Sunday, February 2, 2025

ASKING FOR PRAYERS FOR SWEET LITTLE LIZA

 I haven't done a 

PRAYER REQUEST 

in a long, long time.

However, one of the blogs I follow,

Tom The Backroads Traveler

has a little granddaughter named 

Liza.


                                       This was taken just before her surgery.

Liza is just 12 years old and was

diagnosed with oral cancer.

This past week she had major surgery

and faces a long road of ongoing recovery.

Tom, and his family,

 need all the support 

they can get.

You know as a parent, or grandparent,

you just feel totally helpless

when something like this happens.

You wish you could 'fix' life and

make it all go away.

We can't do that---but---

what we can do is

PRAY.

If you have access to a prayer chain

please add sweet little Liza's name.

If you remember, 

my hubby had 

Stage 4 head/neck cancer

 and was

given a 3% chance of survival.

You all put him on prayer chains

around the world and 

3 months later,

with radiation and chemo,

he was cancer free and remains

cancer free going on 9 years.

I believe in the power of prayer

and I know many of you do, too.

So-please pray!

Thank you so much to all of you

that have been so faithful following me-

even though

I have not been nearly as active 

blogging

these past couple of years.

Y'ALL ARE THE BEST.


your photo name

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

HOW COLD IS IT TODAY? MINUS 8˚F RIGHT NOW-A HIGH OF MINUS 1˚F- BUT MY HEART IS WARM!

  It is COLD COLD COLD here.

What do you do on a cold day?

Well,
because I am too lazy 
to go out and walk
my usual 3 miles,
I decided to go through
some of my old magazines
and came across this one from
January/February of 2015,

Sadly, they have stopped publication
of this magazine.  
I had all of them from the first
issue forward.  
When I got rid of most of my old magazines,
I just could not bear to part with my
ROMANTIC HOMES MAGAZINES
but, finally, I donated
my whole collection to an old friend.
She told me she now wants to redecorate
her whole house.
Please pray for her husband
he kind of hates me now-lol
She loves romantic and so do I.
Romance is just kind of timeless,
isn't it?

Anyway--
Let's talk about the next holiday
VALENTINE'S DAY.

February is all about Valentine's Day  but-
I don't think you have to wait for 
Valentine's Day to make this for someone special.
 Pink Pearl Lady Cake
HERE is a similar recipe.

I thought the cover was just lovely.
Got your cake mess cleaned up from
baking that heart cake above?
Good!  Now then
 you can see the
PINK HOUSE
owned by 
It is softly sweet and livable.
You can find her on Pinterest by clicking on her name.

 Here's a little sneak peek at the Florida estate 
of a New York couple.
This home was designed by
By:Sarah Yoon/Mark Roskams/photographer
It looks like Florida, doesn't it?
You can find more 

Okay-Now-Doesn't the home of
just make you dream of warm summer days?
Even though we are freezing our butts off here.
I found her on Facebook.
You can find it by clicking on her name above.
Prepare to  have your mouth hang open for a while.

While your mouth is hanging open....
purse your lips a bit and 
BLOW HARD.
Then you can blow up balloons to put together
this beautiful garland
styled by  
photography-Shirlie Kemp
So-There you have it.
A few things I love in the old
2015 January/February Issue of
Romantic Homes.

Know what else I love?
You!
Thanks for following along here.
Here's how I am feeling about you this morning....
Lips still puckered up from the balloon blowing
are they?  Good!
Here's to you!

your photo name

Saturday, January 11, 2025

REFLECTING ON THE PAST-LOOKING FORWARD TO THE YEAR -2025

 Yesterday as I was thinking-

about this New Year I found

my mind wandering back to
the place where I was born
and raised,
Bradford County, PA.

I don't have many pictures
of my time there,
but I came across some
photos that stopped me in my 
tracks.

Someone working for Google Earth
took stunning photos from our
farm setting and they are posted
for the world to see.
This is taken right in front of
our house- headed North.
Our farm house would have
set to the left about 150'
from the road.

You can see the shed my 
father and neighbor built
in the 50's on the right-hand
side of the road.
I remember playing with the
cut off pieces of wood and
sifting the sawdust through
my fingers.

I walked that road many a thousand  
and one times.
I remember when my father planted
the elm trees on the left and
they were just saplings.
My brother owned the
 old farm property
until he passed.

From our kitchen window this 
is what we saw....
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
and
the graveyard I wandered in
just across the road to the right.

To the far left and just out of sight
are mountains and there
are seven counties visible on a clear day.

