Looks may catch the eye but

In celebration of quotes I have decided to create my first Quotography picture. I used a photo of my own that didn't turn out as it should because of the lighting. I decided to add a quote and transform it into my first ever Quotography piece. 

I have no clue who came up with the quote. As I have been saying it since I was a teenager. I have seen the quote in various forms.

This quote has been my favorite quote since I first read or heard it.

If you would like to join the Quotography link up or learn more. Please click : HERE

     

A - Z Emotions Challenge M - Mortified

I choose to use the word mortified in today's ABC Challenge for the letter "M". I was going to write about something entirely different. As I started typing away. My big shelf that housed my teacup / plates, shot glasses, small old bottles etc. came crashing down.  No one was around the shelf. My daughter was outside. My teen son was in his room. I was at my computer desk. I sit here mortified at what happened.

I have no clue what happened. The shelf has been in the same place for over 3 years. Nothing has been added recently. I don't understand why it fell. I was planning on washing and boxing everything up. As I planned to paint the walls in the kitchen. I had the boxes and newspapers out there. I really haven't been motivated to do so. I should have done it already. I guess that is what I get for postponing. lesson learned. Do not put off tomorrow, what can be done today.

I lost a really big collection of breakables. I do not have pictures to share of what I have collected over the years. Some of my older glass things are now gone forever. I was planning on taking pictures to show what I had. Now I can't do that. Of all the shot glasses I collected while on vacation last summer in Texas, only one survived.

Sorry for the shaky and blurred picture. I was shaking when I took the photo. I am still jumpy from the shelf crashing.

Challenge : Write about how you felt when something you collected got lost, broke, or stolen?

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This series was started by Ruth Cox, a good friend and great writer. To learn more about it. Please click on the photo below.



* This article is a 26 week part series of A - Z Emotions Challenged.

An InLinkz Link-up

Baked Peach Cobbler Recipe

I don't know about you. For some reason I have been getting to the homemade cooked meals and desserts alot more lately. Don't get me wrong by any means. My family still enjoys eating out or grabbing a quick bite to eat from time to time.

With the weather being unpredictable in my area. One day it is cold, next day is hot, and the day after that raining like there is no trouble. I never know what the next day with bring. On cooler days or rainy weather. I tend to find something to bake. To help heat up the house without turning on the heat.

What makes Peach Cobbler even more yummy. Than eating by itself, is icecream. Or it tastes good with cold milk poured over it as a snack before bed.

Here's my recipe :

BAKED PEACH COBBLER RECIPE
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2 cans of peach pie filling
1 cup of melted butter
2 cups of flour
1 cup of sweet n low sugar substitute
2 cups of low fat milk
2 teaspoons of baking powder

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. While the oven is heating up. Pour the cans of peach pie filling into a glass baking dish. Pour the melted butter over the peaches.

Mix together flour, sugar, milk and baking powder til you get a nice consistency for batter. If batter to thick, add more milk. If batter to thin, add more flour.

Pour the batter over the melted butter and peaches in the glass baking dish. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes. Or until the edges get crispy and golden brown.

Enjoy~

If I rated this recipe on a scale from 1 to 5. 5 being the highest rating. I rate this recipe a 5. It was easy to prepare. Quick to bake. My whole family enjoyed it. It has been added to the recipe box my whole family enjoys. The box is starting to get filled up.

Bathroom Equities Challenge

One thing I noticed over the years, people can be disgusting when it comes to bathrooms. Between not cleaning properly to do things they would never consider in their own bathrooms.

Some rules for the bathroom :

1. Lift the lid - Do not pee on the seat. If you do clean it up.

2. Make sure toilet paper and body expels is flushed after use.

3. Throw toilet paper in the trash or flush down the toilet. Do not drop it on the floor and leave it for someone else to clean up.

4. Have the bathroom routinely cleaned and stocked well with products. Such as toilet paper, paper towels, wet wipes, and other hygiene products.

5. Do not smoke in the bathroom. If you do, do not leave ashes on the floor, in the bathtub, or sink for others to clean up. Instead kindly place them in the sink or bathtub. Rinse the ashes down the sink or bathtub before leaving.

6. Place dirty clothes in the clothes hamper or basket that is provided. Do not throw them on the floor beside it.

7. Clean up any hair, make up or mess you make by the sink. It is gross to walk up to a sink and have to clean it before using it.

8. Please put things back in their proper places. There are baskets provided. So, the counters are not littered with junk.

9. Fold up and wrap each sanitary napkins. Place them in the trash. Never flush them down the toilet.

10. Be considerate of your use of time in the bathroom. With a house full of people. Someone is always waiting to come in after you.

