Thanksgiving.

I am wishing all my blogger family A Happy Thanksgiving now. My parents are driving up today and will be here until Saturday ( prayers please). And I won't have much time to be on here until after they go.

I hope you all have a wonderful, and blessed Holiday. Prayers for you all, for our troops and those who can't be home this day to spend it with their loved ones, and Special prayers for our country, and this tumultuous time we are experiencing..

God Bless,
JUGM and Family

The Wedding Bells Rang...

We could not have asked for more beautiful weather then what was given to us on Saturday.
It was like a picture post card jumped to life : Clear blue sky, cool breeze, temps in the low 80s. We prayed and God Blessed us.
 My niece walked down the aisle surrounded by her family and friends she met her Prince Charming   and they both said "I Do".  She has been such a good christian girl, and faithful daughter to her parents. And for that they worked for a full year to give their only child the fairy tale wedding she always dreamed of.

 

This is a pose the photographer thought of and one he likes

to do prior to the wedding..

after he snapped his,

I did mine

in black and white of course:

 

 

My niece and her Prince Charming...

( yes he is a LT in the Army Reserves, we had hoped he was navy

but not every one is completely perfect..lol)

 

 

 



 



My Productive Day

I must say I have been quite busy this morning. Did two loads of laundry, put all that up. Prepped the boys baseball uniforms for tonight's game. ( whatever will they do with out mom doing their uniforms when they hit the major leagues? ) 

Went through their closets and cleaned out clothes that are getting small. Then, Cleaned out and re-organized our linen closet. How many times in a year does one do that? I then opened up my scrap book closet and some horrible closet monster has got in there and disorganized the living daylights out of it. Before I start on that task, I thought I would take a break and do a blog post.

I have the ball rolling on my nieces wedding shower. Yesterday, my Sicilian friend ( aka "Sicily") with her newly acquired citizenship got together, and with "Big Baby" sitting on her lap she helped me make these awesome home made invitations:

Yes every thing is cut out by  hand, even that dress..  33 to be exact. I could have bought a cartridge for my die cut machine, but I would not use it a lot, so why spend the money.  And I got a used "You're Invited" stamp off eBay for $1.99. 
Okay, so I will let you all in on a little secret, another lady is giving my niece a "tea party" bridal shower, and she made "tea cups" as the invites...well the proverbial line was drawn in the sand, and I had to cross it.. I hope these look good. However, I still think they need something else.
Sicily said "No, they look pretty just the way we made them".
On the inside of course is all the "what, where, and RSVP stuff"

So now that I have shared my day with all of you good folks, it is back to the scrap book closet and the mess that monster made, then off to the cleaners, get the boys from school, come home fix a small dinner for them then off to baseball ! 

Have a good Thursday!

-JUGM

Big Baby and U.S. Citizenship

One of my friends and neighbor is from Sicily, she moved here about 8 years ago after marrying her husband who was stationed in the navy at NAS Sigonella, Sicily. 
5 months ago they had their first child, a robust bouncing baby boy, who has more spare tires then the Michelin Man.  Therefore when talking about him on this blog he will be forever known as "Big Baby" .

I got asked to baby sit him today for a couple of hours so she could go to the immigration office to do her interview and test to become a citizen.  Not sure what they would ask she went over everything from the pilgrims all the way to current events.
Her husband had the day off originally, but was told he had to work, So I sent her out the door this morning with the big bundle of joy in my arms. She was very nervous but excited at the prospect of finally becoming a U.S Citizen.

Big Baby was a joy. All he wanted to do was be held,and I obliged. It has been seven years since I had a baby, so of course I was rusty on certain things-like some of these new advanced bottles they have out.   Senior called a few times to check on how I was doing but told me in no way was I to bring Big Baby home....   : (  

After about two hours, his mom called happy and excited that she had passed and was on her way to being a citizen, she brought back lunch and as we ate, she told me about the test taking :

FYI To become a citizen of the USA, a person gets asked one written question..hers was: " What month do we celebrate Presidents Day"?

