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.................