Martha's Place

Apricot Fried Pies

2011-10-21T21:25:00.000-04:00

Fried pies is a Southern tradition that is one of my favorite! That flaky crust - the not too sweet filling - cooked perfectly...so not too greasy is an art. I've combined recipes/methods from my Grandmother, my Mother and my Mother-in-Law to come up with a good one. Hope you will try it and enjoy!

Ingredients:

4 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons salt
1 cup Crisco shortening
1 cup milk (whole or 2%)
14 oz.dried apricots
3/4 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

peanut oil for frying

Directions:
Filling: Cook apricots and sugar in a medium saucepan. They wil expand when cooked! Add enough water to cover the fruit and cook over low heat until the fruit is tender and falling apart. When done, add cinnamon and mash fruit with a fork. Continue to cook until thick and all water is absorbed.
At this point you may chill the fruit and finish the pies another day. It actually cooks better when the fruit is cool.
Crust: In a large bowl, mix the flour and salt. Cut in shortening with a pastry knife until it is crumbly and resembles coarse meal. Mix in the milk and stir (I use my hands) until dough forms a ball. Divide dough into two equal parts, then four, then six.....on until you have 16 balls of dough. Roll each ball into a 6 inch circle...I use a 6 inch saucer to "cut" the circle. Go ahead and cut all the circles before you start the cooking process.

Preparing: Place less than 1/4 cup of filling in the center of each pie. Fold over and seal edges with a fork that you dip in water. Only prepare two at a time! You don't want them to sit with the filling in them before they are cooked...the pastry will get wet.

Cooking: Using a 9 inch skillet, add 1/2 to 3/4 inch of oil and heat on medium-high.....just until oil is hot, but not smoking! Place pies - two at a time in the hot oil. You may need to turn the heat down to medium. Fry until brown on one side, then flip. It doesn't take long, Remove and place on paper towels to absorb the oil. Stack pies and continue until all is cooked. I always completely change the oil after cooking 6 pies and wipe out the skillet with paper towels to prevent burned oil.

Camping in Texas!

2011-06-21T00:06:00.000-04:00

The entrance to Possum Kingdom...lots of fire damage everwhere

Will wanted us all to go on a camping trip in Texas...so off we went to Possum Kingdom Lake State Park. Bernadette had tried to find a lake with cabins that would hold all 8 of us, but nothing was available in the entire state of Texas! She found this and we all agreed to give it a try. Yes, we were well aware that just a month before our visit, there had been four wildfires around and south of Possum Kingdom Reservoir that had burned about 150,000 acres and destroyed at least 149 homes. The Park assured us that the toilets were now working and the cabins were fine.....you may smell a little smoke, but everything is OK....oh...and you have to bring all the water you will use...the water there is non potable!
We loaded up and headed west...Michael and Sarah joined us on Sunday evening for an overnight and day visit. What a great time of reconnecting we had! It was HOT, the cabin was.....well...not the Ritz, but we could not have been happier!
As you can see by our pictures - we played, we ate, we boated, we ate smores, we all bunked in together, and we had a great time.
This may just become an annual HeltonTexas event!

Sweet Jimmy....he was HOT!

So many beautiful homes on the Lake! Several were burned.

Jimmy the fish

tired little boy

Will being Will! He rode the tube the longest!

Jimmy passed out!

Nap time for Will after the morning on the boat

Popcicles

Boo Boo......Jimmy fell out of his chair onto the gravel :(

Jaxon and Jimmy loved watching this crane catch fish!

My Guys!

Bern chilaxin!

Jimmy (not even 2 at the time) leaps off the boat into the lake.....many, many times....fearless! AKA Jimmy the Fish!

Happy Father's Day

2011-06-18T17:27:00.003-04:00

Paul Helton

My Dad, Hurtle Thurmon

Granddaddy Thurmon

Granddaddy Ligon

Repeated from 2009......

Happy Father's Day!

I have been influenced in my life by many "Fathers"......

My Dad has a strong personality that is sometime good and sometime not so good. He taught....and continues to teach me valuable lessons in life. I appreciate him for providing for me and for always encouraging me to be a strong, independent woman.
My Grandfathers were two very fine men. One who made mistakes and paid dearly for them. After having 12 children, he divorced my Grandmother for another woman! This was in the 40's when that was very taboo. Lots and lots of stories here, but I loved this old man dearly.

My Mother's father was quite different.... he was one of the finest men to ever walk this earth. He was kind, generous, loving to his family and a good provider. He was a gentle, sweet person. I can't find enough adjectives to praise Granddaddy Ligon

The Father in my life who has been the strongest influence to me is my dear husband, Paul. He is without a doubt the best "Dad" ever. I thank God for putting us together.

"The greatest gift I ever had Came from God, and I call him Dad!"~~Author Unknown.

Yes....there is an Easter Parade on 5th Avenue!

2011-04-27T21:21:00.002-04:00

In your easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it,

You'll be the grandest lady in the easter parade.

I'll be all in clover and when they look you over,

I'll be the proudest fellow in the easter parade.

On the avenue, fifth avenue, the photographers will snap us,

And you'll find that you're in the rotogravure.

Oh, I could write a sonnet about your easter bonnet,

And of the girl I'm taking to the easter parade

Paul and I spent Easter in NYC and enjoyed the "real" Easter Parade on 5th Avenue. I took hundreds of photos, but these just stood out! Yes, I took these pictures and people were happy to pose!

THE LOVELY........

THE BIZAARE.......

It's High Time!

2011-01-31T16:52:00.000-05:00

Yes....it is high time that I update my blog. My last update was for Dozier's birthday and lots have been going on since that!

Christmas was in Texas as usual this year. It is wonderful to be in the warmth of Texas to celebrate the birth of our Savior with my precious boys and their families. Jaxon was very sick with a viral infection that was really close to the flu. We ended up staying at HeltonTexas most of the time to help with him. He HAS to sleep with Grandmama and GaGa!

Michael and Sarah spent a couple of nights with us there....we loved that - especially since they only live a few miles down the road. It is so special to wake up Christmas morning with my "nest" all together!

We were greeted at the airport by the HeltonTexas crew!
Even tho we had a rental car - they couldn't wait to see us!!

Jaxon was so sick..

December 28 is Jaxon's birthday - so we had a big "Hershey's Chocolate" birthday party! We shipped all the chocolate we could from Hershey to make the party perfect!

Back to PA on January 2nd....EARLY morning flight from DFW. Mr. H almost missed the plane (I was already on)..due to long lines at check in, baggage drop and security! Seriously it was unbelievable! We had a 5:40 AM flight and arrived at the airport at 4:30...you'd think that would be plenty of time....NOPE! He did get on the flight....last one one.

Since returning we have been COLD....it snows almost every day....snows a lot and stays put! We are covered in snow! I am so ready for a trip to the warmth of the south. Michael and Sarah will be here on the 17th and we can hardly wait! We're gonna have a great time!

Here are a few pictures ....

Jaxon and Grandmama enjoyed making some Christmas Eve crafts!

Jimmy trying to decide if he wanted to eat the Gingerbread Man

Love all my boys!

Grandmama, GaGa, Jaxon and Jimmy

Sweetest boys!!

Sarah and Michael opening presents...

Santa brought a bicycle for Jaxon!

GaGa enjoying Christmas Dinner

Michael and Sarah at dinner

Jimmy and Dada like the "Roast Beast"!

My Sweet Michael

My famous fudge....See's fudge recipe from my Aunt Angela
I make part peanut butter - part chocolate - part swirl!!

My wonderful Daughters-in-law...Great Cooks!

Here we are!

Jaxon had not eaten for days.....until this!!!

