tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330717012024-03-13T02:19:26.704-04:00Wachy's WorldIt's a crazy mixed-up world. And we're all blessed to be in it ...Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16007045056237740813noreply@blogger.comBlogger138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33071701.post-55405243870754253162009-08-21T06:27:00.000-04:002009-08-21T06:29:26.414-04:00This time ...(I know I've been very MIA. But I couldn't break tradition today ...)<br /><br />... five years ago, today, I was eating breakfast. yeah ... I know ... that doesn't seem like such a big deal ... I eat breakfast most days. However, this day five years ago breakfast was different. I stood in the kitchen at my mom's house with my mom, Deidra, Caryn, Amy, Laurie, Mandy, and Crystal ... rarely in my life have there been that many people in my mom's house at once, never have there been so many girls. So here's what was different ... this time, five years ago, I was eating my last breakfast as a Daniels woman ... for in just 7 short hours, Daniels wouldn't be my name anymore. I know it wasn't all that long ago ... but I still remember it like it was yesterday. (I hope in 50 years that it's still this clear.)<br /><br />Happy Anniversary, my love! Here's to the first 5 and the next (at least) 50 to come!Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16007045056237740813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33071701.post-20340788255302395822009-02-08T16:32:00.000-05:002009-02-08T16:34:03.299-05:00MIAI know I've been MIA.<br /><br />At first it was because I had nothing about which to write.<br /><br />Now it's because I'm always tired and have too much to do and too little time.<br /><br />Hang in there ... one of these days I'm sure that I'll be able to catch up on writing again ...Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16007045056237740813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33071701.post-69995036010246379052008-12-16T10:06:00.002-05:002008-12-16T10:34:17.000-05:00'Tis Better to GiveA couple of weekends ago my mom took Tyler and me out shopping. Now I know that I've talked with many of you about her shopping bug and how, at times, it can be rather insatiable. It was just as insatiable as ever this time, but I don't know that we've had this much fun in a long time. <br /><br />Mom armed each of us with $30 and the early bird morning ad for Toys 'R Us and off we went! I LOVE shopping for toys. And it was so much fun to pick out things for Toys For Tots. Thanks to the amazing sales, we left with TONS of stuff to give. My personal favorite was a set of twin baby dolls that came with a double stroller to push them around ... and it was only $12 thanks to the sale! Okay, maybe it was the stuffed plush set of doll doctor equipment. Or maybe it was the super cute teddy bear. Or the buy one get one free puppies. No, the two headed dragon. Or the Raggedy Ann. Or the matchbox cars. Or the football. Or something else super cool that I'm forgetting about ... Or maybe I'm a traditionalist and it was the magic baby bottles.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i7.ebayimg.com/04/i/000/99/98/0815_1_b.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 358px; height: 400px;" src="http://i7.ebayimg.com/04/i/000/99/98/0815_1_b.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Then we had some Kohl's cash from Black Friday. So we headed over there to get more toys. I believe we left there with another stuffed animal, a super cool Play-Dough set, a Polly Pocket like doll, and I'm sure something else that I'm forgetting. <br /><br />Totally fun way to spend a Saturday!Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16007045056237740813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33071701.post-24604924760001481612008-12-12T10:49:00.002-05:002008-12-12T11:18:09.303-05:00Hummable HumbugAs I was reading the paper this morning and flipped over the Life section to skim what has quickly become one of my favorite pages - The Flip Side. I came across an article that made me LAUGH! So I thought I'd share. This is from today's Columbus Dispatch and was written by Nick Chordas:<br /><br /><blockquote><hr>Some folks worry that political correctness has gone too far where Christmas is concerned. The Flip Side, grammatically challenged since 2004, doesn't think it has gone far enough. Hence, we've identified six highly offensive carols that you might want to think twice about singing this holiday season. You're welcome, by the way.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth</span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Most Offensive Lyric:</span> "It seems so long since I could say / 'Sister Susie Sitting on a thistle!' / Gosh, oh, gee, how happy I'd be / If I could only whistle (th, th)."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Harmed Party:</span> dentally challenged kids. Imagine the hurt when an already-self-conscious second-grader hears the song mercilessly poking fun at his or her temporary speech impediment. For shame, Donald Yetter Gardner, who wrote the unrepentant tune in 1944.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Winter Wonderland</span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Most Offensive Lyric:</span> "In the meadow we can build a snowman / Then pretend that he is Parson Brown / He'll say, 'Are you married?' / We'll say, 'No, man / But you can do the job / When you're in town.'"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Harmed Party:</span> marriage traditionalists. Can you imagine? An anthropomorphic stack of packed ice presiding over the sacred bond of marriage? What next? A real person grants divorces?<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Christmas is Coming</span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Most Offensive Lyric:</span> "Christmas is coming / The geese are getting fat / Please put a penny / In the old man's hat."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Harmed Party:</span> overweight fowl and the elderly. We don't think that we should have to explain why "fat" would be considered an insulting adjective by our full-figured, feathered friends. Also, the implication that panhandlers must be of advanced years smacks of ageism.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Up on the Housetop</span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Most Offensive Lyric:</span> "Next comes the stocking of little Will / Oh, just see what a glorious fill / Here is a hammer and lots of tacks / Also a ball and whip that cracks / Ho-ho-ho! Who wouldn't go?"