It's been over a year.. over a year... and I've written nothing in my blog... it looked lonely.. cobwebby in fact! I hopped on over here and realized... I don't even know... if I even know how to use blogger anymore .  Life has changed... BIG TIME for me. This past year has been full of surprises...good ones.. bad ones... but in the end God always knows what He's doing.  See this beauty? She's my granddaughter... my 6 month old beauty. I never thought I would be a grammy glammy before I turned 40.. my heart was even a bit heavy about it.. but now.. when a day goes by and I don't see her.. that's when the heart gets heavy.. 

I've been slacking when it comes to my "Suzy Homemaker Duties"... With life changes.. different jobs.. and still the expectation of nursing school .. I've lost that little spark in cooking and cleaning.. now.. don't get me wrong.. the house is NOT horrid.. couldn't allow that.. but my heart hasn't been into keeping it "happy"... I want to change that! I'm hoping that if I come back to blogging my heart will want to come back to posting pictures... trying new things.. and making time ( do I dare say) for myself. Sounds a little greedy... YIKES!

Now with PINTEREST...<-------- GOSH I LOVE that site... I can obtain some new ideas.. I mean seriously... there are so many talented people  out there... I LOVE it!!! I apologize for not reading many blogs as well.. I need to get a move on that.. 

So here's to hoping I can at least post ONCE a week.. if not more!

Finally.. I have a moment to blog! Summer came with a slow start. I was even wondering if summer was going to come at all for us in New England, but here it is and I'm soaking up every minute that I can.
I, myself, have vacation this week from work and everything else! I spent a lovely weekend in RedHook NY. LOTS of history there and people I love to spend time with. These Photos are just a few moments that I captured while exploring the area.

I finished my summer English Course. I'm pretty positive that I received an A, but I have yet to figure out where to find my grade on line. I'll get there eventually but right now I'm battling with the college and trying to sign up for courses that I need and they are giving me a hard time. I have to admit, I'm frustrated! Why is it so hard to get an education? I know that I'll get what I need in the end, but it sure isn't easy! Have you had any challenges lately? How is your summer going?

I'm still climbing mountains to reach my goals!!
Oh my Gosh.. I'm embarrassed to admit this.. but I almost forgot how to post on my blog!! I also have another SMALL confession to make... I have an addiction... addiction to EVERYONE Else's blog.. but.. my own. I'm addicted to the decorating/re-doing blogs.. you know.. the ones that are BRIGHT and BEAUTIFUL and it looks like their homes are PERFECT at any given moment... yeah.. you know what I'm talking about!!
I realized that I haven't written here since DECEMBER!! boy.. a LOT has gone on since December.. I started a new job.. full -time... same facility.. but more hours.. I FINISHED my LNA class and I am now a LICENSED NURSING ASSISTANT.. however I'm not working as one... and I'm starting up a new class in two weeks... don't laugh... but it's ENGLISH COMP I.. They're going to teach me to be a better writer... so you just wait... my blog ( if I find the time to post..) will be grammatically correct... AND...hopefully "proper" sounding..

A girl can dream.... right?

I haven't taken many pictures.. but with Prom Season coming up... there will be plenty.. and some Seniors I'll be "shooting" as well..

I do miss you all.. I see some of you on facebook... I love that.. facebook can be an amazing blessing.. yet a time sucking TRAP!!! But until I can write again.. I just wanted to say HI.. and that I do miss you.. and I will be peeking in on you more!!

School is over for a month.. and I'm hoping to have more time to jump on here and READ more of what you all have to say!! I'm spending my free time now .. Reading... Exercising and baking.. exercising because I have to taste test everything I bake...YUM.. These are a couple of pictures I've taken for Christmas Cards this year... I can't believe my daughter is now TWENTY and my son FIFTEEN... the time truly does fly!! I've gone thrifting and have found some really cool Vintage Christmas Decorations for PENNIES.. I'll have to post photos and share.. Have you found anything cool lately?

I've been blog cruising this morning... ( haven't posted or commented on any of them sorry!!).. I have been looking for Christmas Gifts to make... frugal ones in fact... and I realized that I have neglected my blog.... YET... again....

My life has taken a turn... well... maybe I should say change... since August I've been hosting a foreign exchange student from Ecuador... nothing we planned on for sure... and I have begun the process of going to school to achieve my RN... SLOWLY... like...more slow than a snail... but I took the first step and I'm half way through with psychology with an A!! It's been a lot more work than I anticipated but I'm proud of myself! I am also signed up for the LNA course in the Spring... I'm blessed with my job for paying for my education... and with taking a course at a time it enables me to focus and do well... or at least that's what I'm striving for....

On the side I've been doing photos for people... some seniors and some families.... I'm still doing my thrifting and finding GREAT deals... I'm addicted to clothes right now.. YIKES!! Poor hubby.. he has no room in our bedroom for anything.... I told him.. probably within a year.. I'll be moving from nice duds... to scrubs... but... hey.. time will tell...



Off to dinner at a friends.. wish I could write more... but share with me any frugal Christmas Ideas!! Okay??

I miss blogging and have so much to share... hopefully within the next week... I can tell you all about my life's NEW adventures.. some dreams are coming true... and God is surely putting things in our laps that I haven't expected!!

Happy Labor Day Weekend!!

My kitty.. who just doesn't want to be bothered on this holiday weekend... can't say as if I blame her!!

My 4th of July was a lazy one... one I actually planned on... Since working in October I haven't had a long weekend.. or extra days to do what I've really wanted... I'm not complaining at all because I know there are many out there who would jump at taking my job....so I've been working really hard to have perfect attendance and to work hard and especially keep my mouth closed (so many moments of late that I haven't wanted to though... Ü) So hubby and I bummed around and I did some things around the house that needed to be done!! I gave an old swing a new makeover with a bit of spray paint and a little bit of Rit Dye!! (oh.. that's still soaking... oopss)Here's a crazy picture of hubby... UNCLE SAM WANTS YOU...I don't know about you... but I've always wanted to try a "Drunken Chicken"... however I dislike the taste of beer VERY MUCH.. so I decided to use a diet coke instead... if I do it again.. I think I'll try SPRITE... This above picture is the before picture....This is the after picture... the last hour I added up some left over chopped up baked potatoes..In truth.. the chicken was good.. and it was very moist... but I wasn't "gaga gaga" for it... Next time I might try different seasonings for the skin... to be fair there was nothing left of this meal except a few potatoes.... so .. I really shouldn't complain...

This is what I did..
I turned the grill on... the two side that I wasn't going to use ( I have a 4 burner grill) I turned off and put the the chicken right on that heat..don't put it directly on the flamed side. I then washed and rubbed the chicken up and mixed these spices together
1 TBSP Paprika
1 TBSP Garlic Powder
1 TBSP Oregano
1 tsp Coarse Sea Salt
1 tsp fresh ground pepper

Rubbed it all over the chicken and then took out half of the coke from the can and set it in it's holder and plopped the chicken over it.. and then... cooked the chicken for an hour and a half... I know you're suppose to use a meat thermometer and check for doneness at 180 degrees... but I really don't have one.... YIKES!! But I can attest that the chicken was completely cooked and not a pink area in site!!
If you've tried one of these.. with a different recipe.. would you share it ?? or if you do try this.. let me know what you think....