That's what happens when I think about those grandsons.   Yesterday I was at their house and calvin was stepping on a lid when his mama told him to stop or he would get a spanking.  Let's just say she had to keep her word.  Well he proceeded to go back to the lid, grinned and stepped on it again.  I lost it----told the daughter i was sorry but it was soooo funny.   ( in the fact that these little actions are my reward for having to deal with their mother as a child) Hahaha!!!! Well,   She had to reinforce her word again.  He was not happy and came to Ni - maw ( me )  I proceeded to tell him that he better do what mommy says.  Well........Brady was watching all of this and what does he learn....apparently nothing.... cause he grins and proceeds to go and do the very same thing that got brother in trouble.  And he gets the same punishment that brother got.   Boy does she have her hands full.  These two little boys have brought so much joy into this Ni - maw's life, hence the "title" to today's thoughts.  Ritzy wife out..............

Winganon Baptist Church

Wow......what a month.  The last time I had a chance to write, Ritzy had been furloughed, we were about to celebrate our church's 100 year anniversary, and i was busy, busy, busy.
Well, Ritzy has finally gone back to work.  The celebration was a HUGE success.....thanks to all the hard work and time put in by everyone.  We had a house full and people had a wonderful time and  for some reason I seem to stay busy.
  This week I am babysitting all week because the other "nana" is on a cruise.  Gonna be tired at the end of this week for sure ;-)
 Oklahoma is beautiful right now.  The Fall colors are really starting to "pop" out.  The drive across the lake is gorgeous.  I was driving today and noticing the color change and was a little sad because it wasn't that long ago that everything was so green. 
I have a full day tomorrow.  Up early to be at the daughter's by 7:45am.  Leave in afternoon and go to church tomorrow evening.  Go back to the daughters Thursday and pick up the boys because they will be spending the night with Ritzy and me and I will take them home Friday.    Looks like Friday evening or Saturday before Ritzywife gets any rest, haha!   But........at least I  will get that hour back this Saturday/Sunday  that was lost in the Spring, woo hoo!!
Now it's gonna be dark way too early in the evening, but I guess it beats getting up while it's still dark, huh?
The pecans are starting to drop, and we have some beauties this year for the first time since the December 2007 ice storm.  The trees are loaded and the pecans are huge.  Ritzywife is gonna have a freezer full of them.
I have a very early day tomorrow, so I guess that's all for now......Ritzywife out!!

Yep, that's right. Ritzywife is "ticked"...Yesterday Ritzy was sent home at 10:00 am until further notice thanks to the furloughs because congress can't get their business done.  This is hurting a lot of people.  Although we are concerned...... Ritzy and I know who our "Provider" is....... and it certainly isn't the U.S. Government!!
He has been catching up on his woodcutting and filling orders for the coming winter. I have been doing "business as usual"  babysitting those precious grandsons.  They are really starting to spit out the words.  It is so cute to listen to them talk.  I just nod and act like I know everything they are telling me ;-)
Geez the days sure get away from a person.  I have been really busy.  I  am leading a committee at church to plan our "100 Year Anniversary" that will be celebrated on October 20th.  We just about have everything taken care of and all those loose ends tied up.
I have really been enjoying the wonderful weather.  I love sitting out in my swing in the evening as the sun sets........and that is getting earlier every nite.
I am really starting to feel the effects of a busy day, so I guess I will say....Ritzywife out...............


  

On 09/09/1986 at 9:04pm our daughter was born.  Today is her 27th birthday.  Now, 27 years later she is a wife and the mother of 18 month old twin boys.  I baked her (and the son's) favorite cake Sunday -- a "strawberry jello cake with cool whip topping".......It is the cake of choice for their birthdays. 
I visited her and the grandsons today.  Took stuff for bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches and the leftover cake to her house, watched the boys while she ran a few errands.  Had a good time visiting. 
Keepin' it short tonite,  so Ritzywife out.......................