There used to be fences on both sides
of the road and the cows would be
pastured on the left side....
another road I walked thousands of
times as a child...one I only walk
in my memory today.

The old church is beautiful.

It's a replica of a larger European church
copied to the most minute detail inside and out.

I didn't go there because we were not
Catholic-but several members of the
families attended mass there.
I have many relatives buried in the
grave yard to the right.

You can never really go home again,
can you?
Yet, I do....in my dreams...
I remember the smell of ham in the
oven on a Sunday morning and
fresh baked biscuits on the sideboard.
There was always a pie or two
for dessert and 
GINGERBREAD for my father.

I remember laughter and love,
 flowing free and easy 
and covering us like a warm blanket.
But....there were also some sad times,
and trials and tribulations.

My parents have both
"gone home" now, 
as has my only brother/sibling.
leaving only myself 
to relive the farm memories.

Leaving me to create my own memories
for the children that will follow me.
Someday they, too, will
"remember when"
and I hope their memories
are as happy as my own.

Happy New Year 2025
to all of you-.
I hope you, too, can look
back and remember the 
good parts 
and that time has
dimmed whatever heartaches
and disappointments you have
encountered along life's path.
I wish you a year of 
Love and Sweet Memories.

I will be back soon with an
update on hubby's trip to 
Mayo and the results.
your photo name

Thursday, November 28, 2024

A THANKSGIVING POEM FROM ME TO YOU-

 

HAPPY BLESSED THANKSGIVING 

I pubished this a few years ago
but thought I would repeat it today.

Poetry has always come easy to me.
My cousins and I listened to a lot
of poetry growing up.
Both of our fathers read poetry to us
so it is second nature to me.

Are my poems perfect?
Nope- Not even close
 but they are heartfelt.
Here is the one I wrote a few years ago.

Thanksgiving

Oh! The memories of Thanksgivings past,
When I was just a child,
When the days spread out forever,
And I could just run wild.

I remember early morning sun
Upon the kitchen floor,
And father hurrying across the room
Going out the old screen door.

He would go to do the milking 
Then come  in to eat his fill,
Of Thanksgiving dinner lovingly prepared
In that house up on the hill.

My little grandmother always came,
Bringing the mincemeat pie,
I never ate a single bite of it
Cuz I didn’t want to die. (smiling)

My Uncle came along with her,
And another Uncle, too,
A cousin tagged in here and there,
When they had nothing else to do.

Oh! Then the years just marched along
And God took some family home,
The Thanksgiving table got smaller
As other members began to roam.

I never dreamed when I was a child,
That the day would come to be,
That the old homestead would all be gone
And the only family left would be me.

So, gather your family close, my friends,
As you celebrate -I say-
Remember to give Thanksgiving,
For the love & riches you have today.


By: D. Diana Kosmoski ©2017

I hope your day is 
FULL OF BLESSINGS
and for those that do not have family
to spend the holiday with
I wish you 
peacefulness  and  joy.
And, as you celebrate alone,
I'll celebrate with you in spirit......

Much love from me to all of you.
your photo name

Monday, November 25, 2024

THANKSGIVING TABLE-PICK YOUR FAVORITE RESULTS

 Thank you all so much

for playing along.

Ready for your results?

Here we go!


#1-CANDLES IN A ROW

GlutenFree blogger-she's worried about fire with all those candles.  Terri D- Is bringing a blanket to put out any resulting fire. I hope it's one of those fire resistant blankets that I see in all the ads.  Michele-(didn't pick so I picked for you--lol--that'll teach you), French Hutch-(same fate)

#2-DARK BEAUTY

Mad Snapper-will probably eat the chocolate candles and is a vegan hater-what's not to love about her?  Mevely-Reminds her of her trip to Tuscany-sweet dreams- Cecilia-please don't encourage Tom by laughing at his jokes.  Linda/Life&Linda-May be eating grapes while waiting. Sandie/Chatty, Jan/LowCarb, Unknown, Pam, Kris-can't beleive she chose COLOR on the table-my world is spinning- Kim/Exquistely, Missy, PennyC,  Racheld-here because she is sure that pumpkin souffle being served.

#3-GLITTERY GOLD & BLUE

Debra/SheWhoSeeks-likes the elegance of the table (please make sure you wear a bra this time, Debra), MA, Ron-is bringing his signature martinis-pretty sure we will have a mass movement to this table, Holly & Cindy.

