A SURPRISE WEDDING! AND TWO SHALL BECOME SEVEN!

WOW!!

Nothing like giving the

FAMILIES of the 

BRIDE & GROOM

a surprise!

Everyone was told that the party

was an honorary fete for Glen's 

25 years of service with the
FIRE DEPT

and an

ENGAGEMENT PARTY

to follow the 

honorary presentation.

LIAR, LIAR,

PANTS ON FIRE!!

When people walked in the door

here is the sign that greeted them.

This was made by Tara's oldest daughter-

ALANA---

this girl that has lots of creativity.

The next clue was the "altar"-

My new son-in-law

and my daughter are both

super-talented and artistic....

a match made in Heaven.

Tara did all the florals with help

from her sister and a friend.

Two little nephews and a niece

carried/tossed flowers down the "aisle".

Tara looked beautiful

In spite of the fact that she

was unable to wear the 

gown she had commissioned to have made

for the wedding, (long story-don't ask),

she bucked up at the last minute

and ordered a dress that

worked for her.

Her dad (MyHero) married them.

That is my WHITE HAIR on the left-

with CJK (ringbearer)

on my lap -not a wiggle out of him

as he watched the wedding unfold.

Afterwards, during the presentation

of newly wed husband and wife,

Glen gave a very emotional speech.

He was adopted and

found his birth mom 2 years ago.

Both  moms were right in the front and 

get along beautifully.

He also recognized his ex-wife, Sue,

the mother of his boys.

He thanked her for 

her part in his life and

paid tribute to what a good mother 

she has been to their boys--

 a testimony to the fine man

he is.

There was a first dance....

And a sweet moment where both had

something to quench their thirst.

Our friend, Jessica, 

sent me all these pictures 

this morning.

THANKS, JESS!!!

She is the one to the right 

and my other daughter, Mimi,

shows off her red head on the left.

What a blessing to have Tara's 

high school friends attend-

Rachel to the far left- her hubby,

Jessica (blond)

Mimi and my youngest son, Ryan,

Kristen and Jess (in front) taking the selfie.

It was a wonderful, wonderful night.

However, as much as I would like to

SIT ON MY BUTT ALL DAY-

I am off to pick up coffee for everyone

and help with cleanup.

ANOTHER SURPRISE!!!

oh wait....

NO SURPRISE THERE!

When the professional photos come through

I will share some of those with you, too....

and you might even see one of me if

they do enough photo-shopping so that 

I look like Loni Anderson....

just sayin'------

Have a wonderful blessed Sunday.

Where are those blogging friends

when you need work done?

Clean up crew volunteers?

ANYONE? ANYONE? ANYONE?

THINKING ABOUT DECORATING FOR FALL-YEP---STILL THINKING

I am one of those weird people

(..I hear those of you that KNOW me..)

Anyway, I am one of those weird people

that STILL keeps notebooks of ideas.

Yeah, yeah--I know all about

Pinterest and the internet but

there is something satisfying to me

about sitting down and looking through a

BOOK OF IDEAS.

I have one notebook for each season..

(well- Christmas has 3 or 4 binders)

These are all I loose leaf 3 ring binders

filled with page protectors full

of inspirations and ideas.

Being as it IS Fall now..

I pulled my

PUMPKIN COLORED

notebook out.

Yes! They are colored for each Season-

White For Snow/Winter.

Red For Christmas.

Pink for Little Girl Ideas.

Blue For Little Boy Ideas.

Yellow For Easter Ideas.

Green For Gardening/Outdoor Ideas.

And a slew of white ones with

typed cover inserts.

Well, you get the picture.

But for Fall

(and Halloween)

I dug out the Pumpkin Colored binder.

Here are a few of the images I have saved.

These are pictures of magazine pictures

so don't expect award winning 

photography on my part...ok...

no whining about it either.

I have always loved window boxes..

and I like the earthy simplicity

 of this one.

and a  white pumpkin surrounded by Fall gatherings...

A peek at a birdbath that is

Closed for the Season

(poor birds)

And the path of pumpkins

that leads you through an arbor..

And brings you home to this..

A place to spend an afternoon,

or an evening,

or a life time.

I have had these images for many years

and don't know WHERE they are from...

but Thank You to the people

that photographed these.

Now..

Please excuse me..

I am headed to Starbucks...

I hear they have a

NEW COFFEE..

(edited to add-new for the 

FALL SEASON-it's been around for a few years)

I'll pick one up for my daughter..

cuz I don't do sugar...

Can you say..

Pumpkin Spice Latte?

Now wipe the drool off your chin

and get busy (did I SAY you were lazy)?!

Hmmm...would that be what they mean

by the pot calling the kettle black?

You KNOW you need to get ready for Fall!

I do, too...

(if you are already done I DON'T want to know about it-m'kay...like I don't feel bad enough already?!)

Have a wonderful mid-week day & evening!

A QUOTE ? YEP! A QUOTE-AND THAT'S ALL FOLKS!

My lovely friend, Sheri,

over at 

Red Rose Alley
suggested this would make a
good quote.