Challenge : What would you suggest to add to make the bathroom cleaner? Write about it.

Photo from Pixabay.com 

Food Wordless Wednesday #5

My boyfriend and I tried an all you can buffet coming back from Toledo about a month ago. I decided to do another Wordless Wednesday. Which is using little to no words while displaying photos.

If I rate this place a 1 to a 5. 5 being the highest. I would rate this place a 5. The price for a meal is cheaper than any place around. Food was cooked thoroughly, seemed to be at the right temperatures, looked good, plenty of attention from the wait staff. I had no complaints.

I would stop here if I ever have the chance again. 

French Dressing Oven Baked Chicken

The other night I was trying to come up with something quick to cook for my family. I had chicken thawed out. It seemed all I had left was a hand full of spices left to try and make the chicken taste like a new dish. Boy, was my family getting tired of eating the same old chicken dish. I had to try something different.

I decided to see what spices I have left. I grabbed sea salt, garlic salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning and paprika. I added equal amounts for each spice in a  bowl.

I was thinking what else can I add to make this meal taste different but craving for more. I looked in my cupboards and notice a bottle of red french dressing. I decided to add the whole bottle and mixed all the ingredients together. It looked good. Taste testing, it was good. I might be able to pull this dish off.

I dipped each piece of chicken in the mixture. I placed each piece in a clear glass dish. I used several dishes to add the chicken to. I made sure none of the chicken pieces were touching each other. The chicken looked good sitting in the glass dish. All I can hope is for the dish to turn out as yummy as it looks.

I placed the chicken in the oven at 425 degrees. I cooked it for 45 minutes. If you try this recipe, make sure you check the chicken to make sure it is completely cooked before taking a bite. As I am well aware different oven can take different times to cook. Plus, different size pieces of chicken can take longer to cook compared to others.

Rating this dish from 1 to 5. 5 being the best rating. I rate this dish a 5. My entire family loved it. There was no chicken left. My family was begging for more. This recipe will definitely be placed in my recipe box for another time. I bet it will taste even better cooked on the grill next time.

ABC Emotions Challenge L

I am of low spirit today. I feel like something not so good is lurking over my family. My mother has mention she has thought our family has a curse on it. As it seems there is always something going wrong. I laughed. I have always chalked the wrong doings as a part of life.

Lately, I can't shake the words my mother mentioned. I was in the process of buying a home. It has past the date and the owner refuses to extend it. The bank failed to sent the papers out to my estranged husband to sign them. The bank had the information but didn't do anything with it. What am I suppose to do? Turn the other cheek again. I jumped through hoop after hoop completing them all on my end. For the bank to fail me. My boyfriend has an appointment with another person at the bank to see if anything can be done about it Tuesday.

Other things have happened as well. A light I bought for the back of my house was broken. So, I bought a solar light. It came up missing. Along with a roast from my freezer. Not to mention the other little things here and there. I can no longer enjoy my backyard once the sun goes down. 

Leaving home to only return to find lights on and door wide open. Not how they were left. I am at the point where there is always someone in my home to prevent this.

To mail coming up missing. I received a card saying I had received a phone book. If it wasn't there to call a number and report it. I did at the same time I reported not receiving some bills. Only to be told it probably had not arrived yet. Even the water company said I should had received my bill already. As it was due in two days. The post office lady argued with me. So, I repeated myself that I was reporting missing mail once again. I am tired of people dismissing me as a nobody when they are not doing their job.

My daughter who is a loose cannon, had another episode last night. Her oldest brother was here and now understands how bad things have been getting with her. He seen a full blown episode. I won't go into detail of that. As I find her behavior ludicrous. 

All I know is something's gotta give. As I tired of how things are turning out.

Photo from Pixabay.

New Food Day

For people who want to start eating healthy, changing their diets to healthier eating or wanting your family to enjoy different foods. Trying a new food each day helps.

I suggest to choose which day a week you want to introduce new foods or recipes to your family. Stick with it. You will have days where the food item doesn't go over well. Other times you will.

I have learned over the years. That it might not be the food itself I dislike. It is the way it was prepared. Always be prepared to try fixing the food item another way. I have a few picky eaters in my household. Like everything else in this world. If one way doesn't work. Don't give up. Try another.

Each new food or recipe must be tried with one full bite. No licks or half bites. A full bite in order to get the flavor the food or recipe is intended to give.

Let your family be honest about their opinions of the new foods. Kids love giving an opinion. You would be surprised how some will describe the food or recipes.