Herb Roasted Beef Tenderloin w/red wine reduction
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Italian Green Bean Bundles
Stained Glass Salad

Boxing Day dinner at La Hacienda Ranch...Mexican!!

Shopping the day after Christmas

Jaxon's FAVORITE thing...Baby Deer from Grandmama & Gaga!

Love those nuggets....

then to Dave and Busters for some serious playtime!

Fun times....

Fun Air Hockey with Dada!

Helton family in Chocolate!

Michael's guitar "center"...He is sooo talented and has some very cool guitars!

Cafe' Brazil...my FAVORITE breakfast place! This is French Toast with Fruit...I get it everytime!

The last beautiful Texas sunset of 2010!!

New Years Day Football Watchin.....

Christmas Eve present from us....as GARAGE!

Everyone got a Sugar Bowl shirt...

HeltonTexas!

My necklace from all my sweet children!

I took this picture just as we left Dallas...morning was breaking and the moon was beautiful!

Welcome to Pennsylvania!

My pretty little blue spruce that Jaxon and Jimmy gave us..

Happy Birthday Dozier!

2010-12-19T22:17:00.000-05:00

Happy 8th Birthday, Dozier

The Sweetest Place on Earth!

2010-12-18T22:51:00.000-05:00

What a sweet place it is! We live an hour from this incredible place - so today Mr. H and I made the trip...again to load up on the confections for our visit to Texas this week. Jaxon is having a Hershey's Chocolate Birthday Party on the 28th..so we loaded up on supplies for the big event!

Yes - Even the street lights are Hershey's Kisses

Christmas is incredible there! They have a Hershey's Santa House....and they do it like no one else can! Here are some pics that you'll enjoy......go grab a kiss, or a Hershey bar....or some hot cocoa....you'll need it!
Oh yes....I almost forgot - the guy at the bottom here almost got a big hug from me.....HE LOOKED SO MUCH LIKE MY MICHAEL!

Merry Christmas!

Amalgamation Cake and Boiled Custard

2010-12-03T23:19:00.000-05:00

Here are a couple of requested recipes for my Lake County, Tennessee friends.   You see, where I come from this is a Christmas tradition.   My Grandmother, Mrs. Otie Ligon, made her cakes the week after Thanksgiving to allow time for them to "set". She would wrap them in a clean tea towel that was sometime soaked in Grandaddy's Tennessee Jack Daniel's whisky. The cotton gin always gave them a big magnum of the whiskey for Christmas - that was the only time I ever saw liquor in their home.

Back to the cakes.....you see the women in Lake County always made these cakes for the holidays - and no two women made them the same...each trying to "outdo" the other with the best cake!   Some added apples, put an apple beside them in the cooler to keep them moist, cinnamon, no cinnamon, salt or no salt, the differences are as many as there were women in Lake County....

Once the cakes were made and wrapped tightly in "foil paper"...they were set on the back porch or somewhere to keep them cool.   The fresh coconut will spoil if not kept cool!

Grandmother always shipped her brothers a cake...or usually 1/2 of a cake.   I remember that she sent one to my Uncle Sonny who was stationed in Italy during WWII.

When I was young I did not like them at all....it is an acquired taste.

Paul's Mother, like my Grandmother and later on with help from my Mother, would make several two or three layer cakes....a HUGE job!

Don't even try to make one in a day....it takes a day of prep just to get ready for baking day!

Amalgamation Cake (Lake County Style)

4 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 cups sugar

1 tablespoon ground Nutmeg

1 tablespoon ground Allspice

1 tablespoon ground Cloves

½ teaspoon ground Cinnamon

¼ teaspoon salt

1 ½ cups “real” butter (room temperature)

2 cups buttermilk

6 large eggs

1 pint seedless blackberry jam

1 cup ground dark raisins ( I use the blade in my Cuisinart to do this – process until raisins make a ball in bowl in the food processor)

Icing

8 egg yolks

4 cups sugar

2 heaping tablespoons all purpose flour

1 cup “real” butter

2 ½ cups evaporated milk

4 cups ground raisins

4 cups freshly grated coconut (this is the hard part – if you must you may use frozen shredded)

2 cups chopped pecans

Cake Directions:

Cream butter and sugar, add eggs. Mix all dry ingredients, then add alternately with buttermilk. Add jam and raisins, beat until well mixed.

Divide equally between (3) 9” square baking pans that have been treated with “Pam”..(you may use round pans)

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 – 40 minutes until springs back in center.

Let cool for 30 minutes before icing!

THIS RECIPE MAKES 3 LAYERS – THE ICING RECIPE MAKES ENOUGH FOR 6 LAYERS…I MAKE THREE TWO LAYER CAKES WITH THIS – I DOUBLE THE CAKE RECIPE

Icing Directions:

In an extra large saucepan – combine flour and sugar. Add evaporated milk, slightly beaten egg yolks, and butter. Stirring constantly over low heat…bring to boil. Add raisins, pecans, and coconut to mixture. Remove from heat and beat until thick and creamy.

Allow icing to cool for several minutes before putting on cake.

After icing – wrap cake in waxed paper and then foil…refrigerate.

Homemade Boiled Custard

1 gallon sweet milk

8 eggs separate

1/2 cup flour

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups sugar

dash salt

Beat egg whites and add ½ cup sugar.

Beat 1 ½ cup sugar in to egg yolks.

Bring milk to heat just before boiling (coats a spoon)

Add ¼ cup of hot milk to egg yolks then add egg yolks to milk

Add egg whites, vanilla and salt

Beat with wooden spoon until thick and creamy.

Refrigerate

*add Bourbon Whiskey if desired to each serving

Turkey Time!

2010-11-20T02:11:00.000-05:00

I have so many call and ask me for help with the Turkey and Dressing that I have decided to blog about it. Hope this information gives you comfort and confidence as you prepare your feast! Mr. H and I are going to NYC for Thanksgiving weekend - dinner will be at Ruth's Chris...they actually do have a wonderful traditional Thanksgiving feast at a reasonable price - so after the parade we will dine there...and there will be NO DISHES or cleanup to do!!
This picture is actually from 2008 (I think)!

Homemade Dressing w/Giblet Gravy
(I certainly don't claim to be the only person who makes dressing like this - actually the credit is to every good Southern cook.....Big Mama's and my Grandmother Ligon's was very much like this.)

• Bake 1 skillet buttermilk cornbread (NOT JIFFY) – you can find frozen cornbread now. Make it thick!

I use white-self-rising cornmeal mix (Martha White is best) -- follow the baking instructions on the package.

• Bake homemade biscuits ( frozen ones are fine – you will need about 8 - 12 of them.) Not rolls and not bread - I think they make a "mushy" dressing.

• Allow the breads to cool (may make a week ahead). Place cornbread and biscuits in food processor (or crumble finely by hand). You need to have about 2/3 cornbread, 1/3 biscuit proportion.

• Place crumbs in LARGE bowl.

• Add 1 large onion and 3 or 4 stalks celery that have been processed in food processor until finely chopped – this is about 1 cup onion and 1 cup celery.

• Add 4 heaping Tablespoons canned rubbed sage. If using fresh sage use less. (You may want more or less depending on taste.) Add 1 teaspoon black pepper. You will not add salt until after the broth is added – It can be too salty.

• Stir all this together and let sit awhile before adding liquid.

• Add liquid *(chicken stock or broth) to mixture a quart at a time stirring well between additions. You will add more liquid as needed. The mixture needs to be “sloppy”. – allow time to sit and absorb liquid.

• Add 8 whole eggs – slightly beaten.

• Adjust salt, sage to taste

• Bake in a 9”X13”pan that has been lightly greased (or sprayed) You may have more - so just use another baking dish.

