New Furniture

My new end tables were finished yesterday. They almost make my living room look complete. I bought drapes this past week. Now I think all I need are some pretty lamps and I'll be set for this room. Maybe a few smaller pictures on the wall and a small table under the window. 

April 27th

My girls had just got here when we got back into town yesterday. My sister called me from the front yard. She told me I had strawberries growing. I had thrown out some strawberry tops for the birds and I guess they took off. Greg said the strawberries would disappear when he mowed.

Last night, Ingrid made us cookies. She brought her own supplies from home (cake mix and icing.) I get the feeling that Laura loves to have someone to cook with. Greg loved the cookies. He said I should learn how to make them. I think they were good because she licked her hands after she patted out each cookie.

Sigrid is rotten. But she is adorable. She does not like cameras. She loves my dog, Rocky. She ran around the house pulling stuff off counters and shelves. I think she must be a handful.

Astrid is a sweetheart. She has lost her first tooth and is starting to lose another. We had a good old time. She loves to color. We bought a few new coloring books. I have many proud pictures on my refrigerator.

And now I'm resting again. I need to stay up til at least 1 or 2 am so I will sleep tomorrow. But I don't think I'll make it. I did make chicken fried steak for the first time tonight. I should have took a picture because it was beautiful.

my pretty new Honda

Look at my pretty new car. It's a Honda. I had originally wanted a Toyota Camry, but there were no 5 speeds around. For some reason I like a standard transmission better. The Toyota people weren't much help either. We went to the Honda dealership to see what they had. They actually had a 5 speed. They were a great help and extremely nice. I guess I would have been nice to me too. They probably new that I wanted it. The girls are here so I'll post more pictures later (of them.) 

April 26th

Here's a picture of Greg and Rocky sleeping -- now you know why I'm up all the time.

Today we are going to Springfield to look at cars. Greg has a 2004 Jeep that he traded in for last year. His credit was so bad that the only company that would finance him was Chase. I think the interest rate is over 13%.

We will definately lose money. But with my way of thinking -- we are already losing a bunch of money. Mom and dad gave Greg a pretty old truck that he just adores. He loves it and drives it everywhere. I'll post a picture of Greg's pretty red truck. He says everyone at work oooh's and ahhhh's over it.

We only take the Jeep when we are going out of town. And then it's loud and noisy and gets poor gas mileage. If we want to take people with us there's barely anywhere for anyone to sit and we get cramped.

A Toyota car will last me a lifetime and if we get one I plan on keeping it for a looong time. And the payments will be about 40-50 dollars more than what we are making now but I think we will be more content. I think this Jeep is our money hole. Lesson learned the hard way.

Maybe on the way we can stop by Omaha and see if Gilbert is working. I've been planing on doing that. I have word that my sister and her children might come to see me tonight. I've been up all night cleaning because I can't sleep.

My new rug

See my pretty new rug and pillows. Now all I need for the living room are some curtains. Our neighbor that made our tv table is making us some end tables.

These are some pictures that I uploaded to shutterfly.com . I had Greg hang them for me in the dining room. Now all I need is a pretty buffet to go under them. I had some scenic pictures developed there too and I plan to frame them -- but I'll have to wait because I'm spent out. 

Sad Story

I read a sad story in the Harrison newspaper today. I'll post a link but you might have to create a user account (free) to read it.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16524826&BRD=1815&PAG=461&dept_id=516928&rfi=6

The story is about John Baker. He was apparently found dead in his apartment on Maple Street in March. He died of natural causes. But no one has claimed the body. I hope when I die someone will be around to speak for me.

out-on-the-range cookies

I made these cookies tonight. Since everyone is sharing recipies -- I thought I'd share these. The recipe came from a Taste of Home Makeover Recipies magazine. The magazine makes over certain recipies to make them less fattening and more healthful. I made the original recipe.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup shortening (I used butterflavored)
1-1/4 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup peanutt butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1-3/4 cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

In a mixing bowl, cream shotening and sugars. Add eggs, on at a time. (be careful not to drop the eggshell in the mixing bowl -- I find this hard not to do at times.) Beat in peanut butter and vanilla. Combine the flour, oats, baking soda, and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Stir in chips.

