Raves
Friday, June 13, 2008, by Sherra
It’s hard to be nine.
It’s especially hard to be nine when you have three teenage siblings.
And it’s a hot summer day.
Which always makes me think of staying inside and reading a good book.
So I went to a special cabinet in my room to get one of those classic books out for Scary Baby yesterday.
It made me remember being nine and being able to walk to the air-conditioned library in the small town where we lived.
It made me think of some of my favorite books and authors that transported me to another place and made me love reading…as in it is one my most favorite things to do!
We have three out of four kids that devour books like PhilBillPaul and I do. One unnamed teen much prefers TV to a good book.
Nature vs. nurture is alive and well at our house.
Here are some of my all-time favorites that all my kids have read and still love (even the non-reader):
Ramona the Pest
by Beverly Cleary
(I love the whole series!)
Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective
by Donald Sobol
(You don’t have to be a boy to love this series!)
The Boxcar Children
by Gertrude Chandler Warner
(might just be my all-time favorite series!)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
by Roald Dahl
(fun to read and then watch the *original* movie with Gene Wilder!)
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
by Judy Blume
(love, love, love all her books!)
The library is a fabulous place to spend some of your hot summer days. Most libraries have great summer reading programs and activities. Books make great gifts at any age.
Have you passed on your love of reading on to your kids?
Share the titles or authors of your favorite childhood books…it’s always fun to get book recommendations!
Popularity: 26%
Categories: Moments, Random Thoughts, Raves, Tweens
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Friday, June 6, 2008, by Sherra
I told you on Wednesday that I would share some of my favorite country music songs. I was thinking about why I love country so much and I know that a big part of it is that so many country songs tell a great story.
I love story-telling and I love how real so much of the songwriting is. I also love songs that move me. Whether it moves me to tears or it moves me to smile or it moves me to get up and dance, I love all the emotion music brings to our lives.
First, a few personal country facts I want to share:
1) I do not own cowboy boots
2) I do not own a cowboy hat
3) I do not line dance
4) I can ride a horse
5) There is such a thing as too much twang in country
(and too much banjo).
Now here are some great songs that I think ya’ll will love even if you think you don’t like country!
Five Great Songs by Women Country Singers
Every mama should make sure her daughters hear these…
1) This One’s For The Girls - Martina McBride
2) Somebody’s Hero - Jamie O’Neal
3) Room to Breathe - Reba McEntire
4) I Didn’t Know My Own Strength - Bobbie Cryner
5) I Hope You Dance - Lee Ann Womack
Five Great Patriotic Country Songs
These pretty much always move me to tears…
1) Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning) - Alan Jackson
2) Have You Forgotten? - Darryl Worley
3) American Soldier - Toby Keith
4) Some Gave All - Billy Ray Cyrus
5) God Bless the U.S.A. - Lee Greenwood
Come on now, don’t be scared. Search for the songs and have a listen–it should be no surprise that I’m an iTunes fan. You might be pleasantly surprised and want to add some new music to your iPod. 
If you already love country, take a moment and share a couple of your favorite songs in the comments section. I’m always looking for great new tunes personally recommended by friends!
Popularity: 16%
Categories: Moments, Raves
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Wednesday, June 4, 2008, by Sherra
Before I divulge the location of the birthday trip for the darling twin daughters, can I just say that I’m less than inspired that only TWO of you commented on Flexible Friday (thanks Kerri & Wendy) about whether you have a ME day or ME hour and what you do with your ME time?!
Ladies, seriously. No one schedules time for themselves and will share how they do it?
Or are you all so busy with your ME time that you’re unable to click the “Comment” link at the bottom of the post and comment? Come on, we’re suppose to be inspiring each other here!
Okay, I’ll stop ranting about that and move right into a rave!
I’m taking the girls to Nashville for the CMA Country Music Festival.
Stop laughing.
For many, country music has become more mainstream with artists like Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Sugarland, etc., who have all had crossover hits in recent years.
True Confessions
For me, I’ve loved country since I was in grade school. I have Charley Pride albums. I saw Kenny Rogers in high school at the State Fair.
