Happy New Year!!

May those who suffer with illness of body or soul be well.
May your sunrises be glorious and your sundowns be spectacular.
May you live, love, laugh, and be happy.
May you rejoice in God's love and creations and know the love of friends each day.

Thank you for the gift of your friendship in 2004.

Well,,,,,best laid plans and all that, ya know,,,,

I'm home again cause I got over there and Trish and the girls had gone somewhere else to visit. I waited around in town for awhile and didn't hear from them so I came back home and am not in the mood for another trip into town today. I'm gonna try again tomorrow unless their social schedule gets screwed up again. Who knows if I'll have all the babies together though.

Anyway, I borrowed these photos from the Chick's site so I thought I'd post them today since I wasn't able to take some of my own today.


Jaylen, Jordan, and Alexis (aka the Chick)


MeriKate, Alexis, and Abie

Just in case I don't make it tomorrow

Trish, Jordan, and Jaylen are supposed to be coming in from Little Rock tonight to spend a few days with Bubbie and Jerri so I'm going to go spend the day with them tomorrow. She wasn't able to come last weekend cause they had a lot more ice and snow than we did here. I'm hoping I'll have all the grandbabies gathered together again at some point tomorrow so I can get another photo of them.

I just finished some annual reports that I had to do in order to print some W2s next week so I'm a bit pooped. Maybe I'll make it back tomorrow evening, there won't be much going on around here I reckon.

nite all!!

Boring Wednesday and a break today

Hubby came in from his hunting trip yesterday with no meat for the table. I had to get a little dig in by telling him that I could buy him a whole bunch of steaks for the amount of money his hunting costs. He'd best not be moaning about having chicken again any time soon.

This morning I woke up to the sound of geese off in the distance. When I went to the door and looked out, I saw thousands of them in the field about 2/10ths of a mile away. They sure were having a noisy breakfast.

I'm having a little break since James left a short while ago to go bird hunting and took Zach with him. He loves to go hunting with his PopPop as long as he doesn't expect him to rise with the birds in order to go. He's like his Nanaw with his morning attitude problem and reluctance in getting dressed.

Lazy Tuesday,,,mostly

Well the Christmas tree is down and in it's box but the box needs a little duct tape reinforcement so it's still sitting in the dining room floor. So are the boxes of ornaments. I don't remember where that danged duct tape went so I'll have to wait for James to come home so I can borrow his that he keeps in his truck.

Speaking of duct tape, do you have a favorite use for duct tape?

I found these online (who'da thought?):

Mute function for humans

Wrapped around newspaper to make a dog chew toy

Contraceptive device (this merits more research I think)

Girdle (Imagine the screams at the time of removal)

Seat belts that'll REALLY keep the kids still

Why bother with waxing...(louder screams)

Fix vacuum cleaner hose

Fix printer (I know for a fact you can fix a copier with it!)

Hold batteries in remote control (same goes for the old style gameboy)

Remove lint from clothes

Home security system - tape up doors and windows

Use it to tape 10 year olds with sugar highs to trees during boyscout trips

Poor man's Viagra - two Popsicle sticks and duct tape

Torture

Monday Lessons Learned

When standing on ice as you get into your truck, make sure you're very, very, close to the truck before you try to put a leg in. If you don't, the other leg will head south and you'll split your difference.

Put away the Seargents Flea shampoo that someone left on your tub BEFORE you are taking a bath, water dripping in your eyes, and groping for the shampoo like a blind lady. (I'm putting this lesson learned right behind the one about making sure the Scrub Free is rinsed out of the tub before you take a bath.)

Birds will eat, and like, spaghetti made with Ragu Traditional sauce.

I'm as happy as a pig rolling in a mud puddle!

Hubby left this morning for a hunting trip that should last till about Wednesday. Should I feel bad for being to elated?

Naw!!!

As long as he doesn't shoot himself or shoot another hunter, it'll be ok. Zach and I will lounge about and do what we do best, nothing!!!

I posted a few more of the photos from my Netherlands trip ovah here if ya'll want to go take a look. I'm still editing them so I'll post more as I get time.

How's everyone's day going?

I'd write a cute and witty entry today but,,,,

My mind is wiped.

One little conversation occurred when James told Zach that he could start learning to shoot with my air rifle.

Zach: Boy, I bet I could shoot a grizzly with that!
Nanaw: Child, a grizzly would take that thing away from you and whip your butt with it!

I'm a very pooped Nanny!

The only thing better than Christmas is the day after Christmas in a place where it's not a holiday (the day after). I didn't get to bed until the wee hours cause I'm the official stocking stuffer around here and then I slept until after 8 a.m. which was not a good thing when you've got folks coming to be fed. But I made it and we took photos of the kiddies playing outdoors after Christmas dinner.


Zach and his 3 little sisters.


