MamaBearNo1's Xanga

Frugal weddings and other tidbits.

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:28:51 GMT

Wow. This summer has flown by. In July, my duaghter was married and we perpared for a very frugal but beautiful wedding. My husband built a simple arbor for her to be married under. We decorated it with flowers from a craft store.

The reception was at a Senior's Center. We decorated the tables with white tablecloths (form the Dollar store), found inexpensive rose petals and strew those along the middle of the table. Bought small tea lights and holders in her colors. Nana made little cell phone holders which we placed on the tables with disposable cameras there for people to take pictures. And the favores were a Hershey Kiss and Hershey Hug in a white plactic spoon, covered with tulle and wrapped with a tiny red wire rose. The Dj was a friend and the music was what she chose and put on a cd. Tghe dinner was catered by a local barbeque joint. The only thing I would change is the drinks. She said she wanted just some soda in a big ice filled cooler, but I wanted something more special, so we made punch... big mistake. I spent the whole wedding either making punch, refilling glasses, refilling the punch bowl. Next time I would spend the extra money just so I didn't have to run myself ragged.

The photographer was a friend, but as of now, we haven't seen any of the formal pictures. Thank goodness my daughter in law, Jen is a fledgling photographer and she took beautiful pictures.

Happy Father's Day!

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:25:27 GMT

To all of the fathers out there - have a great day!

It isn't easy being a father - a rather thankless job at times. And then there are other times when it couldn't be better...

As your kids grow up and leave to make their own way in the world, you hope that you instilled in them the values that you feel are important.

You hope, that as adults, your children will outgrow their differences and be happy for each other's accomplishments, and joys.

You pray that they realize what sacrifices you made in order for them to have a good life... maybe not as great as you wished it to be, but the best that you could give them...

So, to my husband, the most patient, loving, self-sacrificing man in the world...

Happy Father's Day... you did a great job!

Mother's Day Weekend

Mon, 11 May 2009 15:28:46 GMT

Friday night Jim and I traveled to Pittsburgh because Brandon was going to be there with Acquire the Fire. I was very glad I was there in time to hear Nick Vujicic - a 25 year old man without any arms or legs... truly an inspiration to all. When he told us to look into his eyes and see that he is truly happy, it touched me.

After the program was over for the night, we went to Brandon's hotel and then walked a few blocks to a pizza parlor and had a late night dinner and talked. After we went back to the hotel, we stood int he parking lot and talked some more. It was great to connect with him.
I will see Brandon more this year than in the last 6 years! First he and Jen came up for Thanksgiving, then this weekend, and we will see them at Bethany's wedding... I love it!

We had our sign language program (Silent Hands) on Saturday and everything went without a hitch - a few mistakes, but that is to be expected. There were 13 of us performing - 2 songs had all of us on the tiny stage together. We had a standing room only crowd, (114 counting the camera person and his wife)
served a hotdog and salad dinner before and an ice cream social afterward. Everyone seemed to have a great time.
We have a few followers from our church... I am afraid to say that people in our church don't come out much for special programs. That's hard for us ... to get people to help in the kitchen is difficult. However, my heartfelt thanks go to Sally, Sue, Mary Jane and Betty - they always seem to be the ones to volunteer for the difficult duty of kitchen work.
Most of the people that came were from 2 other churches in the area, and family of the young people we had join us, so we are touching other people's lives.

I am not sure, but this may be the last time Mariann will be with us signing. That will be a great loss.
I hope that she will be able to sign in our church one more time as she has a beautiful song that has to do with communion she signs and it looks beautiful. Her hands are very expressive.
Had I known, or been told that the choir director/organist was off for a few weeks for knee surgery, I would have volunteered to have Silent Hands perform an anthem. But I wasn't aware of the change, and no one approached me about it.

I had a great Mother's Day. I received flowers from Jim, and from Mariann(she also gave me 2 gift cards ). Bethany called and Brandon texted. Jim took Nana and I out to an Italian Chop House for dinner, then we popped into McDonald's to see Mariann, pick on her a bit, and have dessert (the McCafe Mocha is delicious!) (Bethany sent flowers, but I didn't get them until Wednesday - I don't know when they arrived, Nana put them on her table and forgot they were there.)

