I fought with it all day!

I had awful trouble with blogger yesterday! I had trouble on Monday also but not as bad! I COULD NOT GET THE SIDEBAR TO UPDATE with my latest post! I massaged it on Monday and got it to update but YESTERDAY it wouldn't do it, nope not at all! Well, for some of you who don't blog every day... perhaps that isn't a big deal, but it was for me. SEE... my Sister just text me to make sure I was OK:) She said "no blog"! People depend on me, hehe!

So, I worked with it and worked with it... I did what we did last year that fixed it and it didn't fix it. I logged it on the blogger help and nobody replied! SOMEBODY HELP ME! Nobody helped and finally late yesterday I fixed it. I changed so many things and probably messed up more stuff:) But, my little blog was once again showing up in the sidebar.

Then, while sitting at the ball field in Jefferson Georgia... my crazy blogger friend Jenny Matlock sends me an email! She couldn't leave a comment! She wanted to share in the good news about Justin being safe and OMG, I had really messed something up! So, on my iphone at the ball field I fixed that too. Thank you Jenny!

We got home late and drove thru heavy storms! It was raining heavy when I went to bed and MY INTERNET WAS DOWN! Oh my goodness, I had one heck of a day with the computer:)

All is well this morning, a good night's sleep, hot coffee in my cup, my Internet is up and finally so am I:) My garden is wet with fresh rain, I have one tomato turning red and if my blog will show up in the sidebar... it will be a hallelujah kind of day!

Big hugs and blessings all around!

Where has the year gone?

Can you believe that the year is half gone? I knew that it was June and I knew that it was about to be July but PLEASE... when you look at it on the calendar, the year has flown by!

Oh well, let's enjoy today! I am getting so excited about Justin coming home. I got to chat with him on Facebook and Cindy put me on speaker and I got to actually hear his voice! Oh what a sweet sound! He said he is fine! Amazing!

Happy Day! Happy Day!

It's a new day!

This is the start of a new day in Afghanistan, Justin is out of the war zone and will start the process to get back home:) We will be planning to go see the buses roll in and then parties to plan when he gets to come home on leave! There is much to do and our hearts are full of thankfulness!

Think we have been hot, how about wearing all of this in the heat? Makes me feel bad about complaining about being hot!

I bet he can't wait to shed this gear and shower for hours! I can't wait to see him smiling and having a good time, with his plate loaded with good food, splashing in the pool and enjoying being home!

I have learned so much while Justin has been over there. My prayers have kept me going, yes I said ME. When I felt nervous about where he is, I prayed... when I felt sad because he might be homesick, I prayed... when I KNEW that he was wanting something good to eat, I prayed. It made me feel better and I knew he was praying too and that made him feel better!

So... now I will be thankful for his safety and keep praying for him and all of the others left behind! Have a blessed day my friends! Hugs!

When we stay late...

When we stay late at the ballfield, it is a good thing! Autumn's team NEVER lost a SINGLE game ALL day and that meant we were there LATE! I got in bed at 12:30AM and those of you who know me KNOW that is way past my bedtime:) But when we play like we did... I don't mind a bit! It was an exciting day and those girls played like pros!

My precious oldest granddaughter, Autumn!

The first game was at 8:30AM and we left the ballpark at 11:30 or so... We were playing in the championship game, down 4 to 0. Autumn hit a rocket that cleared the bases with TWO outs. She is on second and we are down 4 to 3. Brea comes up to bat... GIRLS she hit one out of the park. The whole team runs on the field. We WON! Little Alex turns to me and says "We won this game for Daddy for his Birthday"! How sweet and yes, it was her Daddy's birthday and he spends countless hours coaching this team. He was in this heat ALL day on his birthday and I would say, that was a wonderful gift to take home that huge trophy:)


We take little breaks between games to eat and cool off! I went to my Sister's for a break and enjoyed visiting with her. We went to Chick-fil-a for a bite to eat and a photo. OK, just me jumping in the picture:)That is my Honey in the back looking in to see why in this world did he marry such a nut:)

Now it is Sunday morning and I am sipping my coffee and being ever so thankful that my Marine nephew, Justin is heading out of Marjah for base. It is done for him. He will head back to base for a while and then HOME! Thank you Lord for keeping him safe!
Now, like my Sister Cindy (his Mama) said in her blog this morning. There are still so many in danger over there and we must keep them all in our prayers. I have a dear friend in North Carolina, Julie, her son in over there and will be there for a while. I will keep praying Julie and that I promise to you!

