Pictures of Christmas

I am going to put some pictures up from Christmas. I made a little slideshow of them in my previous post, but they turned out really small. This time, I will write about what they are!
I had a visit today from a friend of mine that I knew when I lived in Germany, as a teenager. She brought her dad with her, and he and my daddy had a nice visit. They are both retired Air Force sergeants. We had a great visit, but I forgot to take pictures!!

At this angle, you can see Rachel and Adam's little paper ornaments that they made when they were just little toddlers!



The view from the living room into the dining room. The girls helped get the table ready!


My Family! Adam, Vicky, me, Rachel, and Don!!


Adam, Julia, and Little Dewey, III



Dewilla, Rachel, and Don


Vicky, Adam, Dewilla


Kane, Kate, Susan, Thomas, and Lauren


Adam and Don "boxing" to a video type simulation game, at Rachel's house.


My 1800's desk with Santa and stuff


My buffet with Santas and Lighthouse ornaments


Vicky and Adam showing Rachel's presents - prints to remind them of their Europe trip


And the stockings were hung...Granna made the one on the left, and Saramina made the other two.


Rachel and Don being silly with the hatchet and axe that I gave Don for Christmas. He loves having a fire in the fireplace, and he needed these little tools for chopping the wood!


Daddy and me at Rachel's house on Christmas morning


Can you see the snow??


My checkerboard cake...It actually turned out pretty good! Susan gave me the pans last Christmas, and I found he red/green/white idea on the Wilton website.


Rachel and Don's 12 foot tree!!


My chandelier with my 12 days of Christmas ornaments and two little stockings.


French doors going to the sunroom


The entry to the dining room


My Nativity sets...I love Nativity sets, and I splurged and bought all of the parts to the Willow Tree set, over a period of a couple of years. I also gave a set to Rachel.


The Hooper family - It took us a while to get everyone together, and it was cold outside! We are missing Don and 'big' Lauren, though. William used his tripod and timer. He almost didn't make it back up to the back row to get in the picture!!

Christmas Fun

Christmas, Christmas, Christmas!! It feels like it is still Christmas! Actually, I usually feel more in the Christmas spirit in the days following Christmas Day, than during the days before Christmas Day! The hustle and bustle is gone, and you can just enjoy family and being together. Adam and Vicky were able to come up from Tampa to be with us. They got in around 7:30 on Christmas Eve night. Daddy and I went to Rachel's house to meet them, and we all spent the night together at her house!! That was a lot of fun. On Christmas morning, Rachel and Don went to his dad's house to be with his little brother and sister, and Daddy and I came on home. I had everyone over at my house this year for Christmas dinner, and we had a great time. Rachel helped put up my tree, and I decorated the rest of the house. I actually have kind of a clean house this Christmas, so I was able to do a bit more decorating in the dining room than usual. I like the look, and it will probably stay up for quite a while! Who wants to go up in the attic any old way?? haha My friend Cathy took me to lunch today, as a Christmas present. We went to the Gryphon Tearoom, which is in the old Solomons Drugstore. When I was young, my mamma would take us to this drugstore after dentist appointments for milkshakes! It is now owned by Savannah College of Art and Design and has been turned into a tearoom. Cathy's name is Solomons. Her husband's ancestors actually owned the old Solomons Drugstore. Isn't that interesting! Christmas 2010 has been fun. I have lots of pictures to share. The date on the pictures is not correct. I forgot to fix the date when I put in a new battery. I fiddled with the media player thing-y on the computer and put lots of pictures in a little slideshow. Enjoy!

