Happy Birthday

This is a picture of Kathleen Floyd Griffis, my Mother In Law. She is 77 years old today. She is the mother of 5 children, 14 grandchildren, and 6 great grand children. She is the center of the lives of the Griffis family and a great example to us all. (She's holding Reagan in this picture and it was taken at Reagan's 1st birthday party in Feb. of this year 2008.

This is Maxwell Sterling Crenshaw my youngest nephew. He is 5 years old today. He is the youngest son of Sandy and Sheri and youngest of the Billy and Janice Crenshaw's grand children. Happy Birthday Max! His real hair is blonde but I just love his 70's look in this picture.

4 Brothers.

These Bricks are in the Pulaski County Veterans Memorial Park in Hawkinsville, Georgia. The top left one is for my daddy. The others are his brothers. They all are living except James E. Crenshaw, whom we called Uncle Jamie who died in an automobile accident. They all proudly served our country in the U.S Military.

Toilet Paper

So I mostly use the Scott brand of toilet tissue. Because that is what my mama uses and my mother in law too. It's much easier on our septic tank and pipes also. Every now and then I will buy something else that is on sale. Yesterday when Shelby was pottying I handed her some tissue to finish with. She grabbed it and said with a smile, "this is cottonelle!" She was right! I asked her how she knew that and she said "that's what gamma uses and it's at my house too." That child is so observant you just can't get anything past her. I didn't know there were different kinds of toilet paper until I was at least 10 years old much less the age of 3. She is so funny.

Blackie The Mail Dog

“Blackie” or “Rex”, which ever you preferred to call him, was as faithful on Palatka’s City Route #1 as the blue clad mail carrier he followed for several years.“Blackie, as I called him, was just a plain mongrel, but seemed to have as much sense as some humans I’ve known.“Blackie” didn’t really belong to the regular carrier on that route, Mr. Max Musgrove, whom he followed year after year. His ownership was questionable at times, especially when it was learned that the police were looking for him, for at times “Blackie” did get into mischief.The Letter Carriers at the Palatka, Florida Post Office had been told that the dog origionally belonged to an old black woman, but at the time we knew him best, it was understood that he belonged to a white man who lived a few blocks from the Post Office.Though Mr. Musgrove claimed no ownership of “Blackie”, he probably gave him the better care that anyone else . For instance, each day as Max ate his lunch at a little grocery on his route, “Blackie” got his usual can of dog food, and some where along the way for a snack he was sure to get an ice cream bar.For all this generosity from Max. “Blackie” would perform as an exellent body-guard and dogs along the route, who had the idea of putting the ‘nip’ on the mail man, were quickly discouraged by faithful ole “Blackie”He also liked to have a little fun on his daily trek around the route with Max and as dogs will be dogs, he had a dislike for cats. As soon as they saw him coming you would see them scampering up a tree or scooting under a house. This dislike for the FELINE species was what almost got him ‘put away’, before his time. We never knew who reported him. It must have been some sweet little lady who treasured her cats dearly. Anyway, it seems that one of the lady’s cats was disposed of and “Blackie” got the blame. &nbs p; On hearing that the police were on the look out for “Blackie”, someone who loved him, got him out of town until the heat was off!!!But not much time had passed before “Blackie” was back on the job. Every morning , “Blackie” would plop himself down right in front of the entrance to the Post Office, for that is where he always waited for Max , rain or shine. He was a familiar sight to patrons calling for their early morning mail. They had to either walk around him or step over him to get in the door. And, the amazing thing about this is, that no matter how many people came in or went out the door, “Blackie” never followed anyone else away. Other mail carriers used the same door, but he only gave them a wag of his tail as if to say ‘Good morning’ and would immediately train his head back on the door where his daily friend would soon be coming out.When Max finally did come out the door heading out on his route, “Blackies” ears would perk up, and his tail would wag like a palm frond in a Florida hurricane. Then, you’d see a greeting between friends that looked as it they had not seen each other in months. After the greeting, off they would go on their daily trek, Max carrying his load of letters, magazines and such, and “Blackie” at his job of keeping the dogs at bay and the cats up a tree.Not that he was lazy by any means, “Blackie” was a very smart canine, for he knew how to get his rest and conserve energy along the route. At certain relay boxes, he would lie and relax underneath in the shade and wait while Max would deliver the mail up one side of the street and back down the other side, resting all the while, with one eye opened and one ear cocked, for any action he might have to take. Then as Max proceeded on to another street, up “Blackie” would hop and follow along.After years of carring a “foot route”, Max transferred to a mounted route and said good bye to “Blackie” as he would be delivering mail on the other side of town. Sadly he willed his good canine friend to his successor to City Route 1, Mr. Dave Broadway, but Max never lost is love and interest in “Blackie”Right away Dave and “Blackie” became good friends also, for Dave was no stranger to “Blackie”, having ‘subbed’ for Max on the route for some two years. It might well be said here that “Blackie was as faithful to the ‘subs’ on the route as he was to Max. When he was sure Max wasn’t coming out, he would catch up with whoever was making the rounds that day and take up his duties.After several months of companionship with Dave, the sad day came. We had missed seeing “Blackie” for about two weeks. A plea was published in the paper as to his where-a-bouts. But nothing came of it until I myself, was subbing on that route one day and was approached by an elderly black lady who had been fishing down on the river bank o f the St, Johns River. She inquired if we had located “Blackie” yet, and I said no that he was nowhere to be found. It was rather shocking at first and I didn’t really want to hear what she was about to tell me. She said that she was pretty sure she had seen the ‘remains’ of “Blackie” down on the banks of the river.After working my way around the route, I went down to the river to see for myself… It was true!! I had no doubt, there before me lay the tired old bones and collar of our friend “Blackie”. How he met his death will probably remain a mystery, for this life at least. His last known owner was notified and the rites for "Blackie” the Mail Dog”were taken care of there on the banks of the St. Johns River, only a few feet from where for years he had started his daily rounds with Max, Dave, and others that carried the mail on City Route 1.
Written in the 1970’s By mail carrier Billy S. Crenshaw