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Harmed Party:</span> child-safety enthusiasts. Nowhere does the song mention warning labels for little Will's holiday haul, which apparently includes a mallet, small nails (lots of them) and a lion tamer's lash. Disgraceful.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Merry Christmas, Darling</span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Most Offensive Lyric:</span> "Merry Christmas, darling / We're apart, that's true / But I can dream / And in my dreams / I'm Christmas-ing with you."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Harmed Party:</span> English teachers. Christmas is a lot of things to a lot of people - but it is never a <span style="font-style:italic;">verb</span>. Keep your "Christmas-ing" to yourself, Carpenters. Some of us have proficiency tests to worry about.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The Twelve Days of Christmas</span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Most Offensive Lyric:</span> "On the third day of Christmas / My true love sent to me: / Three French hens / Two turtle doves / And a partridge in a pear tree."<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Harmed Party:</span> patriotic Americans. French hens, huh? Seriously? They're called <span style="font-style:italic;">freedom</span> hens. And, yes, we still think that joke is funny.<br /><hr></blockquote><br /><br />I'm thinking that my favorite is Merry Christmas, Darling. But it may very well be The Twelve Days of Christmas. Yours?Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16007045056237740813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33071701.post-19797433997773277012008-12-01T12:16:00.002-05:002008-12-01T12:25:52.253-05:00Also ...... a note to my fellow doorbusters.<br /><br />I acknowledge that it was an early morning. I was up too. Earlier than some, probably not than most ... the point I have is this ...<br /><br />Even though it was early, I took a few precious moments to ready myself for the day. No. I didn't shower. One bathroom and 4 people does not afford all that much time for luxuries on early mornings with very tight deadlines. In my opinion, 5:40 was plenty early to be up that morning. However, I did take time to wash my face, brush my teeth and hair, and put on both makeup AND deodorant. I did so not only for myself, but also as a common courtesy to those with whom I would be in contact through out the day. <br /><br />Please, if you were one of the many people with whom I had contact during that day but did not take time to do something as simple as apply deodorant before leaving your home that morning, consider doing so should you head out to doorbust Black Friday 2009. Thank you.<br /><br />That is all.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16007045056237740813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33071701.post-62978395860435409172008-12-01T10:40:00.002-05:002008-12-01T11:51:58.588-05:00DorkbustingWhen I was growing up, Black Friday shopping wasn't anything that was done in my family. Two years ago, Tyler found a really good deal on an mp3 player that he wanted to get me for Christmas. So out we went. However, we didn't go out till about 2. And I have to tell you, by that time of day all (read: most) of the crazy people were gone. This year, perusing bfads.com, Tyler discovered a sale that required our presence as doorbusters - at Half-Price Books. (Man am I a dork ... :P) The sale? The first 100 people through the doors would receive a free tote bag and a $5 coupon. Of those 100, someone would win a $100 gift card to Half-Price. Now ... I was sold at the $5 coupon. There are plenty of books at Half-Price that I could get for $5. So that was a FREE book! And seeing as I'm a dork ... free books are a great draw for me. I might also add that this sale was falling at a rather fortuitous time for me, as I just recently finished the book that I was reading. Doors were to open at 7 am.<br /><br />So, we got up at 6. We (Tyler, his mom, my mom, and myself) left around 6:30. We got to Half-Price about 10 minutes later and there was already quite the line. Guesstimating, we figured there were about 50 people there already. I must admit, I was surprised by this. I didn't figure that there would be that many people in line to doorbust at Half-Price Books. I'm glad that we arrived when we did though, because the grew behind us rather quickly. They opened the doors about 10 minutes early and began to hand out tote bags and coupons. I headed straight back to the religious fiction in hopes of finding another totally mindless fluff read. Tyler checked graphic novels first then went to sci-fi, business, and finally came back to where I was. My mom headed for the clearance section (shock) and immediately began filling her bag with several books for her classroom (shock again). And I believe that Tyler's mom headed to the current publications looking for a specific book for someone for Christmas. She found a few things. Tyler found a couple of books. Mom filled her bag. And I was having some difficulty. There as a series that I was kind of interested in, but didn't want to spend the money on books 2 and 3 in the series and was afraid to risk them not being there at a later date. So I just set everything aside and figured I could use my coupon during a later trip to the store. Tyler's mom was no where to be found at this point in time so, we headed over to the music section towards the front of the store to look for a cd he's been wanting. (Please note, that at this point in time, we've been at Half-Price Books for about 40 minutes and there are probably close to 200 people in the small store with us. And I'm thinking, "Seriously? This many people got up early for Half-Price Books?" Regardless of my thoughts, I'm glad that we listened to Tyler and headed out early to wait in line. And here comes why ...) Tyler and I are busy digging through cds when his mom comes up behind us and says, "Hey you two! Get whatever you want today - I won!" Seriously. She won the $100 gift card. How fun! So I went back and picked up my series (and a couple of other books). Tyler grabbed a few books he'd set down and a couple of dvds. Basically, we went nuts. And we still have my coupon and about $50 left on the gift card. Oh yeah! Do you have any idea how much money $50 is at Half-Price Books? I'd bet that we get another 10-15 books out of it. Oh yeah! That's what I'm talking about! And that's why I'm a dork ... God love my husband that he not only puts up with my bookworm-ness, but supports my habit. :)<br /><br />So after a very successful hour and a pinch at Half-Price Books, we all headed out to breakfast at Panera. Mmmm ... Panera ... From there we hit Barnes and Noble (Yes. We did need to go to another book store.) and Dick's Sporting Goods before Tyler's mom headed for home. (She had