Christmas Busy-ness

As of today, I have my tree up with most, yes...most, of the ornaments in place. My dear daughter helped me put up the tree and fix the lights. I am no good when it comes to putting on the lights, so I was going to just leave them off this year. I decorated parts of the tree with my collectible ornaments, and I was waiting on the energy to arrive to finish decorating with the rest of the ornaments. The energy has not arrived as of yet, but Rachel came by today and put some lights on the tree for me :) I have been very busy trying to get this house in order, though. I have said before that I am NOT a housekeeper, and my house is ALWAYS a big MESS!! Well, I have the living room and dining room in an acceptable fashion now, but the bedrooms are full of the MESS!! HA! I am getting there folks...I am getting there. Slowly I turn, inch by inch, step by step...Isn't that how that funny comedy skit goes? Well,that is how my housekeeping goes! I have to get things in order, because I will be starting back on my dissertation in January. I must get this placed organized by then, or I will not be able to get my brain organized for writing. I will be spending lots of late night hours again on this computer typing away. I have GOT to do this. I wasted one full year of procrastinating, and it has cost me a bundle. This busy-ness of Christmas is just starting. The weather is cold, but we are getting warmer weather this week. I have been really sick this past week, and I haven't gotten anything Christmas-y done. Today, I have stayed inside trying to get more done around the house. I am not sure if I will brave the weather tomorrow to go to church. I just need to get well before Christmas gets here, so the day may be spent at home again. It is just no fun sitting in church with a stuffy nose and a stuffy head trying to sing hymns or pay attention to the sermon! I will probably stay home where I can blow my nose in private. hahahaha!!
I am getting the Christmas spirit, although I can't get out into the crowds of shoppers right now. Maybe I will just put on my Manheim Steamroller CDs and bounce around the house to their great Christmas music. That sounds like a terrific idea. Talk to you guys later!!

Santa, my brother

My brother plays Santa Claus each year. He really takes this job seriously. There is an article in today's paper about him. He has also been named as the Hometown Hero for Savannah this week, and there will be a special segment on one of our tv news shows about him. He does a lot of work with Jumprope for Heart through his job as a PE teacher, and he received an award from the state association this year. He is a really good guy, and I a proud to say he is my "little" brother!

I am attempting to include the web address for the article. I hope you can make it
work! Maybe you can copy and paste it in your browser window to get to it. I hope you can do it!

http://eedition.savannahnow.com/newsstand/servlet/getPdf

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I cooked a lot of food: macaroni and cheese, green beans, ham, turkey, sweet potato souflee, pumpkin bread, spice cake, red velvet cake, etc.

I made a red velvet ladybug cake for our little visitor, Savannah. She is four months old, and we saw her for the first time yeserday. The theme of her room is ladybugs, so I made a ladybug cake in her honor.




I also made a spice cake and attempted to put fall colored leaves on the top.



The pumpkin bread turned out really well. It was nice and moist. Last year, I found a nice mold/cake pan for the fall season, and the recipe for the pumpkin bread was in it. You can see the mold shapes in the bread.




Our nephew came home from Ft. Riley, with his wife and new baby. Yesterday was also the first time we all met Corey.

We had some other visitors with us for Thanksgiving, too. Ellen invited an Army family to come spend the day with us. She has taught the two boys, and she knew they would enjoy being with a big family for Thanksgiving. The father has just returned from Afghanistan, and he really seemed to enjoy the day. They all did.

It is nice to be able to share a day like Thanksgiving with people who are far away from home.

I am including pictures of my cakes. I was really pleased with the little ladybug. It turned out a lot better than my first attempts at the little bug!

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and are continuing to have a wonderful weekend holiday!!

My Daddy, the Veteran

This first picture is of Daddy in Germany during World War II.

My daddy is a veteran, and I didn't mention him the other day. My mom passed away on Veteran's Day 2008, and I posted about her instead of the Veterans. So, I will speak of my daddy today.
World War II was the beginning of Daddy's military career. He served as a Medic in the Ninth Armored Division, and he received the Bronze Star for Bravery. He went out under fire to rescue men that he saw were still alive. He says it was his job as a medic. The military saw it otherwise. They saw it as brave acts that deserved one of the highest medals you can receive. Medics did not carry any type of guns or weapons, so going out under fire with NO way to defend himself was truly an act of sheer bravery and duty to his fellow man.


This picture is a picture of my Daddy as a very young Air Force soldier.


My daddy is one of the finest men on the face of this earth. He always does what is right. He is always honorable and truthful. He taught all of us to be honest forthright people, and we all are to this day. Daddy continued his military career after the War, by joining the Air Force. He was in Germany when I was born, and I was nine months old before he ever saw me.


He was also gone for a year or more at a time during our growing up years, to Vietnam and Morocco. He went many other places for what they call TDY, which is temporary duty somewhere else. My daddy is a wonderful, honorable man who does anything and everything that he can for his children and his grandchildren. I cannot honor my Daddy enough with my words. Being his oldest child is an honor to me and an extra special blessing. Thank you Daddy for always loving me and taking care of me, even to this day...still!! I love you!!!!

