Sunshine and Frosty Frost on the ground!

It was 29 degrees this morning, so the frost was thick and white this morning. You could etch your name in it! But even though the skies are pretty grey right now the sun is shining enough to run my solar fountains in the garden. Pee Boy is getting his daily workout!!!

Here is a pic of our Son and DIL taken this past week at a Dine In for Todd's Unit on base! Handsome couple!!!



We have been working hard so we are ready for Todd & Erin to come and visit us for a few days! We have a house rented for a few days so the entire family can stay together. The girls have worked out a menu so all the family favorites can be munched on from Milk Toast (yes my crazy kids love it) to Home made Pizza! Hubby and I will do our vegeterian thing as much as possible. But who can pass up some our very favorite foods in th entire world!! LOL The last time Todd came home I fell so far off the wagon I couldn't catch back up. Now that I have taken 16 lbs back off I am going to work hard at keeping the amounts to a minimum!

Hubby picked up the first two seasons of the Dog Whisperer with Cesar Milan they have been very insightful and hopefully it will teach us, what we have been doing wrong. Let's see Kylee is the Pack Leader and we follow her every whim. That could be the problem!!! LOL So now I get to retrain hubby! He know's he is the problem now we just have to get him to change!!

So Todd wants snow while he is home in Michigan, and it looks like maybe a few flakes might make his wish come true the end of next week! Between CA and the flatlands of CO and TX he has not seen any in a couple of years. He thinks there is a chance he could see some in Afghanistan, but not his goal!!

Well I am off and running with hubby. Have a good one and I hope I can jump back on here before we take off with the family. If not be prepared for a lot of photos when I get back!

Dilly

Blue skies, in the 50's and the leaves are mostly gone!

I am looking out my window near my computer. The sky is a beautiful soft blue, with whisps of clouds dragging across the horizon. The trees are a etched black and grey looking so forlorn without their leaves. I am just glad it is in the 50's and the grass is still green and not covered with the "S" word!

We spent yesterday in Lansing with all of Randys family. His parents headed down to Florida early this morning for their last winter down there. They will be looking for someplace around here to spend next winter. That will be nice to have them close and be able to share with them!

The grandsons are growing so fast it is amazing. Baby Brock looks like he is 4 months old and just getting near 2. He is very good, but has been having some tummy problems that give his Mom & Dad fits at times. Xavier is such a great kid, so polite, a bundle of energy and always willing to give a hug, kiss and noseys to most anyone! He wanted to ride home with Grammie and Papa last night from the family get-together, he lasted about 1/2 a mile before he went nite-nite!

We did manage a skype visit so Todd could see and chat with his Grandparents. It's been over 2 years since they have seen him and will miss his visit 9 days from now.

So, cleaning, fixing up and relaxing are on my list of things to do today! A little research on the computer thrown in for interesting!! Have a good one everybody!

Dilly

October is flying by!

Man what happened to the first part of October? Here it is the 20th and I can't remember the days flying by like that!


I have been busy since I chatted last time. We had dinner with Shannon, Shawn and baby Brock on Saturday night and found some really good salads at Chilis. I went to see Xavier taking his last swimming classat the YMCA, that kid is not scarred of anything!! Monday night we did geo-caching (treasure hunting) with Xavier and found a few and couldn't find a few more! We will be trying again, maybe next Monday night.


We had a good week finding treasure for our work and Randy has a big write up for a knitting machine that walks, talks, has a bench, etc. It was a very good find.

I am cleaning! I am first cleaning bookshelves out and organizing them so I can get more books in there. I am such a Book-HO and having the Goodwills in our area selling them for 4 for $1.00 sucks me in everytime. Not only does it provide me with more reading than I can handle, it also provides me with a library of how to books that I can pretty much tell you how to do most anything regarding home, cooking vegetarian, decor, crafts etc. I do need more bookshelves!! LOL

The weather is wet and chilly, but I don't mind, I love jeans and layered tops! My preferred clothing and it beats sweating your butt off anyday! We have hubbies family get-together before his parents head to Florida for the winter. This will be their last winter down there, they are going to get rid of their mobile home and stay in Michigan next year! That will be a little different. Plus we will be looking for someplace around here for them to stay, to be able to see them anytime puts a smile on hubbies face!

Our eating plan is coming together, we are at about 16 dinner style meals that we really like. I won't say there aren't some very bad ones out there, we have had a few, but we keep going. Last night was chili and it was freaking wonderful. I am finally feeling confident enough to substitute things so I can make the food we are use to eating. I am still perplexed about meatloaf, but you never know!! 15 lbs have melted off me in 6 weeks, and my blood pressure is at 116 over 78 which is great, and no daily highs and lows which was one of my biggest concerns! What with filing for Social Security earlier this week, I would really like to hang around and harrass my children for a long, long time! LOL

So off to do more cleaning, maybe a little reading. I hit my 50 reads for the year, I wonder how many I will have by the end of the year?? Less than two weeks before Erin & Todd will be here!! YEHAAAAA The plans are coming together for their visit!

Have a wonderful day and pass around a smile and make someone else smile!

Dilly

Relaxing this morning!

I woke up around 4:30 am this morning, couldn't get back to sleep. Around 5:00 am Dozer decided he wanted to hop into bed and join us. Yah, I didn't get back to sleep so got my robe on, grabbed my current read, and came down stairs. After I got my nest comfy (chair, reading light, blankie, etc) I read for a while. Then made coffee and put a batch of banana nut muffins in the oven.


We have been making beads regularly and listing them on Ebay! They have been recieved well and the extra fund is building nicely. I guess after nearly 9 years every once in a while I need a break. What is wonderful that even after 9 years once at the torch I am sucked in by the flame!! There isn't many crafts that I can say that about! Randy take a few minutes every once in a while to turn out his beautiful little spacers! I am so glad he has the patienc for those!!


