We Have a Winner Folks!

And the Winner is

#23 Prudence

I used Random.org to pick the winner.

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers: 23
Timestamp: 2008-08-09 09:15:05 UTC

I gave every one a number in the order you commented. A few of you commented several times, but that didn't help you win. I only put your number in once. :)

THANK YOU EVERY ONE FOR PLAYING ALONG. I GOT SOME GREAT SUGGESTIONS ON SOME NEW BOOKS I WANT TO READ. MAYBE WE'LL DO IT AGAIN SOON. I LOVE CONTEST! HOPE YALL HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

08/08/08

A Special Date

August 8 is the 220th day of the year (221st in leap years). There are 145 days remaining until the end of the year.

The date is not only catchy but the number 8 is also considered very favourable in Chinese culture. The Chinese pronunciation for ‘eight’ (ba in Mandarin and paat in Cantonese) sounds similar to the word for ‘prosperity’ (fa in Mandarin and faat in Cantonese). The more eights involved in a couple’s lives, the better chance they have for luck and wealth (so get booking!). Numbers play a large role in choosing a wedding date for the Chinese (many Chinese couples are given a selection of auspicious days on which to marry). I read somewhere yesterday that there were 9000 weddings planed in China today.

This applies to any special event in Chinese culture. In fact, the summer Olympics in Beijing will begin on 8/8/08, at 8:08 p.m.

Along with the good luck associated with the number eight, 8/8/08 has a few other factors that might make it a desirable day to get married. August is always a popular month for weddings and when the numeral “8″ is turned on its side, it becomes the symbol for infinity — a fitting motif to represent the beginning of a marriage! I was wondering how many people will play those numbers in the lottery today? I just thought those facts were interesting!

Don't forget to sign up for my 200th post give away in the blog below this one. It ends tonight at midnight EST. Join in the summer fun!

200th Post Contest

Hey yall, this is my 200th post!

So time for a little give away.

I thought since I posted about

Charles Martin yesterday, that

I would offer the winner one of his books!

Your choice! Just leave a little comment

on who your favorite author is and I'll draw

a name on Saturday morning and

post the winner. Lets end this contest,

midnight EST Friday, 08/08/08!

Now I know that most days I have 20-25 different visitors. Some days even more. But most days only 5 or 6 of you leave a comment. Now is the time to come out of the closet. If you still haven't figured out how to leave a comment then e-mail me and I'll post one for you. Come on, play along it's not that hard and it can be fun, especially if you win! Good Luck!

"Where The River Ends"

The very day Harry went into the hospital a dear friend showed up with Charles Martin's new book, "Where The River Ends." It had been released the day before. I couldn't believe it. It was so thoughtful. She knows how much I love his books. This is #6. I've got the other 5 signed by him when he came to the Ford Bookstore on St. Simons Island. He's coming again in September and I'm going to have him sign this one too. BUT.... I can't bring myself to start this one. It deals with terminal illness. And with Harry's situation right now, not that it's terminal, it's just that he is sick, I just can't read it now. I'll wait another month or so, I do want to read it before he signs it though.
PS: If you want to read one of his books, start with "The Dead Don't Dance" then read the squeal, "Maggie" then read the rest of them. He's a good southern writer from Jacksonville Florida.



Editorial Reviews
A powerfully emotional and beautifully written story of heartbreaking loss and undying love. He was a fishing guide and struggling artist from a south George trailer park. She was the beautiful only child of South Carolina’s most powerful senator. Yet once Doss Michaels and Abigail Grace Coleman met by accident, they each felt they’d found their true soul mate. Ten years into their marriage, when Abbie faces a life-threatening illness, Doss battles it with her every step of the way. And when she makes a list of ten things she hopes to accomplish before she loses the fight for good, Doss is there, too, supporting her and making everything possible. Together they steal away in the middle of the night to embark upon a 130-mile trip down the St. Mary’s River—a voyage Doss promised Abbie in the early days of their courtship.Where the River Ends chronicles their love-filled, tragedy-tinged journey and a bond that transcends all.

Tasty Tuesdays

Over on Prudy's site, she posted

this recipe for

Chocolate Glazed Oatmeal Peanut Bars!

