The Coffee Cup in Pensacola

--- Here's a pic I forgot I had. Cheryl and I were in Pensacola early one morning after taking Natalie girl to the airport. We always wanted to eat at "The Coffee Cup". In the background is Creola, the cook who has apparently been there for 37 years, according to a newspaper article in the lobby.

---I'm in Chipley this week. Dad has kept up the old homestead property like a park and it's supremely peaceful to walk Coco around outdoors. She and I took a boat ride yesterday on the pond, her first ever boat ride. She was a bit scared but calmed and was looking over the side at the water.

---My sweet boy Matthew is arriving tomorrow - hooray! First I have to take a basic ed test (TABE) at the vocational school in Chipley to get the ball rolling with LPN school, a program that my new job will pay for. Starting o-ver a-ga-ee-in...Sung like the Reba tune!

---Quick aside: Nat's beau's Mom (Michelle) and sisters stopped by the other day and it was so nice to talk with them. They are moving to Texas to live with Michelle's in laws while her husband is deployed to Iraq. Besides Chris she has 3 daughters including one newborn! Living in Navarre puts you up close and personal to what folks go through for our freedom. God bless our troops and their families.

---Peace...

(This is my first ever post using dial up -- patience IS a virtue.)

In other news...

I FINALLY landed a job.  Geepers it's been a tough 8 months.  I will be working in a Nursing home in Jackson County, Florida.   Pay is low and benefits are very good.  I can work three 12 hour shifts which is what I wanted.  So hooray!!!

Weekend Wrap Up

Well, I ended up scooting to Chipley at the end of last week after all. There were some jobs over there I wanted to check out. I applied in Chipley and Graceville, FL. I've decided to move to Chipley and cancelled my interview in Gulf Breeze this a.m. I truly don't want to start another job and up a move again in a year. We plan to sell our house here in Navarre in a year, after Natalie girl graduates.

I took Coco with me to Chipley and she did great. I will be taking her with me to Chipley when I move. She does much better having "a person", as she's a bit high maintenance.

I also took her with me to Seagrove Saturday Night. Cousin Joan, Cousin Lee, Aunt Lola and I had a stellar Saturday night and Sunday at "Old Charcoal". Other than Coco barking at the early a.m. joggers, we had a lovely time. Apologies to Lee who got in from work at 2:30 a.m. Oops. Cousin Joan and I went to an early Mass at St. Rita's and Aunt Lola served a dandy breakfast and coffee upon our return. Beautiful, unseasonably cool weather to boot!

I'll leave you with one of my favoritie Bible stories from John 21 (NAB):

1 After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way.2 Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee's sons, and two others of his disciples 3Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We also will come with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.4 When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.5 Jesus said to them, "Children, have you caught anything to eat?" They answered him, "No."6 So he said to them, "Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something." So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish.7 So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord." When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea.8 The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish.9 When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread.10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you just caught."11 So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three 5 large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.12 Jesus said to them, "Come, have breakfast." And none of the disciples dared to ask him, 6 "Who are you?" because they realized it was the Lord.13 Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish.14 This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.

Peace...

Oh, Air Conditioner Man, Where Are You?

Our air conditioner went out last night. Someone will be here sometime today to fix it. It's actually not that bad. Strategic use of wet towels and fans are mandatory! I truly think I could live without air conditioning, even in the deep South. People were just fine up until the '60's down here without it. NPR had a rousing discussion on this topic just the other day. The economy played big and the thought that gigantic stores like Walmart and shopping malls wouldn't be where they are today without AC. Maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing.

I'm staying around Navarre this week after all. So many places are hiring CNA's over here. I decided to check them out.

Thankful

Natalie girl arrived home Saturday. It's nice to have her back. The pic is of Natalie, Nat's boyfriend Chris, and Mama Gladys impersonating her favorite food network lady, Paula Deen. I guess the blond wig is from the girls' dance costume closet. Nat is missing her beau. :(

I'm off to apply for numerous jobs today - Catholic Nursing home in P'cola, 2 nursing homes in Gulf Breeze. one home health place in Navarre. I plan to head to Chipley this eve to apply at some spots over that way. Also there's lots of summer fun happening at "the Farm" and I want to be a part of it!
I do miss Wyoming but I love, love being back in the panhandle of FL!

Prayers for: MattyB and fam, Nat and Chris, the Billings family tragedy in P'cola - special prayer for Law Enforcement and agencies involved, priests, ministers, chaplains, troops...

Peace

Puttin' Up Okrey! (AKA Okra) -- What's for lunch Mama Gladys?

Well I missed out on meeting up with my pals Joy and Amy at Bald Head Island, NC this year (sob). I definitely felt a tinge of sadness this week since I couldn't make it. I'm glad I had family and fun to keep me busy.

