~~ Life is Like a Box of Chocolates ~~

It's the dawning of a new month, time to get back to the world of blogging. I know it's been a while since I've posted. I hope you've missed me as much as I've missed you. With each email and phone call you've all touched my heart and brought tears to my eyes. The out pouring of love and kindness has been overwhelming. There has been so much going on around here I felt drawn into myself and not real comfortable sharing. Yes, I've been in quite the funk..trying to adjust to coming changes. These past few weeks have been a challenge for us - - one we're still trying to get our heads around. When I'm more comfortable talking about it I'll share those with you my friends. But for now ----
Remember the movie Forest Gump? One of my favorite lines was given to him by his mother --
"Life is Like a Box of Chocolates You Never Know What You're Going To Get". That pretty well describes things around here. Each day is a new day, one with many changes and challenges one I find I'm facing alone. I know there are others facing other challenges and my thoughts and prayers go out to you. So.. girls the energizer bunny is back. I'll try to post as often as I can, I can't wait to get around to visit all of you. hugs ~lynne~

Slap my Hands I'm So Far Behind

My plate is full to over flowing with all the kindness you girls have bestowed upon me. I'm sure you think I've forgotten all your kindness, but alas.. NO!.. It's just been a bit more crazy around here than "normal".. (whatever normal is).. Around here you never know when another hospital run is going to have to be made, so I'm posting all of these today while I have a moment and the memory to do so.. lol Since coming to blog land I've been amazed at all the friendships that have developed. All the kindness and most of all , all of your prayers and support. So, for you to bestow all these honors my way is even more humbling. Because I'm so late in posting all of these I hope you don't kick me out of blog land..lol. Many many thanks to each of you great ladies for thinking of me. I pray I haven't forgotten any of them, if I have it's certainly unintentional !!



I received this award from Susan from over at http://thoughtsfromovertherainbow.blogspot.com/. She is a new blogger in town and has the sweetest blog. If you haven't been there you must stop by for a visit.. I know she'll be glad you came, be sure to tell her I said hi!! Susan I can't thank you enough for thinking of me with this award ! A person can never have too many friends.. My instructions were this: Please give more attention to these writers. When you receive your award pass it on to eight or more people who must choose eight or more. Include this cleverly written text and a link to their blogs. Then let them know they've been selected.

I recently received a double award from Katherine over at http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/ . I also received the same award from Janet over at http://thisismylife.blogspot.com/ Both these women are just the sweetest most giving women.

Description of the award:
Finding the Heart and “Sole” of Friendship. It is the perfect “platform” for recognizing that each of us wears unique qualities of friendship (like a favorite pair of shoes that we wear comfortably and repeatedly). These qualities contribute to the lives of others.Barb over at http://barbstreasures.blogspot.com/. has given me the "attitude and gratitude" . Barb also is a fairly new blogger in town. She has the greatest talent for making the cutest birds nest. Her love of God flows through her words and will truly touch your heart.

Hey, looky here! Another award! Isn't this a cute logo? Thanks to Kathy of Emptynester for presenting it to me. You should go visit Kathy. She has amazing transformations inside her home and we can all learn from her. Her daughter is so talented and that furry cat of hers is so cute.
The rules of this award are:
1) Accept the award and post it on your blog along with the name of the person who gave it to you as well as a link back to their blog.
2) Pass the award on to 5 blogs worthy of the award.
3) Be sure to notify the recipient that you have left them an award!
Now I would like to pass this award to some wonderful blogging people. I wish I could send it to all but it looks like we are limited to 5. Boy! This will be a tough decision because so many are deserving.
Let me pass it on to:


Now girls.. you know I can't just pick and choose a few of you when you all mean the world and deserve these awards..So for each of you that swing by and leave your kind words I would love for you to take each of these awards and call them yours.. Many many thanks..hugs ~lynne~

Pink Saturday All Spooned Up!!

Saturday means Pink Saturday hosted by our gracious hostess Beverly over at
http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/myweblog/.com. Once there you'll find a wonderful world of pink.

A few weeks ago while I was changing a few things up around here I pulled out yet another tea set. Yes, girls I believe I've gone nuts over tea sets. I have quite a few of them. lol.

Gracefully displayed with the back drop of the green plates and cream chargers the colors seem to flow nicely together. The arch of the handles on the cups suggest an elegance all on their own. I think Miss Janice would be pleased that the spoons are on the saucer. :-)

The antique bowl laced with pink roses was found many years ago. Quite honestly I can't remember where I found it.. lol.. I decided to fill it full of small tea spoons decorated with more beautiful pink roses.

Thanks again to a gracious hostess Beverly for a wonderful day full of pink. I know you're biting at the bit to get over to Beverly's to check out the other beautiful world of pink participants.. I'll see you there... hugs ~lynne~

Foodie Friday: A Sweet Obsession

Another Foodie Friday Event. A day full of food, a few tablescapes thrown in and wonderful recipes. What more can a gal ask for? Hosted once again by our Esteemed Gollum. Be sure to scoot on over there for a full list of participants.