One day last week when I had the girls,

I let Shelby help me make them.

She just loves to help bake things

and then watch it from the

oven window as it cooks.

This is how they turned out.

They were easy to make

and were so yummy.

Thanks Prudy.

I Hate Change, Sometimes

(My New Phones)

Sometimes I hate change.

Even though the darling Mr. AT&T

came last week and put in new phone

lines for us, we still had some static.

My phones were about 8 years old and

have been dropped no less than a

thousand times. It was time, past time

to get new ones. But I hate change!

Not so much change,

I guess, maybe it's the fact

I have to read the directions on

how to use new ones.

Maybe that's the real problem.

I just hate reading directions,

unless it's in a cookbook.

But I am kind of excited

because when the phone rang

today, it talks! It told us who

was calling! Apparently these phones

work with the caller I D. It's going

to be interesting if it tells us

there is a Telemarketer on

the other end.

Getting Ready For Church

It Be Nice

Mr. AT&T

(My AT&T man was cuter than this one!)
Finally Mr. AT&T came today and spent about an hour and a half drilling two new holes into my walls and set a new phone jack and a new line for my computer. Also put in a whole new box on the back of the house instead of the side. Now you can call the house phone and maybe we will answer. I would appreciate it if you didn't all call at once, please.



I would like to say that it has been one of those days!! We had the girls today. A home health care nurse and Mr. AT&T, all before 3:00pm. I'm done and ready for a quiet weekend, thank you very much!

Cupcakes

This is how we celebrated Harry's birthday in the hospital last Saturday! I bought a dozen cupcakes from Walmart. They really weren't that bad. Harry's blood sugar was 63 and the nurses actually let him eat one. Shelby, is just like her Gigi, she loves her some cake! She ate one and then had the icing off another one. I did go and get us dinner at Longhorn's. I had my usual 'Liver and Onions' and Harry had grilled Shrimp. It was so good, much better than hospital food!

Reagan slept thru most of the party and didn't even get a cupcake.

Travis stopped by and had a cupcake too. Jordan had Youth Conference. She taught one of the classes but she brought Harry a birthday balloon when it was over. So all in all it wasn't to bad.

We're On The Outs!

And we're not speaking!

No matter how much I begged

He just wouldn't say a word.

I think that our affair is over.

I sent him away.

I sent him to Savannah.

Maybe they can do something with him!

I miss him though, very much.

He's been my favorite for the last 3 years.

I really can't wait until he returns!

Maybe we can be kinder to each other.

I'm willing to try, if he is?

Hurry home Mr. Oreck.

I'm anxiously awaiting your return.

Zion's

This picture was taken in southern

Utah at Zion's National Park.

I hiked Orderville Canyon which

is a 10 to 12 mile trek.

It is a one-way 'hike' and begins outside

the eastern boundary of the park and

ends at the Temple of Sinawava

in Zion Canyon.

One of the most challenging things

I've ever done. Also one of the most

beautiful places on earth.

Given the chance today,

I wouldn't think twice about

doing it again. Actually I

did do it twice.

Tasty Tuesdays

Cherry Delight

This is one of my mama's recipe's. It's cool and rich and very easy to make.

1 20 oz. can Cherry pie Filling

1 can Eagle Brand Milk

1 20 oz. can crushed pineapple (drained)

1 cup sour cream

1 cup chopped pecans

1 med. cool whip.

With hand mixer, mix first 4 ingredients. Fold in nuts and cool whip. Refrigerate until really cold and set. Yummy. I meant to tell yall that you can also use the "light" version of all these products and it taste the same to me and will save you probably half the calories!

Stilts

Now here's some fun good times! Have you ever walked on stilts? My grandpa and daddy made us some when I was a child. We had several sets. Ours were never very tall but taller that this set in the picture! I think all my siblings except Claire can and have walked on stilts. That's another one of my many obscure talents. I always loved playing with them. It's been a few years since I've done it but I still have good balance and If I had a pair, I think I could still do it. It provided a lot of fun and I'm sure a lot of skinned knees and bruises. It's one of my summer time memories. You can go here for instructions on how to walk on stilts and here you can find the directions on how to make your own set. When you get your set finished just call and I'll come over and show you how it's done.