So, I thought I would post it
here for you.
I believe this is
especially relevant to those
of us that are downsizing
and trying to adjust and adapt
to the changes.

Just thought I would share it
with all of you.

Hope you all have a
WONDERFUL WEEKEND!

NO INTERNET FOR TWO WEEKS? NO CABLE? NO TV? WHAT THE WHAT?

Yes! It's true.

I am moving this weekend

into a brand new place.

It is lovely 

BUT

there is 

NO SERVICE AVAILABLE

there for at least two weeks.

I won't mention any names

about why we won't have service sooner...

but it wasn't me

SO---

If you come looking for me

you might find me

doing something really weird

with my time...

like reading....

My internet shuts off at midnight tonight...

no cable, no internet, no phone---

sigh....what did we do back in the

OLD DAYS?

I will try to pop in from the office

when and as I can....

but I have a tough boss-

so not sure how often that will happen.

Meanwhile, I will be 

Love you all-

I promise I WILL be back!

RIP IN MY DEAR OLD "BEAR"

A wonderful man

has left this earthly realm.

I am sure that by now

he is singing with the angels....

and what a voice he had.

Barry Christensen 

died as he lived,

peacefully and with joy in his heart.

(shown here with his beatutiful daughter, Beckie)

While heaven is richer,

our world is poorer.

He was connected to our family

on a deep level.

While we are glad he is beyond

all earthly pain and suffering,

our hearts are heavy with the loss.

I hope he knows somehow

how much joy he brought to 

everyone with a voice that was

unequaled to any other I have

ever heard personally.

God speed, Barry!

Forgive the tears because I know 

your mission

was to spread joy~

SOMEBODY STARTED PRE-SCHOOL TODAY & SOMEBODY GOT GLASSES!

These are the times I miss

because I live several hours

away.

How cute is this?

Little Miss Bright Eyes!

She goes to a Christian pre-school

and is just delighted to be there.

Now- Here's the funny part.

SHE might be delighted

BUT

look at the little girl's face

as she is looking at Anna.

is that funny, or what?

AND

Not to be outdone--

CharlesInCharge

got glasses!

Mimi said he took them 

off and put them on about

ten times 

as he gauged the difference

between blurry and crisp vision.

Off they go for another year

of school adventure.

They look like Irish lads,

don't they?

And WHAT, pray tell,

is Mama Mimi,

the beautiful Irish colleen,

doing with all her

FREE TIME

now that the kids are in school?

Why-she is drinking wine 

and taking selfies with

Miss Peggy Sue.

As you can plainly see,

she is a 

VICIOUS WATCHDOG!

Don't you just feel sorry

for Mimi?

Look how sad she looks!

NOT

Meanwhile, I am still in the process of

Purging & Packing.

If I don't show up in a day or so

send someone to search for me

among the boxes and packing paper.

I may have taped myself in a

box somewhere!

Whew- here is ONE job I 

won't have to do this year!

I hate raking!

I thought it might be easier to MOVE--

I was wrong!

Have a great week!

HAPPY SUNDAY TO YOU!!!

Good Morning!

Up to another day of 

PURGING & PACKING!

I will get the 

Pick Your Favorite Table

results tallied today

and posted tomorrow.

Have two grands sleeping

in various spots here this morning.

Going to be a warm, humid

wonderful day here~

Hope YOUR DAY is 

wonderful, too!

~Love to you~

Just A Quick Link to The Real Estate Blog

Good morning!

If you haven't signed up to 

follow me at

KOS Realty Group 

yet--I would love it if you did.

You might even find a bit

of my wacky humor there!

You know me!

Here's a little blurb

about first a first time buyer.

Click on the picture or below it for the link.

https://kosrealtygroup.blogspot.com/2018/08/selling-to-first-time-buyer.html

Thanks so much-

back soon with details

of what is happening

in our lives!

Have a GREAT week!!!

BEGGING FOR SOME HELP HERE!!! A FAVOR PLEASE!

As most of you know by now,

I went back to work full time

with my son in a newly created

REAL ESTATE BUSINESS.

KOS REALTY GROUP

While the KOS family is 

in its 4th generation

as business & property

owners and developers,

this is the first branching out

into public real estate.

KOS REALTY GROUP

is finally a reality.

So---I am IT for the time 

being when it comes to 

office work, follow up, etc.

I did not renew my license

but I am a broker's assistant

and can do all the pre-work 

and follow up to a sale, listing, 

or project.

I promised that I would

start a 

REAL ESTATE BLOG.

~and~

I did-with many thanks to 

Linda My Fairy Blog Mother! 

She is just a tremendous source

of information and so very helpful

and creative.

This will be a different kind

of real estate blog.

This blog is not all numbers

and BORING statistics.

This blog will have

customer profiles (if they want it),

financial information, interest rates,

sales info, customer recipes, 

staging before-and-afters,

(yeah- I get to play a bit with this job)

and current trends

We don't want to miss out on those

trends, do we?

AND

Here's where I need the help!

Because I want my son to

think I know what I am doing

could you please pop over and 

sign up to follow or maybe leave

a comment?

