I Miss Texas

(thanks Bill Spinks)

BlogTrotting

I moved to Ohio almost 2 years ago. I was asked to be a feature BLOGTROTTING and say great things about where I am from. This is an easy one and a hard one.

You see, I am from Texas. And if I were still in Texas I would have and easy time coming up with lots to do, things to see, lovely wildflower photos from the spring in Texas. But I am from OHIO!

I am from Wyoming Ohio to be specific.

I live in a house that is 121 years old. It is a 4 story house, only the second multi level home I have ever lived in. (Good for the butt muscles.) Wyoming is a charming historic area 11 miles north of Cincinnati. It is a lot like Mayberry. We have Gomer the police man and Aunt Bea around the corner. (real names would never be revealed)

My girls walk to school, the library, parks, friends, the bakery, the Half Day Cafe, the church and many other places. We have street festivals and summer concerts on"The Green" . It is a wonderful place to live and raise a family.

In Cincinnati, many people (most except my family) would tell you that you MUST eat Skyline Chili. Well, they are wrong.....so wrong. It is NOT chili for one thing, and it is pretty darn nasty for another. There are plenty of Fish Frys during Lent however, so try one of those instead!

Cincinnati sits on the Ohio River. It is a beautiful Downtown area and the city as a whole has a ton of parks and green spaces to enjoy. The Zoo and Botanical Gardens as well as Krohn Conservatory and Eden Park are beautiful. There are several museums, the TAFT is my favorite. But the night life is not something I have explored yet though, old married folk here.

If I were going to take you on a driving tour, I would suggest you get comfortable. It is a rather spread out city. From the Eastside to the Westside there is much ground to cover. North and South also. Eastsiders are different than Westsiders and being a Texan, I do not fit either catagory......they are the ORIGINAL Cincy folks. Rivals!

We get concerts, plays, culture, religious diversity, ethnic diversity, lots of ethnic resturants and things to do. For a family especially, there are so many familiy friendly events and outings.

Weather is not too bad either. Lots of pretty colors in Spring and Fall, mild enough Summers and Winters have not killed me yet, although a little more sunshine would not hurt anyone.

All and all, I would say if you are trotting along Hwy 71 or 75 sometime, a stop in Cincinnati or even Wyoming Ohio, might be worth the time!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Birthday

Well, today is my 47th Birthday. I have not done a blog post with words in a few weeks. I have been looking back through what I have written this past few months, weeks.....and I reflect on the post I did at New Years, realizing that I am not keeping up with my end of the bargain I made with myself. Oh well. The year is not over yet!!!!

I will say this.....I am now 47. I am pretty healthy(not totally). I am very happy, very lucky and EXTREMELY blessed.
I have too much (more than someone should) in my life. I have an amazing family, loving husband-too loving, most of the time, I also have two daughters that are the best gifts I have ever received. I have a mother who I admire and a sister who I thank God for and a father (who is with the angels in heaven) who did the very best he could all his life. I have friends who are too good for me, people in my life who really like (and love) me and the chance to sleep in a warm home and have a great meal three times a day. I need or want for nothing.

Life is a blessing every single day. I pray it continues and thank God for the 47 years I have had on this earth.

I have done things I should not have done, been places I should not have been, I have regretted things and would not do some of those things over but would change only a few things if given the chance. All in all, it is what I would have hoped my life would be. I am the luckiest woman alive and I firmly believe God has been responsible for all my blessings.

Thanks to everyone in my life....everyone....even my enemies.....for without them, I would not be who I am today. My favorite scripture is Matthew 5:48..."Be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect" which comes after the loving our enemies part in Matthew. I live this as best I can.

So, Happy Birthday to me. May all the days I have left in this life be as good and blessed as the ones I have already had. And thanks to God and everyone for being in my life.....I am blessed.

"It's All Good"





And here is my birthday aside........We share a birthday, I hope I look better at 50 than she does!


According to Mattel lore, Barbie's full name is Barbie Millicent Roberts. A press release from 2009 said, in part, "Barbie doll -- Barbie Millicent Roberts -- was 'born' on March 9, 1959, in (fictional) Willows, Wisconsin." March 9th of 1959 was the date that the doll was first introduced at the annual New York Toy Fair.

more snow photos

Ihope I do not post anymore snow photos from 2010

SNOW SNOW SNOW

no words needed!

Everyone has too much of something, whether it's time, talent or treasure. Everyone does have their own half, you just have to find it. --Hannah Salwen

A few from my window

God's Beauties!

Talents

Use the talents you possess - for the woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except for the best. --Henry Van Dyke

I get a quote and inspirational email daily from a place called http://www.charityfocus.org/ and they have great suggestions on how to use your talents, giving and serving others. Today it made me stop and think how I use my "true talents" and what are they really??

I believe I have the talent of cooking, which I do use as often as I can. Whether for family dinners or entertaining others or cooking a meal for the ill, I do cook and enjoy it!

Entertaining is another, as mentioned, and I think I use that one often too. I have people here for dinners, I host events for church, clubs and friends and I help others when they entertain.

Other talents are harder to come up with. I have been told on many occasions that I have the "gift of listening" and I am not sure if that is a talent. I do enjoy being present for people and hearing what they may have heavy on their hearts or simply just chatting. I should explore that one more an see how I can use it.

I have a talent of organization. It is to a fault at times and something I project to my family in way not always best for them....sorry. But, I can keep it organized pretty well. I can also organize meetings, gatherings, events and so forth....so if you need any help, let me know. Now if I could just keep my shoes in my closet organized.....they are ALWAYS a mess.

I have always wished for the talent of music....but I have NONE. Can't carry a tune out of a box. But I know this, I love music and enjoy others talents there. Thank goodness my girls got their daddy's talent of music!

What are yours? Which haunt you and which do you enjoy most? How can we get new talents and how can we use the ones we have to best work, serve or help others, or help ourselves?

Now I am off to organize, all my holiday things are almost put away and I must get the rest of the house back in order!

Blog-o-lutions

As we enter 2010, a new decade, I reflect "forward". I am making a blog-o-lution list to start my year....two days later that is.

Blog more

FB less

Talk more

Eat less

Move more

Sit less

Love more

Hate less

Hug more

Gossip Never

Pray more

Whine less

Play more

Complain less

Give more

Take less

Cook more

Spend less

Smile more

Bitch less

Be Green more

Waste less

Ok, these are in more particular order but I must get started........