The Chick and PopPop. She was sick today and had a fever but she played a little.


The Chick's new gator.


PopPop made a sled out of an old paddle pool.


Very happy babies. The Chick was so relaxed she was almost asleep here.

Christmas Eve

We did the thing at the in-laws tonight and one of the brother-in-laws put on his Santa suit. When he asked Chickie if she wanted to sit in his lap she said, "NO, UGGY Santa!!" The other kids, except for Abie, were all ready to tell him what he'd better have in his bag for them.


Zach and Krysten with Santa


MeriKate and Ashley (our niece).


The unhappy Chick with Santa and Mommy.


I racked up on bath goodies, James bought me this huge basket.


Aromatherapy goodies.

Nobody will smell better than me this holiday season I betcha!

James and Jerri gave me a darling hummingbird windchime but the photo didn't turn out well. I'll have to find someone to hold it up for me to get a shot of it. Jami and Keith bought me some cozy flannel pjs and James also bought me a new printer.

Yep, I racked up on the goodies around here. I hope Santa is dropping some good stuff down ya'll's chimneys tonight!!

Merry Christmas!

Ho, Ho, Ho!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

No Snow, only slippery ICE.

The temps aren't supposed to be above freezing until Sunday. Night temps for the next few nights are supposed to be in the teens and single digits. I'm freezing my noonies off!!


Zach braving the cold.


This is all ice and sleet.

This is Arkansas, not Alaska!

Yesterday it was damn near 70 degrees outdoors with bright, lovely sunshine and gusty winds. I woke up this morning to the sound of rain and those same gusty winds that steadily became colder as they began to gust out of the north. By noonish the rain became freezing rain,
by 1pm the half inch of ice was being covered by sleet. Now it's about 24 degrees and it's dark so I don't know exactly what it's doing outside but it's moisture of the frozen kind I believe.

I took these right before dark, around 4:30.





I'm glad that all my Christmas shopping is done but I sure wish the wrapping fairy would come visit to help me out.

They're saying the sleet could turn to snow before morning.

A Cous who loves me and a friend who thinks of me.

What more could a gal need?

My cousin Hoppy in Highland Home, Alabama sent this to me:

We have all enjoyed redneck jokes for years.

It's time to take a look at the core beliefs of a culture that values home, family, country and God. If I had to stand before a dozen terrorists who threaten my life, I'd choose a half dozen or so rednecks to back me up.

Tire irons, squirrel guns and grit -- that's what rednecks are made of. I hope I am one of those. If you feel the same, pass this on to your redneck friends.

Ya`ll know who ya are...

***********************************************************

You might be a redneck if. . .

It never occurred to you to be offended by the phrase, "One nation, under God."

You've never protested about seeing the 10 Commandments posted in public places.

You still say "Christmas" instead of "Winter Festival."

You bow your head when someone prays.

You stand and place your hand over your heart when they play the National Anthem.

You treat Vietnam vets with great respect, and always have.

You've never burned an American flag.

You know what you believe and you aren't afraid to say so, no matter who is listening.

You respect your elders and expect your kids to do the same.

You'd give your last dollar to a friend.

***********************************************************
God Bless the USA.

This came from a friend who said it reminded them of me when they read it. Now I'm wondering if this is a good or a bad thing. (grin)

AN ARKANSAS CHRISTMAS

' TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, AND ALL THRU THE SHACK
NOT A DARN THING WAS A MOVIN' FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK
THE KIDS WERE IN BED, WE HAD NINE AT THE TIME
THE WIFE IN HER CURLERS, WAS LOOKIN' REAL FINE

A COLD WIND WAS BLOWIN' UP THE HOLLER IT MOANED
TEN DOGS ON THE PORCH ALL HOWLED AND GROANED
THE BOYS WERE ALL DREAMIN' OF WEAPONS AND A GUN
FOR KILLIN GOD'S CREATERS, THERE'S NO BETTER FUN

THE GIRLS IN THEIR FEMININE DREAMS WERE ATTUNE
TO GETTING THOSE GALLONS OF WAL-MART PERFUME
THE WIFE WANTED JEWELRY, LIKE RINGS WITH BIG ROCKS
I JUST WANTED MY CHEVY DOWN OFF OF THEM BLOCKS.

THEN OUT IN THE YARD, SUCH A NOISE DID COMMENCE
LIKE SOMETHING WAS CAUGHT IN OUR NEW BOB-WAR FENCE.
I RAN TO THE WINDOW, AND SAW PRETTY QUICK
THE MAN MAKIN THAT RACKET WAS GOOD OL ST. NICK.

YOU MAY ATHINK OF SANTA IN YOUR OWN MIND'S EYES
DRESSED IN A RED AND WHITE SUIT, BUT I'VE GOT A SURPRISE
THAT OLD BOY'S AN ARKIE, FROM UP NEAR MT. GAYLOR
HE MARRIED HIS COUSIN, AND THEY LIVE IN A TRAILER.

