Showing posts with label this and that. Show all posts
Showing posts with label this and that. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Wednesday Night - Trip Photos and More

It's Wednesday night and it's getting late, but I wanted to reach out and connect with you before getting ready for bed. 

Today is the first day in well over a week that I didn't have to be somewhere else. I spent the day cleaning house, doing laundry, cooking large-batch items and spliting-up and repackaging meat and other grocery items that I purchased yesterday. I normally do that as soon as I get home from grocery shopping, but I was so tired last night that I just shoved everything in the fridge and saved it for today. 

I haven't posted a menu plan for over two weeks now and it's so late in the week that it seems pointless, but here's what I'm thinking for the remainder of the week...

Thursday - Grand Greek Salad with Swiss Garlic Bread
Friday - Eggroll in a Bowl
Saturday - Crispy Siesta Salmon over a bed of sauteed zucchini
Sunday - Fakertot Casserole

Trip photos...

As promised in last night's post, I will be posting trip photos as I can. 

Our first stop on last week's road trip was at the Montier Cemetery in Shannon County, Missouri. That's where a lot of my dad's people are buried. Here's a picture of me at my great-grandparents grave...

Me at Great-Grandpa and Grandma's Grave

My Great-Grandparents
James Monroe McCann and Annie Lee Stephenson McCann
Sadly, one corner of their stone has been knocked off.

Aunt Maxine and Uncle Chalmer
(My Dad's Sister and Her Husband)
Bill Martin and His Wife, Hermina
(My Dad's First and Closest Cousin)

After visiting the cemetery, which we hadn't done since 2004 (20 years!), we headed deeper into the Ozark Mountains as we made our way across the state. Both of these photos were taken in Shannon County.

On the Road in Shannon County

The Current River

It wasn't long and we were in all new-to-me territory...further east than I had ever been. I'm not going to post much more tonight, but will give you a sneak peak as to what's next...


As we pushed into southeast Missouri, these unusually tall and beautiful flowers started appearing along the edges of the highway. They were everywhere and were definitely something that I had never seen before. It turns out that they are one of Missouri's largest native wildflowers...a type of wild hibiscus called Hairy Rose Mallow. The flower are huge (nearly 6" across) and are quite beautiful!

That's all for tonight. I'll post more road trip photos soon!

Until then...
~Rebecca

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Tuesday, August 20, 2024

Touching Base and Catching Up

Life is moving fast and there's so much going on that I find it hard to keep up.



A week ago today, during the wee hours of the morning, I shared a post about how my birthday started...which was spectacular...but it only got better from there.



Later on that same morning the Lord answered several prayers that only He could answer and I was overwhelmed with His goodness.



That evening I was invited to Patrick and Amber's for a special meal and a wonderfully delicious birthday dessert...Trim Healthy Mama cheesecake...yum! I was blessed with such an outpouring of love by family and friends that I was overcome with emotion. 



The next morning, Amanda, Aaron, Aaron's mom, Lisa, and the girls and headed east for a fun and exciting adventure! 



Lisa, nor I, neither one, had ever visited the southeast part of our state (Missouri) and Amanda has been trying to get me to Cape Girardeau for something like 18 years. 



We had a grand adventure and I will share more about it as I can over the course of the coming days. 



In the meantime, it's been a long day and I've got to head for bed. I will be with you again soon.

Until then...
~Rebecca

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Thursday, February 1, 2024

Hello, February!



It's an absolutely lovely day here on the tallgrass prairie of southwest Missouri today...65 degrees and sunny! No crocuses yet, but soon, I'm sure...especially if this nice weather continues as it's supposed to.

Amanda and Aaron weren't able to make it down this week, so, after Bible study last night, Amanda and I got together via Facebook Messenger and laid the initial plans for several upcoming events. We will get together soon to fine-tune and execute.

Well, I will go for now. I just wanted to stop in and wish you a beautiful First Day of February! Anything special going on your end today?

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Sunday, January 7, 2024

Getting Back in the Groove

I've been out the loop so long that there's no point in even trying to catch up. 



I will say that I had an absolutely lovely holiday season. It seemed like one long continuous Christmas extravaganza starting with Family Christmas on December 9th and carrying right on through and into the New Year. 



So many good times were shared with family and friends and, in the midst of it, I don't think I posted a single picture on this blog to look back on. I am posting a few throughout this post. 



At the end of the holiday seaon I was exhausted...extremely blessed, but totally exhausted! I'm just now getting rested up and finding my way back into a pattern of some sort of normalcy.



I got the last of the Christmas decorations put away on Friday...that is...except for the single strings of lights that I'm leaving up in the kitchen, livingroom, and bedroom. I'm not quite ready to do away with their brightness and color yet!



Well, it's getting late. I just wanted to drop in and say something...ANYTHING! I've missed visiting with you.



I've got so much on my heart and mind. There are so many things going on and there's much to do. At present I'm just trying to get myself settled down, sorted out, and back in the groove. I will be with you again soon!

