tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55347811217734607422024-03-21T20:44:59.989-07:00Daddy's Dream HomesteadSandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06331135727948484193noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534781121773460742.post-22312281595448729982011-01-01T12:17:00.000-08:002011-01-01T12:31:48.653-08:00Together at Momma's house.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhar1M8xkGTHdOxAaZIybOhsMohKI-NdXrP_CWuDnr7mjeRaH18hU0mVYM6_iouLMufjUo4gjwyRLbitxHWFyqK83nOPU9KXU9_D38P4qIAmQ-w70wyiOypPKnkzRE7ASTyDkdl-Hc_BsY/s1600/096.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhar1M8xkGTHdOxAaZIybOhsMohKI-NdXrP_CWuDnr7mjeRaH18hU0mVYM6_iouLMufjUo4gjwyRLbitxHWFyqK83nOPU9KXU9_D38P4qIAmQ-w70wyiOypPKnkzRE7ASTyDkdl-Hc_BsY/s320/096.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557317298777336434" /></a><br />Mike, Jason, Joey, Jessica, Henry, William, Dale and myself went to Mommas to eat our New Year's meal. We had black eye peas, mustard greens, rice, mashed potato's, corn, ham and rolls for lunch. A typical New Year's lunch for our family. I cleaned and cooked the greens last night. Momma cooked the rest. It was so good. Everything was outstanding. I can't wait to eat some more greens and peas! Add some pepper vinegar and some sliced onions and man o man that's a meal!!!<br /><br />Jason he ate lot's of potato's. He loves them and can eat a 5lb. bag in no time flat! He has some leftover for tonight. Joey loved the ham or meat as he calls it! Joey took picture of Momma several weeks ago!Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06331135727948484193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534781121773460742.post-68377234222019832832011-01-01T11:52:00.000-08:002011-01-01T12:56:51.487-08:00Where did 2010 go?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0CXFnWnfTiHe9ec39cGw9P3-FAt7ZZUSnzgFzR3aL3TsTuOBY3xYNKkRvfVb-_URhMsQyI__v-5oIsv7a1fAHneOljtomsvAp9sbWIQsiRD-wBBBLEUFVrkGx2R0Du-sZVLWJ9HaCbQ/s1600/101_0174.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0CXFnWnfTiHe9ec39cGw9P3-FAt7ZZUSnzgFzR3aL3TsTuOBY3xYNKkRvfVb-_URhMsQyI__v-5oIsv7a1fAHneOljtomsvAp9sbWIQsiRD-wBBBLEUFVrkGx2R0Du-sZVLWJ9HaCbQ/s320/101_0174.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557319676504896962" /></a><br />Wow 2010 has come and gone in a flash! Seems just like yesterday it was 2009. This year Joey turned 3 had a blast at his birthday party that he and William celebrate together since their birthday's are a week apart. We had a water slide and some water cannons they played with their other cousins.<br /><br />Michelle and her finace` Dominick went to college in Canada for 4 months during the cold fall and had a great time in Canada but said they din't like the college and really didn't learn anything they hadn't already learned in Daytona. They did get a wonderful experience of being on ther own and in another country. That had to be awesome in it's self. I was soooo glad to see her<br /><br />We also hosted a Halloween party at Mommas house for all of our cousin's children. They all had a blast. We dressed up the kids, had a pinata filled with tons of candy and had hot dogs on the grill with the fixins'. I think the adults had as good as time as the kids did!<br /><br />WE had a huge Thanksgiving at Mommas. Our oldest son Jason is being deployed to Afghanistan in January 2011. He wanted his Mom and Dad to be together on Thanksgiving. So his Mom came with her family and one of her brother's Scott and one of Jason's cousin's Casey. My brother Bubba and his family spent the weekend with Momma. Jessica and her family came as well as Martin and Pat. Mike's Mom and Papa John came up from Ocala.<br /><br />We had a wonderful time and no one wanted to leave! It was so nice to see the families be together and getting along. I think this will stay in Jason's mind and help him while he is away from his family.<br /><br />At Christmas we had all of Mommas sister's families over. we had close to 40 aunts, uncles, cousins, Nana's Grammies, Papa's and many extended family members as well as friends. We ate and sat around having fun with member's of the family we don't get to see much!! We really do need to make an effort to get together more often.Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06331135727948484193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534781121773460742.post-65942612040781908202010-06-05T07:04:00.000-07:002010-06-05T07:17:09.126-07:00School is coming to a closeWe are in our final week of school here in Florida. Our last day is June 11. I will miss my students on the bus but could use some time off. I have a few projects around the home I want to get done. One is to clean out my front flower bed it is in dire need of cleaning and reorganizing of some plans.