I have the Statler Brothers autographed 8 x 10 picture.
Ahem, your laughing is getting louder. I can hear it in Georgia.
It’s not the only music I love. I really love all kinds of music. I can’t imagine life without music. As I noted in the “About Sherra” page, I had an iPod before iPods were cool.
I was a teen in the late 70’s and early 80’s and also went to Summer Jam concerts and heard REO Speedwagon, AC/DC, Cheap Trick, Head East, The Baby’s and even went on .38 Special’s tour bus.
See how well-rounded I am?
But Barbara Mandrell, Lee Greenwood, T.G. Shepherd were all concerts I loved too.
I can still hear the Tammy Wynette, Lynn Anderson, Roy Clark and Johnny Cash albums that my parents played.
Yes, we did watch Hee Haw at my house in the Midwest.
Should I not admit that? Sorry family.
It is a requirement to like country music if you live with me. PhilBillPaul tolerates it. The Grunter not so much.
“Poor Phil” (as my family likes to refer to him) has sat through Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney and some others I’m sure I’m forgetting.
All three of my girls love it. Maybe it is more of a chick thing?
I had always heard about this big Nashville event called Fan Fair and wanted to go. Some years ago, they changed the name to the CMA Music Festival and moved it to downtown Nashville.
My friend Ann shared with me that when Dan returned from Iraq that she wanted to do more things for herself (oh, that sounds like a ME day or even better, a ME trip and she might need a friend to go with her!).
One of those things on her list was to go to more music concerts because she loves music so much. She had just recently gotten more into country music and wanted to go to a live concert or two.
Don’t give me an idea if you don’t really mean it. I told her I knew of a concert that might be beyond her idea of a *little* live concert. It’s actually a four day event and anyone she could think of would be there.
We’ve been for the past two years and were going to go again this year. Alas, that darn husband surprised her with a trip to England.
(Nice job Dan 
)
I got over it and then mentioned to my girls that maybe we could go if they wanted to chip in and it would be their birthday present.
We’re leaving today and if you even remotely like country music - it is an event like nothing I’ve ever witnessed. You can check out the details and all the artists who will be performing at cmafest.com.
It’s an amazing event and this is fair warning that you will have to endure pictures that I will post next week when we return!
On Flexible Friday, I’m already thinking I’ll post some of my favorite country songs.
Yee Haw!
Admit it, you want to know what’s on my iPod.
If you stop laughing, I might just tell you…
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Categories: Finding the Funny, Friends, Moments, Raves, Teens
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Wednesday, May 21, 2008, by Sherra
The graduation party fun seems to be all-consuming for families with seniors (and families with kindergarteners?).
The Grunter has made this all a little too easy for us since he’s not participating in the ceremony and didn’t want to have a party.
I’d feel more guilty about it if he hadn’t made a lot of other things really hard for us and in case anyone forgets, we will have TWO more seniors next year. I’m pretty certain they’ll be walking in the ceremony and want a party too. I’ve heard that I need to start the planning now. (Giant SIGH)
Here’s a little last minute tip for those supermom party planners (i.e. my friend Leigh Anne) who need just one more thing to do for the party…luckily these are super-easy graduation treats for the food table and you can never have too much chocolate!
I’m putting this is my “party file” for next year. (Yeah, sure, I have a party file.)
Our neighbor had these at her son’s party over the weekend and they were gone by the time we arrived. She was nice enough to email me the instructions and the link. Thanks Marla!
Aren’t these just too stinkin’ cute?!
Grad Caps
Miniature peanut butter cups
Frosting or peanut butter
Chocolate-covered graham crackers
Fruit leather
Step 1
Place a miniature peanut butter cup, bottom up, on a plate. Top with a small dollop of frosting or peanut butter, then press on a chocolate-covered graham cracker.
Step 2
For a tassel, tightly roll up a small square of fruit leather. Cut fringe on one end and attach the other end to the center of the graham cracker with another dab of frosting or peanut butter.
The idea comes from FamilyFun.com
Sidenote: Someone on the website suggested using mini m&m’s to hold the tassel.
There’s even a video if you need help assembling them. Seriously…let me know if you needed the video.
