{pretty, funny, happy, real}

Happy

Blackberry Jam made this week. Oh my, it is delicious if I do say so myself. Thank you Hubby for planting blackberries for me!

Blueberry-Banana Smoothies. Yumm..

Funny (and real too)

Little boys who decide to throw a fit on the beach because they can't get their way and then quickly learn that sand in the mouth is lots worse than not getting your way.

RealMatthew, who is sick with some kind of throat/viral thing. I asked him if I could get him a pillow and he replied no. Matt is um, um, ...different... that way.

Yes, this is exactly what it looks like. A certain child made a grilled cheese sandwich and then put the very hot cast iron skillet in the sink right on top of some plastic cups and bowls. Which then quickly melted and fused to the skillet. Yep, you just never know what you will come across here at Clark Acres.

I hope you will go check out everyone else's {pretty, happy, funny, real} posts today. They will make you smile.

Also, if you don't mind will you go to the top-left corner and vote for our new dairy goat's name. Sweet Hubby already has his goat's name picked out, and I think I know what I want to name mine, but I would love to know what you think!

Open House...Cleaning Tips

At Mrs. White's today she is talking about housecleaning tips. I have a few. Right now certain people I know are rolling around laughing, but I actually do have some semblance of cleanliness and order going on around here. It seems to be mostly camouflaged as clutter and confusion, but I am just working with what I have.

Here are my tiny tiny tips for homemaking:

1. Do what is important to your husband. (I wrote more about this topic here).

2. Do what is important to you.

3. After you wash down your sink, wipe and dry it with a clean towel. The drying will make it shine!

I can't do much housekeeping wise, but I can make a mean chicken pot pie so I am calling it even. :)

Open House...

Today I am participating in Legacy of Home's Open House. All week we will be sharing different aspects of our homemaking so we can learn from each other. And there are prizes!!! I know she would love it if you would link up also!

Today we are discussing recipes. I thought about what to share and my mind kept going to this recipe. For some time now I have been trying to learn how to cook from scratch more and more. I like knowing that if I have some basic ingredients I can make almost anything. But I am not a dummy. If I can get something premade that tastes just as good and doesn't cost me an arm or a leg then I will buy it~especially if I can get it free or next to free.

This recipe for Caramel Icing is worth the trouble. It really is not hard to do, but it is more work than just opening a tub. But ya'll, the taste is incredible. Like lick the saucepan incredible. Try this on a warm yellow cupcake, oh.my.stinkin.goodness. Your family and friends will think you have done something marvelous. And well, you have...

Caramel Icing

2-2/3 cups light brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
7 tablespoons evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a heavy saucepan, combine the ingredients. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir the frosting and adjust the heat so the frosting bubbles gently. Cook for seven minutes. (Watch out for scorching). Remove from heat and cool five minutes. Then beat until it thickens.

So tell me, what do you make from scratch that is more than worth your time?

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real-The Abbie Edition

Funny Girl

Pretty Girl (well, strikingly beautiful in my opinion)

Funny, Happy, Pretty, Real...

Funny~Two very silly brothers

Funny (and Pretty)~FavCousins who love to play and laugh together

Real~the snake Tyler found behind our workshop.

Don't worry Mama and Aunt Jill-Tyler did not pick it up with the stick. He went and got Mark who poked and prodded at it. It is a black rat snake which is not harmful to us, only to the rats. It was pretty unsettling though, to say the least.

Be sure and go visit Like Mother, Like Daughter to see other Funny, Happy, Pretty, Real posts!

The Homeschool Mother's Journal

Homeschool Mother's Journal">

1. In my life this week...

I'll just be honest, its been a really yucky week here at my house. I can't really go into the details, but its been hard. After the storms last week everything has been off kilter and I can't quite get back into the groove of whatever normal is. I feel guilty for my life being back to normal (although I know that isn't rational) when so many people have lost everything. There have been some other adoption-related things Mark and I are having to make big decisions about. Let me tell you, this is exhausting, mentally and spiritually.

2. In our homeschool this week...

It has been very scattered. But we are moving ahead. Matt and Abbie finished their science curriculum. Tyler finished his Civics book. Abbie started converting measures in Math this week and no one cried. She just picked it right up!