<br /><br />My second project is to declutter our home and get rid of junk. We have one room that is nothing but a bunch of junk. How it got that way is no excuse so none will be given. We have several old computers hanging around so hopefully when Jason comes home in a couple days he will bless us by taking one to Nana's home and getting it set up for her to use.<br /><br />The third project will be to let Joey run free and enjoy his summer. This will be his first summer when he will have memories so want him to have a ton to try and remember when he gets old! <br /><br />Jason is coming home next Tuesday from South Korea. His 2 year duty is up. It will be nice to have him home for 30 days before he has to go to his next post. He will be going to Fort Leonardwood in Missouri. It's much closer than South Korea! With everything going on in the world it's nice to see him on home ground than stuck in another country.Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06331135727948484193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534781121773460742.post-81288063379717244452010-05-29T07:30:00.001-07:002010-05-29T07:35:53.793-07:00Joey's Birthday Party<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OlWKgzXhNutV1tPUMXYoSk8n8yV-knr7iF1hxpjB59j5vwltUHNmqhiW3aLLdm6giOtz6kxYZ3KRRfJeEN8FKlopTYIl-WhWlZBu_hyphenhyphenMRLRH49pUJaEEb5G9ENOWbfAzeAP1JkpSddw/s1600/101_0033.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476700424272438850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OlWKgzXhNutV1tPUMXYoSk8n8yV-knr7iF1hxpjB59j5vwltUHNmqhiW3aLLdm6giOtz6kxYZ3KRRfJeEN8FKlopTYIl-WhWlZBu_hyphenhyphenMRLRH49pUJaEEb5G9ENOWbfAzeAP1JkpSddw/s320/101_0033.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Joey and William's birthday party was a hit. We had a blow up water slide and water cannon's. When the children first got here we gave the children a water cannon we had purchased at Dollar tree. For a dollar gift they were awesome. We put bucket's of water around in the yard so the children could suck up the water and have war. They had a blast.<br />Joey in his young wisdom said heck with the water cannon which held a couple cups of water and went for the water hose! Everyone laughed and of course Joey went back to his cannon to play.<br />We had a nice crowd of 38. Our list of guest follows: Aunt Celia, cousin Aaron & his family, Cousin Robert & his family, JoJo & his friend with her children, Sharon & family, Dave & his family, William's Nana Kathy & family, Joey's Grammie Joanie, Nannie Joyce, Lisa, Dale, William, Jessica, Henry, Mike, Joey and myself.<br />Mike and I are truely Blessed with family that loves Joey as much as we do! Joey is such a joy. He loves to smile and be everyone's friend. Several of the children didn"t want to go home and some wanted to come back the next day! That to me means we had a great party.<br />Joey recieved lots of nice gifts. But even thought the gifts are nice we enjoyed the fellowship even more! </div>Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06331135727948484193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534781121773460742.post-25365151786850188552010-05-29T07:24:00.000-07:002010-05-29T07:36:42.483-07:00My Baby is turning three!Time flies........Joey is turning 3 on May 16th. We are having him and his cousin William a birthday party on Saturday. We are putting up the waterslide. The kids love the slide. My Momma bought it for the 2 boys last year for their birthday. It is one of the blow~up slides, it doesn't hold adults or bigger teens but the younger children love it. It is so fun watching them have so much fun.<br />Last year we put it up beside Momma's garage but with the shade and the ever so cold well water we had blue mouth children! So this year we are putting it in the sun. I'd rather have to put on lots of sunscreen than have shivering children!<br />We are serving hamburgers and hotdogs. Of course we are having all the fixins`like baked beans, potato salad and veggie tray. Water makes everyone hungry so we will have plenty food for everyone.<br />Jessica my baby sister also William's Mom and I are spliting the cost of the party. We are going on Thursday to Sam's to get most of the food and supplies. We are ordering the cake also while at Sam's. Since the boy's ages are 5 year's apart we have to go with themes that are not too babish or too grown. Since both boy's like planes I'm going to see if the have a "plane cake".<br />Joey is growing so fast and learning so many new things. You want to keep them a baby but there is no holding back. He loves his Daddy and follows every move. He does so many things like his Daddy like stand with his hands in his pockets. It is so funny watching them stand side by side with hands in the pants pockets! I really need to snap a photo of them one day.