Friday, April 29, 2011

Today's Challenge

Favorite Place to Eat - My absolute favorite place to eat is my dining room, especially if when my husband has grilled out steak.


My favorite place to eat out here in New Bern, I love Capt. Ratty's and Morgan's.  Both downtown eateries, both have delicious steaks.


My favorite sit down chain restaurant is Outback Steakhouse, if for nothing else, but EVERYONE in my family finds something to eat there.


But to sit down around my dining room table surrounded by family, laughing, talking, just being together - that is my favorite place to eat.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Something I'm looking forward to....

I am looking forward to summer.  We have nothing big going on and that will be nice.  Last summer, my "oldest" son got married, so we had wedding plans going on all summer.  This summer will be spent swinging on my new wooden swing, roasting (burning) marshmallows over the fire pit, reading lots of books, and maybe visiting some family.  No big plans and that is what I look forward to the most.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Dream House

My dream house - it would be the one I live in now because my family is happy and healthy.  Behind our doors and between our walls: we laugh, we cry, we play games, we are a FAMILY - and that's what every dream house should be.....somewhere LOVE resides.

Our House

In the Snow

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Blog Challenge of the Day

Bible Verse - I don't have any one particular favorite bible verse.  I do love Matthew 6:33 and 7:7.  You'll have to go look those up. What I do have is a collection of verses that have spoken to me in the past that I have written down where they are located inside the front cover of my bible.  So, I'll share one of those with you this fine Eastern Carolina morning.

"All men are like grass, 
And all their glory is like the flowers
of the field;
The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of the Lord stands forever."
1 Peter 1:24-25

What powerful words - "The word of the Lord stands forever."  What a verse to be called to during this first week after Easter Sunday. 

Monday, April 25, 2011

How have I Changed?


The task for today is to post a picture of yourself from a year ago and explain how you have changed.  Well, there isn't quite as much of me but not by much.  I have longer hair, it is on my shoulders now.  That time last year I wasn't a mother-in-law, I now am.  Fundamentally though, I am still the same person.  I still love my husband, more every day.  I still love my 4 children, we've just added another family member with a new daughter-in-law.  
So,  back to the original question, How have I changed?  I really haven't.  I still am afraid to drive over tall bridges.  I still try to fill my time up now that the children are growing older and moving out.  I still read as much as I can.  I still love to roast marshmellows over the firepit with my family laughing as mine light on fire.
So, how have YOU changed in a year?

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Goals

The subject for today - Easter Sunday - is GOALS.  What are my goals??  My ultimate goal is to have my children all happy and living successfully on their own; married or not.  My other goals: to have a less cluttered house (slowly working on that - goes along with getting the kids out), to make dinner  5 out of 7 nights, to get to the British Isles before I die, to grow old with my husband like my parents were growing old together before their life was cut short.  Not big goals, but still goals none the less.


Happy Easter everyone.  Christ has risen. He is risen indeed.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Something I don't leave the house without...

This one is easy  - I have several - my cell phone, my ipod, and my little digital camera.  All of those fit in any purse of mine.  I know, a short blog.  But it is late today.  For those that celebrate.....Happy Easter tomorrow!!

Friday, April 22, 2011

Day 11 - Favorite TV Shows

I don't have any that I couldn't live without watching these days, but I do DVR a few for veiwing in the mornings when the house is quiet after the husband has gotten the kids off to school.  
House, Hawaii 5-0, NCIS, NCIS - LA, Criminal Minds, Hot in Cleveland, Parenthood, CSI, The Mentalist, CSI-NY, Army Wives, Eureka.  This is just what I DVR, I have some shows that I catch when they are on or during summer rerun season like Deadliest Catch, and HGTV.  But I could miss any and all of these shows and be fine.  
While we do watch it, there are many times in which I am watching something I don't particularly like only because I get to snuggle with my husband on the sofa.  

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Ramblings of Bored Housewife: Something that I am afraid of.....