3. My favorite thing this week...

We have nothing planned this weekend, but getting our garden planted. It is so rare that we have nowhere to go for the whole weekend. Just church!
Oh, and James seeing the stuffed animals at the museum. He was amazed and so excited. His little mind was so busy trying to take it all in.

4. Places we've been...

On Tuesday we went to the Anniston Natural History Museum with our co-op group. After that we went to Wright Dairy Farm and got some fresh milk. Thursday was our last day of Community Bible Study for this year. We also had violin and guitar lessons.

5. A favorite quote to share...

"It's not plausible!" -- James, age 4

Abbie and James were playing Mythbusters yesterday and I heard this in passing.

Pretty, Funny, Happy, Real

;

Today I am thinking about the pretty in my life. It is all around me here at our little mini-homestead hobby-farm place we call home. (Even after six years I am still not sure what to call it)

Blackberry Blooms


Wabbles, The Chick

Sweet Hubby's Roses

Trees (I love trees)


Pretty Roses

What is pretty in your life today?

The Homeschool Mother's Journal

In my life this week...

Wow, what a busy week! Just trust me, it was long, but it was good. I am glad it is Friday though and this weekend will be pretty low-key. I am on the lookout for more chickens so tomorrow might bring some new chickies into our coop.

In our homeschool...

Lots of bookwork. We did start the last two chapters of our Apologia Anatomy. Tyler, my oldest, has a science test today. He is working through Apologia's Physical Science. Tough stuff, but he is going slow and steady and doing well. Abbie is working on her SAT practice book. Matt is getting the hang of long division and it is coming much more naturally to him now. James (age four) is just hanging out and doing lots of playing. He does like to listen to our Anatomy readings sometimes. He is really interested in how the body works.

Places we're going and people we're seeing...

Next week is Abbie's SAT testing. Which means a lot of driving. Which means the boys will be doing a lot of bookwork in the van. But, our school group requires it in 4th, 6th, and 8th grade so off we will go. Hopefully one day after the SATs we will be able to go and visit with Rebekah a little.

My favorite thing this week...
Sitting at Community Bible Study yesterday and laughing with our group. Some husband stuff came up and it turned pretty funny pretty quickly. (in a very respectful way, of course :) )

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have....

How did it get to be April so quickly????

A link to share....

Good news for Rebekah and her family!!!!!!

A Christmas Meme....

The same as last year. Its all still applicable. If you do this let me know!

I have a moment on Christmas Eve when I leave all the family and sneak outside. It is my moment to say thank you to God for Christmas and Easter and the perfect Life He lived.

I hope you can find a moment this Christmas weekend.

Edited to Add: Dear Sweet Aunt Mollie, I am sure the children will be thoroughly delighted with the presents you sent. They had so much fun opening the box and pulling out all the beautifully wrapped gifts. They had a great time shaking each and every gift over and over and over and discussing between themselves what they could possibly be.

And then James had an equally delightful time jumping into the box and throwing the white sytofoam peanuts all over my clean and ready for Christmas Day living room. And then pulling the box throughout the house throwing them and yelling, "Snow! Snow!"

Thank you Aunt Mollie. I'll see you next week when you stay at my house. And I will be thinking and plotting my plan for revenge all this week.

Just kidding, you know I love you. The kids really are super-excited! Will miss you guys this Christmas Day. See you next weekend though!!!!!!

Good Morning....

Michelle awarded me The Versatile Blogger award this past week. I was going to put up the cute little button that came with it, but blogger appears to be throwing a hissy fit this morning so it isn't working as it is supposed to.

I am supposed to tell you seven things about myself and ya'll, I am struggling. I am really a pretty boring person. And I'm good with that, but it doesn't make for interesting reading. Sorry.

1. I love love love Christmas shows. Not shows like Hallmark or Lifetime. But sitcom or drama Christmas shows. I could sit and watch Christmas Little House or Walton's or King of Queens or Monk. Just so that it is Christmas. It is driving my family crazy because at night I only want to watch Christmas shows. We don't have cable and since our government forced us to do the digital TV thingy (no, I'm not bitter or anything), our TV hasn't worked correctly. So our Netflix choices are greatly limited. It's only three more weeks. They can live with it, right? And did you know I went to Netflix and tried to order some Walton's and there is a long wait for it. A long wait for the Waltons? Who would have thunk it?

