Making My Home A Haven is important to me. Sharing homemaking skills. Recipes and food. Bible Studies. This is a treasure chest of goodies. So take a seat. Have a glass of tea and enjoy. You will learn all about who I am.
Our Vacation is nearing the end. We have 2 full days left and 2 partial. I am not ready to go back to real life. I haven’t been happy with park life in a long time. Not really sure how I am going to face the endless days there. I haven’t had nearly as much Family Time with Danny as I needed. At least he hasn’t been able to hole up in a room and shut me out like he does at home.
I wrote the following years ago when I started a group for Bobby on Facebook.
”
Robert Lee Kasch Born in Alton, Illinois on July 17, 1980 to Debra Sue Kasch. He died at his home in Colorado Springs, Colorado on May 19,2006. He was 25 years old. Sunrise to Sunset- Not long enough.
What can a mom say about her only child, who was taken from this world suddenly and without warning? BOBBY DIED FROM AN ASTHMA ATTACK. He hadn’t had a serious attack in years. YES! ASTHMA KILLS! Bobby was almost 26 years old. He never married and didn’t have any children. He had a strong faith in God and liked helping others. He worked at The Gazette in Colorado Springs. He loved kids and his cat. He love his church and youth groups. He loved the Chicago Cubs and the Denver Broncos. He loved the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Shania Twain. His favorite people were his Aunt Donna, his cousins, his great- grandparents and the Lymings. He loved Kari. He ‘d be the first to tell you that he loved his mom most. We were really close. He’d call in the middle of the day just to have me listen to a favorite song. He called at midnight to wish me Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday. He just call for no reason. The first thing he said when he talked to me was, “Mom,I love you!” That was also the last thing he said. …..”
Tyler, Michael, Donna, Kari, Bobby and I. Colorado 2014
Bobby and Danny,
On Top Of Pike’s Peak,
Colorado 2016
3 months old
1980
Bobby and I
1992
Illinois
Hell Week: The Week following Bobby’s Death.
Colorado
Mom and Dad
Donna
Danny and I
Danny And I were in Plant City for 4 days and 3 nights. We left our house around 10:30 AM Saturday Morning, November 30th. If it would have been up to me, we would have left the night before. LOL, Probably not though.The traffic would have been a lot worse than it was Saturday morning. Thanksgiving Weekend is not the time to travel for a relaxing trip. I don’t remember Danny ever getting Thanksgiving Weekend off. He always works Thanksgiving, Friday and the weekend. It was also a first for me. I didn’t volunteer at all.I didn’t even spend the day there with Danny like I usually do. He ended up WORKING. They had a few problems that needed to be taken care of Thursday morning. Not the relaxing morning it usually is. So I stayed home. It tooks us almost 2 hours to get to Plant City on Saturday. Traffic was terrible. The first thing we always do when we get to Plant City is head to The Strawberry House. We had hoped that we would see a train on the way to the Bed And breakfast but no such luck. The first one we heard was as we were walking up to the door. I can’t believe that I didn’t take a photo of the house from the outside . Not once in the 4 days we were there. That is UNUSUAL for me. I always take lots of them. What is even more surprising. Danny never did either. I would post a photo of it from our last trip IF I COULD ACCESS it on the computer. Having trouble finding the pictures. ALBUMS not showing . I will try later. Oh Well, this post isn’t about the Strawberry House anyway. Except for where it pertains to trains.
Memorabilia in the Henry Plant Room AKA The Train Room and Inside The Strawberry House
Meeting Online FriendsBrian AKA JAWTOOTHJust having fun.
Danny and I love sitting outside on the porch and listening for the trains that run all through the night. We also were able to watch the live stream in town. Watching Train Videos Online. I only ORDERED TAKEOUT THE FIRST NIGHT. I ordered TONS OF SUSHI And DANNY HAD 3 DIFFERENT MEALS. I had enough SUSHI for SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. I PIGGED OUT ON IT. Danny had enough food for all 3 nights and plenty to take home.
Our favorite nighttime activity is spending time TOGETHER on The FRONT PORCH OF THE STRAWBERRY HOUSE. We listen all night for the trains going through. Watch the live videos. Plus we hook up the smartphone or laptop and watch train videos online.
Saturday Night, Christmas started early. We were in the Theatre Room the first night. It’s where we had always stayed before. It’s a very small room. Danny opened his COASTLINER TRAIN SET. It’s a complete ready to go train set. Train, cars and caboose. With Track and controller.Sunday Night In The Henry B Plant Room
Both trains running.