like a 4 hour drive back to WV, and we didn't want to keep her too long.) The three of us proceeded to Kohl's. It's about 10:30 by now and while the store is still VERY full, it is also well stocked and staffed and we were only in line for 30 minutes or so. Some larger purchases were made at Kohl's and required a trip home to empty the car (and for food. It was getting close to lunch time by the time we got through the line.) So we had lunch and mom took a nap and we headed out again around 1. <br /><br />This time, we went up to Tuttle Mall. Stops at Game Stop (both inside the mall and in the plaza across from the mall. Seriously, Buy 2 Get 1 FREE, that warrants stopping in to look.), Sears (had a coupon), New York and Company (coupon and Buy 1 Get 1 75% off), Macy's (coupon), Lane Bryant (Buy 1 Get 1 FREE, whole store, mix and match. Seriously.), Go! The Game Store, and Great American Cookie (mom needed a snack, so we all three split a brownie and pop). <br /><br />Down to Grove City. Dinner at O'Charley's. Stops at Game Stop, Target, Best Buy, and somewhere else. But I can't remember where. Headed home around 10. So we left at 6 am, got home at 10 pm, and took 1 hour off for lunch at noon. Needless to say that after 15 hours of shopping, we were tired and our feet hurt. Throughout the day we (and I'm counting all 4 of us here) picked up:<br />new 10 pc pots and pans<br />Belgian waffle maker<br />at least 25 books<br />6 dvds<br />2 pairs of new tennis shoes<br />new holiday decor<br />a few new tops<br />a couple of pairs of pants<br />a few under things<br />new jewelry (including ring, pins, earrings, and bracelets)<br />hillbilly golf<br />new belt for my skinny husband who keeps needing new belts :)<br />... and I'm sure that I'm forgetting something ...<br /><br />The craziest part of it all ... we went out again on Saturday ...<br /><br />Never let it be said that we didn't contribute to righting the economy on Black Friday this year ...Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16007045056237740813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33071701.post-65967799647445161832008-11-24T11:56:00.003-05:002008-11-24T12:00:11.020-05:00LOL ... Out LoudSo this was on the "vote to see if it'll show on the front page of Fail Blog" page ...<br /><br />Hilarious!<br /><br /><img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e372/WachyPachy/fail-owned-homework-stripper-shovel.jpg" width=100%>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16007045056237740813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33071701.post-84840766783791522942008-11-22T13:27:00.002-05:002008-11-22T13:31:38.484-05:00In recognition of the festivities of the day ...... a joke.<br /><br />What's the difference between sheep and a comeback?<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.reggie.net/photos/ireland/sligo/carrowkeel/4737304_black_and_white_sheep-600.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 378px; height: 301px;" src="http://www.reggie.net/photos/ireland/sligo/carrowkeel/4737304_black_and_white_sheep-600.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />M*ch*g*n players don't mount comebacks!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Go Buckeyes!</span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16007045056237740813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33071701.post-51399184549533119852008-11-13T17:46:00.003-05:002008-11-13T17:53:34.383-05:00Dinner Anyone?Tonight's dinner ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdZvxWMD6Cu7jE5_CZixZxsmjq9zDkDFmEMW4VRI7Z8DcvR7tannZPBaUYsKden2pgFgZj1krDoEyntDLOwiXwEPztTqXSkJkfuOIjbP38F1uURAdGcTT_2j2YofXKQtiQPiGtA/s1600-h/SDC10224.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdZvxWMD6Cu7jE5_CZixZxsmjq9zDkDFmEMW4VRI7Z8DcvR7tannZPBaUYsKden2pgFgZj1krDoEyntDLOwiXwEPztTqXSkJkfuOIjbP38F1uURAdGcTT_2j2YofXKQtiQPiGtA/s200/SDC10224.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268277842394290802" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Pot Pie. Stuffed with ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsBWUbamgC2Y_qG_1SV0lFEqrRBP3l-fco4luZ6OTG_0zw5IpYMEnKnstihTYrYpOGxUwi0zG3aWgWXMhm4c0cPAThZsbRi7R99RjLxACPN0WKHv4VNpdWadqcbc1YttXVLqIsA/s1600-h/SDC10228.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsBWUbamgC2Y_qG_1SV0lFEqrRBP3l-fco4luZ6OTG_0zw5IpYMEnKnstihTYrYpOGxUwi0zG3aWgWXMhm4c0cPAThZsbRi7R99RjLxACPN0WKHv4VNpdWadqcbc1YttXVLqIsA/s200/SDC10228.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268277845575368722" border="0" /></a><br /><br />chicken, sausage, potatoes, broccoli (because broccoli makes everything better), onions and home-made gravy with just a dash of tarragon for good measure.<br /><br />Tonight's dessert ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgacnpwILiSGdFXg1RICOoPcXK6amX9JEqYZLJae2GJrjXYEI1vuKFB-0oQWZQvc0pb7JBGUD1pY-Kz8DyY3DKPNwNW6q2-DwaFIwIGk13933TdobFHmBbpY3HUgyaHIXtBRZUbsQ/s1600-h/SDC10225.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgacnpwILiSGdFXg1RICOoPcXK6amX9JEqYZLJae2GJrjXYEI1vuKFB-0oQWZQvc0pb7JBGUD1pY-Kz8DyY3DKPNwNW6q2-DwaFIwIGk13933TdobFHmBbpY3HUgyaHIXtBRZUbsQ/s200/SDC10225.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268277849099927778" border="0" /></a><br /><br />apple pie.<br /><br />Man ... I am <span style="font-weight: bold;">SO</span> glad that I got over that whole "fear of pie crusts" thing ...Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16007045056237740813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33071701.post-55526636151468024202008-11-11T11:21:00.002-05:002008-11-11T11:22:58.379-05:00What I need and what I believe ...... are worlds apart ... and I pray ...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><pre><span style="font-style: italic;">I am the only one to blame for this</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Somehow, it all adds up the same</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Soaring on the wings of selfish pride</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I flew too high</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">And like Icarus, I collide</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">With a world I try so hard to leave behind</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">To rid myself of all but love</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">To give and die</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">To turn away and not become</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Another nail to pierce the skin of one who loves</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">More deeply than the oceans</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">More abundant than the tears</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Of