I'm so excited to be participating for the second time in Foodie Friday. The other night after a long day at work I craved something sweet. Sweet in my book means chocolate. So, I went directly to the pantry, did not pass go or collect $200.00, but gained entry anyway. :-) I threw the latch open and started searching for something, anything chocolate. And there on the shelf a Betty Crocker Milk Chocolate Brownie Mix. Yummy... I got right to work. I poured the mix in the bowl, put the eggs, oil and water in... Started to stir...

And stir, and stir, and stir.. no girls that's not the camera on the blink. That's me stirring like a mad woman on a mission. Well.. after all I am on a mission.. I'm craving chocolate !! :-)) 50 stirs.. that's the instructions.. just a few more now..

A few more...

And voila' into the pan it goes.. then into the oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.. Can I possibly wait that long?? waiting.. still waiting...

Wow.... that was the fastest 30 minutes ever!! :-)) Aren't they pretty???

I'm so glad Chef Bill has decided to join us.. Look girls he has a message for you ! He's such a sweetie. :-))Isn't he handsome? Look at the cute little smile.Well, shoot we have to wait just a bit longer.. a girl could have a melt down waiting for her chocolate fix around here.

They've cooled, (thank goodness) I've cut them into cute little squares. Miss Bunny says she would like to help serve .

Now, now Miss Bunny.. you must keep your sweet little paws off the yummy looking brownies.

That's a good bunny, pull your sweet little paws back away from the brownies. :-)

Topped off with juicy strawberries and a hot cup of coffee, what better way to enjoy a snack.For those of you that photograph food on a regular basis I applaud you. There is definetly an art to it.. I'm still struggling with that, so bare with them there girls.

Gollum thanks so much for hosting another wonderful Foodie Friday. Grab yourself a brownie and head straight over to Gollums, http://designsbygollum/ for a full list of participants. I'll see you there. hugs ~lynne~

Outdoor Wednesday with White Out Conditions

This is my first time participating in Outdoor Wednesday hosted by our gracious hostess Susan over at http://asoutherndaydreamer/. Be sure to stop by for a full list of participants and all of their beautiful outdoor spaces. This past Saturday we woke to snow. A lot of snow. When it was all said and done we ended up with 6". Oh it was so pretty from the inside out. lol But being the true blogger that I am I ventured out to take some pictures to share with you girls. :-) Many of the weekend activities were cancelled in our area due to the slick roads. After I let Murphy out of the garage he promptly came around to the front yard to play..now I wonder what he's after? He's sure focused on something..

Murphy.."what are you after boy?"

This is the view outside the patio door. Some of you may remember the boulders from last summer. They look a bit different all covered with snow. There is a driveway to the right of the boulders. ummm it seems to have disappeared..lol Brrrrrrr it's cold out here..

A birdbath full of snow..and a bench dressed in white some how doesn't seem right. But the beauty is so serene. Think I might pass on sitting here for a day or two.

You can barely see the lake through the fog and the snow. Look closely, beyond the yard light you can see the shelter house and yes, the lake there. I think the fish might still be on the bottom for a while.

Aren't the trees and the bench gorgeous covered with all the snow? Almost postcard worthy.

In the background you can see a bale of hay nestled amongst the trees. We purposely left it there for the deer to nibble on. They're pretty shy and only come in the evenings. What a site that is.

The baby angel is even covered in a blanket of snow.

Even the Labrador yard ornament isn't left out..

This is a view off the end of the porch. The smaller of the trees are the flowering crab apple trees, the rest are Austere trees. Hard to believe I'll be cutting down the pampas grass in a couple of weeks.

Hi boy, I'm so glad you could join me..

Remember the beautiful Boston ferns that hung here last summer? It won't be long now and they'll be hanging here once again.

Hi ya boy.. Sit Murphy...

Good boy!!! Even Miss Scooter had to go out and play in the snow. Girls, she doesn't even like to get her paws wet when she goes out to potty..we laughed and laughed at her..

Mom, can you please get the towel to dry me off?Okay girl.. Mom will let you in. :-))What a difference a day makes. This is Sunday morning. I had to rush out to take a picture of the geese on the lake. They're a bit early this year.. Maybe that's a sign Spring will be early.

( A click on the picture allows you a better view of the geese.) Blue skies..

This week they're calling for temperatures to sore into the upper 70's by Thursday. Hard to believe we can go from this to wonderful Spring like temperatures so quickly. But girls that's Missouri. If you don't like the weather wait 5 minutes and it will change. Susan thanks for hosting another wonderful Outdoor Wednesday. Now, I'm off to see all the other beautiful outdoor spaces....hugs ~lynne~