New Baby!!!

Just wanted to say congratulations to Pat and Kim Kendrick on their new baby boy born Aug. 13, 2008. Welcome to the world Emory Tate Kendrick!!!!

And another one!!!

Well we had yet another perfect summer weekend! This makes like 3 in a row or more. My cousin Pete came down from WVa he had never visited this area before and he loves Harley Davidson Motorcycles! The first night he and Paul were here they got to hang out with us at the house and meet Daniel, Whitney, (see pic)and GW...we had a blast...and a few beers. We laughed a lot. The next morning we got up and met Pete and took him to the All Harley Drags(see pic)...it was a really good time! Brian even found some new motorcycle helmets (see pic) that was a hoot! Then we took them to the Elizabethton Saturday Night Car Show...there seemed to be more cars than usual there this time...musta had something to do with the perfect temperatures this past weekend. Anywho...we wanted to hang out and listen to some music, eat and have a beer or two so we took them to Bridge's Cafe on the Wautauga river...we sat outside and I have to say the service there was outstanding this time...it can be a little slow from our prior experience but not this time...the entertainment was great too! Sunday morning Brian and I took our usual treck to the lake and cruised around and fished some...Pete was headed back to the mountains of West Va by that time. Needless to say by Sunday evening I was worn slap out but it was all worth it. I loved the weekend!

Just for fun a survey.

Start with your name:
Ashley, Ash, Mom, Babe, just a few names that I go by.


How did you wake up this morning?
My alarm went off and I hit sleep instead of snooze so I overslept and woke up in a panic...still made it on time though!


Do you believe everything you hear?
I don't believe anything unless I see it with my own eyes.


What is the next big decision you have to make in your life?
What to eat for lunch...lol.


What are you wearing right now?
khakis and a shirt


What were you doing at 12:00 PM yesterday?
I was working.


Is it easy for others to make you feel awkward?
No I don't think so.


Are you taller than 5'3?
Yep! Barely


What time did you go to bed last night?
around 10:30pm


Does anyone like you?
I think so...if not they do a good job of pretending to but if they don't who cares.


What will you do Friday?
Go shopping for something to wear to Rick's wedding on Saturday.


What are your initials?
AAK


Is there anyone you really can't stop thinking about?
Yep...my honey!

How do you feel?
Happy, loved, lucky, busy


Do you trust all of your friends?
My closest ones only


Did you like anyone last summer?
Just my husband


What are you doing tomorrow?
Going to work, then lunch with Cheryl at Pepper Jack's then I dunno after that.


Where were you last night at midnight?
In my bedroom sleeping


Are you married?
I sure am

Do you wish at 11:11?
No...didn't even know people did that

Have you told anyone a secret in the past week?
I don't really have any secrets...I'm an open book

Could you date someone taller than you?
I wouldn't be dating anyone cuz I'm married but my hubby is taller than me.

How is your heart lately?
It is all a flutter...LOL


Is the last person you kissed mad at you?
Nope


How many hours did you sleep last night?
About 6


Is something bothering you?
No worries


Are you sarcastic?
Oh no, not at all.... yep!


In the past week have you felt stupid?
Stupid is as stupid does...LOL..I probably have for some reason or another.

In the past week have you gotten your hair cut?
Actually, no it was the week before that.



In the past week have you felt sad?
No

Has someone disappointed you lately?
Yep, that is a MAJOR understatment! Actually 2 people have but karma will catch up with them one day.


Do you feel comfortable with answering personal questions?
I have no problem with it at all.



Have you ever had your heart broken?
Oh yes

Just pics from around the garden

Just thought I'd share some pics from the garden that I took the other day. We have really been blessed with a good garden this year. We have been overloaded with tomatoes, zucchini, squash, cucumbers, onions, lettuce, peppers, beans, etc, etc...I have canned, and vaccum sealed everything I can now I'm just tired of all of that and giving away the goods to anyone who needs them. I love it though!

