Surprise

 

Never underestimate the power

 of surprising some one with flowers

for their birthday or any day!

It's just the best ever!

Thanks my friend!

Loves.

This Little Piggy

 Something about seeing this cute pig out for a walk just makes 

children want to pick it up and give it some love.

Then you know what comes next don't you?
Awe... it's so cute!Can we please have a pig?

Um... NO!

Friendship

The Gift of Friendship

By Helen Steiner Rice

Friendship is a priceless gift

That can't be bought or sold,

But its value is far greater

Than a mountain made of gold.

For gold is cold and lifeless,

It cannot see nor hear,

And in your times of trouble,

It is powerless to cheer.

It has no ears to listen,

No heart to understand.

It cannot bring you comfort

Or reach out a helping hand.

So when you ask God for a gift,

Be thankful that he sends,

Not diamonds, pearls, or riches,

But the love of a real, true friend.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~

~

That's for each of you and I thank you for your love and friendship.

Have a blessed week!

Sweet Baby Boy

Hello Beautiful Monday

A few weeks ago my frozen friend Tauna tagged me with this little diddy.

"I'm suppose to tell 5 things I won't leave home without."

See, she really has nothing better to do as she sits amongst her 9 foot snow drifts.

Oh and she does play with her husband's power tools and she does do somes awesome arts and crabs!

(Reagan calls it "arts and crabs", it always makes me giggle when she says it.)

I really do feel sorry for her so I will play along with her request

even if I am two weeks late.

I took the following pictures with my handy cell phone.

Gotta take the purse.

Gotta have my watch and a bracelet.
My watch is from Brighton and I've had it for 10 years.
The cute bracelet right beside it came from my sweet friend Connie.
She bought it in China when she was there last year.
The other bracelet with the big flower on it came
from that sweet Tauna. She brought it to me when she came
to meet me at Sissy's funeral. She also
brought me a cute matching necklace.
(Connie also came, bearing gifts, to meet me at Sissy's funeral! Such sweetness from both of them.)
Neither one of them knew I was such a bracelet freak.
I've been known to turn around and come back to the
house to get my watch and bracelet if I forget it on my
hurried way out the door.

I feel naked with out them.

Truck keys, credit card, (I never carry cash) and cell phone.
Which I am using to take these pictures.

Water bottle or Diet Coke.
Usually the water.

These big wipes!
I have 3 packs in the truck right now, one in my
purse and I make the Sweetheart keep them in his truck too.
I do have hand sanitizer in my purse but I just like these wipes better.
Especially on Sunday's when we shake so many hands.
Once we sit down and the meeting starts I pull these out and make sure we both wipe our hands good. The Sweetheart can never be to careful.
He has zero immune system, due to the anti-rejection drugs he takes.
I always wipe down the grocery buggy, the gas pump handle,
my steering wheel, little GRAND~girls germy school hands,
etc, etc, etc!!

I know this is and extra item but along with a toothbrush and tooth paste and dental floss in my purse and another set in my truck we also have these every where.
Since buying my first pack several years ago we have completely stopped buying wooden tooth picks. These are wonderful! A pick on one end and a little brush on the other.
They are in the Sweetheart's truck as well and in several drawers in the house.

So here's to you dear Tauna, thanks for giving me a new post.

I do love ya and I am really sorry that you are freezing,

as I have every window open and am listening to the birds sing

and the temperature is 85* outside today!

Hurry up Spring, Tauna needs you!

Horton House

Isn't Jay just a precious baby boy?

Jay's mom is Kristie and Kristie's mom is my good friend Beth Newsome.

I took his pictures last Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving.

It was a beautiful Fall day with temperatures in the 80's

I took the pictures at the Horton House on Jekyll Island.

I love this place for pictures and I know yall have seen it often in my portraits.

