Getting to know...

ME!

I thought it would be a good idea to share a few things about me, myself and I; for those that may be new around here and as a refresher for those that aren't.  I found a fun ABC list on Facebook to follow so here we go...

A

~Age:  41

My birthday is September 11.

B

~Biggest Fear:  Heights and Mice

I have been terrified of both for as long as I can remember.  I don't recall the defining moment or cause of these irrational fears but they are there none the less.

I have tried to overcome my fear of heights on more than one occasion, without luck.  My body involuntarily goes into panic mode and all I want to do is curl up in the fetal position and cry.

AND

I see no reason to overcome my fear of the rodent as why would I EVER need to be in the presence of mice?!.

C

~Chore I Hate:  Dusting

It just seems so useless.  You can dust and by the end of the day, it is back again.  Confession--I dust maybe once every 3-4 months #dontjudge.

D

~Drink I Had Last:  Water

Exciting, right?  

E

~Essential Start of My Day Item:  COFFEE!!!

SOO true...ask my husband

F

~Favorite Song:  Just Be Held by Casting Crowns

"So when you're on your knees and answers seem so far away
You're not alone, stop holding on and just be held
Your world's not falling apart, it's falling into place
I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held
Just be held, just be held"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIZitK6_IMQ

G

~Ghosts?  Absolutely NOT!

H

~Hometown:  Homer, GA

Although I grew up in nearby Pendergrass, GA

I

~Instruments I play:  Piano

I can read music and know the corresponding keys on the piano but I am far from a Mozart.

J

~Job Title:  Patient Services Representative/Office Assistant (by day)

...chauffeur, doctor, nurse, chef, maid, banker, hairdresser, party planner, purchasing agent, inventory manager, teacher, coach, waitress, gardener (by night)

I'm sure that I have left off many other "titles" that just doesn't come to mind :)

K

~Kids:  4

I have 3 children that I physically gave birth to...Cammie 21, Traice 19 & Anna Blake 8 but I am lucky enough to get to assist in raising another, Lexi 10.

L

~Last Time I Cried:  Saturday night

It was caused by cutting up onions for onion rings.  And it was BAD!

Adding this to my Christmas list...

M

~Middle Name:  I have two...let me explain

My middle name given at birth is Marie.

My current middle name, according to my social security card, is Love--which is actually my maiden name.

FYI:  This drives my mom (Hi Kathy) batty!!

N

~Number of Siblings:  4

I have brothers Josh and Kyle as well as sisters Nicole and Jessie.

I am the oldest (read: I am the boss)!

Josh & I

Nicole & I

Kyle & I

Jessie & I

O

~One Wish:  I wish that each of my children will be happy and successful in life and live the life that they have dreamed.

P

~Pet Peeve:  There are really too many to list but I'll share one--

When the window blinds are not all raised/lowered to the same height and the blinds themselves have to facing the same angle.  It drives me cray cray if they aren't just perfect.

 

Yeah, NO...this can't happen!

Q

~Quote From A Movie:  I LOVE the movie Grease!

I used this exact quote just the other day--no lie!

R

~Right or Left Handed:  Right

Although I count money $ left handed.

S

~Song Last Sang:  "Smile" by Uncle Kracker

This is OUR (the hubs and I) song and it was on in Wal-Mart last night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffej15-Dgl0

T

~Time I Woke Up:  5:30 a.m.

BUT I didn't get up out of the bed until 5:55 a.m.  I hit "snooze" ALOT!

#keepthedreamalive

U

~Underwear Color:  Brown

Y'all, I had to look.  I am so beyond caring what color my underpants are, I am just happy when they are comfortable and stay put.  There was a time in my life where all my undergarments must match but those days are longgg gone!

V

~Vacation Destination:  Beach

This year we do not have a beach trip planned as we are taking mini weekend vacations to various campgrounds in N. Georgia--which I love, but the beach is my happy spot!

W

~Worst Habit:  Sugar, Sugar and more Sugar

I LOVE SWEETS!  Cake, cookies, ice cream, chocolate, peanut butter, pies...if it's got sugar in it-I am ALL in!

I blame this trait on my father.

X

~X-Rays:  Teeth/Mouth, Ankle(s)

I have never had a broken bone but I did have a tendency to injure my ankle every year during softball.  And of course, the annual dental x-rays that my mouth is never big enough for.

