Magic Days

The magic of the good old days.

It seems like there was magic in those good old days....growing up on a farm in Iowa, my parents, my sisters, my grandparents, and with my great-grandma Perrin living a couple miles down the dusty gravel road it was good. It was great.  We visited Grandma Perrin almost every Sunday night  - she made the best popcorn, and us girls sat around listening to mom, dad and Grandma talk while listening to the old radio on the table in the corner of kitchen. Later on, we watched "The Waltons".  Oh, I need to mention Grandma Perrin had an outhouse. Seriously. Why did I always have to go while there? I'm chalking it up to anxiety. Never failed. Seriously. 

The good old days...Those summers growing up, elementary school, junior high, high school. Transferring schools from New Hartford to Aplington at the end of my sophomore year. Basketball. Softball. Volleyball. Track. School dances. Homecoming. Prom. Cruising University, cruising downtown Parkersburg, cruising New Hartford in my sisters red Monte-Carlo while listening to The Cars playing on the 8 track. Slumber parties. Dreams. Carefree. 
Ahhh the good old days!

"Cause someday soon, your whole life's gonna change"

It sure did.

"I've felt some pain, I've seen some things, but I'm here now." 

Someday I'll write about those years. What matters right now are these, these, are the good old days. 

Please don't get me wrong...those were GOOD days...but so are the days WE/ YOU are in, right NOW! 

Embrace where you are in your life, you've come so far, soak in what you've learned from those "good old days" and teach your kids, your grandkids, your friends, teach and reach out to your neighbors and help those in need. 

"We've come so far, I guess I'm proud

And I ain't worried about the wrinkles around my smile

I've got some scars, I've been around

I've felt some pain, I've seen some things, but I'm here now

Those good old days."

Don't live in the past, these are the good old days. Right now. 

Make a difference. BE THE DIFFERENCE. 

          "Good Old Days" MACKLEMORE FEATURING KESHA

Just a few thoughts on this Friday night. Have a great weekend!

Thanks for reading- 

Melody

It's a great day to be alive - make it a great day! 

xo

Grandma Becker's diary entry for March 23, 1990 

"Washing a bit. Breakfast at 7:40. Dorothy went by ambulance to hospital last night. Heart problems. We went to see her in P.M. Didn't try to talk to her too much. Went to see Helen and called on Floyd Wessel. and Mable Grandon. She broke her ankle and is pain. We ate at Long John Silvers and then home. both tired. Cliff and Ramona coming. 

Grandma Perrin's diary entry for March 23, 1964

                                                                                    

34 above -A.M.  Cloudy, windy. Light sprinkle -P.M. Charles and family at Dorothy's for supper. Anderson's there - evening. 

32 at night. 

FIVE MORE MINUTES

FIVE MORE MINUTES.

The clock don't stop.

The countdown is on.

Thanksgiving is less than a week away. Menus to figure out, family coming and going, football games to watch. Memories to be made. Throw in a few naps. Shopping to be done - starting Thanksgiving night and of course Black Friday.  And then some. 

The time rolls by, the clock don't stop.  

Soon after, church Christmas bells will be ringing in the celebration of the birthday of our Saviour Jesus Christ. We'll need to find the perfect tree or haul up the artificial trees from the basement to decorate in anticipation. More shopping to be done before Christmas Eve and Day arrive, menus to figure out. Packages to be wrapped, some may attend church services and rush home to prepare for family and friends. If you love to bake you'll be creating your cookie list for those cookie/dessert trays to bring to neighbors and work. (Uh-em)
Santa Claus has a very important appointment with the littles, so there's added pressure to squeeze in time. 

The time rolls by, the clock don't stop.  

New Years Eve will be here before we know it. Time goes by so fast. Where are you going? Which party to attend? What are you wearing? Don't forget the dinner reservations.  
We'll countdown the seconds on the clock and we'll rejoice and toast with friends and family. Say goodbye to 2017, and welcome the new baby year of 2018. 

Where does the time go? 

The time rolls by, the clock don't stop.  

The clock doesn't stop. Time may seem to go so fast, and at times it seems like it goes at a snails pace. It feels with each day we cross off on the calendar it goes by faster and faster. Pretty sure that's my age talking though. Middle age? Yep. And you know what? I'm so, so, completely fine with that. I think at a certain age we do get reflective and have wisdom to pass along. 

You know what I'm not fine with? 

The time rolls by, the clock don't stop.  

Time. I know, weird, right?

I want at least five more minutes with my grandparents and people who are no longer with us. 

More than any time of the year, I think back and reflect during the holidays on those who are no longer with us. Those who have shaped my life and influenced who I am today. And in my prayers I thank them and hopefully I make them proud.

The time rolls by, the clock don't stop.  

I'm really looking forward to hugging and visiting with my Grandma Pollock (Grandma P.) at Christmas. She is 101 years young and I'm going to take all the time I can get with her. 
Oh. And my grandkids? Cannot. Wait. Hopefully I can pass along a little wisdom to them mixed in with a whole lot of fun and laughter.

And Love. 

Wish we had a pause button.