Ramblings of Bored Housewife: Something that I am afraid of.....: "This is the Neuse River Bridge in New Bern, NC. The Alfred J. Cunningham Bridge in Charleston, SC. The Cape Fear River Bridge in Wilming..."

Something that I am afraid of.....


This is the Neuse River Bridge in New Bern, NC.

The Alfred J. Cunningham Bridge in Charleston, SC.


The Cape Fear River Bridge in Wilmington, NC.


My fear - Driving over tall bridges that cross water.  What is so ironic about this fear is that the top bridge is one of the main bridges just about 2 miles from my house.  I live less than 40 miles from the central NC coast, I am SURROUNDED by water.  I have to drive over bridges that cross water all the time.  But it is the TALL ones that get to me though.  An irrational fear I know, but a fear none the less.  When I do have to drive over bridges that freak me out, I turn my music up loud, clutch the steering wheel tight, and sing at the top of my lungs all the way across.  And if I can avoid them, I will go out of my way to do so.  Last trip I made to Williamsburg, VA - I took a ferry across rather than take the bridge/tunnel.  :::::Shudder:::::::

So, what are YOUR irrational fears??

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Hokey I know

Today's challenge - a photo of my best friend - well honestly, my best friend is my husband.  We have known each other for over 24 years and have been married for almost 22 of those years.  He is the person I turn to first when I'm not myself.  He is my rock and my support.  He can make me laugh, he can dry my tears, and he can be the first to criticize without hurting.
This is the man that captured my heart so many years ago.  I took it on the foot bridge over the river in Dillsboro, NC.  George May

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Ramblings of Bored Housewife: A Place I've Traveled......

Ramblings of Bored Housewife: A Place I've Traveled......: "The most recent trip we took was with Tarver and Thomas up to Washington, D.C. over Labor Day Weekend. It was our first glimpse of the com..."

A Place I've Traveled......


The most recent trip we took was with Tarver and Thomas up to Washington, D.C. over Labor Day Weekend.  It was our first glimpse of the completed WWII monument - what a fitting tribute to our Grandfathers that fought in the European and Pacific theaters.  It would have been better had they erected it while that generation was still young.  Both my husband and I felt extremely humbled standing amidst the monument.  We both had grandfathers that fought in the Pacific theater.  

If you are ever in Washington, D.C. and had a relative that fought in WWII - stop by and visit this monument to those brave women and men.  



Monday, April 18, 2011

Monday Night Dinner

Okay - This was the first day of our spring break week and the kids and I loafed a bit, so nothing got thawed out for dinner.
Instead, we opened up the fridge and pulled out leftovers and 1/2 used containers.  The main leftover, grilled chicken from last nights dinner.  Unseasoned because not everyone likes BBQ sauce so those are on the side.  1/2 a container of the Philly Cooking Creme in Santa Fe flavor, packet of taco seasoning, 1/2 a container of sour cream, 1/8 a block of cream cheese and a splash or 2 of chicken broth (low sodium).  We also had soft shells, lettuce, and cheddar cheese in the fridge.  Took the chicken, shredded it put it in a skillet with the cooking creme, sour cream, cream cheese, taco seasoning, and a splash or two of the broth.  Heated til bubbling and every one made their creamy chicken tacos.  It will be a meal we do again as my picky family ALL loved it.  That's the second meal we've used the Philly Santa Fe Creme - 1st meal was their recipe on the container for enchiladas, another family fav.  We have a tub of their Italian Herb and Cheese to try next.....will let my few faithful readers know how it tastes.  As for now, we'll definitely be keeping the Santa Fe as a staple in the fridge.  Good night readers.


http://www.kraftbrands.com/philly/recipes/cooking-creme/Pages/all-flavors.aspx

Favorite Movies

Day 7 of my blog challenge is to write about favorite movies.  My absolute favorite movie is an OLD movie - "Harvey".  It has my favorite actor, Jimmy Stewart, and in the movie he, and only he, sees a Pooka named Harvey.  Harvey is a tall invisible rabbit.  The antics that ensue during the movie are wonderful.  This is my go to, feel good, movie.  
For a good cry, I tend to movies like "Steel Magnolias".  Every so often a gal needs a good head clearing cry.  "Toy Story 3" is also good for that and "Bambi" gets me every time.
For a good laugh, "Galaxy Quest", "Blazing Saddles", "The Muppet Movie" are my go to movies.  