Now that the Silent Hands program is over, I have to get to work with fencing, and moving the larger animals around, clean the barn, the chicken coop, etc. Yesterday I was trying to get a hold of a duck when she headed down the mountain. Knowing she wouldn't walk back up, I had to chase her down to the creek. This is quite a ways down a very steep mountain with a lot of underbrush ( thank goodness it isn't in full growth yet). My dog Duke stayed with me the whole time... but he hasn't been taught to herd anything, so he was just there for moral support. After the duck was finally caught, I then had to head back up the mountain, duck in hand... much harder going up than down. I was thinking how many times the kids worked together when chasing an animal... being by myself made me realize that I need to get Duke trained to take place of the kids!

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:33:59 GMT

Wow, time seems to go faster and faster as we get older. I look back at my children and remember the sweet times when they were so little. My son was married 2 years ago, and now, my oldest daughter is getting married. My youngest daughter is considering the Air Force, but won't go until after her sister's wedding...

http://www.highlonesomeranch.com/FirstYearOnTheRanch.htm

Brandon and Jen

Bethany trying on dresses (this is not the one she chose)

I have been truly blessed with my children. They are lucky to have each other (whether they know it or not), and Jim and I are very proud of their accomlishments...

... But a small part of me wishes they were still little ones at home. *sigh*

Monday, February 09, 2009

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 23:51:42 GMT

Has Spring arrived? No, not really, but the thaw is a nice change of pace after all the cold cold weather everyone has been having. The schools are probably happy for the weather -they have had almost 14 snow days... These West Virginians just can't take the cold and snow... they think they are from the South!

I have been making soups and stews in the crockpot. Winter is a time of warm, comfort foods. I have been adding bits and pieces to my 2 books... but it is slow going. I never seem to have the time to really sit down and write.

A friend of Mariann's is a manager at a local motel and he has allowed me to come in and swim in the pool for exercise. I love to swim, so this is such a treat for me.

I will be raising labradoodles and shepadoodles again this year. We have added a new sire. A beautiful cream poodle we have named Duke.

We have a few litters of dachshunds we are finding homes for. Mariann has been raising them since she was 11 http://www.treasurehuntdachshunds.com/DachshundPuppiesAvailable.htm

The ducks and chickens are enjoying the warm weather... The tom turkey's head is about waist high to me. He wants to get out. We had some trouble earlier... one of the labradors decided she wanted the turkey for her own. I caught her just in time. The turkey was gasping and had turned blue, but finally caught her breath and her skin turned red again. She is doing fine now.

The rabbits are growing. Mariann says I feed them too much and they are too fat to breed... but I look at their sweet little faces when I am in the barn and I have to give them some extra...

Well, I am going to enjoy this weather, for I know it won't last too long. And then it will be back to frozen water buckets and maybe I'll just get some fresh bread made - not good as I am on a diet... and who can resist a steaming slice of fresh baked bread from the oven with butter melting into it??? Makes me want to bake some right now.

Merry Christmas!

Sat, 20 Dec 2008 00:02:52 GMT

Yes, I am one of those that do not want to say Happy Holidays, except to my Jewish friends. To everyone else, Merry Christmas!

Oh my gosh... During November we had 10 inches of snow fall before Thanksgiving... then it was warm. Brandon and Jen came up from Texas and missed the snow... It was good to have them

Then the rain came! So much. The mud is so annoying. I had my Silent Hands program the second Friday in December and again, we had a snowstorm. Schools have been closed at least 4 times so far.

Now the rain has come and come... hard to get a Christmas feeling when it is so muddy.

Haven't put up any decorations in the house yet. I get so carried away with Silent hands and the show that I don't have time for anything else. Next thing I know it is December 13th and I am just starting to get things done... like shopping (which isn't finished yet!) The pressure I put on myself from November to the Silent Hands program is too much... my nerves are always shot by the time show night comes. My friend Marilyn made the Spaghetti Dinner for 75, totally by herself... and she has been having a lot of trouble with a foot she broke last year... I am so thankful that she took over that part of it... Mariann did the programs for everyone the day of our show. I am also thankful to her for stepping up to the plate, even if it meant that she was late arriving at the church and stressed out. Jackie helped me decorate the Fellowship Hall and get everything ready. Amy's mom took care of the 10 5th graders that were in the show with us...

