I enjoy riding this ATV........it's mine to ride and I have been having a blast! There is a place called 'Rocky Ridge' about an hour and a half north of Fort Worth and it is fun to explore on motorcycles and ATVs........and anything else with wheels! The property belongs to an older couple and they open all 1000 acres for weekend riding and camping. The property has many trails and jumps......a couple bodies of water.......lots of cows roaming around........and the beauty of the property is outstanding. I take lots of scenery pictures when I am there........beautiful!!



I act like a kid when I am riding.......I know I need to be careful........but at times I give caution to the wind and ride like I was 20.........! I tell myself to slow down because I know I can not afford to get hurt...........if you talk to my Mother please tell her I am cautious!!

Pancakes............

Six year old Brandon decided one Saturday morning to fix his parents pancakes. He found a big bowl and a spoon, pulled a chair to the counter, opened the cupboard and pulled out the heavy flour canister, spilling it on the floor. He scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, mixed in most of a cup of milk and added some sugar, leaving a floury trail on the floor which by now had a few tracks left by his kitten.

Brandon was covered with flour and getting frustrated. He wanted this to be something very good for Mom and Dad, but it was getting very bad. He didn't know what to do next, whether to put it all into the oven or on the stove and he didn't know how the stove worked! Suddenly he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of mix and reached to push her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor. Frantically he tried to clean up this monumental mess but slipped on the eggs, getting his pajamas white and sticky.

And just then he saw Dad standing at the door. Big crocodile tears welled up in Brandon's eyes. All he'd wanted to do was something good, but he'd made a terrible mess!! He was sure a scolding was coming, maybe even a spanking. But his father just watched him.
Then, walking through the mess, he picked up his crying son, hugged him and loved him, getting his own pajamas white and sticky in the process!

That's how God deals with us... We try to do something good in life, but it turns into a mess. Our marriage gets all sticky or we insult a friend, or we can't stand our job, or our health goes sour. Sometimes we just stand there in tears because we can't think of anything else to do. That's when God picks us up and loves us and forgives us, even though some of our mess gets all over Him. But just because we might mess up,we can't stop trying to 'make pancakes' for God or for others.

I was thinking and wondered if I had any wounds needing to be healed, friendships that need rekindling or three words needing to be said, sometimes, 'I love you' can heal and bless! Remind every one of your friends and family that you love them. Even if you think they don't love you back, you would be amazed at what those three little words, a smile, and a reminder like this can do.

Suppose one morning you were called to God;

do all your friends and family know you love them?

Send this to everyone you love, and send it back to the person who sent it to you....And never stop 'making pancakes'.

Have a nice day.............and a better tomorrow............

This email was sent to me from my sister Carli......it made me think and I had to share it with all of you.......you are in my thoughts and my heart.....may God watch over you and keep you safe and may He bless you always........!!

I love you...........

This snake was recently found at the J & S Quik Mart in Tow, Texas. Big Snake!!
9 feet 1 inch weighing in at 97 pounds. It is a reminder that these creatures are actually out there........this is exactly why I won't tent camp in Texas!!!

DEEP FRIED RATTLESNAKE

1 medium sized rattlesnake (3-4 pounds), cut into steaks

1/2 cup flour

1/4 cup cornmeal

1/4 cup cracker crumbs

1/2 cup milk

1 egg

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (not garlic salt)

1 teaspoon salt

Dash pepper

Mix dry ingredients. Whisk milk into beaten egg and use to dip snake steaks. Coat them with dry ingredients. Fry, uncovered, in 400 degree oil until brown.

Yum, yum! It sorta tastes like chicken........

(This was sent to me via email from my friend, Bill, in Haltom City, Tx. Everything out here in Texas grows mighty big!!!!)

My sister Carli and her daughter Cori.......

The computer swallowed Grandpa.....

Yes, honestly it's true!
He pressed 'control' and 'enter'....
And disappeared from view.

It devoured him completely,
The thought just makes me squirm.
He must have caught a virus
Or been eaten by a worm.

I've searched through the recycle bin
And files of every kind;
I even used the Internet,
But nothing did I find.

In desperation, I asked Jeeves
My searches to refine.
The reply from him was negative,
Not a thing was found 'online'.

So, if inside your 'Inbox',
My grandpa you should see,
Please 'Copy', 'Scan' and 'Paste' him
And send him back to me!!


This is a tribute to all the Grandmas and Grandpas who have been fearless to learn and use the computer. They are the greatest!!! We do not stop playing because we grow old; We grow old because we stop playing...Never be the first to get old!!

(Received this email July 5th from my good friend Pam in California and wanted to share it will all of you.)

