Gram's Place

This is my brother Todd. He's one of my heroes. Usually, I can find him in the garage with his head under a car. We've had some pretty serious talks with him in this position. He's building a car. It's the second one he's built.

Chrysanthemama, at Chrysanthemama , tagged me in this meme. I promised to post it last week on Friday, and of course, didn’t. So, I am doing it now. My coffee is steaming hot and this might take me a while. Rules of MEME: 1) Link to the person who tagged you. Chrysanthemama 2) Post the rules on your blog (you are reading them). 3) Write 6 random things about yourself (see below). 4) Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them. 5) Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog. 6) Let the tagger know when your entry is up. AHEM! Random things. My entire blog is pretty random so I may be repeating myself. As if you haven’t heard that before. 1. I want a dog. I think. I say I think because, well, I want a dog…but then my husband always reminds me that dogs make doo doo and have long fingernails that click and scratch wood floors. So, really, most days I fluctuate somewhere between wanting a dog and not wanting a dog. It’s pretty much the emotio...

I have two different tags that I haven't gotten to for the last couple of weeks, so today is the tag day. I will post twice in one day. Now that's amazing. So...RULES OF THE HONEST SCRAP AWARD (first of all... pretty tricky calling it an award let me say) When you receive the prize you must write a post showing it, together with the name of who has given it to you - which would be my lovely darling truth telling friend Mel . , and link them back, which I did, but I'll do it again here . Choose a blog that you find to be totally honest in content and visuals. There are a lot, but since she chose me in the next meme I will do after this one, I choose Santa's Daughter . Show their name (okay... it's chrysanthemama? and link and leave them a comment (I will) informing they were prized with ‘Honest Weblog’. List [if you can and/or dare] at least ten honest things about yourself. And then, pass it on. Okay... ten honest things about myself. Do they have to be honest...

This morning, I had some dishes to wash. I was standing at my kitchen sink washing dishes and thinking about all of the things I really needed to accomplish. All of the sudden, I looked up and saw the sky. It was amazing. I have no idea what made me look up. But I did. I wondered ... how often do I bury my head and think about tasks and chores and my to do list, and neglect to appreciate the things God puts right there before my very eyes? Take some time today to LOOK UP!

I'm really looking forward to my weekend. I just had a day off work yesterday, and already I'm looking for the weekend! Crazy! Friday night I'm going here. I am really looking forward to a night of worship. Saturday night we're going to church and out to eat. I think I will make my family let me choose the place. :) Sunday is Em's dance recital at a Festival of Trees. We're going to get into the Christmas spirit already!! Whoo hooo! On another note, I did some Christmas shopping yesterday. I know... don't faint. I am usually the manic shopper on Christmas Eve trying to finish up. But, I actually purchased some gifts BEFORE Thanksgiving this year. I've been reading the book of Esther - a chapter at a time - the last week. Absorbing it and really sinking my teeth into this woman. It's been good. This morning, I also read this out of 2 Chronicles 20 and I've been meditating on it all day. 2 Chron 20:12 " O our God, will you not judg...

I should add "not-so-good" pictures. And don't worry. I won't post a whole lot of my bad photos. I will get the hang of it. But, why is it that it LOOKS like it's in focus when I'm taking them. But, when I get them on my computer screen, they aren't. Friday Night - she wanted to get her nose pierced but the piercing lady wasn't there. (She did it the next day instead without me and my camera) Saturday morning coffee - my best friend Mary. I love our Saturday morning coffee time. I love Mary. I was waiting with my camera when she woke up - I needed a subject to practice on. Our kitty Gucci was the victim of much picture practice this weekend. My husband is a bass player. I haven't heard him play for a few months. It was nice to hear him on Saturday. He taught Abbie a couple of chords. Abbers was in "Les Miserable" High School Musical on Saturday. Aunt Shera and Shanda came with us to the musical. We were running a bit late for c...

We went for a drive this afternoon for an hour after lunch to snap some photos of some of the houses we've built. But, the snow was blowing too hard (who would have thought on November 7??)... so I didn't get any good house photos...but I did snap these.

I wouldn't believe it either if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes...

I thought about just posting all the 250 pictures I took in the last 24 hours, but I'm pretty sure you would have no fun with that... so here are a few... This is the new beast. Isn't it exciting? Shawn went home yesterday during lunch and brought it back. It had arrived and was at the house, so he brought it back and decided to charge the battery and get it ready because he knew I wouldn't want to wait. Since we were both at the office, I didn't have many choices, so I took a few dozen shots of him and Barth. When we went home, the girls were more than happy to pose.

I talked about my need for a new camera here. Well, today, I am waiting and anticipating a delivery. Let's see if B&H hits the target with their delivery date. They said today. Will they "deliver" - pun totally intended. First of all, let me say "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!" I am so excited!!!! I have been waiting for this camera for ...well... years. Since my friend got her dreamy new camera a couple years ago (I looked for the exact post that I posted my jealousy on her blog but couldn't find it), I've been dreaming of this . Now, I don't have a shabby camera at all. It's this . But, I've been wanting to go digital for a long long time and I just can't bring myself to my husband's choice of cameras. So, I chose to wait for the opportunity to get the one I really wanted. And today's the day!!!! (IF B&H delivers on their promise!) I had ordered this camera a couple of times from other companies... that did ...

Psalm 25:12 Who are those that fear the Lord? He will show them the path they choose. Today, I have a profound sense of euphoria at being a citizen of the United States. I know that the election may or may not go the way I voted. I am not naïve and know that in a few weeks or months, I will most likely be outraged at a decision one or all of the elected officials have chosen to make. But, today, it’s Election Day. Today, everyday citizens like you and me, choose who our next leader will be. We will vote. And we will get what we asked for. I encourage you today to cast the ballot of your choice. And may the best man win.

With election day tomorrow, we have had a couple of friends ask us about how we advise them to make a decision on judges. Voting for judges seems so strange because there isn't enough information on them to make a decision. In 2002, the US Supreme court decided that it was lawful for judges to answer questions regarding their views on issues. You can see that supreme court ruling here if you would like. However, many judges refuse to answer. This is my thinking on judges. If I were to have someone come to my company and ask for a job - a job they will have for anywhere from 2 years to a lifetime - and they would like to be paid anywhere from $130,000 to $230,000 a year - I would have to ask them a lot of questions before I hire them. Questions like... what is your philosophy of this business? Questions like... what is your vision for this company? Questions like... what are your short term and long term goals? If that person could not answer those questions, would I hire him or ...

This past weekend, we had a friend (thank you mary and paul!) give us a pool table they didn't want anymore. Our house is now a full fledged pool hall. And although we're newbies, we're already addicted. I decided to look up some rules today as " some members " of my family like to make up their own. I didn't know this.. 12. FOOT ON FLOOR. It is a foul if a player shoots when at least one foot is not in contact with the floor. Foot attire must be normal in regard to size, shape and manner in which it is worn. And furthermore, I don't know how in the world anyone could shoot without feet on the floor. And I love the second part... as if wearing clown shoes or extra large boots would give you an advantage. sorry...not in our home. we really are. not. good. Our motto in pool: Ineptitude: If you can't learn to do something well, learn to enjoy doing it poorly.