2023 and Me! Julie Barefoot Blogging
When I was young and growing up in the south I loved to wear a flower in my hair. I was made fun of by most everyone. An ignorant Texas relative even asked if I had a plant growing out of my head? They tried to make me feel bad. But, then I moved to Hawaii as an adult and everyone wore a flower in their hair. I always knew there wasn’t anything wrong with me. I was just living in the wrong places.
Julie Lancaster-Whann
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Welcome to My 2023 Blog!
For some reason I am very happy about 2023. Don’t know why? I am usually very cautious about New Year’s. But, for some reason I am feeling pretty good about this one. I think it has more to do with awareness than anything else. The American people seem to be finally waking up to the atrocious realities of our country. That is a first step. An important step. Only then can change be made.
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Oh, And Speaking of First Steps….
Ahhhhh…..
These dogs do love a good massage!
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My Blogging Life In Florida
My life is simple. That’s how I like it. It’s just Gordon and myself and our two dogs, Spooky and Sparky.
For the most part we are homebodies. We love our home and our surroundings. We love our children and their partners. We love kayaking and canoeing, and going to the beach. We love cooking, cookouts, grilling, crafts, creating, blogging, and photography.
You are very welcomed here!
Julie Lancaster-Whann
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Out The Door
Veronica of The Archie’s Will Always be a Part of my Life
(Seeing as how I even named my daughter, Veronica.)
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I place here all my website updates to keep you informed.
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The Honu, (Hawaiian Sea Turtle)
Don’t you name your car?
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Barefoot Cookie Anyone?
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February 13, 2023
Happy Birthday to ME!
62!
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If you would like to check out:
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BLOG ENTRIES START HERE
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Blogging With Sparky and Spooky 🙂
(It’s not blogging without the two of them here.)
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January 2, 2024
Another New Year
Decorating my Homemade Kahlua Bottles
Usually, many celebrities on social media will offer up their lovely New Year’s messages of love, hope, visions for the future, inspirational quotes, advice, etc. But, not so much this year. Wonder why? I mean, their lives will be fine no matter what. For the rest of us however, the quality of our lives depends on who is in charge politically. When I am out and about I will sometimes test the waters of the people that I may come in contact with. I’m always very surprised at how ignorant many of them are. The thing is, some of these people are professionals in medicine or business. How are they so ignorant? What is wrong with their brains that they simply cannot connect dots?
Just Be Kind
I just want to vomit every time I hear that. “ Just be kind.” Try telling that to a Neanderthal male that just clubbed a woman over the head and is now dragging her back to his cave to use her as a sex slave? Just be kind! Uh, huh…
After all, that is what we are dealing with.
These people aren’t rational. They are incapable of reason. Their brains haven’t evolved enough for them to understand being KIND.
2024 is going to be a big year for our Nation politically. It could be the last time we will be allowed to vote. At least, those of us that haven’t been knocked off the voting roster so far.
It shocks me that there are so many ‘wafflers’ out there that don’t want to vote for Joe Biden because he’s so old. Yeah, I get that, but isn’t an old Joe Biden better than a psychopathic liar that will destroy our democracy? Or if Trump isn’t the nominee, then you would actually believe that any of those other GOP nominees would be a better option? What is the lure that haters in the GOP side have that seem to attract so many voters? I guess I just answered my own question?
There may come a time when I will have to delete all of my blogs, if the direction of my country goes the way I fear it may.
(I guess that you won’t be finding anything inspirational in my New Year’s message.) 🙂
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With Christmas over with, I have no desire to take down any decorations right now. I just don’t want to. Perhaps at the end of the month, or maybe even next month. I just don’t feel like it. They are beautiful to look at, and I’m just not ready.
I also don’t feel like doing very much with social media. Ever since Elon Musk took it over Twitter just isn’t as good. I used to post things that they seemed to generate some attention and that made me feel good to know that someone cared. That someone was interested. But now, not so much. Nobody really cares anymore about what I have to say, or post. And Instagram is just a bunch of white men with private accounts that seem interested in following me. Most of the time I will remove them. I have no earthly idea why they would care about some old woman like me?
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Too Much Going On Now
Something has to give. I just have too much going on now.
With Gordon working overseas for the foreseeable future, and with me being my Grand-daughter Isabelle’s main caregiver, and with me starting a new website about my cyber-stalker, and with me working with a man who works for a (3 letter agency) to help me with my cyber-stalker, I just don’t have the time that I used to. Something has to give.
I’m sure I’ll still post occasionally on social media, and I’m sure that I will create new things for the website, but just not as much as I used to. I have plenty to write about right now with past projects so that is what I want to do in my spare time. There are plenty of talented people out there that I doubt I will be missed very much. 🙂
I will start a new blog for 2024, and I hope to add some nice updates to it. I love blogging! I miss it! It’s just that social media takes up so much time and I don’t even think very many people even care anymore about anything that I post.
I believe that most people just see me as some old woman now and aren’t very interested. I get it, it’s the American way. 🙂
American’s have never actually valued the aged. I always did though. But, that’s me.
Everything does run it’s course. Oh, I’ll still be around, I hope! Just more inward, not so much outward. I do still have a website that I love to work on. And, I’ve got a new one I need to direct my attention to.
Good luck to all of you! We will all need as much luck as possible in this 2024.
Take care!
Julie
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December 25, 2023
Merry Christmas
The Christmas Dining Room
Hello. It’s been awhile. I hope everyone is doing well.
So, why am I blogging on Christmas Day? Why aren’t I spending this very special day with family or friends? Why am I all alone today? Well, I’m not actually alone, I’ve got Spooky and Sparky here with me. Also, I just did get off the phone with Gordon, who is working overseas and is 8 hours ahead of my time here in Florida. He opened his gifts in front of me via the phone. 🙂
I’m actually having a very nice day. It’s been raining all day, which I love! The weather actually reflects my mood. Not that my mood is sad or depressed, but I am a bit somber. But somber in a very peaceful way, as in contented, relaxed, satisfied. Just because I am “alone,” that doesn’t mean that I am lonely.
To me Christmas lasts all month long, from December 1st. to January 1st. It isn’t just one special day.
Working on a Christmas Project
Christmas to me is decorating the tree, planning my menu, doing the shopping, wrapping gifts, listening to Christmas music, baking cookies, cocktail sausages, sausage balls, and watching Christmas movies…. and speaking of which, I’ve got a marathon of Die Hard. and Die Hard 2 going off in back of me right now. Nothing says Christmas like Die Hard. 🙂
Actually, I had my Christmas Day on the 23rd. when I had my children and their families to come over for a big meal cooked by ME!
Veronica, Brodie and Isabelle
Uncle Brodie Holding his Niece
Veronica and Brian with Isabelle
Isabelle with her “Future” Aunt Mackenzie 🙂
(I bought Isabelle that cute little outfit.)
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I cooked the Christmas Dinner.
(Enjoying my day in pajamas.)
Me, Pretending to Carve a Ham
This was a lot of work for me, but I did it!
It’s not the actual cooking that is so bad, it’s all the prep work. And, not just prepping for a meal, but setting a table, picking out the right plates and platters, cutlery and glassware. Not to mention, cleaning the house! Cleaning bathrooms. I even had my yard guys pull up a few ‘less than desirable’ bushes that I had out front that no longer looked good and were on life support.
