Valentine's Day ~ with the children

Come on... look... 
it's not that bad!

I think I'll make a really cute bear...

Aw, Teddy...
just one look...

Pretty please...Teddy?

So it's Valentine's Day... I volunteered to go with this group, and visit hospitalized children. I just know we'll have a great time. (and cupcakes, Teddy!?!)

I haven't done this in many moons, but hey, it's okay. My bear suit still fits (smile). Yes, I have a big ribbon for a tie to go around my neck. Maybe someone will take a new photo for my album.

Put a smile on that face, Teddy. You look so cute all dressed in red. Yes, I promise... cupcakes. 

Yes... chocolate ones too. (smile)

Time for bed, Teddy. No late night movie, 
or we'll never get up on time. 
Please don't give me that look. You can watch two movies, tomorrow afternoon.

What? I don't have to look like a real bear, Teddy. It's just for fun.
Growl? Why would I growl? You don't growl. (Do you?)

Say goodnight, Teddy. Teddy? (zzzzz)

Celebrate the small things ~

I love this blog hop!

Each Friday, we post what we're celebrating - those small achievements for our week!  It can be about writing, family, school or general life.  Then we hop around other blogs, offering congratulations to other people. To be part of this blog hop, all you have to do is put your name on the linky list on Lexa's Cain's Blog.


A shout out to our fearless director!
Lexa Cain

Let's hear it for our co-hosts!!
L.G. Keltner ~ Writing Off The Edge
Katie ~ the cyborgmom

What am I celebrating? 
1 - My friend, who was not expected to live, (diagnosed 1-20-15), has made a 97% recovery! She'll be discharged from the hospital in two weeks. Her doctors told the family it must be a "God thing." They are completely stumped (smile).
2 - I was nominated for the "Very Inspiring Blogger Award."
3 - I won a free copy of Everyday writer, Tyrean Martinson 's "Jumble of 500+ Writing Prompts."  (YES!) See her blog to order a copy!
4 - I'm getting a refund check from my car insurance, who say they overcharged me... four years ago.

I hope everyone has a fun celebration day! Thank you for hopping over here.  
And now ~  the linky vehicle we travel on... hop forth and give kudos!


For those who celebrate Valentine's Day... I love candy too. (hint-hint).
Battle of the Bands plays this Sunday on my music blog!! Come over, and vote for whichever song you like the best... no requirements... no sign in... no snacks (sorry).

Very Inspiring Blogger Award

I have been nominated by two bloggers for the "Very Inspiring Blogger Award."  Sharon M. Himsl @ Shells, Tails, & Snails, and Debra@ She Who Seeks

My thanks to Sharon, who relays the true stories of "The Nursing Ship of Madagascar." She stays in email communication with a nurse who is employed on the ship. There are times I leave her blog in tears, pondering the gentle ways of the staff, and the kindness of the local peoples, with whom they come in contact. Sharon creates her own 'series of interests' reads. Lately she has us all exploring famous quotes, or first sentences of the old classic novels. It's a lot of fun. Thank you, Sharon.

My thanks to Debra She Who Seeks, who is the history buff I longed to be at one time in life. To tell the life of each notable era with tongue in cheek perfection. Don't worry, the other eras get their own special madness - she's guaranteed to make you laugh, and wonder why history has hidden so much? Of course you have to visit every holiday. There's a cartoon or explicit photo that you'll not want to miss. It's all about explaining life on the blue marble. Thank you, Debra.

Rules for the Nominees:
1. Thank the person who nominated you, and link to their blog. Covered.
2. Display the award logo. Done.
3. Nominate 15 other bloggers (more or less) and provide a link where they may be found. I chose four.
4. Leave a comment on their blog, to let them know they have been nominated. I'll do that.

5. Mention three things that inspired you the most during the past few weeks. 
5a - Great news on a friend not expected to live, has had a miraculous recovery. Even her doctors are stumped.  I wrote a blog post on 'dcrelief' about her called, "Alone with thoughts."

5b- The joy from 'followers of fun and frolic' on my 'an artful blogger' joke site. Their wit and creative thinking  reminds me, that laughing at ourselves makes for a happy heart.

5c - So many people have wished me good thoughts concerning my pulled muscle. They've taken time to stop by and check on my progress. There's a lot of loving humanity living in the blogosphere!

It was a difficult choice because I am inspired by so many. I am grateful that some have already been nominated by someone else, for the "Very Inspiring Blogger Award." If not this post might have been twice as long! 

These four are very diverse, with one common denominator. They love what they're doing! That's the best inspiration for me (smile). My thanks to Jo, Cathy, Lisa, and Linda!

Jo On Food, Life, and A Scent of Chocolate
Curious as a Cathy

Wishbone cures everything

Woke Up... Got Out Of Bed

In the pink

Grandma was a mobster
her truck was painted pink.
She'd haul a load of lobster,
and clean them in her sink.

Everyone knew Grandma
and listened for her horn.
Today she mowed down Grandpa
bent him over in the corn.

She cried all night and day,
until she bought that mink.
Insurance paid her way
for piercings and some ink.

A ring went in her nose,
a diamond in her tongue,
A tattoo of a rose,
but she'd only just begun...

In-the-pink.

Countdown to Valentine's Day ~ a song for you

No dog-gone money, but plenty of sunshine!

Yard sale? ~ what yard sale?

Oh yes, such a beautiful day in the neighborhood. The yard sale was a big snooze but I didn't care. I had a chair picked out, the sun on my shoulders, and, possibly entertained a few people who did stop by. As I was leaving four cars pulled into the god-daughter's driveway. Ha, ha, I'm still outta here! If anything of mine sells ~ we'll square later. (Later!)

Pulled muscle? ~what pulled muscle?

My pulled muscle loves me more today than yesterday. I fed me a peanut butter and grape jelly sandwich for lunch. Never mind the cookies; I needed a break from all that dough rolling, anyway. Besides it was so warm, with a gentle breeze, who would want to crank up the oven? (Later!)

Van battery worked? ~You betcha!

I went to the auto shop and had them run a quick diagnostic on the electrical systems. Oh baby, we're cooking properly. No worries about the seven errands I ran ~ it cranked every time! So, the personal superhero I wrote about on Friday, really knows his stuff. He saw my van at the yard sale and stopped in to ask if things were okay. That's service ~with a (smile).

I'm very grateful to everyone holding good thoughts concerning my crazy past week. Hope your weekend, or Sunday was nice. If not, please feel free to leave me a note to put you on my good thought list. And ~ let's play a tune... an old song, you might know...