Love you all, welcome to all of my new followers. I am still visiting blogs from the Bloggerette show and tell. I will eventually visit you all!

Have a blessed Sunday! HUGS from Ganky!

Whew, this 'ole broad is T-I-R-E-D!

We go every year and every year, I enjoy it but complain about how hot it is... so much walking etc. Well this year was no different:) We had a bigger crowd. the big guy on the left is the Porkster:) He jumped in this picture like he was one of us! Beside Porky is L-R Autumn, me, Austin, Tracy, Riley (Autumn's friend) Josh (Austin's friend) And the two in front looking precious with their shades on, Alex and Avery!

So, in order to get more of my money... they posed these two with their hands together like they were catching something. Couldn't resist!

And for old time sake, this was last year's picture!
Friends, it was H-O-T! We rode, we walked, we walked, we rode, we ate... it was H-O-T! I know I already said that:) We walked over to Skull Island where the water flows freely! The little ones played in the water and honey... the skies opened up and dumped loads of rain on this hot bunch of folks. We stood under the shelter for over an hour and then made our way to the car. After going to the wrong parking lot... we finally got to the car. Alex, Avery and I headed home to play for a while and I was so happy to get back home:)

I am still visiting the Blogerettes from yesterday's post! If I haven't made it all the way around yet... I will! I enjoyed seeing all of the beautiful creations and I picked up some new followers and lots of new friends!

We have ballgames again today starting at 8:30AM! Happy Birthday to my Son-in-law, Derek! He is a wonderful Son-in-law, a great husband to my daughter and a marvelous Daddy to those precious four grandchildren.

Love you all and thank you for praying for my sweet nephew, Justin! He is about to see Afghanistan in his rear-view window! Way to go Justin, love you, appreciate you and can't wait to see you and give you a HUGE Ganky HUG!!!

It's Bloggerette Sorority Rush!

Thank you for stopping by to take a peek at my creation for the Bloggerette Sorority Rush hosted by my BFF Karen at Some Days are Diamonds! I can't wait to hop around and see what beauty you have created from the picture provided!

The rules were... make something, anything using the picture provided and post it today! You had to take a picture of what you created and you had to be in the picture!

So here it is! I used a vintage earring which belonged to my Mama and a flower given to me just recently in a special package from a friend!
Added a flower and some pearls... along with lace of several varieties





Tahdah! My Bloggerette Sorority Rush Pillow!

And ME!

This was my attempt at being in the picture while taking the picture as I was trying on my almost 25 year old wedding dress:) This October will be our 25 year wedding anniversary and in the midst of trying on the dress, I decided to take my picture with my creation! Don't laugh, the dress is gapped a bit in the back but GIRLS... I got that sucker on!

Have a blessed day and thank you Karen and all the participants who stop by for a giggle and a peek! HUGS!

A tad too hot here in Georgia!

It is scorching hot here! It is really too hot to go outside. Autumn had a ballgame at 5Pm today and it was miserably hot.
We play in extreme cold and extreme heat. We are sitting under an umbrella and can't hardly stand it. They are playing in the heat on the field, I guess that is what the conditioning is for.
The little ones played and we had plenty to keep us hydrated!

But, dang! It's hot! We have two ballgames today and all day Saturday! Now, I'm not complaining like I'm NOT gonna go and sit out in the heat to watch her play:) I am just saying it isn't comfortable while I am sitting out in the heat watching her play!

The rest of my day was spent waiting on a package! It was delivered Tuesday and we weren't at home! I waited until 3:30PM yesterday for it to be RE-delivered and they came at 4:40PM after we left UGH! It is a movie camera that my Honey picked as a retirement gift. We'll see if it comes this morning or we'll just have to go pick it up!

I got my grocery shopping done and put away, dishwasher unloaded and some laundry done. When I visited my Brother on Monday, he talked about how good a BLT is with Jimmy Dean bacon! So... that is what we had for dinner. It was yummy, yummy!

That's all folks! Enjoy your day, stay cool and be happy! Hug and prayers for those who need either or both:)

Mammogram and Yummy squash patties!

I piddled around the house until time for my Mammogram and off I went! No problem, at least I remembered not to wear deodorant. It seems like that is just the rule recently, huh! I went to my Brother's house and visited for a while. We talked and laughed and laughed and talked. He has the most beautiful garden and I enjoyed seeing it and getting tips on things to do to make mine better.

Here is only a small part of his garden...

They have this most gorgeous plant. It is a hydrangea, but a different variety. I forget what he called it but it is so pretty and he said this is not as pretty as it WAS!