Mamma

Two years ago today, my mamma went to heaven. She was the most wonderful mamma in the whole wide world, and I miss her very much!!
Mamma was very supportive of everything I ever did. She was a terrific mamma who was loving and caring. She always had a smile on her face, even as she was suffering in severe pain from that awful cancer disease. Mamma would not let anyone know how bad she was hurting, but we knew she was in a tremendous amount of pain. None of us will ever know, or could ever imagine, how bad she hurt, because she didn't want to worry us. Mamma was a wonderful Southern Lady. She had a great role model in my Granna, I had a great role model in my Mamma, and now I am trying to be a great role model for my daughter and son. I recently changed the name of my blog to A Southern Lady, because I am now following in the tradition of all the sweet, Southern ladies who have gone before me. I am now the older generation, and I have a lot to live up to in order to pass on the legacy of all of my wonderful, strong, faithful, Christian, selfless, loving Southern Ladies who have molded me and made me who I am today.
I love you Mamma! Thank you for always being there for me, for never judging me or anyone, for always loving everyone unconditionally, for being supportive always, and for being my Mamma!!!!!! I love you!!!!

Music

I love music. My mamma used to tell me that all my life I would just burst out into song at any moment! She said that I did this from the time I was very small until...well...NOW! I do that all the time. Everything reminds me of a song or some piece of music. I often sing a song when someone says something that reminds me of a show tune or some other type of song that fits the bill! People look at me funny when I do that, but I just smile and tell them why I thought of the song! I lost my music for a while, during a hard time in my life, but I have gotten it back. I am singing in the choir again. For quite a few years, I allowed someone to take my music away. I missed it so...but I got it back again. Then, I lost it again. Now, I am trying very desperately to get it back and the joy that comes with it. I have a poster in my classroom that says: Kind words are the music of life. Isn't that an interesting way to promote positive attitudes and kindness to others?!
Music, it is in my soul. It is in my innermost being. Music is ME!!

My Saramina

My Saramina is my mamma's big sister. She was the serious sister, and my mamma was the silly sister! HA! The two close sisters are together again now in heaven. My Saramina went to heaven last week. She was a very sweet and loving aunt and lady. Saramina was a true genteel Southern lady who only thought of others, never herself. She was one of the most selfLESS people on the face of the earth. I have been so fortunate to have been raised by, and to have been around, MANY selfless ladies: my Mamma, my Granna, my Saramina, my Grandma, my Aunt Bernice, my Aunt Bonnie, my aunt Carwee who we called WeeWee, MarySue, Aunt Eunice who we called E, and the list goes on and on. All of these ladies meant a lot to me and impressed upon me the true meaning of being a mom, a sister, an aunt, a grandma, a friend, and a true lady. I have had a blessed life by being related to so many wonderful ladies, and I hope that I can always be an extension of and an example of all of them as a sweet, Christian, selfless lady just like they have all been.

Birthdays, Greek for a Day, and other stuff

October is month of birthdays. We start with mine and move on through the month to the 27th. I have made cakes for each one. Mine was a five layer heart cake that ended up being somewhat lopsided! Rachel let me have a party at her house on Sunday, and we went out to eat on my real birthday, on Wednesday. We ate at my Thai restaurant. I made a second cake that was a party hat, on my actual birthday. Then, the youngest hooper had his second birthday, for which I made Mickey Mouse and a Party Hat. Next on the list was my sister. Her cake was supposed to be in the shape of petals, but you couldn't really see the curves.I made little bumble bees to place all around the 'flower'. They turned out pretty cute. I saw this idea in a magazine, and I wanted to try them: yellow peanut M&M's, tootsie roll, and a clear spice drop.