Just got off the phone with crazy Pat K. his wife Kim's due date has now come and gone and he tells me they will take the baby next Wed the 13th if she doesn't have little Emory Tate by then. Can't wait for the baby to get here!

Also yesterday was a successful day...Gigi had a border collie puppy dropped off at her house about a week ago...it was soooooooooo cute. She couldn't keep it because she already had 2 boxers so after several days of looking we found it a really good home with a guy I work with and his family. I always love it when an animal can be saved from going to the pound.

Politics

Just thought I'd share that I am reading another book...this one is a look at the life of Barack Obama written by a reporter who has followed him around for some years. This guy got to have exclusive interviews with Obama's teachers, family, classmates, as well as Michelle Obama...it is very eye opening. It gives you a look at Obamas life other than what he himself has written. So far it's been an easy read and very informative. If you get time check it out.

Another Perfect Summer Weekend!

Well we had yet another perfect summer weekend! Friday night Whitney and I plugged our first watermelon. I had never attempted this before...neither had she. We used a perfect seedless watermelon and watermelon flavored vodka. We decided it would go perfect with Ribeye steaks, fried potatoes and onions and pasta salad...so Whitney decided to have a cookout at her place Saturday night...to give the watermelon time to sit. The food was yummy! For desert we had jello shooters.

After dinner and hanging out at their place we all loaded up into the Xterra and went for a drive...we ended up at Pat's house and had a big time there. Saturday night was a blast!

Sunday morning Brian and I decided to head out to the lake. It was awesome...the water was gleaming and so calm. It seemed as if we were the only boat and had the whole lake to ourselves. We went to our favorite spot where Brian fished and I laid out and soaked up the summer sun. Rascal enjoyed himself too.

It's hard to believe that Ryan started back to school this week. I know we still have the month of August but I will be sad to see summer come to an end.

A Must Read!!!!

I don't know who the author of this is but I thought it was important enough a message to post...please take the time out to read this one:

Author Unknown

I Believe...
That just because two people argue,
it doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue,
it doesn't mean they do love each other.

I Believe...
That we don't have to change friends if
we understand that friends change.

I Believe...
That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt
you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe...
That true friendship continues to grow, even over
the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I Believe...
That you can do something in an instant
that will give you heartache for life.

I Believe...
That it's taking me a long time
to become the person I want to be.

I Believe...
That you should always leave loved ones with
loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe...
That you can keep going long after you think you can't.(AMEN!)

I Believe...
That we are responsible for what
we do, no matter how we feel.

I Believe...
That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I Believe...
That heroes are the people who do what has to be done
when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I Believe...
That money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I Believe...
That my best friend and I, can do anything, or nothing and have the best time.

I Believe...
That sometimes the people you expect to kick you
when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe...
That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry,
but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe...
That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had
and what you've learned from them and less to do
with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I Believe...
That it isn't always enough, to be forgiven by others.
sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I Believe...
That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I Believe...
That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are,
but, we are responsible for who we become.

I Believe...
That you shouldn't be so eager to find
out a secret. It could change your life Forever.

I Believe...
Two people can look at the exact same
thing and see something totally different.

I Believe...
That your life can be changed in a matter of
hours by people who don't even know you.

I Believe...
That even when you think you have no more to give, when
a friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help.

I Believe...
That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I Believe...
That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

I Believe...
The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
they just make the most of everything.

New Voice Mail Message

I just had to share this...someone special who always understands sent this to me and I am seriously considering changing my voice mail message to say exactly this...because it so fits for me right now:

I dialed a number and got the following recording:

'I am not available right now, but
Thank you for caring enough to call .
I am making some changes in my life .
Please leave a message after the
Beep. If I do not return your call,
You are one of the changes. '~

Brian Wins 1st Place in Mud Bog!!!!