Happy Birthday Breezi

One of my favorite photos of Summer and Breezi


Yesterday on July 23rd...Breezi turned 24! Wow, where did the time go? Her Dad and I agreed that it seems like she was just a baby and now look at her!! She and friends celebrated her birthday at the beach.....lucky 'little' girl..!!!

Happy Birthday daughter of mine...........XOXOXOXOX

Little Becky gets her first tooth!!

Dil, daughter-in-law Beth, emailed me this picture of Becky smiling and showing off her new tooth. This picture makes me want to kiss her all over!!

All grown up..........

Once upon a time there was a little girl who captivated the hearts of everyone around her. She was a talker with such animation and expression that all of us would entice her to engage in conversations just to hear her talk with that little southren drawl she had.........we still talk about her personality and how cute she was back then....but now we all talk about how beautiful she has become............we love you Lauren!!

Texas Civil War Museum

If you are ever in Fort Worth you have to visit the Civil War Museum. It is billed as "the largest Civil War Museum west of the Mississippi". Yesterday I spent two hours going through the museum and I found it to be very interesting. Lots of artifacts.... and a very large collection of Victorian dresses. I just can not imagine the women wearing all that clothing in this Texas heat!! I have always been fascinated with this part of our American History and going through the museum has renewed my interest and I am headed out to look for some new books on this subject!!



www.texascivilwarmuseum.com

Get 'em up.....move 'em out.....!!!!

Fort Worth Stockyards.....what a fun place to visit. There is quite a bit to see.....daily cattle drives, museums, cowboys and cowgirls on horses, weekly rodeos...........good places to eat and lots of shopping. I enjoy myself every time I go there.......fortunately for me......it's only about five minutes away from my house so I can go often!!

Yard of the month..........

This old fence hides the gas meter...it was 'too ugly'...I am into 'too cute'!!


My yard was selected "Yard of the Month" for the neighborhood by a formal committee of the historical district in which I live. It means so much to me to have this honor bestowed upon me!! In the past year and a half I have spent so much time working in my yard....it is nice to have the "yard of the month" sign displayed on my front lawn for all to see, but it is a big reminder for myself as to how far I have come since I began working in the yard. Big news........big moment!! Not only do I have the sign in my yard, but I also earned a gift certificate of $25 to a very wonderful store here in Ft. Worth. A combination of antiques and flowers.......two of my most favorite things in the world under one roof! Yea!!!

Texas BBQ..........

My friend sent me this picture via email. Texans love their BBQs.....as you can tell....this owner really likes his BBQ!!! Everything is bigger in Texas!!

Time passes by so quickly........

Where did the past three weeks go? I meant to sit at the computer and blog, but some things just got in the way. Out of town guests for 4 days, sick for 8 days......yard work to catch up on!! Endless list! Fresh new start!!

My son, Tony, called me one night and apologized for not eating his vegetables when he was young. I chuckled as I realized he must be trying to get Matthew to eat his vegetables and now understood how it felt to be a parent of a little one who was resisting "what was good for him". He tells me that both of his children are doing well and getting big! He and Beth will be sending me photos of the children from their vacation. Can't wait to share them with all of you.

My daughter, Summer, had a operation on June 26th to have her thyroid removed. She is doing well now. I was a mess being 1500 miles away from her and I was on needles and pins all day until her Dad called me to let me know she was out of surgery and on the road to recovery.
Ashylnn lost her first tooth!! Summer has a picture of her on her blogspot and it is a cute picture. They grow up so fast!! Anyone wanting Summer's blogspot address just email me and I will forward it to you. She has done a real good job with her site.

Breezy has a job interview next Tuesday for an office job. Yea!! She has talked for a long time about switching vocations and now she is out there searching for another job. She does not like change and is very much on the "scared" side of life.....I hope she gets this job......it will help her a great deal!!

I haven't been on the computer much in the last three weeks and my mailbox is flowing over with emails from all of you. I will eventually get to all of them. Be patient and prepare yourself for the "great email forwarding day".......then your mailboxes will be full!!

Gary is going through treatment once again. The last time I spoke to him he sounded good and was in great spirits. He told me he was going back to bike riding and was looking forward starting up again. He does Yoga as well and says it helps him stay in shape.

Fourth of July was spent enjoying friends and watching a terrific fireworks display. I went to a friend's house who lives out in the unincorporated area of Tarrant County and their neighborhood puts on a fireworks show that is unbelievably beautiful. I can't describe what it looks like having huge fireworks going off all around you at once! This was my second year visiting out there and once again.......good food, good friends......good fireworks....good time!!