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Categories: Food, Friends, Raves, Teens
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Friday, May 16, 2008, by Sherra
Doesn’t that sound like a fabulous thing to do?
Spend a year by the sea. Ahhhh…
Sign me up. My bags are packed. I’m ready to go…
But I have a few obligations and responsibilities I have to tend to before I can go. I’m guessing you do too.
So short of leaving, you can read the book…
A Year by the Sea: Thoughts of an Unfinished Woman
Joan Anderson is the author of that book and she is one of my favorite authors. I saw her almost a decade ago on Oprah and went right out and got the book. I still love the tagline of the book because I know that is really who we all are — unfinished women.
Since then, she has published 4 more books and I have devoured them all and given some of them as gifts.
On Wednesday night I had the privilege of attending a Borders event called “Getting Better All the Time: Women and Writers in Conversation.” If you’re in Atlanta, I’m sorry you missed it.
She was an absolute delight! Warm, funny, sincere and truthful - all the qualities I love in a women at any age.
My friend Wendy and I were so glad we made the trek downtown. It’s still an effort to get out and do things like this that feel selfish to many women but are really the things that lift us up and keep us going when we’re tired and overwhelmed.
Of course, having dinner after we left Borders was an added bonus!
I was sad that I forgot to snap a picture of us with Joan (our new friend whom we now feel like we can call by her first name).
I did, however, snap pictures of our desserts at The Cheesecake Factory.
I chose the LEMON RASPBERRY CREAM CHEESECAKE
Raspberry Vanilla Cake, Creamy Lemon Cheesecake, Raspberry Lady Fingers and Lemon Mousse
Wendy went for the CARAMEL PECAN TURTLE CHEESECAKE.
Pecan Brownie and Caramel Fudge Swirl Cheesecake, Topped with Caramel Turtle Pecans and Chocolate
Obviously, we were both counting calories. Not.
I can’t wait to dive in to her new book this weekend. Just the title makes me smile…
Second Journey, The: The Road Back to Yourself
And I love the tagline of this one too. “The Road Back to Yourself” It’s like she wrote it just for me.
My personal recommendation is to start at the beginning and read every one of Joan’s books. Or go wild and read the new one first. Read them out of order. Just read them!
Do something for yourself this weekend - eat some cheesecake and curl up with a good book! Make every weekend Mother’s Day…you deserve it!
P.S. If you click on the purple text link of the book titles, it will take you right to Amazon.com and you can order the book and have it delivered to your door!
Popularity: 20%
Categories: Friends, Moments, Raves
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Friday, May 9, 2008, by Sherra
When we want to try to eat healthy…
…okay, that made me laugh just typing it.
Let me start over.
When we’re out of chocolate chips, we make these cookies.
Well, that and if the applesauce doesn’t have mold on it since no one really eats it except if it’s in these cookies.
(Or at Red Lobster in lieu of a green salad.)
They could be mistaken for being “semi-healthy” if there is such a thing.
I’m sure you could use whole wheat flour and sneak in some flax. Yum.
I did grow up eating these and the recipe is in our family cookbook.
These could be my Mom’s recipe or Betty Crocker’s. I just don’t know for sure.
Truth be told, these are really good! So maybe when you are burned out on chocolate chip cookies and brownies, you might give these a try.
Applesauce Cookies
3/4 C soft shortening
1 C brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 C applesauce
2-1/4 C flour
1/2 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
Heat oven to 375º. Mix shortening, sugar & egg thoroughly. Stir in applesauce. Measure flour by dip-level-pour method or by sifting. Blend dry ingredients; stir in. Drop by spoonfuls on greased baking sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes. Makes 4 dozen.
Enjoy and let me know if you try them and if you like them!
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Popularity: 26%
Categories: Finding the Funny, Food, Raves
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Wednesday, May 7, 2008, by Sherra
I got home late Sunday night from five fun-filled days visiting relatives in Indiana.
As I shared last week, I went back home to Indiana to visit Imogene.
One week ago on Wednesday I surprised Imogene and spent the afternoon with her. She has fallen twice since I was there last year so she spends most of her time in a wheelchair. She has made a remarkable recovery especially at age 92.