I have almost recovered from that nasty fall last month.  I have been sleeping and moving around pretty good.  I mentioned to my dad that I sure could use a shower in the house.  (you see...he is a plumber & pipefitter)   so i know who to drop my hints to, haha.  well we got it finished a few nights ago.  Started last saturday with the son and son-in-law putting up the backerboard.  my sister and brother-in-law laid the ceramic tile on the walls and grouted.  I finished up a couple days after that.  Last nite was my first shower in this house in 20 years....Ahhhh......and my knees sure appreciate not having to get down in the tub.  We have always had only baths.
The grandsons spent the nite last nite.  We played till 9:30 (way past their bedtime)....they didn't even put up a fuss when i told them it was time for bed....they were ready ;-)  I think it took them all of about 3 minutes to fall asleep....
They slept til 8 this morning.  Their mama picked them up this evening.  They are growing and learning so fast.  Grandpa Ritzy is teaching them to say silly words.  It is too cute!!
Ritzy is going up north to spend the day in the "forest"...cutting his wood.  I hope to have a quiet relaxing day at home.  I was soooo busy this week i didn't have time to cook a meal till last night.  Picking up fast food gets old in a hurry!! and it's to darned expensive!!!
I finally got caught up on the laundry today, whew!! 
Well our garden along with most people's is a bit disappointing this year.  A cool start to the growing season, hot then cool again has not helped the veggies that need that warm weather to produce.  And the mosquitoes are horrible.  Can't even enjoy sitting out in the evening without getting "ate up" by them.  I am not terribly allergic to them cause once i shower the bite doesn't bother me any more.
It's so hard to believe that schools all around have already started.  This spring/summer seemed to go by so quickly.  
I am gonna get out of here and go enjoy what's left of this evening....Ritzywife out!!

I have been pretty busy this last month.  Watching those wonderful grandsons, activities at church and just keeping up with daily chores around the house but this last week has been interesting.  Last Saturday the son and I were at the daughters.  While there I tripped and fell flat on my face.....ouch!....I fell so hard I had the wind knocked out of me and scared my daughter.  I told her I would be ok, to just let me be for a few minutes while I got back to breathing normally.  That was the good part, the bad part is when I "hit" the floor I felt a sensation in my back and my first thought was "this is not good".  I was right, I had pulled muscles in my back and I could not even drive home.  I have not been able to lie down and sleep or make any kind of sudden move or even bathe my self since then.  Poor Ritzy has been having to help me with my bath. I can't get down in the tub ;-(
I have slowed way down on my housekeeping and baby watching.  I slept in the recliner the first few nights.  The past couple nights I have at least slept in the bed, but propped up on pillows in a semi-sitting position.  I can hardly wait until I can lay on my side again.  My spine doesn't hurt, it is the muscle on either side in the mid to lower back region that gives me fits.  Sometimes I will move just the right/wrong way and it just takes my breath.  I have been surviving on Aleve, Ben Gay & the heating pad.  It gets better each day, but I still have to "watch" it.

Ni-maw's new ride

Well I did it...............I traded in my red 2008 F-150 for this 2012 Ford Escape.  My "ni-mawmobile"...I had expected to just keep driving the truck for a while......but there was no room for 2 carseats plus Ritzy.   After discussing the matter we decided the best thing was to trade in my trusty truck for this SUV. (Can you believe it's not red?!?)  My family has been giving me a hard time about my color choices in the past because it always seemed we ended up with a red vehicle.  At one time we had 3 red trucks, a red car and a maroon car.   Now we have this one, 2 red trucks and the red car, haha.  Well, one of the red trucks might not count, it is a 1996 nissan truck that we have had forever.  Ritzy uses it to haul wood around - an oversized lawn tractor ;-).     I miss the roominess of my truck but I love my new ride.  Now I will be able to take Ritzy along with me and the grandsons :-)
YUMMY.....I had my first pan of "okra, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, squash & bacon" of the season the other night. It was heavenly.  This and BLT"s with garden fresh tomatoes are my favorite meals during the summer season. 







