Okie Sister

Favorites - March 2009

“Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” - Ferris Beuller

Here's my monthly roundup of interesing blog posts.
Have a favorite post or blog you would like to share? Leave me a comment.

Stories:
Why I'm Afraid of Pears from Simmer Till Done
Used Cars: Thump, Thump and 1966 & Steering Rockets from JenX67
Jury Duty from Rocks In My Dryer
When You Say Soda... from The Country Doctor's Wife
Is That A Poodle In Your Pocket?, PAFF, and Love Is Love from Re-Ramblings
Microsoft and GM from Life's Moments
A Post About Nothing from Nanny Goat in Panties

Inspiration:
It Is Well With My Soul and Brownie Lessons For Life from A Gathering of Thoughts
Jogging My Memory from Momo Fali's
That's My Boy from The Otis G Experience
Ebbing from BabyBloomr
How Can You Mend... from Half-Past Kissin' Time

Recipes:
Breakfast Casserole from Hillbilly Woman
Patty Melts from JustJoyce
Bacon Wrapped Chipotle Meatloaf from A Quiet Place In My Mind
Corned Beef & Cabbage Hash from My New 30
Corn Puddin' from The Greasy Skillet
Homemade Pop Tarts and Overnight Cinnamon Rolls from Chickens in the Road
Chicken Churrascaritas from Frantic Home Cook

Animals:
Pet's Remembered from This DVM's Wife's Life
A Time To Heal from Pioneer Woman
The Herd Meets the Pack from The 7MSN Ranch
Elk Jump a Fence from Beside The Stream
Visitors from From The Front Porch
Kenya, Africa from Jackal

Funnies:
Woman, Put That Camera Down from Forever in Blue Jeans
Who Let the AT-AT Out? and Jedi Stimulus Bonus? from The Official Star Wars Blog
Butter Off Dead, Yay Toast! and Creepy Girl from Fire Horse
Dear Mom, I'm Sorry and Clay's Lunch Menu from April Showers
The Donkey Slippers from Jill Shalvis
They Make It 'Cause We Buy It from From The Marbles

Favorites - February 2009

Remember a week ago when I was complaining about being so far behind in reading all my favorite blogs? Well, it was a good week and I managed to get caught up yesterday, just in time for my monthly roundup. As you will recall, my inspiration is my hero “for not letting life pass you by,” Mr. Ferris Bueller.
“Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

Stories:
Why I Have a Uterus from The Country Doctor’s Wife
Jill’s and Ashes’ Crazy Adventure and Morning’s Conversation from Jill Shalvis
My Factory Memoir and Where the Neon Lights Are Pretty from JenX67
ER Nurse’s Description of a Heart Attack from Heart At Home
One Day... from If Mom Says OK

Inspiration:
Kurtis the Stockboy & Brenda the Check-out Girl from Mile 283
He’s Ever Interceding and Remembering Laura from A Gathering of Thoughts
“Hot As A Pistol”, Grace, and Time Me from Momo’s Fali’s
Meema and Brothers from Rocks In My Dryer
Loss Never Gets Easier from Burnettiquette

Funnies:
George and Alan’s Favorite Superbowl Commericial from The 7MSN Ranch
Oh My Holy Freakin Freak Balls from The Country Doctor’s Wife
Nocturnal Admissions from Nanny Goats in Panties
Barbie Theater: Double Indemnity from I Am Bossy
The Lost Boobie from Today In Idabel
I’m Dancin‘! from April Showers
Soul Mates from Momo’s Fali’s

Recipes:
In Pursuit of the Perfect Pepperoni Roll from Chickens in the Road
Yummy Hamburger Sandwich and Almond Joy Cake from My New 30
Best Cook In The Whole Wide World from Hillbilly Woman
Aunt Bette’s 5-Hour Oven Stew from Mrs 4444 Cooks
Cake Balls from Chocolate and Whine
Friday Cocktail from Alamo North

Other:
A Cat Costume Contest from Beside the Stream
Fun With Sun & Son and Ruby Tuesday! from This DVM’s Wife’s Life
Yoda to De-stress Returning Soldiers from The Official Star Wars Blog
Let’s Go Through This One More Time from Neil Crone
Escape From Gettysburg from Fire Horse

Why didn’t someone tell me before about this blog from Lost actor Jorge Garcia?
Have a favorite post or blog you would like to share? Leave me a comment.

Blissful

Fellow Okie blogger Staci at The Bliss Of It All was kind enough to send me the following award.