a world embracing every heartache</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Can I be the one to sacrifice</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Or grip the spear and watch the blood and water flow</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(To love you) Take my world apart</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(To need you) I am on my knees</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(To love you) Take my world apart</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(To need you) Broken, on my knees</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">All said and done, I stand alone</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Amongst remains of a life I should not own</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">It takes all I am to believe</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">In the mercy that covers me</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Did you really have to die for me</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">For all I am, for all you are</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">For what I need and what I believe, are worlds apart, and I pray</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I look beyond the empty cross</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Forgetting what my life has cost</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">And wipe away the crimson stains</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">And dull the nails that still remain</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">More and more I need You now</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I owe You more each passing hour</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Battles between grace and pride</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I gave up not so long ago</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">So steal my heart and take the pain</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">And wash the feet and cleanse my pride</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Take the selfish, take the weak</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">And all the things I cannot hide</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Take the beauty, take my tears</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">My sin-soaked heart, make it Yours</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Take my world all apart</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Take it now, take it now</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">And serve the ones that I despise</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Speak the words I can't deny</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Watch the world I used to love</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Fall to dust and thrown away</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I look beyond the empty cross</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Forgetting what my life has cost</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Wipe away the crimson stains</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">And dull the nails that still remain</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Steal my heart, take the pain</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Take the selfish, take the weak</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">And all the things I cannot hide</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Take the beauty, take my tears</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Take my world apart, take my world apart</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I pray, I pray, I pray</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Take my world apart</span></pre></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16007045056237740813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33071701.post-14210488149457553172008-10-23T20:55:00.006-04:002008-10-23T22:56:14.527-04:00Punkin'<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.psaphoto.org/Masters/KM-PumpkinPatch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 525px; height: 388px;" src="http://www.psaphoto.org/Masters/KM-PumpkinPatch.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Last weekend my mom took Tyler and me down to Circleville for the 100th annual Pumpkin Festival. It was fun ... However, if I never eat another piece of pumpkin bread, donut, brownie, pretzel, funnel cake, fudge, elephant ear (and the list goes on and on :P), that would probably be okay with me ...<br /><br />Anyways, on the way back up we stopped at a pumpkin patch that we spotted on the way down to Circleville. None of us had been to one in a long time. We had fun. We picked out pumpkins. We could have as many as one person could carry in his arms for $20. (Good thing that Tyler was with us!) We left with 6 pumpkins (3 of med/lg to large size and 3 that were too cute to leave behind - pic of smaller 3 below ... more to come on the larger 3).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiEfAEcvgnJbh1ol2IPfKiadkNwUInpyBZ5fLuOO3qsN8Uvfc6___axnFHi9dgbHhgyxoCniVawUj8J2PjTG5pvQYlhqNdzjB62DoFs-AEFTDOVtz1ufzjPvBnIAF9wJ8KWSjjw/s1600-h/DSC01827.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiEfAEcvgnJbh1ol2IPfKiadkNwUInpyBZ5fLuOO3qsN8Uvfc6___axnFHi9dgbHhgyxoCniVawUj8J2PjTG5pvQYlhqNdzjB62DoFs-AEFTDOVtz1ufzjPvBnIAF9wJ8KWSjjw/s200/DSC01827.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260548290870355202" border="0" /></a><br /><br />They sat on the deck all lonely and sad looking ... and it made me sad to see them out there all alone and cold and neglected everyday. Not really fulfilling their purpose in life ...<br /><br />Until tonight!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSbd87ih-WQGlrFY77wxM9C2WHQwLoFsn8U7hbaVJZCn8VjiQZ_5lI7XrLEbwSjRzNIr5-GsVePKWz_GB_3xGJuxtZ0ZQXWLitYQLBBSE8TECl8YcCaV2oWVltTU2XGQzCqFeH5g/s1600-h/DSC01820.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSbd87ih-WQGlrFY77wxM9C2WHQwLoFsn8U7hbaVJZCn8VjiQZ_5lI7XrLEbwSjRzNIr5-GsVePKWz_GB_3xGJuxtZ0ZQXWLitYQLBBSE8TECl8YcCaV2oWVltTU2XGQzCqFeH5g/s200/DSC01820.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260546774842564146" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_ATKCwilYv_3Y7e5o2Bp1QRqo-6QQi-nhUO-ClUrtMcGKrM5zESP_qVnuyaDipjEwboU8pCwzp22Y-xQjiCoiYjJdqpAbZNIp8XxcIZrWSZ4j9wdOzjcC2GFJudYL43QMZJFDg/s1600-h/DSC01819.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_ATKCwilYv_3Y7e5o2Bp1QRqo-6QQi-nhUO-ClUrtMcGKrM5zESP_qVnuyaDipjEwboU8pCwzp22Y-xQjiCoiYjJdqpAbZNIp8XxcIZrWSZ4j9wdOzjcC2GFJudYL43QMZJFDg/s200/DSC01819.