Ah....Birthday Blessings

Hi there everyone. Hope you had a wonderful day. I did, thank you. Today I turned 68, yikes now that is a big number. Never thought I would make it this far. I am sure those of you who are older will say, "Ah you are still young and have many more years ahead of you" But you know what? I am still feeling older, just can't do some of the things I used to, and seem to walk a little bit slower these days....yeah, "my mind is willing but the body ain't."

Well today started out with a bang. JP had to get blood tests, because he has another appointment with the urologist next week. He is still dealing with the problem he has had for 6 months. He did finally go to the foot doctor and had his corns and warts shaved off and an acid put on the wart. WaLa.....he can now walk and the corns and warts don't bother him. Still have not gotten the bill for that adventure as yet.

So I got up at 9:30am, only because the phone rang at 8:10am and 9:20am....and no one was there, geez could not even sleep in today. Did my blood, made a green smoothie and fed Kylie. Turned on the computer and off we go into cyber-space. 1st I checked Facebook to see Birthday greetings from friends, then on to blogs, emails and pinterest, yes, so much to do.

So Thursday I went shopping and splurged on this lovely bouquet of flowers for $2.98. My choice of cake was a New York Style Cheese Cake, half chocolate chip and half plain cheese for $9.99 at Festival. I made some cranberry sauce and spooned that over the cake.....MMMMM was it good. No pictures as yet, that is coming in the next blog. If we don't eat the cake up before I can take a picture. :)

The mailman came Thursday with 3 cards in the mail for me....that was nice. One was from a blogger friend and another one from a stamping friend (both these cards were homemade). The 3rd card was one of those regular cards (but pretty) from an old friend that I used to work with at The Salvation Army. I always feel guilty when she sends a card, cause I always seem to forget her birthday in March......I must remember this next time around.

While I was on Facebook, my SIL messaged me that her daughter (our niece) had a baby girl....now that was neat....what a great day to be born on ~ November 21st. Her name is Madelyn Renee and so very cute too!!!

So JP came home and we made plans for the day. I would go to Shopko and get his meds and a few other things. I was going to get a wok that was on clearance ($59.99 marked down to $39.99), walked around with it in the cart and then talked myself out of it. I did have one 6 months ago and wore it out and thought I would get a new one.....but now I won't.  Not unless I change my mind again. What I  really want to get is a portable record player....yeah, and play some of my old records while making cards....doesn't that sound like fun???  Been wanting a record player for a very long time....maybe now is the time.

The record player is on sale for $79.00, marked down to $59.00 and with my $10 off coupon would bring it down to $49.00. Then the next big decision is....what color, black, red or turquoise.....gosh, so many decisions. But yeah....I think that is the route I will go, sometimes I just don't want to watch TV while making cards and just listening to music would be fun. I can pull out all my old records and reminisce. There's 78's, 45's and 33's...yeah, good times.

So after shopping, JP and I went to the library for a book sale. While I looked at the books, he went to a music store to see if his old concertina as tradeable for a saxophone. We'll see what happens on that deal.

So anyways I bought a few books, some cook books, diet books, antique books and a dvd. Gosh the library had a lot of books for sale...there were some old, old books too...I thought I would buy one, it was dated 1860...hummm...maybe I should have bought it. I did get a child's cookbook, that I think might be worth $30.00, it was a first edition, first printing, a little worn....but maybe worth something. I saw one on Etsy just like it and was selling for $37.00.

While I was checking out the books, one of the ladies looked at me and said, "Your hair is so beautiful, I watched you as you were walking around. Your hair color is beautiful" Well I said, "thank you, you made my day. I was just telling my husband this morning that I needed to do something with my hair...it is getting so grey!!!!" JP said, "NO...it looks nice". Guess I will keep it, must be my crown of glory from God.

After the library, we dropped off the Concertina and books at home and went to BJ Clancy's for my free steak. If you show up there on your birthday your dinner is free....such a deal, can not pass that up. We like to go to BJ's for our birthdays.....sometimes it works out, sometimes not. Actually brought home some steak for a snack tomorrow....maybe I should freeze it....we'll see. We got home, and I walked Kylie down the block and back....very chilly and wind was blowing....burrrrrrr!!!

Schwan's Man came.....bought some asparagus for my green smoothies, some turkey pot pies and garlic cheese bread. I know, a little pricey......but oh so good!!! Well, I think that about covers my birthday day....very busy but lots of fun....sorry my blog is so wordy but hey.....it's my birthday, what did you expect????

You all have a great day and keep looking up.....Oh I for got to add, today was a bright and sunny day.....must have been a gift from God.  Cheers ~ Louise

Monday, Monday

Hi everyone....how is your Monday going so far??? Mine?? Okay, I am taking it easy today (hahaha) as I do every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc, etc through to the next Monday. Not really though, it's a beautiful day here in Wisconsin, at least this part of Wisconsin. Sunny and blue skies and the temprature is 62 degrees, perfect!!!

Well, we had a wonderful visit with family on Saturday. They were here for 6 short hours then headed back to Chicago. Original plans were that they would stay the night in a hotel...but it was Green Bay Packer weekend and there were no hotel rooms to be had in Appleton. So they left early in the morning to get here. Leaving at 6pm to get home.

JP and I have made trips like that also, leaving here early and going down to Chicago to visit then coming back the same day, it's about a 3 1/2 hour drive if you don't stop much....JP likes to drive, so it never bothered him. But, that was when we were in our younger years. Maybe now, not so much.

So we went to BJ Clancy's, it's a nice place that JP and I like to go to on our Birthdays...where one or the other gets a free steak meal. So we thought it would be fun to go there with the family. They seemed to like it, food and service was good. Sorry, no pictures.....gosh I didn't even get a family shot for some reason, what was I thinking????? I am a "picture kind of person" and what, I only took two pictures??????

