Happy New Year one and all.

We are blessed each January 1st to have a fresh new year ahead of us. Like a book with unwritten pages. Pages we can fill with what we want to be there. Of course there may be a few footnotes along the way but it's your book....so make it one that will make you happy!!!

Today is also one filled with traditions and being from the South....boy...do we have some traditions to uphold today. I already have a small pot of black eyed peas a cooking, some greens and later on will be adding to our New Year's day dinner some corn bread and pork chops. Now most, no matter where you're from probably know why we eat all these things today but just in case you don't...well....let me tell ya. The peas represent pennies we want to have during the year, the greens represent well of course "green" as in dollars, the corn bread represents gold (who doesn't want gold, eh?) and pork well that represents moving forward. Piggies root always in a forward motion and moving forward is a good thing, especially in a new year. Keep the past in the past and that brings another tradition in mind. Did ya take down those Christmas decorations before the 1st? My grandmother use to say to always remember to take them down no later than Dec 31st because you don't want the old year following ya into the new. A very good point for some of us, ri iight?? A new one I learned when the mister and I got married was one that his momma was very strict about. Never and she would stress NEVER do any clothes washing on the 1st because if you did, you were washing a loved one right outa your life. Not sure about this one but just to be on the safe side, I always make sure all the laundry is done on the 31st and not a stitch more is done until after the 1st. I know that may sound silly but HEY....traditions, some are not made to be broken!! (at least I know I'm not going to tempt fate)

This time of the year brings those loved ones I've lost (temporarily....I will see them again) to mind more for me than just about any other time. I guess because it is a new year starting and one that I know they are not going to be here for. I have learned to let my heavy heart and sadness go and remember all the good memories and that is a wonderful way to walk into a new year. One memory I would like to share with YOU is one that you could make part of your new year's day feast. My big mama's heavenly corn bread recipe. Now of course she made this more than just new year's day because I don't think I ever spent a January 1st with her but she did make it each time we came to visit and "Boy oh Boy" (smacking my lips) was it good. There were times I just ate corn bread and milk. (the corn bread was in my glass of milk too...makes it taste even better..hehe) Here's the recipe so you can just find out for yourself how good.

Ingredients needed:
1/2 cup butter
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt

Directions to make:
*Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease an 8 inch square pan.
*Melt butter in large skillet. Remove from heat and stir in sugar. Quickly add eggs and beat until well      blended. Combine buttermilk with baking soda and stir into mixture. Stir in cornmeal, flour and salt until well blended and a few lumps remain. (which means don't over mix) Pour batter into 8 inch square pan.
*Bake in preheated oven for 30-40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Eat and enjoy!!!

I hope that everyone has a wonderful, prosperous and adventure filled 2014 year. I hope that you will come here and visit often too throughout the year. YOU are always welcome!!!

Until next time............Hugs,
Regi

Happy December...Are YOU ready?

Oops....just how did December sneak up on me so fast? HEHE....I love this time of year but am soooo not ready for it....not by a long shot!! How about YOU?

Thanksgiving was a wonderful time....spent it with friends and family. Got to see both of my sisters and their families...something we haven't done in some time and of course we spent time with the Mister's family as well. Love those nieces, nephews and **GULP** great nieces and nephews. Yes, I'm old....WAIT..no I'm not...my nieces and nephews just started really young..HA!!

I have been putting up our Christmas decorations or at least trying to. I have the flu...nasty lil bugger!! I'm not one to complain or let anything get in my way when it comes to decorating but I have to admit, it has slowed me down. I will get it done though...I have 20 days to go. (that means there are only 20 days remaining until Christmas....just in case you were wondering)

Until next time...........Hugs,
Regi

Wordless Wednesday..

Chaz the Wizard!!!

OMGOSH...I can't believe we pulled one over on our Chazman. Poor dear is as gullible as his momma. HaHa   I would have loved to have gotten this on video and of course at the time...arrrggg...my batteries were going low. (Something keeps draining the dang things.....I guess it's our little ghostly housemate) See if you can guess what we were able to pull over on him by these photos.

Oh the games we play....on our kiddos..hehe!!! Did you guess what was happening? Want me to tell you? No!!  Well, alrightie then....keep thinking. While you are thinking about what could be happening, here is what our cat thought about it.

Ms. Peaches would look at Chaz and the reindeer and then turn and look at us when my giggles turned into full out laughter. She was getting rather confuzzled I do believe. She finally walked over to me.

Meoooome...(that's what she calls me....really..it is) "Please tell me what's happening...I'm getting purrrrfectly confused over our human child's reactions out there". Have you guessed yet? Ready for me to tell you? It's really funny and we all laughed so hard over it....that is after the Chazman got over being very upset with us.  You see, his daddikins was standing in the door way and every time Chaz would take the broom and hit the ground he would either turn the light switch on or off...that made the lights on the reindeer either be ON or OFF.....ROFL!!! The reason the Chazman got so upset is because he thought that he was doing magic. It almost made me not want to tell him it wasn't him but I decided it might be best to go ahead and fess up. I mean he might try flying next and that could really turn out bad. Once he got over the angry/mad/upset/I can't believe you would do that to me stage..he giggled and then laughed.