Yay!!! What a fun weekend. Friday night everyone came by and helped Brian get his truck finely tuned and ready for the mud bog on Saturday. They even shined the wheels. Have you all ever heard of shining up the wheels for a mud bog. But anyway...they were looking good...for a little while.

Saturday we headed down to Surgoinsville/Mt. Carmel area for the Struttin' in the Ruts Mud Bog. It was the perfect temperature...not too hot...not too cool. We watched all of the 4 wheelers race and Brian went and signed up for the BIG PIT!  He got to go through it 3 times along with the other drivers. Ryan rode with him twice while I cheered them on. It was great! At the end of the night Brian took home the 1st place money!!! Way to go baby!

Awesome Pie Recipe!

You have to try this to believe it...I have been bombarded with zucchini this year from my garden. A friend of mine (Melissa...Whitey's momma) turned me onto this recipe and I have to say it is unbelieveable that zucchini can taste just like apples. Here's how to make zucchini "apple" pie.

Use big zucchinis. Peel and cut in quarters lengthwise, remove the seeds and slice crosswise.

Toss together:
4 cups sliced zucchini, cooked until tender crisp
2 tablespoons lemon juice
dash of salt
Mix in a bowl:
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
dash of nutmeg
3 tablespoons flour

Add the zucchini and mix well. It will be runny, but that's ok. Dump the filling into a 9-inch crust and dot with butter. Add the top crust and bake at 400 degrees or until golden brown.

I'm tellin' you...no one will be able to tell that this is not just regular apple pie!

Has this ever happened to you?

Funny Pictures and Myspace Layouts at pYzam.com

The Perfect Summer Week

Wow what a week...you couldn't have asked for better weather. Brian celebrated his 37th birthday. He really enjoyed it. His mom and dad came down and his buddy Daniel and Whitney. He got everything he wanted...a new fishing pole, traction bars for his truck, money and a Bass Pro Shop gift card.

We attended the Struttin' in the Ruts Mud Bog on Saturday night...it was a blast! I think Brian was foaming at the mouth the whole time...he plans to take his big truck next weekend weather permitting. That should be interesting. After the mud bog we saw the Funfest Fireworks...they were great!

Sunday we loaded up early and headed to the lake. We cruised around forever and really enjoyed the scenery. Then we parked at my brother's house and settled in for awhile. We swam, rode jet skis, fished, and I drank too much beer! I really enjoyed spending time with the kids.

A good read

I just finished reading the book by the late Tim Russert called..."Big Russ and Me"...I just wanted to let everybody know that this was a very good read. I loved the stories he told about the people who taught him most in life. If you get a chance check it out. I haven't decided yet what to read next...I have a book on Barack Obama or a book called Vital Friendships. I'll let you know about the next one.

Well it's Friday!!! I am looking forward to spending time on the lake this weekend. Have a safe and fun summer weekend.

What is wrong with people these days?

I don't have a clue what has happened to people these days... How can people live without caring about how their actions affect others? Why do people think that they shouldn't be held accountable for their actions when they do something wrong? Whatever they want to do or say to you is ok...it's like they don't give a second thought about how their actions OR words are going to affect someone else. I mean come on people...when you screw up...OWN UP!

Accountablity...one day we are all going to be held accountable for our actions...what then? Are we going to blame our actions on someone else?

I am just about to the point of giving up on people all together because it seems like there aren't any out there that give a crap if they cause other people pain. Too many people these days are all about "me, me, me...I, I ,I" all the time. What has happened to people who care about each other, who look out for each other? Who have each other's back through thick and thin, who tell each other exactly how they feel, the truth, and are admired for doing so.

Trustworthy...now there's another problem...are there any people left that you can tell something to and they can keep it to themselves? Whatever happened to that...can you really trust anyone these days? I am starting to doubt it more and more.

Apologizing...now there's another good word...when you hurt someone...and you know you've hurt them...or you've done something wrong...be accountable for what you've done and say three simple words..."I am SORRY"...It isn't a difficult thing to do. Don't go trashing the person you've done something wrong to in order to take the focus off of your screw up. Say I'm sorry and mean it.

