Ready to go back to work.....

Where did the last couple of months go?

One moment I was clearing away the Christmas

decorations and now Summer fashions

are everywhere to be seen in the stores.

In a little over three weeks the Spring equinox

will take place and a new season will have officially begun.

Time for new beginnings for mother nature and for me.

Tomorrow, I start my new job. 

I am joining the staff at Methodist - IU Health in Indianapolis.

Yes, I am extremely excited.

Aerial view of Methodist Hospital of Indianapolis

Here is a little bit of information on my new employer:

Methodist Hospital of Indianapolis is the largest

hospital in the State of Indiana and is

a part of Indiana University Health.

Methodist is one of only two regional

Level I Trauma Centers in Indiana,

has 802-staffed beds and is one of the

largest teaching hospitals in the area.

The hospital specializes in numerous

treatment areas, including adult cardiovascular

services provided in the new

Clarian Cardiovascular Center.

Methodist physicians and staff performed

the first open-heart surgery in Indiana in 1965.

The hospital is also considered a neurosurgery

center of excellence, as well as an expert

 in organ transplantation, urology,

neurology, orthopedics and pediatrics.

Methodist also staffs the LifeLine helicopter

ambulances and houses the Indiana Poison Center.

In 2004, Indiana University Health

became Indiana's first magnet hospital system.

Indiana University Health operates the

Methodist Hospital, Indiana University Hospital

and James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children

campuses as a single hospital under Indiana law. 

They are all connected by the

Indiana University Health People Mover.

Trivia ~ I volunteered at Methodist Hospital

over 35 years ago during my

Summer vacation from high school. 

We were called Beaconettes instead of
Candy Stripers -

(a candy striper delivered mail

or patient meals, they might help feed,

or read to a patient; assist as a patient

is discharged; or deliver messages.

Other duties include transporting

book or video carts to patient rooms).

The reason we were called Beaconettes is

because the hospital has a

Beacon on top of the building.

The Lighthouse of Health Beacon

was first lit in 1933. The lighthouse is a major

landmark downtown, and can

be easily spotted in the city.

The beacon was a donated gift and was

dedicated to “servants of religion,

who would serve the sick;

to servants of medical science,

who would service humanity;

and to the servants of philanthropy,

who would live for others.”

Oh, and one more reason while I know this

was the place I was meant to work,

this is the hospital I was born in.

My first day will be an all day Orientation and
a tour of the hospital. 

I'm so excited to make some new friends and

to help make a difference in life.

I'll have to save my projects for the weekends now!

~ Thanks for stopping by ~

♥

Cub Scout Cake Project

I have to do a little bit of bragging on my Grandson, Braden.

He (with the help of his Mom), created an awesome cake

for his cub scout cake auction.

The auction helps raise money for the cub scout troop.

Here he is with his cake.

His cake was auctioned for $27

AND

He got an award for most original design.

(click on picture for closer viewing)

 See how he and his Mom made the cake.

She has step by step instructions here at her Blog.

Here is his cake from last year.

It's a bee-hive cake.

(click on picture for closer viewing)

I am amazed at how fast he is growing up. 

I want them to stay little for a bit longer.

~ Thanks for stopping by ~

♥

Anniversary of My Birthday

Yes, today is my Birthday and I turn 51. 

This is what 51 looks like on me!

There is so much to embrace about getting older.

Don't get me wrong, there are a few things I could do without.

Wrinkles,

extra pounds,

hair-coloring every 5 to 6 weeks.

I can say that I am very comfortable

with myself in this 51 year old body.

What is age anyway? Isn't it just the passing of time?

It's our spirit what really counts...

Another year is added, but also another year

of opportunity for growth and experience.

Last year, 2 days before I turn the big  5  0...

I was called into a little room at a BIG

corporation of where I had been employed for 15 years. 

I was told I was being "reallocated"

or in other words, LAID OFF.

This huge corporation likes to be able

to say that they have NEVER laid any of their

 employees off so they use the word "reallocated" instead,

uhh... same thing!

At first, I felt it was a crisis... oh yes,

that big mid-life crisis had hit!

Yes, turning 50 and being laid off all in the

same weekend was somewhat of a crisis. 

I decided however, that it would not be

a mid-life crisis but my mid-life awakening. 