A memory can be built on the smallest thing. When you get the chance to help that memory be one that will be long remembered....make it!!!

Until next time...........HUGS, Regi

Three little Mermaids!!

I don't believe it....I mean...I REALLY.....don't believe it!! Really....can YOU believe it? Can you? Huh Huh??Ohhhh, I guess I had better tell you what I can't believe. I'm sure you aren't going to believe it either though. I finished my niece's Christmas gifts today. I know....it's hard to believe, ri iight?? Those that know me....know that normally I am burning the WAY past midnight oil whenever I am working on gifts. What am I going to do with myself now? I already feel lost from not having to be busy at trying to get something done. WOW...is this what it actually feels like? To not be rushed? I LIKE IT!!!

Like....a word that we all want to hear when we make something for someone special to us. Well....LOVE would be better but with two of my nieces being teenagers...I will take...I like it!!! My youngest niece turned 7 this year and is such a little woman...really..she is. I sometimes forget when I'm talking to her that she is only a youngin but then she goes and does something completely silly and just like a normal 7 year old would do and I remember...LOL!! Since she is a young lady now...along with her sisters, I decided to make them each a jewelry box. Something to hold their precious treasures in. To guard their treasures there is none better than a true keeper of treasures...even if they are land ones and not from the sea. Each box is hand painted with one of my mermaids.

This one is for my oldest niece. She is a HUGE LSU fan and I do mean HUGE. One of those that probably bleeds purple and yellow. I wouldn't know because I run for the hills whenever I see blood. Ewww!! But I bet a dollar that she does. Since she is such a HUGE fan I painted her mermaid with a (yep, ya guessed) a purple and yellow scaled tail. She also has brown eyes and dark hair just like my niece. I also made the gift tag to go along with it.

This one is for my next to oldest niece. I know that I could have said middle niece but we don't say that. Have you ever heard about the middle child syndrome? She hasn't because we say next to oldest and that's the way we want to keep it..LOL!!  She is a HUGE, ummmmm......that other university from Alabama...you know the one. I don't know what happened to her mom...she is one of THOSE too. We were raised that ________ was a bad word so I just don't know what happened. OMGOSH...alright...I will say it......auburn.  There...are you happy now?? hehe.  Since she does love Auburn so much I painted her mermaid with a orange and blue scaled tail. Her eyes are blue and her hair is red with golden highlights....yep...just like my adorable next to oldest niece. Here is her gift tag too.

Finally...last but by no means least, is the mermaid for my Li'l lady of a niece. She just loves everyone and everything so her mermaid I painted a purple tail with light green scales. She has light brown eyes and golden brown locks...yes...just like my little sweetie pie. Li'l miss was actually a mermaid last year....ohh yes she was. In the ballet "Peter Pan". She was, of course, adorable and nothing like her very shy aunt. She loves a crowd.
Her keepsake box has a gift tag too.

Now.....I hope to hear "I LOVE IT" but I will be just as happy with "I LIKE IT".  We are looking forward to spending some time with them on Saturday night. The kiddos will get their gifts...then we will be eating some delicious red beans and rice (my BIL is a true Cajun and owww weeeeee one heck of a cook) then eat some yummy sweet goodies and probably watch a movie together or play a game. Family...is what makes this time of year special.

Now....what can I start working on now.....................................

Until next time......HUGS, Regi

What a weekend!!!!!

Those of you that visit my old Southern ooaks know that I sometimes write about more than just my muse and her antics. (that means my art for those that don't know about my "muse" and you should come visit more often if you don't because she can be VERY whimsical) ^_^   This post is about the wonderful weekend we had. Remember back in APRIL when we had stopped by the 100th+ celebration of our local B&B. (For heavens sakes...it hasn't been that long ago. I see you shaking your head. Just click on the word APRIL that I typed in that fancy type and refresh those noggins..hehe) We finally got to spend a night there and it was AWESOME!!!  The Chazman said it best, "Wow Mom...if you don't look out the windows you would think we were in another time" and it was like stepping back into another time period. The place is a true Southern beauty.

 High ceilings with all the ornate trim work, amazing chandeliers and antique furnishings that looked to be from the original 1908 period when the inn was first built.

All the rooms are decorated differently and all are simply breathtaking BUT we had the best room in the Inn...the Bridal suite.