Y

~Yummy Food I Make:  Mashed Potatoes

I recently watched an episode of Pioneer Woman in which she shared her recipe for mashed potatoes...LIFE CHANGING!

reCIPE

Creamy Mashed Potatoes

June 26, 2009 792

PREP TIME:

1 Hours

DIFFICULTY:

Easy

COOK TIME:

30 Minutes

SERVINGS:

10 Servings

INGREDIENTS

• 5 pounds Russet Or Yukon Gold Potatoes
• 3/4 cups Butter
• 1 package (8 Oz.) Cream Cheese, Softened
• 1/2 cup (to 3/4 Cups) Half-and-Half
• 1/2 teaspoon (to 1 Teaspoon) Lawry's Seasoned Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon (to 1 Teaspoon) Black Pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

Peel and cut the potatoes into pieces that are generally the same size. Bring a large pot of water to a simmer and add the potatoes. Bring to a boil and cook for 30 to 35 minutes. When they’re cooked through, the fork should easily slide into the potatoes with no resistance, and the potatoes should almost, but not totally, fall apart.

Drain the potatoes in a large colander. When the potatoes have finished draining, place them back into the dry pot and put the pot on the stove. Mash the potatoes over low heat, allowing all the steam to escape, before adding in all the other ingredients.

Turn off the stove and add 1 ½ sticks of butter, an 8-ounce package of cream cheese and about ½ cup of half-and-half. Mash, mash, mash! Next, add about ½ teaspoon of Lawry’s Seasoning Salt and ½ a teaspoon of black pepper.

Stir well and place in a medium-sized baking dish. Throw a few pats of butter over the top of the potatoes and place them in a 350-degree oven and heat until butter is melted and potatoes are warmed through. 

Note: When making this dish a day or two in advance, take it out of the fridge about 2 to 3 hours before serving time. Bake in a 350-degree oven for about 20 to 30 minutes or until warmed through.

Your Welcome!

Z

~Zoo Favorite:  Monkeys

I must say also that my favorite zoo is the Greenville Zoo in Greenville, SC.  It is so quaint and cute, not huge but big enough to see a variety of animals.  It is located next to a great little park with awesome playground equipment and tables for a picnic.

Well that is the A-Z of it for me.  Pick a letter and leave me a tidbit of info about you, it'll be FUN!

Until Next Time,
Heather

A Day In The Life...

...of me.

I always enjoy reading this type of post, just call me Nosey Rosey; so I thought that it'd be fun to do one of my own.  I couldn't decide on what day to document so I asked Z to pick a # between 1 & 31 (the days in May) and he chose 14.

Saturday, May 14, 2016

On Saturday's I try to sleep in and was successful on this date at doing so.  Immediately I headed to the kitchen for my MUST HAVE cup of joe.

Eight O'Clock Hazelnut coffee with International Delight Sweet Cream creamer topped with Whipped Topping (from the spray can)---better than any coffee house around!

Z was already out on the farm and everyone else was still sleeping so I enjoyed my cup of heaven with Kitty Kitty...

Next up...a few light household chores

~laundry

~dishes

 

My dishwasher bit the dust about a month ago so it
is all by hand for me for now.

As I was finishing up the dishes, I notice that my plants could use a drink...

Now it's time to get ready for the day.  Our main objective for Saturday was planting our garden (better late than never) so we had to go into town to pick up all of our supplies.

Rise and shine sunshine!

Since everyone was up and about at different times I did not cook, it was fend fo' yoself.  I decided on a bagel with jelly.

@ Lowe's...

picking up tomatoes, squash and pepper plants

along with a couple of 

hanging baskets &

begonias to finish

out my porch decor

While we are in town, we might as well run by Ingles and pick up some commodities...

Loaded up the gator and we are ready to get to work!

The small garden is planted.  Now onto the larger garden which will grow corn and okra.

Time for a late lunch...turkey and provolone on honey wheat with 1/2 pickle, washed down with a little sweet tea; enjoyed while sitting on the porch, in the shade.

A few weeks ago we noticed that our barn cat, Tom, was pregnant again (yes, her name is Tom as we thought she was a boy until she came up prego).  Well last week we noticed that she didn't appear to be with kitten any longer although we could not find the babies.  

Next up, go on a kitten hunt...

Found them!  3 itty bitty kittens huddled up in a corner of the barn

And we all say "Awwwwwee"

~~If you need a cat, let me know.  These cuties will be ready in approx 5 wks.~~

Back at the house, I plant my begonias.

