Sister Love

I adore my sister. As I’ve gotten older, I have truly learned to appreciate her. Please allow me to introduce her, Teresa, shown on the right. This picture is of us when I was visiting her in Savannah, GA last month. I wish the photographer had told me that my purse straps were twisted, lol.


When we were growing up, we were vastly different. She was a tomboy. She refused to play with dolls or be a guest at my tea parties. She preferred to jump on a pogo stick, play baseball and beat up the boys in the neighborhood. She hated house cleaning, cooking and doing laundry. As a result, I decided to start a business. I charged her to do her household choirs. It paid off, as a teen I was never broke. Enterprising became a way of life for me, in addition I started charging my brothers to iron their shirts. In the 60’s, ruffled shirts for men were in. They had no clue how to iron them, so they were happy to pay me.

We look back on those days and laugh. She’s visiting this week, and last night she reminded me that I was a tattle tail when we were growing up. When we first started school, we weren’t allowed to wear pants. My mother’s religion forbid it. When we reached Junior High, my sister managed to get someone to purchase jeans for her. She would carry them to school, and change her cloths when we got there. I told on her, yes I did. If she was going to wear pants, I was going to wear them too. She was furious. Eventually my mother changed her outlook and we were allowed to wear pants.

We have become “two peas in a pod” as my mother says. Exchanging recipes, shopping, chatting on Facebook, and discussing our own family problems. It has become a way of life for us. I’m so grateful to have her as a sister, we love each other unconditionally and that is priceless.

When I’m down or stressed, I read a plague that she gave me years ago. It says, “Sister- I see God’s beauty in you. I thank God for you always”. It always makes me feel better. Isn’t that beautiful? I know that I don’t tell her often enough, but I thank God for her too.

Wordless Wednesday

This pumpkin was carved at a local wine festival.

Do You Wear White After Labor Day?

Do you wear white after Labor Day? I do, but 90% of our readers stated that they did not wear white after Labor Day. Fashion etiquette used to say that white after Labor Day was taboo. Fashion designers say that summer whites should be packed away, but winter white is acceptable.

I’m not into fashion as I once was, but I do pack my summer white capri, shorts and dresses away and bring out the winter white. Summer white fabric is too thin to wear in the winter here. I live in West Virginia, it gets cold. I do love creams, beiges, off-white in the winter, it looks so fresh.  According to glamour, we shouldn’t put away our white denim!  Suze Yalof Schwartz, executive fashion editor at Glamour says, “Nothing is more chic than white jeans in the wintertime with a chunky cozy sweater or a blazer and leather boots.” I love blazers and leather boots. I have a closet full of them.  I don’t own a pair of white demin jeans, but I’ll be purchasing a pair this year.  Put on you winter white ladies. It’s in.

Wordless Wednesday

My Little Sweetie at his 1st Pumpkin Patch last year.

He thought they were balls, lol.

Crockpot Pork Chops & Potatoes

PORK CHOPS AND SCALLOPED POTATOES

  • 4 extra thick pork chops
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • salt and pepper
  • 4 – 5 large russet potatoes, can use more if needed
  • 1 can cream of asparagus soup
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 4 ounces Velveeta, cut into chunks

Melt butter in a large skillet. Sprinkle salt and pepper generously on both sides of chops. Brown chops on both sides. While chops are browning, wash the potatoes and slice into 1/4 inch. Whisk together the soup, sour cream and milk.

Spray crock pot with PAM. Layer potatoes slices, soup sauce and cheese chunks 2 or 3 times. Lay pork chops on top. Cook on low 4 – 5 hours. I serve with a garden salad & hot rolls. Delicious!

Fall Kitchen Cake Give Away

As you all know, fall is my favorite time of the year. I love the colors and the cool weather is great for sleeping and snuggling with your love ones. I love the pumpkin patches, hayrides, apple cider and scare crows. I love creating, and I love creating Kitchen Towel Cakes. I usually make these for house warming gifts, but I’ve expanded my collection to include Fall and Christmas Towel Cakes as well. I’m feeling generous, so I’m giving one away to my readers.

The cake will include a fall themed kitchen towel and 5 – 10 other kitchen items.  (Towels may not be exactly as shown, but it will be similiar). You can be the winner! Here’s how: Leave me a comment on what you like about fall and why you would like to win this towel cake. I will select a randomly select a winner from the comments.

Want extra entries? Do one or all of the following:

  • Place this give away on your blog: Mother-2-Mother is having a fall Kitchen Towel Cake give away. Ends November 10!
  • Grab our Mother-2-Mother button and place it on your sidebar
  • Follow Us (left sidebar)
  • Subscribe To Our Blog (left sidebar)
  • Follow Us On Twitter and tweet about this give away (3 extra entries)
  • Blog About our Birthday Party Bash (5 extra entries see our left sidebar)
  • Vote For Us On Top Baby Blogs (left sidebar)
  • Comment on one of other following posts: (5 extra entries):

http://mother-2-mother.blogspot.com/2009/09/wheres-my-go-go-boots.html

http://mother-2-mother.blogspot.com/2009/09/slang-of-60s.html

http://mother-2-mother.blogspot.com/2009/10/my-grandsons-b-day-gift.html

Give away is open to US Residents only and ends November 10 at mid-night. Good Luck!

Wordless Wednesday

I can do it myself Mama!

My Grandson’s B-Day Gift

I purchased this adorable table and chair set for my grandson’s birthday. He’s into cars and learning to color, finger paint etc., so I thought this would be the perfect gift for him. I found it on a site earlier, but when I went back to purchase it was sold out. I decided to try Walmart, they had it for $40.00 less, free shipping from Site-To-Store, and you could have the chairs personalized. I jumped on it. Unfortunately, we live 5 hours away so we were unable to put it together before we arrived for his party. I’ll post a picture once my son-in-law puts it together.