She doesn’t go out very much, if at all. Since I was there by myself and was not on a schedule, I made myself available if she wanted to go anywhere. After a little encouragement because I’m sure you know how much her generation “doesn’t want to be a burden” she finally said “I sure would like to have some good food at Gray’s.”
Gray Brothers Cafeteria is a local landmark in Mooresville, Indiana.
Photo of Gray’s sign came from this fun food blog.
Cafeterias are not my favorite kind of restaurants. I actually refuse to eat at them here in Georgia. (Another one of my issues…for another day.)
But Gray Brothers is different. I love it.
PhilBillPaul loves cafeterias so I had to take a picture of our food so I could show him I had his favorite chicken and noodles (and corn and potatoes and a roll and butterscotch pie if you’re taking inventory.)
I found a far better picture of their food at RoadFood.com which is a fun site that features reviews the kind of down-home restaurants we love.
“A tray of lunch, Gray Brothers-style. Clockwise from the bottom left: candied beets, dinner roll, banana cream pie, orange chiffon Jell-O, lemonade, chicken with cornbread dressing.”
- Michael Stern
Imogene had those candied beets (yuck) and jello salad and fried potatoes and strawberry pie with her chicken and noodles. My photography skills really didn’t do justice to our meal.
Yes, it does appear that we might have thought this was our last meal. I’m happy to report it wasn’t. We actually took some beets, jello salad and pie back to her room.
Everything was absolutely delicious and words cannot describe what it meant to me to get to spend the afternoon with her and take her out to dinner.
The waitress took our picture and I’ve already ordered two 5 x7 prints that I’m framing–one for me and one for her!
Life Lesson (LL): In spite of gas prices and a nine hour drive, the trip was worth every moment I got to spend with Imogene and other relatives!
Share a Life Lesson (SALL): Any trip you’ve taken or are planning to take to visit someone special in your life?
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Categories: Food, Life Lessons, Milestones, Moments, Raves
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Friday, May 2, 2008, by Sherra
We have several pancake recipes that we love and rotate for Sunday brunch.
PhilBillPaul and I love breakfast any time. We have it for dinner at least once a week. Much to the chagrin of Wizzy. There’s one in every family or in our case–two. The Grunter doesn’t eat eggs.
Remember my food chart? Sigh.
PhilBillPaul loves IHOP buttermilk pancakes and I figured some brilliant cook had worked out a copycat recipe.
So this recipe was found through the detective work of The Grunter and Google. Mostly Google.
To keep it real, here is the actual recipe that sometimes finds its way back to one of my recipe binders divided by categories. Usually though, it’s just loose in the cabinet and we search through a big pile to find it.
Have I mentioned that we have a slew of artists in the house? This is an unsigned work so I can’t give proper credit.
Have a great breakfast this weekend!
P.S. Credit for the recipe source is noted on the recipe itself but in case you missed it, it was found on Top Secret Recipes.
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Categories: Food, Raves
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Monday, April 21, 2008, by Sherra
She turns nine tomorrow.
That last baby we actually planned.
The one that we waited so long to have because having one + two more in less than three years was daunting.
We strategically planned to have that last baby so that the first three would be old enough to babysit. That plan has served us well.
We also knew that we wanted an even number…um, why? I have no idea why except the first three so close together just threw me off balance.
I was sure #4 would round out our family.
I love, love, love babies.
I did know I wanted to rock and hold and nurse and love just one baby.
Side note: I confess that I did pray that there would only be one baby.
I didn’t know I would have to fight Roger Leroy (a.k.a. Mama Jr.) to get a turn to hold her.
I did know that that last baby would be adored by all of us and she would always be “The Queen.”
I didn’t know how hard it would be for her to have five pseudo parents instead of two. You have to have a lot of personality and a good sense of humor to keep up in our house. Obviously, she can hang with us.
I did know we would see the world through her eyes and she would make us slow down and see beauty in the simple things.
I didn’t know she would be my only girly-girl. But still love dirt and bugs and
caterpillars.