• Cook at 375 degrees until golden brown – probably 35 – 45 minutes

• Serve w/ giblet gravy

Giblet Gravy

I prefer to buy a nice size whole chicken to cook for my stock. Place rinsed chicken in a stockpot filled with water. Be sure to remove any giblets from neck and body cavity. Rinse these pieces – neck, liver, gizzard, etc. and add them to the pot. Add one onion that you have peeled and quartered as well as 2 or three stalks of celery cut in thirds. Add salt, pepper and a little parsley – bring to boil, then turn down and simmer until giblets are tender and chicken is beginning to fall off the bone. Cool.

• Remove chicken from pot – pull meat from bones and reserve – save the dark meat and some of the white meat to add to gravy. Cut up gizzard, liver, neck meat for gravy. (make chicken salad from the rest!)

• Strain remaining liquid to remove any bones, skin, etc.

• *This hot stock is what you will add to your dressing.

• Reserve at least 1 ½ quarts of the stock –

• In smaller sauce pan – add stock, chopped chicken you have reserved alone with some of the celery, onion from the stock pot.

• Mix 2 tablespoons flour with 1 cup cold water – blend until smooth. Add this to stock

• Bring to boil – add two eggs – one at a time. These are uncooked eggs that will “poach” when placed in the boiling broth. DO NOT STIR. When the eggs are fully cooked you may cut them up some.

• You may need to adjust seasoning and thickness. If gravy is too thin – repeat the thickening process – adding a little at a time. If it is too thick – add some water.

• ENJOY – CALL ME IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.
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PERFECT ROAST TURKEY
Martha Stewart

1 20-21 pound fresh or freshly thawed turkey (giblets and neck removed and reserved)
1 1/2 (3 sticks) unsalted butter - plus 1/2 stick to rub on bird
1 750 ml bottle dry white wine
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons freshly gound pepper

Rinse turkey with cool water and dry with paper towels. Let stand at room temperature for two hours.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees, with rack in lowest position. Stir together melted butter and wine in a meduim bowl. Fold a large piece of cheesecloth into quarters so that it is large enough to cover the breast and halfway down the sides of the turkey. Immerse cloth in butter mixture; let soak.
Place turkey, breast side up on a rack set in a heavy roasting pan. If the turkey comes with a pop up timer, remove it.
Fold the wing tips under. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper inside the turkey. Tie legs together loosly with kitchen twine. Fold neck flap under; secure with toothpicks if necessary. Rub turkey all over with softened butter; season with salt and pepper.
Remove cheesecloth from butter mixture, squeezing lightly into bowl. Reserve butter and wine mixture for basting. Lay the cheesecloth over turkey. Place turkey - legs first - in oven. Cook for 30 minutes. Brush cheesecloth and exposed turkey with butter/wine mixture. Reduce temperature to 350 degrees, cook - basting every 30 minutes for 2 1/2 hours more...cover with foil if browning too quickly.

After this third hour of cooking, discard cheesecloth, rotate pan. Baste turkey with pan juices. Roast , rotating pan half way through, until the skin is golden brown and a meat thermometer reads 180 in the thickest part of the thigh (about 1 more hour). Transfer to platter.

One Year Ago.....

2010-11-03T15:47:00.000-04:00

It was a beautiful November day - I was waiting to board my flight to Memphis when I received the call from June. "She's gone"...... my response was "Are you sure?".....looking back, that was such a dumb thing to say - are you sure....like they were not SURE! I guess you never know what you say in times like that.

Since that moment, my life has never been the same. A day doesn't pass that I don't think of her. This just wasn't the way I expected her life to end! Not an invalid - sick - unable to breath - completely helpless.....I would have thought any number of possibilities, but not that!

I still think of adjectives that describe her
Kind
Sweet
Generous
Dependable
Fun
Silly
Country
Loving
did I say Funny?...she could be soooo funny....oh, my the things she would say!

Maybe this year will be easier - all those "firsts" have now passed. My memories of my Mama will never pass, nor will they fade ..... I keep them close to my heart....close to my soul.

Giant Mother Garage Spider

2010-07-31T16:40:00.000-04:00

Yet another horrible Mother of the Year spider.....I hate these things..but I love this guy!
I have no idea who he is...but I share his pain.

Will and Bern have these same spiders......My solution....RAID!

Giant Garage Spider

2010-07-31T16:33:00.000-04:00

I love this video...makes me jump off the seat!

Bern and Will...I think this is your spider - Texas Wolf Spider!

Happy 8th Anniversary Will and Bernadette

2010-07-26T20:53:00.001-04:00

Clowning Around On Jimmy's First Birthday!

2010-06-19T14:01:00.000-04:00

Sweet Jimmy turned ONE year old on June 9th! Will turned 30 on June 13th...so a joint party was enjoyed on Sunday afternoon, June 13th at HeltonTexas!

Lots of children and adults enjoyed all that you can imagine to do on this special day!

Enjoy these pictures from the event...but DON'T MISS THE LAST ONE!...story to follow......

Look closely in front of the clown's foot.....yes it is a BIG gun!!!!!!! She was packing some major heat at this birthday party for a one year old! It fell out of her dress while she dancing!!! The children saw it - she then quickly put her foot on it then picked it up..
Needless to say we are all still shocked over this irresponsible action! She was paid a lot of money - we are asking for it back......ya think??????
Thank you, God for protecting us all from this idiot! I guess even clowns in Texas carry a gun!

40th High School Reunion

2010-05-19T22:59:00.001-04:00

I just got back to Pennsylvania from Tennessee and my 40 Year Class Reunion.
What a great time visiting with my wonderful friends from high school. From our small class of around 80, there are 25 or so of us who are still very close. We walked the halls of LCHS and the memories rushed thru my head. There were so many stories - some I'd heard a million times and a few that I'd not heard before!
One of my favorites was the day that our morning began with the playing of "God Save The Queen".....because of a mischevious friend who flipped the record from "God Bless America"! Our school secretary was so upset that she cried! I thought it was hillarious at the time - as did just about everyone else.

40 years ago is a long time! Lots have changed since 1970....I love the old stories - they are the threads that bind us together. What a remarkable group of extraodinary people!

Missing Mother

2010-05-05T16:32:00.000-04:00

My dearest sister, June, sent this to me this morning in an e-mail. It expresses my thoughts and feelings exactly. I had to repost this for Mother's Day.
I'm going "home" ... really "home" next weekend. My high school class is having it's 40 year reunion.... I love all my "old" friends. When I am with my "clique" as Paul calls them....I feel like I'm brought back down to the reality of where I came from. They all knew and loved my Mother. They are my "heart" family.
This will be my first trip back home since Mother died on November 3rd. Bittersweet memories will consume me. I dread the emptiness of home and the sadness that has overcome Daddy. I dread going to the cemetery and seeing the memorial that bears her name. June and I will go to the library to see the books that have been donated in her memory. I could go on and on, but June said it all best.................

So far, day 3 of this Mother’s Day week…….I can’t shake this empty feeling and just miss mama so much. “They” say the first one is the hardest. Yes, it’s not easy at all……….I stay teary eyed and with a knot in my throat most all day.
We should have been on the phone already deciding whether we were all gonna go in together to buy mama one big gift or if we are going to do individual gifts for her Sunday……..Yesterday while I was shopping for myself, I was overwhelmed with the emptiness and sadness of not buying mother a gift.
Everywhere I looked I could see something she would like. She was so easy to buy for cause she loved just about anything. And always made a big deal out of it…..

Her funny expressions, her silly jokes, the happy look on her face when we’d walk in the back door. Always wanting to go riding around or to the dollar store to just piddle around. There’s just so many things I miss about her, I can’t even begin to put them all down.
Just being at the house when we go in…..so strange and so empty with her not there.

