Family - Two Nieces

Ginny's daughters, Jackie and Jessie, are my little sweethearts!  I adore these girls.  They have grown up with me.  When they were little, they came and stayed overnight with me often.  I have such good memories of those days.

Jackie is the older of the two.  She is married to Joffrey.  They have been married a little over two years.  They live in Chicago.  Jackie works at World's Finest Chocolates. (yum).  Jackie is probably the most like me of all the kids.  She likes to cook and bake, she's pretty direct (when she wants to be), she likes crafting and she likes fussing around the house.  She likes to try new things and enjoys decorating their new home.  She is a very caring person - she's very considerate of others, and has a great sense of humor.   She can talk to any one, any where, any time!  Chat, chat, chat.  My hubby thinks she eats too slow.  Everyone else is done and she's still making her way through her food - that's because she talks.  This is her hubby Joffrey: a great husband and a really good man.

  Jessica Ruth:

These two sisters are amazing.  They are really close to one another.  They have helped each other through some trying times.  Jessie is a recent graduate from Grand Valley State University.  She is a professional photographer.  She currently lives in Holland which is about 40 minutes from me. Jessie is a leasing agent for an apartment complex and does some nanny work in my hometown.  She enjoys wedding photography and private photo sessions which she does in her sparetime.

 Jessie lived with us for a while this summer and I loved it.  Jessie is a gentle spirit and sweet young lady.  She has a very kind heart and doesn't want to hurt anyone.  She is much quieter than her chatty sister and a bit more introspective.  She loves her family and it is important for her to be within close range of them.

She is currently dating a good guy by the name of Cory.  He is a teacher and is living about five hours away.  This isn't the most ideal situation for them but they will figure it out.

Jessie did a lot of volunteer mission work in her college days and spent summers at her church camp in Arcadia as well.  She values doing good works for others.  I've seen more of Jessie over this past year since she lives so close and I have come to really enjoy her and the company we keep.  She feels comfortable just bopping over for dinner after work or just hanging out with me.  I love it and her.

I feel blessed to have these two delightful girls in my life.

That's it for now.  TTFN - Babs

Family

Next up for my family introductions is my older sister Ginny (Virginia, Ginny Ann, Ginka (polish for Ginny).

Ginny is two years older than me.  She lives in Portage, Michigan.  She has lived there every since her college days.  Ginny is a respiratory therapist.  She currently works in a physician's office for a Pulmonologist.  She previously has worked in home care and in the inpatient hospital setting.  Ginny has two daughters, Jackie and Jessie - they will be featured in a separate post.  She is a good mom to her girls.

Ginny likes to antique, she loves to travel - her recent trip being Italy.  She really enjoys photography, reading, and she loves to shop.   She does a lot of fun things with her good friend Deb.    Though she lives a few hours away, Ginny visits us often and keeps a watchful eye on our mother, as well all do.

Ginny has a vicious cat named Coco.  Coco loves Ginny but hates everyone else.  What can I say. 

Next up will be here two daughters - Jackie and Jessica.

Today is a sunny day though it was 25 degrees earlier!  I think it has creeped up to 41.
TTFN - Babs

Gifted

I recently came across this premier issue of a great Ezine (e-magazine) Gifted.   

There are some wonderful holidays gifting ideas.  Grab a cup of coffee,  hot cocoa or whatever (wine!) and treat yourself to some real eye candy.  There are a few things I found that I gathered supplies to make.  Can't wait.

Click on the Gifted link above to check it out - love, love it!
Have a great weekend.  TTFN - Babs

Family

I have a very close knit family.  People find that I speak a lot about my family.  I guess I do.  It seems like I am always sharing with others the latest and greatest happenings in the kids and siblings lives.  I talk about my Mom a lot also.

A friend shared with me today that she was surprised when she recently saw a picture of one of the nieces and said, "That's not at all how I pictured so and so!"  I was taken by surprise.  I didn't realize that all my friends didn't "know" all the family - seems like I show pictures often but I guess not to everyone.  Not everyone has had opportunities to meet all of them.

Thus, over the next few weeks, I am going to introduce you to all of my family, particularly the nieces and nephews and offer a glimpse of their lives.  These kids mean the world to me.  They are "my kids" as I know kids.  Each one is precious to me.