The first feature is about 

the first house that my son sold

as a brand new realtor.

Long time followers might

even recognize a face or two in there!

Bear with me-

the blog is a work in progress

and it will get better!

Thank you so much.

You guys/gals are 

THE BEST---

but you already know that.

Click here to see the new blog!

A PRAYER REQUEST-FOR SYLVIA & HER HUBBY, CURTIS

Like many of us bloggers,

as we age,

unexpected health issues

visit us.

Sylvia, 

A Grandma's Blessing

has asked for prayers

for her husband's health.

She does not want to go 

into detail at this time

but would like prayers

for him.

This was taken on their

50th Anniversary.

And-as you pray for Curtis,

please pray for Sylvia's

PEACE OF MIND

as she tends her husband.

Being a caregiver is

NOT EASY

and not for the 

faint-of-heart.

So, if you could just take

a moment and wing

a little prayer up,

I would be grateful...

and so will Sylvia.

If you are 

NOT A PRAYING PERSON

please send healing thoughts

and well wishes their way.

Thanks so much.

You are all

THE BEST BLOGGING FRIENDS.

I am blessed to have you

as part of my life.

I will pop around your blogs

as I can later today.

SOME VERY SAD NEWS-MARY-MY DOGS MY GARDEN AND MARY

Yesterday, Sunday,

I felt compelled/driven

to make contact with my friend,

Mary F.

Her blog, 

My Dogs My Garden & Mary

has not been active

for a while.

I was in contact with her

at least once a week

until a few weeks ago.

She has had several health issues

in the past few years-

heart issues and COPD.

However, she was a bright spirit 

and full of life.

The last time I talked to her she was

scared because she was having

so much trouble breathing

and they wanted to do a procedure

on her heart.

Yesterday, I was determined to 

contact her.

Her phone was disconnected

and I left a message for her son

(I think I have the right number)

on his phone.

Lastly, I went to her FB page

and starting visiting contacts

that I thought looked her age.

I found one that had a picture of

herself with Mary.

I sent her a message.

This morning,

I heard from her.

Mary passed away YESTERDAY

while I was searching for her.

Do YOU think WE are not connected

by some force beyond this earth?

I will miss Mary----a lot.

I hope someone takes her two pups in

that she loved so much.

She also had a roommate and I am

sure the roommate is reeling

with all of this, too.

Please pray for her son, Shaun,

and her granddaughter, Kelly.

They were the most important

people in her life.

I am comforted knowing that she is

NO LONGER STRUGGLING

to breath.

Although my heart aches I 

know she is no longer in pain,

no longer anxious, and

no longer struggling.

"A death is not the extinguishing of a light

but the putting out of the lamp

because the dawn has come."

RIP, dear Mary, you are in my heart!

CHOCOLATE GRAVY???!!! YOU BET!!! CARB FREE!!!

Way back in the 

DARK AGES OF BLOGGING

we did a lot of fun things.

We shared projects,

we shared ideas,

we oohed and aahed over kids

and grandkids

AND 

some of us posted recipes.

I posted this recipe soon after I started blogging.
I think dear 

bj @ Sweet Nothings
thought she had died and gone to Heaven
when she made this the first time.

If you have never tried it-well-
you have missed a real treat.

Chocolate Gravy

is  really a Southern dish
and I live in the Midwest.
However, I think I am a

Dixie girl at heart

cuz I love all things South.

While living down there

 I developed a taste for

grits-ummm.hmmmm..

with lots of REAL butter

and salt and pepper please.

AND a taste for
CHOCOLATE GRAVY.

Now, if y'all want you can

go ahead and slave over

the biscuit part OR

you can buy Bisquick.

I choose the latter course.

I suppose you could even

lower yourself to buying those

biscuits in a tube...but I'm

not that far down yet!;>)

(sorry all you tube openers)

Anyway, bake yourself up

some biscuits.

and then stir up this...

And pour it over those
biscuits and you will have

a feast fit for a king..

or in my case,

a Queen...

Oh..enjoy..enjoy..

At least once!  And if you can

still do your zipper up you

can have some more

tomorrow~

You're welcome!

Did I mention that this

was always one of

SweetCheeks

very favorite recipes 

when she was little?

Go figure!

Here is Paula Deen's version:

Chocolate Gravy

1/3 stick butter

2/3 cup sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/3 cup cocoa

2 cups whole milk

Heat butter in a cast iron skillet over low heat.

 Mix in sugar, flour and cocoa. 

Slowly pour 1 cup of milk into the skillet and 

whisk well to remove lumps.

 Whisk in remaining milk, stirring constantly, 

until mixture is thick,  being careful not to scorch. Serve hot over biscuits.

And, pluhleeeze- 

DO NOT let your kid

lick the plate

and put it back in the cupboard.

Let the dog do it.

source

I hope you all have a 

wonderful Sunday.

As for me,

I will be wearing my 

stretchy skirt so I can have

TWO helpings of 

CHOCOLATE GRAVY.

Oh- Yeah-
By the way---
I might have lied about the
CARB FREE PART.
Sorry 'bout that sucker!