Flowers for me?

It's really very nice when your Honey brings you flowers!  Out of the blue, no special occasion or anything even.  I was feeling quite pleased and appreciative, but then suddenly I find my self wondering, "What have I done?"  Wait a minute, more to the truth is I'm wondering, "Hmmm, what has he done?"*tapping my fingers*  I actually said both thoughts out loud and he quickly replied while sporting a big ole smile, "Nothing, I just wanted to get you flowers and to tell you how much I love you."   Aww, be still my beating heart!  Well, while feeling quite surprised and grateful, with a school girl blush and flirty glance I smiled and replied, "Thanks Honey, that was very nice of you.  I love you too."  Pretty sweet actually, and he definitely earned some Hubby points.  He had simply gone to the store to pick up a few breakfast items and returned with flowers too!  Oh and he also cooked breakfast, so I was feeling especially pampered!  What a guy, he sure does have his moments!  Yeah, gotta love it when they pitter-pat that heart, ya know?!*wink*   

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Sometimes it's those little unexpected things that make an ordinary day, extraordinary!...

~ Tammy ~

Monday Message

~ My Monday Message ~

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FIREFIGHTER'S PRAYER
When I'm called to duty God wherever flames may rage
grant me the strength to save a life whatever be its age

Help me to embrace a little child before it is too late
or save an older person from the horror of that fate

Enable me to be alert to hear the weakest shout
and quickly and efficiently put the fire out

I want to fill my calling Lord and give the best in me
to guard my every neighbor and protect his property

And if according to your will I am to lose my life
God bless with your protecting hand my children and my wife

A thoughtful tribute!  Well done Mr. Hunt!

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Absolutely heartbreaking and sad to hear about the 19 firefighters who died courageously fighting the wildfire in Arizona. God Bless these Heroes. Condolences to the families and friends of these fallen firefighters. 
Pray for them, their community, and for an end to the wildfire.

Thoughts and sympathy for those in Prescott, Arizona...

~ Tammy ~

Ever have one of those days?

Ever have one of those days?  You know like where you say that quote to yourself, "Maybe I should just go back to bed and then start my day over, or perhaps get out on the right side?!"  Well whatever comes to mind similarly to those anyway.  My day began with me stubbing my toe on the doorway as I sleepily walked to the bathroom.  That provoked some choice words, a bit of a limp and a very sour mood which of its self was bad enough.  But then shortly after that I was really not happy when I realized I didn't have any creamer for my morning coffee enjoyment that I am use to having, needing and wanting to begin my day with.  "Pffft! Why me?!", I was thinking.

Well off I went, or limped, to the local drug store because it was the closest and quickest for said creamer.  I parked my car carefully away from others as I always do, in hope of not getting my doors dinged.  As I approached the store to go in I saw a person with a severe walking disability and so I slowed my step to allow them time to get to, and through the automatic doors ahead of me.  It felt like it took forever and I thought maybe I should have just hurried passed them instead of waiting for them!  I then entered after they did and quickly got my creamer and also snagged a few other items along the way to the check-out.  I found myself now waiting behind someone who began counting out change to make their purchase.  I started thinking "Oh great this should really take forever, and how quickly I achieve my purchases with my handy debit card!"  I may have even let out a breath of disgust!  Yes re-thinking it, I'm sure I must have!  Eventually, my creamer was purchased, bagged and in hand as I headed out feeling a little peeved that the 'change counter' took so long!  As I entered my car I saw the person that had paid with change leaving in a car that looked like it belonged at the junk yard, and it sounded like it too.  I am really surprised that thing was even running, let alone drivable.  I thought to myself, "I sure wouldn't like it if I had to drive that car!"

I started feeling a little shameful and also felt sorry, and well, not real happy...with myself. Ya know?  I like to think that I am most often usually a good person, someone who's considerate, compassionate and sympathetic of others.  But I realized up until that point that I wasn't being, and all I had been concerned with and wanted was my own self pity for my stubbed toe, and my self fulfillment of my wants, and I had been a little mad at the world.  It was then at that moment too that I was saying "Thank you God" and feeling very grateful for the many blessings in my life!"  Not just the material things, but my life as a whole and my love for, and from my family.  How fortunate and grateful I truly am for that, and them.  Also how much I truly do appreciate my nice car that I worry about where to park, and that my debit card is always money whenever I need it, and that my stubbed toe was something I would recover from, unlike the person with the severe walking disability.