We talked about food, fried green tomatoes, bacon/lettuce and tomato sandwiches and squash patties. Well, I decided to try the squash patties and girl... were they delicious!

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We will call this June's Squash Patties
(Half recipe)!

5 squash grated

1/2 onion grated

Put squash and onion in a colander and sprinkle with 3/4 Tbsp salt to draw out the water.

Let sit for 30 minutes or until it isn't so wet.

Mix 1/2 egg, 3/4 cup self-rising flour

1/3 cup corn meal

Mix all together, make patties and fry!

They were YUMMY! The half recipe was plenty and made a plate full!

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I played a little joke on my Honey and told him that I found this cucumber in our garden! Ours is about a third of this size:) He was surprised how we missed it! I didn't wait but just a minute before telling him that Marshall gave it to me!

Have a blessed Wednesday! We are one more day closer to getting our Marine out of harm's way! Please keep praying... it is still bad over there and getting worse in some areas! Love you all!

Back to the Antique store!

Fun for Ganky! This is an Antique store that I found last week! There are TWO buildings FULL of the most wonderful stuff! I could have stayed in there for days. I only made it thru one building and had to walk pretty fast to get thru that one! I found a bunch of things that I would love to have but only made one purchase!
This was the outside of building number 1 and I can't wait to go back and see what is in building number 2:)


This is what I bought! I have a love for storage containers and if they are pretty enough to look decorative... great! I can't wait to put these to good use!

Well, here it is Tuesday and I have a Mammogram this afternoon! Not as fun as antique shopping but it's just one of those things you have to do:)

Have a blessed day! HUGS to all of you!

Father's Day 2010

Alex made this for Pa all by herself and can I tell you that he wouldn't take a million dollars for it? A sweet drawing of her and her Pa holding hands, precious! These are the things in life that make a Father's Day memorable.

A leftover pinwheel in a baggie that they wanted to give Pa!

Two little girls giving their Pa special things they had made!

These two sweeties, Autumn took pictures and Austin had fun playing in the pool with his Pa!
So, Pa got a wonderful Georgia Tech book
and a new Georgia Tech tag for his new truck because the other one was destroyed in the accident. Of course, they tricked him with a Georgia tag first...
Then giving him the REAL tag:)
And then there's this Dad! He had a great day too! Dad of four... WOW!
We love you Derek!


It turned out to be a special day!

BUT, here is how this Father's Day started out... we got in bed Saturday night at midnight after ballgames and a LONG drive. I woke up undecided if I would have enough energy to make it to Church. I cooked a big breakfast which is so unusual for us, gave my Honey his gifts and card and decided that Church was where I was going. Showered, dressed, grabbed my Bible and off I go! All is well, screeched to a halt... OH NO, I forgot about the construction on I-20. Girls, it was backed up and I tried two different ways only to be stopped for different reasons. I was at a fork in the road, do I go on and be late or go home. Well, since Justin has been in the Marine Corps, I feel closer to him at Church... So I decided that I would be late but would be there. I truly enjoyed it and I am glad that I didn't let the obstacles keep me from going!

After Church, I went to the cemetery to visit my Daddy for Father's Day and Mama too:) Sat there for a while and had a little chat with them and on home to finish out the day!

Tracy and I decided we would swim and eat together and visit with Pa! FUN? Yes, we had so much fun! We laughed and most swam and we ordered pizza! It was a wonderful time!

Have a blessed Monday! A new week and a day closer to getting our Marine home!

Father's Day

I hope all of you enjoy your Father's Day! My Daddy isn't with me in body but is sure with me in spirit! I love him today and always will! I miss you Pop!

Oh sweet memories! I wish I could have him back for just one day, for just one hug and for one more "I love you, Pop"!

Have a blessed Father's Day!

On the road again...

We have a bunch of ballgames this weekend which started Thursday night 70 miles away for Autumn's school summer team. Friday night 70 miles in a totally different direction with her travel ball team. When you read this blog, I will be back up there for an 8AM game. YES, I said 8AM. So, this is gonna be a short blog, don't cry... I'll make up for it tomorrow:) Enjoy some of the beautiful things I saw on my journeys yesterday!

Oh beautiful lilies! Different colors than most that I have and bloom at different times! Love the colors!

This fern was darned near dead and look how it has come back! Beautiful, just enough sun and the right amount of water!

Look at the contrast, puffy white clouds and the bright blue sky!

You have to look closely... a rainbow!

This was what I saw on the way home last night!

Enjoy your Saturday, mine will be busy and full:) Love you all!

Oh say, can you see...

