It is a beautiful day in Eastern North Carolina!

Today is such a beautiful day. I am enjoying seeing my parents today. I was so excited to get to spend time with my mother and to see my RV! I sure wish I could park it in my subdivision. I could get so much more done that I plan to do. I have got to take a trip very soon!

Life is so unpredictable and so very busy. Seeing my mother go through these chemo treatments just makes me realize how special life is and what is REALLY important in my life.  Having God in my life is number one. Sure, I make mistakes and I fall down from time to time, but he is always there to lift me up.  My life is one zillion times better with him in it. I have tried it without him and knew I was missing something. Just knowing that he loves me with my sins and imperfections is so amazing.  Family, friends, dreams........ It really puts things in perspective. In the end all of your possesions are not so important. It is all about the journey. In the end to have loved and treasured life and all that is in it,  is what it is all about.

I have always been a dreamer. I only have this one life.... so if I want my dreams to come true, I will have to act on them now. Happiness is not something I should wait for, but create for myself....


Life is short so I pray that you also make those dreams come true. Love with all your heart and when things don't go our way, just be thankful for all of the wonderful things that we are blessed with. Enjoy your day.
Hugs,
Terri

It is a beautiful day in Eastern North Carolina!

Dreams

Cherish your visions and your dreams, as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements." Napoleon Hill

Dreams

Emily's Birthday dinner at Bahama Breeze!

I took Emily and Melissa out for dinner for Emily's birthday. She decided she wanted to go to Bahama Breeze. The food was wonderful and the atmosphere was even better!

Emily's Birthday dinner at Bahama Breeze!

Dreams are renewable. No matter what our age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us and new beauty waiting to be born.

I am sharing beautiful flowers! Have a beautiful day!

Dreams are renewable. No matter what our age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us and new beauty waiting to be born.

Time for a Hair Cut!

It sure is nice having two daughters that are Hair Stylist! My hair was getting very long, thick and too hot for me to deal with. My oldest daughter has been cutting my hair for years and does a fantastic job! This past fall my youngest daughter also got her license. My oldest daughter is so very busy so I asked Emily to squeeze me in her busy schedule! This was the first time she has had time to give Mom a cut. She did a fantastic job and I love the cut. It is much easier to manage for the summer!

oops... please excuse me without makeup.
I hope all of you had a very safe and nice 4th of July holiday!

Time for a Hair Cut!

Another Thrift Store Cookbook to add to my collection!

Yesterday I was out running errands with Emily. I spotted a thrift shop that I had not seen before.  I couldn't resist so I quickly popped in and headed straight for the books. I have found my most treasured books from yard sales and thrift stores. I knew Emily was in a hurry but she actually enjoyed looking at the books and cd's as much as I did. They also had a great collection of movies.  I really don't need another recipe book but I love them and it was cheap. So I added this one to my collection.

Southern Living ~ Cooking across the south

A collection and recollection of favorite regional recipes

Lillian Bertram Marshall

I just had to buy this book because I love the history and the interesting stories she shares about some of the recipes and the families that shared them.

I quickly glanced over and saw interesting recipes to check out like Alcachofras, Shuck Beans, Borscht, Riverboat Goulash, Poor boy filets, Chateaubriand, Chuck wagon Stew, Elderberry wine, Dandelion , Sally lunn, snapdoodle, sourdough starter & bread, Fritters, Grandma's coconut cake, crackling cornbread, corn pone, belmont corn, old fashioned corn Hominy, charlotte russe, Turtle???, croquettes,gumbos and low country recipes. I see some neat recipes that I have never heard of in my part of the south so it will be an adventure for sure!

I jumped in last night and made Mama's custard pie.  Honestly, I wasn't fond of this particular recipe.  I decided that it needed something extra because it was a little too bland for me. I decided to add a  fresh blueberry topping  because it wasn't sweet enough for me! That made it a bit healthier also!  ;)

As long as it is sweet, a Southerner will be happy!

This book is a great addition to my collection. I can't wait to read the entire book(272 pages) and try some of the many treasured family recipes she shares from different regions of the southern states!
Have a wonderful day! Happy cooking!

Another Thrift Store Cookbook to add to my collection!

Creative ideas on ways others are earning income and enjoying their RV!

I recently purchased my first RV. I have been searching classified ads for years for a vacation home that I could afford at the beach. I am thankful that I do have a time share in Myrtle Beach, SC but that is only one week a year.