Also, Veronica took her Christmas leave a few days before our party because I needed the time to do all this. I am Isabelle’s main caregiver. I can’t watch her 11 hours a day and do all this. So, I got 3 days off prior to Saturday, the 23rd. I was able to do all that I needed to do, and with my Sciatica flaring up in the process. Most of the time I’m not really in pain, it’s just that my entire leg and foot will go numb and tingle. It’s more annoying than it is painful. At night when I’m trying to go to sleep sometimes the Sciatica traveling up and down my leg feels quite pleasant. Almost as if I am getting a massage on the inside of my leg.
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The Haunted Mansion
Haunted Mansion Goblets
Our Cocktails
You are probably wondering why I have Disney’s Haunted Mansion Goblets with our Christmas Cocktails?
They are a gift for our son-in-law, Brian. The Haunted Mansion ride at Disney’s Magic Kingdom is Brian’s favorite ride, and has been since he first rode it as a child. Same with me, except when they built the Tower of Terror, that pretty much replaced in my heart The Haunted Mansion ride and it then became my number #2 favorite ride ever.
It was throughout October that Brian was scouring Spirit Halloween stores and buying up everything Haunted Mansion they had. But, it was when I was browsing the Disney Store Online that I saw that the Haunted Mansion merchandise was all on sale, since Halloween was over. I looked at it and I saw that it was all different from what Spirit Halloween was selling….so, I started shopping!
Why not? Why can’t someone get Halloween stuff for Christmas? Hence, Brian’s Haunted Mansion Christmas, starting with the goblets. (I also bought him so many other things Haunted Mansion related.)
Both of Brian’s parents died this year. His mother in January, his father in April. This is Brian’s, and his brother and sister’s first Christmas without their parents and I just kind of wanted to spoil him a little bit. I believe that some years a family member just might need a little bit more attention than other years. Therefore, this was Brian’s year to have that.
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Our Christmas Apps, and Brian’s Haunted Mansion Serving Slate
I never knew exactly how I wanted any of this to look, so I asked Mackenzie to just throw it together for me.
She did a great job too!
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My Christmas Dinner
My Kahlua Ham
This was the first time that I’ve ever actually baked a ham on this scale.
I mean sure, I’ve baked a small ham or two, but never anything like this. It was when I decided that I wanted to make Gordon’s Aunt Susy’s homemade Kahlua for Christmas, that I realized how great it would be to put the Kahlua in everything. Everything!
So, I did! It was Gordon’s idea to add some sort of caramel as an accent when it was about finished cooking. We were on the phone batting ideas back and forth as to what I could add to this ham? We nixed the pineapple, because pineapple doesn’t go with Kahlua. We nixed the cherries, because cherries don’t go with Kahlua. So, we thought about what did go with Kahlua…. CARAMEL! Done! 🙂
I had some caramel ice cream syrup that I was saving for another pumpkin/sweet potato recipe that I was creating, and it worked so great here!
Brodie Doing the “Actual” Carving of the Ham
Everyone Digging In To Christmas
(Brodie and Mackenzie brought an excellent Shaved Brussels Sprouts Warm Salad so that we could have something green on our table.)
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Opening Gifts
We opened some gifts before we ate, and other gifts after we ate.
Although, Isabelle is busy eating her shoes. 🙂
Little Mary Jane’s
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Here Brodie is busy opening the big balloon Will Farrell Elf for their front yard.
When that movie first came out Brodie loved it! He would laugh so hard! Who doesn’t love to hear their children laugh?
Elf was filmed in New York, where Mackenzie is from. She told me that her mom would see Will Farrell as Elf walking around New York during the filming.
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My Favorite Gift
I told Veronica that the only gift I wanted from them this year was a large framed photo of Isabelle on the beach, barefoot, and wearing one of the dresses I bought her from Coco Moon in Hawaii. And, I got it! 🙂
Although Isabelle is the real gift!
Gordon did call us to participate in our Christmas. He had to get up in the middle of the night, his time, to do so. We had him face time on Brian’s phone, while calling on the house phone so that we could hear his voice. For whatever reason, we never had a good connection so we found a way with two phones.
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Although this was Brian’s first Christmas without either of his parents, it was also Isabelle’s first Christmas. I guess that’s why they say that Christmas’s are bitter/sweet.
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I incorporated something that belonged to Brian’s mother into our Christmas dinner table.
Notice the long blingy belt-like ribbons above? Those were Brian’s mother’s. She was a collector/treasure hunter and would buy things in bulk online. I spotted that bling when they were sorting out her things and offered to pay for them. Brian and his siblings gave them to me instead. I wanted to have Eileen here with us in spirit by having something that was hers on our table.
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Ya know, I actually had a pretty good day. I had sausage balls and Kahlua coffee for breakfast. I bathed the dogs in my bathtub this morning. I’ve been doing “dog” laundry all day, and I had cocktail sausages for lunch. I’ve been wearing pink all day. My house is peaceful, and nice and clean from all the prep I did before my party.
I am now fixing to fry up some of my ham for dinner, and eat it in the yeast dinner rolls I just finished cooking, with some tasty yellow mustard!
I’d say that is a pretty good Christmas Day!
Merry Christmas Everyone. I do hope all of you had a nice one.
Your Friend,
Julie
One more shot of these two! 🙂
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December 1, 2023
On my way to the Post Office to mail Gordon’s gifts.
Just a little joke from me. 🙂
With him working overseas I’m just sending him some things that he can mainly eat and wear.
With a few Christmas touches, of course.
Hope he likes it all!
Julie
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November 23-26, 2023
Happy Thanksgiving Weekend
To all those that celebrate the day!
This is the first time I have been alone for Thanksgiving since I was 19 and in college. Not that I mind. I wasn’t the least bit concerned about it. It just seems that everyone else was?
With Gordon overseas, and our children grown and living in their own homes, starting their own family’s, it’s just the natural evolution of life. Brodie went with Mackenzie’s family to a resort for the holiday, and Veronica spending time with Brian’s family all gathering at Aunt Millie’s house, the Spanish side of their family I don’t even think has met Isabelle yet. (My Grand-daughter.) 🙂
Oh, and I was invited by Aunt Millie to their Thanksgiving feast. I declined the wonderful invitation because I had some dental work two days before, and I would be dog sitting Hank, who needs supervision around our dog Spooky.
I was just looking forward to spending Thanksgiving Day sleeping in and being lazy all day, watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on T.V., as I lay on the couch, and then a marathon of my black and white DVD, Miracle on 34th. Street. I did cook a turkey, and I enhanced a recipe that belongs to my mother-in-law, Sarajane. I’m quite proud of it too!
Gordon calls every day so he was talking me through my turkey, and was very impressed with my “embellishment” of his family’s sacred Eastern Shore Cornbread recipe.
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What with Brodie and Mackenzie at a resort with her family, I get to babysit my Grand-dog Hank.
Hank thinks about food every minute of every day. I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t also dream about food.
He follows me around as if I am some Cruise Director and he looks at me as if he’s wondering, ‘What’s next? And, will there be food involved?’
Spooky, Sparky and Hank
Every comfortable piece of furniture in this house is a “Dog Bed.”
And, we even have Dog Beds.
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As I sit here writing all this, I have my heating pad wrapped around my bum and my hip. (I like the British word Bum as opposed to our use of the word Butt or Ass.) Anyway, because Gordon is overseas I have had to do some heavy lifting around the house, and when I come in from shopping, and my Sciatica has flared up. I can manage. I do sit on the floor to stretch it out, or while I’m standing I can do the same, but just getting off my feet seems to heal it much quicker. I also don’t know that the heat really helps, but it just makes me feel better. Especially since we are having a cold day today.