Then, a person is asked 10 out of 100 possible verbal questions. They have to answer six correctly. Ones that she was asked today are these:

 "When is the 4th of July"?  ( no kidding)
" Who is the current President" ?
"Who is the current Vice President"?
"Where is the White House"?
"What ocean is on the east side of the United States"?
"What country is to the north of the United States"?

If you answer the first six questions correctly they do not ask the other four.

I  sat there, eating with Cheshire cat kind of grin on my face, her sarcasm expressed my thoughts. So much for all the studying..next she is to wait for a piece of mail to tell her when the ceremony is.
After lunch, and getting the inner knowledge of becoming a Citizen, I collected my things, gave the mom a hug, and squeezed Big Baby's overly chubby cheeks..he in turn said his "goodbye" with slobber.

-JUGM

Camping Trip

Got back yesterday from our yearly camping trip with our good buddy Rebel and his lovely family.
Weather was great, company was awesome. We rode bikes, and ate too much. Especially ice cream and dutch oven peach cobbler.
Kids wore themselves out  playing and driving Rebels teenage daughter nuts... They always wanted an older sister, this past weekend they got the experience of what it was like to have one.
Then her boyfriend showed up..... 

Saturday we rode our bikes into the historical section of Jekyll Island. This was the playground of the rich and famous during the late 1800's and early 1900s.
It is the birthplace of the Federal Reserve aka : "The Beast of Jekyll"  and the spot where in 1915 the very first transcontinental telephone call took place.

"Millionaires Row" is here, that is the lane with the cottages of folks like the Rockefeller's, Goodyear's, J.P Morgan and others....  Below is a pic of the infamous "Jekyll Island Club Hotel" A place full of scandal, and history.  You had to be a member of the club in order to build a cottage here. Which meant you had to have money, and lots of it.

Another "summer cottage" of one of those rich evil capitalist....

Libby came along for her first camping trip, she was a hit and loved by Rebels family...

I took ND over to the local pier and we saw that a great white had swallowed a witch, he thought it was funny and wanted me to snap a pic...because its not every day a kid see's a witch coming out of the mouth of a shark.

 

Then the sun set and we got bored around the campfire. It was then that the boyfriend suggested for giggles we melt a bottle....so we did. It was cool. The kids loved it and thought it a good experiment.

 

Sunday morning  came  and it was time to say "bye" and "see ya later" to our good friends, and one of my favorite places to visit. Hopefully it won't take another year to go back, camp , and hang out with good friends...
 
JUGM

A Jerky Kind of Day

The headlines today  make me a bit nausea's. Like the almost half a million people who have all ready lost their health insurance because of Obamacare, my parents are scared they are about to as well. It is another reminder of how frustrated and angry I get with those who voted for this, now we are seeing the results of their poor choice.

The cool weather continues, boys got to finally wear jeans and light jackets to school.
Yesterday, Senior got in the attic and brought down my box of fall decorations, The boys helped me in cleaning up the house, just so they could partake in the assistance of decorating it for fall. They felt my fake foam pumpkins were soccer balls and began kicking them across the front yard..  BOYS!

This morning I was up earlier then usual and laid out a sliced and marinated London broil on our dehydrator, yes it's jerky making day.
Senior said it smelled like Gyros and the house reminds him of Greece. Well, When I do my marinades it is whatever I have in the cabinets.  This time it included some "Cowboy Rub" brown sugar,  water , Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and a little bit of onion and garlic powders.. 
" Every think but the kitchen sink" meat rubs or marinades are all ways the best

After about 6 hours in the dehydrator it was ready to come off for a taste testing, and I can assure you that it did not taste anything like a Gyro. 
My marinade concoction leaves you with a wonderful after taste and had the kids and Senior begging for more. I can't keep the little and big hands out of the baggies.

It is all packed up now, and ready to go on a weekend camping trip with us. No place too far away..just a yearly get away with one of our best friends and his family.

-JUGM

And Lastly Today.....

 

Very True.......

 

 

 

What do you do When...