With the holidays closing in, take the time you need to enjoy the moments. Take the time to visit an elderly neighbor or volunteer at the hospital. Volunteer at the animal shelter. Get involved. Make time for people in your life and the people you may have been short with. 

We all have a story to tell and it's worth listening. 
Take the time. 

The time rolls by, the clock don't stop. 

Thanks for reading,

Melody
xoxo 
It's a great day to be alive-make it a great day!


Grandma Becker's entry on this day, November 17, 1990  

"Weather still nice but a bit cooler. A frosty night. Gerald up late - feels about the same. A quiet day-cooked a squash - washed a load. Melody here a few min. on her way to work. Bert going to pick up Casie and Dustin and Mike going to a farm sale. Had a sandwich at McDonald's for supper".








Grandma Perrin's entry on this day, November 17, 1964 

"Cool, fair, most of day Charles & Oz diseed and plowed here in N. field. I de-frosted refrig -A.M.
Bud's condition about the same. No bread man today - truck trouble. Cliff & Ramona at Bud's tonight, also Clayton to fix washer. Ramona brought my wash. A most gorgeous sunset. 
God's own handiwork.
28 (degrees) at midnight

"FIVE MORE MINUTES"

SCOTTY McCREERY

You Say Witch Like Its A Bad Thing.....

Happy Halloween everyone! Did you buy a costume this year? I saw a few on social media from parties this weekend and it seems like every year they get better and better! Love it! I still need to get candy for the little ghosts and goblins trick or treating. We didn't have many at all last year so I think the ones who do stop by this year should get the huge candy bars. Or a ton of little ones.  I haven't decided yet. Do you dress up for work? I have in the past and it's always so weird if you need gas in your car heading to work. Oh well, I do LOVE Halloween though!

A few people have asked me about the cake I made last weekend so here's the scoop on how to make it-it is so very easy!

CANDY CORN CAKE

INGREDIENTS:

1 box white cake mix

1 box chocolate cake mix

3 containers white frosting

1 container chocolate frosting

Orange extract (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Bake chocolate cake in 8 inch round pan. Only one cake will be used so you can freeze the other or make cute little cupcakes and eat them all.

2. For the white and orange layers, prepare the white cake as directed but then divide the batter in half and tint one half orange. If using the extract, add.

3. Bake both white and orange cakes in 8 inch pan

4. For frosting take one container of white and tint orange.

5. Place chocolate cake on cake stand/plate. Smooth a think layer of chocolate frosting over.

6. Place orange layer on top and cover in thin layer of orange frosting.

7. Lastly place white cake on top and cover entire cake in crumb coat.

8. Frost entire cake based on the layers, or decorate as you wish!

Deviled Egg and Cowboy Gorilla 

Deviled Egg showing her tail

Grandma P. and Grandma B.

Vampire Cabernet~I vant to drink your blood...well not really. But it's really pretty good! 

Thanks for stopping by and reading my blog and happy Halloween! 

Melody

xoxo

"It's a great day to be alive~make it a great day!"

Grandma Becker's entry from October 30, 1990****************************************

Grandma Perrin's entry from October 30, 1964****************************************

Fall...My Favorite Season of All! (See what I did there?) Ten Pumpkin Spiced Food Items You Need

Whether or not you are ready for fall, it's on its way. Only two more weeks from today and it will be official - September 22nd at 9:21am. Are you ready for pumpkins, fall foliage (and raking leaves), football, sweaters, sweatshirts, and tailgating? I will confess that I've started decorating with my fall decor because this, my friends is my favorite season of all. 

Another thing that screams "fall is here" is allllll of the pumpkin spice food that line the shelves at the grocery store. 

If you haven't been out recently, I'll help you out on a few of the items that will get in the mood for Fall. (maybe?) 

Pumpkin Spice Peeps. I LOVE peeps to look at, not to eat. I'll buy them for the grandkids!

Fan of yogurt? Well get your "gurt" on with this Pumkin flavor. 

Ghiradelli Pumpkin Spice Caramel Squares? I'm in. People, we're talking chocolate here. 

Dreyer's Slow Churned Pumpkin Patch Ice Cream. Let's get this and watch a marathon on Netflix. 

I'm a huge fan of Cheerios, so bring it. #oldschool

Let's get the cereal out of the way. Frosted Mini Wheats-Pumpkin Spice? Frosted ANYTHING and I'll even run to the table.

I've never had Life cereal but I'd try it. Not sure about the packaging though. It needs a little more fall zing. 

Hmmm. Planters Pumpkin Spice Almonds. Isn't there a drink that calls for almonds?  Oh that's Amaretto. 

Toll House Pumpkin Spice Cookie dough.
You had me at Toll House. #sold

Thomas Pumpkin Spice English Muffins? These are the best on planet Earth. I don't care who you are, you cannot deny that Thomas English Muffins have the best deep pockets for catching all of that butter you're going to slather on. Did you say something about pumpkin spice?

Hope you enjoy the first night of the "unofficial" start of fall...NFL Thursday night football! 

As always, thanks for reading and if you have a favorite fall recipe, let me know!  

-Melody

xoxo

It's a great day to be alive~make it a great day!