Anyway, this Mother’s Day……we’ll go visit her at New Haven, put fresh artificial flowers on her grave. Sit and talk to a granite head stone, rub my hand across her name and when I leave bend down and kiss it goodbye…….

And so, life goes on without mama on this earth…… but one thing for sure she sure left her mark on our heart.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom……………

I love Skype!

2010-02-22T16:07:00.000-05:00

We had the best video call with Will and Jaxon yesterday morning! Here he was showing us him "muscles".

Will's been sick with a terrible sinus/congestion, etc. ..... as have both the little boys. Jimmy was napping at the time, so he couldn't talk to us. Whether it be Skype, Logitec Vid, Messenger or whatever your choice of video calls is....give it try! It's FREE!
Regardless of the cost......visiting with HeltonTexas live with video anytime......priceless!

Winter in PA

2010-02-11T22:43:00.000-05:00

It wasn't finished yet....

Blurry....but it was cold!

18 - 20 inches of fresh snow

Lowe's parking lot...tons of snow!

Gotta feed the birds...

Dozier has fun...

Insane amount of snow....

Mr. H at Ski School....

This is my front door...it was so pretty...can't really see the snow on the wreath in this pic.

During the big blizzard of 10!

Rolling on I-81

2010-02-07T17:01:00.001-05:00

WHAT A MORNING....
Mr. H and I had been to the local Cracker Barrel for breakfast and were driving down I-81 headed north just outside of Hazleton. We've had a lot of snow recently, but the roads appeared to be clear. The car in front of us began to spin out of control and flipped over .... we stopped to see if we could help. People were still in the car..car was smoking...wheels were turning... panic was everywhere! We helped them all we could by getting the children and mom in our warm car while all the details were worked out. No one was hurt other that minor cuts and scratches. Their Volvo was upside down. We prayed.

Firemen, ambulance, State Police, wrecker....you name it .....was on the scene. I had called 911. Then just in a blink.....here comes another car flipping and rolling toward the exact spot! This time an elderly man was alone in his car when he hit the "black ice"...and it sent him to the exact spot! Emergency personnel scattered! This gentleman had to have assistance from the firemen to be removed from his car. He was transported by ambulance with a head injury.

So......we drove s l o w l y back home!

Be careful out there, folks! Even when the road looks clear, it may be very slick.....slow down!!

Two Thousand Ten.....Seriously?

2010-01-03T23:33:00.001-05:00

Being a child of the 50's....this sounds totally like a Space Odyssey..."In the Year 2010"!
2009 was quite a year for me....Michael and Sarah were married on March 7.....James Andrew, "Jimmy" was born June 8.....I traveled back and forth to DFW so many times that I seriously lost count. My year was great until November 3 when I lost my Mother. That still seems so odd to say those words....lots of healing left to do. I miss her so much.
Here are some of my favorite pictures from the year....enjoy!

New Baby Jimmy

In DC..beautiful balls resting on the shrubs...like bubbles!

April....DC...Cherry Blossom Festival

At HeltonTexas in February...

Snowy Autumn in PA

My precious Mama in April

Flowers from Mama's funeral.....

Shannon taking shots of Jimmy in the leaves....

Jaxon at Mama's gravesite

Daddy actually holding Jimmy! This was a rare shot!!

Paul's Mother holding Jimmy.....

Will at Don Ashton's "highway memorial" in Kansas....lovely crosses for Don and Jake Valek made by Jake's high school class.
We went there in November.

Grandad and Jaxon getting Jimmy kisses......

Some Grandad time in August......

Most adorable picture.....

This....is an angel!

Shot of the old Ridgely water tower "The Tin Man" it was called....the next month it was torn down. I took this in September .... had no idea it would be gone soon!

My high school reunion in September....great old friends

Greatest kiss......

My precious Conway friends at Michael and Sarah's shower....

The handsome couple!

Just about the best picture ever.....I love my friends, the Wrens, but the precious girls...Whitney and Katie behind them stole the shot!

My sweet boys in Dallas....

...."these streets will make you feel brand new...Big lights will inspire you.... " Christmas in NYC.... Incredible!

2009-12-14T00:06:00.000-05:00

Mr. H and I enjoyed seeing NYC "all dressed up" for the holidays! It is amazing to experience it all.

We loved meeting Laura Lee and Julianne Ward....sweet friends we've known since they were BORN! We had lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square...then we went our separate ways.....great visit!

The city is more beautiful each year ....I didn't take many pictures this year, but this will give you an idea of the splendor....AND THE CROWDS! Not for the faint of heart!!

Windows at Macy's

I just buried my Mama.....

2009-11-14T22:50:00.001-05:00

I lost my Mama on November 3.....the saddest day of my life.
It felt like I was floating above all the activities last week.....that I wasn't really there. That I was just having a bad dream and would wake soon.....not to happen.
Mama was 86 years old and sick. She had COPD....a terrible condition that sucks the breath out of you. Years of smoking and living in a dusty, chemical filled farm town will do that to you. I can remember her holding the flag while the crop dusters spewed their toxic poision over the fields...she would mark the rows for the pilot. She often suffered with pleurisy (inflammation of the pleural lining around the lung). Several years ago she had half of a lung removed due to hemoptysis from bronchiectasis ( a condition that causes your airways to become damaged so bad they can not carry air in and out of your lungs). She lived a long full life in spite of the condition that caused her much discomfort. The last year her health rapidly declined. She went from being my precious, fun loving mother - to being attached to an oxygen machine and deteriorating before our eyes. My last visit was the end of September...she didn't know who I was...BUT SHE DID TELL ME THAT SHE HAD A DAUGHTER NAMED MARTHA, TOO....HER DAUGHTER WAS MISS TENNESSEE!!! I love that she though I was beautiful!
Mama was beautiful. Pictures of her in her youth are stunning. She and my Dad have been married 66 years this past June. Their marriage brought three daughters...my oldest sister, Pat...then June..finally ME! They had the kind of marriage that you just don't find anymore...a true commitment to each other. Don't get me wrong...thier marriage was FAR from fairytale! They each had plenty of reasons to WALK...several times! They each had issues that were not pretty...but they were committed to the marriage and it lasted the test of time....I am so thankful for that.
Mother was generous to a fault! She would give anyone the clothes off her back....she always slipped me a few dollars when I went home..and loved being able to pay for everything when we were out together.
She loved her Grandchildren so much.....Will and Michael received a shoebox full of candy EVERY HALLOWEEN until they finished COLLEGE!!! Yes, she would buy candy and box it up..Daddy would take it and mail it! They loved it so much!
I loved my Mama.....I am thankful for all the years we had.....I look forward to our wonderful reunion....when the roll is called up yonder.

Snowing already????

2009-10-16T18:02:00.000-04:00

Yep...it's snowing already in Northeastern Pennsylvania! Snowed all day yesterday and most of today....totalled about 7 inches or so here. Our temps are in the low 30's so some of it has melted. It is beautiful to see that first snowfall, but SERIOUSLY...NOT IN MID OCTOBER! I want my beautiful autumn leaves and crisp weather back...not ready for winter......time to book a trip South!

Dozier sticks his head through the deck to look at the snow!

Our beautiful fall leaves are heavy with snow

Frozen treats for the hummingbirds....

when it first started....

Leaf Peepin in the Catskills..Woodstock 40 years later

2009-10-14T23:06:00.002-04:00

Bethel Woods Center for the Performing Arts is the former Woodstock Concert site

Here I am..right in the center of the place where it all happened in 1969! The gravel area just behind me is where the stage was...