I love the primary colors, and feel sure that he will get lots of use out of it. Most Matchbox and Hot Wheel cars fit the track, so we’re starting a collection for him. I’ve found that Big Lots carries the Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars for $1.00 each. Since he is only 2, I won’t feel bad if he loses one or two or three, lol. Once he gets older and can truly appreciate them, we’ll invest a little more in the collection.

If you know any place that sells the Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars for a reasonable price, please leave me a comment. If you don’t know where to purchase the cars, leave me a comment anyway. I would love to hear your opinion on this Great Find.

Fall – My Favorite Time of Year

Fall is my favorite time of year. I live in the country, so I’m surrounded by brilliant colors in the mountains and front yards. Apple orchards are in abundance here too, so I’m looking forward to homemade apple butter, apple crisp, and apple cider. If you have a quick and easy recipe for apple crisp, please leave me a link.

I discovered a Wine Festival last year that was absolutely wonderful. Normally when I go to wine festivals it’s adults only and we have a designated driver, but this particular festival is perfect for the family. The Shenandoah Valley Hot Air Balloon & Wine Festival has vendors galore, pumpkin carvings, games, face painting, hot air balloons, carnival rides, puppet shows, and dancing. My nephew had a ball. I’ll be taking him again this year and one of his friends. I love hanging out with him. He’s adventurous and he keeps me young. At least young at heart.

The trees have barely started to changed here. The festival is October 16 – 18. I was hoping the trees would be at their peak, but it doesn’t look like I’m going to get my wish. I love taking pictures of the fall foliage. The boys will have fun regardless of the trees and the color of their leaves. That’s what’s truly important, but I did want to get a few good shots for my scrapbook. Here’s a picture of my nephew climbing the rock wall last year at the festival.


He also had fun with the pumpkin carvings (shown below). There were pumpkins everywhere. Not only where the pumpkins in abundance, they were huge. The artists were fascinating.


I had just as much fun as the kids. I’m always down for a good Italian Sausage, funnel cake and some uplifting music. This festival is on a 400 acre farm, which is absolutely beautiful. They launch air hot balloons and have pastures of horses grazing. Music plays throughout the day. Last year it was too windy to launch the hot air balloons, hopefully the weather will cooperate this year. In spite of the wind, it was a beautiful day to spread a blanket on the ground, watch the children play, horses graze, and allow the music to lift your spirits. The hot ar balloons launch twice a day, 7:00 am and 5:00 pm. Guess who won’t be there at 7:00 am!  If you’re an early riser and/or live in the Shenandoah Valley area, save the date. You’ll receive lots of hugs and kisses from the kiddies. Leave us a comment and tell us about your family’s favorite fall activities.

Little Tikes Give Away

Welcome to our Oldies But Goodies Party. Please enjoy the music and hors· d’oeuvres. There’s plenty of non-alcoholic punch and birthday cake. If you prefer something a little stronger the bar is around the corner. We have a great give away, so be sure to enter before you leave. Our bash will continue through October. In addition to the give away below, we will be giving Curiel Lotion, nipple cream, a hat and headband for your little princess, a fall themed kitchen cake, your choice of a boy or girl diaper cake and more.

I was thrilled when All Children’s Furniture contacted us about a give away. We knew our readers would love it, and would also want to purchase an item from this site in the future. All Children’s Furniture sells everything from kid’s chairs to toys. I adore the Jungle Table and Chair Set, it’s perfect for any playroom. You must browse their chair selection.

They also have an assortment of toys. I love one stop shopping. With a full time job, a mother, grandmother, and on-line business owner, I just don’t have the

time to run from store to store these days. I found many items on the site that I love, and I will be purchasing from All Children’s Furniture for my grandson. One item that I have my eye on is the Little Tikes Tricycle. It’s so cute. I’m picturing him riding this down the driveway. I knew my long driveway would come in handy one day, lol.

I also found a Little Tikes Picnic Table (shown above) that would be perfect when he’s visiting. This little table would beneficial for eating, coloring, finger painting and any other activity that can be performed while sitting. He’s at that age where he loves to roll cars and he’s trying to feed himself, so I would get alot of use out this table. An umbrella is also available if you would like to purchase separately.

You can be the winner of the Little Tikes Tricycle or Picnic Table, you choose. Here’s how, visit the site and browse the Kid’s Chairs section. Leave us a comment on what catches your eye. In the same comment let us known which of the two items, Little Tikes Tricycle or Picnic Table, you would like to win. We will select a winner from the posts. Item will be shipped directly from the sponsor. Failure to follow these steps will result in disqualification.


Want extra entries? Do one or all of the following:

  • Grab our Party Button and place it on your sidebar
  • Place this give away on your blog: Mother-2-Mother is having a great toy giveaway sponsored by AllChildrensFurniture.com, who carries everything from kids chairs to toys. Give away ends November 1!
  • Grab our Mother-2-Mother button and place it on your sidebar
  • Follow Us (left sidebar)
  • Subscribe To Our Blog (left sidebar)
  • Follow Us On Twitter and tweet this give away (3 extra entries)
  • Blog About our Party (5 extra entries)
  • Vote For Us On Top Baby Blogs (left sidebar)
  • Comment on one of other following posts: (5 extra entries):

http://mother-2-mother.blogspot.com/2009/09/wheres-my-go-go-boots.html

http://mother-2-mother.blogspot.com/2009/09/slang-of-60s.html

http://mother-2-mother.blogspot.com/2009/09/what-happened-year-you-were-born.html

This give away will end November 5 at midnight. It is open to US Residents only. Good luck!