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 325 for 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks to cool. Yields 4 or more dozen.

Nice Journal

Here is a nice journal I like to read. Tim Ernst is a wildlife photographer here in Arkansas. He lives near Buffalo Valley/Ponca. His pictures are what makes the journal worth reading.

http://www.cloudland.net/currentjournal.html

I like to save his pictures and make them my desktop backdrop. You can go through the archives and view past months. I noticed that his pictures got better in the past year. I guess it's the digital camera -- makes it easier to post.

The Umbrella

Ingrid with what she's always wanted -- an umbrella. I was suprised that all of her family members still had their eyes. The nurse in me is always envisioning something terrible. 

Soccer

Yesterday, Greg and I went to Russellville to watch the girls play soccer. Astrid and Ingrid are on the same team. When we got there Ingrid had a tummy ache and couldn't play. But Astrid played her little heart out. She scored 4 goals and each one was more exciting than the next. I wish I lived closer so I could go to every game. She does look like a Powell or a Renfroe girl. Her face turns bright red when she's starting to get a workout. Here are a few pictures from the
Game. I think there's even a picture of her scoring a goal!

Ingrid's tummy mysteriously got better when we showed up. And it was all gone when Greg mentioned he had some candy. She sat on his lap and became his friend for a good portion of the game.

My Girls

Yesterday, I had a wonderful day with my girls. We spent most of the day at Wal-mart buying toys. And taking pictures. Here are a few good one's I managed to capture. Sigrid only likes to turn her head when I point the camera at her.

I also went to an auction for a little bit with my daddy. Some man's truck was blocking our way out and I was sent to get him to move it. He was mumbling and cursing under his breath -- something about it being HIS driveway. Well, I just said "I'll let you take that up with my daddy." Looking back I should have just swung my purse at him like I did my lunchbox at that bully in the 1st grade. When he got to the vehicles he didn't have much to say to dad. I guess he saw the error in his ways. It was a beautiful day. 

Our Day Today 

Fishing

Today we went fishing, I caught most of the fish -- the big fish. My dad would be proud. We had 3 keepers and I caught 2 of the 3. Am I bragging ? Yes!

Greg's stepgrandparents -- Clifton and Janie -- have a farm with a spring fed pond. It's had fish in it before but last spring we added more fish to it. I guess you could call it our little honey-hole.

The farm is beautiful. It's at Olvey, Arkansas just right outside of Harrison. I think total acreage is 101 acres. It reminds me of Grandpa's with all the big rocks and cleared land. I am always finding new rocks there to add to my collection. BTW, thanks Helen for the rock from Grandpa's farm. It is one of my most prized possessions.

We had a nice time but it was pretty warm. We came home and grilled the fish and I made some fried potatoes. Now we are resting. 

Cookies

Greg asked for some chocolate chip cookies when I went shopping last night. When we first met his idea of anything good was store bought or fastfood. His mother does not like to cook and I guess she never did. She never made him eat his veggies or sit at the table until he had finished his plate. I believe that he even got special treatment. His dinner choices were often hot dogs, pizza and hamburgers -- no matter what else was sitting on the table.

He used to be upset if I suggested making anything 'homemade.' And then he tried it. He still won't eat anything really good -- like vegtebles, casseroles or even meatloaf. But he will eat corn and mashed potatoes along with chicken, pork chops or steak. A nice compromise.

And he likes homemade desserts. Thank goodness I don't have to fix those horrible refrigerated cookies anymore. I can't stand them. They always taste like they came out of a long tube. So I was able to make homemade chocolate chip cookies last night -- something I really don't like but enjoy making.

About 1/3 the way through when I was cracking an egg -- half of the shell fell in. I stopped the mixer and fished it out. There's no telling how much shell got into the batter that I couldn't see. I told Greg that his cookies might be crunchy as well as chewey. He didn't seem to care. He ate them without complaint. 

My girls 

See my pretty 'new' spoons. I inherited them from Greg's aunt. They originally belonged to his grandmother.  

this is my favorite picture. too bad for the shadows.  

Notice the overlapping belly.I've still got it. 

I don't know where Melissa is -- I guess she had to use the restroom ?? hmm Notice who I'm looking at.