The following is posted on a historical marker to the back of the house.

~~~~~

MAJOR WILLIAM HORTON
Born in England
Came to Georgia in 1736
Died at Savannah in 1748

These are the remains of Horton's tabby house. Major Horton of Oglethorpe's Regiment, the first English resident of Jekyll Island, erected on the north end of Jekyll a two story dwelling and large barn. He cleared fields here for cultivation of crops which supplied the settlers at Frederica on St. Simons Island, a neighboring island, who would have suffered except for this assistance. Major Horton cut a road across the north end of Jekyll, running east and west, from this tabby house to the beach. This road is still known as the Horton Road.

Major Horton was a trusted officer chosen by James Oglethorpe for important missions. Upon Oglethorpe's final return to England in 1743, Major Horton succeeded him as commander of the military forces of the Colony of Georgia.

Poulain du Bignon, owner of Jekyll Island after the Revolutionary War, repaired the Horton tabby house and made it his home. As the du Bignon family grew, wooden wings were added to the house.

This is Tristan, Jay's step brother.

This is Jay with his Aunt Cathy.

I enjoyed taking their pictures on such a perfect day.

Ella's Crack(er) Story

This is Tauna, my Evil Twin and Ella's niece Susan.

You have got to go here and read the cutest story on Tauna's blog!

It is a small world!

Naughty or Nice

My EVIL TWIN, Nurse Tauna, who lives in the Arctic Tundra of Idaho

bestowed this little meme upon me the first of the week.

I am always a day late and a dollar short

or either I'm just to hot to think straight.

That is how it has been this week!

WAY TO HOT!!

(I hate these things because I'm just so boring, I bore myself)

#1: What is the silliest prank you've ever played on someone?
When Harrison dropped off Reagan (3 yrs old) on Tuesday morning she had a "Mina" aka Pacifier wrapped up in her shirt hiding it from me. I broke her of that Mina while we were on spring break with the girls and their parents weren't around. I dared them to give it back or even mention it to her when she got back home. Well, she has done real well. When she had her tonsils out a few weeks ago her daddy bought her a new one!
(I could choke his guts out, in a nice way of course.)
Back to the story, I got it away from her and turned around and acted like Bentley Boo Dog got it from me then told her that he ate her Mina (pacifier). She was mad at him and wanted him to give it back. I told her he couldn't that it would just come out in his poop. She whined a little and not 10 minutes later she told me Bentley had to go bathroom he needed to poop. She watched him all day hoping she could some how get that thing back. I asked her what we would do with it if we found it, she said we could wash it!!! Now, that is wanting that thing BAD! That night she told both her mama and daddy about that bad dog. Next day she asked me if he went poop and I found her "mina". She was willing to get it back any way she could. I know that wasn't really a silliest prank but that's the best I could do and I'm evil like that :)

#2: If you could go on a trip anywhere out of this country, where would it be? I'd go to Scotland with Tauna and then make her go to Ireland with me. Italy always looks nice in the movies too.

#3: Who played an influential role in your life? Both my parents, in different ways. I'm a lot like both of them.

#4: Are you OK with your spouse being friends with an ex? Um, never had to think about that one so I guess I just don't know, probably not so much.

#5: Favorite candle scent? Yankee candle, pineapple tropic

#6: Next movie I'm excited about seeing. No earthly clue.

#7: You must have one word to be banned from the dictionary and no longer spoken or used. What is it? I HATE hearing anyone use the Lord's name in vain! But I wouldn't want it banned from the dictionary. The word to ban would be the f bomb.

#8: Do you have a relative in jail? I don't but the Sweetheart does. In fact he has a few more that I wish were there too.

#9: What crazy fads were popular when you were in high school? Platform shoes and hip hugger pants with a wide white belt with your shirt tucked in.

#10: Have you ever been mentioned in a newspaper or on TV?
Yes, my baby announcement and my wedding announcement and a few other times.

If you are finding yourself looking for something to blog about then take this little naughty or nice test and blog on!

Keeping a Secret

This is my friend Ella Keeney.

She has a great recipe and everyone wanted it.

For 20 years I've had that recipe and never

made it because it is her special "thing."

People have been begging her to share that recipe and she wouldn't.

She would tell them, "when I die, you can get it from Gigi."

So I've been the keeper of the prized secret recipe!!

I feel special and I have kept her secret.

This is what we affectionately call "C.R.A.C.K"

It got it's nickname because it's hard to get out of

the pan and it just cracks out in all different shapes and sizes.

It is very addictive just like a drug :)

Now that there is a drug that goes by the name of "crack"

we have to be more careful what we call this recipe.

We are now trying to call it "Cracker Candy."

Well, Mrs. Ella decided that she wanted to finally share the recipe

for her famous Crack!

And now I don't have to keep the secret any more!!

She invited her friends to a party and

didn't tell them why they were coming.

I knew of course because I was her assistant for the evening.

She called it, Her Unveiling!!

Every one screamed with excitement!


They were finally going to get her secret recipe!


So now it is only fair that I share this
wonderful chocolate CRACK recipe with all of you,
My Best Blogging Friends!!


Preheat the oven to 425*
Butter a jelly roll pan or cookie sheet with sides.


Line the pan with crackers.
She uses Nabisco unsalted tops.
Because she uses salted butter.
If you use unsalted butter then use salted top crackers.


In a heavy sauce pan put two sticks of good quality butter (1 cup)
and 1 cup of light brown sugar.
On med to high heat stir until butter is melted and comes to a low boil.


Stir with wooden spoon and cook for about
5 minutes or until it comes to a soft ball stage.
(forms soft balls in ice water)

Pour over crackers.

Spread it out carefully over the crackers.

Put in the oven and bake for 3 to 5 minutes

watching carefully until it bubbles all over.

Take out of oven and immediately pour a package of

milk chocolate chips over hot crackers.
( If you are a dark chocolate lover then use dark chocolate, or you can also use semi-sweet)

Spread the melted chocolate all the way to the edges.

Cool.

Then put in refrigerator until hard.

Then hit the pan on the edge of the counter and crack out the pieces.

Enjoy!!

Okay!!

This was the first time I made it and I skipped the "butter the Pan step" and just sprayed it with Pam.

It came right out of the pan in the crackers shaped squares.

I thought that was a good thing but Mrs Ella said that was cheating and that takes half the fun out of making the Crack(er) Candy!

Either way you do this it's the bomb!!

Ella's Cracker Candy
40 saltine crackers
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
1 cup light brown sugar
8 ounces milk chocolate chips (about 1¹⁄3 cups)

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a large jellyroll the saltine crackers.
In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar together and bring to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and pour over the crackers, covering them evenly. Put the jellyroll pan into the oven and watch closely. Bake for 3 to 5 minutes, or until just bubbly. Remove from the oven and pour the chocolate chips over the crackers. When the chips melt a bit, spread them over the crackers with a knife. Transfer the pan to the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until completely cold. They will form one big sheet. Break up into pieces. Store in an airtight container and I keep it in the frig, just because.

Award

Tauna from The Garden of Egan bestowed this lovely award upon me and a few others.

~~

It is my duty now to pass it on to 5 more Happy Bloggers.

~~

I will give this award to some awesome ladies.

They each teach and entertain me on a daily basis!

Dawn from Dawn In Austin .

Connie from I started out as a Child.

Cherie from Bakow Babble.

Marrianne from 2 Little People CAll Me Mom.

And a new friend: Julie from The Harward's

"it's a special award given to bloggers who truly have happiness in their hearts and pass that on to everyone they meet and every where they go. They know that happiness is a choice and always choose wisely. They look on the sunny side of life and keep their sense of humor"

Each of you ladies should pass this award on to 5 more Happy Bloggers.

Thank you Tauna and thank you ladies for all you are!

Be Happy!

It's Official!

The whining has started!!!