#4-LEAF ME ALONE

Unknown-Thank you-Love you no matter WHO you are) Lynne-still recovering- I will serve you personally, Jan, Debby, DebbieN-It's okay to bring your new German Shepard-he can sit under the table and eat scraps, Jack & Sherry, Julie, Ann-here for mashed potatoes, Bless, Ginny H, Diane/LavenderDreams & Unknown#2-wants some dog lovin'.

#5-BABY BOO PUMPKINS

Cheryl K, Jeanie, Kay G, Pam S-She's here for the view but will probably eat anyway, Nellie, Janie Junebug, Lizabeth, BillieJo, ColoringOutsideTheLines, Tiffany, Judy C, & Diane H.

#6-A GLASS HALF FULL

Judy/GoldCountry, Latane, Jettie-Bringing her dog Bocephus--imagine what he might be like with a name like that---just sayin', Sabra, ShirleyK, Debbie F, Connie & Faye

#7-VEGETARIAN CENTERPIECE

Sandi-Feathers bothering her already-wants to sit with the dogs, Ellen, Lisa K, Sarah & Mary G.

THE DOG TABLE

Set especially for certain people like-TOM-who thinks there is no room for food on any of the tables, Bill- from Ireland- wants to sit with the dogs and, luckily, his wife, Shari, also picked the Dog Table...which I will say- Was NOT a choice but I aim to please!

I tried to make sure I got EVERYONE that picked a table.  If I missed your name, I apologize. Let me know and I will add you in.  I'm just human you know---a human with 2 crazy dogs that keep pawing the keys on my laptop, and a hubby that is waiting for breakfast in bed....yep...that's my life!


THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH

for playing along.  I needed to do this and touch base with all the lovely people I have come to know and love through blogging.

If I teased you please don't take offense. I don't know any better. It's how I operate. 

We are headed to Mayo for hubby's health issues and will be gone for about 2 weeks during December. What perfect planning, huh? Okay-I was being sarcastic.

I will be back to visit before then. I promise.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING WITH MUCH LOVE FROM ME TO YOU!

your photo name

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

PICK YOUR FAVORITE THANKSGIVING TABLE & A NEW FAMILY MEMBER

Several of you have reached out to me

via email and in the comments

asking for another

PICK YOUR FAVORITE~

Who knew y'all would enjoy this so much?

That being said-

Here we go:


So--jump right in and pick your favorite.

#1
CANDLES IN A ROW!!
or as I like to call it.;..
SET OFF THE FIRE ALARM WHEN LIT

Candles not your thing?
How about this?

#2
DARK BEAUTY
GRAPES AND EARTHTONES

#3
GLITTERY GOLD AND BLUE


#4
LEAF ME ALONE -I WANT TO EAT

#5
BRIGHT AND LIGHT 
BABY BOO PUMPKINS 

#6
A GLASS HALF FULL (OR EMPTY)

#7
A THOUGHT PROVOKING CENTERPIECE
FOR VEGETARIANS
Seriously?

So-There you have it!
You know the drill.
Pick ONE table! ONE!!!
Got it?!?
Pick your table and see who you are 
sitting with at the end of it all.

I love these-
It is so much fun to see 
WHO SITS WHERE!

And, in other news-
We have a new baby at our house.

Our little green-eyed 
COCO~the Cockapoo

We already love her...
Does Scruffy love her?
Sometimes!
Other times he turns his back
and ignores her!



TWO SWEET BABIES
in our lives at this point
give us a lot of joy~
We are blessed!





your photo name

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

I BELIEVE IN FARIES AND LITTLE PEOPLE-HERE IS PROOF THEY EXIST

 I grew up believing in

LEPRACHAUNS

and

LITTLE PEOPLE

YES. I. DID.

As I grew older I realized

I may have been hoodwinked

by one of my father's stories.

BUT THEN~

I found this on our property.

First I saw this tree.

I took it as a sign that the branch

that was crosswise was pointing

to another tree.

And it was!

Look what I found at the base of

the tree it was pointing at.


Is that cool, or what?


I told you it was cool!!!

You KNOW it is a FAIRY HOUSE, right?

I fell into a prone position to take a photo

of what was INSIDE this tree.

YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT!

HONEST!  You won't BELIEVE IT!!!!

Let's look through that hole!

Ready?

 Are you a believer now?

Huh?  Are you?

Is that the cutest little fairy house

you've ever seen?

Didn't I get a great shot

of the inside of that tree?

What do you mean 

YOU DON"T BELIEVE ME????

Well, as SweetCheeks would have said....

PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFTTTTTTTT!

Now she would just roll her eyes
and say....NANA!!!!!!

Our little SweetCheeks
has grown up~



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