Amy was next, and I tried to be like the pros on this one and 'cut' the actual shape. I made a four and a zero for her big 40. The four kept falling apart, but it held up long enough to get a good picture. haha It sounds like all the cakes were a flop, but they really turned out okay.
Daddy's birthday was this week, number 89. My niece, Kate, turned 22 on the 27th. She requested a red velvet cake. As a surprise, I made her cake in a Strawberry Shortcake pan. HA! Well, it was the color of Strawberry Shortcake, so.........there ya go! She liked it. There was a lot of detail work on that one. I took the day off on the 26th to be with Daddy and to prepare the big birthday dinner and the cakes. I made Daddy a red velvet cake, also, but I only used white icing. Daddy doesn't like colored icing, so I always leave his plain. We had a double celebration Tuesday night, and we all had a great time.
We have other birthdays this month, too. My cousins Marvin and Mina had their birthdays a day apart, on the 19th and 20th, in two different towns. Mina's is on the same day as my sister in law, Amy's. My young cousin Landon will be 2 on Kate's 22nd birthday. Those two will round out the month.

Also in October, there is a Greek Festival here in Savannah. I like to go just to get some Greek food. I cannot remember the names of all of it, but I like it! This year, I used my cell phone to take some pictures. I usually get there at dark and miss most of the dancing. This year, I got there around 3 and saw some of the dancers. I also went into the Greek Orthodox church and took some pictures.

The Sign



The dancers!





The entrance




The ceiling!




The church




My church does a special series of services in October called "God on Broadway". These services are inspired by the music and themes of famous musicals. This year, we have used South Pacific, Fiddler on the Roof, Big River, and The Music Man. Each service has been very special, and everyone in attendance has been greatly blessed. Next week, we will use Jekyll and Hyde. I am not sure what the service will be like, but I know it will be great. I do know that the choir is singing a song about wearing masks, so I am sure the sermon will be about something like that.
So...there is a list of things that have been going on around here. Lots of stuff is going on at school and elsewhere, but I will leave that for another time. Have a great day!

Lil' Fella

The littlest Hooper had his second birthday this weekend, and it was a fun event. I made two cakes for him: Mickey Mouse and a Party Hat. 3D is awestruck by cakes. He just stares at them and takes them alllll in. He did that with the castle that I made for his big sister, too.






Anyway, the little guy, 3D, alias Lil' Fella, is now TWO! Papa got him a football for his birthday, and that gift was the hit of the day. Lil' Fella did not put it down the rest of the day or night! What a present. Right after he got it, he was supposed to open another present. He very carefully placed the ball right by him. When it rolled off, he got up and slowly and meticulously walked over, picked it up, and put it under his arm...and that is where it stayed! Little Dewey III loves any kind of ball, and he always has one in his hand, but this football was the most special of all. It was so cute to watch him. Then, he "played catch" with a few people, and very carefully watched to make sure that the other person threw it back to him!










As you can see, he held that ball while eating his cake...



while eating ice out of his cup...



and finally as he was saying good bye to everyone from his little chair!!!!



Here are the final pictures of the night...Lil'Fella in his crib making sure his football will be right beside him all night!






Slam dunk, Papa!!