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260546770212219906" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmPabf3gLZ9EyK0Ya91ebpn9G-4io5qsx8bU6mVvZVJFXH_CQv_tD81O4-46cWXR_MSChFYx9d_TdJdI1eWXBSRZwKuxMpGsB11l86ZCVRY5Es-3sKuiNghDPN89sBPT2zqdDCWw/s1600-h/DSC01818.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmPabf3gLZ9EyK0Ya91ebpn9G-4io5qsx8bU6mVvZVJFXH_CQv_tD81O4-46cWXR_MSChFYx9d_TdJdI1eWXBSRZwKuxMpGsB11l86ZCVRY5Es-3sKuiNghDPN89sBPT2zqdDCWw/s200/DSC01818.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260546765595838898" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Aren't they fun? I personally LOVE the spider!!!! :) (And, they were actually rather easy to carve out ... much more so than I expected!)<br /><br />And ... there are even pumpkin seeds soaking now so that they can be dried and baked in the morning! What a lovely and festive seasonal snack! (A slight contradiction to my earlier statement, I know.)Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16007045056237740813noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33071701.post-79733461708891843412008-10-17T23:17:00.001-04:002008-10-18T00:03:28.796-04:00Adventures in the KitchenI've had a bigger food budget to work with recently ... and significantly more time on my hands ...<br /><br />So I've been playing with new recipes ...<br /><br />Two nights ago we had:<br /><br />Zuppa Toscana!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.tuscanrecipes.com/img/recipes/olive-garden3.png"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.tuscanrecipes.com/img/recipes/olive-garden3.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And it was de-lish!! :) One pot, less than one dozen ingredients, and just over one hour ... and voila! Olive Garden at home. It was good stuff too ... super secret recipe <a href="http://www.tuscanrecipes.com/recipes/olive-garden-zuppa-toscana.html">here</a>.<br /><br />I would also like to remind my readers that, despite my young age, I am a bit of an expert baker. (Perhaps the few too many pounds I carry are testament to that ... :P) However, one thing has always scared me ...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://z.hubpages.com/u/62884_f520.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://z.hubpages.com/u/62884_f520.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Pies. Why? Simple. While I've been known to take what I consider the easy way out (baking with a box mix) on more than one occasion, I prefer to bake from scratch. In my world, the best brownies come from bakers chocolate and sugar, not a Betty Crocker box and cookies ALWAYS start with butter, eggs, and sugar. But I do stand firm on the fact that I don't use an easy way out if I can't make a better version from scratch. Hense, pie crusts struck fear deep in my baker's soul ...<br /><br />*Flashback* My Gammy (dad's mom) makes the most INCREDIBLE pies. As an engagement present she gave me the recipe to my most favorite of her creations ... and in 5 years I haven't even attempted it because I just knew that I could NEVER make a pie crust. *End Flashback*<br /><br />Last night I had planned to make a Toll-House Pie for dessert. I had surrendered to using a pre-made crust, even though I knew I couldn't make my own. We had some frozen crusts that someone gave us quite a while ago ... it was supposed to be fast and convenient ... Anyway, I took the crusts out of the freezer and discovered that there was mold on them ... EWW! So, (after a frantic side trip into the world of cleaning and sanitizing everything in sight) I made a decision. The filling was already in process and I was NOT going to waste perfectly good cookie-esque pie filling. So, I gave in. I went looking for my Gammy's pie crust recipe. Silly me figured it was included in the recipe she gave me 5 years ago. Nope. The recipe says "Pour filling into pie crust." No mention of how to get that crust. Just that it magically appears. Great. Now what? <br /><br />Ahh ... recipezaar. Enter search for "quick pie crust" ... and voila! <br /><br />My pie crust was light and flaky, buttery but not greasy ... really good for my first ever pie crust. And now ... I feel almost unstopable in the kitchen ... well ... at least in baking. Cooking is more of Tyler's area of expertise ... but perhaps with more time on my hands these days I can claim back that one too ...Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16007045056237740813noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33071701.post-3407643708432015762008-09-08T09:12:00.002-04:002008-09-08T09:35:51.656-04:00Lowest Common DenominatorAs long as I can remember, I've been a 'gotta watch the morning news' kinda gal. As I've grown, I've begun paying attention to different parts of the news ... and today a realization hit me ...<br /><br />I've often been frustrated with The Today Show in the past. Mostly because I'm shocked at what they consider "newsworthy" items on which to report. Granted, they now have 4 hours to fill. (Another point of frustration for me. When I started watching, it was 2 hours long. I remember when they added the 9 0'clock hour and vividly recall thinking, "What in the world are they going to talk about for another hour?" ... and now ... they've added the 10 o'clock hour too. And in my opinion - they don't really have anything to talk about during it.) Today, I was shocked at the realization that they have to report to the lowest common denominator in their viewing audience ... and that makes me scared for the future ... Let me explain.<br /><br />They've been running segments for the last couple of weeks about saving money and how to live more financially responsibly. Fine. Most of these segments have been relatively interesting and have brought up some decent points. I didn't see all of today's segment, but what I did see was about what costs one should and should not cut. The experts on today were adamant that you should cut out your cable bill before you cut out your health insurance. Umm ... yeah ... DUH! <br /><br />Upon reflection, I have the following to say. I have realized that this is a loose-loose situation here. First, The Today Show honestly felt that their viewing audience would benefit from this report - meaning that there are people out there who needed to hear that one should cut expenses like cable before insurance. And on the other hand, I'm a loyal Today Show viewer. And while I did not need to hear this, a large enough portion of their viewing audience did. Which once again ... makes me scared for the future ...Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16007045056237740813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33071701.post-78352069584781707242008-08-31T05:53:00.002-04:002008-08-31T06:27:56.297-04:00Simple GiftsFor those of you who do not know already, I grew up going to Catholic school. All 12 years. So, I went to Mass a lot. I've grown up and Tyler and moved away and found a church setting that we love. But every so often I miss going to Mass. I now appreciate the true beauty of what I took for granted all those many years. There is still something very comforting to me about the order and process of it all - the tradition of it all ...<br /><br />Yesterday afternoon Tyler and I were at Half-Price Books with my mom. I was flipping through the section of the store that I go to first to find fluff reading these days and I opened a book that I had been considering getting for a while and began to read. The story began with an old Shaker hymn - Simple Gifts ...<br /><br /><dl><dd>'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free, <dl><dd>'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,</dd></dl> </dd><dd>And when we find ourselves in the place just right, <dl><dd>'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.</dd></dl> </dd><dd>When true simplicity is gain'd, <dl><dd>To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,</dd></dl> </dd><dd>To turn, turn will be our delight, <dl><dd>Till by turning, turning we come round right.</dd><dt> - Elder Joseph, c. 1848</dt></dl></dd></dl><br />I've had a tough week. I hurt. If I let myself, I'd crawl in a corner and wait for the world to go away. But I can't. Instead I choose to focus on the positives in my life. I've been truly blessed with amazing family and friends, my husband is a wonderful man. We have a great church and support system. We have a home and a place to lay our heads at night. Even though things have been incredibly difficult for us lately, we've been blessed. <br /><br />Music has always been soothing for me. The sweet notes carry comfort and healing to my dry soul. In this painful time, I found a song that I grew up singing. And now, this will be with me as I grow again. Such a powerful reminder - 'tis a gift to be simple ...<br /><br />In this time of turning and turning till I don't know which way is up ... I pray that I'll know when I've come round right ...Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16007045056237740813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33071701.post-55322613635792061682008-08-21T07:30:00.001-04:002008-08-21T07:30:00.307-04:00This time ...... four years ago, today, I was eating breakfast. yeah ... I know ... that doesn't seem like such a big deal ... I eat breakfast most days. However, this day four years ago breakfast was different. I stood in the kitchen at my mom's house with my mom, Deidra, Caryn, Amy, Laurie, Mandy, and Crystal ... rarely in my life have there been that many people in my mom's house at once, never have there been so many girls. So here's what was different ... this time, four years ago, I was eating my last breakfast as a Daniels woman ... for in just 7 short hours, Daniels wouldn't be my name anymore. I know it wasn't all that long ago ... but I still remember it like it was yesterday. (I hope in 50 years that it's still this clear.)<br /><br />Happy Anniversary, my love! Here's to the first 4 and the next (at least) 50 to come!Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16007045056237740813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33071701.post-24338187971726376192008-08-09T15:52:00.004-04:002008-08-09T16:25:20.396-04:00The Big ReadI saw this on <a href="http://www.sarahcool.blogspot.com/">SarahCool</a>'s blog and thought it was interesting, so I'm copying. :) :) While my mom wasn't an English teacher like Sarah's, my mom is a teacher, so my love of books began at a very early age.<br /><br />I LOVE to read, and really didn't have a lot of time for it in college, then didn't really make it a priority. Now my life is different, my faithful readers know that it is a <span style="font-weight: bold;">regular</span> occurrence for me to devour a book in a weekend. Not only do Tyler and I head to the library regularly ... but I'm a <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a href="http://halfpricebooks.com/">Half-Price Books</a> addict and we <span style="font-weight: bold;">MUST</span> go whenever we're visiting my mom.<br /><br />I've read 40 of these... how about you? And I was surprised at some of their choices for the list. Bridget Jones' Diary? Really?<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.neabigread.org/"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Big Read</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> says that the average adult has only read 6 of the top 100 books they’ve printed.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 204, 204);">*A notable favorite book of mine that is NOT on this list below, but IS featured on their website right now is Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya. I think that you should read it.</span><br /><br />1) Look at the list and <strong>bold</strong> those you have read. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">2) <u>Underline</u> the books you love. (I can't figure out how to underline today ... So I've noted my all-time favs with a *)</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">3) <em>Italicize</em> those you intend to read.<br />4) Strike out the books you have no intention of ever reading, or for whatever reason loathe.<br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 204, 204);">* And, like SarahCool, most of the books I <strong>haven't</strong> read, I have made a conscious decision <strong>NOT</strong> to, so I'm not bothering with 3 or 4.</span><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);font-size:85%;" ></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen</span><br />2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4 The Harry Potter Series - JK Rowling</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee</span>*<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">6 The Bible - GOD!