 I love eating out of the garden.  This year has been kind of rough on our Oklahoma gardens.  It started out colder than normal, then it turned dry and then hot.  We are lucky we are even getting anything, I guess.  Now at the end of July we are experiencing cooler than normal temps and are now under a flash flood watch until tomorrow night.  This year's weather has been really strange :-0
The grandsons spend the night with Ritzy and I tonight.  They are so fun to watch.  Their energy level is amazing.  They are just starting to "run".  They are growing so fast, we better not blink or we will miss something......
Hmm seeing that picture of the fried okra is making me hungry....think I will go warm some of that up for my lunch...............Ritzywife out................

We finally got to experience some fresh garden produce. It was delicious!! Green beans, potatoes, onion & garlic. Now to sit back and wait on the tomatoes and okra, peppers, cucumbers etc... I love eating from the garden. Nothing like it. I have been pretty busy babysitting lately. I am loving it tho. Those grandsons are a handful and they are so funny. Yesterday they learned a new word. They were both a little whiny and "Ni-maw" told them the whining was gonna stop. I said while we are at it let's learn a new word --"stop". After me saying and sounding it out about 3 times, they were both saying it, haha. I had ordered a new red wagon, it arrived but I did not have time to assemble it. The son got home and he started putting it together. The boys had spent the nite with us Sunday nite and were being picked up by their Nana pretty soon so I took them inside to feed them their supper. The son came in and was telling them he had fixed their wagon and they could ride in it after they ate. When he was finished speaking.....Braedy said "ride". Me and the son looked at each other and I asked if I just heard that word and the son said "I think so"... WOW....they are going to start repeating everything they hear now. I was getting on to Braedy because he likes to stand in his high chair. Right after correcting him, he immediately wrinkled his face and tried mocking me. It was funny and I was fighting to keep a straight face, but I told him that was not the right thing to do ;-) Calvin is always taking things from Braedy and most of the time Braedy lets him. But I think Braedy is finding out he can fight for what he wants........or get Calvin back when no one is looking, haha. While watching them the other day at their house Braedy had a little plastic golf club and Calvin was sitting on the floor. I saw this "evil" look come across Braedy's face, he grinned and whacked his brother with that club. I told him "no, Braedy that is not nice" and he did it again. Calvin has this odd look on his face wondering what the heck was going on. I tell Calvin that "brother" is not gonna take it anymore. Pretty soon Calvin walks over and gives Braedy a big hug......it was so sweet!!! We are busy with VBS at church. We are having it every Wednesday nite the months of June & July instead of the traditional 5 straight days. It is a lot easier on those working. Having a great turnout so far. It's gonna start getting hot here in Oklahoma. It's really been nice. So far I have been able to go out in the evening and sit in my swing. That will come to an end once the hot weather settles in. It's getting late and this Ni-maw is getting tired.......Ritzywife out!

Well after a slow start to our stormy season, we are catching up it seems. The past 10 days or so have been pretty wild "weather-wise" here in Oklahoma. Have had terrible destructive tornadoes south and west of us. On May 31 (which is my Dad's birthday) there was a tornado just a few miles from home. Here is the picture my son took: While we were all in the cellar, he and the son-in-law were over on the bridge taking this picture. I thought they were just outside the cellar all this time. YIKES!!! It has been a long time since we have had to use the "frady hole"... The lake is up 11 ft. above normal. Hard to believe... because just 3 months ago it was 4 ft. below normal. Wow.....what a difference a little time and a few rainstorms make here in Oklahoma!! You guessed it....my crappie fishing is over for the year. It never really got going because of the unseasonably cool spring. But, I did get enough for the freezer so I won't complain too much. Ritzy's garden is doing pretty good. We had to replant our okra. Can hardly wait to cook some of that in the future. Those grandsons have been keeping us busy and entertained. They are just too much fun to watch. We let them make and play in mud last week, they loved it!!! Got it all over themselves. Braedy had to taste it and Calvin thought he needed to sit in it, haha! I was sitting outside a couple nights ago and needed a jacket on an Oklahoma June evening.....WOW! The weather has been so strange the past few years, it's impossible to predict what it will do next.... I just called the daughter to see if the grandsons could spend the night Saturday nite and go to church with Ritzy and I Sunday morning. Saturday is their Uncle Matt's birthday. I talked to him earlier and asked what he would like me to fix for his dinner that night. Told the daughter to bring family over to eat and the grandsons could just stay with Ritzy and I. It's a go!!! I think I feel the need for a nap before starting supper...............Ritzywife out!

