The countdown continues.......

As I sit here and ponder on what to write I can only think of one thing Mike said to me last night as we shared our thoughts on 2009, "You know every year that we have been married the odd years were the best". I kinda looked at him like what are you talking about and then it hit me. We married in 2005 and we were at FEDEX until 2007, in 2006 we were miserable with our route and how we were being treated but knew we had to keep our route because no one was buying at the time, in 2008 we moved, my appendix ruptured and we nearly lost everything. So as you can see the even years were the worst. As this year comes to an end I believe God has placed people and places in our way for good of our future. We have gained many locations and keep gaining more, we have made wonderful friends in our Sunday school class and we are completely reliant on God. We have learned to give all of our worries and prayers to him and that has kept us from trying to do things "our way". My list from yesterday can only begin to grow and prosper with my faith in God. I hope and pray that this year is better than last year and that we can continue to deepen our walk with the Lord.

Until I blog again ~ Gal Molly

Pictures from the year

Until I blog again ~ Gal Molly

Count down to 2009

Wow has this year gone by quick. I just finished packing up my beloved Christmas items and cleaned my house from top to bottom. As I was cleaning I was thinking about my New Years resolutions. Me and Mike always make a list but we seem to only accomplish part of our lists. So I will only put on my list this year the things I know I will do and seek out. Here is my list thus far:

1. Do more things with my dad

2. Read my bible daily

3. Launch my design business

4. Go to the beach more

5. Walk more

And that's all I have for now, I don't want to over load myself with things I know I won't do like try to lose ten pounds in a month, I am happy with myself. I'd love to hear some of you all's New Years resolutions.

Until I blog again ~ Gal Molly

Just a few hours left

Only a few hours left until Christmas!!! I hope everyone has their gifts wrapped and food made. Hopefully Santa will be good to you all. I just left Wally World for glitter, tissue, chocolate and shampoo, what a combo. See ya tomorrow!!!!! Merry Christmas!!!

Until I blog again ~ Gal Molly

Happy Christmas Eve

Happy Christmas Eve!!!!! I have just one more gift to make today and then I an all done for Christmas. I have made ribbon wreaths, recipe books, journals, a birdhouse for my dad and wine bottles with pictures on front. I also made blankets for some of our neighbors and church friends. I will post some pictures tomorrow of some of my gifts ( because I forgot to take some before I wrapped them ). I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and gets everything done today.

Until I blog again ~ Gal Molly

OUTRAGED

OK so I know I should be in a happy Christmas mood but I am truly outraged by the people that have lost power due to the ice storm. I know personally how they feel because five years ago North Carolina lost power due to an ice storm as well. We didn't have power for almost two weeks and we survived. I guess my problem with it all is that my dad was a line man for Duke Power and I know how hard they work and yes they do RISK THEIR LIVES for us to have power. You can not just climb up a pole that has ice on it and fix it in twenty minutes, no it doesn't work that way. I can remember one night we had a terrible thunderstorm and I went with my step momma to Duke Power to help with the call center ( she is a supervisor for their computer system and call center ) and as I am making calls to see if customers have received power a woman asked "if I could just flip a switch" and my reply was "no you can not that's why my dad is climbing poles to fix the wires and the transformers". I am not trying to be mean about the situation and I do feel for those that have lost power I just think it is ridiculous for people to get so bent out of shape, I mean think to when there was no power and all those people survived the whole winter season. When we had our ice storm there were a lot of power companies that came from out of state to help get our power back on and some of those men lost their lives. Those men did not get to go back home to their families but yet they were here to help us out, from a different state. I just hope that people could be a little more patient and kind and really think about what goes into turning your power back on, it's not just like flipping a switch. I can remember my dad going down to the beach to fix power from hurricane Hugo and thinking when he was going to come home after two weeks of him being gone. When he came home he told me a story about a power truck that had accidentally drove off the bridge into the ocean because it was dark and they were trying to get to the power line to re-set it. And all I could think of was that could have been my dad, three men lost their lives that night. They didn't get to come home, they didn't get to see their families.

I just hope that people could be a little more patient and yes I know it is Christmas but do you think these men are going to be able to spend Christmas with their families, no they will be working to turn your power back on. It's a hard job but someone has to do it and I am proud that my dad was a line man, he did an AWESOME JOB.

Until I blog again ~ Gal Molly

Menu Plan Monday

OK since this week is Christmas and all I will be dining on a medley of different winter foods to celebrate.

Monday~Chili with cheddar biscuits

Tuesday~Chicken breast with green beans and cheesy potatoes

Wednesday~Leftover chili with toast

Thursday~ Christmas ham,green beans,squash casserole,yams,biscuits,salad and buttermilk custard pie.