2. I love having chickens, but I really don't like to eat eggs. Or cook them. I have a hard time with the smell. But I do like having the eggs for baking and such. The rest of my family really likes eggs so I work through the smell. You think I could come up with a smell-less egg?

3. If I wake up in the night I HAVE to roll over to the other side. I can't explain it and it drives Mark crazy, but it has to be done. When I was great with child it was a big production for me to roll over several times a night in our double bed. Mark is a saint I tell you.

Ya'll, I have been sitting here and really can't think of anything else. So I will spare you and say Thanks Michelle! Hope you and your family has a lovely and wonderful Christmas!!!!!!

A Meme Courtesy of Jill

Jill tagged me with this Getting To Know You Meme... so here we go....

What would be your dream job?

I'm doing it! I wish I was better at it, but this is it. At different times I thought I would be a high school Literature teacher, a lawyer (hilarious if you knew how much I dislike conflict), a nurse, a pharmacist, a National Geographic photographer (hilarious if you knew how much I like to stay home), or a librarian. But I always knew I wanted to me a momma. And live in a little country house. With my good-looking manly husband. So far so good.

Where would you like to live?

Right here. Really. Now I would like to visit a lot of places, but I'm pretty happy where I'm at.

In what century would you like to live?

This one. Air-conditioning, indoor bathrooms, modern medicine, epidurals....need I say more?

What made you start a blog?

I had found BooMama and stayed up half the night reading all her old posts, laughing the whole time. I showed it to Mark and he started one for me. He just called me from work and told me to look. There it was. Since it was there I started writing. And here I am still doing it. Amazing if you knew how well I start things, but rarely can finish them.

What is your favorite piece of clothing?

I don't have any. I am not very stylish or fashionable (unlike Jill who always looks like a model in her fun clothes). I am a mom who wears mom clothes. I really like to put on my pjs at night. Does that count?

What is your favorite film?

Oh my goodness, what a question. I know I have answered this one before, but I can't remember all the answers. Off the top of my head I will have to say, Pride and Prejudice, Steel Magnolias, Rebecca, and Funny Farm (for the house and the wife's clothes, I know, totally superficial, but I really like them).

What would you like to do before you turn 100?

Go to Alaska with Mark, run in a 5K with Jill (everyone who knows me in real life is laughing right now), hold a bunch of children and great-grandchildren, get something published, and help a whole bunch of people adopt a whole bunch of children.

I'm tagging anyone who wants to do this one. Be sure to let me know in the comments so I can come and read all about you.

Valentine Winner

I had a great time reading everyone's Valentine Meme. Thanks for those who participated. The winner of the still yet undetermined prize is Mary. I'll get your prize to you this week.

I was going to draw a name on Friday so I am a little late, but I had a whopper of a headache (and day) Friday, and yesterday was just a whopper of a day. See you Monday!

A Valentine's Meme

Well, just knock me over with a feather. I just figured out how to put up a Mr. Linky ALL BY MYSELF. I know. Lets just take a moment.

I thought it would be fun to do a Valentine's Meme and learn about our sweethearts. The big day is coming and even though I have the sweetest Sweet Hubby around I know you want to share about your sweetie also. So, I have put up a Mr. Linky so we can all share. I'll be leaving this up for the rest of the week. On Friday I will draw a name from the Mr. Linky participants to win a little prize.

Here we go. You can just cut and paste this onto your blog.

MamaHen's Valentine's Day Meme

1. Describe your Valentine in five words or less.

Good-looking, kind, hilarious, comforting, reliable

2. Best Valentine present you ever received?

My pearl and diamond ring Mark got for me a couple of years ago. It is just beautiful.

3. Worst Valentine present you ever received?

My high school boyfriend got me a teddy bear. Seriously, I was 17 years old and he got me a teddy bear. I don't think so.....

4. Your favorite Valentine candy?

I would have to say anything chocolate.

5. Would you rather receive chocolate or flowers?

Chocolate, but I really love flowers too. Could I get both?

6. A dress-up candlelight dinner out or a movie snuggling at home?

A movie at home with hot chocolate and my sweetie close by.

7. Your favorite romantic movie(s)?

Pride and Prejudice and Sweet Home Alabama.

8. Your favorite romantic song(s)?

Oh, this is soooo hard for me. I guess right now it would be "If I Bring You Pretty Flowers", by Steve Martin. (Yes, that Steve Martin). See if you can find it on YouTube, it really is a pretty song, ---but married couples only. Its a real love song.