Max Yasger's farm

Woodstock Harvest Festival

Still at Woodstock....lovin this VW

totally cool arts and crafts

Scarecrow of Duke...the original Woodstock interpreter...I met him and talked for awhile...he told me the greatest story about the time Roger Clinton (Prez's brother)...came up to Woodstock in a limo....when he got out, he asked Duke just what was that chicken doing sitting on the end of the guitar in the posters....Duke told him it was a peace dove..not a chicken......Roger said, "In Arkansas...we call them chickens"....

cool yard art at Woodstock

the pond where the kids bathed...and skinny dipped!

beautiful Bethel, NY

this is the monument that was placed at the original festival site

Here I am

and here's Mr. H.

checking out the monument

40 years later......

Beautiful Catskill Mountains

Keith Urban truck passed us...

Sweet Memories of Fun Times...

2009-09-13T22:11:00.000-04:00

HeltonTexas visits HeltonPA!

2009-08-24T12:11:00.003-04:00

Happy 7th Anniversary Will and Bern

2009-07-27T13:34:00.002-04:00

There's a Bear in our woods!

2009-07-10T21:25:00.006-04:00

Mr. H was walking Dozier this afternoon ... they were over on the golf course behind our house... look what was standing there! We believe he easily weighed 500-600 lbs. They followed him for awhile, the I came in the car (I'm not crazy) and we followed him more. He was huge....Dozier was freaking out!!!!! Ahhhh....so is life in Eagle Rock, PA.

July 4th in Eagle Rock, PA

2009-07-04T21:37:00.006-04:00

Mom and Dad's 66th Anniversary .. June 26

2009-06-25T12:46:00.001-04:00

66th Wedding Anniversary

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-21T16:51:00.006-04:00

Happy Father's Day!
I have been influenced in my life by many "Fathers"......
My Dad has a strong personality that is sometime good and sometime not so good. He taught....and continues to teach me valuable lessons in life. I appreciate him for providing for me and for always encouraging me to be a strong, independent woman.

My Grandfathers were two very fine men. One who made mistakes and paid dearly for them. After having 12 children, he divorced my Grandmother for another woman! This was in the 40's when that was very taboo. Lots and lots of stories here, but I loved this old man dearly.
My Mother's father was quite different.... he was one of the finest men to ever walk this earth. He was kind, generous, loving to his family and a good provider. He was a gentle, sweet person. I can't find enough adjectives to praise Granddaddy Ligon

The Father in my life who has been the strongest influence to me is my dear husband, Paul. He is without a doubt the best "Dad" ever. I thank God for putting us together.

"The greatest gift I ever had Came from God, and I call him Dad!"~~Author Unknown.

Michael & sarah

2009-06-18T20:35:00.000-04:00

Sweet jimmy

2009-06-18T00:18:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday, Will!

2009-06-13T00:23:00.009-04:00

Today, June 13th is my son, Will's 29th birthday! Happy Birthday, Will! I am so proud of all your accomplishments....you are constantly amazing me. It has been such a blessing to be here at HeltonTexas to be a part of your second son, Jimmy's birth this week. You have so much ahead of you! Here's a few pictures to share with all my friends...to show just what a joy you have been to our lives.

Will - one day old

leaving for hospital in Jackson, TN...my sweet boy

Daddy with Will

Beautiful 9lbs. 12.5oz......21.5 inches long

A little skin shot!

Mom leaving for hospital to have Michael

Beach visit before Michael's birth

Will's first birthday

Mowing the lawn at our home in Florida

Kindergarten

1st grade

2nd grade
3rd grade
4th grade
5th grade
6th grade
7th grade
8th grade
9th grade

10th grade
11th grade
12th grade

and now James Andrew Helton....see below!

Precious Little Family....

2009-06-12T14:59:00.003-04:00

Yep....he really is going home with you, Jaxon!

Jaxon's thinking......so he is going home with us???

The Tahoe is packed!

Snug as a bug....in his carseat!

Family pictures before leaving the hospital

New Family!

2009-06-10T18:51:00.002-04:00

More Pictures!

2009-06-09T12:01:00.003-04:00

PICTURES

2009-06-09T11:53:00.002-04:00

Beautiful Boy

2009-06-09T11:41:00.002-04:00

James Andrew "Jimmy" Helton
Born 10:18 AM
June 9, 2009
Weight - 8lbs. 5oz.
Length - 20.5 in.

Jimmy is BLONDE! He even has blonde eyelashes!
His color is beautiful.....
Bern is nursing him now...we have all had a look!
She had a very easy time delivering.

it IS a boy!!!!

2009-06-09T11:21:00.002-04:00

James Andrew "Jimmy" Helton was born at 10:18

10 and pushing!

2009-06-09T11:08:00.000-04:00

Will called....she is 10 cm and PUSHING!

Holy Cow....She is at 8 cm already!!

2009-06-09T10:53:00.001-04:00

Will just came out and told us that she is already dialated to 8 cm! I expect to see Jimmy really, really soon! OMG!
Mr. H, Jaxon, Michael, Susan (Bern's friend) and Will are back with her. Things are happening!

A few pictures to entertain you.....

2009-06-09T10:41:00.003-04:00

Blogging in L & D....

2009-06-09T10:13:00.002-04:00

HeltonTexas is growing....TODAY!

2009-06-09T09:54:00.002-04:00

Here we are at Plano Presby Hospital....now called Texas Health Resources/Plano Presby....same place Jaxon was born .... awaiting the arrival of James Andrew Helton "Jimmy".

Will and Bern left home at 5 AM....
Here's her latest blog comments...yes SHE IS BLOGGING FROM L&D! She told me she is ready for me to take it over!

"My dr came in about 7:15 to break my water then he said I was dialated to 5 already so I got the epidural.So now, life is good. I am just chilling out after that and might take a nap. I can't feel the contractions at all.I probably won't post anymore so you can watch Martha's blog for updates and pictures.Thank you to everyone who is praying for and thinking about us today.Much love.Bern"
We woke up this morning at 3:45 and they told me to get here a little before 5 am. I was awake at least every hour last night so didn't get much sleep. I was so excited!Jaxon is home with Mr. Helton for a little while then a friend (Paula) will keep him most of the day. He'll come visit us after his nap this afternoon. I know I am going to be busy but I miss him already!By 6 am, I am hooked up to the pitocin and starting some contractions. I have a great nurse, Tracy.I anticipate my dr coming around 8 to break my water.I'm hungry, bring food. OK, I'm starving.Pray for a fast and safe delivery. We'll keep ya posted! Bern

I stopped by McDonalds and picked up some breakfast...per Will's request. Dr. Garner just checked her and she is at 6cm....moving pretty fast! I'm sitting in the waiting room with Will and Michael ... Mr. H is on his way up here with Jaxon....excitement is in the air!!

Beautiful New England

2009-05-28T15:03:00.008-04:00

Mr. H and I took a road trip over the Memorial Day weekend!
We decided to explore more of the New England area and visit Boston for the first time. We had a great time and will definitely go back. Here are a few highlights of our weekend...more to come! These pics are in reverse order...oh, well.

Returning to the Westin "Element". It is the coolest hotel to stay at..very eco friendly.

Dinner at Lat 43 in Gloucester, Mass. This restaurant was amazing! www.latfortythree.com
check it out....

This light over the sushi bar was incredible...an octopus made of iron!

Mr. H eating fried shrimp again...

I'm about to work on my second lobster of the weekend!

Fishing fleet at Gloucester

Beautiful harbor

lobster baskets

This is where the movie "The Perfect Storm" was filmed. The monument with the names of the fishermen who have been lost at sea bears the names of the 6 men who went down with the

Andrea Gail in 1991.

Kennebunkport, Maine

Beautiful little costal town where the Bush family compound is. I could definitely live there in the summer!