The girls' golf cart had a dead battery due to it being stored all winter.  Z put the charger on it while we were planting the garden in hopes that it would charge right up.

Well, it didn't...

Towing it home

At this point, it is around 5:30 in the evening and time to feed the cows.  This is Opal, the smallest/youngest in the herd so we feed her separately to ensure that she actually gets some feed.

Aint she cute?

The girls' washing their pink Cadillac (lucky for them there was an extra battery in the shop).

After washing the dirt and sweat of the day away, it was time to tackle supper.  Up first, get dessert in the oven.

Peach Cobbler...

This is by far the easiest and best cobbler ever to grace the pages of any cookbook around.

~~I must remember to publish a post with the recipe.~~

Now onto supper.

On the menu:

~Grilled Bratwurst 

~Hotdogs for the kiddos

~Slaw

~Onion Rings (made from fresh Vidalia onions)

I have always been told that Vidalia onions will not make you cry but I cried for nearly 2 hours after cutting up those boogers.

So I failed to get a picture of my supper plate because by the time all of those onion rings were finished, it was 9:00 and I was starving.

#hangry

After dinner and dessert (warm cobbler and vanilla ice cream) #delicious, it was time to call it a night.

Well there you have it...a day in the life of Heather, Saturday edition.

What did you do this past weekend?

Until Next Time,

Heather

Moccasin Creek State Park

Our 2nd camping trip of the season is in the books.

For my Mother's Day weekend we decided to give Moccasin Creek State Park a try.  It is located in Rabun County on Lake Burton.  The park is on the small side but I think that is part of what makes it so nice.  Although small, we were not lacking for things to do.  Just next door is the Lake Burton Fish Hatchery and across the street is a nature trail as well as the trailhead to Hemlock Falls.  Of course you have the lake for fishing, boating and kayaking with the park itself hosting horse shoes, volley and basketball.

When we arrived on Friday evening there were only 3 sites available from which to choose.  Luckily #15 looked very inviting with a great view of the lake with close proximity to the playground and bathhouse.  So Site #15 would be our address until Monday.

We had our traditional "first night of camping" food fare of marinated hotdogs and chips, attempted to stay warm by the fire (it was unseasonably cold for May in Georgia) and then called it a night.

http://www.plainchicken.com/2011/07/foodbuzz-24x24-hot-diggity-dog.html

Thanks to Steph @ Plain Chicken for sharing this fabulous recipe.  It takes the less than gourmet hotdog and kicks it up a notch.  Add some slaw and a little ketchup on the side and you've got yourself one amazing, easy grill meal.

Saturday would be our day to explore.  We walked the park grounds and then headed over to the Fish Hatchery where there were trout of all sizes.  Afterwards we walked the mile long nature trail and then headed up to Hemlock Falls.

Gorgeous mountain laurel blooms could be found all over the park.

@ the trailhead

Ready to tackle the trail!

Hemlock Falls

The trail was pretty easy.  It was uphill getting to the waterfall but the elevation change was very minimal.  The worst part about the entire hike was the multiple (and I mean multiple) areas along the trail that were muddy and wet, places where water ran off the rocks onto the trail.  These wet spots didn't seem to be slick but just be prepared to get dirty (and don't wear new shoes #Cammie).

So happy that Cam was able to join us on this trip!

On Sunday we decided to stay close to home (Site #15 that is).  Another, now traditional, camping breakfast was served up, Campfire Cinnamon Roll-Ups (of course with a side of bacon).

http://www.almostsupermom.com/2015/07/campfire-cinnamon-roll-ups.html

The hubby and I decided to play some horseshoes and I quickly learned that it isn't the sport for me...

...see what I mean?

Z on the other hand could be a horseshoe shark, who knew he was so good!?!

AB did a little fishing, no catching, just fishing :)

And then back at Site #15, we enjoyed our visitors, read & relaxed.

This little duck and her mate visited us every morning and evening.  They weren't the least bit frightened by us.

We did end up with one small casualty from all of our fun...AB did this to her finger while playing volleyball.  Pretty sure it's fractured.

:(

To round out the weekend we roasted marshmallows and ate s'mores!  

YUMMO!!!

We had a great time and I had a wonderful Mother's Day!  

Next up...Watson Mill Bridge State Park, I can't wait.

Do you love to camp?  If so, drop me a line of your favorite place(s) to go.

  

Until Next Time,

Heather