So, there you go. Now folks, there is nothing more pitiful than an empty Mr. Linky just hanging out there at the end of a post. Its not hard to do, just link to that particular post, and there will be a prize.!!!! Ya'll don't let me down. Pretty Please.

***Okay, I guess I didn't figure it out. The links are supposed to show up on the Mr. Linky thingy, but they aren't. You can click on the Mr. Linky button and it will take it to the links.

A Ramble Here, A Ramble There

Well, I've got nothing. I have been blah this week, Hubby has been sick, and my kiddos still have an unbelievable amount of energy. That about sums it up.

~I was going to do a Friday Linky Loos and then thought, "Nah, that would involve me having to do the link thing (can you say L.A.Z.Y?)"

~I was going to prepare a shopping to list to do the once a month cooking with Money Saving Mom this weekend. Not really with her, but with a Mr. Linky. And then I got in my pjs and said, "Nah, that would involve me getting out the cookbooks and finding some paper and pens that actually work," (again with the L.A.Z.Y. thing)

~I was going to go by a craft store and get the materials to learn how to do some handwork at night. Didn't happen. And since I fall asleep around 9 in my chair every night I don't think I would get much done anyway.

~I have been trying to read Sense and Sensibility for two weeks now. I WANT to read it so bad, but I just can't concentrate on it. For some reason I think I can't watch the movie until I read the book, and then I remind myself that I am 37 years old and not in high school, but I just can't get past the right way to do it. You are SUPPOSED to read the book before you watch the movie. Someone please comment and give me permission to just watch the movie.

~The plan is for the cookbooks to be ready to sell next week. They have truly been a veeerrrrryyy long labor of love, and well labor, and I am ready to be done with it. I think they are going to be really good though. And if it gets us one step closer to Baby Clark it will all be worth it.

~There is no news on Baby Clark-we are just waiting on a birthmother to pick us. It has been pretty frustrating to say the least. I don't write much about the adoption because there just really isn't a lot to write about. We are going with a local Christian agency and are just waiting for the call. Right now we are sure that we are going in the right direction with a domestic adoption, but some days it is really hard to wait. We initially had told our agency we were wanting a baby girl, (I know it sounds terrible to want to pick the gender of your child, but as we only have three bedrooms it just made sense at the time to get a girl to share a room with Abbie. But the wait has been so long waiting on a girl specifically we have changed it to whatever God wants to give us. That's what we would get if I was expecting anyway!) Anyways, I'm ready!

~I have in mind a Valentines Mr. Linky/Meme to do next week. I'll try to have it up soon and maybe a little prize for a name drawn from among the participants.

Okay, off to claim my chair and let the dozing begin.

Everything you wanted to know about our Christmas***

***or didn't really want to know to start with.

Missy from It's Almost Naptime posted this meme/questionnaire on her blog and said we could all use it. And by the way, if you are not reading Missy you are missing out big time. HEE-larious!

1. Eggnog or hot chocolate? Both please.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? It really just depends on how tired Santa is at the end of the day.

3. Colored lights on the tree/house or white? Colored.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Not in the house with a small child (poisonous you know), but we have a ton growing out in the trees on our fence line. I suppose Mark and I could go out there and get a smooch, but that would be cold and wet. So we will just pretend and smooch in the warmth of our home.

5. When do you put your Christmas decorations up? Whenever the kids beg long enough and I just can't stand it any longer. (I have problems with messes, you know). This year we put it up the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

6. Favorite holiday dish? My momma can make a mean chicken and dressing. I like the whole berry cranberry sauce. Divine.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Christmas Eve at my grandparent's house. All children should have a memory like this.

8. When did you learn the truth about Santa? What truth?

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Of course not. Santa doesn't come until Christmas Eve night when all the children are sound asleep.

10. How do you decorate a tree? More on that later.

11. Snow! Love it or dread it? I am 36 years old and as far as I can remember it has never snowed in AL on Christmas.

12. Can you ice skate? Hahahahahahahah.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Too many to count. If we get a baby by Christmas that will definitely be my most favorite present, but it doesn't look like that is going to happen this year.

