I'VE BEEN TAGGED

My blogger friend DONNA at
                                    THE HOUSE ON THE CORNER

has just TAGGED me.  She has sent me 8 QUESTIONS that I'm to answer; then I choose 8 friends and ask them my own 8 QUESTIONS!

She included me among her 8 friends...she even told me I was one of her FAVORITE BLOGS, so how could I not participate?  With me, FLATTERY will get you everywhere a long way!  I also want to do this to help others get to know me better, so here goes....

 1.  What is your favorite childhood memory?

Hmmm...this one is hard.  I thoroughly enjoyed taking dance lessons; also going to summer camps.  But some of my best times were spent at the home of MRS. HIGGINS, a lady I dearly loved.  She was like a faux-grandmother and she loved me just as much as I loved her.  She lived next to the railroad tracks with her teenage daughters Kathryn & Sue, her husband that I affectionately called HIGGINS, and their cute little dog Fuzzy.  (Every year I got a birthday card and Fuzzy's name was included!)  Kathryn & Sue would play with me and they all spoiled me rotten.  I remember drawing water from an old well, taking baths in a washtub, and playing under the big tree in their front yard.  Higgins worked for the railroad and when he rode by the house on the train, he would blow the whistle at me!  That made me feel so special.  I still stay in touch with Kathryn & Sue but Mr. & Mrs. Higgins and Fuzzy have been gone a long time, though I still miss them and will always remember and appreciate the love and attention they gave me. 

                                                                                                 

2.  If you could come back as any person in history, who would it be and why?

Donna is really making me think hard today!  I was never a big history buff and don't know as much about historical figures as I should, but maybe I would be MOTHER THERESA.

 I'm a good old Southern Baptist but no matter your faith or religion, who could not admire Mother Theresa?  She was truly a self-less person who tried to make the world a better place.

3.  You have 5 minutes to evacuate your home.  All family & pets are safe.  What would you grab from your home on the way out the door?

This one is much easier...I would grab as many family photos as possible, especially those of my daughter who gained her angel wings in 1986.

4.  Of the posts you have created for your blog, which one was your favorite and why?
Many of my posts have been about my grandchildren and experiences we have shared.  One of my favorites was definitely A DAY WITH FUNNY PUTTY.  The kids enjoyed it so much and hopefully when asked one day what their favorite childhood memory was it might be this or some other "adventure" with their Cheri.

5.  What is your dream vacation?
I would love to travel abroad some day, maybe Italy or Greece.

                                                                                             

6.  When you don't have to leave the house, do you get dressed or stay in your pj's?
Definitely get dressed!  I just don't feel right if I'm not "put together" for the day.  Also, I like to look nice for my hubby!

      Just my everyday, ordinary look...takes just 5 minutes & I'm ready to go!

7. Do you sing in the car when you're alone?
Are you saying everybody doesn't?  Let's just say I make a "joyful noise."

                                                                          

8.  Have you ever been to an auction; if so, what did you buy?  Were you absolutely in love with the item or did you accidently, through no fault of your own, get caught up in the moment and buy something and when you got home wondered "why in the world?"
Yes, I have bought things at auction but if you have to ask me the rest of the question, you really don't know me!  I agonize over how much to pay, or whether to buy it at all, or do I really need it, etc., etc.  I only buy at auction things I really love and get a really good deal on.  Some things I've bid successfully on can be seen here.

Well, this has been fun!  Made me use a few brain cells this a.m....but fun!  Thanks, Donna, for including me.  Now I've got to pass my questions onto some unsuspecting blogger friends so I can learn more about them.  Here are the blogger friends I've chosen:

                      ROSE @ Wonders of Life
                     Jan @ BobbyPins Boardwalk
                     Ganky @ They Call Me Ganky
                     Cindy @ Rick-Rack and Gingham
                     Molly @ View from a Saddle
 Trey @ Brave Eagles Hunt with Antique Brownings
                    Ashlee @ Across the Branch
                     Linsey @ The Hunnie Pot
 (Friends, feel free to participate if you have time; if not, I certainly understand.)

Here are my 8 QUESTIONS:
1.  Tell one person who has greatly influenced your life; explain why.
2.  What is one thing that you are very passionate about.
3.  If money was no object, what is one thing you would buy for yourself OR what is one place you would like to travel to?
4.  What is one thing that you very much enjoy doing?
5.  Who was your favorite teacher and why?
6.  If you had one talent (that you do not already have) what would it be?
7.  What is your most embarrassing moment (if you dare to tell it)?
8.  Would you rather live in the mountains or at the beach?  Why?

                                                                            ?????

THANKS SO MUCH TO ALL OF YOU

Well, I think the consensus is that NO, THERE IS NO WAY TO RECTIFY MY H-U-G-E MISTAKE (see last post).  Thank you all, though, to those who have commented and either tried to help or at least said something to make me feel better!!!!  I'm trying to think positively about this:

1.  I could have deleted my whole blog--posts and all (but I didn't)

2.  I have read and enjoyed all the comments each and every person has sent so although they are no longer here, they are certainly recorded on my heart (thanks so much)

 
3.  I have learned a valuable lesson....don't mess with things I know nothing about

4.  I have lots of blogger friends who really care about me....as well as some who have also made big blunders they were willing to share with me

5.  If there is anything I really really want to save, I should back it up somehow.

OK....I'm going to put this behind me and just look forward to all your NEW comments that I will try hard not to delete ever again!!!!

HUGE MISTAKE

Without going into a lengthy explanation, I deleted ALL my comments (to ALL my posts) by mistake.  Thought I was deleting SPAM.  I am broken-hearted.  Does anyone know if there is any possibility of them being restored and how I would go about doing that?  Thank you so much.