Bali Hai

At my church yesterday, we had the first in a series of church services centered around the theme of Broadway musicals. The series is called "God on Broadway". Yesterday was World Communion Sunday, and the entire service was planned around the play South Pacific. This play was chosen because of the inner running themes of racism and acceptance of those different from ourselves. The musical depicts two different love stories that take place on an island in the South Pacific, during World War II. One story is of a young Marine lieutenant who falls in love with a young Polynesian girl, and the other is of a young Navy nurse who falls in love with a Frenchman who lives on the island. Where does the racism theme come into the story? It is within both of the love stories. The lieutenant is madly in love with the young Polynesian girl, and he enjoys spending time with her, but he cringes at the idea of marrying her. When he later realizes the conflicting feelings within him, he sings a wonderful song called, "You've Got to be Carefully Taught". This song describes the feelings of racism and hate that are not in one's mind initially, as a child, but are placed there by others during one's lifetime. The young nurse exhibits her feelings of racism when she finds out that her Frenchman is a widow, and that his two children were born of a Polynesian woman. The young nurse cannot get past the fact that his children are biracial, and she runs away from the relationship.
Later in the show, the Frenchman and the lieutenant go on a secret mission on another island where they can see the enemy ships coming. In this way, they can help the cause of the United States. Alas, the lieutenant is killed on the mission and does not return to the island. After much sadness and realization of how narrow minded she has been, the nurse goes to the Frenchman's home to help take care of his children. Happily, the Frenchman returns home safely to the arms of his the young nurse and his children. Of course, the young nurse has had time to think about her ugly thoughts of racism, and she is extremely happy to have her Frenchman return to her. Unfortunately, the lieutenant does not return, and the young Polynesian girl is devastated. She must now be married off to some older plantation owner and return to life as usual on the island.
In the sermon for the day, our minister did a wonderful job of bringing in the message from the musical into our everyday lives. He talked about how the song, You've Got to be Carefully Taught, brought up a stir of controversy back in the 1940's, when the musical first came out. Rodgers and Hammerstein were greatly urged to take the song out of the musical. They were told that the show would never be a success with such a theme running through it. The two great musicians left the song in the story, and it is still there today to help teach us how to accept and help each other, rather than reject and tear apart one another.
We opened the service with the song Bali Hai, welcoming everyone to the wonderful island. Of course, that theme was to represent being welcomed into the house of the Lord to feel his wonderful, peaceful presence in our lives.
There is Nothing Like a Dame was sung wonderfully by our men, and they used this song creatively to do our morning announcements! Several guys received "mail", and they read their "letters" to the congregation. Their letters, of course, were our morning announcements, and it was really fun to listen to these guys play it up as though they were reading love letters from home!
The children used their puppet ministry to the song, Happy Talk. The positive message was creatively rendered by these children and they had a lot of fun ministering to us. Another song, Cockeyed Optimist, was presented to us to help remind us all of the importance of taking a positive outlook on life. All of the songs and little scenarios worked together to create a wonderful worship experience, and everyone in attendance was truly blessed. Next week, our service will be around the family in "Fiddler on the Roof". You can join us in the services by going to our church website that I have listed here.

http://asburymemorial.org/

I hope you enjoy the services!

Another weekend is here. It sure doesn't seem like a whole week has passed since last Saturday! I suppose that means I was very busy this week and did not realize how fast time went by me. It is already nearing the end of September, too! You wouldn't know that we are in the season of fall, if you were calculating the seasons by the temperatures! We have had some very hot and muggy days lately, almost like midsummer. One big decision was made this week for me. Since I have not been in a writing mood for my dissertation, and I have not made any progress in a year, I have requested a second extension for my first three chapters. The advisors have decided that I should take a quarter off and regroup. I am perfectly capable of doing the writing, but I have had many things going on in my life that have kept me from actually writing. All of these things are too numerous or personal to list here, but they are almost debilitating. The advisor used a term that I thought 'hit the nail on the head'. He said that many times we become 'paralyzed' by things that life brings us. Paralyzed is the perfect term for me. I went gung ho, fast, quick, almost manic-like during all of my Ph.D. classes and my comprehensive exams. Then, WHAM BAM, I hit a brick wall and could not think about schoolwork. I have been this way for over a year now, yet I was still paying tuition and enrolling each quarter. So, I have been given a reprieve for a quarter, and I hope that I can begin again refreshed and ready to go in January. This break will get me through the holidays (which are always busy), and some serious competition preparations at school. I will be coaching an Odyssey of the Mind team again this year, and that takes a lot out of a person. This particular competition is very stressful for the coach, and I am not looking forward to more stress. As a teacher of gifted children, I am expected to prepare my students for many types of competitions, and that expectation and process can be very exhausting...not to mention extremely stressful! Oh well...I have done it many times, so I imagine I can do it again. Sometimes, I think the 'thought' of it all is more overwhelming than the actual 'doing' of it all! HA!
I need to keep myself thinking more positive thoughts and fewer negative, depressive thoughts. That task is easier said than done, but it is one that I must attempt to achieve. I wish I could say more right now, but my mind will not let me. Although my brain is racing with thoughts, they are escaping as soon as they are entering. So, there ya go!! HA! HA!
I shall return at another time with more random or silly thoughts that seem to be rambling and running through my seemingly overcrowded brain. Talk to you later!