Friday~lunch out with my sister and meatloaf with corn for supper

Saturday~Leftovers

Sunday~Lunch at Elmo's diner after church

Here is a recipe I made up last week that is scrumptious.

Molly's Chocolate Pears

Two pears sliced

melting chocolate

pie dough

smidge of sugar

egg wash ( splash of water and 1 egg )

Preheat your over to 350 degrees and place your pie dough out flat. Place pears on top and fold pie dough over and paint your egg wash over the edges of the pie dough and the pears. Sprinkle with sugar and bake until just about golden. Let cool and drizzle melted chocolate over top.

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas!!!

Until I blog again ~ Gal Molly

Christmas dinner with dad

Me, my sister Miranda and my baby brother JW ( he just got hired as a volunteer fire fighter for his college program.

Me, my dad, Miranda, JW and my Mike.

Me and my dad.

Me, my step momma, JW and Miranda.

On Saturday night we made the 45 minute trek to my daddy's house. My step momma cooked a fabulous meal of shrimp, sausage, corn and red potatoes, oh and yummy biscuits. ( I got the leftovers cause I'm the favorite, nah I'm just kidding , wink wink) It was just like old times, just the three of us siblings laughing, goofing off and watching movies. My dad decided he wanted to watch the Bucket List and by the time the movie ended we were all crying and not wanting to go home. I always cry when I leave my dad's house ( I think it's because I used to cry when I was little and our weekend was over ). So anyways we ate and had a grand time and as my dad and brother JW call him "little bush" (Mike, because they say he looks like George Bush on the comedy central show "little bush") were all picking on each other and trying to bet how many card games they could win. So as the time flew it was getting late and we needed to go home although I think my dad wanted me to spend the night, we packed up and left. Here are just a few of the pictures I took from Saturday night.

Hope you guys have a great Monday and I'm off to wrap gifts.

Until I blog again ~ Gal Molly

My new love Skirt!

Hello friends I just wanted to share a new favorite love of mine, Skirt!.

It is a free publication magazine that you can get at your local Borders book store or any place that has free publication stands. I love this magazine because it is all about women, their work, art, essays and life. Each month they feature about ten women from your own state and tell about their business or worldly works. I think this magazine is awesome for women because it highlights our lives and our ambitions. So if you see a Skirt! near you please pick it up and enjoy!

Until I blog again ~ Gal Molly

CHRISTmas Cheer

There is only one week til Christmas my friends, only one weekend left to shop and make gifts for friends. So I thought it would be fitting to post some of my favorite things at Christmas time.

1. The smell of the fresh air outside on Christmas Eve, something about Christmas Eve that is very calming and fresh.

2. The excitement of gathering gifts for friends and family.

3. Sending and receiving Christmas cards.

4. Baking cookies in the shape of stars and angels.

5. Finding the most beautiful wrapping paper and bows.

6. Decorating the tree with Christmas music playing.

7. Finding old ornaments of Christmas' past and remembering what they meant.

8. Christmas choirs singing with dim lights and candles.

9. Hot peppermint mocha's and hot chocolate for Mikey.

10. Mikey surprising me every year with a beautiful piece of jewelry.

11. My brother and sister giving me gifts they made.

12. Eating the Christmas ham my mom makes.

13. Waking up on Christmas morning and feeling like I did when I was little.

14. The lights on the tree making the ornaments glow.

15. My grannies hand made ornaments she made before she passed.

16. Wrapping gifts til 2 AM and then falling asleep only to wake up at 6 AM to a phone call from my little brother telling me to hurry up and get over to his house.

17. Seeing old friends.

18. Going to the movies.

19. Eating bear claws for breakfast with coffee.

20. Knowing that Jesus is the reason for the season!

Until I blog again ~ Gal Molly

Working, working, working

Hello friends I have been working my fingers to the bone this past week. As I told you all in a previous post, I decided to make all of my Christmas gifts this year. I have made wreaths, rice sacks ( hot & cold packs ), vintage pincushions, photos and wine bottles with mini lights in them. I wish I could show you all a picture but blogger must be having some issues because it will not let me upload any. Hopefully I can show you some tomorrow. Just thought I'd pop in and say Hi!!!

Until I blog again ~ Gal Molly

An old rainy day......

It's just an old rainy day here in my little corner of the world. I have been working on many projects for Christmas gifts and some for my upcoming web page. I have chili cooking and a cup of hot peppermint tea that I'm sipping.

