Ready or Not.....here I come

And an assortment of other things.....
Packing for (3) weeks in Oklahoma............
What you cannot see is large bottles (32 oz) shampoo
leave-in conditioner, Utah Truffle chocolate bars....

I couldn't get the (2) laptops I was taking in my suitcase without being over the 50 lb limit.

When I got to the aiport, I was still (4) pounds over.......the sky cap was great

he let me get out a couple of things, and let it go at 52 pounds...........ahhhh.

Rudy's was our stop before getting to Pioneer Circle.....

The BBQ in OKC is AMAZING...............it's worth the

price of the plane ticket.

This loaded potato has brisket (dry-- add your own sauce )

and cheese and sour cream and it's amazing.......

Megan and I shared, and still took half of it home.

We topped it with "sissy sauce" which is fantastic.

Sometimes I sit at my desk and dream about this big 'ole spud!!

This little kitchen helper was my "right hand gal"

Here she is stiring sloppy joe mix for me....

She is such a sweet little pooper!!

This was the temp one day I was there.......

OKC weather is bi-polar......

It can have a 50 degree difference from one day to the next.

I'm sure I will have everything OKC has to throw at me as far as

weather is concerned.....except a tornado.........that would

be in the Spring....and I will be gone.

"Hair-y" story....

"Tune in Tokyo" that's what if feels like with

two pounds of foil wrapped in my hair.

I have a new grandbaby to meet.  I must look good.

I leave for OKC in a few days.

Cannot wait to meet munchkin #9........will it be a boy or a girl(?)

BOOK LIST OF 2013

This is my yearly round-up of the books I read in 2013.  Generally, I read what I refer to as "Light Fluff"  I don't watch TV, so this is my entertainment.  There were a few books that were tragic, and a couple that were a waste of my time......hours I will never get back.  So here Goes..

Fellowship of the Ring

The One I Left Behind

Home Front

Belle Weather

Red Mist

The Round House

The Aviators Wife (about Charles Lindbergh)

The Life of Pi

The Princess Bride

(book-club pick.....very different, the movie was a fabulous adaptation, but this was written in a strange way and the credit he give the story......odd)

 Heads in Beds

(This book is about the Hospitality Industry and what goes on in a an upscale Hotel......so interesting.)

Vampires in the Lemon Grove

Defending Jacob (such a good read)

Taken

The Burgess Boys

 

The Light Between Oceans

(This was a sad little story.  I suggested it for book club after I read it.  Everyone loved it, it will make you weep......uncontrollably.)

Beautiful Day

The Yard

The Three Sisters

Tuesday Night Miracles

Dr. Sleep

 Tell the Wolves I'm Home

(I really loved this story about a young girl and and Uncle that passes away and the relationship between the family and secrets that emerge)

The Talisman

Joyland

The Yonahlosee Riding Camp for Girls

Always Watching

The Rebellion of Miss Lucy Ann Lobdell

Cold Sassy Tree

 (I didn't read this book. I listened to it on CD, and I would highly recommend this,  The gentleman the narrates this book has a wonderfully charming voice and southern accent and it totally sucked me into the wonderful story.) 

Leaving Cold Sassy

Code Name Verity

(I really liked this book, it's a WWII book about a

woman pilot and spy.)

A Face in the Crowd

The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe

The Great Gatsby

Life after Life (strange but good)

 Orphan Train

(This is a sad little page from American history that I knew nothing about.  A pastor in a large eastern city - I think New York - thinks it would be good to get orphaned children off the street begging.  He made arrangements and put them on trains heading west.  They would stop in cities and people would greet the train and take children that they thought they would want, or could use to assist farming, household work etc.  There were fortunate stories and unfortunate stories.  There are (2) main characters, and in telling the story about how their lives are joined)

The Lost Wife

 

 

 The Hypnotist's Love Story

(This author Liane Moriarty is one I really like)

The Summer Guest

Dark House

A Movable Feast

 The Kitchen House

(This is a story that is hard to read, but so so good. I also suggested this for a book club read, and everyone loved it.)

 The Paris Wife

(This is a story of the early years of Ernest Hemingway and his 1st wife,  and their life with other ex-pats in Paris.)

 What Alice Forgot

(a Liane Moriarty book..about a woman who falls off a treadmill at the gym, wakes up and has forgot the past 10 years of her life. She thinks she's pregnant and in reality, she has (2) children, and is in the middle of divorce proceeding.....ugly divorce.......it is a great read - very entertaining, and a bit moving.)