<br />So Joseph Daddy and Momma wish you the best 3rd birthday!! May you grow strong in body and in Love for Jesus!Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06331135727948484193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534781121773460742.post-7983638964453279912010-05-02T05:32:00.000-07:002010-05-02T05:50:02.172-07:00The Baby ShowerWe had my cousin Amanda's baby shower on Saturday. It went well and everyone seemed to have a great time. Amanda's baby was due the end of May beginning of June but she had him in March. He was so tiny only weighting a little over 2 lbs. but he now is a little over 4 1/2 pounds. He just may get to come home in as little as 7 days.<br /><br />We had lots of food not knowing how many was coming I planned for everyone to show. So we had lots left which is ok, Amanda took home food for her house, I sent my other cousin home with the veggie tray (her children will eat it up for a snack) and sent home a baggie full of my cheddar bacon dip. Mike and I will be eating lots of Chicken salad and Egg salad sandwiches this week. I love egg salad for breakfast so that's what I will be having.<br /><br />Amanda recieved lots of nice presents and lots of diapers. The latter being something you can never have too many of! She had lots of help opening her gifts as her nephew Brian and my Joey was there to help. Her being patient let them help her and made them feel as though they were big helpers.<br /><br />We played 3 games:1. Toilet paper game: take as much as you need then pass it. When everyone is done make a bow. Funny to see the one's who either took too much or not enough.<br />2. Everyone is given a pin wwith a baby rattler attached. The pin to there shirt and if they say baby someone calls them and wins there pins. At the end of shower who ever has the most wins.<br />3. Cotton ball game: you are blind folded given a bowl of cotton balls in your lap with a tablespoon. On your head is an empty bowl. Get as many cotton balls on your head in 30 seconds. The player with most wins.<br /><br />Joey had to play the cotton ball game. He is so funny he has to try anything you do! My Aunt Cecelia took pictures. I'm gonna have to get some to post.<br /><br />Well have a Blessed week!Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06331135727948484193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534781121773460742.post-17524684442851060392008-06-12T10:46:00.000-07:002008-06-12T11:03:47.738-07:00Paintball feverWe have a fever running around on the homestead and it's called paintball!! Yes you heard right paintball. Mike and I went to my Aunt Cecia's home several month's a go and her adult children were playing paintball in the woods that surround her home. They tried to get Mike to play but he wouldn't, he decided to play cook for the Army!<br /><br />After dinner he finally got talked into playing. One game was all it took! He had the fever. He searched high and low for a Tippman A-5 gun for a great price. He found a package on e-bay for a wonderful price purchased it and the next weekend here we are off to my Aunt Cecia's home. He loves playing and since he has no real hobby I completely stand behind him. I enjoy going to my aunts and spending time with her and my cousins also.<br /><br />Well my nephew Dale has now gotten the fever. He came with us one weekend and that was it for him. He had a gun but not an A-5 like the rest so my Mom his Nana bought him a used one that was in great shape. He loves playing and it's great to see him and Mike having fun, running around like 2 small kids and just having a great day with family.<br /><br />Well my 6 year old nephew William can't be left out. Dale gave him his old gun. He is so funny. He will watch Mike and Dale play and see how they hide behind trees and such to try and not get hit with the paintball's. He then will imitate them. He had a ball on Monday night "playing" paintball with Mike and Dale. They just had their guns with no air or paintball's. They let him try and shoot at them. He hit Mike 3 times a least. He would try and do the same things as they did the night before!<br /><br />That makes me realize more and more that our children really look at you to see how to live their life. It's scary and I pray that God will help me live a life in front of Joey that will not hinder him!Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06331135727948484193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534781121773460742.post-13414403265623611752008-03-02T07:56:00.000-08:002008-03-02T07:58:22.121-08:00Joey's talking!Joey's first words were Mama then bye bye the last weekend he started saying Dada. During the week he started saying papa! He tries so hard to talk. He mumbles and tries to say nannie but just can't just yet!!Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06331135727948484193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534781121773460742.post-82950015620962125252008-03-02T07:37:00.000-08:002008-03-02T07:55:56.023-08:00Family losesDaddy past away a year ago on Feb. 22<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">nd</span>. This past Friday his brother Robert Fisher passed away. And on Saturday March 1st his sister Mildred Gill passed away. Our family has been hit with many deaths in the last year and a half. It started with my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Mommas</span> brother Edwin Williamson passing on September 10<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span> 2006 then I found out I was pregnant with Joey not long after. My Daddy passed in February 22<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">nd</span> 2007 and 3 days later on Sunday Feb. 25<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">th</span> my Aunt <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Cecelia's</span> husband Joe <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Juliano</span> passed away. and now Daddy's other 2 siblings have passed.<br /><br />It has been a hard year!! Yesterday was very hard for me since I've not really mourned Daddy's passing due to being pregnant with Joey then having him. With Daddy's sister's passing it really hit me my Daddy's not coming back! Daddy was the back bone of the family and I miss him so much! It's so hard to for me to know that Daddy will never hold my child (he did know about that I was pregnant and having a boy named after him and his father Joe) Joseph Richard <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Bulger</span> will know his grandfather. I will teach him about Papa and he will grow up knowing how Papa did this or that and living on the land he wanted his grandchildren to grow up on! Seeing the buildings that Papa built with his own hands or the fruit trees he planted. I don't want him to feel he missed out knowing Papa. I want him to know more about Papa than he would have if Papa would have seen him!! I feel such pride when recently he started to say Papa!!Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06331135727948484193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534781121773460742.post-87904639674585237812008-02-11T08:00:00.001-08:002008-02-11T08:15:23.870-08:00Our weekendWe had a nice weekend. The girls came over Friday night and stayed until Sunday around 3:30. They went to work with their Daddy on Saturday. They came home dirty and tired from doing "nothing". Must be nice!! We stayed outside for a little bit while they played in the dirt and ran around.<br /><br />Mike was so tired he look a nap till 8:30 p.m. Katie and I made supper. We had a chicken casserole and garlic toast. She helped a lot. She mixed the garlic and butter together and buttered the bread to go into the oven. She mixed all the ingredients together for the casserole also.<br /><br />Kathy and William played games on the computer till it was supper time. We let Mike sleep since he was so tired. Katie also set the table with some instruction on my part. I think all girls should know how to set the table. It's very sad when they have no clue what a salad fork is or how it differs from a dinner fork!<br /><br />Sunday we sleep in for a bit. Joey really sleep in~~~~he woke at 10:30 a.m.!!! We ate, cleaned up and then played outside till 2:30! Joey had a blast in his walker. Mike tilled the chicken pen up and the garden spot. I bought some mustard green seeds and some pansy's. Mike and I planted the greens and the girls planted the flowers! Funny to see two "city" girls get their fingers dirty! OH YUCK was heard more than one time!! Gotta get that "city" out of them!!Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06331135727948484193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534781121773460742.post-2200195344179472082008-01-26T17:05:00.001-08:002008-01-26T17:08:10.666-08:00The vanWell we hope to get the van back on Monday. They have to replace the radiator and the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">thermostat.</span><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected"></span><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Mom and I went shopping. She had to make 2 quick stops one to get her meds and the other to pick up a few good sale items I found at Food Lion this morning. Then went to Wally World. Gotta love the place~~~~ Everyone is in a hurry and tries to run over you or cut in line. But we got what we needed and got out!!