When my house is clean (easier to do with older children) and I've read as much as I can; I go to Netflix online or to a Netflix DVD that's come in the mail.  I'll even peruse the DVDs that we have in our personal collection.  Movies allow a person to immerse themselves into a world that isn't their own.  They allow for emotions to be released without someone asking "Why are you crying?".  You can be the princess that finds her prince in a frog, you can be the hero that rescues the weak, you can be the brainiac that tames the beast, you can be the fastest runner and win the race, you can get out of your own head for a while.  


So if you think that those of us that love to watch movies are a bit strange, go ahead and think that as we escape out ourselves for a couple of hours.  When we come back at the end of the movie, we know we are back to real life, but can live it a bit better for having left for a bit.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Something that makes me happy

My children, they always manage to make me smile.  Dinner at our house is never dull or somber.  As they grow up, get married, and think about having their own children; I know that the laughter at our family gatherings will only get louder and more frequent.




Saturday, April 16, 2011

What Song

Okay....the original challenge was What song matches your mood - Instead - this is the song that most matches my personal philosophy.  Gary Allen's Life Ain't Always Beautiful - because it isn't - its messy and dirty and complicated but in the end it is a beautiful ride.


Life ain't always beautiful
Sometimes it's just plain hard
Life can knock you down, it can break your heart

Life ain't always beautiful
You think you're on your way
And it's just a dead end road at the end of the day

But the struggles makes you stronger
And the changes make you wise
And happiness has its own way of takin' it sweet time

[chorus]
No,life aint always beautiful
Tears will fall sometimes
Life aint always beautiful
But it's a beautiful ride

Life aint always beautiful
Some days I miss your smile
I get tired of walkin' all these lonely miles

And I wish for just one minute
I could see your pretty face
Guess I can dream, but life don't work that way


But the struggles makes me stronger
And the changes make me wise
And happiness has its own way of takin' its sweet time

No, life ain't always beautiful
But I know I'll be fine
Hey, life ain't always beautiful
But its a beautiful ride
What a beautiful ride

Friday, April 15, 2011

My Parents

So, today's topic is my parents.  Many of those who are graciously read my blog know about what happened to my parents.  But for those who do not - I'll start there and then go back to their beginning. 
On May 16, 2003; a gunman took my parents life during a bank robbery in Greer, SC.
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20070214/NEWS01/70214010/-b-May-16-2003-b-3-killed-in-Greer-bank-heist  The link will take you to an article about the incident.  I'd personally rather not dwell on how they died, but instead on how they lived.


My parents met at King College in Bristol, TN.  My father was a majoring in physics and my mother had just started her freshman year.  She went to a Halloween party on campus that my father was also attended and came away from that knowing that that was the man she was going to marry.  And August 27, 1965 with her father and uncle officiating; she and my father married.  


Thus began what I think is the greatest love story.  They were very rarely apart.  My parents truly and genuinely enjoyed each other.  My parents taught myself, along with my 2 younger siblings, how to love, how to be in a healthy relationship, how to argue, how to make up, how to be wonderful parents, how to grow old together.  


My father was a college professor and my mother spent all of my childhood years at home and did not go to work full time until my youngest sister was in her last two years of high school.  She did however run her own business while we were growing up.  We would spend many of our weekends doing craft shows for my mother's hand weaving business.  


