Goals

When I first started this blog a few years ago, I remember that one of my new years goals was to learn embroidery. It has took me several years to accomplish some of my goals but i am getting it done.  I am not great at it but I am trying.  This is a sampler that I am doing that teaches you the different stitches and letters.  I am learning this from Mary.  She is a great online teacher.

Another goal that I had was to watch more movies.  Having 4 children, I never took time for myself.  I have to tell you that I have watched more movies this year than I have ever watched.  One way that I do it is while I iron.  Did I tell you that I love ironing now?  I love netflix.  I can watch a movie on my computer or on my t.v. I love it because if I have to stop in the middle of the movie I can alway come back later and watch it at any time.  It saves my place.  I have never been one to rent movies but I am enjoying that Netflix. 

Wow. I am coming all along with these letters.  I am proud.  Another goal I wanted to mention that I had when I first started this blog was to learn to relax.  I have never ever been able to relax.  I've always felt that I had to be doing something.  My "Sweet hunter" says I am like popcorn-up and down.  It is true.  But I have to tell you that at the Sparta Hilton (our hunting cabin) I have truly learned how to relax.  There is just something about having a little home away from home.  I know it sounds weird but this is true. At home it seems like we are still always working.  Maybe that is why the Sparta Hilton was sent to us-to teach me how to relax.  I have never ever been able to take a nap during the day.  If I ever did you could say that I was sick.  But on Sunday afternoons at the Sparta me and "sweet hunter" snooze the afternoon away.

This "O" is hard to do. I am not sure that I can do it but Phillipians 4:13 says I can do all things.  So I am determined.

Oh wow, I didn't know I had a close up picture of this.  This is the buttonhole stitch in case you that embroider are wondering what stitch this is. There is a blog on my bloglist named  something like....."If you do stuff, stuff gets done." I love this saying. So that is why I am trying so hard to learn how to do something that is a hearts desire of mine.

I have to tell you that this is a new goal of mine just this year. 
I want a deer like this on my wall.
I could have been mean and tell you all that I killed this one but I am not mean!!!
A friend of "Sweet Hunters" killed it the other night. 
They brought it over for me to see. 
I have never saw anything so big.  I wish the picture was not so bad. So like I said, this is a new goal of mine.  Oh I would be so  proud and "Sweet Hunter" would be too.

This is another goal of mine.  "To show myself friendly" and get with old friends and new friends. This is the "VP Girls".  We all went to high school together.  From left to right is "me", Penny, Cindy, Ellen & Teresa.We are trying to get together once a month and hope to add more VP (our high school) Girls to the group. I also had breakfast with my good friend Gayle  this week.  And got a phone call from my best bud, Vicki. Years ago my friend Ellen begged me to go to lunch with her. She gave me her number several times and then life would happen and I would forget.  I wanted to, I just was so busy.  I am busy now but I am making time to be with friends and it is so much fun.  We also have some new friends...our hunting buddies, D & Rog.  We haven't got to be with them much this year and miss them so much.  I hope we get to see them soon. And then there is my blog friends.....what can I say?  They are a blessing to me every day.  I feel like I have known some of you for years.  
 So another one of my goals of being with friends is becoming a reality. 
**************************
Snippets From My Heart
 I am realizing as I get older that every day is a gift.  Every friend is a gift.  My family is a gift. When I wake up in the mornings and think of the work I have to do, I want to always realize that every day is a blank page and I want to fill it the best I know how.  I am slow at reaching my goals but I am so proud to know that I am reaching some of them.  I am just glad to slow down and smell the roses.  Life is a vapor that appeareth for a little time and then vanishes away. Another one of my blog friends,  Connie has this on her blog.  I love it.

This is the beginning of a new day.
 You have been given this day to use as you will.
You can waste it or use it for good.
 What you do today is important because
 you are exchanging a day of your life for it.
 When tomorrow comes,
 this day will be gone forever;
 in its place is something
 that you have left behind...
let it be something good.