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I did watch The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It’s just not Thanksgiving without it. I was surprised they had a balloon of the Australian character Bluey. Peanuku and I watch Bluey on The Disney Channel in the mornings that I keep her. But, I do have to say that this was my most favorite balloon in the parade……
Peanuku 🙂
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After the parade I put in my copy of Miracle on 34th. Street:
It’s the black and white version. The only sad thing about it being in black and white is that you cannot see Maureen O’Hara’s beautiful red hair. I had this movie playing on a loop all day long until I went to bed.
Although everyone makes fun of me, I still own and continue to purchase DVD’s and Bluray’s. Why? Because, I then own them. I suppose it’s a “control” issue for me. I’m not dependent upon some pay-per-view channel, or whether they will discontinue a favorite show or movie from their line-up, or passwords to remember, or even having to worry about the cable going out? I even have a portable DVD player that just needs an outlet, that’s all.
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My Thanksgiving Turkey
I started my turkey around 12:15, after the parade, and when I put in my DVD of Miracle on 34th. Street, I could hear it from the kitchen.
A rush of happy feelings went through me. I then got to work on starting my turkey. Oh, and this turkey really wasn’t for Thanksgiving Day. (Although, I did pick at it.) It is really for me to start making my Mexican Turkey Enchilada Casserole with our Spicy Hot Mexican Cranberries, probably on Saturday. I actually had no intention of having some grand meal on my own. I just wanted to get my turkey over with so that I could then settle into my Thanksgiving weekend foods I want to create.
It’s Done!
We aren’t the kind of people that tend to buy these throw away Aluminum Baking Pans, (I don’t like contributing to a landfill any more than I have to), but I really didn’t want to deal with a huge mess what with my Sciatica flaring up, and just all that I had to do on The Day.
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Eastern Shore Cornbread Recipe by SAW
(Sarajane Alderfer Whann)
As you can see from the condition of the recipe card above, we rarely made it. 🙂
Julie’s Pumpkin Moonshine Eastern Shore Cornbread
When I sent Gordon these photos of how I changed the recipe, he knew it was special!
I was very excited that he recognized how significant it is! As the Chef that he is, he understood how I had enhanced the recipe from it’s origins, so that it turned out to be something really nice and delicious.
When he comes back home in February he wants me to make it for him. I’ll post the recipe that I did above eventually. If you know me, then you know I will get around to it much later than sooner. 🙂
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My Turkey
My Beautiful Turkey
My Thanksgiving Back up Plan
Luckily, I didn’t need it. But, there was a time when I did.
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To me, holiday’s aren’t just one day. To me, Halloween starts in September and lasts through whenever I finish with it. Thanksgiving isn’t just one day, it last’s all of November. But, especially, Thanksgiving Day through the following Monday. Christmas to me isn’t just one day, it last’s the entire month of December.
You see, I don’t get sad if I am all alone on Thanksgiving Day, or even Christmas Day. It’s just one day in a month of celebrations. But, the celebrations last all month long.
Thanksgiving Day was yesterday and here I am creating foods for that special day even though it has officially ended. Because to me it hasn’t yet.
So, for those of you that are crying because you are all alone on some so called “special day”, you have bought into a scenario that has been thrust upon you from a group of people out there. However, you are in control of how you relate to that day. You can either cry, or see it as a day to do what you want to do with it? You are in charge of that day. Whether you realize it, or not?
I decided long ago that when my mother called me at my dorm in Queen’s Collage, Charlotte, North Carolina, to tell me that I need to stay there for that Thanksgiving weekend, while they all go on some vacation, I was devastated. I could hear the meanness in my mother’s voice. She could be very cruel. She happily let me know that I wasn’t wanted that Thanksgiving. But, my brothers were wanted. I spent that entire 4 days crying my eyes out because I knew I wasn’t wanted, and I was all alone. I look back on that time as being wasted. My mother and step-father were not worth all of my tears. I wish that I had left them much sooner than I did. Sometimes, it takes us awhile to understand what we need to do. Sadly, it took me over a half a century. But, I am at a happy place right now. Hey, I’m down to only ONE NARCISSIST in my life right now. And, he is my cyber-stalker Paul. I’ll tell you about him another time. But, not now. This is Thanksgiving weekend, and I want to enjoy it.
I just wanted to tell you that you are special, whether you realize it or not.
You are worth everything! Just because you have people in your life that don’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not there.
I can’t tell you what to do, but, I can tell you to go and find your happiness. Don’t let someone dictate to you that you aren’t good enough. You are! Just as I was!
If you are like me, then you already know how to make yourself happy. So, do it!
If I can help you, then I’m so glad that I did.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Julie
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Russet Potato Chip/Potato Skins
Russet Kettle Chips, Baked Potatoes, and Bacon, Oh MY!
When I originally bought a bag of UTZ Kettle Russet Potato Chips I was so surprised to see that every chip I pulled out of the bag was the size of my hand! I knew then that these chips would be great as a vessel to hold something sturdy and delicious. Some sort of appetizer.
I then bought a second bag of them and was disappointed to discover that none of them were the size of the ones I originally purchased.
None the less, these chips are not only very sturdy, but extremely tasty!
That is when I talked to Gordon on the phone asking him what deliciousness that I can add to these wonderful potato chips? He is the one that came up with this idea. But, he didn’t include having real potatoes on the chips. I did. This is where we collaborate beautifully! Teamwork! At it’s very best!
I picked out the potato chips that I wanted out of 3 different bags of them.
I then placed some baked potato onto the top of each chip. I also placed a tiny little dot of butter on top, followed by some crumbled up bacon, and some cheese.
I placed them into a 350F oven for about 10 minutes in order to warm them through and melt the cheese.
When I removed them from the oven I added some sour cream and some chives and parsley from my garden.
They really were delicious!
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Saturday
This is the Reason I Cooked a Turkey to Begin With
I wanted to combine our Spicy Hot Mexican Cranberries (from years ago), and some Turkey in a dish that would be wonderful!
It WAS!
And, here it is!
I don’t even really know what to call it?
It’s just something that came to me?
I will be bringing this recipe to all eventually.
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But, before I go. I want to make you feel good. I live to make people feel good. That is always the goal of an Empath.
Just know that everything in life has been made up. Someone thought it up. Invented it. Created it. Put it out there so that other people would follow it, take it up, and they did.
You have been made to feel badly if you are different from what they have created. You have been made to feel badly if you are different from “them.” Whoever “them” is?
Choose your path, stay on it. Don’t veer from it.
Know that there are more of “us”, than there are of “them.”
Didn’t the movie, Revenge of the Nerds teach us that? 🙂
Happy Holidays!
Julie
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November 6-7, 2023
Everything That’s Going On
Halloween Selfie
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My Dermatologist
She found 3 suspicious places on my body. Took the scrapings, and sent them off to a lab. But, just how private and secure will those results be for me? I have a cyber-stalker, who can easily change information in my online files. Who is to say that he can’t say something that is cancerous, isn’t? Or, visa-versa? Which brings me to this…..
I will be debuting a website about my cyber-stalker of 30 years. I’ll let you know when I get it mostly finished. Oh, he is already trying to bring it down! But, this little engine that could keeps chugging away. And, I will until the day I die. (Probably of skin cancer.) 🙁
p.s. I got a phone call today, November 7, from someone at the Dermatologist office telling me that the 3 samples they took off me has come back benign. Or are they?
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The Israel and Hamas War
I’m going to chime in here. I want to start with the history and then go from there. You see, Europe has a more informed opinion on the conflict than America has. They after all, have more info to go on, in order to form that opinion. America only has about 1/8 of the info, so a well rounded informed opinion isn’t going to be found on our soil by very many people.
It was after WWII that no country in the world wanted those misplaced Jews from Germany.