14. What is the most important thing about the holidays to you? Remembering. Remembering of course what God did for us when He became man to redeem us. And remembering all my family before me and what they mean to me now.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? My mom also makes these pecan rolls (with condensed milk) that I really love. I also love Oreo Balls.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? I love doing the Advent Book with our kids at night and then Mark reads the Christmas Story to us on Christmas Eve. We also take one night and go around and look at all the Christmas lights together. My parents used to do that with me also.

17. What tops your tree? A Christmas star that doesn't work.

18. Which do you prefer-Giving or Receiving? Both!!!

19. Favorite Christmas song? Love them all. Really. (Except for Feliz Navidad, a travesty of Christmas songs). I guess O Holy Night would be at the top of my list.

20. Candy Canes-Yuck or Yum? Yuck, yuck, yuck.

21. Favorite Christmas show? Oh, this is a hard one. We always watch the Christmas Story (bb gun one) for one of our movie nights in December. I also usually watch Christmas Vacation. If anything just for the scene where the old lady stands up to pray and says the national anthem instead. I also love to watch TV sitcom Christmas shows. They make my heart happy.

22. Saddest Christmas song? I can't think of any sad Christmas songs, but The Little Drummer Boy gets to me every time. When Baby Jesus smiles at the little drummer boy I start to tear up.
Oh me, now I am thinking about it.


If you decide to do the meme let me know in the comments!

Labor Day (s)

In honor of Labor Day I am going to copy Shannon's meme about my labor days. If you decided to do the meme, let me know in the comments. You all know nothing fascinates women more than sitting around talking about our labor and delivery stories!

So here goes...

How long were your labors?
Child#1-6 hours

Child#2-5 hours, 30 minutes

Child #3,-5 hours

Child#4-2 hours, 20 minutes

How did you know you were in labor?
Child#1- immense pain

Child#2, immense back pain as Matt was posterior. I actually thought I was going to the ER with a kidney infection, but was happily told I was about to have a baby

Child#3-immense contractions that came on so hard and fast I was having trouble walking out the door to get to the car

Child#4- I just thought the other labors hurt. James about did me in.

Where did you deliver?
With all of them, at a hospital. I told Rebekah once that staying in the hospital after having a baby was the closest I was getting to a spa so I was going to sap it for all it was worth.

Drugs?
Yes, with the first three and with James there was not enough time to do an epidural. At the time I would have taken a nice shovel across the head if it would have sent me to la-la land.

C-section?
None.

Who delivered?
Wonderful doctors, except for #4. The doctor did not make it in time. I kept yelling to the nurse that the baby was coming and she would sweetly say, "Just a minute Mrs. Clark, I will check in just a minute." When she checked "in just a minute" she delivered the baby. But, just like Shannon, we still got the same exact doctor bill that we got with the other three. Imagine that.


***Just a note, they were all worth it... (even James, that little speed-racer)

Fill In The Blank

Thank you for all your sweet words on yesterday's post. Yesterday was a doozy. I mean a knock me out for the count doozy. But, today has been much better. I have even decided to let the kids do a messy science project after James goes down for his nap. I'm thinking I need some time on my swing today too. If I don't get my swing time each day I get grouchy.

I saw this meme thing on A Dusty Attic (in my roosts) and thought I would do it too. If you decide to put it on your blog leave me a comment so I can come see.

1. Maybe I should be….I am not even going to start listing all I SHOULD be doing right now.
2. I love…my sweet hubby, my kiddos, and warm brownies with ice cream on top.
3. People would say that I …..am slightly dramatic (well, Mark says overly dramatic, but what does he know, I mean he just lives with me :) )
4. I don’t understand...when I have to drive downtown why I get lost every time. Why is it so confusing to me?
5. When I wake up in the morning…..I "tumble out of bed and stumble in the kitchen"
6. I lost…..my video camera and I still don't know where it is!
7. Life is full of……children laughing, crying, whining, or fighting.
8. My past taught me….(I'm still learning everyday)
9. I get annoyed when…..people's toenails aren't painted (I know people, but I just can't let it go).
10. At a party I……tend to get shy, unless it's with my good girlfriends and then I talk and talk and talk...
11. I wish……the social worker would call and say we have a baby girl.
12. Dogs……are cute, loud, and stinky.
13. Cats…..don't even get me started.
14. Tomorrow…..is library day!
15. I have a low tolerance for…..(see #9 above).
16. If I had a million dollars…..I would build a big house and fill it full of adopted children.
17. I’m totally terrified of……mice and heights.