Try combining old flavors that you know the family loves with new ones. I love spinach. I have learned I can add it to recipes. As long as I don't use alot of it. As spinach can be overpowering. Thus, canceling other flavors out. Same thing with onions, bell peppers, and garlic.

If you are looking for ideas of new foods and recipes to try out. Check out magazines, food shows on tv, Pinterest, and food blogs. You will be amazed at all the different variations of food combinations you have never tried.

She Was Suspended For What?

Yesterday, I received a call from the school. My daughter has once again got herself in to trouble.

For the past couple of weeks my daughter has been talking about how she wants to get suspended from school. I don't even remember the reason why anymore. As it has been an ongoing talk. I know her friends have been suspended. Her boyfriend has. She looks up to the wrong people in school. I can't change that. I tried.

Yesterday, her boyfriend (another issue altogether) gave her a lighter at school. Now why would a 14 yr old girl need a lighter at school. She doesn't smoke. It could only turn out bad.

Thankfully nothing did. My daughter was showing some friends the lighter her boyfriend gave her before school or first period. Not sure which. A teacher saw her pull the lighter out. She owned up to the lighter and who she got it from.

It is against the rules to have a lighter in middle school. We had a talk about it when she got home. As she is suspended for three days because of her actions. We discussed why her boyfriend would give her a lighter.

To me giving someone a lighter who doesn't smoke is setting them up for trouble. The boyfriend has already given her things. Such as a phone, where he asked for nude pictures. That she sent. That was reported to the police. Nothing was done about it.

I am frustrated as a mother on what else to do. She has ADHD and ODD. Her reading level is fourth grade. She gets teased and bullied by her peers. She no longer listens to a thing I have to say. She is suppose to be grounded to her room. Of course that is like talking to the wall. If she doesn't want to be in her room. I physically can't make her and she knows it.

I feel sad for my daughter, as she is doing things the hard way. I see many sad moments in her future. Things I can't prevent, as they will be the consequences of her actions.

All I can do is love my daughter, try and talk some sense in to her, and hope she learns her lesson this time around. I fear the older she gets, the more she will act out.

Photos from Pixabay.com

WW - Trains

I decided to add this week's Wordless Wednesday (WW) to this blog. So, we can celebrate trains. As trains have been the backbone of transporting goods from one side of the country to the other for centuries. I choose to share some of the graffiti left on trains.

Throwback Tuesday : Bank loan delays

I have been in the process of trying to buy a house. That way I have something to pass down to my children when I am gone. Nothing to expensive. I applied for an FHA loan. Basically I have to jump through a bunch of hoops. It seems I have ran into one issue after another.

I only needed two things, the original child support order. Plus, my estranged husband to sign papers. Well, the lady at the bank has not sent any papers out yet to my estranged husband. Even though she has his full address and phone number. I contacted her last week to find this out. Ugh! I had to re-give her the information. Not sure if she sent the paperwork out or contacted him.

I haven't heard back from child support the the original support order documentation. I did give the bank everything I had. However, we never went to court to issue the child support. It was put in place when I was on state help back in 2009. I told the bank this. Gave them documentation of how much my estranged husband pays in support and how often. As it has been paid through the child support office. 

However the bank wanted more. They wanted something I don't have. I guess. Not really sure. As the child support order comes out of Florida. Which doesn't like to work with Ohio state. Well, I tried contacting child support today to see what was going on. My caseworker wasn't there. The lady couldn't tell me anything as it was a case specific. The funny thing is, the child support was suppose to contact me when they got word. That was back in March. Never contacted me or notified me by mail like I was told would happen.

The closing date on the house is almost up. I am beginning to feel like I am the one doing all of this. All I wanted to know was what I needed to do in order to get a house loan in the first place. Instead, the bank started a loan process and I have been jumping through hoops and missing deadlines.

I am beginning to think this is all a bad idea. Maybe I am not meant to own a home. Seriously, if the bank doesn't want to give me a loan. They need to stop toying with me. As I feel like I am a puppet on the end of a string.

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This article is linking up with 

Monday Madness #7

Yesterday, at the family gathering to help support my sister. I found a few things out. Before I tell you what it is. Let's do a little catch up for those who are not connected to me through Facebook. 

Recently, I found a sister of mine has a tumor in her head. She has to get it out. As it has been growing. She has had headaches for three months. She has been traveling back and forth from our hometown to Columbus to the doctor. More tests need done to find out if it is cancerous or entwined with any brain matter. She goes back on the 20th for the tests. The surgery will be on the 26th.