So, America and Britain went into the then country of Palestine and pushed all of it’s people out into that wasteland. They were removed from their homes, businesses, schools, hospitals, and then us and Britain put all of those misplaced Jews from WWII into their country and changed the name from Palestine, to Israel.
Our soldiers stayed there for 2 years guarding “Israel” and keeping the Palestinian people out. Then, once we left, the war between the Palestinians and Jews started.
Ever since then we have been supporting them. We are their big brother. We send them weapons, tanks, money….
And the Jews use what we give them against the Palestinian people. Israel also continues to use their might to take more and more Palestinian land. Which is why the Palestinian people don’t want to leave Gaza. They know their own history very well and they know if they leave they will not be allowed back in there.
Oh, and btw, this is what 9/11 was about. They didn’t attack us for our “freedoms.” They attacked us for our foreign policy.
What Hamas did a month ago is horrendous, evil, cruel, unforgivable, but always know this, ‘One person’s terrorist is another person’s freedom fighter.’
Countries always send out their military’s to do their dirty work. Some military’s do horrendous, evil, cruel, and unforgivable things in the name of their country. Palestine doesn’t have a military so they do the dirty work themselves.
This is why so many people that know the history and what is going on are not pro-Israel. It doesn’t mean they hate Jews, it just means they aren’t for Israel. However, Israel will then accuse those that don’t support everything they do as being anti-semitism. I criticize plenty of Christian’s in our country but that doesn’t make me anti-Christian.
What Europe will see on T.V. is an Israeli soldier clubbing to death a 3 year old Palestinian girl. (We will never see those images. Only the damage that is done to the Jews.)
And know this:
We hear on T.V. and in the newspapers all the evil that is done in the Catholic Church to children. But, did you know that just as much goes on in Jewish Synagogue’s? No? At one point there is a ritual where the male Rabbi’s bathe with the children. According to PBS years ago, lots of things happen in that bath. So, why don’t you ever hear about any of this? Simple. Most producers on T.V. are Jewish. They decide what news we receive, and what they don’t want us to know as well. So, you do the math.
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Ireland and Palestine
Did you know that the people of Ireland vacation in Palestine? They are very close, actually. They have a kindred between them. Both county’s peoples have been abused. They have a bond. I can’t help but wonder how many Irish Nationals were over there when the conflict started and have been either trapped in the area, or have been killed?
That isn’t information that we will be receiving over here.
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Right now I’m not on anyone’s side. I’m tired of fighting, wars, conflicts, killing, suffering…..
Besides, we have enough problems over here in our own country. Democracy is on the line. America’s demise is a real threat. And we’ve got people like my Dermatologist ready to vote in a dictator. We’re so fucked!
Julie
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October 30 – November 3, 2023
Happy Halloween
Me, and Isabelle as:
Morticia and Baby Wednesday
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The Wednesday’s (Spooky and Isabelle)
(I ordered Isabelle’s costume from Greece)
I had a Pugsley costume for Sparky but getting him in it was like wrestling a gator!
Isabelle was great! She cooperated with her Tutu even while pulling off my Morticia wig. It’s a small miracle that we even got these photos shot.
I wish Gordon had been here. (He’s currently working overseas in a hot spot and I am very worried about him.)
But, Gordon would have helped me with our Halloween crew and costumes. And, the food! I really didn’t create that much this Halloween. I’m busier now that I am Peanuku’s main caregiver. My son-in-law, Brian does have a flexible shift work schedule at the fire house and is off many days. He’s not a 9-5 guy. My schedule changes weekly where keeping her is concerned. Some weeks I may have her for 45-50 hours, and other weeks it may just be 20-30. They are lucky that I have the lifestyle that I do and that I can keep her. I may have a doctor appointment that I need to keep, so they work their schedules around that.
I have my full days, my half days, and my days off.
When I found out Veronica was pregnant, I immediately offered my Tutu’s Hale (pronounced Ha Lei) Daycare for free!
I was not about to let them put her in some uncaring daycare. Oh, no! She is going to be taken care of and loved! Not only that, but we will start a garden together, we will learn to love all of our backyard wildlife. There will be many flashcards in her future! 🙂 We will also watch educational T.V. and the occasional scary movie marathon.)
She is also going to LOVE Alfred Hitchcock!!! (If I have my way.) 🙂
I am her only Grandmother, and Gordon is her only Grandfather. She needs us, and we need to be there for her.
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Gordon is working overseas for the foreseeable future. He should be gone 1 1/2 – 2 years as it is right now. However, he is in an area that is becoming unstable so he might just be coming home sooner than we expected. Who knows?
We have retirement goals that we are both working toward, which is why he took the job to begin with. That’s all I can say for now. But, sometimes it’s hard having a spouse live thousands of miles away.
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Halloween Night
With Gordon working overseas I really didn’t want to go all out for Halloween. Although, to most people what you see here is going all out, but to me it is truly the bare minimum. (I just don’t have a lower notch.)
My Big Silver Punch Bowl was STOLEN!
I decided to just place all the goodies on a table right outside our front door. I was just so tired from my big day. I had gotten up at 4:00 a.m. to shower and be ready by 5:30 a.m. when Veronica dropped off Peanuku for me to watch her that day. Due to traffic, Veronica didn’t get to my house until after 5:00 p.m. to pick her up after work. THAT in itself was exhausting! I just didn’t want to deal with jumping up every time the doorbell rang so I rigged up the table.. I have 5 items listed in the sign above, but I did change it to 6 items, and then to 8 items as the night progressed. When I came outside at 9:00 to bring everything in that is when I noticed that my punch bowl was missing. I was so sad. Not because it meant something to me, it didn’t. I was just wounded that someone in our neighborhood would take it.
I do have to admit that when I set it out there the first thing that popped in my mind was that someone would steal it. I then rationalized that no child is going to want it, and what teenager would want it as well? I’m wondering if some mom took it? No dad would care. It is very heavy, and it was full of candy. Perhaps someone with some knowledge of it’s value might be interested? Which reminds me, does anyone know what Martha Stewart was doing that night? Did she happen to be in Florida? Hmmm….. Just wondering?
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Isabelle the Cat 🙂
(From her Tutu)
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My Haunted Mansion
I just wanted to focus on the ‘Fortune Telling’ portion of The Haunted Mansion.
Ya know, sometimes I think that I’m getting too old and ugly for these things. But, I then try and understand that just because I’m getting older doesn’t mean that I can’t have fun and participate in a holiday that I love so much? Who says that I have to retire? Young people, that’s who. 🙁 Why can’t I represent an older generation of Halloween lovers?
I didn’t really do that much this Halloween as far as being creative and inventive. I’m busier now than I used to be. However, I can still participate.
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Potato Skins
I do have to admit that I have been eating a lot of ‘Comfort Food’ over the past two months. Trying to loose some weight while sabotaging my diet. Here is one way that I have!
It was 9:00 p.m. when I made these. Hence, no nice Chives from my Herb Garden to add as a garnish.
I didn’t want to go outside to my herb garden that late at night. 🙂
Bacon, Bacon, Bacon
I think that most people know how to make Potato Skins, so I will cut to the Cliff Notes version:
Wrap in foil as many potatoes that you wish to bake for this project. Poke holes in the potatoes before you bake to ensure that they don’t explode in the oven. Bake in a 400 oven for about 50 minutes or longer, until the potatoes are fork tender.
When they are done, allow them to cool and then slice them in half, gutting out the middle of each half, and discarding into another bowl to eat later on.
In the meantime, fry as much Bacon as you like.