Sparta Hilton Breakfast

Look at these beautiful dishes.  My "Sweet Mother" gave me these dishes a while back.
Now you see why I thought that they were too nice to go to the "Sparta Hilton."

But leave it to my Mom!  She brought me more dishes! 
I LOVE these Coke glasses.  Trouble wanted these but I said NO!

Mom brought these dishes to me to take to the Sparta Hilton. 
They look very nice too.
Thank you Mom!

So here is the first time that we have used these at the Sparta Hilton.
I have the table all set for "Sweet Hunter" when he comes in from hunting.
My sweet Mother in law gave me this tablecloth. 
It is just perfect for this season.
And you can't miss that muscadine jelly on the table!
Our hunting buddies brought that a while back. They haven't got to come lately.
  We might need to tell them to bring some jelly. We love it!

I made this breakfast casserole a while back and
had it in the freezer so it came with us to the Hilton.
I put it in the ice chest and then in the refrig overnight so it could thaw out. 
You should have smelled the aroma in the Sparta Hilton when this was cooking.

Add some fried potatoes and it makes a perfect breakfast.
Aren't the dishes pretty?
This casserole is so easy and delicious. 
I need to put it on my my cooking blog!

When you see one of these in the woods what would you think it was?
A little tree with a disease that made it lose it's bark?
That is what I thought but "Sweet hunter" has shown me a bunch of these.
Evidently when you see these it means that there is a buck around. 
They rub their antlers on these little trees.
He says this is a sure sign that you have a buck in the area. 
hhhmmmm.....I might need to look around my blind and see if I see any of these!

The "Sparta Hilton" Update Part 6a

Sweet Honey: Come on. I want to show you something.

(Now you have to understand that I have only been in these woods at the Sparta Hilton one time and it was cold weather. Today is HOT).

Sweet Honey: Look Val....wild muscadines! Deer love this!
Me: Oh boy!

Sweet Honey: Come on honey!

Me: I am coming sweetie!


Me: Is that tree what you wanted me to see?
(Sweet honey keeps cutting tree.)
Then we kept walking and walking and walking.

Me: Oh wow. Turkey feather?
Sweet Honey: Yes, isn't this great?
Me: Yes sir! Is that it?
Sweet Honey: Come on!
So we walked and walked some more and more and more.
Sweet Honey: Look at this food plot. Looks pretty good considering we haven't had any rain. See the oats and radishes coming up?
Me: uh huh
Sweet honey: Watch for snakes now.
Me: Where are we going now?
Sweet Honey: Just come on.

Sweet honey: Watch out for that turtle!

Me: yikes!

Sweet Honey: Look right there. That is where they rub their horns. See the bark rubbed off?
Me: uh huh.

Then we headed back to the Hilton. (or so I thought).

I was ready for air conditioning and something to drink.

Me: Whats that?

Sweet Honey: A ladder stand. You'll have to help me.

Me: huh? I thought we were going in.

So we walked and walked and walked some more and more.

You didn't see this part but I was also carrying part of this contraption.

We put it together and then he had to climb it to brace it up.

Sweet honey: Climb up there.

Me: Who, me?

(15 feet doesn't seem high but it is.

Believe me.)

Me: Are we through?

Sweet Honey: No, we have one more to put up!

Me: Are you kidding??

He finally told me that he did have another one to put up but we would do it next time.

Honestly this was very hard work. I really admire hunters especially my hunter!

We really had a great time this past weekend at the Sparta Hilton. What is funny is I never thought I would ever be comfortable in there, much less sleep in this little hunting shack! When I was in those woods it reminded me of trout fishing. You just walk and walk and walk. I could not wait to get back in my little Sparta Hilton. The work on the inside is just about done. When it cools off we will probably work on the outside. We were all alone this weekend. Neither our hunting buddies or the honeymooners came this time. I sure hope some guys come the next time to help with that other ladder stand! It really was fun though. We didn't leave the whole weekend. It sure is nice to get away and I love sleeping in my own bed at my little home away from home.