Danny’s train set up like it was suppose to. His is an HO SCALE Model like we have in OUR TRAIN ROOM AT HOME. MY DURANGO/SILVERTON NARROW GAUGE RAILROAD TOOK FOREVER TO GET IT WORKING RIGHT. i FINALLY HAD TO ENLIST DANNY’S HELP. Both trains are BACHMANN. Cheaper. Not as good as other LAKES AND MODELS. The one advantage of buying from them is when you want COMPLETE TRAIN SETS. My trains (I bought 2) Durango/Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroads N SCALE. Our first N SCALE. Both trains sets were both cheaply made. More so than the HO SCALE ones. I had a terrible time . The track went together OKAY. Hooking up the CONTROLLER was a lot of work. The 2 cords to connect to the controller wouldn’t connect. I had to borrow Danny’s. Then the cars wouldn’t stay HOOKED TO THE ENGINES. Lot’s of laughter at first. Then Frustration.
It took Danny over an hour to hook everything up. We NEVER did get the 7th car on. It should have taken a few minutes. The Train Viewing Platform In Plant City, Florida It was unusual not to see people there. Sundays and Monday were quiet days. The town shuts down.I didn’t take pictures of the Train Depot this time, except from this location. Sorry about that. We never ventured over there this time. Not sure why except Danny was really into videoing the trains and didn’t want to miss any. CSX headed to Tampa.
Too many people around for me to get closeups of the HO SCALE MODEL. The trains runs continually above as well.
We both enjoy just listening to this train run.
Love the menu.
The Whistle Shop Cafe I wish I had taken more photos here this weekend. Still having trouble Uploading photos from previous visits.
There are lots of tables to sit outside and eat. Or just wait for the passing trains. Or sit a spell on the bench .Headed West To Tampa. Danny videoing.CSX Headed NorthView Of The Museum Area From The Whistle Stop Cafe. CSX Headed To Tampa. It’s IMPOSSIBLE to Really RELAX AND ENJOY a meal when there are trains coming.When Danny WASN’T Videoing the trains he was texting another RAIL FAN. The Whistle Stop Cafe. An Amazing FAMILY OWNED cafe. Fun. There is a small HO Scale Train Model inside. Plus an O Scale Engine runs above us. Great viewing from 2 sides of the building. Lots of seats. An easy walk to take even better photos. Danny just WAITING.I got comfy. Comfy And In The Shade. It was 84 degrees.Sorry, Not the best photo. I love the graffiti.My good camera for fast photos broke the night before we left.Crews were working on the tracks and equipment Monday and Tuesday.
It was a busy couple of days for workers.
Various photos.
Lunch Time Tuesday. I was STARVING. We were sitting outside. Our meals had just arrived. I was digging in. Then came the BLAST of A TRAIN HORN. We ran over to the tracks. Danny realized that the train was coming from the West and would be in front of the platform soon. Off He ran, leaving me with the food. I decided to let him get the good video. I took it from where I was. Then loaded up the food in to go containers. Refilled our drinks. Bathroom break. Hugs to the owners. I was off with our food and drinks to the PLATFORM. I made it to the car and decided to eat there. Or at least I tried to. It took an hour to finish. Trains kept coming. FUN TIMES.
Danny found a Rail Spike.
Various Photos
Saturday, November 30th was a busy day.
Saw new friends and old.
I took time away from watching trains. I left Danny at the platform and went shopping. Spent almost $200 . What did I get? I went into an Antique store. Walked out with baskets for me. Christmas ornaments for our Christmas Tree. Cookbooks and Books. PLUS A WHOLE LOT OF TRAIN STUFF.
Danny spent almost ALL OF HIS TIME WATCHING TRAINS OR PLAYING WITH THEM. IN BETWEEN TIME HE TEXTED ANOTHER RAILFAN. THE WHOLE TIME WE WERE THERE. NOT QUITE THE ONE ON ONE TIME I HAD PLANNED ON. I wanted QUALITY TIME. I REALLY WANTED ROMANCE. CUDDLE TIME AND SEX. Briefly had the CUDDLE TIME. Not sure he remembers what SEX is. FAMILY TIME. Just the TWO OF IS. BRIEFLY.
“When the temperatures begin to dip, the leaves change colors and pumpkin spice abounds, you know Hallmark Channel’s seasonal programming to celebrate the fall, Halloween and Christmas can’t be far behind. We love the Hallmark Channel’s family-friendly programming that centers around love, community, seasonal gatherings, holiday traditions and everything cozy!
The south has always celebrated family and traditions, and to that end, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite Hallmark movies airing in the 2019 holiday season with a southern connection. Whether the lead actor has roots in the south or the movie is set in a southern city, we’re sharing the ten Hallmark Channel movies we’re watching this season to get us in the mood for pumpkin patches, trick or treating… and of course, Christmas.”