Add to your gutted potatoes, a dab of butter, salt, pepper, Sharp Cheddar Cheese, and crumbled bacon.
Place back into the oven for about 20 minutes. Then, turn on the broiler and broil for a few minutes to brown the potatoes.
Next, top with Sour Cream and Chopped Chives.
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Be sure to Stay Tuned as I have LOTS to tell you!
Thank you for your interest, all these years.
Julie
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Starting This Entry September 9, 2023
FINALLY!
I’m to a stopping point where I can take some time off from working on the other unfinished website pages, and devote some time to catching up with my personal blog. I miss blogging! I’m just trying to catch up on this monster of a website that we have created.
Backyard With Sparky
These Photos Were Taken on Mother’s Day
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Baby Shower for Veronica and Brian
In early May we hosted a Baby Shower for our daughter Veronica, and her husband Brian. I guess approximately 30 people came. Gordon and I did all the work ourselves. As in all the yard work, pressure washing, decorating, cleaning, planting…. not to mention, cooking, shopping, and we did do a little catering for the party.
It was hard work, and we knew that it would be, but we don’t have that many parties so we viewed it as a special occasion (which it was) and an investment into our property. We did have tree trimmers to come in and really take down many branches. That opened up our backyard tremendously to sunlight.
Veronica and Brian and Baby on Board
Gordon and Myself, the Host and Hostess
It was a great party. Brian’s family has suffered such tragedy over the past 3 years. They lost their Grandparents. The Grandfather was originally from Ireland, and the Grandmother was originally from Puerto Rico. They had also lost an Aunt, one of their Grandparents daughters. And, to continue to plague this nice family, Brian lost his mother on January 11th. 2023.
And if all of that wasn’t bad enough, Brian’s father died just 4 days after the baby shower, on May 11th., 2023. They say he died of a broken heart. He wasn’t at the baby shower. They say that he had to work. I wish that he had taken off to be with his family one last time.
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Mother’s Day, Crystal River in the Canoe
Crystal River is located in Central Florida
I let Gordon choose the location. The thing is that it is obviously a (how do I say racist without saying racist?) area.
I saw only one black person while we were there, and he was the only who worked at the docks when we parked our car and launched our canoe. We saw lots of nice boats full of white people with their American flags and patriotic swimsuits on, dancing to various country music stars.
There were several restaurants in the area named “Crackers” and “Florida Crackers.” (A cracker is a white person.)
When we drove through the town there was a Confederate mural painted on the side of a business called, Patricia’s Dresses.” It looked like a lovely shop that I would enjoy visiting. However, the racist overtones were way too much for me!
Needless to say, we will not be back.
We Did Have A Lovely Time Though
It is a bit hard to eat lunch in a canoe, but we managed. 🙂
I just wanted to add that the people of Crystal River were very nice to us. They would wave, and say hello. Even acknowledging the dogs and how cute they were. But, then again, we were the right “color.”
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A License To Grill
Gordon and I have had the best time this summer working on some projects that we are quite proud of. Our James Bond stuff is just plain fun! We have a great time. The creative juices get flowing and before we know it we are creating new recipes, or reworking old family recipes and lots of great memories from our past.
What you see above is probably 7:00 a.m.. NO! I did not say 7:00 p.m. I got up at 3:00 a.m. to shower and do hair and make-up by 6:00 a.m. in order to photograph this. Lighting is everything and the sun rises on us from the east, and sets on the west. Had we shot this at 7:00 p.m. the sun would have been behind us and the shot would have been ruined. I have learned a lot from having this website. I am a ‘learn as I go’ kind of person. So, I was dragging Gordon out of bed to shower and put on that Tux so that lighting is perfect!
But, what you don’t know is that we were creating memories. You see, at this time we knew that Gordon would be working overseas for the next 1 1/2-2 years. We wanted to do some nice fun things before he left. 🙂
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The Fam at Bubba Gump’s, John’s Pass
We took everyone out for a great family early dinner and drinks so that we could create some new memories and enjoy a day of all of us together.
We Just Had To Get Our Feet Wet
Mackenzie, Brodie, Susannah, Veronica and Brian
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Back To Bubba Gump’s
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Also, to John’s Pass for our Anniversary
June 22, 2023, 38 Years of Marriage
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Veronica and Brian, 4 Years of Marriage
Lovely Pregnancy Photos on the Beach
$400.00 worth of photos to a stranger when we could have shot them for FREE!!!
But hey, what do I know?
I’m just the grandmother in waiting, with a great camera, and lots of time on my hands. 🙁
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7-5-2023
Peanuku’s Birthday
(Peanut, in Hawaiian)
Welcome Isabelle Eileen Kelleher
(Brian’s mother’s name was Eileen. She is the one that died January 11, 2023.)
I am now a Tutu!!!
(Tutu is Hawaiian for Grandmother. We have a Hawaiian history in our family.)
And, Gordon is now a Tutu Papa!
Our Sweet Girl
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Home From The Hospital
She has Greek feet just like me, and my gray eyes, and my biological father’s red hair.
Except hers is a reddish brown so far. The curse of Charlie Aycock, my deadbeat dad!
Perhaps we can turn the bad past of my biological father into something good? He did have good features.
Good genes. He just wasn’t a good person on the inside.
So Proud of our Little girl!
Peanuku
Gordon With His Girl
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Our Isabelle
Most time we fall in love with a person.
I however, have fallen in love with a face.
I love this little face. We could not have painted her any better. We could not have thought out her little face any more perfect than what we have of her here. She is our little love. Our little girl. Our little Peanuku.
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More Bond Fun
Now that we are Tutu’s are we too old to play Spy and Bond Girl?
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Sleeping on a Cloud
I rigged up a make shift crib for our Peanuku to sleep in when she came over to visit.
I put 2 bar stools together and placed a nice fluffy pillow in a basket between them. Added the most comfy cozy blanket and some stuffed sea food. A crab ready to nibble her toes, a pink shrimp from Bubba Gump’s, and the shrimp mobile that we made for her.
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Barbie T-Shirt
I bought the Barbie t-shirt about 3 years ago along with a Barbie Cookbook from Canada. I never dreamed they would make a movie about her at the time I bought it. I just liked it and wanted to some day honor her. I’m happy that so many are realizing that she really is special. Although, I haven’t seen the movie yet, I’m looking forward to it.
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Fun Movie Night Outside
Well, I guess it’s time to end this entry.
At this writing, Gordon is now working overseas and will be for quite a while. We had our fun before he left. He insisted on staying until our Peanuku was born so that he could meet her. He will be back for visits here and there. I’m sorry I can’t tell you more than that. But, we do talk every day. We send photos back and forth. I am also putting together for him a care package for Autumn/Halloween that I will be getting in the mail soon.
We have our goals and I will tell you about them in the future. But for now, take care, and thank you for your interest in us.
Hey! We are entering my favorite time of year and I do have many plans!
Stay Safe! Talk to you Soon!
Julie
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May 19, 2023
What is it About Me? (Because I have NO CLUE?!)
I have always wondered what is it about me that seems to attract all these Psychopaths, Sociopaths, and Narcissists? It is something that I have always had to deal with most of my life. Why do they bother me? I mean, I don’t go around bothering anyone. I have an opinion that I do voice, but for the most part I am harmless. By harmless, I mean that I don’t go around hurting anyone. Oh, I may have some biting comment that I make on social media but I don’t follow it up with trolling, or threats, or stalking, yet I seem to always be the victim of those that do?
I recognize someone’s right to their opinion, yet I never seem to get the same consideration in return?
