Christmas Around My House, Decmber 2013

Back Porch is screened in and enclosed.The  Old Green Dresser I salvaged from a field. Decorated the porch for Christmas

                                               More back porch

                                         More back porch

 

 Still more back porch, Table top water fountain in corner, so peaceful and relaxing. I love to sit out there weather permitting. Today is a very rainy and unusually warm day so I enjoyed the back porch while eating lunch.Large wooded area behind the house so it is very private, all property that goes with my house.

                                        Bucket of greenery, back porch.

                                            Back porch still!

                                          Back porch.

                      Back Porch.Old wagon wheel and pump from my dear old Dad's house, God Bless his soul.

Christmas Around My House, December 2013

 My Baby Curly!!! Had him about 15 years. He waits at my bedroom door waiting for me to let the dogs out and to get his morning hug and treat.He throws his head back and wants hugs every day, About ready to have the Santa beards sheared off again..LOL.

                                        I have him SOOOO Spoiled!

          And yes he knows how to open the door with his lips!!! Much to my SHOCK I discovered he could do that b/c he let himself in the kitchen one day!! So now I have to keep the back porch door locked.

                                        Hey sweet baby Curly!! I love you!!

Calico Show

                     My sweet Grandson Dustin was the greatest helper!!

                                 Meee...Ready for a LONG Day!

                                                               Part of the Booth

       Meeee again.. my grandson loves taking pics!! He's our little photographer..LOL

                                 Me with my two precious grand babies

My dear daughter Celena Jem such a great help always.. and my precious grand baby Brianna.

                                                        Part of Booth

                                                    More of Booth

October

                                             Part of Living room, a few Fall decorations.

  Cleo loves to sleep by my Favorite Gourd! Bought it years ago when Sandy and I went to the Olde Green Cupboard in Jacksonville.

 Dustin's Halloween Costume I made for him from a sheet and pillow case from Missions store. Going to dye it black, he wants to be the grim reaper.... go figure.

Miley's reaction to seeing Dustin.. Looks like she saw a ghost!! So until it is dyed black I guess Miley has seen a Ghost! LOL.

Biopsy

I had my biopsy procedure yesterday @ Archbold hospital in Thomasville., had a bad reaction to the topical anesthesia injection and had to have oxygen and the area biopsied is swollen and painful. They had also given me a tranquilizer and I have slept non stop almost since getting home yesterday so the whole rest of the day was a total wash out..  Still feeling a bit groggy.  Thank you FB and Blog friends for your prayers. I go back to the doctor Thursday for results.

Doc report for Today

And the beat goes on... went to the fourth doc today regarding this "lump" just below my ear..which he says is indeed a tumor and said some name for it which I could never begin to remember what he called it.. It has about doubled in size since the original scan according to the doc today. He told me I have an 80-20% chance that it isn't cancer but a good chance that this type is one that will turn cancerous eventually if left untreated. I go for a Biopsy @ hospital in Thomasville (about 30 minutes from here) in about a week and a half. He will know more then and what to do, said most likely will be having to go in and remove it...but that has not yet been determined so basically get the biopsy and see what it reveals.. I go back to him for a follow up three days after biopsy. Normally I do not care for men docs @ all, they so often come across as cocky and uncaring in my opinion.. @ least most of the ones I have seen over the years with the exception of very few but this one today was so kind and compassionate and very comforting so I felt @ ease very quickly knowing he is on this and appears to be a very knowledgeable doc who is going for answers. ...I appreciate all the prayers and well wishes from so many of you my FB  and Blog friends.. thanks so much for caring. Nice to know people care and pray for you. Thanks soo much everyone. Blessings.. Carmen.

Would appreciate prayers....

Would really appreciate your prayers. I have an issue I have been dealing with for probably a couple months now. Been sent to three different docs and now on to a 4th scheduled for Oct 1st. I have a tumor growing right below my ear/neck area and also a knot over my eye on the same side, they believe it is all in the lymph node, CT scan showed tumor. The past couple days I can tell it has enlarged even more. They are supposed to biopsy it when I go in Oct 1st. I am really nervous about this. Also my dear brother in law Bob Margraf, (my sister's hubby), is currently in the hospital in Bradenton, Florida where they still live. He is stage 4 cancer, just recently diagnosed. They are trying an experimental drug on him that may be able to stop the cancer. I called and talked with him this afternoon. I was down to see them this past June when I also @ that time made my last trip to Sandy's house. She and Todd actually had come up to my house and picked me up, I spent a couple days with Sandy and then my brother came up from Bradenton, Florida (my home town) and took me on to Bradenton to visit them and my sister and brother in law who I stayed with while there. Seems when it rains it pours anymore. Prayers appreciated. Blessings. (Below.. pic of my brother in law earlier this summer. He has always been in military and then law enforcement)

A Picture paints a thousand words.....

Sandy Schmidt's Memorial Service 9-10-13

  It was so hard to get through the service.. my heart was breaking to say the final GoodBye to my BFF of  almost 20 years.. I love you Sandy.. Always will.... I got to hold Baby Chloe... Sandy's precious new grand baby.

 The doll's and flowers sat around the sanctuary at Sandy's Memorial service.. her sewing machine, her favorite throw quilts, dolls she had made and a wonderful smelling tart warmer burning and pictures of her family.. it was all definitely Sandy. Todd did a beautiful job in making it a tribute to Sandy and her life.

 The prayer quilt that Sandy kept on her during her hospital stay and was on her when she took her last breath. It draped the main table in front of the sanctuary along with pictures of her, Todd and their daughter Samantha and of course baby Chloe..Sandy's brand new and only grandchild.