I did know that her daddy had more than enough love for another daughter.
He lights up in her presence.
I didn’t know she would test my patience in ways I never dreamed before the teen years even hit. Big sigh…
I did know that our family would be blessed beyond measure to have her in our world. And having an even number isn’t so odd.
Happy Birthday Baby Girl! You are beautiful and smart and funny.
We all love you to the moon…
xoxo
Mama
P.S. For the observant few, oh yes, that is a giant tattoo on her hand.
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Categories: Milestones, Moments, Raves, Toddlers (& babies), Tweens
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Friday, April 4, 2008, by Sherra
I am well aware that this site is read primarily by women. I’m fine with that.
In fact, reader comments are 98% women strong.
Yesterday that became 97%.
Rarely, if ever, will a comment become an actual post. That would be redundant.
But I also assume that many of you may never go back to an old post and read the comments.
Am I right? (I know I shouldn’t assume…)
In this instance, I felt deeply compelled to be sure you all didn’t miss this award-winning comment.
Okay, maybe not award-winning, because that infers there was a competition or a contest and there wasn’t.
If there was a contest, this is the blog badge I would bestow on the winner.
The winner could put their award badge on their blog to celebrate and brag about their achievement.
If there was a contest, the winning comment would be found…where else but here…
Wiener Dog Monday!
Instead of a contest and because he doesn’t have a blog…
I’d like to introduce you to Command Sergeant Major Daniel Bowman.
He also happens to be the husband of my wiener dog-loving friend, Ann.
He wrote this comment and to say I was surprised would be a huge understatement.
I have thought long and hard how to contribute to this insightful place on the web without emasculating myself. All of the pseudo pink/purple hues that border the home page have made me swear not to tell the fellow members of my man world a thing about it. Sorry Sherra.
But having close ties with a contributor and a real feeling that life lessons need to be shared, I’m jumping in. It’s funny how we (or maybe it’s just me) learn things. Take friendship. Oh, not the friendship you find in a pick-up basketball game or a friendship you make at work, a real deep friendship that is closer and more real than I can fathom. I have friends and since my return from my tour of duty in Iraq I have some VERY close friends, but not the type of friendship that I have observed between my wife and the author of this web site.
Sherra, I’m jealous. Maybe jealous is too weak of a word, but I can’t think of another. I’ve never heard two people laugh so hard or talk so long on the phone about who knows what. How can two college sorority sisters who met over 26 years ago be so emotionally close to each other? Heck their relationship is closer than the one my wiener dog and I have with my wife and the three of us sleep in the same bed!
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining, I’m a man of few words and anytime that massive verbal trail of every detail of my wife’s day and menstrual cycle can be directed to someone else’s ear, it’s a “praise the baby Jesus moment” for me.
I do wish I had that. Not the menstrual cycle, but the ability to share every detail of my life with someone (who’s not my spouse), who doesn’t judge or get paid for acting like they care. A true unselfish friend. When I look back to when I was away from my family for 15+ months I remember how my concerns were turned upon myself and my Soldiers.
I left my wife to fend for herself four thousand miles away, paying bills, raising our children, calling a plumber, and scratching the dog’s back. I only had 15 minutes on a phone every 2-3 days, that is if it didn’t go dead in the middle of a conversation and very limited email access. No time to discuss those details of the day, only enough time to verify that I was still alive and kicking.
Thank God for Sherra. She filled in for me and I owe her my thanks.
There’s a saying within the Military; “America isn’t at war, the Army’s at war, America’s at the Mall.”
My version is a bit different “America isn’t at war, the Army and its Soldier’s families and FRIENDS are at war…”
Thanks Sherra.
I can assure you Dan (and any other men who are lurking here) that you did not emasculate yourself. Women love words and Ann & I both loved yours. You are speaking our love language, dear!
It was my pleasure to be there for Ann while you were in Iraq serving our country with pride and honor. Thank YOU, Dan.
xoxoxo
P.S. Now don’t be a weenie…go tell all your manly friends that you were featured on a girly blog
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Categories: Finding the Funny, Friends, Life Lessons, Love Languages, Raves
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