When my neighbor’s were trying to drown us out with their McCain/Palin signs, simply because we had an Obama sign, (their signs went up one day after we put out our Obama sign) I recognized their rights to vote for whomever they pleased yet, they would tamper with our Obama sign. Pulling it out of the ground and stomping on it.
It’s not in me to get up in the middle of the night and prowl around the neighborhood doing damage to my neighbor’s property. Yet, they don’t seem to have a problem doing damage to ours?
I’ve also wondered why it is that people that I have parted ways with and wished them well, just can’t seem to forget about me. Why not? I’m not even that interesting! Yet, they seem to become obsessed with me and in reading my website. Why? Move on! Nothing to see here! Have a nice life! But, they just can’t leave me alone. Why not? It has always confused me. I have this very rotten step-brother that just cannot forget about me. He has to read my blog postings, and then tell all the other Texass relatives who then come to read my blog postings. I just don’t get it? I don’t care about them, so why should they care about me?
Why is it that I have a Cyber-Stalker for almost 3 decades??? Why?? What is so interesting about me that he just lives his life to react to whatever I have to say, or write? Otherwise, he has no life whatsoever. Why Paul? What is it about me that lures you in? I certainly don’t try! I always wondered why…..
UNTIL…. I read this, this morning.
THAT rings so true with me!
I have never sought the validation of anyone.
I do what I want and I certainly don’t seek approval from anyone.
Could that be it? Is that why they just can’t seem to get over me? Or just let me go?
Is it a control issue? Or, can they just not let me go because I mean so much to them?
You know, you don’t have to be a Meghan Markle to be admired? The Unknown saying above can apply to any free thinking woman. You don’t have to be famous, or young, or beautiful, or charismatic, you just need to be different and independent. I guess they don’t like that? I guess that is their problem. It’s not ours. So, keep on being empowered. We are in very good company! 🙂
Julie
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May 7, 2023
(The Baby Shower)
and,
May 14, 2023
(Mother’s Day)
On May 7th. Gordon and I hosted a baby shower for our daughter and son-in-law, Veronica and Brian. This will be our first grand-child. We had family to drive here from Orlando, and Tampa, and the Tampa Bay area. Also, family to fly in from Boston, and a friend to come from Tennessee, not to mention friends from the surrounding area.
Apparently baby showers have evolved from my era of having children, we just couldn’t believe all the nice gifts she was given. I got about half of what she got when I was pregnant with her.
Gordon and I did all of it ourselves. Our backyard had not been really properly tended to in a few years and it looked it! We had 7 weeks to whip our backyard into shape, do all the shopping, cleaning, decorating, cooking…. and we did it!
As I looked at it, the investment was into ourselves, the excuse was the baby shower.
I will do the write up for the baby shower soon on the official baby shower page but, I just wanted to write here about how nice and fun that it was to host it.
Veronica and Brian are very lucky that they have so many people that love and care about them. It really does take a village to raise a child. It was back in mid January that Brain’s mother died of a heart attack in her sleep and her husband didn’t know she was dead until he tried to wake her the following day. Interestingly enough, it was that very night that I lay in bed wide awake and thinking that what if I die of a heart attack in my sleep, and Gordon not know I’m dead until he tries to wake me the following day? It was the following day when my daughter called me in tears, telling me that Eileen had died. I was shocked! I believe that I pretty much predicted it, except I was thinking it would happen to me!
It was as the party was nearing to an end that I emerged from our bedroom area from using the bathroom, that I walked into my living room with Veronica opening more gifts. She was surrounded by Brian’s family members. I commented that I was surprised there were still more gifts to open? Veronica then told me that these gifts were found in her deceased mother-in-laws closet after she died. They were adorable little baby things. They believe that she had bought them for the baby. The thing is, she wasn’t informed about the baby until around Christmas Eve, and she died mid January. She pretty much starting buying these lovely things and even had some things personalized before she died. She pretty much did this in weeks of finding out about the baby. Even I do not have that foresight. She left behind the thoughtfulness that she has for her unborn grandchild. She was ahead of us all. I am very sad about her passing because I was looking forward to co-grandmothering with her. Now I am the only grandmother.
I never really knew Eileen very well, but from what I did know about her was that she adored her children and grand-children. It was obvious! She was a wonderful grandmother to her other grand-children. Her family is still grieving her, and I’m sure they will be for a very long time.
The baby shower that we threw for Veronica and Brian brought together their entire family, as well as those that love them. It was such a great day! It was also worth all the work that we put into it. I would like to think that everyone left here happy, well fed, and exited about the baby to come.
Sadly, it was just a few days later that Brian’s father died. He wasn’t at the baby shower. We were told that he had to work that day. Not only are they now having to bury their father/grandfather, and are still grieving their mother/grand-mother from her passing in January, but we are also planning a baby being born amongst all this sadness.
I suppose this is the cycle of life. Just like the song.
But, it now boils down to Gordon and myself.
We are the only grandparents to this beautiful little girl that will enter our lives soon.
When I said above that ‘It Takes a Village’, I meant that it does. We live in a dangerous country full of dangerous people. We all need to look out for all of our little children. Not just those that ‘belong to us,’ but those that don’t. Eileen and Brian would have been those grand-parents that helped to look after our little Peanuku. Now they are gone. I can only hope that they can at least look out for our little girl from their graves. It really does take a village.
Their deaths are not only our loss, but our little Peanuku’s loss. Grandparents are important to the raising of our grandchildren. I am very sad that it now falls to only Gordon and myself. Not that I am not excited about raising this grand-child, but I am sad that it now boils down to just us. Brian’s parents would have made wonderful grandparents. Now they are gone. Sadly….
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Mother’s Day
In the same way that I love celebrating every one of my birthday’s, I also want to embrace every one of my Mother’s Day’s.
At 62 I am not getting any younger. Not that I am complaining about that. I just want to celebrate as many special days as I can, while I can. Getting older is becoming a privilege.
Some of my past Mother’s Day’s have been very low key, and some have been a bit more exciting. I love all of them! They tend to fit my moods and whatever activity I may or may not, feel like doing.
For this Mother’s Day I wanted to go canoeing to one of our many Florida Springs in the state. So, I told Gordon to pick one. Just make sure the path is big enough for a large canoe, and that it allows pets in the park.
He chose: Crystal River
(North West of us.)
Sparky, Spooky, and ME!
I do have to say that Crystal River, although quite nice, was just too public for me. I prefer a more intimate setting with a lot less people. If you haven’t guessed by now, I don’t really like too many people. In the photo above I am standing with the dogs next to my car. But, not too far away was a crazy loud man screaming obscenities at who knows who? Cursing loudly!
And, although we did see what looked like some nice families, there were also some people that you just knew were druggies. Also, in driving through the neighboring towns there were restaurants by the name of Florida Crackers, and Crackers. That is code for ‘white supremacy.’ We also saw this huge mural painted on the side of a building that housed Patricia’s Dresses, that was all about The Confederacy and the Civil War.
Needless to say, I felt very uncomfortable.
Here Gordon found a smaller more intimate setting for me.
Crystal River
However, the river is very wide with large boats all over it. Although we have a large canoe, the wakes of some of those boats sent us rocking to and fro.
I will say this, the people that we encountered on the water would wave at us, smile at us, yell “Happy Mother’s Day” to me. They were very friendly but, then again, we were the “right” color. If you catch my drift? I don’t think they would have been as nice had we been black or brown.
We Did Create a Nice Mother’s Day Menu
I will be creating a new website page depicting our Mother’s Day adventure. We did have a lot of fun. I’m glad we went and that I got to see it. Will I be back? I don’t think so. None-the-less, it was a great day!
