Monday Morning

Monday Morning Blues seems to be the feeling most have on Monday mornings. I don't mind them too much other than it is the start of the work week. Monday is actually a day off from most of my work though. I don't have the grand doll and I don't work at my caregiving job so I only really have the house work and my Pink Zebra work. It can be overwhelming as well though. 

My husband went to Dirty Turtle Off Road park over the weekend in Kentucky so I have a sack of muddy clothes to be tended to today. Wonder if he would notice if they went in the trash? LOL! I know they must be washed. I also have curtains in the bedroom to be washed and I would like to finish going though some of the clutter I have accumulated in the bedroom. I need to start working on some of these projects I have said would get done in the last 5 years before I start more. 

I will probably starting sorting Christmas décor out and trying to decide what I will truly use this year. I have so many snowmen and I love each of them, but I would like to add some different stuff in the mix this year. I know my daughter needs some décor so I may slip her some of the snowmen. I am getting tired of lugging things from the attic and the outside garage loft for the holidays so I truly need to figure out something else for this stuff. I need a she shed!!

Enough complaining, I found some pictures that I want to share with you. These are all taken in French Lick, Indiana where I attended an afternoon tea several years ago. I just found them and thought I would share. 

This is a fountain outside the hotel. It makes a beautiful spot to take photos. 

Another perfect photo opportunity. This magnificent gazebo shares the same splendor that the hotel does.  It was October I believe that these were taken and I can see the nice decorations that the staff had added to this. 

These beautiful flowers were certainly an eye catcher. I love the two shades of pink together and feel that it just warms your heart to see these. A reminder of what peace and tranquility can mean. 

This is another nice floral piece. I truly am not a huge fan of flowers but these caught my attention enough that I felt that they were picture worthy. I am thankful that I did because looking back they are beautiful. 

Finally, a nice photo of my youngest daughter and I taken in front of the fountain. She became my sidekick for much of her teens years. How I wish she would have kept this innocence about her? She had so much going for her and now she struggles as a twenty something single mom. Her personality sure shows in this picture though. 

Have a great Monday and enjoy the week!!

Saturdy 9: Alfred Hitchcock

Saturday 9: "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" Theme

This week's song was chosen because this is the last Saturday 9 before Halloween. Are you unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) The Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, was born in England. Name another pop culture contribution England has made.

A. Elton John.

2) This week's song is recognized as the theme to Hitchcock's long-running TV show, but "Funeral March for a Marionnette" is a classic piece written for piano in the late 1870s by Charles Gounod. Do you often listen to classical music?

A. I will occasionally listen to classical music when I am home alone. 

3) Janet Leigh's shower scene in  Hitchcock's Psycho is considered one of the scariest sequences ever filmed. What's the most frightening movie you've ever seen?

A. I don't like scary movies. I remember watching a show once with my grandma about a lady that owned a doll shop and the dolls would come to life and they killed her. I had nightmares about dolls killing me for a long time and I still remember the dream today. I don't watch scary movies, but I did watch Pet Cemetary once with my husband. YUCK!!

4) Hitchcock admitted that he "never trusted birds," and he took that fear and turned it into the movie, The Birds. Is there a member of the animal kingdom that just gives you "the creeps?"

A. Mice and snakes

5) Halloween will soon be upon us. Will you carve a jack o'lantern this year?

A. Not really. I will watch my husband and grand doll, but I won't carve one. 

6) What candy will trick or treaters get at your house?

A. We live in the country so we never have trick or treaters. I always buy the neighbor girl a Hershey bar as that is the only candy she eats. 

7)  When you went trick or treating, did you prefer fantasy costumes (like a storybook character) or scary ones (like a monster)?

A. We usually done things that my mom or grandma had laying around. I loved being a hobo!

8) Which candy was your favorite? Which one were you disappointed to find in your trick or treat bag?

A. I love chocolate! I hate suckers!!!

9) Which do you find scarier -- cemeteries or haunted houses?

A. Haunted houses. I love cemeteries!!!

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I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.

Halloween Party

Halloween truly is not one of my favorite holidays. I don't like being scared and I do not like haunted houses, zombies, blood and gore, etc. It just is not my idea of a good time, but I do like the fall aspect of it and some of the creativity that goes along with the costumes and fun times that are to be had this time of the year.

Last night my grand doll had a Halloween party at the studio where she takes gymnastics. She was going as a witch but she would not wear the hat that was part of the costume. ( I can't be mad as I hate hats as well.) My daughter had not bought anything to decorate the car with as it was a trunk and treat as well, so off to town we had to go. We need the preparations for the graveyard taco dip that we were making and we had to buy decorations. While there, I decided that I wanted to dress up as well. I dressed as a witch as well. Only my outfit was a little different than hers, as I decided to go with a black outfit and green face while her outfit was black and purple and very pretty.

Here was the end result to my costume.

We were outside some so I had to have the sweater, but the dress was a very nice sequined dress that country superstar, George Jones, purchased for a friend of ours that worked for him many years ago. It was beautiful! The hat I have one was actually my grand dolls as she wanted the one I had because it had purple hair with it. 

