids, I won't say any more....), I read or watch TV once in awhile, I rest very well in my bed. I do always make my bed before I leave in the morning, and actually have heard it calling my name sometimes. Some people eat in bed, and spend more time there than they should. Some people even make a living in their bed. The bed is a very important part of our lives, and taken for granted. I took a picture of my bed the other morning. I believe if you listen real hard, you might even hear it calling my name.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Tablescape Thursday - kinda


Hey! Well, according to the Blog World, it's Tablescape Thursday. I would love to participate, but haven't figured this all out yet, so will just do it alone and hopefully figure it out later. The tablescape I'm using today is one from Jeff and Carla's wedding. Carla is so incredibily talented and came up with these great reception cards. The wedding was very simple and on a ship on Lake Superior at Duluth, Minnesota. Couldn't have been a better choice!

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

It's Outdoor Wednesday!!!


The world of blogging says it's "Outdoor Wednesday", so I'm posting a recent outdoor photo I took. Eldon is working on clearing some pasture land where the horses are kept, and I went with him to see what all he'd been doing. There is so much brush it's kinda hard to see, but the water is running well, and apparently there is a sandy bottom in the creek that he thinks the grandson's (the boys) will enjoy this summer. It was 65 degrees today, so maybe that's sooner than we think!

Monday, March 2, 2009

Small things that mean so much

I have in my kitchen, two aprons that were made by my grandmother. These aprons would not probably be noticed by people who visit, they are hung on the bakers rack in the sunroom. They are not the most beautiful shade of green, but the handiwork is exceptional. My mom says that long ago when a girl was going to get married, handmade gifts were presented to anyone who helped with the wedding and these aprons were made for the women who were going to work in the kitchen at my parents wedding. I love to think of my grandma sitting and making these aprons in anticipation of the first wedding in their family. To think of the time and work that went in to these makes me admire her even more than I did before - and that's going some! I'll take a photo and post it sometime!