Just got back from Houston last night after being there for 5 days. I went to see dear friends that I have known for 30 yrs. All of us have gone through so many trying times, illnesses, divorces, prodical children,  job changes, house buying and selling, shopping for Christmas, new fad diets, having grandchildren, some of our parents dying and many other topics. We don’t see each other as often as we would like, but when we do, it is like we are together every day of our lives. It just never takes us long to feel the closeness or the loving friendship which always is such a blessing, especially to me. Cindy and Cathy are twins who have adopted me as their “sister” in more than just the name. They treat me like I am a part of their family. The laughter and the love which abounds is just something very special. Since I am an only child, it is wonderful to have these precious “sister’s” in my life.  They love it when I come down and just automatically begin to arrange their furniture, in fact, they expect it. Cathy felt slighted when I didn’t walk in and begin to arrange.  Before leaving yesterday, my eyes began to roam around the room and Cindy said, “oh no, she is getting in her arranging mood, I can just see it” and sure enough, whilel Randy began to carry suitcases to the car, I started moving counces, chairs and tables. I just couldn’t leave without changing something. Of couse, Cindy had to go get the Pledge and dust cloth so we began a “room makeover” before leaving. The 3 days before, we had sat and made 28 wreaths while munching on brownines and ice cream! Once, on the road to home, I began to think of them and all the memories we have had over the last 30 yrs. Each year becomes a little harder to make time, but each time we do see each other, also becomes a little more special. These are just precious friends who mean the world to me and who continue to open their hearts to not only me, but to our family. God has blessed me in so many ways, and I just want to thank Him for the blessing of their friendship……..they will never know what a blessing they are to me, thank you Cinday and Cathy for your love, your hearts and sharing your lives with me! Can’t wait till next time.

This time of the year just gets me in the mood to stay in the kitchen. Even though the temp outside is still in the 90’s, in my mind, it is fall and the fall decor has already found it’s way into my house. The fall trees are up and the mums and croton’s have taken the place of the begonias outside. If you are like me, and just enjoy having a little more time with the extra lights around the house, let me encourage you to go ahead and get those little Christmas trees out of the attic and get them decorated with fall swags, leaves, pumpkins and fall flowers filling in between the branches. They sit right inside our front door and even the neighbors have told us that they enjoy driving by and seeing the lights up. I was just never satisfied with the 3 or 4 weeks of Christmas lights. So now I have them from Sept through Christmas, just changing out the decor around Thanksgiving.

Today, I am preparing lunch for some ladies tomorrow. I had promised them a real Southern meal of Paula Deen Chicken Fried Steak, Mashed potatoes, green beans and chocolate cream pie, so that is the menu tomorrow. Just finished the chocolate cream pie with whipped cream and since we are having a few  more than expected, am headed off to bake a chocolate sheet cake, just in case.

Just had to tell you about yesterday. I was scheduled for blood work and had been fasting overnight, which brings me to also mention that how many people really get up in the middle of the night to eat, but anyway, back to story, they of course want you to weigh in the minute they take you behind the “door”. So there I am slipping off anything that might add a pound or two to the scale, earrings, bracelets, shoes, glasses and I found myself sucking in my stomach the minute I stepped on to the scale. I started laughing and the nurse asked me what I was laughing about. I told her, “did you see me suck in my stomach, like that is going to take off a pound or two?” She started to laugh and told me that that was a first. She had never had anyone suck in their tummie hoping to weigh lighter. We were laughing going down the hall and she thanked me for making her day. I’m glad it did, it certainly didn’t mine. I was still remembering the number on the scale and what it said, knowing that I must have not sucked my tummy in far enough.