More Blessed to GIVE than RECEIVE

"It is more blessed to give than to receive."
---Acts 20:35


I LOVE receiving gifts, winning prizes, opening Christmas gifts, etc. but I truly do enjoy seeing others open, appreciate, love, or get excited over a gift I've given them.  I tend to stress big time ponder quite a bit over the gifts I choose for others.  I try very hard to match the gift to the person that will be receiving it.  I'm sure I don't hit the mark every time, but hopefully my gifts are happily received.  If not they can always regift them!

Recently I participated in a 
                        FALL KITCHIE SWAP
                  sponsored by my sweet friend
                                CINDY
                               over at

 Rick-Rack & Gingham

I was paired with another sweet gal named
                               DEBBIE
                             who loves

RAGGEDY ANN & ANDY

but doesn't have a blog.  I have a feeling she'll have one before too long though.  Since she has already received her package from me I thought I would share what I sent her:

All wrapped up & ready to go!

Swap Rules stated we had to include PUMPKINS.

I was fortunate and found some on sale so got her 3!

Made a"southern-style" FALL tag!

Also included my favorite PUMPKIN recipes.

Wanted to get Raggedy Ann & Andy in there somewhere.

Included some of my favorite southern recipes.

Debbie collects blue & white plates.

Found this one at an antique store...isn't it precious?

She also collects vintage post cards.

I thought this one was so cute. 

I love old handwriting!  Did you notice the date...1912?  Sure wish stamps were still that cheap.

I got the sweetest email from Debbie and I think she r-e-a-l-l-y liked loved my FALL gifts.  Maybe it will help her feel a little cooler knowing that it won't be long before the leaves begin to turn those beautiful autumn colors of red, yellow, orange, & gold.  I'm ready to do some raking!

Now here are some things I have RECEIVED recently..and I am thankful for & delighted with each one!

This is from Christina over @ Signs of Obsession

This painting goes well with the room we decorated for our granddaughter.

I love old books.  I can't help but wonder about the occasion on which the book was presented as a gift.

                   Whoever owned this book has my same tastes!

       Old keys are one of my favorite things.  I always wonder what   
                                          doors they opened.     

Awhile back I won a giveaway from
Semi-Slacker Mom:

How surprised we both were to find out she is my niece's friend and I
graduated from high school with her daddy.  Talk about a "small world"!

And these precious tags were sent to me by Carol
@The Polka Dot Closet

They remind me of the PAPER DOLLS I played with as a little girl.  I spent hours and hours dressing and undressing them.

As I said:  I love to give & receive gifts and I have been blessed with both.



PS:  I sure wish I could figure out why my typing doesn't look the same once it gets posted!  Blogger can be so confusing, at least to me!

NOW WE'RE COOKING!

First things first...I want to thank those of you who left a comment or sent an email concerning my last post.  Your advice, suggestions, tips, and words of encouragement are so very much appreciated!

Now for the GRANDKIDS....
Summer is almost over and soon school will begin...ours isn't starting until after Labor Day.  I've spent a lot of time with Grandson R & Granddaughter M and although it's been fun I think they are ready to get back to their routine and their friends.  "CHERI" has about exhausted her bag of summer tricks (for keeping them entertained) but hopefully we've made some good memories.  Here are a few more:

"Bubble Blowing Cutie"

Can you catch one?

How about some MAGIC  COOKIES?

(This was a gift from the grandkids' cousin Ashlee:  http://www.acrossthebranch.com/ )

It even includes a MAGIC WAND!
(wish I had one...I could really whip up some quick meals then!)

What??? You don't crawl on top of the counter when you're making cookies?

Purple sugar sprinkled on top...yummy!

The finished product!  Wizard's Hats!

And the best part of all!

Do you eat DIRT?

We do!!!

Admit it...you lick the utensils too!

Yummy  Dirt  Pudding...and with a cute flower, too!

(also from cousin Ashlee!)

Who says cooking can't be fun?

BLOGGER ENVY

I am getting somewhat frustrated with my blog!  I still haven't found in which direction I want to take it.  I do tend to be very hard on myself and so I'm hoping it's not as bad as I think it is!  I also have to admit that I'm suffering through a major bout of BLOGGER ENVY.  There are soooo many beautiful blogs out there written by beautiful women with soooo much talent.  They are true artisans and I often catch myself drooling over the amazing things they envision and then bring to fruition!  An artist of any kind I am NOT but I do enjoy the art of others.  Like these creations:

                                   

This beautiful pillow was handmade by the lovely Sissy at Sissy's Shabby Cottage.  Her work is

GORGEOUS!

These sweet little boxes are from Karen

at Some Days are Diamonds.  They could hold all sorts of little treasures.

And this mosaic table is the creation of Heidi

at Heart & Home.  I just love the colors!  She even shares how she did it.

Some of my blogger friends have such a unique way of writing their blogs...Dana at

The Stone Rabbit is one example.

Her special friend (seen here) shows up in lots of her photos.  Isn't he just the cutest?

And, of course, others share the most amazing photography skills....

This one is from Pat at Back Porch Musings.  She is so talented and has the ability to see the uniqueness of everyday objects through the lens of her camera.

             I must admit I'm turning green! 

But I'm not going to give up on myself or my blog...at least not yet!  As a former teacher I know that many of us are just

LATE  BLOOMERS!

I will continue to work hard and hope for the best.

In fact, I think I will give myself an

A for EFFORT!

In the meantime  I hope any of you who come to visit will be patient with my efforts.  Any suggestions, tips, or advice will be

graciously accepted and much appreciated.

PS:  It has taken me hours to write this!!!  I think something is happening with Blogger because my words keep disappearing on me.  Hopefully this is going to come through as written!