Not that we used it for that purpose. I mean come on folks, we did have our 8yr old with us who INSISTED on sleeping in the bed with us (between us at that). It was a HUGE bed and under normal circumstances it would have been a good night's sleep. Well, it was a good night for ONE of us and to give you a hint..it sure wasn't the hubbikins or me. Thank the good LORD that I do not share a bed with my youngin every night and for who EVER he marries (in about another 20 years) I will have pity on her...really...I will!!!! I might even warn her ahead of time. Yeah...that would be being a good mother in law. Totally getting off the subject matter here. When the Chazman sleeps he is like a bucket of worms...the big ones that are all trying to wiggle to the bottom so they can't be pulled out and put on the end of the fishing line. This kiddo can squirm and wiggle better than any. I think a few times he actually tried to kick one or both of us out of the bed. It was still a wonderful time together. We walked around the inn and admired all the furnishings and photos. We even had a door leading outside to the wrap around porch (with a table and chairs) so that we could sit and just enjoy the breeze. It was a bit warm still in the afternoon or early evening but it was very nice Sunday morning sitting and drinking our coffee. Yes...while the Chazman snored away laying across the bed he finally had complete control of.

If you ever find yourself coming to visit our little "busy" town then make a point to at least walk into the Hotel Magnolia  and take your step back into time.

Our weekend didn't end with our departure from the Inn....oh nooo...a great Sunday afternoon adventure began. We haven't gone to the beach much this summer and the Chazman has been wanting to go so we decided that we would go. I was really surprised that there weren't many folks at the beach (wait til this weekend...WOW..it will be filled to max capacity for sure) We found our little spot to set our chairs up in. (after all of Chaz's ouuuu's and owwww's from walking on the hot sand and having the nerve to say "Carry me mom, ppplease". OMGOSH..like I could if I even wanted to..this boy is getting BIG) After putting on our sunscreen, we walked out into the ocean. We had to watch in places as the seaweed was abundant!!! The perfect place for certain sea creatures to hide out in and wait for that unsuspecting human to put their foot down. OMGOSH.....I'm so happy that we saw IT before it saw us and of course we just had to chase it. Thank goodness it was more afraid of us than we were of it. Well, as long as it was running AWAY from us we were brave. ^_^ Ohhhh, what was the creature? It was one of these..........

Can you tell from this photo just what we were chasing and very thankful it didn't turn to pursue US? Here is a shot when it is on the shore...out of the water...and looking a WHOLE lot meaner!!!

Our pursuit stopped dead in it's tracks then. Yeppers...my momma didn't raise a complete fool and I'm not raising one at all. The Chazman said that we need to just let this guy go on it's way.....far.....far...away!!!!  Now there were quiet a few of these lil boogers on the beach and do you know what other creature they tend to bring in closer...which we got a first hand up close look at. These guys.....

and these guys.............which were perfectly happy catching the small horseshoe crabs that were so enjoying hiding in the seaweed. Well at least they thought they were hiding. We had a few bigger feathered friends that joined in the seaweed buffet as well.

I have never seen so much nature in one place at the same time. It was overwhelming but in a good way. We definitely had some whimsical entertainment the whole afternoon. After we sat and watched these feathered friends the Chazzer and I decided to wade back into the water. YIKES....as soon as we walked out this is what floated by.....

Now I'm not that great of a photographer so my clear little friend we saw didn't want his picture taken so I borrowed this so you could see. A jelly fish. It's amazing so small a creature and one that seems completely harmless can hurt a person so badly. I didn't bring the vinegar with us (next time for sure I will) so we decided to get out of the water for a few more minutes and let it float on by or become part of the delicious buffet that was going on. While we were sitting in our chairs and eating a few crackers (and being laughed at and told "mine mine mine" by those pesky seagulls) a few more sea friends decided to entertain us. This is another borrowed photo as my little camera does not have a zoom lens and we actually have the smaller darker dolphins here with the exception of the albino dolphin that lives in the bay with a pod of the darker ones.

I could have watched these comical characters the rest of the afternoon. Apparently the seafood buffet was stretching way out there. They must have gone back and forth in the area we were in for at least 40 minutes. Jumping up in the air (and the more us that laughed and cheered the more jumping they did) flipping their tails and just having the best time. I have always been amazed by dolphins. So intelligent and curious...always smiling...no matter what. Chaz decided it was time to get back in the water...he wanted to try and get them to come up closer. I told him that they were having to much fun playing and showing off but at least in the water we could get a tad closer to them. Hubbikins decided he would get in this time with us. I think he thought that they might come a tad closer too and he didn't want to miss that opportunity either.

Have you ever had a seaweed throwing contest? Well we did and I discovered that hubby doesn't play fair. He would be looking at the Chazzer and the next thing I know I was getting whacked with it. That's ok though...he got his several times too. While we were ducking and dodging I suddenly had an electrical shock go up my leg. I mean it HURT!! Hubby started laughing at me because he said that I looked like something had just...completely...."OUCH" he hollers...seems he got shocked too. (snicker snicker) I looked down and to my surprise...it seems we surprised one of our local rays. Depending on size they can deliver quite a "shock" but thankfully these were small ones. Whew!!!

See I told you it was an adventure and one that I'm so happy that we were there for. Even if some of it was a bit "shocking".  The Chazman is ready to go back this weekend. I'm not so sure though....Labor Day weekend....we will have to see!!

Until next time.............HUGS!!!!