Recently it came to mind about the possibility of purchasing an RV or travel trailer which would enable me to travel and experience other neat places in the U.S. besides just the beach. My prayers were answered and the perfect RV became available for me at a price that I couldn't pass up!

Ask & ye shall receive! I want to share with you some of my favorite most treasured Bible verses.

Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
John 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
God is good and I strive to live each day in his will!!!!! He blesses me each day by doing so!

Since the purchase, I have been day dreaming and planning all sorts of  fun projects. I am working on ideas on decorating the RV into the playhouse/dollhouse of my dreams. I am also thinking of creative ways to earn income while I possibly travel long term and visit all kinds of wonderful places I have only dreamed of in the past!

I have read and studied everything I can get my hands on to help me be successful at this new adventure. Topics of choice are RV maintenance, how to be safe driving & traveling in my RV, organizing a small space, furnishing my kitchen and rethinking my cooking habits for the RV lifestyle, and planning neat places to visit and a possible travel schedule for 2011.

I must say I am so excited about having my own vacation home on wheels that will enable me to have a view of the ocean, the mountains or just about any place I can imagine or dream of going!

I wanted to share a great news piece I enjoyed about a creative way to earn money while traveling in your RV. 
Enjoy! Please post any ideas or tips that you have for me. I welcome your advice and appreciate it!


http://travelnursingjob.blogspot.com/2006/08/housing-stipend-buy-rv-and-retire.html
http://www.rvlifestyleexperts.com/free-rv-info/working-and-volunteering/travel-nursing-in-an-rv/

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Creative ideas on ways others are earning income and enjoying their RV!

A Country Drive out to a little local Farmer's Market!

I enjoyed my ride out in the country to one my favorite little farmer's markets and the local country store. I miss living out in that area. I had a nice little visit with the man inside the store and the ladies in the bakery inside the little market.

I decided to move to a townhome in town a couple of years ago after being robbed while away on business trip one July day. Thank goodness I was not home that day & I that I had invested in the CPI alarm system. It worked and they caught the group of kids from Haiti that broke in & took everything right down to my toilet paper. I really enjoyed living out there in the country in the Wendell area. It was so peaceful & only a few miles from Clayton and only 25 miles from Smithfield. My neighbor use to invite me out for rides on the four wheelers. That was fun! This was a very nice area and you really never hear of something like this happening. It was just a random act that day from a group of kids here illegally with nothing to do. I never met them but this is what the deputy told me that was heading up the investigation and restled with these guys. By the time I made it home that day, I had missed all the drama and just saw the mess they made. They actually ripped the alarm system out of the wall.

I was born & raised in the country and it brings me joy to go back for a ride in the country. Now I am off the computer for the day to make up something great to eat from the yummy treasures I found! Toot a loo......
I took a few pictures on my camera phone & made a slide show for you to view!  Take a look at that 13 layer chocolate cake!
To view the slideshow click the link below:
http://s941.photobucket.com/albums/ad257/tsnc9/A%20Country%20ride%20to%20a%20local%20Farmers%20Market/?albumview=slideshow

Beautiful old homes

A Country Drive out to a little local Farmer's Market!

Emerald Isle

Taken by my camera phone while laying on the beach in Emerald Isle, North Carolina.

Taken in the back yard of the cottage which is on the sound. It is very peaceful and beautiful!

I was invited by my good friend, Tina to join her at the beach cottage this past week.  I spent Father's day with my dad and then headed out to the beach. We had a wonderful time. The weather was so hot but on the beach there was a wonderful breeze and the ocean water was like taking a cool refreshing bath. I sat out most of the day just watching the ocean and relaxing. I loved the smell of the sea air. I loved the feel of the ocean breeze. I felt my stress just roll away out to sea with the waves. It was wonderful to spend time with Tina and her oldest daughter and her two children. We enjoyed eating out together and shopping too! It was a great week!

Emerald Isle

A little Inspiration! Create your own retreat!

I wanted to share a cute little story I saw in the NY Times today. We all need a space or a place to call our own. Check out the story by clicking the link below. I hope the story will inspire you as well.

This lady created her own retreat. She renovated a 9-by-14-foot cottage, an old hunting cabin, herself into her own shabby-chic retreat. The cost of renovating and furnishing it: $3,000!!


http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/06/23/garden/20100624-chic-slideshow.html

A little Inspiration! Create your own retreat!