My Daughters

Christon and Jordan

I'd like to introduce my daughters to you for those of you who haven't had the opportunity to meet them in person. I didn't give birth to these girls. My sons blessed my life with them by choosing them to be their wives. Christon married Harrison, October will be 5 years ago, and is pictured on the left. She is the mother of my grand daughters. (I still can't believe that neither Shelby or Reagan inherited Christon's naturally curly hair.) Jordan is pictured on the right and married Travis two years ago. Both the girls moved into our home and lived as a married couple with our sons the first year of their marriages. No sweat for the boys, but I can't even begin to know how hard that was for them to live with me and Harry. (Now think about it, can you see yourself living with your mother in law for the first year of your marriage?) But it did give us a chance to become very close and they do still speak to me, so maybe I wasn't to bad. They both have beautiful homes of their own now. They are good wives and I think my son's and our family and extended family have been very blessed to have them in our lives. One of the best blessings is that they get along with each other as best friends as well as being sisters in laws. I hope that my son's will always treasure them as much as I do. I'm also lucky that they both read my blog, so here's to you girls, all my love! TMiL (the mother in law)

Another Award!

Yes ME, I know that you are thinking not her again?!? But yes once again I have received an award! This time it is the award of distinction. Thanks Amanda for the honors. (She owes me for changing her life by introducing her to the world of bloggin.)

Here are the rules as stated by Amanda herself: "Pass the award on to five blogs that make you laugh, cry, think or sigh." So, I pass this award on to the following hard working blogging people.

Leah

Rachael

Elizabeth

Cindy

Courtney

Fair Warning!

When I first started this blog, every time Travis saw me with the camera he'd say, "Are you bloggin me?" or "Don't you blog my picture." When he brought the deer horns in to show his dad he told me to take a picture of these and blog them. Well my camera's broken and I had to send it off to be repaired. So you have been warned, anything you may say may be blogged!

Sunday Sunday

You are strong...when you take your grief and teach it to smile.

You are brave...when you overcome your fear and help others to do the same.

You are loving...when your own pain does not blind you to the pain of others.

You are wise...when you know the limits of your wisdom.

You are alive...when tomorrow's hope means more to you than yesterday's mistake.

You are growing...when you know what you are but not what you will become.

You are free...when you are in control of yourself and do not wish to control others.

You are merciful...when you forgive in others the faults you condemn in yourself.

You are beautiful...when you don't need a mirror to tell you.

You are rich...when you never need more than what you have.

You are you...when you are at peace with who you are not.

What are you?

I saw this last week on another blog and I really like it.

Thought I'd share it with yall.

I've Traumatized the Child

I guess I can count on the kids for something to post about.


If you missed my "Way Cute Flip Flop" story you might want to read it first so that this post makes more sence. Click on the words Way Cute Flip Flops and it will take you to the post.

As we were rounding the McDonald's drive thru yesterday Shelby noticed that there were sea gulls every where and pointed them out to me. (Sea gulls are any where there is food.) I asked her why she thought there were so many flying around, and she told me, "I think they are looking for my flip flops." Then she said, "Do you got mine?" I told her yes they were at the house.

Last week when we went to the beach with the family she saw all the birds and put her flip flops under her arm pits so that they couldn't see them.

I suggested we buy some bread and feed the birds today and she'll say "that's okay, they're not hungry."

So she's done with the cheap fun of feeding birds. Maybe I can talk her sister into bird feeding.