From Sarah : This post was written in October so Halloween is still being celebrated.
Removed: Photographer Removes Phones From His Photos To Show How Terribly Addicted We’ve Become
“American photographer Eric Pickersgill removed the smartphones and digital devices from his portraits of everyday life. The project “Removed” aims to show our addiction to technology and hyper-connectivity, and Pickersgill knows that he’s also amongst the addicted.
The photographer was inspired by a chance encounter in a New York cafe. “Family sitting next to me at Illium café in Troy, NY is so disconnected from one another,” Pickersgill writes in his notes from that day. “Not much talking. Father and two daughters have their own phones out. Mom doesn’t have one or chooses to leave it put away. She stares out the window, sad and alone in the company of her closest family. Dad looks up every so often to announce some obscure piece of info he found online.”
He achieved the surreal effect in his photos by asking strangers and friends to remain in position, removing their cellphones, and then taking the shot.”
That’s about the last place to have a cell phone when there are 2 of you.
I love the internet and there are times I am on it when Danny is home and not in his computer room. I try and LIMIT those moments.
I work really hard at it.
We would never have our phones etc on at the table. Or with anyone else.
Sarah
WHEN IT’S THANKSGIVING To be thankful on such a day, as we awake to peace in our homes, A warm fire in the morning, coffee, and possibly the paper to read. A parade is tradition each year in many places, turkey in the oven, Today will be most special as family will gather in places […]
The Kitchen Is Not Just For Cooking But For Connecting
From Courtney On Good Morning Girls Facebook:
NEW POST: This is our final week of the “Making Your Home a Haven” Series! This week’s challenge includes Conversation Starters for your kids and some of Women Living Well’s Favorite Recipes! Come take the challenge!!
NEXT WEEK: We will begin a special Thanksgiving Series on Wednesdays that includes keeping our candles and prayers going.
WOMEN LIVING WELL
There blog is filled with wonderful ideas for this last week. Easy family recipes. Conversation Topics for Kids.
Courtney’s Stories and Family PHOTOS
The Kitchen Is Not Just For Cooking But For Connecting
This week we are focusing on the kitchen – the heart of the home. At the bottom of this post you will find this week’s challenge, some fun conversation starters for kids and Women Living Well’s Favorite Recipes!
The kitchen is not just for cooking but for connecting.
God created taste buds, the sense of smell, and the eye that is drawn to beautiful things – to please our senses. He created crunchy green peppers, fuzzy peaches, juicy watermelons, sour lemons, and sweet potatoes! Our God is creative!
“Just as it is good to get one’s fingers into the soil and plant seeds, so it is good to get one’s fingers and fists into bread dough to knead and punch it.
There is something very positive in being involved in the creativity which is so basic to life itself.
Home-made bread, home-made cakes and pies, home-made vegetable soup from home-grown vegetables or from vegetable market purchases, home-made jams and jellies, homemade relishes and pickles—these are almost lost arts in many homes.”
I admit the above list does not represent the cooking in my home. Very rarely have I made homemade bread dough; I tend to make quick and easy recipes (I included some of Women Living Well’s favorite recipes at the end of this post).
But it’s the coming around the dinner table that blesses the souls of our families.
In Luke 11:3, Jesus said to pray,
“Give us each day our daily bread.”
In America, we are so blessed we rarely have to ask God for our daily bread, but we must remember to give thanks for our food.
Bowing our heads as a family in thankfulness to God is a gift we give our children and a memory they carry with them into adulthood.
Check Out Courtney’s Stories and Family Pictures……… Family Times – The BEST TIMES
The kitchen is not just for cooking but for connecting!
“Food cannot take care of the spiritual, psychological and emotional problems, but the feeling of being loved and cared for, the actual comfort of the beauty and flavor of food, the increase of blood sugar and physical well-being, help one to go on during the next hours better equipped to meet the problems.”
Read Women Living Well for the
Conversation Starters For Children.
This Week’s Challenge:
Keep lighting your candles and praying. Focus on the kitchen, the heart of the home and connect!
“Cook things with pleasant aromas like homemade bread, pies, and cookies. Don’t wait to have a reason to make something special – do it simply to show love to your family. Invite your kids and/or hubby to cook along side of you – make memories in the kitchen – test tasting, being creative, laughing and loving. Remember the importance of dinner time around the table as a family.
Live out the fruit of the Spirit this week by showing love, goodness and faithfulness to your family.”
From Sarah:
Make sure you check out the easy recipes on WLW.
What are meal times like for your family?
What are your conversations like during supper time?
Do YOU Pray?
Do you have a special prayer or do you take turns?