</span>Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06331135727948484193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534781121773460742.post-16910108845226169302008-01-26T07:57:00.000-08:002008-01-26T17:04:56.027-08:00Van is downSince Daddy has been gone we have been driving Mom's van. Well this morning I took Mike to work and went to Food Lion to get a few things. When I turned onto our road the van acted a little sluggish. When I got half way down our street the check engine light came on and the temp. gage went up. I let it cool down and Mom and I put water in not a whole lot. We could see it dripping antifreeze after we pulled it up to get out of the puddle of water from the water hose.<br /><br />It's now at the Ford dealership. I pray it's nothing major!!<br /><br />It's cold and rainy here today. Want to just sit inside and keep warm.Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06331135727948484193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534781121773460742.post-14191624982915398172008-01-25T18:16:00.000-08:002008-01-25T18:29:43.695-08:00Busy FridayToday was busy. I went to work at 5:30 am. I did my morning run and was done by 9 am. Went home washed a load of rugs, sweep the floor and mopped the floor. Picked up Joey's toy's and made the bed. Bless his heart he was so sleepy he went to sleep and didn't wake up till 12:30 even thought he sleep till 8:30 am! I was going to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">vacuum</span> but couldn't since he was asleep. So I'll do that in the morning.<br /><br />It was so cold today. (I know we live in Florida and it doesn't get real cold to some folks up north but to me it was cold!!) It took the floor forever to dry. Joey was on the floor just after I mopped and he crawled across the floor and the only dry spots were where his sleeper dried the floor as he crawled!!<br /><br />His "bus granny" gave us 2 quarts of whipping cream. Her daughter gave her some and she didn't need all of them so she blessed us with some. I'll make some sausage gravy with some, but will have to figure out what wonderful things I'll make with the rest! YUMMY<br /><br />Tonight we had wings for supper. My Momma, Mike, Joey and I went out to Fast Boys wings. They were good! Joey of course flirted with a small girl around 7 years old. She won him a stuffed animal from the grab machine. I thought it was so nice of her! She was so shy, Mike let her hold Joey. He was in heaven, he loves attention.Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06331135727948484193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534781121773460742.post-23271924177803605772008-01-20T07:01:00.000-08:002008-01-20T07:07:03.344-08:00William's "girls"Mike's two youngest daughter's Katie and Kathy are always called "my girls" by William. When he was younger we would say "We are getting the girls this weekend" so when he was old enough to talk he would call them his "girls". At 5 he is just know calling them by there names! He still calls them his "girls" but when talking to them he will now at least call by there first name. So when I say my girls you know it's Katie and Kathy!Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06331135727948484193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534781121773460742.post-34588939341588236652008-01-20T06:46:00.000-08:002008-01-20T06:56:19.338-08:00Sleep oversKatie and Kathy are here for the weekend. Yesterday we went to the baby shower for my cousin Sabrina. It was held at the Golden Corral. They loved it. All the desert they could eat.....what kid wouldn't like that!!<br /><br />When I came home I put on supper which was VERY good! I posted the recipe yesterday. I also made black beans and rice with it.<br /><br />Our friend Mickey and her daughter Dannie came over to visit. They live about 40 minutes away in Middleburg. Dannie spent the night with the girls. And then of course my 5 year old nephew had to spend the night also with "the girls".<br /><br />We had grits and eggs this morning for breakfast. YUMM_OH The left overs went to the chickens. They love to feed the chickens. It's so funny to watch children that's not been raised around animals grow to love them.<br /><br />I have to make a run to Sams today. Need to get milk, bread, grits, water and baby formula. I can't wait for Joey to stop having to have formula! It's 20 bucks at Sams for their brand which is much cheaper than anywhere else. I'm so glad he can use it, some babies are too picky on what they can eat. Thankfully not him!!Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06331135727948484193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534781121773460742.post-50888824384348807382008-01-19T01:58:00.000-08:002008-01-19T02:05:03.190-08:00Rainy SaturdayToday it's raining already. It's 5 a.m. and already coming down in sheets. It's also cold, for Florida anyway!!