Have you started your Christmas shopping? I am probably over half done. I just love Christmas shopping. And I love those big family and friend dinners on those two holidays when we all get together. How very blessed we all are here on this post.

Summer is reluctant to go, but fall is kinda pushing it’s way into our weather now. I’ve decided that I’m partial to change of seasons. There is something nice about each one as well as something not as nice. But then, “This, too, shall pass.”

It’s raining again today….maybe that’s why nobody wants to come out and play. I made a peach cobbler…just in case.

Momma Lloyd

I’m so sorry it had to include a sad occasion, but I’m so pleased that you and your husband were able to be there at Rachel’s to celebrate a sweet granddaughter’s birthday. How special is that! Our Lord seems able so many times to work something special into a sad day. He never ceases to amaze me.

I haven’t been to D.C. for such a long time, but I have always enjoyed my trips there. My younger son has much more vacation time than his wife so we often go down to Disney and he swims with the sharks while we are there. I suppose it’s surprising at my age that I enjoy going to Disney so much…maybe it’s a case of second childhood. Actually, I have such a good time going anywhere Mark and Donna want to go. Not long ago we had a grand time in Maine. They think I am their age so I try not to let them hear me huffing and puffing along the way. Though I’m afraid my secret is soon gonna be impossible to keep.

As Linda mentioned….y’all tell us which of Tori’s posts made you laugh longest and hardest.

I’m now having trouble with this fairly new computer program. My little man won’t always talk and after I’m on for about ten minutes a voice announces that I am now disconected from the internet. I talked with an AT&T tech yesterday who is calling me back today expecting what he did is now making it work. It isn’t….and I’m leeaving for Washington DC in the morning because I have the answer to more jobs. Discontinue using those recorded messages you have to go through for 15 minutes and put real live people on the other end of the phone to answer questions. And people who speak English well enough to be understood, please.

Like Linda, I’d like to be able to drive from my house to France in a short amount of time. Instead, I’d only make it to the county fair where they are judging livestock and Aunt Annie’s pickles.

Betty, how very blessed you are that Rachel and her family live at least close enough that you are able to visit with them from time to time. So many families are spread all over the world these days.

Rachel, you take me back to my years as a taxi-cab mother, when the children were so involved with after school activities and I seemed to be on the road or in the kitchen. Am I complaining? Gracious no, I’d like to go back and do it all over again.

Hey Delighted…our family is getting back together again! And Tori made an appearance and a promise. Sounds like a double blessing to me! Let’s sing, “If You’re Happy and You Know It, Clap Your Hands.” Well, maybe not. Guess I got a little carried away with that one.

Hannah was safely dispatched to camp this morning, it’s called xsite north, and it’s organised by scripture union for children from the north of England. I hope she has a great time and makes new friends. It looks like it should be a fun, busy week. Beth is going to a musical theatre summer school every day this week too so Daniel’s feeling quite lost without his big sisters to pester

LindaB you’ll be unstoppable when all that surgery is over … It’s a scary thought!

Our sweet Phyllis is on her way back, too. I have breadcrumb paths everywhere, for goodness sake.

My precious Linda, I’m thrilled to see you made it. You know we are gonna be sending up a whole bunch of prayers for you all through the days of your next surgeries and recoverie periods. Love you dearly.

Yep, it’s feeling like Home around here again. And maybe just in time to keep me from being committed. Love you guys!

I’m coming back– you know I can’t resist a good conversation!

First, Alyson, I expect your ice has melted! And it’s simmering now!
And I’d LOVE to come sit on your front porch and keep an eye on that terrorist hermit fella. But if he didn’t wave back at me, I would start crying! I’d then have to report him to Homeland Security Office! Can’t be too careful these days.

Betty Woodward, I’m also glad your Mom was not hurt in that accident! Sounds like it was a smooth transition between driving and not driving for your Mom. We just went through that with my mom and she didn’t take it well! To say the least! But we’re through that now, and she only mentions it every other day and tells us how mean we are.

Delighted, I’m so happy for you that you are singing out loud in public! There’s nothing more fun that singing! Do it now because when you’re my age, your voice starts to go and is undependable. And every time you sing, you will be less nervous until it becomes easy and enjoyable! Trust me! I bet you sing beautifully! Wish I could hear you! Will you be on YouTube soon?

