Repeat...

My family loved the cake I made yesterday so much

that they wanted me to make another one today.

They almost ate it before I could take a picture!!

It's a good thing I made two.

Mmmmmm.....good!!

I have been a regular little Suzy homemaker today.


For my lovely family I fixed steaks on my stove grill.

Along with some Collard Greens and Corn.




I also cooked these Breaded Mushrooms that I had bought, for some reason, a few weeks ago.



I don't even like mushrooms, although I use to eat the breaded ones, years ago. I wasn't sure how well they would go with the steak and vegetables, but I wanted to cook them. So I did.

I also made this cake.

for Strawberry Shortcake.

Doesn't everyone have a metal airplane on their kitchen counter?

The Family Table

Everytime we have a family gathering we have to turn the rectangle kitchen table the other direction and set up another smaller table next to it just so we can all be together. So I've been sort of shopping around for a new one. I was wanting one that would sit 8 people and I haven't been able to find very many of that kind.......within my budget anyway.

I had noticed one at Sam's a couple of weeks ago though. Before I go any further I have to admit that sometimes when I save up money to buy a particular item and then when I actually go to make the purchase I have a hard time letting go of the money. So I'm not much of an impulsive buyer. That's why when I saw this particular table at Sam's I didn't go ahead and buy it. But when I returned and it was still there and I looked it over real good I decided I would go ahead and get it.

Here it is....one of those counter-top height tables:

It has the leaf in it that folds up inside of the table itself. No more storing the leaf under my bed!

Paul assembled it for me. He said the chairs were very solid. They required like 6 bolts plus they had about 3 already in them. I know they are heavy. It really seems to be made very well.

Because it is a square table as opposed to rectangle it has a larger span across. So I have to work my way around it when I am wiping up after meals. I can't just reach across and wipe from one position.

I love this table. I love sitting at it and I love the way it looks. I'm very happy with my purchase.

Father's Day

It's Father's Day!!


I did get Lisa's birthday cake iced and we combined Father's Day and her birthday into one celebration.

Ethan is always eager to help!

Reading his card from Ethan and Cody.

Another airplane...at least this one is smaller!!

"World's Greatest Dad"

We love you!!

Happy Birthday again!!!!!

Although we celebrated Lonny's birthday yesterday, he also shares that day with his sister, Lisa (2 yrs difference) and a cousin Jonathan (3 years and 10 minutes difference...to be exact). Interesting don't you think?



We were gong to have a little party for Lisa today because her hubby, Danny had to work yesterday. Things didn't exactly work out as planned but she did manage to get her presents....thats really all she cares about anyway...LOL!!!

Ethan is going to "help" her (after all she is 35 now).

He insisted she close her eyes...you know in case she can see through the paper and all!!

Woo Hoo!! A teacup and saucer, with flowers and the month of June on it.

Surprisingly we found this at a yard sale just in time for her birthday.

It was left in my bag and I figured she had forgotten about it so I thought

it would be a great gift for Ethan to give her.

Oh, what can it be????

She loved it!!! Oh I'm so glad. It was one of those gifts

your just a little unsure about.

Is she going to like this one?

She looks a "little" excited about it, don't you think?!!

I did make her a birthday cake, but we went flea marketing and I didn't get a chance to put icing on it and by the time we got back she had to leave because her and Danny were going out for supper.

I Finally Did It

I finally did it....I broke down and bought some new silverware. Now I know this may not sound like a big deal to some people but to me it was a long over due task that is now completed.

You see, back when I was in grade school my grandma always shopped at Kroger's. Well remember how they sometimes have those deals when you buy groceries you can purchase dishes, or pans,.......or silverware at a discount price. Well my grandma bought me a whole set of this English Garden china.

and a complete set of silverware.

Now this silverware has been my everyday silverware for over 30 years through the years. Naturally a few pieces got used as screwdrivers disappeared along the way. I had inherited my mom's silverware, and had also gotten some inexpensive pieces till I had nothing but a collage of mismatched silverware. I really wanted some new but I just hated to spend that much money for a good set.


Back at Christmas I had received a gift card from Kohl's, and then recently I got a 20% off coupon at Kohl's. The coupon was about to expire so I headed to Kohl's to go shopping.

Usually I don't have any trouble finding something there to buy, but this particular day I wasn't really in the mood to shop and didn't have anything specific I was looking for. I managed to make my way over to the kitchen section (one of my favorite spots) and I came across their silverware. I thought "this would be a great time to get some new silverware."

I was able to find a style that I liked,

very simple pattern, nothing fancy for everyday.

What a great way to make use of my gift card and coupon!

However, this posed another problem. Now I had to make the switch.

Well anyone with OCD knows you can't just take out one set of silverware and insert the new...right? Also the silverware tray I was using was one that had belonged to my mom. So I purchased a new one as well as some drawer organizers. I was on my way to getting the kitchen drawers cleaned out and organized.

So what once held this

and this....



some of this....

(Did y'all notice the bowl with the cake mix in it and the box covering it up?
That was the cake I was making for Lonny' birthday. Yes in the midst of
preparing for his birthday, I decided to clean out the kitchen drawers.
Can I multi-task or what?)

and more of this.

Now looks like this.....



and this...



and finally this..

I know.... I said I bought a new silverware tray, but it wouldn't fit in my drawer, so I had to go back to using the other one. There's nothing wrong with it except that it is yellow. Not that I don't like yellow, but....well....you know.

Now this picture is some of the items I threw away. First of all the bag of farm theme cake decorations is, I think, from Kyle's birthday cake back when he was young. He turned 30 in May, I think it's time to get rid of it!

That tube of yellow icing was so hard you would probably break the countertop if you hit it against it. Time for it to go!!