Here is a recipe that I dreamed up the other day:

Mexi corn bread

1 box of Jiffy corn bread mix

1 can of Mexican corn medley ( drained )

smidge of nutmeg

salt & pepper

Just mix the corn mix according to directions on box and then add your can of Mexican corn medley, salt & pepper and nutmeg. Stir well and place in loaf pan or muffin cups and bake until golden.

Until I blog again ~ Gal Molly

Sneak Peek

Here's a sneak peek of a bracelet I absolutley love!!! It has silver high heel shoes, pearls and clear glass baubles with gold glitter foil inside.

More to come tomorrow......

Until I blog again ~ Gal Molly

The Simple Womans Day Book

For today...

Outside my window... Ella and Charlie ( my geese ) are walking around my porch waiting for bread ends

I'm thinking... Of the last of my gifts that I have to make

I am remembering... I forgot to get one last gift this past weekend (oops)

I am thankful for... My husband and our faith

From the kitchen... Toast and a banana

I am wearing... My PJ's

I am reading... Skirt! a free publication magazine that I love

I am hoping... I get all my gifts done this week

I am creating... A vintage pincushion for my step momma

I am hearing... The wind blow outside

Around the house... I need to clean for this week and wrap gifts

One of my favorite things... The Christmas lights making the ornaments glow

A few plans for the rest of the week... Take Mike to jury duty and have a Christmas dinner at my dad's house

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Until I blog again ~ Gal Molly

Menu Plan Monday

Here is my collaboration of daily eats this week:

Monday: Meatloaf sands with tater tots

Tuesday: Baked pork chops with cob corn and green beans

Wednesday: Chicken sands with peas and sliced potatoes

Thursday: Chili with rice

Friday: Pizza with salad

Saturday: Dinner at dads house

Sunday: Leftovers

I have a new recipe I concocted a month ago that is to die for, Rice, bean and sausage stoup ( not a soup but not thick enough for stew).

OK here is what ya need: 1 can of kidney beans, 1/2 cup of rice, salt & pepper, smidge of oil, chick stock, all seasoning and 3 mini Italian sausages cut ( more if you have a bigger family ).

OK so you just get your water boiling for your rice and then cut and brown your sausage. When rice looks halfway cooked add kidney beans, salt & pepper, oil, all seasoning, chick stock and sausage. Let cook for about 30 minutes.

I like to serve this with biscuits or crescent rolls.

Hope you all enjoy!!!

Until I blog again ~ Gal Molly

Elizabeth

Here is a picture of Elizabeth taken a few days ago. I love this shot of her because she looks so carefree and sweet.

Until I blog again ~ Gal Molly

On the look out

Well yesterday was a hit until late afternoon came and I fell ill due to a headache that made me very sick and tired. This is the second headache that has made me so sick that I have to lay down for several hours, not sure what this means, so I better make an appointment to get a check up.

On a better note I am on the look out for a vintage dress form. I have been hitting up yard sales, Goodwill and even looking behind the malls to see if they have thrown out such a unique piece. I need one for my shop and hope I can find one soon.

I also have been hunting down wine bottles for a special gift idea for my dad, so today I will looking behind restaurants to snatch some up.

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and I will be posting pictures this week of my new shop, Fattycake Designs for a sneak of whats to come next month. I know I promised last week but my computer was down for a week so I will definitely be sharing pictures.

I'm off to scrounge up some wine bottles and maybe eat at Elmo's diner!

Until I blog again ~ Gal Molly

My special meatloaf

OK so instead of making hamburgers tonight I decided to make my famous meatloaf. So here is the recipe for all to see:

1 pound beef

1 egg

1 cup oats

1 cup crushed crackers

Worcestershire sauce

mustard

ketchup

salt & pepper

1 can of corn

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Put all ingredients into large mixing bowl. When adding mustard, ketchup and Worcestershire sauce just "eye" the amount. Then mix all together and put into loaf pan. Bake for an hour. I like to serve mine with green beans and toast.

Enjoy and have a great evening!!

Until I blog again ~ Gal Molly

OMG I'm having a sleepover and whats up with texting

OMG!!!!! I'm having a sleepover tonight, my first in about 11 years, yes I'm getting old. My little sister Elizabeth will be sleeping at my house tonight and I have a ton of stuff planned, ( she's only 11 ). First off I am making her a special dinner of hamburgers and veggies with a special drink ( she loves apple juice ). Then I know she will wanting to play in my studio so today I am going to have to wrap some gifts so she won't sneak a peek, wink wink. Then we will probably watch a movie or she loves to read my blogging friends blogs, so we will be very busy tonight.