This Oklahoma Spring has been way too cool. My fishing has been way off. The weather warms up, then cools down, warms up, then cools down.....well, you get the picture....then the lake comes up, goes down, not good for my fishing hole....It has been so cold that Ritzy finally planted our tomatoes just a few days ago. I told him that it will probably turn off hot and dry and we will miss out on any tomatoes ;-( My flowers are finally blooming. Here is a picture of a "clematis" that has just bloomed: My lilac went kind of crazy this year not many blooms but I think it was confused. It had leafed out in January or February due to the unusual warm weather. That's Oklahoma for ya!! Those grandsons are growing like crazy... they are walking all over the place and are getting cuter by the minute ;-) Last week Ritzy had them outside and they were playing with sticks in our firepit. They were just as happy with those two sticks as they would have been with the most expensive toy money could buy, haha. Here is a picture of the guys playing outside: I have been keeping busy babysitting those two little fellas. They are at the age now where they are just a joy to watch, even tho they wear this "Ni-maw" out, haha.....It is so much fun to watch them play together, and learn every day. If one of them comes to me and wants held, the other one catches us and has to come over too. I love it!! It's about time to leave and go watch/have fun with them again for today so I had better go. Have a great day! Ritzywife out........................

This is a microwave chip maker that my mom gave me tonite, so.... around midnight before going to bed I just had to try it out. All I can say is WOW!!!! You slice the potatoes, or whatever you are making chips out of, with a mandolin slicer, dry them a bit with a paper towel, lay them on dryer and pop into microwave for about 4 minutes and that is it!!! They taste wonderful. I will be using this little gadget a lot!!! I have also been busy spending time with those two little sweetheart grandsons. Oh my goodness, they are growing. They both are walking and keeping themselves entertained. It is such a joy to watch them. I get to have them here tomorrow. Ritzy and I are spoiling them rotten, but that's the way it's supposed to be I believe, haha!!! My fishing this spring is lacking, mostly because of the low lake levels and also due to the cool weather. The past couple of weeks the lake has risen a little and if it ever warms up I will be down there trying to find a place to catch those crappie. A friend stopped by last Sunday and gave me 5 nice crappie. I cleaned them and cooked them a couple nites later. They were delicious!!!! This ni-maw had better get to bed to get rested up for those twin 1-yr old's coming tomorrow. Take care and Ritzywife out......................

One more week and those beautiful twin grandsons will be 1 year old. They are so fun to watch and play with. This year has gone by so fast. Calvin is beginning to take steps on his own, Braedy is not far behind. Calvin is starting to get a mouthful of teeth and Braedy has a few less. No more putting my finger in their mouths, haha!! They are spending the night tomorrow night since their mama and daddy are going to be busy Saturday. Looking forward to a good time with them. Here is a recent picture of those handsome boys: Well, winter tried to make a show here in our part of the state the past couple of days.....not near enough snow tho. We hardly got any and got just a little bit of freezing rain. The flowers are up and trees are starting to bud out. It looks as if we may have an early Spring like last year. My fishing hole is still dry tho, and that is not good.. Wow, I didn't know being a "Ni-maw" could keep a person so busy. I see I have neglected my writing somewhat. After supper tonite I made some fried pies, a recipe I saw on the Pioneer Woman site. I made lemon-filled ones. They were delicious!!! Now after cleaning up the kitchen, putting the laundry away and finishing up little chores, this chick is ready for bed. So that means.................Ritzywife out!