Hi Rachel! Ya know, you make me jealous that France is so close to you and you can just pop over there and enjoy all France has to offer. Sometimes I go on my husband’s Google Earth, type in Arc de Triomphe, go right down to ground level with that little man, and just gaze at it from every angle! I know—-I’m weird. But it makes me happy. LOL

Barb, you have kept this place alive and growing! More power to you! I wish I could put pictures on here! But I can’t pull it off. But if you go to my Facebook page, you will see LOTS AND LOTS of my grandchildren’s pictures! I have also missed everyone on here….or that used to be on here! We had a nice little close group here……like family. Disfunctional, but good! LOL

If you’re wondering what I’ve been up to, I had total hip replacement surgery and am doing fine. Recovering and progressing. Not back to my old self yet, but maybe I don’t want that! LOL It’s been an experience alright! And my other hip needs replacing soon. After that, spine surgery. But enough of that—–I’m finding myself loving to talk about my operation, which is a sure sign of old age! Trying to stop that and talk about something more pleasant. But I can’t think of anything at the moment. LOL

It’s so sweet to hear from you all again! Love you! Stick around! Maybe one day Tori will join us and make us laugh! What was your favorite post of Tori’s that made you laugh out loud? I have a couple that I will share after you do.

And Jolene (don’t know her name she uses) says she is having trouble getting in. I suggested she start over with a new name and account. For some reason, she just is unable to be able to post anything after she reads. Say a little prayer that our dear Jolene will find a way to get back here with us.

Tell the others with whom you have contact that we are back in business. Our leader is not yet back but we are actively awaiting her return…so please join in with us. Besides missing Tori, I have been missing everyone else here, too.

Delighted, I knew you would do a good job. After all, our Lord was right there helping you the whole time. Isn’t it terrific that Betty and Rachel are here?!!!

Betty, how wonderful that you were able to get together with Rachel and the children while in France. That certainly wasn’t any coincidence; gracious, our Father is even in the travel business. I’m so thrilled you and Rachel will be joining Delighted and me here. Maybe it won’t be too long until Tori returns.

Rachel, oh my but I remember those camping days with my children. They always had such good times. Our youngest, Mark, went to the Keith Green two-week camp one year right after Keither died in an airplane crash with his children on the site. Mark was such a big fan of Keith’s…Keith’s wife continued on with the camp for a few years. It is so good seeing you and your sweet mom on here again!!! I do believe that Tori plans on coming back. I suspect she is just overwhelmed with everything she has joined in Bell Buckle…plus Madi’s college graduation and Charlotte’s highschool graduation this year. And don’t forget the Taff get together they are planning next year, for goodness sake.

We are in need of rain here, with the hope that would be a cooling factor as well. I must agree with you that hot weather seems to drain one’s energy. But I did make a strawberry cake yesterday, going by a simple recipe given to me by a friend. Here it is:
Bake a white cake mix in an 8-1/2 x 13 pan then poke holes in the cake after it is baked. While baking the cake, cap, slice and sugar down a little two cartons of fresh strawberries. Pour the juice from these berries over the cake and down into the poked holes. Spread the strawberries over the cake. Then top this with the frosting: Mix together one 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese and one small jar of marshmallow whip…then fold in one small carton of cool whip. Very tasty summer dessert….if you aren’t counting calories.

I was wondering if you might be interested in volunteering time to visit, for example, those in nursing homes who have absolutely no visitors at all? I’m thinking that not only would you be such a blessing to a few very lonely people, but the exposure alone might present an eventual job. Of course, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a nursing home. Sometimes, public schools draw their teachers’ helpers from ladies who have volunteered in the past. And, there are many other places to think about. My goodness, please know that I don’t in any way intend to be a bother….I’m just offering suggestions knowing you haven’t been living in your area for very long.

Gracious, we didn’t have air conditioning until after our children were born. I wonder sometimes how we made out without it, but then we lived up north where if there were really ht days there were not as many of them. Here in the south, there are a LOT of hot days and I thank God for making air conditioning. I just know He made it because scripture tells us all good things come from Him. Anyway, I frequently thank Him for it.