Mama Gladys and I put up a bushel of okra. It took us, cutting as fast as we could go, 4 hours to finish it all up. Cousin Joan and I also picked a gallon of Blueberries each. Cousins Carla, Karen and Susan all picked a load of blueberries, too. A neighbor has a blueberry farm where folks pick and have a big time with their families. They offer a hayride and other blueberry fun. If anyone is interested I can get the info to you if you're in the Chipley, FL area. Anyway, when the season is coming to a close, he opens up the pickin' for friends and family.

Mama Gladys picking out some fine tomatoes at Fussel's near Chipley.

Mama Gladys cutting up okra.

I ate enough of this fried okra to harm a normal person. Mom used Aunt Lola's recipe where she dips it in buttermilk and dredges in flour. Yummm!

Green beans, fried okra, french bread, chicken and yella rice with sweet ice tea to wash it all down!

Dad, Mom, Cousin Joan and I all had a nice lunch together. Joan is having water because she is working on an alternative eating plan.

I didn't have my camera later in the day when we made homemade ice cream and ate blueberry cobbler (graciously provided by cousin Susan). Some of us then went for a moonlight swim and played with the lighted floating flowers. Fun time had by all!

Please keep Matty B and all the Wyoming folks in your prayers.

Peace!

tampabaycna.com

I'd officially like to recommend http://www.tampabaycna.com/. It's the one day boot camp I took at the end of May. Rev. Ariana Christiano takes you through a one day boot camp and sends you on your merry way with a bag full of cna goodies, everything you need to pass the exam the first time. She really stressed the importance of the little things (not cross contaminating, checking in with the patient throughout procedures, safety, etc). I took my test last Tuesday and passed. Yahoo a job with benefits is FINALLY in my near future! Thank God!

I kidnapped cousin Joan after the 4th of July celebration and turned my room into a makeshift hospital room. Gut busting laughter ensued and learning of procedures also. The other gal in the photos is Gertrude Saucy, the blowup doll, brought in for special procedures (read catheter care, etc).

Now we know why people don't sleep on the porch!

Cousin Joan and I started out sleeping on the porch the night of the 4th.

Our giant family gets together at Seagrove Beach, FL and makes a day of it. We all crowd in at my Aunt Lola's beach cabin, enjoy each other's company, watch the parade, swim, watch fireworks...

The house was so full, we decided to sleep on chaise lounges on the porch, until a giant palmetto bug snuggled up my leg and onto my shoulder! We found lodging indoors after all (see pic). I think there were 7 of us in that room that night. :P

Nasty Giant Tomato Hornworm Caterpillar!

So, what do y'all think? Is AK gov Sarah Palin being thoughtful regarding her great state or political? Or maybe a bit of both? At any rate, it is unusual for her to just step down so quickly...

I went out to fertilize and check on my little pretties (container garden) today and saw there was this giant worm, 4-5 inches long, green, fat, horned - exactly the color of my tomato plant. I've included a video of my li'l garden. About a week ago I started noticing my cherry tomatoes were looking a bit shabby and some of the stems eaten off. Then I saw a bird (didn't ID it) atop my tomato plants. I thought the birds were the problem. After googling "giant green worm tomatoes", the answer became plain. This is a Tomato Hornworm Caterpillar that turns into a giant moth eventually. There is a great Yahoo answers thread on the subject, FYI. You can leave it be and let the birds take care of it, pick it off (blick!), or use pesticides, natural BT or natural lime to dust, among a few other things. I think I'll leave it be. I enjoy seeing the birds up close and personal, doing their thing, more than I like cherry tomatoes. :)

Oh, it also said you can plant sweet basil IN with your tomatoes, which I will try next year. I forgot to grow marigolds this year to take care of the aphids....

Adorable Video!

Well, I've either been studying for my CNA test or putting off studying for my CNA test.

I really want to live "off grid", as I stated previously. The purchasing of chickens and goats hopefully will occur in my five year plan. I must have something to fuel my methane digester, doncha know? Honestly, living "off grid" is more of a function of not being so great at making a buck than living green, but both are important. I've always been sort of a simple living kind of gal and agree that the love of money is the root of all sorts of evil, as the good book says (I Timothy 6:10).

Anyhoo, I came across this video from a sweet feller in Vietnam that I just had to share.

P.S.  Rest in Peace, MJ!

Oh, P.S.S  The Sun Shower is working great.  I've only taken one conventional shower since my last post.  My favorite part is pouring the remaining water from the bag over my head at shower's end.   I also use water from our underground sprinkler well, to have free water.  I want to see if I can live on way low conventional energy.

(Ok, I guess I have more to add - so much for the P. S. biz)

Continue prayers for Sid, MattyB, Joy, Mike and fam PLEASE!

Li'l Natalie girl is flying out first thing (5 am - yikes) in the A.M. for Tampa for 2 weeks to be with her beau and fam.  I'll try and post another pic of them soon.  Godspeed Nat!  I'll miss my cleaning buddy.  She's been joining me at the BBCJ (Backbreaking cleaning job) and we make quite the team!