Tomorrow we are off to the Wake Forest parade and for Mike's haircut. We will be dining at the Famous Shorty's Hot Dogs, ( they are the best in the world ) Mike found some vintage machines for Chris the owner so we get to see how they look tomorrow as well. Then we will head over to the farmers market to stock up on some preserves and Christmas gifts ( did I ever tell yall I love homemade stuff HEHE ).

OK so my other sister Miranda ( we are like night and day and quite often do not get along ) never ever answers the phone when I call her, I could be in ditch or somewhere and she would never know because she never answers her flippen phone. Well she recently moved this past summer and I needed her address ( because when I go to people's houses I never look at the street or house number, that's just how I roll HEHE ), so I call twice and leave messages upon end to let her know I needed it so I could send her some Christmas love through a very pretty Christmas card. Well about three hours later she texts me her address and then asks me what mine is.

I mean how hard is it to dial seven digits and say hey sissy my address is blah blah blah and whats yours?. All I'm saying is that I don't get the texting issue and whatever happened to just picking up the phone and saying hey to someone.

OK so I hope everyone has a fabulous day and a great weekend!!!

Until I blog again ~ Gal Molly

Let's just say I won't be breaking bread there again

OK so last night my handsome groom took me to the Lone Star for a mid week treat. We usually don't eat out during the week but hey it is Christmas time and he was in the giving mood, plus he let me go to Michael's and he didn't complain about the potpourri smell, HAHA!

OK so we are sitting and chatting and we had finished our appetizer, which by the way was very good ( the blooming onion ). Well our main course comes and Mike had ordered a steak and baked potato and I ordered a steak salad. Well we start eating and chatting, I had now only had about four bites when I pick up my fork and see sprouts ( well that's what I thought it was ). It was a baby ROACH!!!!! I immediately throw my fork in the bread basket and nearly gaged. Mike was in awe and shock. We had eatened there many of a Sunday and the service was awesome and the food was wonderful. So the manager comes to the table and takes my plate and apologizes profusely and gives us our meal for free. I was still in shock because you know this would never happen to me, yeah right. So we leave the waitress a tip and go on over to Michael's because my Mikey thought I deserved a treat, HEHE!

Well I am off to go do some machines with Mikey and then wrap some gifts. Hope you all a fabulous day and please people look at your food before you eat it, just a tip !!!

Until I blog again ~ Gal Molly

Wordless Wednesday

And Y'all thought I couldn't ice skate!!!! HAHAHAHAHA!!!

Until I blog again ~ Gal Molly

A topless tree, broken Internet and the Star Of Bethlehem

Well hello friends!!! After a week of my Internet not working I am finally back to blog land, YAYAYAY!!! Oh don't you just love modern technology, wink wink.. Well after my Internet broke down, I get to almost finishing the decorations on my tree and what to my wondering eyes do I see but the darn lights in the middle have just blown. Oh Joy!!!! So I carefully take down some ornaments fix the lights and actually get all the boxes and what not put up and what do I see when I enter the living room , the top lights have now gone out. So I said to myself " Molly we are not taking down the ornaments to relight this tree" , so I have a topless tree HAHAHA ( lights that is). Mike has been trying to find the bulb to replace it but I told him to just not worry about it, it's a great "conversational piece", HAHAHAHA!

This past weekend our dear friends, Harriet and Winslow and some others from our Sunday school class went to see the Star of Bethlehem at the Planetarium. It was beautiful! Every year I say I want to go see it and we never go. So as a Sunday school "field trip" we went Sunday after church and then headed over to 35 Chinese to eat a scrumptious meal. Then we were back at church for the hand bell choir concert, which was beautiful by the way.

Well I am off to do some machines and then off to the play at church tonight. Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday!!!!

Until I blog again ~ Gal Molly

Menu Plan Monday

Good Monday to everyone!!! I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend and ate a lot of leftovers from Thanksgiving. I have a new recipe that we tried over the Holiday break that was scrumptious, Molly's Chocolate covered pears.

Here's the recipe:

2cups sliced pears

smidge of sugar

pie dough

melted milk chocolate

egg wash ( 1 egg with a splash of water)

Slice your pears and put on pie dough then fold the pie dough over top. Then bathe the crust of the pie dough in egg wash and sprinkle with sugar. Bake until golden and let cool. Then drizzle melted milk chocolate over the top. Enjoy!!!!

Monday: Beef stew

Tuesday: Sausage with rice and beans

Wednesday: Chicken sands with cob corn

Thursday: Ham and spinach bake

Friday: Pizza and salad

Saturday: Leftover buffet

Sunday: Chili with crackers

I hope everyone has a fabulous week !!!!

Until I blog again ~ Gal Molly