The moment you have waited for 3 years finally arrives? This happened to me this morning.

 I Was out for coffee with friends, when I look across at the Chick -Fila counter and there she stood: The one person that ruined my entire scrap booking life.

It is a long and sorted story, basically I confided in "DC", about a private issue with our scrap book leader aka “Mama Chick”    She gave me the advice that If I was having a problem to go talk to Mama Chick about it. " You guys are such good friends..it will be okay"  So I took DC's advice...boy was I wrong.

 Little did I know that DH had called Mama Chick, embellished it all and made it something it wasn't.

 

 After that I was considered “catty” and shunned from their inner circle. My feelings were hurt. I thought these women my friends…  I know had they been real friends, they would have never treated me  that way, and I would have been asked my side of the situation. I would have been given an opportunity to defend myself.

  “Mama Chick”  also blocked me on her Facebook, deleted me from the group’s yahoo page, and turned her entire family against Senior and me. They live across the street, every day is a constant reminder. Once we were friends, any time she needed something I was there to help out. All that gone now.
I have tried to make amends, I have tried to talk to her.. She won't have any of it. She doesn't even  acknowledge my or my families existence.

So, for the past 3 years, all I ever hoped for was this precise moment: To confront the gossiper-DC. To let her have a piece of my mind. And here it was delivered to me on a silver platter.

I got up, to get a coffee refill, I thought of what to do. My hands were shaking. I felt weak in the knees. My cheeks flushed. I sat my coffee on our table and walked to the restroom, Her back was to me. As I past, DC 's husband looked up and whispered.

I stood in front of the bathroom mirror, refreshed my make up—No way in Hell was she going to report back that I looked crappy. I looked at myself, and grabbed the edge of the sink, and prayed to God for guidance.-What should I do in this situation Lord?  Her gossiping hurt deep. Those women won’t talk to me anymore, much less even look at me, all because of her evil tongue.  I confided in her, trusted her with a private matter and she betrayed my trust.

I have waited so long for this moment, I had it all thought out in my head what I would do, or so I thought.....

Then the voice said “Hold your head up, walk past, without acknowledging her, you are the better person”

 That was it?   I don’t get to confront her?  "I don't get to done my booty kicking shoes and let her have it" ?
Then I said “okay God, you know what you are doing”.   

And that is just what I did.  I walked slowly past, my head was held high. I did not look to the right or the left, just straight ahead. 

And for that, I  know and understand that I was the bigger person. She was expecting me to be "catty" and make a scene.  But, I proved her and the rest of the witches in my former group wrong. I gave her nothing more to gossip about—no reports on how “catty” I am.  If anything it would be how fabulous I looked. 

 

  I was so extremely proud of me.

And with that I smiled a confident smile and went back to the table with my real friends.

My friend “K” asked if I was okay. Her little 2 year old daughter climbed in my lap, and hugged me.

“Yep, never better” I said.

 -JUGM

My Two Year Blog-Aversary

As I am scooping up doggie poo so Senior can mow the back yard It hit me:  "holy cow, its been two years blogging today"  okay, so I kind of got that idea for the sentence from PP who was shoveling manure a few weeks ago and thinking about politicians. But really, I was cleaning up the poo.

Had it really been two years since Stephen and Senior encouraged me to start this little blog? Yes it has. Two years to the day when I was out hanging up clothes and my blog title lit up like a light bulb over my head. I ran in and told Senior, "How about Tales from The Clothesline" ?  It made perfect sense because that is where most of my ideas hit me, that is the one place where I think about current events and ponder our government.  I know, "Nothing like hanging up seniors underwear to make a person think about our world".. 
Two years wow!   I still have not hit 100 followers. But that is okay. I have tried my best to stay true to myself and write about the things I know. 

On this my bloggy anniversary  I was reading SciFiChicks blog post this morning about meeting some long time blogger friends of hers.

 Kymber and I have been talking about her and Jambaloney driving the short distance of 59 million miles to hang with us at the country estate.  I started wondering,  In my two years of blogging if I could hang out with members of my blogger family, who  would it be and why?