Beautiful Ruins

Where'd you go, Bernadette

(such a light fluff read......I thoroughly enjoyed it.)

The Alchemist

(started but couldn't get into it- maybe another day)

American Gypsy

New Year's Day

Man oh man.....it's a new year, and I like just lazy-ing around the house.  I'm relaxing as Mr. Mr. is in the kitchen cooking up the one meal a year he cooks.....

It's always an omelet.....with toast, and whatever..........

Here is he..........Mr. Breakfast.......

looking like he is a natural at the stove...he's not...

Sometimes he has to ask me where the fridge is!

But.....he always comes thru with a yummy breakfast.

Double Bubble Toil and Trouble....

I've been runnng the humidifier day and night for weeks, my nasal cavities and my house plants have thanked me for the effort............

I took a picture of this tablecloth....it was free when I ordered some items from Tommy Bahama for Boyd for Christmas.  It is red and green....but also has a fun tropical feel to it, I think I may go online and order the one in oranges, yellows and pinks...............it will be my new go-to tablecloth.....ready for the desecration on Sundays when we get wild.  For now it's ready for Christmas Eve dinner.

At this point, dinner is over and Boyd loves to get out his torch to  brulee the dessert.

I only make it once a year,

and it's his favorite.........when we asked the

girls if they wanted a cookie (a nasty one

from the in-store bakery) or if they wanted

a Creme Brulee, two of those little goofs

picked the cookie....all the more for me

as a leftover.

Gil and Peanut and Miss Aalyah.........who thinks she's

a princess and loves to "pose"

Christmas day at the Lloyds and the basement was filled

with new Lego's............

More legos..........

Sophie with her new Princess Sophia doll.....her new BFF

Pretty Pink Princess.........

Desiree wrapped in a new blankie.............

The Barbie Dream House.........man that Barbie has it all..........

he home has an elevator and the toilet flushes.....argggg

Mr. Mr. got me some "light" reading..................HA!

This series has been on my list for a while........

it will be my January read(s) and

probably into February.

More prezzies................

Lego "action figures" .....they are NOT dolls!

A few days after Christmas..........The McPhies showed up...

to rock the house..........

One of my favorite spots..........in my animal print pj's (Christmas prezzie)

Blue Skies.....means happiness

When you wake up and the sun is glaring off the beautiful gleaming snow, it means it's time to break out the decorations and go to town...........Well, sort of.  I didn't really go to town on the decoration front this year.  I realized that everything I put up would need to be taken down and put away.

We have a 3 foot pre-lit tree that fits perfectly on our fireplace.  I pull out my favorite decorations from over the years.  Some I've received from friends, some my sister has painted, some the kids have given me or made.  These one is some of my most recent.

Our friend, Sharleen, who is incredibly talented, paints these lovelies while you wait at Dillard's.  She painted Boyd and I each one a few years ago, and  delivered them to us.  I love them because they are so personal.  I've stated many times that if I could have the talent that resides in Sharleens little finger, I would be so happy.....and I might be able to make something to be displayed.......oh well, I have my own talents (well, I'm assured everyone has their own special talents....I guess mine are somewhere..hahaha)

For some reason I didn't get the front of mine.......I know I've been blogging for several years, but I still have a bit of a problem getting my pictures where I want them.....grrrrr

 

I made a batch of sugar cookie dough and invited the kiddos over for a cookie making evening.  I placed the cookies, icing and decorations on the table, with paper towels, wet washcloths, and I had a cold gallon of milk in the fridge.....let the mess begin :)

The aftermath was not as bad as I had anticipated......................

I have had these 12 nesting boxes for years.  I cannot express the joy that they have brought to the kids in stacking them.........knocking them over........again and again and again......It makes me want to leave them out all year long.

This face looks guilty................but really she was just playing with Barbie! But she probably has the guilty look on her face perpetually, because she is usually up to something that would get her in trouble.

More Barbie accessorizing......you are never too young to love you some Barbie! It was fun to have them over for cookies and mess-making.........

Coming Home to...........

We came home from snow in Dixie to snow in our own yard,

 which is expected in December.

Peggi took some things I had from Grandma Bushars

and put them in a shadow box, so I can hang it

and enjoy it always.

My amaryllis are going gangbusters...

I've been boiling water and running a humidifier.

This is the result.