Update on Mark

After an MRI on Wednesday Mark was sent to the Orthopedic Surgeon who told him he will be having surgery next week. OK we still don't know when the doctor is going to preform the surgery he is out of town until Monday. Go figure. Poor Mark he's such a trooper. I would be demanding another doctor.

Thursday the surgeon had him go have a cat scan. We go to the doctor on Monday to see if the cat scan shows more damage then the MRI. At that point they will know what they're doing for sure and will schedule the surgery.

If nothing changes once the read the cat scan they will be putting a screw through his shoulder to pull his bone back together. OUCH!!!! Poor guy. Hopefully they will schedule the surgery for Tuesday and he can start the recovery process!

Hobo Stew

Sorry Ladies I really thought this was already on here. This recipe is an old family favorite. I can still see my Dad and Uncle fixing it before we had our family ping pong tournaments. Oh those were the days. I think I was 8 or 9.

The reason this is called hobo stew is it was made in 1/2 pound coffee cans (They don't make them anymore) then they would put them on the grill while we played.

I now do it the crock pot.
Per Person
1 piece of bacon ....line the bottom of the crock pot or dutch oven
1 hamburger pattie (I use meatballs)
1 carrot

layer these items and pour the tomato sauce over top.

1 can of tomato sauce with zucchini or I use plan tomato sauce and fresh zucchini. Beer can also be added for a little extra flavor if desired. I usually will cook this all day. We hope your family enjoys!

Time flies!

Wow where did this week go. I have to say the week has flown by without me even knowing. I sat back one day and couldn't believe I didn't get half or even a quarter of the things done I wanted to but I've been non stop all week. I need some time management or more time in a day!!!

I've been to the doctor's office more times than I want to count this week and I have to go back again today. Mark fractured his shoulder and he has an appointment with the orthopedic doc today to see what they are going to do with his shoulder.

You may want to stop reading here because now I am going to rant and rave about our health care system. I TELL YOU IT SUCKS TO PUT IT MILDLY!!!!

Mark went to the emergency room on Monday because I couldn't get him an appointment with our primary doctor for 3 weeks even though I told them we thought he had torn something in his shoulder. They said he'd have to go to the emergency room. He went to the emergency room where he was there for 4 hours and they told him he needed an MRI but they couldn't give him one he needed to go to his primary care physician to get a referal to have an MRI. What a load of crap when a hospital can't give you an MRI because your insurance won't cover it without an OK from your primary doctor. Come on how much pain does a person have to be in before you do something?

So the next day I took the paperwork to the primary doctor and they wouldn't schedule him an appointment for an MRI until he saw the doctor even with the referal from the emergency room. So I made him an appointment for the next day. That's another day he has to wait for some to do something. At least after seeing the primary care doctor he sent him to have an MRI that day. Finally. Then the doctor tells him he will call him if anything shows up on the MRI. OK but when a week from now?

Mark had a chiropractors appointment that afternoon and she called the imaging lab and asked them to fax over the results right then. Thank goodness someone will do something in a timely manner. That's when we found out he had a fractured shoulder. She told him to go to his doctor right then.

So off he goes to the doctors.... when he gets there the doctor is seeing his last patient and refused to see him EVEN With A FRACTURED SHOULDER. OH that doctor is SOOOOO LUCKY I wasn't THERE!!! Wait until I write my letter to the insurance!

REFUSING to see a patient in that shape what happen to the oath he took? What kind of doctor would do something like that? The receptionist told him he would have to go over to the urgent care. Can you believe it??? I can't. We will be changing doctor's after this plus my insurance is going to hear about him. I just have to cool off a bit before writing that letter.

At least the urgent care doctor set him up with an appointment to see the orthopedic doc today. Wish us luck. I can only pray today goes better.

Massage Therapist

Ladies Wait until you try our NEW MASSAGE THERAPIST....all the ladies are raving about him. Don has special rates just for us....and boy does it feel great after leaning over that table for hours on end trying to get all those pages done. You will be so glad you indulged yourself.


Don and his wife own Rose Mary's Skin Salon in Santa Clarita. If you live near Santa Clarita and you haven't been to their salon yet you're missing out. It's a must! When you go tell them hi for us.... You're going to love them and the services they provide.

If you need more information go to my list of links. I can't get my link insert to work. Sorry

Bird Feeder

You wouldn't believe all the birds we've had at our bird feeders this year. I think they've been telling their friends what great food Mark puts out.... and their friends have been telling their friends.

We have the most beautiful male blue jays and all these little tiny birds with black heads. I'm not sure what they are....but the are sure cute!

Sorry Sue still no Bunnies!

Look who turned 5 yesterday. Happy Birthday Tyler we wish we could have been there. Grandpa and I hope you had a great birthday and lots of fun with Sophie! We love you!

Another Swap

I just joined another swap. It is a vinatge circus swap. It sould be tons of fun....if your interested click on the circus button.

I joined Priscila's Vintage Valentine Swap and let me tell you if you get her for your partner you will have a wonderful box of goodies that are wrapped as nice as the gifts inside.

Look who showed up on my doorstep!!!

Look who showed up at my house today!!!! Isn't she is so cute? The picture doesn't even do her justice. I was soooo hoping she would show up at my house. I've been waiting and waiting for someone to claim her. No one was claiming her now I know why.