Bethany and Ryan were down for Thanksgiving and will be down for Christmas. He is a very sweet guy and we have enjoyed having him visit.

Hope everyone has a great New Year's.

I'm voting Democrat because...

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 23:58:30 GMT

This about sums it up...

I'm voting Democrat because I'm way too irresponsible to own a
gun, and I know that my local police are all I need to protect
me from murderers and thieves.

I'm voting Democrat because I love the fact that I can now marry
whatever I want. I've decided to marry my horse.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe oil companies' profits of
4% on a gallon of gas are obscene but the government taxing the
same gallon of gas at 15% isn't.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe the government will do a
better job of spending the money I earn than I would.

I'm voting Democrat because freedom of speech is fine as long as
nobody is offended by it.

I'm voting Democrat because when we pull out of Iraq I trust
that the bad guys will stop what they're doing because they now
think we're good people.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe that people who can't tell
us if it will rain on Friday CAN tell us that the polar ice caps
will melt away in ten years if I don't start driving a Prius.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe that business should not
be allowed to make profits for themselves. They need to break
even and give the rest away to the government for redistribution
as THEY see fit.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe liberal judges need to
rewrite the Constitution every few days to suit some fringe
kooks who would NEVER get their agendas past the voters.

I'm voting Democrat because my head is so firmly planted up my
a-- it's unlikely that I'll ever have another point of view.

'A Liberal is a person who will give away everything they don't
own'

- William F. Carling -

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:35:26 GMT

What a summer and fall we have had. Jim and I are building an addition on the house for my mother. She is buying everything and paying the bills so we can build it for her. Although we figured out that we have probalby saved over $50,000 in labor costs (just by comparing labor building the blocks and what Lowe's charges per window or door) we have not made any money to save for the lean winter months.

We started the beginning of July and here it is October. Other than the basement blocks, Jim and I (OK - mostly Jim) have done everything...

It is 32X28 with a large Master bedroom/bath and the other side is a large family room. It is only half done - the side that Nana is on. But she is happy, is warm (my gosh 85 degrees in there!) and has her own place. She has a small fridge and coffee pot. WE are waiting for a tankless water heater to arrive for hot water. We still are using cisterns to collect water, and the water stove heats it up, but there is a lot of water that can be wasted between the stove and the house if you are just running it waiting for the hot water to finally come through. So the tankless water heater will be helpful in saving our water source.

I would to move our kitchen over there and make her place the main house. We'll see. Jim has to get back to work... Thanksgiving is coming and all of my kids will be home. Brandon hasn't been here since he was 17 - that's about 5 years. It will be fun having him see the results of our work here. Bethany hasn't seen it yet either. She helped Jim figure out the rafters for one side of the house, but that is all she has seen. They will be surprised.

So, if you haven't heard from me in a while... that is the reason. We are up early and finish dinner about 9pm. By then I am too tired to get ont he computer, other than to check my mail.

Happy Birthday

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:11:22 GMT

Happy Birthday to my Awesome Husband ... the one that just turned 55 so he can order from the Senior Menu...

and the one that never hesitated when his mother-in-law came to live with us the day before his birthday....

I chose well...

Doing what we should have done 15 years ago! When we were younger!!

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:51:13 GMT

Well we have started on an addition to the house. My mother is moving in with us and our house is the size of a cabin... so we need a space for her to have her own privacy - bedroom, bathroom and a great room for all of us. But first we decided to put it on top of a basement as we do not have one and every time we build we wish we had one... so we took the giant step.

Now we can't walk off of the porch easily - there is a narrow path... We have a small plot of land and a lot of dirt to move... no where to put it! We have piles all over the front area of the house. The driveway's turn around area is completely different, fences have been taken down... and because of the hard sandstone Jim has had to dig through, an 8 hour job has taken 4 days!

So we won't be ready for Nana when we go get her next week...

And I wonder why I am not sleeping!