Probably first and foremost on my list, and because she has been a follower and some one I call my Sister  would be Kymber and Her better half Jambaloney. I know with them we would stay up laughing all night around a fire pit. JB would make some great mixed drinks, and we would definitely eat.
As long as she doesn't show up wearing her pink playboy bunny suit, and promised not to make me eat pickled beets we would be okay...lol 
We would talk a lot about gardening and prepping. Swap ideas, and recipes. And of course eat lots of eggs fried in bacon grease... I bet I could even entice her to rummage through antique stores for old canning jars.

Then there is Mamma and Papa Bear  because I live on her blog, and utilize lots of her recipes.  I also admire her for being such an inspiration in the way she takes care of her son The Marine, that I would just love to give her and Papa a big hug, and be able to shake The Marines hand. I would also love to pick her brain about keeping chickens and turkeys.

Of course there is my other long time buddy Rob he like Kymber, has also been a long time follower and I as well on his blog. I feel like I have been through the thick and thin of it with Rob and his family. I would like to do an old fashioned back yard BBQ with them all. And give him some more lessons on prepping, and chew the proverbial fat about the economy and such.

Can't forget Pioneer Preppy little does he know, I am intrigued with his bee keeping skills, and have actually learned quite a bit. I would love to meet he and his family so I could see him in action , and watch the honey extraction process in person--and maybe get a lovely jar of all that natural goodness.
and no Kymber you can't have it!

An Old NFO I would just love to be sitting at the table with he and Senior hearing all their sea stories, would make for an entertaining evening indeed. Having all the military knowledge in one room would be incredibly over whelming and send a tingle up my leg.

I would love to reach out and give Ms. Beth Marie a hug..she has been through a lot and could probably use one. Then I would want to see all those wonderful black and white photos of hers and beg her to let me scrapbook some and create her an album.  : )

If I met SciFiChick, I would hide my head because I screwed up her Rustic Italian bread recipe a few weeks ago--today is take 2, hopefully it comes out better then the ginormous loaf I first tried.

Also K- Our kids are around the same age, and he and Senior are both college students. I know we would have tons in common and have enjoyable dinner table discussions on it all. Plus it also hit me that its time we had another famous blogger cook-off.

*SIGH* I could never narrow it down to just one follower. So many other good people whom I did not list that I would love to meet. If I ever had to decide, there is no way I could.

So to all of you I say a big THANK YOU, for being a second family, for all the advice, and support.
While I may not always comment on your blogs, or respond on mine. I do read them, flip through them, and I appreciate them all.

HUGS AND KISSES TO ALL OF YOU...

-JUGM

Birthday Wishes..

Goes out to my man  SENIOR.   Whether he thinks so or not, today is his special day... 
He has gone through a lot in the past two months...and he deserves a wonderful and fabulous Birthday.  Yes, we do have to lay sod for a pregnant neighbor who's husband is deployed for six months, but that is another example of his character, and how we like to help others... even on our Birthdays...

He is a retired Navy Senior Chief,  a soon to be college graduate--which is not easy at his old age.
He coaches  his oldest sons little league team, runs a small business..and has me to live with! 
I am so proud of all his accomplishments in life. He is a wonderful and loving husband,  Was a loving son to both his parents, and an excellent Father to his children.

So please help me in wishing him a Very Happy and Wonderful Birthday!   

HAP'PY HAP'PY HAP'PY New Year !

Its 2013, and we all partied hard last night. A couple glasses of wine for me, beer for Senior. The boys over did it a bit on the Apple Juice.
The fire in the pit was hot, and I had pigs n a blanket and mozzarella cheese sticks for our New Years Snack.
Our boys were purely bent on staying up till Midnight to watch the ball drop in Times Square. They had never seen that before. So it was more Star Wars, this time "Return of the Jedi" ...that is three nights in a row for me. I feel like I am super qualified now to fly the millennium falcon.