What a nice greeting this morning at Trader Joe's!

I came home and was greeted with storm damage on my patio. Under all the debris were some beautiful blooms waiting for me. My pretty pink Rose of Sharon has bloomed for the first time! I also had five tomatoes. Poor little plants were blessed with some rain anyway while I was away. I will be having fresh tomatoe sandwiches today!

I made it back last night. I had a little storm damage while away but not too bad. I was greeted by a neighbor last night that let me know what happened. Rose, another neighbor came by this morning to fill me in. She said she thought they were having a tornado and was so frightened while I was away. She had never heard the winds so fierce here before.

 I was up at 6am and thought I would do a little grocery shopping at Whole Foods since I was dropping Emily by there. She is working there part time now. She loves it and they have GREAT benefits!! I love Whole Foods. The deli and whole body departments are my favorites. I shop at both stores as they both offer items that the other doesn't offer. They open at 8. That was too long for me to wait today. So...... I thought I would head to Trader Joe's. That was second on my list of errands today. They also open at 8 am. I decided to head back home since it only takes about 7 minutes to get back. I did a few things and then I headed back over and was at Trader Joe's just as they opened the door. Bells (really) went off and everyone started cheering "YEA!!!" and running towards me. I was so excited & not really sure what to think since I was the only customer in there. I just smiled and started cheering with them! I thought I had won the lottery or was on Candy Camera. "Your the first shopper of the day!!!" "Welcome!!!" Welcome"!!!

It certainly made me feel good. What a wonderful way to start off a day! I love that place!
Now I am off to take care of some paperwork and to bake those cupcakes for a special little Ava!!
Thank you for stopping by to visit with me this morning!
Terri

What a nice greeting this morning at Trader Joe's!

Blessings of a special precious Grandchild... Ava Grace. Happy Birthday!

Ava & Gamma June 2010

The weather has been really beautiful, but hot in Eastern North Carolina. We had some much needed rain yesterday and my mother had lots of visitors. She has had visitors now for the last three days and yesterday she was up most of the day. She is now taking a nap and I will be leaving to head back to Raleigh later to take care of some things & bake cupcakes for my little granddaughter's fifth birthday! I am so ready to see Ava!

 It seems like yesterday that she was born. She called me while I was away and asked me to make cupcakes. She prefers my organic cupcakes. She likes organic pink icing. When we went camping I cheated due to time restrictions and used a canned icing from the grocery store. She was so excited that I made Pink cupcakes. She took one bite and said yukky Gamma I don't like those cupcakes. She never ate them. Jennifer didn't like them either. It is funny how your taste change once you begin eating pure foods without the chemicals and preservatives.  So Ava reminded me that she only wanted me to make my special pink icing or maybe just bring her cupcakes without icing.

She is such a sweet little thing. I am thankful that Jennifer has raised her to eat healthy. She likes healthy things. She has never tasted a Pepsi or soft drink that I know of. She doesn't want to either. I think soft drinks are addictive. Once you have one it is very hard to stop drinking them. I have finally gone about 2 months without my Coke Zero or any of those soft drinks. That was my addiction for years. I spent a lot of money on those drinks and would try to stop drinking them or buying them but was never successful until now.


I am sharing a picture of me holding Ava on the day she was born in 2005 (above) and then a recent one taken in June 2010. My Mother wanted our family to have family photos taken so we recently did that. I have lots more to share soon.  I also have a few other pictures posted below that were taken the last day of school the end of May this year when she graduated just before we took our first RV trip. Ava is such a joy.
I miss spending time with her. But I can't wait to see her on Saturday for her party! Jennifer planned a great party and the children will get to ride horses on Saturday at the farm. I will share pictures as soon as I can.

I am so blessed and thankful! I hope you don't mind Gamma (Ava's special name for me) sharing her photo's today! I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoy sharing them!


Ava is presented with her Pre-K certificate!

(I forgot to set the date again on my camera)(Date is incorrect on photo)
 

Ava had a very nice class!

Ava Grace on her first birthday!

Ava Grace on her 2nd Birthday I made her pink cupcakes!

I am searching for her 3rd and 4th birthday pictures!

Thank you for visiting my blog!

Blessings of a special precious Grandchild... Ava Grace. Happy Birthday!