We had to visit Salem, Massachusettes and say hi to the witches!
Interesting area...not sure I'd want to live there. This is the statue of
Roger Conant, the first settler of Salem, Massachusetts, 1626

Old Orchard Beach...Maine

LL Bean Flagship Store in Freeport, Maine

I was shopping for a lobster for Jaxon and noticed that this basket was made in Little Rock, Arkansas! How cool is that!

The famous.."Mike's Pastry"...certainly lived up to its name!

Can you see me in line!!!! Long, long line!

I just loved the cemeteries in Boston! It is amazing that a lady that came over on the Mayflower is buried at this one. Most of the tombstones are decorated with skellies! Click to make this larger and see them.....very interesting....I may just want one of them on mine! How cool would that be!

My first night lobster at Legal Seafood....yummy!

May 21, 1982..My Baby's Birthday!

2009-05-21T00:12:00.008-04:00

Happy 27th Birthday, Michael Douglas Helton!
We are so proud of you and wish we were
there in Texas to celebrate.
You are the light of our lives!

Mother's Day in PA

2009-05-10T22:16:00.004-04:00

Mr. H and I began the day with brunch at the club where we live. It was yummy!

Later he planted all 140 of my marigolds in the front bed.....
Marigolds are the only thing I have found that deer won't eat!

I'm going to border them with Lamb's Ear......

Dozier enjoyed watching Mr. H work

Behind our house the wild fern are just beginning to come up..they are so beautiful.

Those annoying deer have eaten all my daylilies! Aughhh!
This is all that's left from the last one!

I went to Michael's and got some things to make a new wreath for the front door for Summer!

I love the bright colors!

My front door.....

This is a boring post...sorry! Such is life in PA!

More of the drummer......

2009-04-17T17:59:00.003-04:00

His Dada bought him a drumset....Seriously!

Jaxon....Drummer...Seriously!

2009-04-13T11:35:00.002-04:00

Check out the future drummer! Just think what he could do with real drum sticks and a drum set......I see this in the not so far future!!!

Easter Weekend in Texas!

2009-04-13T10:51:00.003-04:00

Paul, Sarah, Michael and I went to Stonebriar Community Church to hear Chuck Swindoll - then to the Gaylord Texan for their wonderful Easter Sunday Brunch.
HeltonTexas was home.....Jaxon was sick....so sad :(

Cherry Blossom Festival

2009-04-05T00:33:00.010-04:00

Enjoy these pictures from Washington, D.C.! Saturday, Paul and I went to the Cherry Blossom Festival. When we left our home in Hazleton, PA it was 34 degrees and snowing! After our 3.5 hour drive to D.C. the temperature was 65 and the sky was the most beautiful blue....without a cloud in it! Oh.....I forgot, there were 40 mph wind gusts, but hey.......it can't be perfect!

Catching up...

2009-03-30T14:15:00.004-04:00

Last weekend we took a drive to upstate New York to a big outlet mall. The mall wasn't so impressive...the outlet "mecca" at San Antonio/San Marcos is still the ones to beat...so we drove
on over to Westpoint, NY to see the US Army Academy we've all heard about.
Very tiny little town and the Academy is off limits now thanks to our terrorist, but you can still
see it.
After that we drove in to the City for dinner and a play. We saw "The Little Mermaid" and were not disappointed. Disney just knows how do do musicals like no one else. It was great! We got home at 3 AM!
So many great restaurants have wonderful bargains now. The Ruth Chris Steakhouse has a 39.99 per person....three course dinner! It is wonderful and well worth the price in NYC where you generally can't even get a burger for much less!

Waiting for "The Little Mermaid" to begin...

Driving in Manhatten...

The beautiful George Washington Bridge

Getting gas in New Jersey...you can NOT pump your own...they actually pump your gas and WASH YOUR WINDOWS! So weird to me...

Me and the mule at Westpoint!

The Westpoint Museum...

My Beautiful New Daughter-in-Law

2009-03-20T15:12:00.003-04:00

Now I have two! This is just a proof, but I had to share it.
All her bridal portrait pics were made in the State Capitol Building in Little Rock, AR

I love that building...so beautiful.

Finally...a new post!

2009-03-17T15:24:00.009-04:00

I've been really busy the last couple of months with Michael and Sarah's wedding. Also, I've been at HeltonTexas since January 4 until just last week...so I'm more than a little behind!

I'm still unpacking...the 3 boxes of "stuff" that I had to ship back to PA just arrived today..so more unpacking.
It's still chilly up here, but not as cold as I expected it to be. My cute new flip flops that I bought in Texas and wore often there ..will not be needed for several weeks up here. Wayyy too cool for that!

Michael and Sarah made it back safely from Hawaii with several wonderful stories and tons of pictures..that I have not seen.
So to say all that.....here are some of my favorite pictures from my last few weeks...enjoy!

Me with Susan and Heber

Sarah with Miss Donna

Shirley helping Sarah with the gifts....

Jaxon riding a bronze bull in Frisco

My best friends that gave the shower in Conway...

Ashley holding Jaxon...he loves necklaces

Nothing more precious

Jaxon loves to bite on this...what else...Firestone tire!

Jaxon's doctor...he had a boo boo that day that she had to fix..ouch!

HeltonTexas and a big bronze bull....

Jaxon loved the bronze sculptures..

J's chillin with the cowboy....

I've Been Tagged!

2009-02-06T02:11:00.003-05:00

Melissa tagged me with this - so I'll respond.

Step 1: respond and rework—answer the questions on your own blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own.

Step 2: tag eight other un-tagged people.

1. What are you wearing right now? I'm wearing my Beatles "Love" T-shirt that I got in Vegas last year at Cirque Du Soleil, and jeans.

2 What is the last book you read? 1st John

3. Do you nap a lot? Yes in Pennsylvania....never at HeltonTexas - which is where I am

4. Who was the last person you hugged? Jaxon

5. What's your current obsession/addiction? Wedding planning....candy buffet!

6. What was the last thing you said out loud? Wake up and go to bed, Will.

7. What websites do you always visit when you go online? All my websites that I built and maintain..Conway Dental Care/Dr. Ladd Ellis, The Helton Family, The Thurmon Family, Michael and Sarah-wedding.com, Calvary Baptish Church-Covington, ....then for fun I go to Log Cabin, Facebook, My hometown newspaper and CNN.

8. What was the last item you bought? Gift for my friend, Jane who lost her Mother last week.

9. What is your most challenging goal? To survive another Helton wedding with all my sanity!

10. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished- anywhere in the world, where would it be? Down the street from my boys...

11. Favorite Vacation spot? Destin, FL

12. Say something to the person who tagged you: Melissa, you are such a beautiful person inside and out....I am so proud of the lovely woman you have become.

13. Name one thing you just can't resist no matter how bad it is for you: Anything sweet!

14. What is your favorite item of clothing? My houseshoes!

15. Favorite pair of shoes you keep going back to over and over, even though your closet is over flowing with a zillion others? My old suede slip on's. They feel wonderful, but look horrible.

16. Name one thing you can not live with out: Diet Dr. Pepper

17. What excites you right now? Paul is coming to HeltonTexas on Wednesday for a visit!

18. What are your favorite shows? Law & Order SVU, All My Children, The Today Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda, House

19. What did you do today?? I babysat Jaxon from 8..when we woke up ... until 6 when Bern got home - then ate dinner with them - then went shopping a little and stopped by Michael's apartment with some ice cream to see his new clothes.

20. What do you most look forward to? Michael's wedding...and my life getting back to normal....NORMAL????...what is that for me?????

I chose to tag the following 8 people...
Jessica
Laurie
Bern
Leigh
Honnoll's
Amy D. Horn
Martha M. Pippen

Dinner with James

2009-01-22T22:42:00.002-05:00

Will and Jaxon with their matching shirts at dinner.