We of course watched the festivities on FOX. Then to my delight,  My Girl Pat Benatar performed.She can still rock it. And looks gorgeous. ND and NW looked at mommy like she was nuts singing "Heartbreaker" with the TV.   : )

The boys started getting whiny..They were tired and it was showing..but no way were they going to bed. Then we had the countdown..and screamed "HAPPY NEW YEAR". 
I think within 5 minutes of getting under the covers they were both passed out.And slept in until 1030. They never do that. 

So now its 2013,I just commented over on Robs Ramblings that I think we should all be saying "Happy Scary New Year" instead. This time last year I was thrilled it being 2012, it was an election year and I was excited at the prospect of BO getting voted out..well, we all know how that turned out.
The only thing I look forward to this year is my faith, family and friends...

Thanks for following my little blog, and hearing my rants..Thanks for sharing in my good times, and being supportive through my rough patches.You are all another family to me, and some of the best friends ever.  God Bless You all in 2013...

-JUGM

Weekend at Jekyll Island

 

 

When we fired up our portable home on wheels, we all couldn’t have asked for a better weekend. The weather was spectacular.

Along with our friends, DUKE and Rebel, we all packed up our families and headed north to the beautiful Jekyll Island, GA. SENIOR and I go camping there quite often, it has something for everyone and the kids love it. It is pristine, and frankly one of my favorite places to visit.

Between, 1886-1942 the island was the winter retreat for the wealthiest people in the country. Names like the Rockefeller's, JP Morgan, Vanderbilt’s, Macy, and Fields built cottage like mansions that surrounded the “Jekyll Island Club”. This was the center piece of the Island and membership was exclusive. For 600.00 a year only the wealthiest were allowed to join, and they kept the membership at only 100 families.
 





It was here that then President Theodore Roosevelt made the first transcontinental phone call. Then there was the secret meeting in 1907 and the creation of the “Aldrich Plan” which led to the creation of today’s “Federal Reserve”

Now the island and historic area is opened to the public and the once exclusive Jekyll Island Club is now a hotel.

In addition there is the campground, and fishing pier. And don’t forget the beautiful beach.

Campground Bird Sanctuary

 We all arrived Friday afternoon, and relaxed at the campground around a fire. Then Saturday morning it was breakfast and a visit to the campgrounds bird sanctuary. After that,  it was on the bikes for the 3 mile ride into the historic area where the homes are. You can close your eyes and imagine what it must have been like back in the 1900s.

 

 

We all stopped for ice cream, and us girls went in and out of the little shops while the guys kept the park benches warm.We also browsed the Island Museum, where on display are photographs and memorabilia of a by gone age.

Then more riding over to what is known as “Millionaires Village” this is where the mansions are. The architecture elaborate, they are reminders of a time long gone.

"Indian Mound" The Vanderbilt House

 

"Moss Cottage" Owned by the Macy Family

 

The sun was getting low and it was time to make the bike ride back to the campground. With the sun setting fast, we all got supper together. Each of us cooked for ourselves, but we all ate together. Senior and I did an awesome Beef Stew cooked outside on our Coleman stoves.

Rebel cranked up another roaring fire, and treated us all to a good Dutch oven peach cobbler... Mrs. Rebel topped off the cobbler for us with vanilla ice cream.

Which was the perfect ending to the perfect day with good friends, good food, wonderful weather, and a beautiful place to spend the weekend.

 

Jekyll Island sunset over the Intercoastal



The Blackout Project # 1

Today was another gun show. Senior and I meet up with Stephen and his SW, Rebel and Pirate Jim. Hanging out with Sweet Wife is always fun, she is a good friend and all around beautiful person. We held out our hands to our husbands for money, they obliged us with a smile. The men went to the right, and us ladies went to the left. It was time we had some "gurlie time" at the gun show.

 I like this one actually more then the one a couple of weeks ago. One thing I have noticed is husband and wife booths, on one end is the husband selling firearm accessories, and the other end is the wife selling home made items..today we found a nice Italian lady who made Beeswax candles, her husband was next to her selling Ammo cans.