Also if people apologize to you for something they've done...and you know they truly mean it...accept it and move on. Put whatever it was in the past don't throw it up to them everytime you get upset with something, this happens too often, between spouses, friends, coworkers, etc. If you work it out with someone don't constantly bring up the past issue. If they say they're sorry don't dwell on it. It's over.

Stress...there's another problem facing people today...yes people are more and more stressed all of the time...we live in stressful times. But don't use the stress you are under as an excuse to justify your mistakes or behavior.

I could go on and on with this one. I am really disappointed in people right now as you can tell. I mean I try to be a better person everyday but you don't have a snowballs chance in hell if everyone else isn't taking a good hard look at themselves and tring to do the same.

Let me add that if I have offended anyone by my rantings I am TRULY SORRY...I am not about hurting or offending people. I know there is goodness out there in everyone...but sometimes we need to be reminded that we can always do better. Also if there's anyone out there who I have done any of the above things to I am TRULY SORRY...and I hope that will be enough a sincere apology.

I love my hubby!

Look...he caught another good bass while fishing Friday night. He's really gettin' good at this! I love my husband.

4th of July Fun!!!

Fourth of July weekend was a hoot! I really enjoyed Christy, Whitney and Daniel on Thursday night, oh and don't forget Doug and Jimmy...oh and I think I remember Dustin and a girl, and Lauren and GW being around too. Too bad Brian had to go out fishing and miss our drunken spactacular fireworks display...ha ha...it was crazy! Amber and Ed came by early on the 4th for Mesquite Grilled Chicken and veggies...it was yummy!!! We had to go buy more fireworks on Friday after the always fabulous Blountville Parade. I had to stand in line for an hour to check out with my 2nd load of fireworks, but we had to put on another show Friday night so it was all good. At least on Friday night we had 2 sober people to help us (Brian and Ryan). Actually Daniel helped to with close supervision while Whitney and I cheered them on...but we were far from sober. I will try to add pics to this post later. Saturday we had the picnic at Mike and Susans...their new house is lovely. I had sworn by Saturday that I wouldn't drink any beer but somehow Mike pulled and twisted on my arm so...well...you know:) Sunday was spent laying around by the pool to recooperate from the festivities. Another awesome 4th of July in Blountvegas!

Camping in Pigeon Forge

We arrived at the campsite yesterday around 5pm...everything was set up and ready. The guys decided to go fishing down by the river almost as soon as we got here...well after Ryan checked his myspace on the new macbook laptop. They had several good hits but couldn't get anything in. Several large mouth bass and turtles were seen but the coolest thing was the raccoons over on the opposite side of the river...they came out from a rock and went all along the bank trying to catch fish for dinner. The campground is very nice. It's called River Plantation.

This morning a nice breeze is blowing and I am ready to go shopping and then come back for lunch and start reading a book. I think I'll read Big Russ and Me by the late Tim Russert. I'll post a review when I finish it.

That's all for now from Pigeon Forge.

What a Weekend!

What a weekend! Had an awesome time Saturday at the Blountvegas Tractor Pull. It was a really good time but man was it hot! Sunday Brian and I headed out to the lake with our little dog Rascal. Brian caught a really good fish and I caught some rays...then we went and hung out with Pat K. at his house with the craziest bunch of people I know. I worked on the garden for a little bit when we first got home last night. Anyway...I had fun this weekend.

Very interesting

I hope everyone is planning on getting out and voting in the next presidential election...I found this story interesting for those who are still trying to decide who to vote for go to this website and read this article.

whhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1024927/The-wife-John-McCain-callously-left-behind.htmlo

Had a Blast at Daytona Beach

Just got back from Daytona Beach, FL...man did we have a blast. It was a much needed and over due vacation. A great time was had by all.