MrsAngelena's Xanga

NEW BLOG --* * * * *Please make NOTE

Wed, 17 May 2006 16:35:38 GMT

I have started a new blog.

http://countrylifejourney.typepad.com/ I think this one will be a little easier to keep up with. I will also keep posting some on here occasionally as well

Hugs

Mrs Ann

Short update

Mon, 15 May 2006 18:24:44 GMT

I have been busy busy busy! I sure wish spring would arrive! It is cold here in WV today. Check out the links to some of the blogs I enjoy reading. They are located on the left side bar of this page.

Saturday April 29, 2006

Sat, 29 Apr 2006 11:29:13 GMT

Turkey season is in here in West Virginia. Jake killed his first turkey this morning. Here are a few pictures of him and the turkey:

I am also working on a quilted wall hanging for my living room. I am hand quilting it so it is a slow process:

Wednesday April 26 2006

Thu, 27 Apr 2006 13:08:11 GMT

Luke's 12th Birthday

Today Luke turns 12. It seems like only yesterday I was bringing him home from the hospital. Where does time go? He got a remote control excavator for his birthday present. For his birthday dinner he requested: Steak, baked potato, cucumber salad, noodles and dirt cake.

Dinner Time

Tue, 25 Apr 2006 16:50:05 GMT

The Importance of the Dinner Table

We have recently began having our dinner at the dining table again. We had gotten out of the habit of having a sit down dinner each evening while the boys had football practice and other activities.

Our Dinner has become one of the most anticipated events of our day. Even the boys look forward to it with great anticipation. Why ? Because I have taken extra time to set the table with a tablecloth, napkins, and "the fancy dishes."

The "fancy dishes" are the ones that I have kept in the China cabinet that belonged to my mother and Grandmother. They never used them even on special occasions in fear of breaking them. Now they are not expensive dishes or anything just old and special "looking". My youngest said to me one day "Mom, why don't we ever use those dishes?" I pondered on that question for a moment and really couldn't think of a reason. So that evening we used our "special dishes" I put a tablecloth on the table and set the table using the dishes. We drank out of the nice blue glasses and had the matching glass pitcher filled with ice water for refills. We ate our pudding out of the dessert dishes.

What happened? Nothing broke, the sky did not fall and we had a wonderful dining experience. A transformation took place before my very eyes! My 13 , 11, and 6 year old became little gentlemen. They used great manners saying please and thank you. The conversation was light and lovely. They complimented me on the food. The same went for my husband. Hmm, was I on to something?

The next few days I cooked regular meals, nothing out of the ordinary. I continued setting the table fancy and using the "special dishes" and do you know what? We could have been having hot dogs and they still showed great respect at the dinner table. No more rushing to eat supper to go and play. They longed to sit at the table with me and Thane and talk.

My father in law came that Sunday for dinner. Now on Sunday I had fixed more of a sit down dinner than usual. He never said anything about the table setting (he is the strong, silent type) but you could tell there was a feeling of respect in the air. He is an old fashioned guy and I could tell it impressed him.

40-50 years ago it was unheard of to eat in the living room, or to grab a bite to go. Time has taken away some of the most precious attributes of a family. We are always in a hurry trying to rush right through life.

So I challenge you ladies, get out those fancy, special dishes that you never use, set your table nice and go back in time and enjoy your family and your dining experience. Do it for a week and see what happens.

Ann

Thursday April 20, 2006

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 19:52:44 GMT

Today was yet another lovely day the temps was into the 80's. We had a productive day here today also. This morning we went into town to run a few errands and then came home. Luke washed both 4 wheelers for his Dad. I am still de-cluttering our bedroom. I think I am about done. I put out my summer clothes and had the boys take my winter storage boxes with clothes into the attic. Tomorrow I will finish up in the bedroom. This afternoon Jake's guitar teacher came up and they practiced some more on the front porch. It was so nice to hear the music drifting through the open windows.

Dinner this evening was fried chicken, mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn, applesauce, and biscuts. I have noticed since I have been setting the table fancier than usual that they boys and Thane take more pride and look forward to dinner no matter what we are having.

Wednesday April 19, 2006

Wed, 19 Apr 2006 17:40:01 GMT

It is another beautiful day here today. The boys got up at 5:30 am to help their Dad and Uncle load hay bales into a truck. After breakfast they finished cleaning out thier part of the garage including washing the windows.

I cleaned house and cleaned out some kitchen drawers. I am going to be decluttered this summer I will ,I will!

Our neighbors called and asked if the boys could come over and help them install a window so we went over and helped. She made us a loaf of homemade bread as a thank you present. YUM! After we got back we finished up with chores and went to the greenboxes to take some trash over. Larry came over this afternoon. He and Jake played guitar for a couple of hours. Jake is getting ready for Vandalia gathering. It is a old time- bluegrass competition http://www.wvculture.org/vandalia/

Dinner this evening will be deer meat, mac and cheese, homemade bread , corn and applesauce.

Tuesday April 18 2006

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 15:36:00 GMT

It is a beautiful day here today in WV. The sun is shining and it feels like spring. This morning I deep cleaned the master bathroom and made a list of what things I need to buy to finish decorating that room. This afternoon I deep cleaned Thane's closet. Now that was a job. It is that time of year when we will no longer need the winter clothes so they have been boxed up to put in the attic. I will work on my closet and drawers this afternoon also.

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 09:29:00 GMT