I had to come post today simply because I miss you all so terribly.  It is strange that when you write on someone’s blog each day, they become like friends.  You know all about their lives and you don’t feel right not hearing from them.  I mean you friends.  I miss you so much.  I have kept up with some of you through facebook (which  I am addicted to) but it is just a little from a blog.

Nothing much happening as usual and that’s kinda how Cliff and I like it.    We did keep a precious little 3 year old girl named Lana a couple of weeks ago for some friends of ours at church.  They brought her to us on Friday afternoon and picked her up at midnight Sunday night.  We took her to the zoo and out to eat twice and I played dolls with her and Cliff took her out and played in the mud with her.  hehe  We (and she) enjoyed ourselves tremendously and she was so precious.   And the best part is when she sees me at church now every Sunday, she runs up to me and has to hug me so tight.     But the one thing that we learned that weekend is that God knows so well what we need so much more than we do.   I found out I am so glad we didn’t have children. 

In doggie news, the chihuahuas are fine.  Mandy is dealing with old age so gracefully.  She still drags herself out the doggie door to use the bathroom every so often.  Yesterday, it was a little cooler and she was outside lying and sniffing the air like she used to do daily.    Tuffy is always so perky.  I love that dog more than anything I own. 

Hi blog buddies.  Not much happening at our neck of the woods lately.  We went to see Cliff’s mother on his birthday (May15th) and she was doing so much better than the last time we saw her and was so happy!!!  Cliff loves his job.  I am the same and nothing new to report…really!  Mandy had a really bad respiratory and ear infection about 3 weeks ago and is just now getting over it.  She was so sick, poor baby.  Tuffy is doing so well, feisty as usual.  Hope all is well with you.  <3

my wave petunias

WATERFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Tinker Bell has been reunited with her owners after a 70-mph gust of wind picked up the six-pound Chihuahua and tossed her out of sight.

They found Tinker Bell about a mile from where she was last seen and dirty and hungry but not harmed!!! 

Tuffy and me on my 47th birthday  ↓

But I don’t think the wind would blow away our other chihuahua, Mandy. 

Mandy in her raincoat

On Friday, we went to Olive Garden because we had a coupon.   We both strayed from our usual and got different entrees.  Cliff got fettucine alfredo and I got a chicken dish with roasted tuscan potatoes and grilled veggies.  Both were so good.  Then we got ready to pay and the “fun” started.  Cliff had forgotten his wallet and had to go back home and get it.  :S  I stayed at the restaurant so they wouldn’t think we were skipping out on our bill.    The manager came over and said I have to meet you, usually the couple both leave and we never hear from them again.  I thought about how sad that is.  Do you know how horrible that was to sit there that long. 

We went to a going away party for one of Cliff’s bosses at a Mexican restaurant and had a good time.

Easter Sunday I sang my solo at church called In the Presence of Jehovah.  Everyone said I did good although I don’t think I did.

Other than that, everything is going along about the same.  I spend a lot of my computer time on Facebook or chatting.  I miss my blog friends terribly however I do get to see a few of them on Facebook!!!!!

Coach John Calipari is leaving the University of Memphis men’s basketball team as coach.      He is now coach of the University of Kentucky.  It wasn’t money as he was the highest paid coach in the country at Memphis.  He said it was always his dream to coach at Kentucky.  You can’t blame a man for following his dream.  I will miss him terribly especially because of his charisma and enthusiasm.  Kentucky is getting a jewel!  Memphians are devastated.  Best of luck Coach Cal.      Thanks for nine great years!!!!

For Today…Monday, March 30,2009

Outside my window…sunny but chilly, a squirrel is scampering across the backyard privacy fence

I am thinking… about my brother

From the learning room… world politics

I am thankful for… spring!!!