<br /><br />I have lots to do today. I have to get a baby shower gift, go to the baby shower, take Mike to work, get the girls ready and showered for the shower, cook supper and clean the house. I'm already tired just writing that!<br /><br />I'm making Ropa Vieja (old Clothes) the recipe is as follows. I got it off of the following web site!<br /><a href="http://www.daisycooks.com/">http://www.daisycooks.com</a> It is so good!!! Yummy with some black beans and rice or just with rice!<br /><br /> One 2 ¼ to 2 ½ pound chuck roast or two 1 ¼ pound flank steaks 2 teaspoons fine sea or kosher salt, plus more for seasoning the beefFreshly ground pepperOnion powder3 tablespoons canola oil ½ cup Sofrito¼ teaspoon ground cuminTwo 8-ounce cans Spanish-style tomato sauce1 ½ cups water 3 tablespoons alcaparrado or coarsely chopped pimiento-stuffed olives 2 bay leaves4 celery stalks, with leaves, cut into ¼-inch dice 3 medium carrots, trimmed and cut into ¼-inch dice1 cup fresh or frozen green peas <br />1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Pound the chuck roast or flank steaks out with a heavy meat mallet until about ½ inch thick. Season both sides of the beef generously with salt, pepper and onion powder.<br />2. Heat the oil in a large, oven-proof, heavy skillet over high heat until rippling. Add the beef and cook it until well browned on both sides, about 10 minutes.<br />3. Drain or spoon off most of the fat from the pan. Stir in the sofrito, 2 teaspoons salt, and the cumin and bring to a boil. Depending on how much oil was left in the pan, you may have to add a little olive oil to give the mix a nice, creamy texture. Stir in the tomato sauce, water, alcaparrado or olives, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, cover the dish and bake until the meat pulls apart easily with a fork, about 2 ½ hours. Let stand in the sauce until cool enough to handle.<br />4. Shred the meat coarsely by hand or using two forks. Return it to the sauce and add the celery and carrots. Bring to a simmer over low heat and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the peas and cook a few minutes more. Watch the liquid as it cooks, and add more broth of water as needed.Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06331135727948484193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534781121773460742.post-36830563797343127662008-01-15T07:57:00.000-08:002008-01-15T08:06:13.541-08:00MichelleWell just before Michelle's birthday I wrote how it was gonna kill me to see her leave after graduation. Well it came sooner! She told her Dad she was 18 and leaving to move in with her boyfriend. I dearly HATE it but what can you do?? She is 18 and is "grown". I just pray she does finish school.<br /><br />It really hurt Mike as she blamed him for things. But they are not true. I feel if she thought she was grown up enough to leave then she should have just said..."I want to leave because I'm grown" and not be childish and blame others for your desires!<br /><br />Mike has been nothing but good to her and for her to "slap" her father in the face with this is just to much to bear! I have to put it in the back of my brain <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">some days</span> because it really <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">gets</span> to me!<br /><br />But like most parents you just go on knowing you done YOUR very best to raise the child and hope they remember the raising they got!Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06331135727948484193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534781121773460742.post-34669656324617760242008-01-15T07:49:00.000-08:002008-01-15T07:57:03.096-08:00JoeyJoey will be 8 months tomorrow! Man has time flown by. He is pulling up walking around the sofa and end tables. It will not be long and he will be walking! I bought him a new car seat for the school bus. His old one was getting too little . This new seat he sits up higher and can see out the window. He thinks he is the king of the castle. He would not take a nap all afternoon on the P.M. run.<br /><br />My bus attendant, his "bus granny" said he just looked out the window and laughed all afternoon! He was just too excited. It could have been the new car seat or the new bus we have. My bus was ready for the bus grave yard. So we got a new flat nose bus. It is soooo long. All the children was excited to be on the new bus.Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06331135727948484193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534781121773460742.post-32208217832000492962007-12-02T16:00:00.000-08:002007-12-02T16:30:17.670-08:00Time flies!!I've not posted in a while and man does time fly!! We had a nice Thanksgiving. We ate at Mom's. My brother Bubba and his family and my sister Jessica and her family was also there. We had our normal Thanksgiving fare. I made sweet potatoe soufle and also just plain sweet potatoes with butter for Joey. Joey had his first Thansgiving. He ate some dressing, green beans, Sweet potatoes, mac and cheese and cranberry sauce which he of course made a face but continued to finish the whole slice!!