Michael and James Abernathy

We had a wonderful dinner with our dear friend, James. The group had not been all together in years. James is a senior at SMU in Dallas. His family lives in Atlanta.

Sunday at HeltonTexas

2009-01-14T12:31:00.003-05:00

We had a wonderful Sunday! We all went to services at Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco and heard Chuck Swindoll, Senior Pastor preach a great message.

Following that, it was off to Babe's for a Sunday dinner of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, etc. This is becoming my favorite here in Texas!
The afternoon was napping, watching the football game and just enjoying being together. We missed Mr. H.

Sweet Jaxon....1 year old!

2009-01-02T20:55:00.003-05:00

Busy Busy Christmas!

2008-12-30T16:23:00.003-05:00

Not much posting from me this Christmas! I've been so busy with travel, celebrations and helping Michael get pack and moved in to the new, larger apartment that he and Sarah will be sharing once they are married. It is in Austin Ranch, but a different building. Mr. H and I are leaving out tomorrow (Wednesday the 31st) to fly back to PA. . . then I'll return Sunday, January 4th to HeltonTexas to help the kiddos out by babysitting Jaxon while Bern does some teaching for 6 - 8 weeks. Don't know how long I'll stay - they want me for the entire time...but we will see. I'll have many more pictures to post once I get home and can get them off my new camera! Happy New Year to everyone.....2009...It's gonna be great!
Love, Peace and Happiness to All....Martha

Jaxon's ONE Year Old picture!

What a party for the silly monkey!

Mr. H and I received a wonderful gift from HeltonTexas and Michael & Sarah. I had seen a portrait done like this and I loved it - so they got one done for me! I was thrilled!

Snow!

2008-12-20T00:02:00.003-05:00

Shoveling the drive with a bobcat.....such is life in PA!
We got about 10 inches of the white stuff today. It was topped off with ice...which made it like concrete. It was a foot deep on the deck - Dozier walked on top of it to go potty!
Hopefully the roads will clear up enough to get us to the airport in Scranton tomorrow afternoon so we can fly to Dallas to spend Christmas with Heltontexas, Michael and Sarah!

Michael and Sarah Skiing in the Poconos

2008-12-12T23:57:00.003-05:00

Michael and Sarah ...finished for the night!
Michael fell hard and hurt his already injured back.

Getting ready to go....Dozier sees a deer - Michael's playing Spiderman!

17 Things About Me!

2008-12-10T14:21:00.002-05:00

Ok – 17 Thing About Me!

1. I am about 20 years old mentally living in a 56 year old body.
2. To say that I adore my family is an understatement! My boys are everything to me.
3. I am spoiled and I know it! Paul is the best husband ever! He doesn’t try to control me…..life is good!
4. Drama Queens drive me nuts! I have had so many of them in my life..why? Do I attract Drama Queens? Is there a Drama Queen repellent at Wal-Mart? Wonderful thing is that I haven’t met any Drama Queens in PA….actually, I haven’t me anybody in PA….that’s probably why!
5. I have one wonderful sweet sister, June….and one psycho, evil sister, Pat!
6. I love music! Any music….well….some of Will’s preferred tunes leave me a little puzzled! I really don’t like music that consistently uses the F word….why do they do that?
7. I am a Diet Dr. Pepper addict….ice cold!
8. I absolutely despise liars! It’s really hard for me to ever forgive anyone who lies to me…. I’ve attempted to lie a few times, but I just can’t…Thank the Lord! I’d rather you spit in my eye than to lie to me!
9. I love my Dog, Dozier…..and yes, Bern….I kiss him often!!! Ha Ha Ha!
10. I love to do NOTHING….and I am very good at it! Sipping on some freshly brewed Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee while I snuggle with Dozier on the couch and watch the snow…..Now that’s livin large for me!
11. Paul and I communicate more by e-mail than by verbal conversation! Even when he is in the next room! Seriously!
12. I really HATE the Three Stooges! Just hearing them instantly puts me in a bad mood! I probably need counseling for that!
13. I love my old friends from Lake County High School. We have our annual get- together every spring and it is something that I always look forward to. Actually I love all my precious friends….MAKE NEW FRIENDS BUT KEEP THE OLD….ONE IS SILVER THE OTHER GOLD… So true!
14. I graduated high school before panty hose were even invented. Pants weren’t allowed on girls. Blacks were allowed to attend the high school I attended when I was a Freshman – it was ugly! I was sent home several times because my skirt was too short!
15. I love the beach! My favorite beach is in Destin, Florida! I’ve been to Australian beaches, Mexico beaches, Bermuda beaches, Bahamas, Hawaii, California, and more I can’t remember, but none of them compare to Destin. I’d love to be sitting on the beach in Destin looking at the waves when I take my last breath and drift to be with my Lord Jesus! I always wear my flip flop that Paul gave me...it makes me think of the beach....
16. My dream was to be a country music star when I was younger! I went to Nashville..applied for jobs at a few studios…but no deal. I had no idea what I was doing – but it was fun living in Nashville for awhile!
17. I love to create things…..cooking, crafting, decorating…whatever the need is…..it’s my passion!

Dozier and Ferrero Rocher!

2008-12-10T11:21:00.004-05:00

You've all heard of the delicious candy....Ferro Rocher? Dozier hates the tv
commercial! EVERY TIME IT COMES ON....You know the one....the doorbell rings..
Dozier goes nuts!! He runs around barks, jumps....goes to the door...thinking someone
is there.....takes him 5 minutes to settle down! I'm already ready for that commercial
to be over....Before that one was the Pizza Hut one with the doorbell...same story.
His quirk this fall was the leaves....and we have tons of them....well - when they were
falling on the deck and blowing around...he was convinced they were alive! He would stalk
them....sneak up on them....grab one and run inside...hiding them under the table in the den!
We always had a pile of Dozier's fresh kills in the den! Such a tiny little brain!!
Well....here he is in his new Christmas Sweater!

Show them the black spot on your tongue!

My Merry Little Christmas Tree

2008-12-09T02:34:00.002-05:00

Here's our tiny tree! Since we moved to PA, we don't spend Christmas up here....
we have Christmas in Dallas....or wherever our kiddos are...so why put up a tree?
I couldn't stand it - so a couple of years ago we discovered that we had inherited the
little fake tree that the boys had in their apartment in Fayetteville. We got it out..poked
the little fake limbs in the little fake trunk...threw a few ornaments that were on the top
of the boxes of Christmas decorations....and just that easy...our Christmas tree!
This year since Michael and Sarah are coming up this week ....we dug a little deeper and
found a few more ornaments! This is the result.

View from the top of the bridge over our den...

* I can't wait to be able to move back "home" wherever that will be....dust off all
those precious ornaments and get a real tree that touches the ceiling again....

I'm Having Another Grandson!

2008-12-02T00:27:00.003-05:00

Jaxon is getting a baby brother! June 10, 2009
My pink dreams are gone..... maybe he will look good in pink!
Baby Heltontexas is fine, healthy and growning like he should....all is well....Yoo Hoo!
Now the namegame begins!

I'm Thankful for ......

2008-12-01T15:59:00.005-05:00

My precious (seriously handsome) boys...Will and Michael

My sweet Daughter-In-Law, Bernadette

My soon to be sweet Daughter-In-Law, Sarah

My precious Jaxon!

My equally precious Grandbaby....coming in June!

My Mom and Dad... we had a nice visit.... a rare thing lately!

My Sista-friend, June....... my BFF!

Paul...because he is my heart and soul...and keeper of my sanity......... and my nephews, Rob and Russ....... R&R are doing great....they've had quite a ride so far!

We spent Thanksgiving in Tennessee with the family. It was a good visit - always good to go "home". It was sad not to have my Heltontexas crew, but they had a good Thanksgiving without us....can you imagine???