More to the point, what I'm trying to say is... 

Sometimes we need a reminder, or to remember that others have more to worry about or have it worse than we do.  When I think of or see the problems and struggles that others have, it's a huge realization that I really don't have any problems, or anything at all to complain about!  Nothing at all!  

It's very humbling, when you have one of those days!...

~ Tammy ~

May!

Well Hello

It's so nice to welcome your arrival!

A Spring Beauty!

A close-up of my beautiful Irises from my yard.  

They're always so beautiful at this time of year.  They always make me smile.

These are also a loving reminder of my sister and make me think of her because she gave them to me from her garden some years ago.

Love their gorgeous colors...

~ Tammy ~

  

Dust in the wind...

"Dust in the wind" may be a favorite song of my hubby's.  But, for the past few weeks around here in the south, we have been seeing dust in the wind! ...with the dreaded yellow dust and its covering of everything!  Pine pollen.  It's everywhere!  During this time, relief comes in the form of rain, and it's wished for just about every day to wash it all away, if only for little while.

This stuff is an even more unwelcome site for those who have allergies.  The overload of pine pollen makes it hard, to almost impossible, to go out and enjoy the warm springtime weather.  It often looks like smoke in the air, with a wind gust.

The pine trees are covered with what looks like little yellow star bursts, and the pine pollen comes from these.  Since the pollen covers everything outside, vehicles also have a dusting of yellow.  Even if you keep your vehical in the garage, as we do.  But once you're out driving it collects on your vehicle too.  So, as I often say, "This too shall pass!" ...and pass it shall, it will then be only a memory...eventually!

It looks like little yellow star bursts in the pine trees.

A little closer view.

This was after rain washed some of it away!

After the rain and then dried on an outdoor chair.

This was on the concrete patio where some of the pollen had collected after the rain

and then dried.  {Yuck!}

Cough-hack, sneeze-ah-choo!!...

~Tammy~

A Place to Blog?

Is this the perfect office space or what?

After viewing this photo my imagination went running wild with the delightful thought of this being my office space.  Also since it's a bit chilly here today, with temps below 50 degrees on this spring morning that has me saying, "My, what a lovely winter we are having this spring!"  This looks like the perfect place to be, even if only in my mind!  
So for now I'll be thinking..."Ah, I'll just be blogging from here today!"  

Please try to not interrupt my ...daydream! *wink*

~ Tammy ~

A Visit With Family

We had a little visit with Hubby's parents here when they stopped in as they traveled back to FL after a trip to Indy.  We enjoyed seeing them and having them here with us.  I have to say these two impress me with their zest for life and their busy life style.  I can only hope to be as healthy, active, and looking as great as them at their age.  It was good to spend the evening at home with them and also our youngest Daughter was here too with her pup Dallas.  We had gotten a delicious Boston Pork Butt to serve for dinner, so we made BBQ sandwiches along with mac & cheese, baked beans and potato chips.  Yum!  It really was a very good and delicious idea!  We were all entertained by watching the pups Aeon and Dallas do their tumble fun for most of the evening until our Daughter and her pup had to head home, and it was bedtime for the rest of us.  We said our good-byes in the morning along with having a little coffee and they then got on the road to drive home to Florida.

A few photos from their visit.

   Hubby & His Parents

Hubby & his Mom.

Our Daughter.

Me, Aeon and Hubby.  I love Aeon's little smiling face!


~ Tammy ~

My new phone - iPhone

iPhone 5

Can you hear me now?...

I'm excited about the purchase of my new iPhone 5 over the weekend, and so far I am loving it.  It has been about four years since I last upgraded!  I've had the first generation Droid for all of that time.  My Daughters have been asking me for a very long time, when was I ever going to do this?  Change! ...that is all I can use as an excuse for now.  Not wanting to make a *change* actually.  Being comfortable with what I had was, well, comfortable.  And, it can also be a bit time consuming to learn something new, especially if it's a techie gadget! ...for me anyway!

I became more, and more disappointed (uh, make that frustrated!) with the battery life or lack there of, with the previous phone for quite a while.  It's been a good phone and has served its purpose.  But, we have to keep up with technology as far as these new 'smart phones' go.

