Hard to believe

It's hard to believe that the last time I posted was almost one year ago, the pattern still exists... hm mm!

It has been a long hard year the ups, I graduated in May from Kennebec Valley Community College with high honors, a member of Phi Theta Kappa national honor society with my associates degree.

I am currently enrolled at University of Maine Augusta to continue my education and graduate with my bachelors degree. It is a difficult transition on all levels.

Ryan will graduate this year; that in it's self is emotional, exciting and every emotion that goes along with that event. A couple weeks ago, Dan, Ryan and I toured 3 colleges that Ryan is considering attending. Lincoln Culinary in CT, Culinary Institute of America in NY, and Johnson and Wales Culinary in RI.

Talon is still working for T-Mobile, shares an apartment with his girlfriend and hopefully will be returning to college himself soon.

Dan is Dan.

The downs, once again, I find myself on the weight loss bandwagon; a vicious cycle at best.

Relationships... well, they are.

Not sure where my life is going, just that I am moving in a direction (not forward, not backward) just moving.

***** Remember the Board*****

A year ago

A Swan
Every ugly duckling possesses a beautiful swan within... Through perseverance and aspiration she will emerge strong and graceful.

Was the post on another blog I wrote a year ago. I had decided then to get myself into shape, and one year later, here I am again. I see a pattern emerging... The road to good intentions is truly paved with failures.

No matter... Failures are merely the stepping stones to greatness!!!

***Remember the Board***

It's been a long hard year!

Wow, it is hard to believe that Talon's first year of College ends tomorrow and Ryan's first year of High School will be ending in June.

Where does the time go?

It's been a long hard year for me. Ryan is going so fast, I just want to hold him in my arms and not let him become a young man like his older brother Talon.

Dan has accepted a new position within the company he works for and there has been a lot of positive change for him.

I am so proud of all my boys!!!



Zeus and Apollo love to be out in the yard. Zeus is the one with the most white on his nose he enjoys playing Frisbee while Apollo, loves to play ball.


I have been out working in my roses, I can hardly wait to see them bloom. I have to replace 4 bushes this year, I lost 2 last winter and 2 this winter. I am learning as I go. This is a picture of one of my Tahitian Sunset Roses.













Memorial Day weekend is just around the corner. I am looking forward to the weekend. Dan and I usually head South to the Berwick area to spend the weekend on the farm at Dales house or at his brother Kevin's house for a weekend long pig roast. The boys usually spend the weekend with Brenda and Ken in the Cornville area.

Pay it Forward

Read closely...this is how it works...The Rules
1. Be one of the first THREE bloggers to leave a comment on this post, which then entitles you to a handmade item from me.
2. Winners, you must post this challenge on your blog, meaning that you will Pay It Forward, creating a handmade gift for the first THREE bloggers who leave a comment on YOUR post about this giveaway!
3. The gift that you send to your Three Friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And, remember: It’s the Spirit and the Thought That Count!
4. When you receive your gift, please feel free to blog about it, sharing appropriate Linky Love!If you are not one of the Top Three Commenters on this post, you can still play along. Please take the button and post it on your blog; start your own Pay It Forward chain, and encourage your blogging friends to do the same!

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year... WRESTLING SEASON

A time for long practices, twelve hour Saturdays, heart racing matches against your opponent. Bodies contorting in unimaginable ways; muscles tightening and limbs being stretched to their limits as teeth grind in agony. The feeling of elation from winning and the anguish of defeat.
Yeah, that is exactly what I feel!

Oh, you thought I was talking about the wrestlers on the matt!! One can always spot the parents of the wrestlers on the matt; they sit on the sidelines or in the stands mimicking the movement their son or daughter might be using, shouting out moves or counters to an action while trying to some how send them subliminal messages through their own movements of the moves they can see that might be useful.


You would have thought that 6 years of watching Talon wrestle Jr. High and High School Wrestling and Ryan wrestle Peewees and Jr. High wrestling, I would not get so wound up.


Ryan has the Varsity Seat for the 103 lb weigh class for the Winslow Wrestling Team.

But WAIT… He only weighs 87 lbs!!!! This young athlete is wrestling people 16 lbs heavier than him and so far this season he has done very well. The pre season Westlake tournament he placed 2nd over all for the 103 weight class; he received a Second Place Ribbon. Yesterday at the Westbrook tournament he received a 4th place medal. What a way to start a season!!!





Yes, the Winslow High School Wrestling Season has officially begun. Though I am sad that Ryan and his older brother Talon have never been apart of the same wrestling team at the same time; they have shared in the same programs and Ryan has had the good fortune of knowing all the wrestlers from the High School team down through Jr. High, which he participated in, as well as the Peewee level.

The Greens’ are here, The Greens’ are here!!!

There are two types of families the ones you were born to and those you choose, we call them friends… We were blessed with both at our table this year. What a great Thanksgiving we had! Mark and Dee Green along with Marks’ Brother Kevin and their families made the trek from Vernon, CT to have share our Thanksgiving dinner. Also in attendance were Dan’s Mom Brenda, Step Father Kenny, Brother Eric, Uncle Kevin and girlfriend Pat and were joined later by his sister Heather and her two boys.


Devon Green
Tyler Green


Mark and Kevin

Nikki


Dan "Deigo" and Isabella "Not a bella, could have been a bella, should have been a bella" Long story don't ask!!!!

Kevin and Pat

Brenda, Pat, Heather and Kevin


Ken, Brenda and Pat

Cody
Eric

Chicken Soup

Well, the flu season is upon us. Our house is seeing its first round of colds.
Chicken Soup is one of Ryan’s favorite foods and is a wonderful comfort food when you are not feeling well. I thought it might be fun to post our favorite Chicken Soup recipe.

Chicken Soup
3-4 boneless, skinless Chicken breasts (depending on size of breasts)
10 Cups water
½ Cup chopped Onion
½ teaspoons Salt
½ teaspoon Thyme leaves crushed
6 Pepper Corns or ¼ teaspoon pepper
1 Tablespoon Chicken Bouillon paste
1 Cup thinly sliced Celery
1 Cup thinly sliced Carrots
½ Cup uncooked White Rice OR 2 Big hand full Wide Egg Noodles

In 5qt Stock Pot combine chicken and water. Bring to boil. Skim off scum that rises to the surface. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 15 minutes. Add bouillon paste, onion, salt, thyme and peppercorns. (Do Not let pot come to Rolling Boil) Simmer covered for 35-45 minutes. Remove Pepper Corns and Chicken from broth, let chicken cool until cool enough to cut into bite size pieces. Bring broth to a boil, as soon as comes to a boil add chicken, carrots, celery and Noodles OR Rice. Reduce heat and simmer 20-30 minutes or until vegetables are done.

Enjoy!!!