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell</span><br />9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman<br />10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">12 Tess of the D'Urbervilles</span>*<br />13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">14 Complete Works of Shakespeare</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">15 Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier</span><br />16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien<br />17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger</span>*<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">19 The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger</span><br />20 Middlemarch - George Eliot<br />21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald</span>*<br /><br />23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens<br />24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy<br />25 The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams<br />26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh<br />27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky<br />28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame</span><br />31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy<br />32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens<br />33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">34 Emma - Jane Austen</span><br />35 Persuasion - Jane Austen<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis</span><br />37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">38 Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis de Bernieres</span><br />39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">41 Animal Farm - George Orwell</span><br />42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown<br />43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez<br />44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving<br />45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery</span>*<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">47 Far From the Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">48 The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood</span><br />49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding<br />50 Atonement - Ian McEwan<br />51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">52 Dune - Frank Herbert</span><br />53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen</span><br />55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth<br />56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">57 A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley</span><br />59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">60 Love in the Time of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez</span><br />61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck<br /><br />62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov<br />63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt<br />64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas</span><br />66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac<br />67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy<br />68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding<br /><br />69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie<br />70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens</span><br />72 Dracula - Bram Stoker<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett</span>*<br /><br />74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson<br />75 Ulysses - James Joyce<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">76 The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath</span><br /><br />77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome<br />78 Germinal - Emile Zola<br />79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray<br />80 Possession - AS Byatt<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens</span><br /><br />82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker</span><br />84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro<br />85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert<br />86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White</span>*<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle</span><br />90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">92 The Little Prince - Antoine de Saint Exupery</span><br />93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">94 Watership Down - Richard Adams</span> (and I wish I NEVER had ...)<br />95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole<br />96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute<br />97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo</span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16007045056237740813noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33071701.post-75155535699132208952008-08-08T18:13:00.002-04:002008-08-08T18:31:24.590-04:00New Side NoteAs you may or may not know, things are going absolutely swimmingly at South Main Designs. In the last month we've added over 40 new Sales Consultants to our team. And, because it's something that I am very excited about (and think you should be too), I've added a new section to the side of my blog - the section in which I update my faithful readers as to the numbers by which we are growing.<br /><br />I recently celebrated my 1-year anniversary working there. This time last year, we had only 35 Sales Consultants. Our 100th Sales Consultant came in March. It took us just over a year and a half to get to 100, and now only 5 months to add another 100 ...<br /><br />A few years ago, Andrea Rogers went to a conference where she heard the founder of another Direct Sales jewelry company speak. And Andrea often tells us how this founder was recounting their initial years and said that it took what seemed like forever to reach their 100th consultant, but the growth from 100 to 1,000 happened so quickly that she couldn't remember it ...<br /><br />We're in that now. We can all feel it around the office. <br /><br />And I have to say, it's a really cool place to be.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16007045056237740813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33071701.post-76287644146868133862008-07-12T09:35:00.004-04:002008-07-12T09:51:08.559-04:00DandelionsFor some reason this song was in my head this morning ... I'm glad it was. It's been the kind of week where it doesn't hurt to be reminded that someone sees flowers ...<br /><br />Enjoy ...<br /><br /><pre style="font-family: georgia; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhArwhZnRwc-hjg-Qc3-jwEuGiFGqjrgddXiQx8MzZoY0NiR1HtneFV3EZqTMk-cT9bOqu6f439bu0yT_Nf0S0dveGWNw-ZwahJxqBVB6k3JrfSLZop56EUQ3xLI_k2hrahO5Mg/s1600-h/Picture+1.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhArwhZnRwc-hjg-Qc3-jwEuGiFGqjrgddXiQx8MzZoY0NiR1HtneFV3EZqTMk-cT9bOqu6f439bu0yT_Nf0S0dveGWNw-ZwahJxqBVB6k3JrfSLZop56EUQ3xLI_k2hrahO5Mg/s200/Picture+1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222124050993508866" border="0" /></a>in a field of yellow flowers<br />underneath the sun<br />bluest eyes that spark with lightning<br />boy with shoes undone<br />he is young, so full of hope<br />reveling in tiny dreams<br />filling up his arms with flowers<br />right for giving any queen<br />running to her,beaming bright<br />while cradling his prize<br />a flickering of yellow light<br />within his mother's eyes<br />she holds them to her heart<br />keeping them where they'll be safe<br />clasped within her very marrow<br />dandelions in a vase<br /><br />she sees love where anyone else would see weeds<br />all hope is found, here is everything he needs<br /><br />fathomless Your endless mercy<br />weight i could not lift<br />where do i fit in this puzzle?