Today we will begin with my oldest brother - Phil.  (Hi Philbert!)

Phil - what can I say.  He is a great guy.  Phil lives in Muskegon and lives alone in a cute little neighborhood.  He is close to all of us and we can depend on Phil to help us with anything.  He keeps a watchful eye on our Mother and is always there for her and us.  Phil lives with his mut, Shadow.  We kid him about the dog but they are the closest of bud's.  Phil is a bit of a loner, spends a lot of time reading, listening to NPR, walking the dog, and dabbles a bit in baking and breadmaking.  He is very bright.  We turn to him for all of our intellectual  needs.  He generally knows the answer.  We all think he should go on Jeopardy!  Phil has one daughter, Lindsey.

Lindsey is my oldest niece, the first born!   I want to say she is 31 years old.  She lives in Holland,Michigan which is only about 45 minutes from me.  She is a dog groomer and works for a grooming business in Holland.  She has a boyfriend Luke.  Lindsey is a sweet gal and loves being close to her family.  Surprisingly she loves our old fashion family traditions...like Christmas Eve dinner, going to Mass on Christmas, blessing of the food at Easter.  She enjoys things like I do, fancy little desserts, nice presentations at dinner tables, all the little extras that I like to go through.  She pays attention to details and is a great organizer.  She and I have had a close relationship in her growing up years.  We were mother/daughter-ish for many years.  I cherish those days and hope that we rekindle that closeness someday.  Life takes each of us in different directions at times however, the heart remains true.  I love Lindsey dearly.

Next time, I will introduce you to my older sister, Ginny and her family.

I heard on the weather today the "s" word tonight.  I'm not happy!  It's cold and a little drizzley here today - the sun will peak out every once in a while.

TTFN - Babs 

Need vs. Want

I spent some time this morning reading some of my blogs.  (One of my favorite things to do these days).  I came across a blog that referenced a wall print for sale by a friend of hers.  It caught my eye.  I thought,  "hmmmm...that would look really good in our bedroom."  First reaction, get the credit card out and order it up.  Here it is:  what do you think?  Nice, huh?

 So, my point is I need to take time and.....pause.  Is this a need or a want?  Well, of course, it's not a need - it's definitely a want.  I have had the bad habit of buying so many things on impulse.  In the past few weeks, I have taken on the challenge of emptying shelves in the basement, laundry room, kitchen cupboards.  There are so many things I purchased, well just because I could and just because I thought I "needed" them.  Like the pasta machine, the FoodSaver, the endless decorating items.  First it was the geese phase, then the cow phase, then the red kitchen, on and on and on.  What determines a "want" worthy of purchase?

Now that we are on somewhat of a "fixed" income, it is time for me to re-evaluate my spending patterns and really stop and think about things first.  Does it really make sense to make a purchase.  Is it impractical or necessary?  I thought I was getting pretty good at it then, WHAM, there I go again.  I look back this past month or two and I bought several things that now, I'm saying.....what the hell you were thinking..,,,,it was simply impulse.

What about you?  Do you buy on impulse or do you really think things through?  How do you go about discipling yourself?  Any tips?

It's a gloomy day here - looks like rain.  I have been thankful for the abundance of sunshine we have had and the great temperatures.  Our yard is in tip top shape - the leaves are raked, the lawn cut down, the flowers all cut back, yard furniture put away.  All that's left is wrap the bushes with burlap and clean out the gutters (I should say that's all that's left for the hubby to do).

Enjoy your day - TTFN - Babs

VOTE 2010

Good God - I am sure glad today is here!  No more slamming, trash  mail, annoying phone calls, and endless, meaningless commercials.

Now we can be bombarded with Christmas!

TTFN - Babs

Scones

I must admit I love scones.  I have tried to make them time and time again.  Failure!  They always turn out like hard rocks...oh so dry.

I saw, on one of my blogs that I follow, that the savvycityfarmer was making scones and she stated they were wonderful.  So I boldly emailed her and asked if she would share the recipe.  Surprise - she did.  I have a new friend!  It was taken from The Joy of Baking.  I tried them out and yes,,,,,they are darn good.

Stop by for a cup of coffee and a scone - I'd love to chat!

Ready to go in the oven

 Cranberry Orange Scones

TTFN - Babs