 My daughter Celena Jem,  Sandy's hubby Todd and me @ the luncheon that was served after her memorial service.

                            Celena holding Baby Chloe after Memorial service..

 I stopped by Sandy's house on our way out of town heading back home after the service. Sandy's cat Crybaby, came out meowing @ me when I got out of the car. I picked her up and held her. She seemed to know what was going on. I wanted to say goodbye for now....

        Sandy's daughter Samantha, her hubby Todd and my daughter Celena Jem after the service.       Celena had been Samantha's Maid of Honor @ her wedding a few years ago. Samantha and Celena have known each other most of their lives.

Twice my Life changed drastically forever.....The day I met you.. and the day I lost you. I want to dedicate this to you Sandy.. my BFF ...... I love you.To My Bff Sandy Schmidt. who lost her battle with cancer two days ago...9-5-13.. I dedicate this song to you, every word. I love you so much. I miss you.Oh God, I miss you Sandy.

My Greatest Loss

My dearest and Best Friend in the world , Sandy Schmidt, lost her battle to cancer about 40 minutes ago, 12:27 pm this afternoon. . I can not begin to say how I feel and the pain. She passed away @ Hospice House in Gainesville, Florida with her loving family around her. Oh dear God.. WHY??? She was the strongest person I ever knew.. just like her mother. A woman of great strength and courage. A beautiful wonderful person like no other. A heart of solid gold and a soul to match it. I miss you more than I could ever find words to say. My best friend in the world for almost 20 years, I cherish every second of it Sandy. I love you so much. Always and Forever you are in my heart and soul. Plz keep her family in prayer.

Oooookay.. why??

Last night I watched a pre season FootBall game.. Seahawks and Green Bay Packers. After it is over, I watch HGTV for a few minutes.. big mistake.. once I start watching House Hunters on there, I am hooked. Soo, I watch a couple moving from France to Denmark.. gotta see all three places the realtor shows them... okay, next episode comes on.. Got to see which place they pick so here goes another half hour...Now here we go with Hawaii Life!! So for next hour and half I am watching people looking @ beautiful places in Hawaii. Starting to get tired.. ok, going to go to bed.. but wait, here is another couple searching for a place in Hawaii and they have a million dollar budget so I have to see the beautiful places the realtor takes them to and then, well of course I have to watch and see which one they choose to buy!! So okay, I am going to bed.. no more of this.. look @ the clock and it is already  4 a.m.!!! I have watched how many couples now buying incredible homes in places I can not afford to even dream about and sat here until four in the morning doing that!! LOL... Why do I torment myself this way?? LOL.. : ( Big Sigh ) :    Guess that's entertainment folks!

Grand Babies ready for Halloween Already!!

 Dustin wants to be a Gansta! LOL And obvious what Brianna is going for...

 Cinderella and  a very ugly ganster!

 Miley just has to sit on everything new.. Celena brought my table back she borrowed for past couple of years and Miley always thinks everything is for him and his comfort. Guess he is right..LOL

                                                                  Celena and Brianna

                                                  Me and Fairy Princess Cinderella!

                              Okay, why didn't you two shave like I told you to this morning??!!!

Dear Sweet Sandy Schmidt.. In Gainesville Hospital.She is fighting that demon signet ring cell carcinoma and we are knowing GOD is healing her body and she will be home and back to normal!  This is a lovely prayer quilt she has on her. I was blessed to be able to tie a few knots on it Sunday and pray over it. I visited her a couple hours in ICU.. she was looking better and she is fighting hard. All prayers soo much greatly appreciated for her and her family. God Bless and heal my dear friend, in Jesus name, Amen Thank You Jesus.

Naturally Repair Wood With Vinegar and Canola Oil. So, for a super cheap, effective repair job use 3/4 cup of oil, add 1/4 cup vinegar. white or apple cider vinegar, mix it in a jar, then rub it into the wood. You don’t need to wipe it off; the wood just soaks it in.

TIP: Works really well on polished wood floors too!!!

Gainesville Hospital Visit 8/11/13 Sunday

 Todd with Dustin and Brianna (my grandbabies) outside the hospital in Gainesville yesterday. They went to the mall with their mom while I visited Sandy.

 Brianna wanted Todd to take a picture with her soo bad!

 Todd, Dustin, Brianna, and me outside the hospital.

 Dustin, Brianna and me @ Gainesville hospital.. they have an awesome water fountain going.. the kids wanted to swim in it.

 I just take the best pictures don't I..UGH!! But the kids look great!

My daughter Kelly and her two children.. my grand babies! This is the water Fountain outside the hospital where my BFF  Sandy Schmidt is currently at.

Visit with my Sister and Family

 At Sandy's house for a couple days on my way to Bradenton, she and Todd came to pick me up and took me to their house. Had a great but short visit.

 Date night. Had a delicious dinner out @ a steak house. We used to date 34 years ago!

 My sister, me, and my sisters best friend Phyllis... what a hoot!! That lady is a blast. We had just eaten @ the Panda Buffet. Best Chinese buffet I have ever eaten at.

 Leaving Saturday morn, me with my brother in law, Bob. Great guy. My sister is a lucky woman, he is so good to her.

 My sister and me. She is doing so much better but still a long way to go for her recovery from the extensive heart surgery  but all seems to be going well now. Love you sis!!

Awwww, how sweet.. my sister and her hubby. Had such a great time, hated to leave BUT.. can't stay for ever unfortunately.