Now I look forward to a much longer battery life and the longer use with my new iPhone, along with all of the new things I can do with it.  I do really like the Siri feature on the iPhone 5 which (in case you didn't know) uses voice activated commands to do many tasks such as, sending a message, making a call or searching info.  I also like the ease of adding my email accounts to one place, and how easy it is to access them.  I look forward to getting to know more about my new toy/phone!  A 'change is good' moment for me!  So ...can you hear me now?

Why did it take me so long?{shrug}...

~Tammy~

A Visit from Mom & Dad

So often you hear "It's the simple things in life!"  

So true that is!  Sometimes the simplest thing can make a day even better.  It makes for a real good day when you get to have something that you often don't get to have too.  Well, I had just that with getting to have Mom & Dad here for a little visit.  They were able to get away from their normal surroundings in Indy to visit Florida to meet their first great-great granddaughter this week.  They came through here on their return home.  It was so good to see them and to have them here with us.  They both look real good, and it's hard to believe they are great-great grandparents now!  

I had a nice dinner out with them, my Daughter, and also Hubby met us there since he was just in from a flight from California for business.  We had some delicious steaks and such at the local Texas Roadhouse, along with conversation and a few good laughs.  A little more visiting time back at the homestead, along with being entertained by two very energetic pups, Aeon and Dallas playing in full on happy puppy mode!  Those two are non-stop tumblings of fur!  Our Daughter and Dallas-pup had to leave to get home, and it was then get-to-bed time shortly after that for the rest of us.  

Mom and Dad planned to leave in the morning since the weather forecast wasn't good for over the next couple of days and they had at least a days drive, maybe two.  A little morning coffee time for Mom, Dad and I and it was then time for them to get on the road for their drive home.  The time came and went by too fast, but it was so good to have them here for a visit!  

Although short, it was certainly sweet! ...

~ Tammy ~

Mom/Great-Great Grandma and Great-Great-Granddaughter

Dad/Great-Great Grandpa and Great-Great-Granddaughter

The New Parents and their Baby 

Girl!

A Blog-iversary!

Wow!  It's been a whole year since I started this little bloggie of mine.  Doesn't seem like a year has past though.  It is often said that time does fly when you're having fun and as long as that is how I feel, I'll carry on with it!

I've had some nice responses and so far I feel like this little baby of mine has room to grow.  I usually have a new idea or something to share in mind.  So, onward to the next blog I say!  

The creative mind is always working!


Blogging on!...
~ Tammy ~

SPRING-ing Forward

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It's that time of year again, the Spring forward time change.

  Spring is right around the corner and you can feel it in the air.  I love it! Just a few more days and it will be official.  I see all of the signs, lots of daffodils popping up with their yellow and white sun happy blooms.  The trees are beginning to show their buds and hints of color are everywhere.  I anticipate the arrival of Spring from Summer's end onward.  My two favorite seasons are now before me and that makes me very happy!   

~ * ~

So bring on the sunshine and I'll handle the rain,

bringing beautiful fragrant flowers to enjoy again.

New life seen in the buds and green on the trees.

The sun's welcomed warmth will be felt in the breeze.

The songs of the birds and a buzz of the bee.

A delight of sounds and there's so much to see.

Enjoying all of the many things it will bring.

Oh how I love the season of Spring

~ * ~

Happy Spring!...

Hello March!

In with March ...and bye-bye to February! 

It seems we just celebrated the new year, and shortly after we watched for the groundhog's shadow.  We then shared in some special heart-felt love and valentines, and now we are 

March-ing on to Spring!

Hello March!  
I welcome thee with high hopes of warmer days, and a Spring-time feeling in the air!... 

February Love

For the love of...

February  

Ah February, the month most associated with the celebration of love!   Love is to be shared, so share your love with those you love, each and every day!  

I'll be sharing some of my loves and things I love throughout this month 
in the name of LOVE!...

    

Christmas Surprises

A couple of my favorite Christmas gifts this year.

I'm so thankful for everything I received this Christmas and I'm feeling very blessed.  I am also very grateful to have had my loved ones put some extra thought into my surprises.  My daughters both spoiled me with many nice gifts, and I had a couple of favorites I wanted to share.  I especially loved a gift from my oldest Daughter and her husband, a family photo collage.  I love it, and I must admit it made me cry when I saw it, happy tears of course.  It's really nice and I know they spent time on it for me.  