<br />what good are these gifts?<br />not a martyr or a saint<br />scarcely can i struggle through<br />all that i have ever wanted<br />was to give my best to You<br /><br />Lord search my heart<br />create in me something clean<br />...dandelions...<br />You see flowers in these weeds<br /><br />gently lifting hands to heaven<br />softened by the sweetest hush<br />a Father sings over His children<br />loving them so very much<br />more than words could warrant<br />deeper than the darkest blue<br />more than sacrifice could merit<br />Lord, i give my heart to you<br /><br />Lord search my heart<br />create in me something clean<br />...dandelions...<br />You see flowers in these weeds</pre>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16007045056237740813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33071701.post-55005119603009258672008-07-04T13:29:00.003-04:002008-07-04T13:35:13.891-04:00Happy 4th!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.newyorkartists.net/McDonald/fireworks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://www.newyorkartists.net/McDonald/fireworks.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I like fireworks. They've always seemed magical to me ... It's one of the main reasons that I love the 4th of July. We're going to the local fireworks tonight. Are you going to enjoy your local show this year?<br /><br />While I love fireworks, I must admit that I'm also digging the whole paid holiday thing too ...Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16007045056237740813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33071701.post-12395248467488563022008-06-24T22:17:00.002-04:002008-06-24T22:20:02.598-04:00David Hasselhoffand his judging "abilities" make Randy Jackson seem coherent and insightful.<br /><br />What does that say about America's Got Talent?<br /><br />... not that we don't enjoy the show ... just saying ...Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16007045056237740813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33071701.post-82907745414993883342008-06-24T09:28:00.002-04:002008-06-24T09:37:07.764-04:00A woman of few words ...is what I currently am ...<br /><br />Tyler was sick last week. He had no voice on Wednesday and very little voice on Thursday. He was so kind as to share his illness with me ...<br /><br />I made it to noon yesterday at work. Tried to get up and get ready this morning - couldn't do it. No voice still ... fever ... coughing ...<br /><br />Thank you darling for sharing your illness with me. You're so kind and considerate.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16007045056237740813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33071701.post-30708607601948010122008-06-04T20:18:00.002-04:002008-06-04T20:25:49.942-04:00We've Decidedthat the world would be a "better" place if we had:<br /><br />Zellner - the YouTube Channel<br /><br />You know you would watch.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16007045056237740813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33071701.post-2083222006316660862008-05-26T12:01:00.003-04:002008-05-26T12:09:07.627-04:00Also ...Is there anything this guy ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.broadwayworld.com/photoops/shieldschicago/rookeShieldsBackontheBoards008-vi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://images.broadwayworld.com/photoops/shieldschicago/rookeShieldsBackontheBoards008-vi.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />... doesn't sell?<br /><br />Seriously. I've seen him in ads for at least 20 different products - including OxiClean, Orange Clean, Orance Glo, The Awesome Auger, Kaboom!, Vidalia Slice-It/Chop Wizard, Mighty Putty, The Hercules Hook, and Samurai Shark Knife Sharpener - just to name a few ...<br /><br />So I wonder, if <a href="http://www.southmaindesigns.com">South Main Designs</a> were to ever do 2 am infomercials ...<br /><br />"Would YOU like to start your home-based business for FREE! Find out how with South Main Designs!" ...<br /><br />I've seen him wearing jewelry. And we do have a mens line ...<br /><br />... nah ... he may not be the best fit after all ...Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16007045056237740813noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33071701.post-27800805385119463142008-05-26T10:57:00.003-04:002008-05-26T11:12:20.487-04:00Betty White<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.biography.com/animalographies/images/white_Betty.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.biography.com/animalographies/images/white_Betty.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>In the last month of watching Game Show Network on the preview channel, I've learned that if there's a game show, Betty White has been on it.<br /><br />I have now seen her on Password, Password Plus, Super Password, The Match Game, What's My Line, To Tell the Truth, I've Got a Secret and several generations of Pyramid.<br /><br />And then last night, we were watching something on CBS and sure enough ... she's on another one coming this summer - Million Dollar Password.<br /><br />Is there a game show that she hasn't done?<br /><br />(And on a side note ... in searching for pictures of Betty to include here, I've discovered that she has ALWAYS looked like this ...)Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16007045056237740813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33071701.post-45701725350763694052008-05-03T21:41:00.002-04:002008-05-03T21:49:26.000-04:00This is bad ...... very very very bad ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.brysonlang.com/pictures/Game%20Show%20Network.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.brysonlang.com/pictures/Game%20Show%20Network.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>... is on DishNetwork's preview channel this month. Or at least that's what we think is going on. You see, I was out of town traveling for work again at the end of this week and Tyler was flipping channels ... and found it. Productivity has severely decreased in our household. Which, while normally wouldn't be okay with me, today it is. We needed the time together to just relax and hang today. Now tomorrow will have to be another story ... but for now we're deep into a heated match on Family Feud.<br /><br />And I'm really enjoying the down time.<br /><br />So for now, it's all good.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16007045056237740813noreply@blogger.com2