I was able to have the whole Summer,

Fall and Winter of 2010 off. 

Today, while I was at lunch with my husband,

I received a telephone call and it was a job offer. 

It is exactly what I had been looking for

and was hoping and praying to get the offer. 

I accepted the offer and start 

Orientation on Monday, the 28th.   

I am excited of the new career future in front of me. 

I have interviewed for a few jobs that

I am so THANKFUL that I didn't get. 

They were dead end jobs and I

would of been so bored with them.

At my new job there is so much

room for growth and advancement.

Just like Garth Brooks sings,

"Thank God for unanswered prayers."

Thank you God.... for not answering a few of mine!

So having a birthday makes me stop and reflect

and realize that even though I am turning 51,

(51 sounds ancient but I don't feel ancient)

I still have a lot of things I want to accomplish,

here are a few and in no particular

order ...that I want to accomplish this year.

Make sure the people I love ... know it

Eat healthier

Grow my garden

If I don't love it or need it, get rid of it

Don't compare myself to others

Have more date nights with my husband

Continue to learn to let go of past hurt

Learn to knit and crochet

See my grand-kids more

Read more books

Recycle more

See a musical or two

Spend less time in front of the TV

Exercise consistently

Meet my TRUE friends more often for lunch

Talk to my kids more often

Downsize our home and move to a smaller home

Give my husband at least 2 genuine compliments a day

Catch a bigger fish than my husband

Take a vacation, perhaps to Maine

Listen effectively to others

Drink more water

Remember to "Thank God" daily

 

These are just a few, my list continues to grow.

I want to share a picture of my birthday gift from my husband.  

It was also considered my Valentine's day gift.  

It was one of those combo gifts this year. 

Here is a picture of it on my pudgy finger

Click on photo for closure view

My husband knows how much I love sapphires. 

I had a smaller sapphire ring but

am passing it along to my daughter. 

I was so excited and happy

to receive this wonderful gift.

It is a miniature of the Princess Diana

engagement ring that Charles gave to her.

It has now been passed down to

Kate Middleton by Prince William.

I love, love, love my ring. 

I love how the blue sparkles in the sun.

~ Thank you for stopping by

and sharing my birthday with me ~

♥

~ Lisa ~

English Lavender

Check out my latest and greatest discovery.

bathing soap - lavender fragrance



 I cannot get enough of this smell;

it is such a lovely lavender fragrance.

I love the fragrance that lingers in the bathroom after I shower. 

It's not overwhelming, it's a clean, simple scent. 

I am going to keep several extra

bars on hand so that I never run out.

I am thinking of adding "Lavender" to my garden. 

I was looking for something "new" to add this year.

I don't know much about growing Lavender but I

did some research here and am going to give it a try this Spring. 

Lavender is considered a "romantic" plant.

Romans used lavender oils for bathing,

cooking, and scenting the air,

and they most likely gave it the Latin root name

(either lavare-to wash or livendula- livid or bluish)

from which we derive the modern name.

The flower's soothing ,"tonic" qualities,

the insect repellent effects of the strong scent,

and the use of the dried plant in smoking

mixtures also added to the value

placed in the herb by the ancients.

I want to make my own Lavender sachets for my closet and my drawers.

I found some DIY instructions from Martha Stewart here.

Lavender Sachets for your closet or drawers



Yardley has a few other scents in the bar soap but Lavender is my favorite.

~ Thank you for stopping by ~

♥

Petals of Happiness

I have started thinking about my Spring/Summer garden. 

Last year, I was able to get some starts off of the "Rose of Sharon"

bushes from a dear friend.  I have 5 starts that are little twigs but they were free to me.
I will nurture them with care this year to make sure they get a great start.


Also, last year, I planted a Hydrangea bush. 
I planted it after my visit to The Biltmore Estate / Gardens
on my honeymoon.  I had always wanted a Hydrangea bush. 
The bushes at The Biltmore were so beautiful. 
If you have never been, it's a must see. 

I also have 3 Peony bushes that will have a second
Spring/Summer season to grow and flourish. 

My favorite flower is the Daisy and I have a pretty good garden of them.
I planted them under an old windmill tower that isn't in use any longer. 


This picture is a picture I've posted before.  I love walking outside and cutting fresh flowers for my home.  They are usually around for several weeks.