Grandma Becker's diary entry for September 8, 1990 

Grandma Perrin's diary entry for September 8, 1964

All You Need Is Love

Ohhh man. I love the story posted below so much. Seriously, LOVE. But first...

Maybe you already know we have three dogs. Maybe not. But, true story. 

Miss Pippi Jackpot Judge has her own facebook page...I know, I know. Mr. Pretzel Potpie Judge does not but who knows, it may be coming. They have been with me through difficult as well as happy times and are always my biggest cheerleaders when I walk through the door. They are purebred Chihuahuas and I just love them to bits and pieces.

Mr. Pretzel Potpie and Miss Pippi Jackpot. 

Then, there's Oscar. 

Let me tell you about our third dog, Oscar.

Oscar

Harley Man and I adopted him from the shelter two and a half years ago when we lived in Gillette, Wyoming. He was an older dog that didn't get a lot of attention from people looking for "the one". In fact, they were ready to transfer him to a shelter that specializes in black dogs.

Who knew black dogs were hard to adopt out? I didn't.

We also learned Oscar spent his entire 10 years

of existence living on a chain.

After visiting Oscar with Miss Pippi and Mr. Pretzel we decided to take a chance. Harley Man and I decided to bring Oscar into our blended family.

The very first picture of Oscar leaving the shelter. His smile tells all. 

It has been the number one best decision we have ever made. Oscar "lets" Miss Pippi Jackpot Judge think she is still in charge, and has taught them both the rules of the outside world.

Like the story below, who rescued who? Oscar came into our lives when we needed each other.

Please consider adoption. Even if you normally would think of pure bred only, a lot of times the best are tossed aside and ready to fly.

I know.

In more ways than one.

Please consider adopting.

Really, watch this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm0qYRWQpZI

  

As always, thank you for reading!

Melody

xoxo

"It's a great day to be alive~make it a great day"!

Grandma Becker's diary entry for June 29, 1990

********************************************************************************

Grandma Perrin's diary entry for June 29, 1964

Well Bless My Blooms!

Step into Spring. Spring Fling. Spring is in the Air. Tiptoe Through the Tulips. Dance in Dandelions. Life in Full Bloom. Spring Fever. Spring Cleaning. 

Even though it's been a drippy, dreary, and a downright dull day the flowers are in bloom, birds are chirping, and the grass is "new spring green". And the latest Justin Timberlake song is out. His first one in three years, I may add. It's uplifting, makes me smile and definitely makes me want to dance. 

So...

As I was dancing around in the kitchen to the latest JT song, taking bites of rhubarb pie (moderation is key, remember), laundry, and sweeping the floors I was thinking how grateful I am to have had amazing women role models in my life. 

My homemade rhubarb pie. 

Back up. Let me explain. Getting back to the bites of rhubarb pie made me think of my mom. She makes the best rhubarb pie. Seriously, a couple of years ago when I was recuperating from breast cancer reconstruction surgery I think I ate a whole rhubarb pie. I had a piece of pie everyday for lunch. It was the bomb. Its so weird because growing up the only way I ate this spring tart of flavorness was raw, and with salt. My mom used to make rhubarb pies every spring. Then I started thinking about my Grandma Becker - she did too. Which reminded me of my Grandma Pollock who is turning 100 this year. July 3rd to be exact. 

But getting back to eating, Grandma Pollock makes the BEST spaghetti in the entire universe. Wait. There's more. She also makes the best melt-in-your mouth sugar cookies. Oh my, and her delightful peanut butter bars are something that could be sold in a high end candy store. She used to make multiple pans for almost all of our special occasions. 
Homemade, only like Grandma Pollock can make.

And you know what? Her toast was always better too. 

Grandma Pollock

I'm very thankful to have and to have grown up with amazing women in my life. My Mom. My Grandma Pollock. My Grandma Becker. My Grandma Perrin. My Aunts. Of course its more than baking and more than I've written about today, much more. But sometimes it starts in the kitchen, being together, talking, laughing and learning. 

Aunt Bev, Mom, Grandma Pollock, Aunt Sharon, Aunt Aud, Aunt Linda

I hope I pass along these attributes to my granddaughters that all of these amazing women taught me. 

Brooklyn and Briley 

Now let's finish dancing. Plus there's pie. 
Spring has sprung! 

Thanks for reading!  I've got this feeling....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5RobDomh5U

~Melody
xoxo

It's a great day to be alive, make it a great day!

Grandma Becker's diary entry for May 10, 1990 

                                                     

 "Light rain early. Washed hose and good skirt. Mended a small hole in good gray jacket. Cleaned utility closet. Gerald got home and helped me - He went to Aplington I baked big batch of cookies-Gerald home at 5:15. Baking biscuits and creamed chicken - rhubarb sauce for supper."

                                         Grandma Perrin's diary entry for May 10, 1964

"Fair, mild - calm, lovely morning. Went to services, Bud and Dorothy's, Esther and Gerald's, here for dinner. They brought most of the dinner-very good (Smoked Ham) Gerald, Esther and I went to cemetery -P.M. Took flowers. Ramona and 3 children here a short time. P.M. She gave me a pretty scarf. Took two bouquets of lilacs and tulips to church."