Hello again

Hello,
What have I been up to lately? Not much...I finally had a root canal done on that stupid tooth! The tooth is fine, but all of the shots wiped me out! I do not tolerate anesthesia very well, so that stuff had me zonked and sleepy and...well...you get the picture! I went to bed extremely early (5, 6, and 7 pm) for the next four days. Crazy, I know.
School so far has been nice and calm for two weeks and counting. I hope it isn't what they call the calm before the storm! HA! All of my students are great, and I really enjoy what I do.
I am hooked on The Young and the Restless soap opera. I can't help it, but I am. I used to run home quickly in time to catch The Guiding Light, but that one has been cancelled. Y&R is on at 12:30 while I am at work, so I watch it online at 6:30! HA! I also found a spoiler site (Toni's spoilers) written by someone in Canada who gets the shows a day ahead of the U.S., so I can read about what is going to happen the next day before I see it! Is that crazy or what!!?? Well, that is my guilty little pleasure. I am a third generation soap fan. My Granna used to watch The Guiding Light, my mom watched The Guiding Light, and then I started watching it. That show was on for over 50 years. I am not sure why CBS cancelled it. CBS just cancelled As the World Turns, also, which was another oldie but goodie for 50 years.
The summer birthdays are all over, but now we will start another rampage of them in October, including mine (double nickels)! Whew! I have had a long enough rest period, I suppose. I will be baking, baking, and baking for a whole month and one week (my brother's is the first week in November). That is okay. I can try out some different styles. All of the ones I did this summer were for kids, but now I can make some for adults. Well, I do have one Mickey Mouse cake to make for my nephew who will be 2 in October, unless we decide on Elmo. I have the MM pan, though, and I don't have Elmo yet.
It is only 7 o'clock, and I am ready for bed. I must think I am a farmer, because I have been 'turning in' mighty early this past week!! Gee willikers Marie! (That is my mom's expression. Isn't it funny? haha)
Well folks, I shall talk to you later. I hope I will have a lot more to say to you the next time. Have a great week!!

Adam

September 5, 1984
What a joyous day that was!! My baby boy, Adam, was born!! Hip hip hooray! Boy oh boy, has he been a real BOY!! Yes indeed my friends, Adam was all boy, and he still is! My favorite story to tell about him is from when he was about a year and a half old. I opened the front door, and OUT he scooted...naked as a jaybird! He ran around and around and around in circles on the front lawn. He was so fast! He just scooted right past me like a streak of lightning, and he was "streaking" for the neighborhood. hahahaha
I love my Adam. He is so very special to me. He has grown up to be a very fine young man. Adam recently graduated from college with a degree in Marine Science. He has moved to Tampa, Florida to pursue his career in that field. He is a very hard working young man, and I know he will do well in anything that he attempts.
I miss him so much!
Adam is still my little boy, no matter how tall he grows or how old he becomes. He is still my active, sweet, and wonderful little fella!
I love you Adam!!

My stupid tooth

Hello again,
I am still in agony with this stupid tooth! I wish that I had not let the dentist talk me into a root canal back in July. The tooth is infected yet again, a really bad abscess, and it hurts like crazy! I did not go back for my second trip when I was supposed to, and now I am paying for it - in more ways than one. The tooth was abscessed to begin with, and he did a partial root canal. I was supposed to go back for him to finish, but I had a chance to go to Florida...and I did! Anywho, he is so busy that it has been difficult to get an appointment. They gave me one for the 14th, but that is two weeks away. I have called all week. So, I got smart and went over there in person this afternoon. Well...I don't know if smart is the word, crazy might be the appropriate word...because he started in on the tooth again! Now, he wants me to come back next week to get it finished. Well, they don't have any appointments next week. "Oh, we'll call you with an opening." Then, they cancelled my Sept. 14th appointment, since I am supposed to come back next week. I said, "Please don't cancel that one if you don't have anymore! I need to come back." They assured me that I could get an appointment. "Really, if he wants you back in next week, we will get you in next week." They keep saying they will call me when someone cancels, but apparently people are not cancelling their appointments so that I can have one! haha! I really hope someone cancels, because I cannot stand this anymore! Now maybe he will understand why I have teeth pulled. My teeth are just not the kind that like to stay well...they would rather decay! Okay, enough about that. My dentist is really nice, and he didn't have to see me this afternoon. I am glad he did, though. I have a horse pill of an antibiotic that I am taking that is supposed to be helping the infection. I like this dentist, because he does all of his own work...meaning he doesn't send you off to a "specialist" for everything that you need to have done, like root canals, tooth extractions, etc. My last dentist sent you to an expensive specialist for everything, and then you would have to go back to him and pay him too! I like my dentist, even though I am in pain from this tooth. It isn't his fault that my teeth don't like to behave! haha
So, there is the story of my stupid tooth. I surely hope that I can get this thing fixed next week.
By the way, in my last post I spoke about my favorite actor and gave his character the wrong name!! Imagine that! I corrected the name to Sheldon, not Sherman!!
Later gators......