The first sign of Spring in my yard will be the Tulips.


Every year I want to add something new to my garden and it has to be a Perennial.
Perennials come back year after year and help to make my garden maintenance free.


I haven't decided yet what I will add this year.
I'm thinking a climbing rose bush.


Do you have any recommendations for me?

New Camera

I was showing my husband something on my
blog a few days ago and he blurted
out that I need a better camera. 

Yes... he sure did.  He said,
"we need to get you a better camera."

I didn't think he even noticed the difference in the quality of my pictures compared to the quality of the other blogs I was showing him but bless his heart, he did.

Now, I don't think it will happen soon because he already

purchased my birthday present which wasn't really cheap. 

But... I'm looking ahead, researching camera's and hoping soon

that I will have a camera to use that is better quality.

I want to sign up for a photography class soon,

but will wait until I have that new camera.

~ Thanks for stopping by ~

♥

Happy Valentine's Day

~ Happy Valentine's Day to you!

~ Since my husband is going to be out of town tonight,

we decided to celebrate our Valentine's Day ALL weekend. 

~ We went to dinner and a movie on Saturday evening and I made him a special dinner on Sunday.... along with heart shaped brownies for dessert.

~ I followed a recipe I blogged about in a previous post. 
You can find the recipe here.

We loved the brownies made from scratch. 

I have a BRAND new recipe to add to my own personal collection.

~ However, in the future, I do not think I will use my heart shaped cookie cutter to cut out the heart shaped brownies.  With the recipe I used, I was only able to get 4 heart shaped brownies as the recipe called for using an 8 x 8 baking dish. 
Look at the leftovers after using the heart shaped cookie cutter,
I added them in the picture below.

Here is the picture that accompanied the recipe,
looks close doesn't it?



~ Anyway, the scraps are just as good and we ate them too.

~ Next time, I will just cut the brownies into squares and not use the cookie cutter.  Although my husband thought they were fun. 

~ We exchanged our Valentine's gifts.
He loved his book and camo shorts. 
Plus, I made him some special "coupons" to use
but they are very personal and I cannot share what they were.  (blushing)
I think he liked those the most.  :o)

~ My gift is for Valentine's Day and my birthday which is next Monday.

~ I will take a picture of my gift and post in on my birthday. 

~ I absolutely love, love, love my gift. 

~ Oh... by the way, I had a heart shaped brownie for breakfast today along with an awesome cup of coffee, what a great way to start off a Monday!

~ I hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day ~


~ Thanks for stopping by ~
♥
~ Lisa ~

Changes to my Blog .....

~ Oops... I didn't realize that at the end of January, the server that supported some of my blog buttons had changed.  That meant my buttons and blinkies were not showing up.  So, I spent some time this weekend working on them and fixing them.

 ~ I also opted for some changes to the template and background on my blog page.  Just like the seasons change, I decided to change my blog too. 

~ Sometimes, we get comfortable with the way things are and resist change,

I know I do.  But, change is also a chance for growth.

~ I am enjoying playing with my blog the different templates offered and

to see what I finally end up with. 

~ If I don't like it, I can change it around AGAIN. 

Just like moving furniture in my house. 

~ Have a super fantastic Sunday.

~ Thanks for stopping by ~

♥

~ Lisa ~

Kraftastic Kristi

~ My daughter, Kristi, is so crafty, in fact, I call her Kraftastic Kristi.

Kristi and her husband, Dan

~ Kristi has started her own blog where she shares her creative creations, 

I want to share it with you.

~ She creates some of the cutest things and is a really great Mom to 4 kids. 

Kristi is my middle child and my only daughter.

~ Take a few moments and look at her blog and her kraftastic creations.

~ Thanks for stopping by ~

♥

~ Lisa ~

Thinking of a Valentine's Day Gift or Two....

~ I've been thinking of a gift or two to give my husband for Valentine's Day. 

♥

~ He works so hard. He isn't the kind of man who just goes out and

purchases items because he wants them. 

♥
~ He is very frugal.  I love this about him because I too, am the same way.

♥

~ He keeps talking about a couple things that he would like to have. 

I listen when my man speaks... because it isn't to

often that he mentions things he would like to have.

♥

~ One of the things he keeps mentioning is a book written by
Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones.  He loves the Rolling Stones.