Happy Mother’s Day to all those Wonderful Mother’s Out There!
Julie
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April 17, 2023
I Miss My Grandmother
Me and My Grandmother, Far Right, on a cruise on the Song of Norway, 1979
She gave me a cruise for my high school graduation. If I could go back in time, I would spend every moment with her.
April 12th. was her birthday. She would have been 110 now. I know. Unrealistic to assume she could have made it this far. But I miss her so much. I think of her often. In this very cold world I long for those that I was very close to. I never realized just how much she protected me from my narcissist mother and psychopath step-father, but she did. I found out just how powerful she was once she had died. That gave my abusive parents the green-light to really go after me. There was no stopping them once she had died. I just wanted to honor my protector. My defender.
I miss you Grandmaw!
Julie
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Veronica Whann Kelleher
I would like to add to the post I write below that the woman that I admire the most for this belated International Women’s Day is my daughter Veronica. She is married and expecting her first child this summer, she works very hard, she is a creative artist and she just received a 6% raise from her place of work. Everyone else only got a 3% raise. And, her manager is trying to find her even more money. She is being recognized as the talented and hard worker that she is. We are very proud of her! 🙂
I would like to add that there are many talented hard workers out there that are not recognized, or their contributions are unappreciated. On a good day American’s are underpaid, overworked, and under valued. I’m just happy that she has someone recognizing her and rewarding her. She deserves it! 🙂
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March 9, 2023
International Women’s Day, and Mika Brzezinski’s Know Your Value
Yesterday, March 8th. was International Women’s Day. Currently Mika Brzezinski of the MSNBC’s ‘Morning Joe’ morning show is in Abu Dhabi at a summit of women, promoting the power of women and honoring their successes and accomplishments. They have a very impressive line up of women speakers from all around the world. Both Mika and her husband and co-host, Joe Scarborough are there for the event.
Yesterday, Mika was literally giddy talking about how wonderful the summit was going and her interview with the keynote speaker, Hillary Clinton. Also, talking about the other guest speakers there, Gloria Steinem, Billy Jean King, The First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, just to name a few.
When Mika first started the ’50 Over 50′ and her Know Your Value campaign, I did like the fact that older women were being recognized and honored for their accomplishments. Older women do seem to fade from sight as we age, so to have someone shining that light on older women was a nice welcomed idea. But, as the campaign continued on, younger women have been brought onto the stage. Women that are 30 – 50. Which kind of diminishes the whole ’50 Over 50′ thing. The stage is always ready for younger women. Younger women are always welcome. I guess the younger women were brought in because ultimately no one really cares about older women? I mean, you tell me?
Mika Brzezinski co-hosts the morning show with her husband. She has also been in that position before she married him November 2018. However, she started with MSNBC in 2007. So, Mika is going to promote empowering women, equal pay, equality, when she doesn’t even have equal billing with her husband on her very own show? Sorry, but the message of equality would be received so much better if she did.
I heard a little bit of the Hillary Clinton interview and her big advice is to always be more prepared than the other person. I think she meant, men. 🙂 And, I’d say she always has been more prepared. But, exactly what is her big message to women all around the world at this summit? Is she going to tell us how to ‘almost be President?’ She should have won. She had the experience, the votes, the support, yet she lost to an incompetent boob of a rich white man. That is really what it boils down to. She really thought she could take on that exclusive boy’s club and win. She has had white men from around the world making sure she lost, and she did. She lost, they won. So, exactly what can we learn from Hillary Clinton?
Two other speakers, Gloria Steinem and Billy Jean King have been around over half a century promoting women’s rights and equality. I don’t think that I need to write about who they are. Everyone knows them so I’m not going to waste my time writing their resumes but, how frustrated they must feel to be still fighting for those causes that should have been resolved a long time ago.
I’m not so sure the message that any of them are trying to portray at this summit is working. Instead of promoting empowering women, why not teach how to bring down rich white men? Until the culture changes, there will be no change. Just ask every black person out there. If we keep waiting for these white men to suddenly embrace us all then we will never see change. And for some reason these rich white men never have a problem finding women to support them in their dangerous pursuits of harming others, keeping people down, and preventing change and equality for everyone. As a matter of fact, a lot of these summit women are married to those rich white men so, need I say more?
Jessica Alba also spoke at the conference. I’m sure all of you know who she is. Famous actress, married mother of three children, and the CEO and Founder of her Honest Company. I read years ago that she started the company because she saw her daughter actually eating some of the stuffing from the diaper she was wearing. She knew that it wasn’t safe so she wanted to start a company where baby’s and children could have safe products and not the toxic stuff that was out there.
Jessica Alba has created a very successful company, and more power to her but, I can’t help but wonder how successful her company would be if rich white men were into diapers? The fact that they aren’t is probably one reason she has a successful company. But, rich white men do love to run the world so that would explain why Hillary wasn’t as successful as she should have been.
I also keep hearing about how wonderful these women are at this summit. And how some of them even give back and have helped other women achieve their success and reach their own goals. I have to say that I do not know of such women. Never in my personal life have I ever met or encountered women who were actually interested in helping others to succeed. Most of the women I have encountered have run over people to get ahead, or sabotaged many a female in order to ‘win.’
Which brings me to my big question, why is this summit being held in Abu Dhabi?
I would think that if this summit really were about women and women’s issues and causes, that it would be accessible to any women interested in attending? So, why hold the summit in a country where not many women would be able to get to? The average person in America doesn’t have a passport. They know that. Also, the average person cannot afford a plane ticket over there, or the expensive hotel bill that would follow. No. They are holding this summit over there because they don’t want the ‘average’ woman attending. This is exclusive. And certainly not for the likes of us!
So, exactly what is going to happen at this very exclusive summit in Abu Dhabi? Probably some good, after all they have some good people over there. But, who will benefit the most? Easy, all those women speaking. After all, they have books to sell, and skin products that your babies need to use. And who is going to buy those books etc.? Simple, us! The one’s that will not be included in the exclusive summit. If any of us really were important to them then they would have held that summit in New York, or D.C., or Tampa, or Atlanta, and made it accessible to have the average woman attend.
Looking forward to where they will hold their exclusive summit next year. Wonder if Mars is available? We’ll see, I guess?
Julie
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March 6, 2023
Registering “Paid” Bloggers with the State
I am going to be very careful how I word this but, I live in a state where our governor Is going to make it legal that any blogger who blogs about him and gets “paid” must be registered with the state. Although I am not a political blogger, I do blog quite a bit about politics. I also, don’t get paid to do so! So, if you are thinking that I don’t have anything to worry about? WRONG! For that is how it starts out. They first go after the ‘big fish’ and then it trickles down to the lesser ones. I am a proud nobody. But, I may not be a ‘nobody’ to him and his people.
Recently, a teacher in one of our schools here in my state posted a photo on Twitter of the library at his school where he works, and it showed all the empty shelves where all the books have been removed because of our governor. That teacher was fired.
My state has gone blood red and it won’t be turning blue anytime soon. It may take a generation or even longer before it happens. But until then, things are only going to get worse here for all of us. Especially those of us that will talk about it. I have noticed some very brave and strong people speaking out on Twitter against our governor. But I cannot. Not without suffering some future consequences. I wish there was some movement trending forward that I could feel comfortable standing in solidarity alongside, but there really isn’t. How can we bring about’ good change’ when the stronger side is bringing about ‘bad change,’ and quite effectively I may add.