Senior was on a mission, he is building a "300 AAC Blackout" he is tired of the traditional 5.56 and .308 calibers. So, now he is building a .308 caliber in a lightweight short AR style platform that provides hard hitting .30 caliber. 

Today he built the lower, all he needs now is the upper and it will be done.

You Carry???? Really??

I haven't been online much in the past couple of days.. It is the busy season for us, and Both Senior and I are thrust in to the middle of our work. It is a first for me, because now the boys are in school, I can help more. I am enjoying and it is helping with my weight loss issue. Yesterday I got to install 3 trays of grass plugs for an elderly client, and then today we rented a tiller and did some work at my sisters house. Plus, we got the most excellent news of getting awarded yet another commercial property to mow...so our little business has been very blessed.

Sunday was my friend who past aways viewing. I was so depressed and sad that afterwards I stopped by my neighbors house for a few margaritas. I know, you all probably think my middle name is "margarita" with as much as I talk about them.. I promise I am no lush.  --But they are just so darn good.

So we are sitting around talking, and her husband lights off their fire pit, only he has no traditional fire wood, but uses instead some of her dead hibiscus plants..let me tell you those things can burn..
our conversation goes to guns and how my friend has her CWL..  I was floored. Because of all the people out there I would have NEVER figured she would be a person that would carry.She is European, and has never struck me as a Pro-Gun Rights person. The conversation has never arose , and I am never one to approach the subject either, I just keep things to myself.
 Her husband then tells me how before he left for Afghanistan as a private contractor, he encouraged her to get her license, and purchase a gun. She chose the Lady Smith and Wesson Revolver with laser grips. I then heard about how she just loves her little gun, and how she likes shooting it....  So I was like " Alrighty Then!!!"... " When do you want to go to the range for a ladies day? "  So we are, after spring break is over.

The night ended with a couple more drinks, and her whipping out some Greek Green Olive Hummus..I had never had it before, but I actually liked it.  I then walked home to a lonely Senior who was stuck here with the kids....   : )  Who stated " I thought I was going to have to send your PJ's Over there for you"..  Ahahahahah....He is so funny!

My Week

This has been an sad week..I hope it ends on a better note.. 
First, Wednesday and Thursday while taking boys to school, we have encountered car accidents. Not just little fender benders, but total destruction ones. Wednesday it was a girl who pulled out of our community and on to a busy State Road. she did not look , and hit a motorcyclist. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition. The police handed the girl all kinds of tickets..I havent heard an update to the motorcyle rider, but I am hoping he will be okay.

Thursday, we again are headed to school, and get to the interstate, when I see all kinds of blue and red flashing lights. " Not again" I thought..  a small car had collided with a logging truck. They both had a green light, but the car driver did not have a green arrow in order to safely turn left, she went anyways right in to the path of the truck..unfortunantly her mother the passanger was killed. The car was virtually bent in half..I have never seen such carnage. It looked awful  The driver of the car is in critical condition, and the truck driver got some minor injuries. I know it was the cars fault, but I have witnessed many times how these logging truck drive, and there is no way he was doing the posted 45mph.

Then Thursday evening, a bit of sad news for the friends and family of an old High School Classmate of mine. She passed away from a progressive form of Lou Gherigs diseaase. It depressed me so much last night, because she was only a year older then me, and left behind her high school sweetheart husband and 2 children who are not much older then my boys. I remember her fondly from school, and the brief time she was my childhood next door neighbor, I even have a pic of us together as little girls. She was such a beautiful person inside and out..I know she is in a better place...But I pray for her family that they may find solace during this tough time. I hate it for her babies though, it really makes me sad to think of children losing a parent at such a young age. So last night, I hugged mine a little bit more, and kissed their little cheeks, and told them how much mommy and daddy love them.

So, now its on to our weekend and yard work for us, I just put in 2 trays of marigolds around our maple trees and now we are going to put in a  fresh layer of mulch in all the beds. I enjoy working outdoors, it makes me happy to be digging in the earth, and watching things grow, I think it will be good therapy after such a sad week and a reminder to me that life does go on......