♥

~ So, it is on my list to pick up today.

~ I came up with the idea of putting some notes inside of the book,
so that as he reads through it, he will find them and think of ME!

♥

~ I found these little notes online ( click here ) that you can print and cut up. 
I am going to cut them up and place them throughout the book.

♥

~ Another item he keeps mentioning.... is camouflaged shorts. 
YES, you heard me, CAMO SHORTS.  Men and their camo.

♥

~ I've ordered them from Cabela's. 
He received his 3 inch thick Spring Edition catalog the other day.
(I am not exaggerating, the book is LARGE and it's hard covered)

♥

~ I've watched as he sits in the evenings and drools over this catalog.
Kind of how I used to do with the J.C. Penney catalog that they
NO LONGER PRINT
boo hoo...

♥

~ HOWEVER, as I was placing the order, I was told they are on backorder so on Valentine's Day....He'll get this same picture in his card until they send the shorts in the mail.  It's okay, it's a little too cold to wear them now anyway!

~ I think that about does it for his Valentine's Day gifts.

♥

~ Oh, and I did see these brownies from another blog,
I am going to make them for him.

 click HERE for the easy recipe.


~ I think my husband will enjoy his Valentine's Day this year, don't you?

♥

~ Are you going to do something special for your Valentine?

XOXOXOXO

~ Thanks for stopping by ~
♥
~ Lisa ~

What is Love?

~ Valentine's Day is 1 week from today.

~ I've been thinking about a couple of "special" gifts for my husband. 

Not mushy kinds of gifts but practical gifts that

I know he would enjoy and love to have. 

~ I also have been pondering about what LOVE really means to me. 

Defining Love…

Love is patient,

love is kind.

It does not envy,

it does not boast,

it is not proud.

It does not dishonor others,

it is not self-seeking,

it is not easily angered,

it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects,

always trusts,

always hopes,

always perseveres.

Love never fails…

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

~ Some people look at Valentine's Day as just another holiday to spend money on.

~ I look at Valentine's Day as a special day to stop

and take a moment to pause and remember what

you really love about your mate,

your children or your family members and friends

and how blessed we are to have those

special people in our lives each and every day. 

♥

~ I think it's important to have loving people around you. 

~ God meant for us to have people

around us and did not want us to be alone.

~ He even created a help mate for Adam with Eve. 

~ Will you show that special someone in

your life how much they mean to you?

Not just on Valentine's Day but every day.

~ Thanks for stopping by ~

♥

~ Lisa ~



Salsa - Semi Homemade Recipe

~ The weather outside is.... h o r r i b l e... icy and cold!!!!  

~ What do I want to do when the weather is horrible? 

Cook, bake or both and EAT!

~ We can't go outside in this now can we?

Click on any picture for a closer view

View outside my kitchen window

Looking North... I think I'll stay INSIDE a while longer!

Looking out my front store to the South....icy and cold and desolate.

I love how the Sun glistens on the icy chips that have fallen from the tree limbs. 

I can't wait to be on the riding mower mowing this lawn once again!

~ So.... instead of going outside and going anywhere yesterday,

  I decided to try a new recipe.

I had made a trip to the grocery a few days before I heard of the

coming ice storm and had my ingredients on hand. 

~ I had previously found a recipe for salsa and wanted to try it. 

The only thing I might add next time is some fresh cilantro, other than that,

my husband and I really LOVED it and it might just be our new salsa recipe.

~ Buying salsa at the grocery can be quite expensive. 

Especially, how much we like to eat.

My husband and I do NOT like a really hot salsa either. 

We like our salsa mild.  Now, I can make it just the way we like it.

Look how yummy it looks here, freshly blended and ready to eat!

I store it in a glass bowl covered tightly until we are ready to enjoy

Here is the recipe:

 One 14oz can of stewed "Mexican style" tomatoes

 One 10 oz can diced tomatoes with green chile's

(I selected mild but you want a spicier flavor so you could get medium)

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

  *Next time, I am adding some fresh cilantro

Place all of these ingredients into your blender and give it a few spins. 

Blend to your desired consistency. 

I tasted it right away but have noticed letting it sit overnight that

the flavors blended beautifully and tastes even better.

~ Thanks for stopping by ~

♥

~ Lisa ~