Now for the things I found out. The tumor has been causing some issues with my sister besides a headache. She has lost her hearing in her left ear. The tumor also affects her balance. It makes her dizzy. Something I never noticed when I went to visit. As she always sat in a  chair. She literally has to have help walking. Or she hangs on to the walls and rails when walking.

It really breaks my heart to see her in so much pain. Where, I as a big sister, can do nothing about it. All I can do is offer her support, do anything she asks if possible, and pray for her.

This article has linked up with

Thinking of a past foster dog

A few years ago I fostered a dog. His name is Zues. He is the brother of my Chug named Moose. He is smaller than Moose. He was underweight and needed to gain weight. He is very smart and eager to learn and please.

A Chug is a Chihuahua and a Pug mix.

I am fostering him because his owner had to move from his place. Who was staying with friends til he can get his own place. At the time all I had was Moose. It was a pleasant experience to have two dogs in the house again.  Zues was a quick learner. He loved to please. He had a silly little grin, that I still see in his brother. It reminds me of Zues from time to time.

I had a hard time fostering Zues. I have several reasons :

1. The length of having, I am growing attached
2. The current has not kept Zues up to date on shots
3. The current owner never got Zues tags.

I think you can see where I am going with this. I could keep the list going. I was looking at all the angles of everything on what was best for Zues. Upon receiving Zues back to foster. (This was the second time around.) There are some things I have noticed as I was fostering Zues. For one Moose had grew attached to Zues and followed him everywhere.

Zeus's owner came for a visit one time. Moose did not want him to touch Zues at all. Moose would try and sit on Zeus's head and put his paw up to try and keep him away. Like he was protecting him. You could really tell he did not want Zues to go away. That actually pulled on my heart strings to see it happening.

Some things I have learned about Zeus and Zeus's living habits. Zues was fed people food. So, he begged any time we would eat. He would jump at their plate or hand. I have started crating him at meal time. I have taught him to sit to receive a treat. Not to bite or nip at the hand. I have taught him to walk off leash. I have shown Zues he does not have to tuck his head down when petted or run away. He had fleas we had to treat him for. Plus, his nails needed clipped pretty bad.

When Zeus's owner came over. He brought his seven year old son. I baby sat him for a little while. During this time I observed and had to stop a few incidents. The boy would hold Moose down and tell Zues to get him. He also took a pillow and was hitting Zues in the head to play and attack my pillow. The boy would wrestle with Zues. He was rough because Zues would yelp.

After seeing that, it made alot of sense why Zues was head shy. Zues was also allowed to go to the bathroom on the bed, blankets and such because he was not taken outside when needed to go to the bathroom. That was a big no no here. Zues is not allowed in the bedrooms because of this. He also thought he was going to let loose where ever felt needed throughout the house. That came to a stop real quick. Zues learned that habit was reserved for outside only.

I have a big back yard where Zues has learned it was okay to run and play without having someone right beside him. When he first came back here. I literally had to shut my back door to get him to go outside without someone. I would stay at the door and watch him out the window. Moose taught him how to play. Moose taught him to tree a squirrel.

One thing I really noticed. I could not place Zues in a separate cage from Moose from the very start. I tried the first night and the second. All I got was whining from both dogs. Yes, they are both sleeping in the same cage at night. At first I had to chase Zues to get him in the cage at all. As he was locked up for hours on end in a tiny cage at his owners home. I have taught him the cage is okay, it is his safe place to go. He knows he gets a treat at night when he goes in the cage without having to be chased. He doesn't whine or yelp. He doesn't mess in the cage anymore.

It is like Moose knew Zues will be leaving again. I really didn't know if separating them will be a good idea or not. I have since got two dogs to keep Moose company. An English Mastiff I rescued. Plus, a tiny Chihuahua mix.

If I ended up rehoming Zues in the end. That is what foster homes are for. Zues was neutered. Tags will be gotten. I planned to update his shots either way. I can't see a dog going without his shots just because he has become homeless and fostered.

Have you ever had to foster dog?

Photos from Pixabay and Google photo images for re-use.

A - Z Emotions Challenge K - Kept Away

This is the eleventh post I have written in a series of 26 weeks Emotional Challenge. This week's letter is "K". I am going to write about being kept away.

When I was young around four years old. My dad started seeing another woman. Sometimes dad would take my siblings and I with him. So, we can play with her daughter. Eventually my dad and mom divorced. During the divorce my moment to look for a lawyer. My mom allowed my siblings to be with my dad. My dad kept my siblings and I away from our mother.

At the time I didn't understand why we were being kept away from our mother. I always adored my mom and thought she was a good mom.