My parents were extremely involved in our lives.  Dad was our soccer coach, band bus driver, band club president, etc.  Mom was the band mom, would do weaving and spinning demonstrations for our classes, was den leader, etc.   Because they were always available and always present, at no time did we ever feel neglected or unloved.


As life continues after their death, my brother, sister and I honor our parents and what they did for us by being the best spouses and parents after their example.  We miss them every day, but know that by continuing living in their example we always have them surrounding us.



Thursday, April 14, 2011

First Love

So, I have chosen to do a 30 day blog challenge and day three's assignment is to blog about your first love.  To me, this is extremely subjective.  My first absolute love, books.  Yes, I said books - for those that personally know me - I know they were half expecting my husband's name to be put there.  But I have always read, I love to read, I CONSUME books.  My first love, as in the boy that captured my heart, would be Daniel McXXXXX.  We were in Kindergarten together in Sylva, NC many, many, many years ago and at 5 years old we were completely and totally in love, as much so as 5 year old can be.  My first true love, that would be my husband.  We met after I had broken up with a long term boyfriend that I had kept dating because it was "habit".  I finally got tired of the "habit" and broke it off. 
Me being the band geek that I was met my husband during a state band weekend at Furman University. I was a senior and he was a sophomore. It was not love at first site, but it was a slow, deep fall.  That was 24 years ago.  Not quite 22 years ago, we got married and haven't looked back since.  Yes, we have had our troubles, but our joys have far outweighed the troubles.  George is my first true love, always will be and I so look forward to our children finding what we have, a true love that stands the test of time.  

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

My Blog Name

Ramblings of Bored Housewife - it is exactly what it says - There are days when I am completely bored out of my mind as a housewife.  So, I decided to start try blogging and most of my posts will probably be my mindless ramblings on what I have bouncing around in my head from time to time.  This is me - hair looking all funky because we had the top down on the Mustang on our way to the mountains to visit our "oldest" son.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

15 facts about me

15 Interesting facts about me :
1 - I play the piano, but only for myself.
2 - I play the bassoon, but have never practiced as much as I should.
3 - I do not remember a time when I did not have freckles.
4 - My husband perturbed me the first day I met him.
5 - I have been married longer than I was single.
6 - I love to read.
7 - I love taking photographs.
8 - I have decided that I have no patience for idiots as I get older.
9 - I love getting older as that means that I have survived another year.
10 - I am the mother to fraternal twin boys.
11 - I am the mother to four children.
12 - I cannot stand being cold.
13 - I don't mind watching sports, but only with my husband.
14 - I hate when my children get their hearts broken because there is nothing a mother can do to put it back together.
15 - My favorite Disney character is Thumper - the hyperactive bunny.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Weekend

This past weekend found my husband and I visiting Western Carolina University and our "oldest" son (in quotes because he's a twin) and his wife during WCU's Jazzfest weekend.  What a wonderful way to spend a Friday evening.  Bobby Watson, a famed jazz alto sax player, was one of the guest musicians that played with the WCU Jazz Ensemble.  We also purchased the ensemble's new CD.  Hawk not only soloed on Friday night, but he is also the only Bari Sax player on their CD.  


WCU has a wonderful music program and every year we are able to head the 7 hours across state and attend a performance.  We have yet to wish we had stayed home. If you live in Western North Carolina, it is well worth the trip to see WCU's musical groups perform.  

Introducing Myself

Yes, I call myself a housewife.  I no longer consider myself a stay at home mom since that is no longer the reason I am home all day.  My husband and I have 4 children and they are all over the age of 12. So, does that make me a stay at home mom?  In my mind, no, it does not.  My children are all either working, away at college with their wife, or in public school during the day.  I am home to take care of the house.  


My husband and I have been married of almost 22 years and were high school sweethearts.  We take time every so often for ourselves as this is extremely important to the two of us as our children are growing older and moving out of the house.  


Life here in our house is always busy, but I do have time where the house is all quiet and I am out of books to read and the cleaning is done, and the TV programming isn't much, and that's when I am bored.