Emmy's

Hello,
I have pretty much stopped watching award shows, but the Emmy's were on last night while I was switching channels...and I stopped to view them for a while. I watched until my favorite actor won for Best Supporting Actor in a comedy! I was so excited for him. He plays Sheldon on the funny Big Bang Theory. He was up for this last year, too, but that stupid Baldwin guy got the award. He isn't funny! Then, I watched a few of Jimmy Fallon's silly things and went to bed. I am very happy that my other favorite show, "Modern Family", won for best comedy, instead of that stupid "30 Rock" show. Ha! I am calling everything stupid, oh well... I stopped having any respect for the creator of that show when she started picking on the children of Sarah Palin. I thought her imitation of Palin was fine, but when she started talking about the kids, that was ridiculous. I didn't get to see Modern Family win, though, because I was in dreamland!
I have about had enough of Betty White, too. She is being portrayed as a sweet, old thing, yet she has always been famous for being a sexual innuendo kind of a comedienne/actress. I guess people nowadays don't know that, or they forgot that. She is just doing the same stuff she has been doing for years...but she is 88 now, and I suppose that makes it funnier or something.
I finally watched the movie called "50 first dates" the other night. I watched up until the end, that is. I FELL ASLEEP RIGHT BEFORE THE END!!!! I cannot believe that! I do not even know how it ended. The show was really cute, so I hope to see the end of it some day.
The first day of school was today. It was fine, but I had an excruciating toothache all day. Actually, that pain started in the middle of Friday night and woke me up! I had the beginning of a root canal back in July, and it never got finished. The dentist hit a nerve when he gave me the shot, and my mouth has been numb since. I suppose it WOKE UP Friday night and OUCH!! I called today for an appointment and got one for 3:30, but since it was the first day of school I couldn't leave early to go. So, I couldn't get another appointment until September 14th!! The dentist said I probably have an infection in that tooth, and he called in a high powered Amoxicillin for me (875mg). That medication will hopefully calm down the pain and swelling, too. I wish I had just made him pull that tooth out in July, but he talked me into a root canal and possible bridge. Sheesh! Now maybe he will understand why I want the silly things pulled. I have terrible teeth!!!!!!
So, we are beginning another new school year. It seems like we never left the school! I hope that I have a good experience this year. I know it will be a busy one.
Take care and stay cool. We still have a lot of hot days ahead of us before Fall!!

Rachel

Rachel Morel Hedgecoth Watford

Today is my daughter's 28th birthday! I was so excited on the day she was born, because I finally had my little girl. She was so extra special, and she still is. I made a cake for her last night, staying up until 3:30 a.m. We had a big storm last night, and my dad came over for a few hours while his electricity was out. So, I got a late start making the cake. She wanted one kind of like my fourth of July cake, so I tried, only it is purple and white, rather than blue, red, and white HA!! She asked for a yellow cake with fondant. I made homemade fondant Thursday night, and it was ready to use Friday night. I made some royal icing to make flowers tonight to put on the cake, but they have to dry before being added to the cake. I have pictures of what it looks like so far, though. The fondant tried to kind of, well... melt! Plus, each cake layer broke when coming out of the individual pans!! SO, this cake was a bear to ice!! I put edible glitter all over it, too, so that should add some sparkle!I made a drape and ran it around and up the cake. I am going to add some pansies on the cake tomorrow, after they dry into candy! I will post a final picture of the cake later. I have had trouble getting just the right angle shot to make the cake look decent in a picture, but here is a good try. Excuse the mess in my kitchen! I really need to learn how to use photoshop!!!! haha




Rachel does so many things for me that I cannot even list them all here. She has been my rock for a long, long time, and I love her dearly. Rachel is a special person in this world, and I am so happy and privileged to have her as MY DAUGHTER!!

I love you, Rachel, Rachie, Rachiepoo, poopidoo, sweetiepie!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you God for giving me a most wondrous gift, my baby Rachel, August 21, 1982!!!!!!