Delighted, wouldn’t you think one of our old (make that ‘ole) buddies here would feel sorry for us and start talking with us, for goodness sake? If they would all come running back, you and I would make them some chicken ‘n dumplins and red velvet cake. That always worked with the ‘ole Gaither gang.

As for our meeting, let’s do plan to go to Bell Buckle for the Russ Taff week-end, much like David’s annual barn event. It will be so much fun…with hugs all around!

Well, one day I would love to meet you all in person – you, Barbara, Tori and Russ (meeting them once is truely not enough!)and all the bloomr nation.

Unfortunately I did not yet get a job. In fact, I got a rejection again just today. But God will not let me down! Perhaps God also wants to test my trust and patience…

Gracious, Delighted, did you get a job, sweet pea?

Without permission (if I get in trouble I’ll just claim senility) we sure do miss our Tori!

Our Tori is not only adorable and delightful, she also is one of the most thoughtful and considerate persons inside and outside Bell Buckle. I have figured out why we are (amen) stuck on this post with all of the ice and snow. For goodness sake, with all of us having 100 degree days this summer it is refreshing to come to Tori’s blog and look at that ice hanging everywhere. Why, but our sweet Tori, would ever have thought to be that kind….while she is off filling in for everyone from the dog catcher to the librarian to honorary mayor (at least). And, she has given us the infrequent (maybe that’s a bit too far) opportunity to exercise our patience.

In the meantime, Delighted, I do so appreciate your hanging out with me…and wish more would do so. But let’s just not sign off with “We’ll keep the home fires burning” because that would destroy Tori’s whole purpose in having us hang out ah-monkst the ice cycles.

Thank you for rescuing me, sweet Delighted. Please hang in here (you had to know I was going to ask you that once you dared put your toe in the water.)

What would be more fun than all of us converging upon the little town of Bar Buckle (shucks my mind went into sleep mode and I can’t remember at the moment whether it is Bell or Bar but I thionk it’s Bar…don’t worry we have time to get that straight). I can’t wait for all those hugs!!! Sounds like a plan to me….how about you?

Come on…let’s get this blog up and running…any subject you choose. You can even fuss with Tori for being gone so long…just don’t tell her it was my suggestion.

Gracious, I miss you guys.

Sing along with me:
If you’re happy and you know it, write something here….(repeat).

We hardly got home from Canada when the mayor here in Bell Buckle asked Russ to sing at the Tennessee Horse Convention. Loving horses, our girls were so excited about this so they went down town and bought riding habits just for the occasion. In fact, I went with them and got myself a snazzy one, too. Well, the night of the convention the Taff family showed up looking better than Roy Rogers and the Praire Girls. In fact, the announcer took one look at the four of us and got a little confused so he introduced us as The Russ Taff Yodeling Group. Trouble was, not even Russ can yodle…so while Russ sang we girls just kept clearing our throats, running up and down the musical scale with do-ra-me-fa-so-la-te-do and every other sound we could muster up. And guess what! We were a hit!!! Poor Russ has to take us to the Chicken Feed Convention next week.

Just checking in to let you know what’s going on with the Taffs.

Love y’all,
Tori

Last count, there will be 16 here for dinner on Easter Sunday. I do love cooking for family and friends.

Happy Easter, Everyone! He is Risen!!!!!

Soon as you get back in Buckle get out your ‘ole chicken soup pot and get my Russ feeling better.

My little German friend was here for a few days and she left today to go home. The house is so quiet. Guess I’m gonna have to start answering when I talk to myself, for goodness sake. As it is, I turn on the tv and then leave the room. Not much interested in what they are saying these days….just opting for a little background noise. Then one of the children calls and first thing they say is “Mom, turn down your tv so I can hear you.” Can’t help but remember how many times through the years I have asked them to turn down their music. They even have the nerve to ask me to turn down my music if that is what I’m playing when they call. I’ll probably be getting three sets of hearing aids for Christmas this year. (Excuse me while I go turn up you know who singing “Ain’t No Grave Gonna Hold Me Down.”)