Getting Ready

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My husband and I have planned to be foster parents for quite sometime. We began our training about a year and a half ago but put it on hold due to his active duty military status, not because he was active duty but because he was away from home during the time we needed to finish our training. Now that he's home, cross your fingers, we'll be able to begin our training again. We have learned that we need to get some things taken care of first though.

Item #1
Neuter the d.o.g. - don't tell him. He's a wild man and he's a high jumper. Not so much fun for the little ones who come to visit. So, we've been told that he could be mellowed out this way. Poor little brat.

Item #2
Register the d.o.g. - I know, I know.

Item(s)#3
Household check-ups
Make sure all the smoke detectors work.
Child proof cabinets that have cleaning supplies (or get rid of all chemical cleaning supplies).
Child proof outlets.

Item #4
Re-start foster parent course!

Easy stuff huh?

Could anyone help me decide where to take the poor pitiful doggie woggie?

Happy June

Hello everyone, from more than a week into June!
After spending most of last month talking about a serious issue that's close to my heart I just want to tell you now that my hosta bed is flourishing, my horse-puppy is growing rapidly, I'm still losing weight, my husband comes home tomorrow, my kitchen is clean, laundry is folded, and I finally have a tomato plant in my dirt. Things are going great!
Last weekend I had a couple of super-groovy gals over to my house for fun and food, I might add that I was out of coconut oil for the entire weekend, which made one of them especially, um un-happy. While they were here, I was blessed with a little sunburn that is now a tan and also public pool memories that are seared into my brain and will last a lifetime. Thanks for sharing both of those with me ladies.
Last night my mom and I rented I Am Number 4 from Redbox. That was a good movie, not for kids. Scary looking bad guys. We're crossing our fingers for parts 2 and 3!
Tonight I played with two little girls who love puppies, play-doh, dirt, ice-cream, and bath time. Perfect companions for a hot late-spring-but-feels-more-like-summer night. I suggest that you sample Häagen-Dazs Pineapple Coconut Ice-cream.
On the menu tomorrow are Whole Wheat Banana Pancakes, as per a sweet request by my dearly departed husband. He's soon to be un-departed. Whoo hoo!

Little Girls! (and I don't mean that in the Ms. Hannigan way!)

I got to babysit for my bff tonight. This was a first for us, we usually get together and try to soak up as much time as we can in each other's company. Tonight, however, she had a date, in my town! So she rang my phone as asked if I would hang out with her darling daughters, they are ages 2 and 4.
I had the most wonderful evening with them. They ate my cooking, which is rare for most adults even! We played with Lincoln Logs, then Play-Doh for a very long time! After we finished with our play time, we had a bed time snack. The the littlest one washed the snack dishes very well while her big sister sat at my desk and played with some toys. Just before my dear friend came back, the girls and I cozied up to read a book. The highlight of the night? They loved my Ezekiel Bread! I had to make more and fight them for a bite!

That's not all though, last week I got to hang out with my nieces and nephew! We spent time jumping on their trampoline, how I have missed that activity! The girls read books from their mom and dad's bookshelf, showed us how adept they are at surfing the internet, and watched movies that Grandma brought! Their brother was the sweetest little guy, all day! The best movie award goes to... Shirley Temple's Heidi! They loved it! My youngest niece wants her name to be Shirley Temple!

I really love my nephews, but I just adore doing girl things with little girls!

Silver Dollar City

I didn't tell you about our Silver Dollar City trip.

This is the School of Culinary Arts that was added a few years ago. For a $10 bill you can join in the fun and sample the goods.

Another newer addition (though not the new-est) is this area for younger kids. This roller coaster is gentle enough that the more timid of your babes will still get to ride. Mom or Dad can ride too.

The Silver Dollar Saloon has my favorite show! The show changes with the seasons and always brings a laugh.

The General Store has fun stuff to see and to buy. A lite snack of just-sliced cheese with a bit of jerky can keep ya going another hour and can be found here too.

After the day is over and the rides have all closed there's a show in the amphitheater. There's music, dancing, comedy, and food. A great way to end the day and rest your feet before heading home, or to your hotel, or even your tent!

Seaside, FL

I've been awake since 6:00! If you've noticed that I post after midnight but usually before 4 or 5 am, then you know how odd it is that I'm waking at this time of day, instead of tucking myself in. Here's why; we were expecting a visit from the Tooth Fairy last night! My lil' guy was so excited that he just couldn't make himself go to sleep. He was up and down I don't know how many times trying to give the Tooth Fairy opportunity to sneak in and make the big switch! To prove that I wasn't the TF I had to hop into bed a few hours early... this is the stunning result!


I have so much to tell you! My family and I returned last week from 9 days in Florida. Just the very edge of Florida, just far enough to count. I took millions of pictures but left most of them on my captian's laptop, which he has, in Florida. There are a few that I can show you though, of a little town that we'll always love to visit, called Seaside.

See? Seaside. They have the best everything in Seaside. It's true.

The best little park, with the best walk down either side. The best benches, best tables, even people doing yoga in the grass.

They have the best shops.

The best, and I mean best, little market store that I've ever walked my boots into. I'll take one of everything please.

The best farmer's market. This is a booth for a restaurant in Ft Walton Beach called Ali Baba Grill Cafe, I googled it for you there. Behind that bottled water is a pan of Baklava, did I try some? No. Am I still crying? Yes.


The best places to eat or drink.

The best sandy path that leads to the ocean.

Even the best beach with the best ocean salt water. Ever.

People, this doesn't even come close.

Go to Seaside, you'll thank me