I do blame both sides of our political parties for where we have ended up as a nation. It was up to the dems to stop them. They didn’t. They didn’t fight for Gore in 2000. They voted in Scotus judges they knew to be radical. Kerry didn’t fight for the Presidential office in 2004 when he was running. He pretty much just let W. have it. In 2006 when the dems had congress and senate they didn’t do anything to W. and Cheney, which is what they should have done. I don’t even think they did anything at all in those 2 years they had control? Obama didn’t do all he could in his 8 years so as not to be seen as an angry black man. Uh, huh… The thing is, he had every right to be an angry black man.
Biden is old. He slurs his words together. He looks frail and feeble. If you think he can win against my governor and his beautiful wife and charming young children, then you are mistaken. Even though he will devote himself to pushing the MAGA causes on all of us, which will not benefit any black or brown person in our country, the brown people will vote for him anyway because he looks like they do. And the MAGA’s will support any black or brown person that does for them. And my governor will do for them. I also predict at this time that he will be our first dictator. He won’t be going anywhere for a very long time.
Our dems are truly clueless as to what to do, which is why they do nothing! They are also afraid they will loose their jobs, so they don’t like to ‘upset the apple cart’, so to speak. I mean come on, January 6th. was a surprise for them! Seriously! Therefore, how clued in are they to begin with? I knew trouble was coming and I’m a nobody!
So, for the selfish reason of self-preservation, and the bleak future I see, I will be going dark on politics for awhile.
Perhaps if I see a future of fighters I may join in, but I really don’t.
Julie
p.s. Do you see anyone in power doing anything at all to hold anyone accountable for any of this? Me neither!
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February 14, 2023
Happy Valentine’s Day
Red Roses, Chocolates, Candies, and Wine
…and Pizza
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February 13, 2023
Happy 62 to ME!
Good Morning
Think of the Happiest Things….
I Try
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My Tacky Birthday Cake
I Love It!
This is a Vintage Jasmine Rice Cake topped with a Wheat Cake and a Vintage Frosting
then Loaded with lots of Tacky Fruit, Nuts, Waffers, and Flowers
62 to me is “Uglier on the outside, happier on the inside.” 🙂
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February 11, 2023
The Year of the Rabbit Baby Reveal Party
This is the Year of the Rabbit
Our daughter Veronica, and her husband Brian are expecting their first child this summer in The Year of the Rabbit.
Brodie, Mackenzie and Veronica
Playing a Chop Stix Game
Both of our children were born in Hawaii where the Asian cultures are very prominent, along with the Hawaiian and other Polynesian’s cultures. Chinese New Year was a big deal over there. Hence, our love of the holiday!
Therefore, we created a nice dinner and invited our children and their partners to join us in the celebration.
Gordon, Veronica, Brian, Brodie and Mackenzie
Our Peanuku
This lovely sign was a gift from Veronica and Brian for Christmas as their way of telling us they were having a baby. 🙂
The first thing I said was, “I see a peanut.” And the nickname was born! Peanuku is Hawaiian for Peanut.
(Making our Peanuku Sauce)
Therefore, in honor of our Peanuku, Gordon created a peanut sauce in honor of our first grandchild. We even served it for our party. I told Veronica that I wanted her to taste it first so our little one can as well.
There were gifts all around but I did get something special for my girls. An Estee Lauder Year of the Rabbit makeup kit.
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Although we did this before we ate, here is the REVEAL!
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I think my face says it all!
(I love it when I’m right about this kind of stuff. From the very beginning I always referred to our grandchild as a girl. I wasn’t even aware of it at first. Gordon would point it out to me. So happy! Can’t wait to meet her!)
I gave birth to a Rabbit in 1987 and my Rabbit baby is going to birth to another Rabbit in 2023. 🙂
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The Happy Parents to Be!
We Love Our Family!
Veronica and Brian Brought Dessert 🙂
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February 2, 2023
I love this movie! Happy to write my first blog posting of the year on this day.
I’ve actually got the movie going off on a loop directly behind me. 🙂
I’ve been very late this year in starting a new blogging page. I’ve just been busy doing other things. I’m also desperately trying to catch up with some other website pages I want to complete. I know, it’s the same old song I’ve been singing for years, but it’s true.
My Piles Around the House
For the past few years I have had what I refer to as “piles”, around my house. The piles are future projects that I want to work on. Whether they be themes, recipes, or crafts. Any pile of mine consists of items related to that particular project that I want to get to. I did make a deal with myself last summer that I wouldn’t create anymore piles until I had gone through the ones I already have out. I honestly figured that I would be ‘pile free’ by January of this year. WRONG! Currently I have 7 piles in the den. That translates to 7 different projects. I have 3 piles located in the kitchen/nook area, 4 piles in the dining room area, 1 in our bedroom, and I believe that may be it. So, until I have gone through 15 piles I am not going to create any new ones. That is very hard for me to resist because I come up with ideas all the time and I am basically having to ignore them and not act on them. For a creative person that is almost an impossibility.
I also think that Gordon and I are getting tired. We are both missing our old favorite foods and not really wanting to create anything new because we want to go back to our old favorites for a while. Oh, don’t write us off yet. We’ve still got lots of stuff to create right now, we’re just trying to wind it down and finish what we have for now.
We also have a grandchild that will be born this summer! 🙂
Our Peanuku 🙂
(That means peanut in Hawaiian.)
And trust me, I already have lots of projects in mind inspired by our Peanuku.
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Twitter and Instagram
I’m still active on Twitter in spite of the sale of it. I can tell a big difference from how it used to be. It seems as if a lot of good people have left. And perhaps things may get even worse but, I’m on it for now. I even have someone that I admire the hell out of following me! I don’t want to say her name, I don’t want to jinx it but, let’s just say that if I loose her I will cry for days and Gordon will have to talk me down from a ledge. Every morning I look to see if she is still following me. 🙂 Someday I will write about her. She has a very interesting story and I’m just glad that she sees me as worth following.
I have started following a few people on Instagram that I never thought that I would. I decided that if I am going to look at her postings of her pregnancy, the least I can do is to do it legitimately without sneaking around. I don’t particularly like her, but she’s about to give birth and she is one of those influencer’s out there. I guess because I’m going to be a grandmother I want to see the kinds of people that will be an influence. Not that my daughter will ever take her advice on anything however, that does trickle down to others that my daughter may come in contact with. I just don’t like the shallowness of our culture at this time. Sincere deep thinkers don’t seem to get much traction, but a shallow millionaire influencer does.
February
We have a lot planned for February that I am very excited to do. I won’t mention what yet but, I know that my birthday will be small and casual. A few days prior to my birthday we will be having a good 2 feasts of food, and I want our same heart shaped pizzas that we got last year for Valentine’s Day. They were so good! But, I will be fine with just some sort of cake and ice cream on my big day turning 62. This will be an important birthday for me seeing as how my son-in-law just lost his mother in January, she was 61. I do write about it in my 2022 blog. I was looking forward to co-grandparenting with her. It’s all still very sad and raw for everyone. I know that we are all sad that she will never know Brian and Veronica’s child.
Winter and Spring (Cleaning)
My goals for the rest of winter and spring are to clean out the garage and organize it. Right now we have 2 cabinets and a mirror in the guest bathroom shower. Not good! It’s time that we got rid of a few things to make room for what we want to keep. I have a feeling that Irish family is coming over to America this summer and we need to make some room for them. The thing is that organizing takes time. This is not some weekend project. It may just take a good month or two. The end results will be worth it.
Well, I think I’m coming to an end to my very first posting for this year. Sorry it isn’t more interesting. I want to get back to blogging, like I used to. I’ve got some fun things to write about in mind.
Thank you for being here. I appreciate you way more than you know!
Julie