~~~~
I was at the Jax Zoo today on a photographer's field trip and I nearly died!!

~~~~

You heard me, I nearly died!!

~~~~

No, I didn't fall in the Lion's Den or anything like that.

~~~~

I nearly died of a heat stroke!

~~~~

Really!

~~~~

!!!!! It was 93* !!!!!!

~
With the heat index of 98*!!!!!!
~~~~

I was soaking wet with sweat!

~~~~

You know the kind that you can feel rolling down your back and your crack.

!! Oh my Hello!!

I didn't cool off from 9:00am until I got in the shower at 6:30 this evening!

~~~~

My face was still red at 8:30.

~~~~

I was thinking just how lucky Tauna was, what with the snow and cold weather she still has up in Idaho.

~~~~

I was going to her blog to check out her blog tonight and found that she was complaining again, and with every reason!!

~~~~

It was 26* this morning at her house!

~~~~

How crazy is that?

~~~~

I know, about as crazy as it was for me having 98* heat index today!

~~~~

Well, while I was visiting her blog I found that besides complaining about her weather, she was informing all her readers that Thursday, May 6th, is National Nurses Day and it continues on until May 14th, so go hug your favorite Nurse!

~~~~

She is one tough "ER Nurse".

~~~~

But I digress.

~~~~

At the very end of her post for yesterday, She gave me an award!!

It's the "Jeannie, Happy World Happiness Award."

"it's a special award given to bloggers who truly have happiness in their hearts and pass that on to everyone they meet and every where they go. They know that happiness is a choice and always choose wisely. They look on the sunny side of life and keep their sense of humor"

That is the nicest award, especially coming from my "Biggest Fan" that isn't one of my parents!

~~~~

I feel honored and finally cooled off, I might live :)

Thanks, Tauna.

The Most Precious Couple

Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt Richardson III

Married April 30, 2010

Orlando Temple

of

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

(I am so proud of this young couple and I just love them to pieces!)

Live Entertainment

We had surprise visitors come to our Crenshaw Christmas party.

The Savannah Crenshaw's brought their very good friends with them this year.

Lisa and her girls wanted to surprise me and boy did they!

It was a most delightful surprise.

Come again any time Lisa :)

We were fortunate to have live MUSICAL entertainment!

(We always have family entertainment but not of such high quality.)

These girls did an awesome job of a variety of Christmas music,

I was very proud of all of them.

Deborah and Amelia are best friends.

Amelia is my niece.

Da'Nette is Deborah's older sister.

This is Lisa, the mother of Da'Nette and Deborah.

This is my Brother Sanford aka "Barney's Friend Chris" and his wife Sheri, the parents of Amelia.

Kudos to these parents for doing what it takes to get their daughters to and from music lessons and putting up with the at home practicing that it takes to be such accomplished musicians. They are wonderful young ladies.

We enjoyed it so much!

Wordless Wednesday

Sorry this picture of Collin didn't load this morning and then I've been gone all day and couldn't correct it. I'll try again :)

The Day Before

On Friday, Captain aka Kathryn found out

she was going to have her little bundle of

joy 2 weeks early. Doctor scheduled it for

Sunday morning. That meant we didn't

have two weeks to get her pictures made,

we had to do them Saturday evening.

The weather was perfect and we got a lot

of great pictures. Then finished off the

evening with a wonderful seafood dinner.

Here are a few of the pictures I liked.

They haven't seen them yet.

I really hope they like them.

The proud father to be.

A picture of love.

The little mommy to be.

And thanks to Christon, who got to be in

the delivery room with the little family,

I bring to you the little man getting

his first grooming session.

Welcome to the world

"Collin Pierce Dickinson"