Yesterday I was lucky enough to ride with our two daughters, one SIL, and my to grandson's down to IKEA near Detroit and wander around and enjoy all the goodies. I was inspired, picked up a few little goodies, and got lot's of ideas! I found some yummy shelves that I would just frigging love to put in our office!! Six foot wide and 6' tall with what looked to be 18" cubes for books and goodies! I will be looking for that for sure!!

So working on the house this weekend, making and listing beads, cleaning and just enjoying the days is on my schedule!! Enjoy your weekend!!

Dilly

Probably Our Last Warm Day for a While!!

It's hump day/garbage day/Wednesday and it's sneaking up toward 70 today! Then the cool weather comes back and the long pants and long sleeves come back out! Since it's mid October if we get another warm day like this it will be a welcome suprise!

We hit the road early this morning and dropped the conversion van off to have the exhaust worked on. One of Shawns clients fixed it up quick, and we got to oggle the Monster Trucks that he builds!!! He ships them all over the world! But now our van is nice and quiet.

While Dave was working on our big van, we took the little one over and picked up Shannon and Brock and brought them back home for the day. Shannon is doing fine, but is not suppose to do much with her right wrist. Not even pull on the frig handle. Like she said, they should have wrapped up her fingers and thumbs if they didn't want her to grab something! So Papa has been doing diaper changes, Grammie has been feeding, and Brock currently is out and sleeping on Mom's Lap!


Other than that I have one more book to hit my 50 for the year! Not sure how many I will actually do, I go through times of beeing sucked into reading and other times where I just like to sit and relax! We will see!

Have a good day talk to you tomorrow!!

Dilly

A Beautiful Tuesday in October!

Well I am back as promised! Right now I am waiting to hear how Shannon's second wrist surgery went. She is getting both her wrist (Carpal Tunnel) done during her maternity leave. Of course the surgeon she works with is a hand specialist and is doing the surgery on both of them. I am sure all is well!

This past weekend we spent at the Pottawotamie Recreation Area with both our daughters and their families! It was great!!!! Hubby is looking at the photo album as I type and said "I suppose we should make this at least a yearly thing???" Yup, and my wish is that someday Todd & Erin can come and join us!!! That would be pefect!


While we were at the campsite the entire place celebrated Halloween with decorations, parades, candy, hayrides, the entire shebang. My sister, Michelle. came down and all our little trick-or-treaters were dressed as bananas! A great time was had by all!


Hubby and I are working on a new way of eating. Almost 2 years ago we went Organic and I would say we were at around 80%. There are still things you just can't get organic. We still do that as much as possible. Recently we entroduced a bigger percentage of fruits and vegetables into our diet. I can't tell you how many pounds of blueberries I have frozen!!!

A month ago we watched the movie "Forks over Knives". It was a big eye opener and with much discussion, some trips through the grocery stores and eating up of things in the freezer we started a new path. We are eating a "Whole Food ~ Plant Based" diet. What that means is no meat, dairy products, eggs, or oils. After reading a couple of books on this style of eating. We are following the Engine #2 diet written by Rip Esselstyn. This diet follows the regiment of the Forks over Knives that his dad, Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, and Dr. Colin Campbell came up with after decades of research. Yes, it is pretty much vegan, but actually more food stringent, without the political garbage! When I told Todd what we were doing he said "OMG Mom don't frigging turn into a Vegan they are all nuts!!!! So we won't use the "V" word. We choose to do ths for health reasons, not animal rights reasons. I don't condone any harm to animals, but you won't see me throwing myself between the farmer and the chicken!

So you ask what do we eat well this morning it was Shredded wheat, with blueberries, bananas, sliced almonds, soy milk and honey, with a huge glass of tomato juice (not concentrated). YUMMMY! I won't tell you that a big juicy hamburg doesn't smell and look scrumptious, but I look at what is left in the pan and know that is what is coating our blood vessels and I can live with out it for now!! LOL

So off and running today, I think we will be doing the Lansing area and stopping in and checking on Shannon on our way back! You all enjoy this beautiful day, it's going to bevfall weather again soon!

Dilly

Darn it, lets try this again!!!

I have been told I am a lazy no good Blogger and I need to get my buttkiss back in gear. So let's try this again!!

Since my last post, I have been enjoying my Grandson's Brock and Xavier.


Xavier is growing so fast and is a busy, busy little guy! He is doing preschool two days a week, gymnastics, swimming and story time! We are still doing Monday nights with him for dinner and spending the time getting in trouble finding things to do! We enjoy geo-caching, taking photos, working on craft projects, taking bike rides and just hanging together!


Brock is 6 weeks old and growing like a weed. He has been on the run since the day his little feet made it outside the hospital. He has been to to monster truck shows, camping, visiting his Grandparent Binkleys up North, and his Great Papa and Grammie Schafer too!

Other than watching the little boys grow, Hubby and I have been busy making beads, hitting the road for the business, and playing with our dogs. Since Fall is making it's entry we are looking at working on the house and what we want to get done over the cold winter that is approaching! But even better, in about 3 weeks we are looking forward to seeing Todd and Erin who hope to be in Michigan for about a week for predeployment leave!! We are working on a family weekend get-away while they are visiting to just relax and enjoy every moment of being back together as a family!!

I promise to keep going on my blog, I still need to share with you our new changes in our life. Yah, the next time I will share our no meat, dairy, oil, eating Whole Foods, plant based diet we have been doing for over a month! I said in my Blog description we would try all kinds of wild and crazy things, I wasn't kidding!!!!

Have a great day and pass a smile or two around!

Dilly