The party was a huge success! There were plenty of Halloween inspired foods such as ghost poop, (which was grapes covered in powdered sugar), graveyard dip, mummy pizza sticks, mummy pretzel sticks, and many others. Some parents have such talent when it comes to this type of food. Also, there were games, music, dancing and lots of kids playing and having fun! 

The decorations from the car will go on my porch or in my house today and I will enjoy them till the end of the month. I am thinking that I may bring our elf of the shelf out of hiding soon. We have so much fun with him and the grand doll could use some extra Santa patrol. LOL! 

 Well, I believe that I should get my day going and do some cleaning again. I began going through some old photos last night and I plan to do some more later today. First, I have animals to feed and some cleaning to do as well as some laundry. I plan to head to church later to celebrate the baptism of the son of one of my longest and dearest friends. 

Enjoy your Sunday! 

Grand Doll Surgical Update - Our Road With Blount's Disease

For many of my readers that have followed the story of my granddoll and our road with Blount's Disease and her surgery, I finally have some news worth sharing with all of you. On Monday, we made the trip to the surgeon and expected to hear the same news that we have heard for almost a year now, " Looks good". We did hear those same words, but I am also thankful to say that the surgeon stated that we will be back to see her in Feb. and that we will discuss taking the pins and plate out of the right leg. Woo Hoo!!!!

The left leg still has some straightening to do, but the right leg looks almost perfectly straight on the x-ray and the surgeon stated that she believes that it will be ready to remove the hardware and allow the leg to grow on it's own and that she should continue to grow straight. The left leg has made a tremendous improvement but we still have some time with it. I am thrilled! The surgeon says that she is hoping for a full straighten on it as well with time.

We have noticed a huge change in the way she walks and runs as well. We can see the left leg improvements with our eyes. It has been a huge relief for all of us and we were told that her hips are even lining up correctly now. It has been a journey but I am starting to see some light at the end of this dark tunnel.

This child is my world at the moment and I can't imagine her living the way she was forever. Her bowed legs were cute but I am thankful that they are straightening. I am thankful to hear that the hips are lining up as well because that was one of the concerns because they were so out of line. Also, the left knee is not bearing as much weight now because the weight is being more evenly distributed on both legs and where it should be and not her knee.

Thank you to each reader that has asked about her and asked for follow up reports. I will tell you more in Feb. after our next appointment. Until then, I will leave you with a photo.

How could you not love this adorable tiger? 

Saturday 9 Love is In the Air

Unbreak My Heart

Welcome to Saturday 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme! 

Saturday 9: Unbreak My Heart (1996)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Songs like this are enduringly popular in part because each of us has had our heart broken. Give us the name of a heartbreaker from your own life.

Joe

2) Toni Braxton sings that "nights are so unkind." What did you do last night?

 Fed our new cows, laundry, made dinner, and watched television

3) While this song has Toni singing the blues, in real life her love life is happier. Now aged 50, she's engaged and has been sporting a diamond on her left hand. Do you believe that a bride is ever too old to have a big wedding?

  I believe that whatever age you are, you are entitled to the wedding of your dreams. 

4) Growing up, Toni Braxton's parents severely restricted how much TV their children could watch each day. Ironically, today Toni and her sisters participate in a reality TV show on the WE-TV network, so TV cameras are a big part of their daily adult lives. What TV show do you try not to miss?

  I will rarely ever miss Criminal Minds or Swat. It drives my hubby crazy as I don't like to do anything those evenings because I am always afraid we will be late. 

5) She is prone to dry skin and applies Kiehl's Hand Salve to her hands and arms throughout the day. Tell us about a product you're brand loyal to.

  I always buy Lipton Tea and I always buy Maxwell House coffee. Also, my home is always scented with Pink Zebra products. If you have not heard of it, you should check out the website, www.pinkzebrahome.com/cslater

6) Toni admits to being "a bit of a germaphobe," and always maintains a supply of hand sanitizer and wipes. What is always on your shopping list?

  Tea is always on my list. I go shopping often due to the work that I do, but rarely do I make a list these days. We stay stocked up for the most part and I buy less it seems from the store, but tea is a major item on the must have list. 

7) While she is not shy about her body, and has worn revealing outfits on the red carpet, Toni Braxton refused a 2011 offer from Hugh Hefner and Playboy to pose nude. What's the last thing you said "no" to?

 Work. I am constantly being asked to pick up extra shifts and I am not willing to do that at this time due to watching my grand doll. 

8) In 1996, the year this song was popular, Mattel introduced a Star Trek Barbie and Ken set. Have you ever fantasized about space travel? 

  No, I do not believe I ever would want to go into space. 

9) Random question -- Would you (or did you) invite an ex to your wedding? 

  My husbands ex girlfriend was married to my brother when we got married so she was at our wedding. I also have a dear friend that I dated at one time and I would have invited him if he would have been near.