Until then...
~Rebecca

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Heart-shaped Cash Gift Idea

 




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Saturday, December 9, 2023

One of Those Rare Saturdays and Family Christmas Traditions

This is one of those rare Saturdays that I'm not at work. Today is Family Christmas!




(And I cannot wait to see the latest issue of The Family Christmas Chronicle that Patrick and Amber's family publishes each year as a gift for the whole family! YEAH!)

The tradition of having Family Christmas the second Saturday in December developed years ago when Amanda, was working for a state park north of Kansas City. It was the only weekend that she could get off during the Christmas season due to the park closing to host a managed deer hunt each year.

Even though Amanda no longer works for state parks, after doing it this way for over a decade and a half, we decided to just keep the tradition. This frees up each individual family within the clan to spend Christmas Day on their own with their children, out of town, with in-laws, or however they choose. It works well for all of us and my husband and I never minded deferring to our children and their in-laws on Christmas Day. 

John and I were so blessed when our own children were growing up. We were both only children and holidays weren't complicated.

My Mom and I - Christmas 1966

John Back in the Day in His Naruh Jacket
Still makes me giggle! 😄

When our children were young Christmas was celebrated at our house and we hosted his mom and my parents. Sometimes my mother-in-law would come over on Christmas Eve and spend the night with us. That always made Christmas even more special!

This is my third Christmas season without John. Even though I greatly look forward to sharing the afternoon and evening with my children and grands, I still feel the loss of my husband and, as I prepare to go, I am acutely aware of his absence. 

John - Christmas Eve 1987

Christmas was always so special to us! John proposed to me on Christmas Eve and we married on Valentine's Day. 

Christmas Eve 1987

John and I always celebrated Christmas Eve with homemade lasagna, homemade bread, and sparkling grape juice. 

When the kids were young, he and I would wait until they were asleep and then late into the night we would exchange gifts and have our own little celebration of sorts. 


After the children were grown and married, John and I continued to celebrate Christmas Eve with lasagna, homemade bread, and sparkling grape juice. Any of the children and their families that could join us was welcome to do so. 

Christmas Eve Lasagna With the Fam

Even without John here now I have tried to keep the Christmas Eve lasagna tradition going and plan to keep that tradition going for as long as possible. 

Well, I have much more that I would like to share with you, but time is running short and I need to get the last minute details of my food put together and get things loaded up for transport to Patrick and Amber's. 

Thank you for listening to my reminiscent ramblings. I pray that you and yours are having a lovely Saturday!

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Thursday, November 16, 2023

An Improptu Trip To Branson

As part of an upcoming wedding celebration the kids were invited to meet friends from Arkansas for supper in Branson last night. Details weren't ironed out until yesterday morning and I was invited to ride along and hang out if I wanted to. 

Of course I wanted to! I love Branson and hadn't visited since John and I made our last trip together in 2018, but I had a couple of things that needed to be rescheduled in order to go. Well, I swung into full gear, got things rearranged in a hurry, and off I went!



While in Branson we stopped at the Ruth and Paul Henning Conservation Area and walked the Dewey Bald Trail. The kids climbed the 40-foot viewing tower that is located at the top.







We drove the 76 Strip...



...caught the sunset over Table Rock...



...enjoyed supper at Cracker Barrel with a whole host of lovely young people (who chose to 'dress up' just for fun!)...







...and, afterwards, before leaving town, decided to drive Shepherd of the Hill's 'Trail of Lights'. It was all so lovely and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves!









We did all that and still managed to get home at a reasonable hour. What a totally fun and unexpected mid-week trip! 

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Friday, December 23, 2022

Merry Christmas Eve Eve

As my children always proclaimed on the 23rd of December, "It's Christmas Eve Eve!" and I hope you're having a great one!

White-out Conditions on the Tallgrass Prairie
Yesterday Afternoon

The kittens and I weathered yesterday's storm without incident and, even though temperatures are still very cold (6 degrees with a windchill of -12), the sun is shining and, from here on, we only go up. The best part is, it will stay cold enough, just long enough. that we will get to enjoy a white Christmas this year! 

Snow Drifts Along a Country Road

Amanda called earlier. She and her family should be here sometime mid-afternoon. They will spend the night here, then head on to Springfield in the morning.

(By the way, Amanda started her own blog! Check it out by clicking HERE!) 💗

I have to work tomorrow. Come late afternoon (I can see it now) I'll be like Bob Cratchit chomping at the bit to get back to hearth and home where warmth and glowing lights await me. I'll throw my scarf around my neck, lock the doors, and hurry home to feast with family. 😆 

Mervyn Johns as Bob Cratchit
A Christmas Carol 1951

So, how are you spending Christmas Eve Eve? What are you most looking forward to over the weekend?


However you're spending your day today and, whatever you're most looking forward to over the Christmas holiday, I'm wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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