ON CHRSTMAS, OF COURSE, A SLEIGH FOR HIS RIG,
HE HOOKS THE THING UP TO A RAZORBACK PIG!
HE CLIMED ON THE ROOF, WITH HIS BAG AND EACH GOODY,
HE BACKED DOWN THE FIREPLACE, ALL DIRTY AND SOOTY.

FAT LEGS IN HIS BRITCHES, CHUBBY HANDS IN EACH MITTEN
I MUST ADMIT FROM THE BACK, HE LOOKED LIKE BILL CLINTON.
HE TURNED TOWARD THE TREE, HIS EYES ALL AGLO
HE WAS AN ARKANSAS BOY FROM HIS HEAD TO HIS TOE.

HIS NECK WAS A RED ONE, HIS SHIRT SAID, "LITE BEER"
HE HAD NO RED HAT ON BUT HIS CAP READ, 'JOHN DEERE'
HE LEFT ALL THE PRESENTS WITH AN AIR OF DELIGHT
THEN IT WAS BACK TO THE CHIMNEY AND INTO THE NIGHT.

HE RAN INTO THE YARD, THREW HIS BAG IN THE SLEIGH
THEN HE YELLED AT THE DOGS, "GET OUT OF THE WAY"
I RAN OUT TO ASK HIM WHY HE BROUGHT SUCH GOOD CHEER
BUT INSTEAD HE ASKED ME. "YOU GET YOU A DEER?"

THEN I HEARD HIM EXCLAIM AS THOSE PIGS TOOK FLIGHT
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL...I NEED A BUD LITE!
HO HO HO HO HO!

It took courage to take these photos!

From a cold seat on the ferris wheel in the Christmas Market in Maastricht by a chicken-shit photographer.






heh,heh, I took a pic of Tine as she took a pic!


I once climbed to the observation tower in the church (with red brick) in the background of this photo. Of course that once was over 9 yrs ago.

I just returned from a trip into town to pick up last minute stocking stuffers and a couple of other things that I forgot to get yesterday. Trips to town always cause a wide and varied range of emotions for me.

As I left the Wal Mart (that place I hate) parking lot a van pulled out of traffic and did a quick U-turn in a parking lot and then pulled back out into traffic, right in front of me. This little action triggered my "boy I outta kick your ass" emotion and it became a full-blown "if I could catch you, I'd kick your ass twice" emotion as I heard the 14 bags, that I'd carefully stacked in the back seat, tumble around from the domino effect of having slammed on my brakes. Hopefully the kids won't mind that their marshmallow, chocolate, Santa's will have little cracks in their marshmallow, chocolate, little heads.

The van turned a block later thus saving the driver from the double ass kicking.

Then I got behind an older granny than yours truly who proceeded to move forward at a pace not exceeding 20 mph. This triggered my "damn I need to get in that left lane" emotion and I could feel a nagging headache coming on. The left lane was full of cars and trucks passing by the granny (who had a leopard print covered steering wheel, by the way) and yours truly who was stuck behind her. I figure we must have had a lotta imports from Mississippi and Tennessee in town today cause I don't think there are that many vehicles in the county. Three miles later I was finally able to pass Ms. leopard print steering wheel and looked ahead to smooth sailing the rest of the way home.

As I pulled into the drive at my house, my "damn this place looks like a redneck castle" emotion came into play when I gazed upon the 2 climbing deer stands, the ATV trailer, 2 tires, and the ice chest that were adorning the lawn beside the drive. A stroll around the yard would have added to the list but I was just too full of emotions to handle any more.

I hope Santa doesn't break his neck trying to land down here in my neck of the woods!

Look at me wrong and I'll cry.

I feel miserable right now. First off, I went shopping with hubby and Zach in tow and that does not make for a good day. Then, after coming out of the Paper Factory in Tunica, we noticed a little bulge in Zach's coat pocket. Inside were 2 pencils, 2 tiny, plastic whistles, and a tiny, crystal swan, items that had not been paid for.

With a broken heart, I marched him back into the shop to give the items to the ladies at the checkout and tell them that he'd taken them. We stood there with tears dripping off our chins as he apologized to the ladies and told them he wouldn't do anything like that again.

Now I feel more guilty than he does because I'm worrying that I've done something to make him feel that it was ok to take something that he hadn't paid for.

Here it goes

For Ms Leslie.