I also especially loved a gift from our other Daughter, of a beautiful hand knitted scarf that she made for me, I know she spent time on it for me too and it is so perfectly me, I love it!  Hubby gave me something very special that sparkles, and also a new laptop that I love and am enjoying everyday, and also sometimes into the wee hours of the morning such as right now{*yawn*}, as I type away on this blog post, but I really wanted to share this.  My eye lids may be a bit heavy right now, but my smile is wide and my heart is full.

Family Photo Collage

So many great photos and they did such a great job on it.  I love all the photos they chose to use.  

Our parents placed beside us on the top row, my parents in the upper left corner and Hubby with his parents in the upper right corner (from a trip they took to Yosemite).  I love that they also added a wedding photo of us, and included our beloved dog Jake (who was part of our family, and shared life with us for almost 14 yrs), and the rest of the photos of daughters, son-in-law and granddaughters, and a group photo in the center.  The photos of our granddaughters sitting in leaves shaped into hearts (I love hearts!) are a couple of my favorite recent photos of them too.  And the phrase just completes this.  "Family memories are always close at heart." 

Hand Knitted Scarf

This is a beautiful scarf.  

This is an interesting and different type of yarn and knitting technique.  (I'm hoping you can see the detail of it, maybe I should have photographed it on a white background?)  She did a very fine job on this, and it's a one of kind made just for me!  I love it and that it really is so perfectly me.  Black and gold are two of my favorite colors and combinations.  I love how it sparkles too.  Its a big HUG around my neck from her each time I put it on!  

Heartfelt Hugs & Smiles...

Happy New Year

A very Happy New Year wish to Everyone! 

May you be blessed with abundant good health, happiness and love!

~ Tammy ~

Our Family Christmas awaits

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! We are waiting to celebrate our Family Christmas until this weekend so we can all be together. A few more days of wonder and excitement, with hope and joy, in anticipation of us sharing gifts, laughter and good cheer together, filled with love and family.  

We will also share in the joy of ringing in the New Year together!   

Little Angel of Hope

This little Angel and Friends is an *Angel of Hope* for my Sister Sherry!

I know she would love this beautiful Angel! I pray she gets well!

~Thinking of you Sherry!~

Love your lil' Sis!

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Aching Hearts for Newtown, CT on this day

Newtown, Connecticut 

A truly sad and tragic day in America.  It's hard to go on and move past this, but we'll have to.  It's hard to comprehend, and no words can explain it.  Nothing can help us to understand why?   I am always encouraged though, by how people in our society pull together and support one another with great love and compassion in troubled times such as this.  Today we hug our loved ones just a little bit tighter and longer, with our hearts breaking for the others that can no longer hold theirs.  I don't want to remember the name of the evil person who took these lives, most of which were young innocent children.  I do want to remember each one of these 26 people who are forever loved and will be missed by their family and friends, and those of us whom they have touched our hearts.  Bless their souls and may they rest in peace, and shall they always be remembered.

Thoughts with a heavy heart...

A December Welcome

The most beautiful of all the months for decorating,
and embellishing with all that glitters, sparkles and shines. 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

I love Christmas!

This weekend is about getting in the spirit of Christmas,
beginning with the decorating of our Christmas tree this evening.

Many ornaments, with many memories, through many years.
Some are new and some are old, and they all make our tree beautiful.

A closer look at a few of our ornaments.

I love this time of year around the holidays and I really enjoy doing my Christmas decorating.  I'll be sharing more photos soon!

Tis' the season to be jolly, fa la la la la, la la la la... 

Sisters are like stars...

Today I am thinking of my two Sisters.  They both live in Indy and we don't see one another as often as we all would like but we stay close in our hearts, and thanks to phones and modern technology.  I am thankful for my sisters, their love, and for them being the first girls I ever looked up to.  Also they're the first best friends I ever had.  The oldest sister of the three of us is very sick right now and has been for some time now.  I pray for her to be well.  She is in my thoughts heavily today, I will continue to hope and pray for her recovery.

I received this beautiful cup from my other sister for my birthday this year, it reminds me of my sisters, and I use it daily.

Sisters are like stars, they make our lives sparkle and shine...

~Tammy~