<br /><br />I also made a Apple Dump cake. It is so good and so easy.<br /><br />Apple Dump Cake<br />1 yellow cake mix<br />2 cans apple pie filling<br />2 sticks butter, melted<br /><br />Put the apple pie filling in bottom of 13x9 pan. Sprinkle the cake mix over the pie filling. Pour melted butter over cake mix. Put into a preheated 350 oven for 45 minutes.<br /><br />You can also use cherry pie filling. Momma make one end cherry and the other end apple. It's real good in the middle where they kinda run together!<br /><br /><br />Mike's boss Martin and his friend Pat came over later in the afternoon. They were planning to come for dinner but didn't make it. They did get to eat thought.<br /><br />On Friday Momma and I went and did a little shopping. Jessica and I took Joey and William to see Santa. Joey did so good for his first time. He also got to see him a second time today at Walmart. Can't pass up free photos of a cute little baby!!<br /><br />Jason, our son in the Army came home for a couple days. He just finished boot camp in September. He will be going to his post in March of 2008. Looks like Korea. I hate it but better than Iraq! As a soldier he wants Iraq but for a Mother Korea is better!! So this looks like our last Thanksgiving and Christmas with him for a while!<br /><br />I put up the Christmas tree this past week. It looks a little funny because I only put on tons of lights and no ornamets on the bottom 1/3 of the tree. I have mostly glass ornaments so I will not put them on the bottom for Joey to break and hurt himself. Looks kinda funny but you do what you have to!!<br /><br />Nine more days and our oldest daughter Michelle will be 18!! I hate the thought that in 6 months after finishing school she could leave. I want her to stay here and finish college and then leave when she finds Mister Right and marry's........hopefully when she's at least 26!!!! But 30 is better!! Can you say I don't want her to leave!! It's easier with boys but girls you so want to protect them!! I now know what my Daddy and Momma went through!!<br /><br />Hope ya'll have a great week!!!Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06331135727948484193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534781121773460742.post-46391295653179085022007-11-05T07:35:00.000-08:002007-11-05T07:48:24.440-08:00Our WeekendOur family had a busy weekend. We had Katie and Kathy this weekend. On Saturday we went to Jacksonville Beach for the air show. It was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">OK</span>, they have had better. Mike was a little disappointed in the show. We took Michelle, her boyfriend Johnny, Katie, Kathy and William. We asked Momma to baby sit Joey because of the cool weather and the noise level.<br /><br />The kids had a blast in the kids section with free things to do. They jumped in one of the huge blow up toys, made their own dog tags, made paper airplanes, spun wheels to win cool prizes from Adventure landing, went "deep sea" fishing to win cute prizes,and a dolphin toss game. They came home with tons of stuff.<br /><br />I came home sick!! I was not feeling myself all day so when we got home I went to take a nap and ended up sleeping 4 hours!! Woke up with a sore throat...JOY!! I have felt bad since then.<br /><br />On Sunday the kids played outside and rode Williams 4 wheeler with their Uncle Henry. They loved it since they have never done that before. I straightened up a little around the house so it wouldn't look so bad but ended up in the bed for a little nap while Joey sleep.<br /><br /> We took the girls home around 5 pm and I tried to straighten up a little but ended up cooking fried cabbage for supper while Mike cooked pork chops and country-style ribs on the grill. I ate cabbage cleaned the kitchen and went to bed watching The next Iron Chef. I woke as they kicked the loser off. Thankfully it was not chef Michael Simon. I really like his style!Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06331135727948484193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534781121773460742.post-42803170765536021222007-10-31T18:14:00.000-07:002007-10-31T18:27:33.577-07:00Happy HalloweenToday is a fun day! It's Halloween. Some people <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">nowadays</span> think of it as a bad day but we celebrate it like we did growing up.......a day of fun, dress up, and of course getting tons of candy!<br /><br />I made goody bags for the kids on my bus. I have 6 so it's a little easier than if I had a bus full. The kids had parties at school and came back on the bus full of goodies and lots of energy ready to go trick or treating.