Three names you go by:

Brenda
Nanny
Nanaw

Three screen names you have:

Deltachick, dianinar, dian

Three things you like about yourself:

I mostly take things in stride
I am strong
I rarely meet a stranger

Three things you hate/dislike about yourself:

I find it hard to put past hurts behind me
I worry too much
My eating and smoking habits

Three parts of your heritage:

German
Irish
Indian

Three things that scare you:

Losing a child or anyone that I love
The way we take our planet for granted
Heights

Three of your everyday essentials:

Coffee
Cigarettes
Diet Dr Peppers

Three things you are wearing right now:

Playball Pj top
blue pj bottoms with red flowers
and a red face cause that's all I'm wearing

Three of your favorite bands/artists at the moment:

David Alan Coe
Joe Diffie
Soony's CD

Three of your favorite songs at present:

You Don't Have To Call Me Darlin, Darlin
3rd Rock from the Sun (by Joe Diffie)
Eric (by Soony)

Three new things you want to try in the next 12 months:

To finish at least 1 scrapbook that I'm working on
Paint my living and dining room
Start and finish my photo project

Three things you want in a relationship (love is a given):

Respect
Kindness
Romance

Three physical things about the opposite sex (or same) that appeal to you:

Definately a great smile
Good Manners
Outgoing personality

Three things you just can’t do:

Reach the top of the kitchen cabinets without a step ladder
Stand at the top of the ladder
Sew

Three of your favorite hobbies:

Scrap booking
Reading
Photography

Three careers you are considering:

RE-
TIRE-
MENT-

Three places you’d like to go on vacation:

England (to visit old friends)
Key West
Canada and the American West

Three kids’ names:

Anameik
Dawnana
Jackson

Three things you want to do before you die:

Meet all of my blogging friends
Feel at peace with myself
Write a book

Three people you’d like to see take this quiz now:


Everyone who reads this
Everyone who reads this
and
Everyone who reads this
(grin)

Long weekend

Nanny's pooped.


At a pub in Belgium.

40600069xx.jpg
With Danielle and Elena


Yvonne and I outside a Limburgh Castle where we went for High Tea one afternoon.

This Just Ain't Right

I was awake at 5 a.m.

And it's Saturday!

My body has been craving sleep in the worst way so why does it do this to me? Anyway, I took the opportunity just now to share a morning view with you and snapped this outside my back door.





I should now be having a nice, hot, leisurely bath before 3 more of the kiddies arrive to spend part of the day with me while their mommies pick up a special present in Little Rock today but this coffee is so good and I'm so lazy that I'm not in too big of a hurry to move yet. Besides, I reckon I'll need another hot bath and a quart of tequila AFTER having 4 kiddies.

Zach informed me yesterday that my bird likes Lays potato chips. After a bit of general interrogation I found out that he'd been laying in the floor enjoying a bowl of chips the other evening while Ya-Ya was having a stroll outside his cage and suddenly Ya-Ya attacked his bowl of chips and was wrestling Zach for bites of them. James and Zach thought this was very funny and cute especially when they put him back in the cage and he was raising a ruckus from the greasy, salt high.

Nanny was not amused. Just what I need, a junk food addicted bird, with no tail feathers. He's worn most of them off, probably from hyperactivity from all the salt and grease, and looks like a miniature duck when he follows me around the house with his little birdie waddle.



I had a nice surprise in my email this morning, a letter from Caroline in Montgomery, AL. I sat beside her on the plane for 10 hours on Tuesday and it sure made the trip home more enjoyable. Before we departed the plane I told her about my blog and said if she'd type in "Whats up down south" in a google search she could see what goes on in our neck of the woods and she did. I sure hope she'll come back and visit again.

I just can't stay away today,,

I've been hopping around to read some of my favorite blogs and I remembered that CarolC had changed her site addy and had to come here to update my template so I decided to post a few more photos.

Are you tired of them yet?


A night on the town which started at a Salsa club in Stein. Here I am with Renee, a friend of Soony's who was also her wedding coordinator. She's loads of fun!


From the left is Soony (Danielle), Eric's mom, Marion (Soony's mom), Eric's sister-in-law, Renee, and in front is yours truly. We were still at the Salsa club but I think more in the sauce than doing the Salsa (big grin).


Renee and I with Herman, Soony's father. Yep, I think I'd had a few by this time.


Eric's Dad, Eric, Eric's brother, and Herman.

After several drinks at the Salsa club and not much Salsa some of us moved on to a boppin little pub which had a band playing that was also in Stein. This evening was the first Saturday I was there (I think).


A special seranade for the redneck lady from Arkansas.


Dancing to some old time Rock-N-Roll. This guy soon had me saying "uncle".


I also danced that night with two of Marion's friends who were in their 60's and let me tell you, they BOTH outdanced me really fast!

I took about 200 photos on this trip so ya'll let me know when you've seen enough, ok?

************************************************************************************
Jerri took some cute pics of MeriKate, the Chick, and Abie the other day, ya'll go take a look over at the Chick's Site if you have time.