E Award Jinx

I'VE DRAWN A BLANK THIS MORNING.

IT MUST BE THE PRESSURE FROM

WINNING THE COVETED "E AWARD!"

THANKS A LOT AMANDA!

Thank You, Thank You Very Much!

Thank you! Oh! Thank you! I can hardly believe this! I feel so blessed. And this award- it's so fantastic! Oh, thank you again! I just want everyone to know that even in my wildest hallucinations, I never would have imagined that this could ever validate my mediocrity. And to the other brilliant award winners, I want each of you to know how totally wonderful your fake smiles makes me feel right now! You know when I first learned that I was getting this award, I just had to take a moment and laugh about how generous my fans have been to leave me but very few comments. I know my posts have just left you speechless and then you just can't possibly leave a comment or two. I forgive you. I guess it all just makes me feel kind a special. First off though, I want to thank Amanda who looked deep within her heart and mind before giving me this fantastic award! Also, I want to thank my loving and supportive husband who bought and payed for the computer on which I blog. For my Niece Tara who kept after me to join her in this cyber space family reunion. I want to thank my parents, for being such a powerful force in my life. And to my Brother and Sisters, who tolerate me asking if they've read my blog today. And finally, to all my peeps - I couldn't have done it without you! And in the word's of Elvis, "Thank You, Thank You Very Much!"

* Sorry, I was so overcome with emotion, I forgot that I was suppose to pass on this award to another blogger. Seeing as most of my friends and family have already gotten this award, I'd like to pass this on to big red EP. After Tara introduced me to blogging, I found out that my sister and brother's good friend EP had been bloggin for years. I loved her blog right off. I think I went back and read a years worth of posts, if not more. Her pictures are what got me hooked and of course her sense of humor. So here's to you big red. You're own E award!
* I'd like to also give an F award (for FUNNY) to the crying drama queen, my niece Leah. (Who has already given herself and award.) Love you, Leah! Only thing, you really need to post more often and bring proof with pictures!

Potty Seat

Okay little potty trainin mama's this is another one of my favorites. I hate potty chairs! I hate the fact that kids can drag them all over the house. I hate the fact that someone has to empty them and then someone has to wash them out and that someone is usually YOU. As Shelby would say, "that's disgusting." So I'll let you in on my little secret. I read about it in Good House Keeping Mag. they recommended it. It's called a Transitions™ Quiet-Close™ toilet seat with Quick-Release™ functionality. Designed to accommodate the needs of both adults and children without attaching a separate seat, the Transitions toilet seat, featuring Quiet-Close technology and Quick-Release hinges, combines ease of use and convenience for any bathroom. Transitions seat and it's made by Kholer. It's a little costly but if you have little ones especially girls, it's perfect for potty training. It has two seats and a lid. The first seat is for little bottoms and they feel very safe sitting on it and they can't fall thru. Then the second seat is a normal toilet seat just right for bigger bottoms. It only comes in elongated. I love it and it is worth the money. I ordered it straight from Kholer on line and they mailed it to the house, shipping was only $4.00. I ordered my second one yesterday for the half bath that we just finished in the play room.

I had to laugh when Shelby saw her seat up and the regular seat down she said, "Travis has been here hasn't he?" Don't ask me what made her say it? She's a mess!

OH MY GOSH!!

This is who woke me up ringing my

door bell this morning. I'm just glad

all he wanted was to say,

APRIL FOOLS!!!!

Evelyn's Carrot Cake

I looove carrot cake, well most any kind of cake, but this carrot cake is tops on my list. A good friend, Renee Straub, gave this to me years ago. It's her mother in law Evelyn's recipe. I'm tellin ya, it's the most moist carrot cake recipe I've ever tasted. Don't worry about the pineapple if you don't like it. It actually taste like the nuts. You would never know that there was pineapple even in it. And it couldn't be any easier by using baby food insead of having to cut and chop, shred carrots. Give it a try and let me know what you think!!

Evelyn's Carrot Cake
2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
3 4oz. jars of carrot baby food (like stage 2)
1 8oz can crushed pineapple, drained
1/2 cup chopped pecans

In mixing bowl combine all dry ingredients. Add oil, eggs and baby food. Mix on low speed until well blended. Stir in pineapple and nuts. Pour into two 9 inch cake pans or three 8 inch pans. Bake at 350* for 35 mins. or until it passes the tooth pick test. (when the tooth pick comes out clean)

Cream Cheese Icing
1 stick of butter (1/2 cup)
1 8oz. block of cream cheese
3 or more cups of powdered sugar
1-1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
Blend butter and cream cheese until creamy.Start adding sugar and a drop or two of milk untilyou get the right consistency. Then blend in the nuts and ice completely cooled cake.