From the kitchen… cheese grits and coffee for breakfast and for supper, lemon pepper fish, broccoli and a baked potato

I am wearing… clothes that I wear inside the house that I wouldn’t go outside in

I am reading… Good Housekeeping magazine

I am hoping… to get my haircut this week (about a month past due)

I am creating… the right inflection for my narration for the Easter cantata

I am hearing…TV news channel and portable heater and Tuffy licking his paw

Around the house… pick up stray papers and things that landed in the living room over the weekend, wash sheets, cook supper

One of my favorite things… celebrating Easter

A few plans for the rest of the week… housework, practice my solo, get my haircut and so on

Here is a picture thought I am sharing…

Tuffy last week 

For Today…Monday, March 23, 2009

Outside my window…cloudy, bright green growth appearing on the trees outside my window

I am thinking… about how much my grandmother loved spring

From the learning rooms… world politics

I am thankful for… spring and the ability to walk

From the kitchen… purple hull peas, turnips, greens and cornbread…can’t get more southern than that

I am wearing… I don’t think anyone cares about this one

I am reading… news headlines on yahoo

I am hoping… my voice clears up in time for me to sing the solo at church on Easter

I am creating… nothing that I can think of

I am hearing… Matchbox 20 doing a slow piano version of 3 am

Around the house… darks to wash because I didn’t get around to it on the weekend, dishes are waiting for me in hot water right now, cook supper, etc. and so on

One of my favorite things… seeing new flowers blooming

A few plans for the rest of the week… housework, computer fun, organizing something for Cliff

Here is a picture thought I am sharing…

The really good coffee I had at Olive Garden a week or so ago. 

Going to Logan’s Roadhouse ’cause we have a coupon. 

Lately, Mandy and Tuffy have been going through this power play thing.  As you can see from this year old picture, Mandy is being somewhat dominate yet has her ears pinned back.  Tuffy is nervous as usual and shows this with his ears and one foot held up. 

I think lately, Tuffy senses Mandy’s old age and weekness and is taking advantage of it and is trying to take over the alpha role.  It is so sad to see.  Mandy is failing and is fighting back and trying to be more dominant and therefore, has become so grouchy and nips at Tuffy some.  He ignores her when she does this and tries to steal her treats.   She feels bad so often having arthritis and being overweight.    We try to help out by always making sure she is given food first, etc.  Any suggestions?

Our Bartlett pear tree with the first buds of spring.

Remember when you were a kid (at least in America) and you had to wear green or someone would pinch you?  Those were the days.  Every holiday was a major event.  I don’t really celebrate it any more and don’t even have on green today.

The chihuahuas and I watched Beverly Hills Chihuahua last night.  It was so cute but I couldn’t help but think of what the little chihuahuas went through in the filming.  My chihuahuas were oblivious to it and didn’t even look up through all that barking.

*Not my chihuahua

…I have bronchitis (sp?) and a sinus infection.  Got antibiotics.  Be better soon maybe.

Cliff’s and my conversation while listening to latin music and him playing drums on the steering wheel:

Cliff:  Is this getting on your nerves?

Gina:  You’ll never know how much.

The Memphis Tigers won our conference championship game today!!

Nothing new.  Still a little sick.  Going out to eat today and have no idea where.  Maybe I’ll let Cliff pick.  And get ready for spaghetti. 

I missed a bunch of days blogging but will not go back and fill it in this time.

Nothing has been going on.  Saturday, I got Cliff’s cold and have felt kinda bad but not horrible.  There are signs of spring everywhere which is really nice!  Our Bartlett pear tree is blooming as are our spring bulbs. Tuffy wants to play all the time and Mandy is grouchier than ever.  The house needs a good spring cleaning and I need to get better organized. 

That’s really all that is happening here in our neck of the woods. 

I am thinking about you all the time blog buddies.

The February bulletin board my Sunday School class put up at church.

Went today to volunteer.  So tired though.

Snow cleared.  Schools open even though there was a little snow on the ground.  Cliff went back to work.

When we went to sleep Saturday night, we had about 3-4 inches of snow and when we woke up Sunday, we had about 8 inches!!!  We so rarely have that much and it was so exciting.  Cliff went out and got us some snow and we made snow cream.  Soooo good.

right outside back door