It was raining all day....that was the crumby part, it was coming down in bucket fulls when we got to the restaurant.....and we all got wet!!! But we laughed it off. Now if they would have come yesterday, it was a beautiful day.......what a difference a day makes, but a perfect day for the Packers (oh Packers won, beating the Detroit Lyons 22-3).

So this week, I may have a 1 or 2 day garage sale, as long as things are still set up and maybe next week also. All depends on the weather though. According to my books I did the same thing last year, it was a little chilly, but I did sell a few things. The less I have to put away, the happier I will be.

Well, I think I shall close here, I am sort of wandering around, so you all have a great day and a great week and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh.
Cheers ~ Louise

Happy Birthday 2 JP

 Happy Birthday to you ♫ ♪ ♫ Happy Birthday to you ♫ ♪ ♫

Happy Birthday dear JP ♫ ♪ ♫ Happy Birthday to you ♫ ♪ ♫

♫ ♪ ♫ How Old Are YOU ♫ ♪ ♫

66 Years Old ???? You caught up with me....now we will be 66 together for 6 months...yeah!!!

JP's Chocolate Wacky Cake with cream cheese frosting and strawberries.....oh yum!! Will show you JP's Birthday Card tomorrow.



Here is JP enjoying retirement with Doug.

Our plans for tomorrow...we will go for a "Free" Steak Dinner at BJ Clancy's at 4:00, and do a little shopping. On Saturday is the plant sale for the Outagamie County Master Gardeners and maybe we will eat at "Serious Burger" after the sale. So those are the plans for now....they may change depending on the weather and my alergies.

Time to close, have to go get JP's dinner ready ~ have a great day and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh!!

Cheers ~ Louise



New T-Shirts and a Challenge

Today I went to Sandi's and we made these t-shirts. The "Three Crosses" is for the Pastor.
I bought the t-shirts at Walmart for $4.00 a piece.

This t-shirt is for JP, his birthday is this month. So, yayyyyyy, this will be his birthday present. Along with a free steak at BJ Clancy's and maybe breakfast in the morning. Our BIG splurge!!!

This is my t-shirt. "Keep Calm - God's Got It" just a little reminder for us all!!! God knows, and see's everything that is going on in this world.......not to fear!!!

This one is for Mary, the Pastor's wife.

A word about the challenges: Biz is having a challenge this month. She'll be doing 100 miles, in either swimming, running, walking, riding. My challenge for May will be:
100 + miles riding my stationary bike
Walking Kylie around the block every day this month (she will be a happy doggie camper.)
One smoothie every day for May.
Hopefully I can lose a few pounds this month.
My goal; to lose 10 pounds by September.
Okay, here we goooooooooooo!!!

You all have a good day and I hope you didn't get snowed under. Keep looking up for your redemption draweth nigh. Cheers ~ Louise

My Free Birthday Dinner

Well here is my Free Birthday Dinner from JB Clancy's on Sunday, November 21st...........my it was delicious! I really splurged on the french fries, certainly not on my diet, oh but they were gooooood!!!!! Along with the steak and fries I got a beautiful salad and bread with honey butter and coffee. For dessert it was chocolate ice cream with a candle on top. Sweet and yummy. JP and I shared this special treat. It's not every day one celebrates their 64th birthday! Some people do not even make it to 64. Thank you God for 64 years, you have been generous and loving to me.

On Friday the 19th I went out to lunch with Shirley. That was a lovely lunch at Carmalitta's Italian Bistro. I mentioned to the waitress that it was my birthday on Sunday, not thinking there would be a reward.......hahaha! For lunch I had a Chicken Ceasar Panni and side salad. No camera for this one, so no pictures....I wish I had though, it was a lovely meal. After we finished our lunch, the waitress brought a mini boston cream cake with a candle on the side and chocolate spritz across the plate, it was as pretty as a picture. All in all I had a wonderful birthday, with a few birthday cards and birthday wishes on Facebook.

After our meal at BJ Clancy's, JP and I went to an antique mall and I bought a pitch fork for our compost pile, a cook book with hundreds of soup recipes, a fenton vase and fenton dish that holds candles. My stepfather had sent some money for my birthday, so I was able to get a few things for my stamping addiction, some spices for my cooking addiction and some tea .........for my tea addiction. I am putting a little to the side so I can buy a Dutch Oven, the one I am looking at will run about $70......so I have $30 set aside. Maybe if I add a little each week, by Christmas I will have enough to buy the one I want. Can hardly wait!!!! In the mean time I will make soup in my small pot for the time being. Without a vision the people parrish, well, I have a vision, at least for a month or so. :)

One more blessing on my birthday took place.......my $1.50 Hibiscus that I bought at the end of summer bloomed for my birthday. She was sooooo very pretty and made me very happy!!! Will be fun to see how she does during the winter. Maybe by Christmas we will have more blooms. (another vision?)

Well dear friends, I am off to get ready to go out and get some errands done. We got our turkey today......JP got a free 12 lb turkey at his place of employment........which is nice. So that looks like we will have turkey soup and lots of left overs for the freezer and many meals, yummmmmm. There's a storm coming this afternoon, so I need to get some plastic up on one of the basement windows and we need to move the snow blower to the forefront of the garage today.

In my next blog I will show you a couple of Christmas cards I have been making which will probably end up in my Etsy store, just in case you don't have the address, here it is: http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com/ So have a blessed Thanksgiving and enjoy your families.....you never know when that may crumble and there will be no more get togethers for what ever reason.
~Louise~