<br /><br />I dressed Joey for the afternoon run. He had on a cute orange <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">onesie</span> with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">pumpkins</span>, bats and candy corn on it, he had cute <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Orange</span> socks and a orange beanie hat. Yes it was just too cute.<br /><br />My sister Jessica bought him a teddy bear outfit and a pumpkin to go treat or treating with her and William my nephew. He was so cute in his outfit. They had fun and he even got a little bit of candy!<br /><br />When they came strolling up the drive he was fast a sleep but as soon as I picked him up he was ready to go again. William gave him a tootsie roll lollipop and he was trying to eat it so we pulled the wrapper off and gave it to him. He went to town on it. He got most of the outer layer off before we took it and Mike gave him a bath.<br /><br />What fun his first Halloween and first "sucker". Don't you just love all of your babies "first"?Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06331135727948484193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534781121773460742.post-80065316537306278122007-10-29T08:13:00.000-07:002007-10-29T08:34:19.050-07:00Around HomeToday is a work day. I drive a school bus for handicapped children. I love my job. It brings me much enjoyment seeing children grow up and learning new things.<br /><br />I am making a pot of vegetable beef soup today. It's no suppose to get highter than 70 today. Being in Florida and with the dampness from rain that gets' pretty cool. So soup sounds like a good thing.<br /><br />I wish my soup tasted as good as my Granny Fisher's soup tasted. I try and try to make it like her's but it will be almost but not quiet there. It's good and Mike and Michelle love it so that's all that counts!<br /><br />I had a roast that I cut in small pieces. I put them in the crock put to cook then just before going to work this afternoon I'll add a bag of frozen mixed veggies, a frozen bag of whole okra (okree to us) and a can or two of whole tomatoes smushed. salt and pepper always. And when I eat it a just shake of hot sauce......Yummy. I think I make some yeast rolls to go along or maybe corn bread. I'll decide that on my afternoon route.Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06331135727948484193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534781121773460742.post-80760721919230461422007-10-28T18:39:00.000-07:002007-10-29T08:29:37.153-07:00Pumpkin carving dayOctober 28, 2007<br /><br />Mom brought home a lot of cucumbers and bell peppers yesterday. Today most of Momma's sisters came and got what they wanted. Momma gave me and my sister the rest. I took mine and washed, cleaned and chopped them up. I put them in the freezer for use in soup and sauces. I love free produce. We seldom get any but when we do we sure appreciate it. My great uncle goes to the packing house and gets culled veggies. They are free which is nice.<br /><br />Michelle and her boyfriend Johnathan carved her pumpkin tonight. They were so funny doing it, putting seeds on each other, smelling the pumpkin and saying how good it smelled! Yuck!!<br /><br />I took a shower while they did the carving and she came in to tell me how she carved the pumpkin to look like her baby brother Joey. It's so cute, it has his 3 bottom teeth. She wrote on the side Joey's first Halloween!!Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06331135727948484193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534781121773460742.post-26024547081081784192007-10-27T08:41:00.000-07:002007-10-27T08:59:01.607-07:00October 27, 2007<br /><br />Welcome to my First entry in our blog. Our place is called Daddy's dream because my father purchased this place in 1970 hoping to have a better place for us. My parents cleared 4 acres by hand. They then purchased a old Jim Walter home that had never been finished on the inside and moved it here.<br />Daddy finished the house as they could afford. It was small but it was home.<br /><br />My grandfather Fisher stayed with us during the week. He loved to garden and he hand dug about a half acre garden area. He gardened mostly by himself. I can still see the gardens in my head. Oh how I wished I could garden like him.<br /><br />Daddy and Momma always had animals, Growing up we had horses, cows, hogs, rabitts and chickens. My husband Mike and have chickens and a hog we call "big momma".<br /><br />Daddy past ways this past February. I only pray that my sister,brother and I can keep Daddy and Momma's dream alive.Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06331135727948484193noreply@blogger.com0