This is my Baby Sister, yes she is 40 years old but STILL by Baby Sister! Sitting next to her...HER Son, her Marine... OUR Marine! It won't be long now until we have these two smiles together again. He LOVES his Mama and all of his family! I guarantee you that he has been constantly praying, for his safe return home to his family BUT he prayed first for his Family back home! Greatest guy, sweetest kid with the biggest God loving heart!

He will be home soon and my Baby Sister is crying tears of joy! We are all so happy that he is safe but he is still in the WAR ZONE! We have to keep praying and praying and praying until he makes it all the way home!

OH Justin! We miss you, we thank you and we'll be standing there on the side of the road...waiting when you make it home!

I am up early, why? can't sleep late:) Sipping my hot coffee and being thankful for all of you, for my family (who also read my blog), for my Country and all those who are fighting to keep us safe! I am thankful for food on the table, a roof over my head and the love of a large family! I snapped this picture last night on our way home from the ballgame! Ahhhhh

Have a blessed day my friends! We have a weekend full of tournaments and we will be having loads of fun! It is really hot and steamy here, so we'll be taking lots of tents and coolers AND SNACKS.!

Love you all and thanks for going on this journey with me wherever I go:)

Alice in Wonderland was...

$4.50If you guessed, you were entered! Cindylou was the closest at $2.50 and I paid $4.50 for it! Obviously I paid too much:) I thought I had gotten a great deal!

Cindylou will get a prize for her guess!

These were the comments and guesses!

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Kelly said...
Honey, please. You do manage to find the cutest things. I love that book and I bet you found the perfect place to put it. I know, you're good like that.

Love ya, and have a good Tuesday! P.S. I want to go junkin' with ya sometime.

June 15, 2010 6:30 AM
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BEAR's Mom said...
I love the brick building...my kinda' place. I could take a nap in that fru fru booth. You found some nice things...how much did you pay? :D
~victoria~

June 15, 2010 6:46 AM
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Cindy Lou said...
That is a precious looking little shop!! I guess you only paid...$2.50 for the book!! You sure found some treasures! Enjoy your day!! Love you bunches!!

June 15, 2010 7:41 AM
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Kaye said...
I think the book was only .50 ???? It sounds like you enjoyed your shopping

June 15, 2010 8:07 AM
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Karen said...
Hmmmm. I want to go to those stores with you. Why do the people on the west coast think the people either 1/2 way over the country or all the way across to that other ocean have better things than we do at home?
I swear - everyone else has better stores.
Can you imagine the mischief we could get into together?
:) $2 for the book - and let me guess where you are going to put it where little hands can't rip it up . . . :)
HAGD! Hugs! Karen

June 15, 2010 10:20 AM
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Anita@Theycallmejammi said...
Looks like fun places to browse...love the book and the hankies.

June 15, 2010 10:25 AM
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GARAGE SALE GAL said...
Those stores look like they have some great finds....like you found!
I'll guess 1.00 for the book...maybe 2.00 and your hankies are sweet.
Go back soon!!!
Warmly,
Deb :)

June 15, 2010 7:37 PM
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billypandnikkysmom said...
Cute little shops.....I'd love to spend my days "junking" someday :) I loved all of your little treasures!! I bet you paid $1.75 for your book, are you going to tell us???? Have a great night, blessings, love & hugs!

June 15, 2010 8:35 PM
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Julie said...
Oh OH OHHH! What awesome places you have shown on your blog. I'm on my way!!! How much fun did you have??!!! And that book...what a find. Such a classic favorite, and I love love the illustrations! And there's that White Rabbit I love...
Goodness, you are going to post tomorrow how much it was ...right??? They don't do illustrations anymore like they used to! Thanks for sharing the fun and the photos. Love the flag!
Hugs !

June 15, 2010 10:56 PM
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Dogwood said...
What a fun place. I also love all that old brick. There are some very beautiful brick building in Grass Valley.

Dogwood
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I took Autumn to practice yesterday, went to Monroe shopping again in another little antique shop! Got a HUGE deal on some vintage tea towels and another hanky!

I have two itsy bitsy watermelons (this is the biggest of the two)...
and lots of the tiniest cucumbers, OMG!

We have had rain TWO nights in a row! Thank you Lord, my garden needs rain not just water!

I am getting my hair done this morning and Autumn has TWO ballgames this afternoon with her new team! And a weekend full of games with her old team!

One day closer! Keep praying for our Marines! Billy is coming home to his family this weekend! Justin will be headed home soon and we will keep praying for Julie's Justin until he returns to safety!

Love you all and have a blessed day!