NBC Weather Report....gone bad!

2008-11-19T00:06:00.002-05:00

Fun with Michael in NYC

2008-11-17T21:49:00.004-05:00

Sunday night in Times Square....MTV's Total Request Live's final show.
BIG CROWD...Lots of music!

In Macy's on 34th is the New Years Ball -

The Waterford crystal ball changes color every few seconds

Macy's NYC....World's largest department store!

Pinkberry.....yummy! There's one right across from
Michael's favorite NYC pizza...Lombardi's.

Here we are at Lombardi's....The first pizza place in America!

Seriously....HE ATE THE WHOLE THING!

In Central Park .... The Sheep Meadow

Still in Central Park....ice skating has begun!

Band playing at "Imagine"....John Lennon's memorial...notice the drummer's bass drum is an empty suitcase... It sounded great! Imagine?

Michael's standing where John Lennon was shot..December 8, 1980

Imagine.....

Rockefeller Center ice skating..

Lunch at Carnegie Deli.....yummy.

I thought this was funny.....both of them so serious!

New Lawn Mowers!

2008-11-12T17:02:00.003-05:00

These girls (one little guy) are doing a great job keeping our grass mowed until the snow covers it all. They've eaten all my pumpkins (only left the top "handle") - all my mums - all flowers they can reach....now they are eating the lawn. We had a 9 inch snowfall a couple of weeks ago - but it's gone....maybe next week more snow.
So is life in the mountains of Pennsylvania.....

The Wedding in Aspen....some fun pics!

2008-11-09T21:45:00.003-05:00

Paul and me following the wedding

I believe we were doing the pony!

Not sure what Pam's doing here!

Walking down to the ceremony...

This was at the rehearsal dinner....Fran, Katie and me.

Jim, Greg and Paul.....

enjoying the "roasting" at the rehearsal dinner

The "Crawl" Jaxon Style!

2008-10-29T19:14:00.003-04:00

Rocky Mountain High

2008-10-26T09:04:00.004-04:00

We are here in beautiful Aspen, Colorado! Yesterday we drove thru Independence Pass on to Leadville for some sightseeing.....and sightseeing is exactly what we got. Last night Brooke's wedding was amazing! Here are just a few pics to get started.

Me before the wedding ....beautiful Aspen tree!

My dear friend, Pam Pruitt and me after the wedding...

"Sunshine on his shoulder...makes him happy".......we thought of John Denver.

Not open for the season yet....

I'm talking to Will in front of beautiful "Twin Lakes".

Today..we are leaving here.....going to explore Vail before heading to Denver....and to Dallas!

Look out Jaxon....here we come!

Happy Birthday Mr. H

2008-10-16T23:32:00.003-04:00

OK.....What a goofball am I.

I made Paul a German Chocolate Cake for his birthday with the number candles on it - fixed him his favorite dinner (pinto beans, cornbread, corn, slaw, potatoes...sweet tea.

Bought him a mini fridge for his office upstairs - and a nice ceramic heater...it's always cold in there...a "vote for curly" t-shirt and a light up cap!

But I messed up on one major thing!

HE IS NOT 58 TODAY.......HE'S 57! Seriously!!!!!

Talking to Will....Michael called this morning.

Not a bad choice! Actually, I rather vote for him than Obama!

Yep...it has headlights!

Fall Leaf-Peepin...upstate NY and Pennsylvania - October 11 & 12, 2008

2008-10-14T15:13:00.005-04:00

Some of the most beautiful waxed begonias where we ate breakfast in Niagara, Canada

No editing on these pics - this is actually the colors!

Driving up I-80 in New York State

Northern Pennsylvania

Leaf Peepin in upstate New York...and Niagara Falls

2008-10-13T12:07:00.008-04:00

Beautiful place

More Rainbows

People walking down the Canadian side

Walking Dozier along the Niagara River

Driving down the beautiful boulevard next to the falls in Canada.
Those are mums.

American Falls...to the right is Bridal Veil Falls..looking from Canada.

Horseshoe Falls....amazing.

Smaller one is Bridal Veil Falls

Mr. H is loving it.

Stopping for Dozier's potty break!

Standing on the U.S. side of the falls - this is the American Falls behind us.

The river going back over Rainbow Bridge - looking at U.S.

Park in front of falls

Dozier and me in front of American Falls on U.S. side

Just amazing, too.

Got someone to take our picture.

Going across the border...what a HEADACHE!

It's cold outside...and deer do eat pumpkin!

2008-10-04T15:05:00.003-04:00

Here is proof! Pennsylvania deer do eat pumpkin! I know they eat chrysanthemums...see below..and now they are EATING MY PUMPKINS! I have sprayed them (the mums and pumpkins) with a disgusting mixture of rotten egg, garlic and capsaicin (chili peppers). Wal-Mart actually sells this concoction...a pricey $14.00 for a spray bottle....to keep "pests" away from shrubbery, etc. IT WORKS! I bought new mums and a couple more pumpkins and NO DEER! I am thrilled! Dozier isn't sure about the smell....it makes him sneeze!
The fall colors are really beautiful up here and will probably peak in a week or so. It's cold..50 degrees today...feels colder. Come on up to the beautiful northeast for some....."leaf peepin". We're going next weekend.

It's Mallomar Season!

2008-10-03T15:46:00.004-04:00

I have found the most wonderful cookie! Nabisco makes this delicious little gem and you can only buy them from October thru April or so.

Since 1913 Mallomars have been a hit with the public when they appeared in a small grocery store in Hoboken N.J. for the first time. From then on the popularity grew, until they became the number one cookie sold in New York City...To this day they are still leading the pack with the most sales to all its fans...more then 70% of all sales are made in New York.

According to the box's nutritional facts and using my advance mathematics, since it doesn't say 2 cookies, but just that there are 9 servings, I figured out that since there are 18 cookies in a box and that there are 2 cookies in a serving, they weigh in at only 110 calories a serving, 5 grams of fat and 12 grams of sugar….no trans fats or cholesterol...Therefore, Mallomars are not really too bad on weight meter scale, as long as you don't sit down and eat a whole box!

The cookies have become somewhat of an icon in the entertainment industry: featured in the movie "When Harry Met Sally" and played an important scene in The Sopranos when Tony Soprano accused his friend Paulie of taking his box of Mallomars…they've were mentioned often on the Seinfeld show, the Simpsons and Rosanne, even the Golden Girls were into Mallomars....and, not too long ago, Stephen Colbert, caused a stir when he compared Washington D.C. and it's racial/cultural makeup to a Mallomar during the Correspondents dinner when he appeared last year. All this over a cookie!

If you haven 't tried them......please - you must! I have a secret....put them in the microwave for just about 4 seconds........OMG! Please excuse me while I go get another two!!

Oh Deer!

2008-09-29T11:40:00.003-04:00

Yesterday it rained cats and dogs all day long. Finally, just before dark I was able to get outside and put my scarecrows, pumpkins and chrysanthemums out by my lamp post. I just bought 6 beautiful mums yesterday. This morning I was so shocked to discover that the deer had completely stripped all the blooms off my mums! I mean they ate them like they were M & M's.
I am so frustrated! AUGHHH! This picture was made late yesterday after the rain..with my cell phone. I wasn't finished with the project - you can't really see all the mums here - but they were beautiful...dark burgundy.

Michael and Sarah's new website!

2008-09-13T22:56:00.002-04:00

I have created a website for Michael and Sarah's wedding. Check it out at http://www.michaelandsarah-wedding.com/ The time is getting closer...and we are getting very excited! March 7, 2009 at 3:00 in the afternoon - Hazel Street Church of Christ in Pine Bluff, AR.

Some Updates from the Summer of 08!

2008-09-08T17:34:00.004-04:00