Evidently the judge thought otherwise. I know now many people stood up against my mother and lied for my father to get custody of my siblings and I. Even my own grandmother stood up against my mother.

I learned through the years of being kept away from my mother that she didn't have much money. My dad had a good paying job. One of the best in the area. Money talked back then. It caused my siblings and I to be kept away from our mother.

By time we were old enough to choose who live we, after the judge talk to each of us siblings in his chambers alone, my mom was granted full custody of the three of us. I was in eighth grade at the time. I remember that year like it was yesterday. I remember us moving to Deshler,Ohio. That town would be my families undoing. 

As my younger sister threatened my mother with a  butcher knife while she was pregnant with my baby brother. She also threatened to knock her down the stairs to cause her to lose the baby. My sister was out of control. My sent her back to live with my father.

My older sister started drinking and having sex. My mother did not know how to handle it. So, she sent her back to our dad's too. The funny thing is, I didn't do anything wrong but I too was sent back to live with my dad. My dad said if my sister goes back, so did I. That he did not want us separated. I had not seen him in a year. However, I was being punished for something my siblings were doing. I cried my eyes out.

Things escalated pretty quickly. My siblings and I knew our stepmother hated us. She never made no bones about hiding it. Her daughter hated us and would tell lies us to get out of trouble. Anything she did was blamed on us. We were there to do the chores and shut our mouths, period. I wondered how could our mother do this. Why me? I did nothing wrong. I did what I was told.

Once again we were kept away from our mother. Being allowed to talk to our mother for three minutes at a time. Many times my sisters took up to much time. Thus, I missed my chance to talk to my mother. That hurt real deep.

Being kept away from my mother was one of the worse things I ever felt. I cried for months at night til I cried myself to sleep. I could handle the cruel words, the screaming and daily beatings. Not seeing my mother or able to hear her voice telling me she loved me hurt bad. Feeling like I had noone to turn to talk to hurt.

Becoming an adult and having my own kids. I learned being  a parent is never easy. To many people take the easy way out. My dad hated my mother. He choose to punish her by keeping her children away at the same time allowing abuse to happen. 

All the while I heard people talk down about my mother and praise my father for raising such good girls. Knowing what I know hurt. People don't want to hear the truth. To many turn a blind and pretend it doesn't happen.

I learned that because a parent is no longer with the other parent. They would use the kids to hurt each other out of spite. I hope and pray I have never done that with my children. I know I have made mistakes. I have never tried to intentionally keep my children away from the other parent.

However, I also know there are rules that need to be followed. Otherwise I could risk losing my children like my mother did the first time. How does a parent who was shot and disabled by her estranged husband handle visitation with their father?

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This series was started by Ruth Cox, a good friend and great writer. To learn more about it. Please click on the photo below.

* This article is a 26 week part series of A - Z Emotions Challenged.

Drummets With Greenbean Cassarole

One thing my family enjoys is season chicken drummets. They usually come in a package in the grocery containing 8 - 12 depending on the weight. I always let the drummets thaw out. 

I am out of my usually Everglades seasoning I like to season the meats with. So, I get a ziplock baggie and mix together a combination of garlic salt, sea salt, paprika, pepper, and Italian seasoning. I shake the baggie to make sure everything gets mixed up properly. 

I add the chicken drummets, seal the bag and shake. I shake til each chicken drummet is coated with seasoning. 

I process to lay them on a cookie sheet or in a glass dish. I keep them separate. As I don't want them to touch. I place them in the pre-heated oven on 425 degrees. For 30 - 40 minutes.

I get a bowl. I open two cans of french style green beans. I drain and add them to the bowl. I open a can of cream of mushroom soup. (If you like your greenbean casserole add two cans.) I fill the empty cream of mushroom can will milk and add it to the bowl. I add a tablespoon of soy sauce. I also add a teaspoon of seasalt. I also add in one small can of crushed up french fried onions. Mix altogether.

I pour what is in the bowl in a glass dish. I place in oven beside the chicken drummets. Til I notice it bubbling. I open oven, pull out dish and add another small can of french fried onions on top of the green bean casserole. Place back into oven till the french fried onions are lightly browned.

I tend to serve this dish with a side of canned fruit and rolls. It serves five.

Wordless Wednesday #7 - Dogs

I am participating in another wordless wednesday link up. Wordless wednesday are sharing post, blogs, or photo essays with as few as words as possible. The more photos, the better.

Sharing different views of my dogs. I have three of three. A Chihuahua mix, a Chug, and a English Mastiff.