O my gosh.....I was beginning to think that feeling sick was just going to be a way of life.......but after a couple of months of being sick with one thing or another I am finally getting over whatever got a hold of me. I have been busy the past few days getting all the 2012 tax information finished for our church. All those numbers were about to get to me, but I got 'er done!!! A nephew is supposed to come here later so I can file their taxes online. I seem to be the 'tax lady' about this time of year for my family. I love doing it.....unless it is way too complicated. Usually for us simple folks tho it's a pretty simple task . I just have one question..................Where the heck is Winter/snow?!? Oklahoma, at least Northeast Oklahoma has not really seen any kind of winter weather at all so far. Also, the closer it gets to April (when the crappie start to spawn) the more I realize I may not have my trusty fishing hole. It's all dried up thanks to the past couple years drought here in our state :-( Oh, let's not forget about those precious grandsons. They are on the verge of walking. Last night Ritzy and I were in the floor with them and Braedy just stood up by Ritzy and stayed there for a long time not holding on to anything, I am not sure the little guy knew what he was doing. they are starting to try to really talk and tell us things and I just act like I know what they are saying. I love it!!!!! Ritzy and Ritzywife are "putty" in their little hands........ The son brought home an envelope that had "Rattlesnake eggs" on it the other nite and told me to open it...well, I remember seeing something like this when I was younger so I approached it very carefully, I still jumped tho, haha.................but he gave it to Ritzy who was very cautious and when he opened it and when it "rattled" Ritzy threw the thing down and just about fainted. I could not help myself, I was laughing so hard it was hurting. I told Ritzy thank you for that good laugh. I needed it, hehe!!! What's even more funny is the son and I were in this together and he was getting a video of all this on his phone. The son tried to get his sister and she would not even take the thing, haha..... Just might be "warm" enough to go outside and enjoy some fresh air today. From where I am sitting it looks like a beautiful day shaping up here in Oklahoma. Gotta go...Ritzywife out....................

The past few weeks I have not been on here because contrary to what I thought was happening, Ritzywife was NOT getting better. That darn cold kept teasing me. The weekend before Christmas the son, his cousin, uncle and grandpa all came down with the flu. They all work together.....imagine that. I tried to keep my distance so I would not get sick but it didn't work. On Christmas Eve I started feeling bad and was in bed by 6pm that evening. Because of the weather the daughter and family came over to spend the nite. I didn't even feel good enough to play with the kiddos. Early the next morning I started feeling somewhat better, at least good enough to be around people. Mom and Dad, my brother and nephews,& part of my family were sick so we had to postpone Christmas dinner at granny's. Would you believe we FINALLY ate that dinner this last Sunday. We didn't really get to celebrate Christmas this year as a family so it didn't really feel like the holidays. The only good thing was getting to watch the grandsons have fun. But....they caught whatever was going around too. For a week the daughter's family was here...She, I and the boys were all sick at the same time....that was fun-----a sick mama and ni-maw trying to take care of 2 sick little boys. I hate to see them not feeling well. Right now I have a croupy cough that won't go away and is very annoying. I will be so glad when all this "crud" has run it's course!! The daughter told me today that Calvin has a tooth peeking thru....YIPPEE!!! The first tooth..Those boys are crawling everywhere, pulling up to everything and trying to climb anything that stands still long enough, haha!!!! It will not be long before they are walking/running everywhere......They just keep getting cuter & cuter in their looks and actions. I love it!!!!!! I am going to work with Ritzy tomorrow. We are going to a lunch meeting in Miami, Ok. So, I had better try to get some sleep cause 5am is gonna come way too soon. Ritzywife out.................