The two brown bag tie thingys is for those oven bags. How I ended up with extra ties I have no idea. Doesn't everybody keep extra water bottle lids around just in case you lose one...and the pickle jar thing? (it's for you to hold and pull up so the pickles come up out of the jar and it's easier to get one). Was I thinking I would dump all the pickles out of a jar, insert this thing, and then put all the pickles back? Sometimes I wonder about myself, athough it really would be unlike me to do that. Oh, and everybody keeps their empty thermometer cases too, right? A minature Spiderman? Odd lids that I have no idea what they would fit! A box of crayons from one of the restaurants. Now that I can pass on to Ethan. Why do I have a box of the old type fuses, you know, the kind that screw in??? Oh and let's keep that package of flower freshen stuff that you mix in the vase when you get flowers in order to make them last longer. What flowers did I NOT use it in???? Now the scoop is a little more understandable, but I got rid of it too.

Y'all might need to pray for me from time to time!

Yes, I did all this just because of this

and I feel good about it.

Happy Birthday!!

Lonny at 2 months

Thirty-three years ago today my oldest son, Lonny, was born........so we're having a party!!


Ok, it's more of a get-together with the family, but that's about the extent of our partying.

His birthday wish was for a chocolate cake with NO icing and meatloaf.....with mashed potatoes, of course.



We were talking earlier in the day and got to wondering about something so Lonny went and got his baby book. (Yes Kyle, I know, I didn't complete YOUR baby book like I did Lonny's). Anyway, he was looking at the section for "Second Year Growth" and there was a list of foods he likes to eat. The list consisted of Rice Krispies, eggs, pancakes, macaroni & cheese, cottage cheese, fish, chicken, hamburger, tuna noodle casserole, cookies, apples, bananas and ice cream. He thought it was interesting that what he liked at 2 are still some of his most favorite foods...especially meatloaf and tuna noodle casserole. I don't know why those two are his favorites unless it was because I didn't make them very often! If you ask me it sounds like strange selections as your favorite foods. But that's my baby....

It's not fun blowing out candles without a 6-year-old to help!!

Just enjoying each other's company.

What's a party without balloons!!!

I'm very proud of you, Lonny. You've grown up to be a very responsible, hard-working, loyal, loving and thoughtful man, who loves his nieces and nephews and spoils them rotten.

I love you!

A package came today....

This was in it....

Remember a few days ago I posted about Lisa's birthday "presents", and this being one of them......

I also wrote about how sweet and helpful Karen at "Home a la mode" was. Now she may package every shipment this way, I don't know. (Although I like to think it was because I was so special.) Nonetheless I was surprised that it was already wrapped and I thought the package stuffing was so cute. What with all the little butterflies and all. Don't you think that is so cute?? Or have I just reached a point in my life that I'm easily entertainment?!

So if your ever in the market for a new apron, tablecloth, bedding, etc., check out "Home a la mode"

Our Final Day!

We slept in a little later than normal. I was up first, then Jim and Cody got up. We had our showers, gathered our belongings, (well we got dressed and stuff too) took our luggage out to the truck and went back in and enjoyed our continental breakfast. I had a bagel with cream cheese. Jim had some french toast sticks and just raved about how good they were. They were so good he even ate Cody's. He said he doesn't even like French Toast so I'm wondering why he even put them on his plate???

When we arrived at Kyle's and entered the house, Raylynne almost knocked me down trying to get past me so she could get to her PawPaw. I'm telling ya she is crazy about her PawPaw.

Four years ago when we were in Georgia for Raylynne to be born, Jim had gotten acquainted with Mr. Bible from the airport near them. Yesterday PawPaw had mentioned to Raylynne that we would go to the airport to see if Mr. Bible was there and look at the airplanes. See didn't forget it either. Kyle said that last night before she went to bed she told him that we had left and hadn't taken her to the airport. Kyle explained that we would be back and would probably do it then.

Mr. Bible was there and he picked Raylynne up and sat her in the plane.

Then we had to walk around and look at all the different planes. I'm really leaning more towards thinking that was Jim's idea than hers.

Back to the house for some more visiting.

"Isn't she precious"?

(She is trying to cut some teeth on her upper left side).

PawPaw's going to try again.....

Oh I think it might work.....

Nope, not yet PawPaw!

These guys spent what time they had doing this....

and some of this.....

more of this.....

Meanwhile Kialey needed a little......

sleep.

and if you like music, lets do some of this...

and even more of this....

If you haven't noticed these two could play music ALL DAY long if you would let them!!!

Cody started playing the keyboard last year and progressed very well. Through the year he began playing the guitar too and recently he discovered he can play the harmonicas also. I guess he gets that ability from his dad. He too, can pick up most any instrument and play it.

Well after you sleep you need some food, so off to McDonald's we go.



And look who wants PawPaw to carry her.

Raylynne's got her hug-lock on PawPaw!

Don't they make those playgrounds for the little kids???

yes, he is asleep!!

It must have been all that driving yesterday...hmmmmm.

I'm sure he is just resting up so he can drive home!

Meanwhile we got in touch with Lisa and Danny. They were headed home from being at Destin, FL all week.

It was difficult as always, but we finally got through saying our goodbyes about 6:00. On the road again.......

We stopped in Troy, AL at the Santa Fe Cattle Co. Steakhouse.

Cody looks tired. All that music they played today.

After a delicious meal we hopped back in the truck and headed down the road.......listening to music ALL the way! This kid is passionate about music. May the Lord bless him and use him!

I had to pull over a couple of times for some rest, so we didn't make it home until about 10:00 Sunday morning. I even took a nap, which is unheard for me. The rest of the time I just walked around like a zombie. I'm looking forward to a good nights sleep.

Ahhhhhh.......snooze....snooze!