Now it’s your turn!

Crazy Eights

Do ya'll remember doing Crazy Eights in the gym in middle school? I am going to have to practice and then teach them to my kids. Another good way to embarrass them. It will give them a break from having to dance with me to the clean up song every morning. Anyways, Jennifer did this fun meme so I thought I would too.

8 Things I Look Forward To:

1. Rocking our new baby girl.

2. Going on a trip with my mom and sister to Amish country. (who knows when this will happen, but we are excited)

3. Our first tomato from our garden.

4. The end of May and we will be taking a month off from school.

5. When I win the $10,000 maid service offer from Publix. (Could this be my cleaning fairy I have been waiting on for so long?"

6. James' sweet kisses and hugs each morning.

7. Watching old tv series with Mark at night after the kids are in bed (we are loving Netflix because we get to watch old reruns that we actually like!)

8. Heaven when I get to see my grandmother again.

8 Things I Did Yesterday:

1. Cleaned house like crazy. (after the yard sale it just all sort of degraded).

2. Paid the bills.

3. Filled out homeschool books orders.

4. Dragged James in from sneaking outside (x30).

5. Cooked a made up supper from ingredients I had in the pantry (and Mark loved it).

6. Helped Matt learn to make copies. (He is starting his own newspaper)

7. Watched old Northern Exposure reruns with Mark after the kids went to sleep.

8. Fell asleep while watching NE and missed the end of the show AGAIN.

8 Things I Wish I Could Do:

1. Be kind and merciful to Mark and the children all day long.

2. Be balanced with the house cleaning, schooling, and all the other stuff that has to be done each day. (I am either gung-ho or so-so)

3. Go to England and Ireland.

4. Go to Alaska. (Mark and I really want to go and spend a lot of time there and explore)

5. Sew

6. Paint (other than rooms)

7. Not worry about every little thing.

8. Sit on my grandparent's front porch with all of my family there and just listen to all the funny and good things they say.

8 Things I Watch on TV

1. Sesame Street

2. Brady Bunch (over and over)

3. Gilligan's Island (over and over)

4. Arthur

5. the XBox (whatever game Tyler is playing)

6. I Love Lucy

7. The Wiggles

8. Northern Exposure (currently)

I am not going to tag anyone, but if you do this meme please let me know. I would love to read your answers.

Please forgive my spacing issues. I could not get it to do right this morning.

A Meme

My friend Michelle, from A Better Life than I Deserve, sent out this Meme. If you want to participate just copy and paste the list and then mark in Bold all the things you have done. Also, leave me a comment so I can come check out the Wild and Crazy Life you have lived!!!!

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland/world

8. Climbed a mountain.

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29 Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33 Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41 Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45 Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance (it was Abbie who was sick though, but I rode in it and they really go FAST!)

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia (does Kazahkstan count?)

60 Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Gotten flowers for no reason

64 Donated blood, platelets, or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66 Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67 Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79 Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper ( my wedding picture, does that count?)

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a lawsuit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

Wow, I need to do some stuff!!!!

Tagged!

Yeah, I have always wanted to be tagged!

MamaHenClucks from Clucks From The Henhouse tagged me with a meme about My Seven Favorite Things in my Kitchen. It has a cute little button to put up, but I still do not a blogging mentor therefore I don't know how to display it.

So, in no particular order...

My MOMYS Cookbook, given to me for my birthday two years ago by Rebekah. I love it! I has 524 pages of real recipes that real moms cook. I use it a lot.

I bought the sign at a Yard Sale right after we moved here, the picture at Old Time Pottery for $5.99, and the basket from an Amish lady in TN.

My collection of chicken salt and pepper shakers and chicken measuring spoons. My Abbie made the cross for me.

Mark gave me this changing picture frame for my birthday last year. He is a wonderful gift giver and he always knows what I will love.

My Chicken Corner (yes, I really like chicken stuff). Also my Jan Karon cookbook. The pictures hung in my mom's old kitchen for as long as I can remember.

This was my Great-Grandmother's chicken. It was always in her kitchen.

And finally, my dishwasher. She's a hard-working old gal.

Now I tag,

In The Heart of My Home

All Things Are Possible

A Joyful Keeper

A Life Better Than I Deserve

As Thyme Goes By

Can't wait to see what your favorites are!