I've named them Chickie and Dee. They came from one of the swaps I'm in... Vintage Spring Sweetness. This swap is so much fun. Linda has really out done herself. She is giving a gift a week away to one lucky winner. How sweet is that!
Linda holds swaps each season you should check out her blog....just click on the button to the right

CHOCOLATE CAKE COOKIES

CHOCOLATE CAKE COOKIES

1 box chocolate cake mix
2 eggs
1/2 c. oil
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup nuts
Mix all ingredients together. Bake at 350 for 8-9 minutes. Yield: About 3 dozen cookies.

I use all different kinds of cake mixes. Mark's favorite is Lemon. I make a lemon icing to drizzle over them. YUM! I hope you enjoy them. Let me know what cake is your favorite....remember to try something out side the cake mix! You can't go wrong with these any flavor taste great.

Rain Rain Go Away!

Ok where did sunny California go? I'm already tired of the rain....it's a good thing I don't live in Seattle. I know we need it.... but come on these old bones say enough is enough!!!! It's raining cats and dogs here today. I haven't seen it rain this hard in sometime. What's the weather like where you are?

I'm sure if any of you want to come to the snow we're going to have plenty of it at the retreat. It snowed the last two weekends and we are suppose to have snow all this week. YIKES how will I ever get up that driveway? Just kidding you know MARK'S out there keeping it clean. So why not come up and build a snowman

Happy Valentine's Day!

Who will be our Valentine? Drum Roll Please!

And the winner is #14

Guess who's comment is number 14..... OH so pretty Bonnie!!! it's Sarah. E-mail me Sarah and I will send you your gift certificate. Congratulations!!!!

See ladies it does pay off to leave comments daily. Don't stop leaving them you never know when we will be giving something away!

One more day!

Ok this is it you only have one more day to leave your comments so be sure you get them in today!!!

Look at this weather wouldn't you just love to have a picnic in here? It just started snowing more. We are suppose to get a few inches today. I can't wait to see what happens. I love being in the house baking when it snows.

And the winner is??????

Who really wants to win???
It's not Valentines Day yet so you're going to have to wait....but keep getting your comments in. You have until Saturday and it only takes one comment!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes. I had a great birthday week of celebrating! I have some of the most wonderful friends in the world. You know who you are....Thank you for all the gifts and parties! You all out did yourselves I don't think I could handle anymore partying. But I can't wait to try that new drink.

Can't wait to see who is going to be our Valentine! Good Luck to all of you.

Lets get this party started

The song Lets get this party started has been going through my head all morning. I'm just waiting on my Mom's caregiver to get here so I can leave for the weekend. WHOOO Hooow! I can't wait.

My birthday isn't until tuesday but were starting early! I am so ready for this little break. I'm not sure I'll get much rest but it will be fun. I do see a nice long massage in the forecast and maybe a nap.

Hope you have a great weekend and don't forget to leave a post for the drawing!

Antique Swap Meet

My sister-n-law and I went to the antique swap meet today. I found a really cute little bobble for a friend of mine. My sister-n-law found the cutest Dick and Jane framed prints. Some how she always find the good stuff first! There really wasn't anything to exciting. We went to a couple thrift stores after that but not much there either. So I actually got away with out spending a bunch of money. YEAH!

I still haven't packed for tomorrow and I have no idea what I'm going to work on wile I'm gone. I guess I better get busy and figure it out. I will finally have some new scrapbook pages to show you.

Here is the picture of the Valentine gift I sent my partner.

It was so much fun making this box.

Birthday count down!

Ok I've been getting ready for my birthday. My friends and I are getting together this weekend to scrapbook and party. I'm making them all special little gifts. SHHH it's a secret. It is going to be Valentine's Day soon after all.


Yikes...I've been so busy getting ready for Valentines Day and sending out all the swaps I've joined I haven't even found my pictures or packed yet. I better get busy I'm leaving Thursday....WHOOO HOOO!!!!! Can you tell I'm just a little excited :-)

Oh speaking of swaps I got the most adorable things from my valentine swap partner. She packed my box with all kinds of goodies....and the wrappings were gifts all on their own. They were so nice I hated to open them. I had as much fun looking at the wrapping as I did opening the gifts. Thanks again Priscila!

Tomorrow I'm going to the antique swap meet at the fairgrounds. I can't wait I usually don't get to go because they are on sunday. I hope I don't find to many goodies I can't live with out. I'll let you know what I find.

Happy Ground Hogs Day

"Phil Says "Six More Weeks of Winter!"

Phil's official forecast as read February 2nd, 2009 at sunrise at Gobbler's Knob:

Hear Ye Hear Ye


On Gobbler's Knob this glorious Groundhog Day, February 2nd, 2009

Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Prognosticator of all Prognosticators

Awoke to the call of President Bill Cooper

And greeted his handlers, Ben Hughes and John Griffiths

After casting a joyful eye towards thousands of his faithful followers,

Phil proclaimed that his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers were World Champions one more time

And a bright sky above me

Showed my shadow beside me.

So 6 more weeks of winter it will be.

Here is the link to this article
http://www.groundhog.org
I tried to connect the link for you but for some reason I couldn't get it to work.


OK for those of you who have been waiting for SNOW here is your chance. You have an extra 6 weeks of cold weather. I'm not sure about were you are but it's been hot and windy here!

I'm hoping there is snow at the RETREAT when I get there this weekend.

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY

Who do you think is going to win? Half of my family is hoping for the Steeler's and the half wants the Cardinals. Me I always go for the underdog so we'll see. I really hope the Cardinal win my grandson told me they have a good chance!

I have learned not to bet with my ten year old grandson. He always wins!!! so this year I got smart and told him no. I'm not really into the football game anyway I just watch to see the commercials! How sad is that!

Good luck to your team! Let me know what your favorite commercial was.