 

"This award acknowledges the values that every Blogger displays in their effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values with each message they write. Awards like this have been created with the intention of promoting community among Bloggers. It’s a great way to show appreciation and gratitude for work that adds value to the Web."

Thank you. I'm so honored. I just love this blog community that uplifts and supports one another.
Staci has some wonderful stories on her blog about her family and growing up in Oklahoma. My favorite this month is The Lookout Clubhouse. Also don't miss Grandma's Dump Cake recipe.

I would like to pass this award on to my number one fan Brenda at A View From The Pines. Brenda was the first person to start leaving me comments on a regular basis. I appreciate that so much. It actually encouraged me to keep writing.
Now everyone...go make someone's day by leaving them a comment on their blog.

Results

The results are in for the 2008 Okie Blog Awards.

Congratulations to all the winners and participants.

As for me, I’m gathering up my marbles and going home.

Wait, I’ve lost my marbles...

The First 365 Days

One year ago today I started this little blog.
I was inspired by family members who were writing interesting tales about their lives and making funny observations about the world around them.

I’ve never been one to express myself, so I felt I had a lot to say. Forty plus years of bottled up feelings and thoughts waited to be expelled from my mind. But wait, I’m not a writer. My sentences are filled with really, just, kinda, and like. As Yoda would say, “Mmm, grammar you seek.”

I wondered too if I would be interesting or entertaining. I do find that my tongue-in-cheek, sarcastic humor does not always reflect in my words. People actually take me seriously about issues I’m only being flippant about. So, I’m working on it. Despite that, I forged ahead.

“The funny bone works better when exercised.”
I don’t know about you, but I crack myself up all the time. I’ve found that you can “develop” a better sense of humor by working on it. Let yourself go, use your imagination, throw stuff out there and see what sticks. If I can cause one smile, brighten someone else’s day, I feel I’ve made a difference in this difficult world.

What about the serious stuff?
This year I’ve read some heartfelt posts on other people’s blogs and cried several time in my morning coffee. Some folks can open up and share their hearts with the world. Thank you for that. I enjoy a good cry as well as a good laugh. But writing about the sad stuff, well that’s just not 'my thang' at this time. Maybe later, when I’m older and more retrospective about life, or more evolved.

I try to write about the happy, positive aspects of life; or about things that piss me off. All this babbling should give you a picture of who I am.

First year Okie Sister highlights:

• My Twisted Addiction
• Kerosene & Gunpowder & Lead, Oh My!
• Monkisms?
• Imagine Brotherhood
• No Weddings, Only Funerals
• Elmer Thomas, Senator
• Elmer Thomas Park
• Protect Me
• A Hair Raising Encounter
• Violets Are Blue
• Dinner Alarm and Emergency Preparedness (first post linked to on another blog)
• NASCAR 2008 (an original poem)
• The One That Got Away
• Sunday Morning Ruckus
• She Got The Look
• Armed Forces Day Parade & Other Events
• Cow Whisperer
• 4th of July, Army Style
• No Longer Navy
• Does This Blog Make Me Look Fat?
• That's "My Story" and I'm Sticking To It
• Okie Sister Get A Pat On The Noggin (listed in Oklahoma Magazine)
• This Is My Town
• Pardon Me...For A Short History Lesson
• Dem Bones, Dem Bones, Gonna Walk Aroun'
• Local Church Goes Up In Flames
• Funny Money Found
• The Hills Are Alive, But There's No Music
• Sixteen Carnations
• 'Twas The Night After Christmas
• Things I've Learned in 2008
• Start Cooking
• Who Me? (nominated for 2008 Okie Blog Award)
• Passing The Test

I Got a New Attitude

Donna at Gather sent me the Lemonade Award for attitude and/or gratitude. I have been told before that I have attitude, but I don’t think that’s how she meant it. I definitely am grateful to have connected to so many wonderful fellow bloggers this year.

Donna is a talented artist living right here in Oklahoma. Visit her blog for recipes, photos of wildlife and collectibles, and to see her remarkably creative art pieces. My favorite is titled “Good Dog.” She’s a new blogger, so show her some love.

I’m passing this award on to fellow bloggers: CraftyLilDevil's Blog, Cari-Okie, Extreme Gardner, Decisionally Challenged, Aunt Jo’s Corner, Blithe Revival, The Bliss of It All, and It's Just What I Do.

Instructions: 1. Put the logo on your blog or post. 2. Nominate at least 8 blogs which show great attitude and/or gratitude. 3. Link to your nominees within your post. 4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog. 5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

Favorites - January 2009

Ferris Bueller said, “Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
So that you my readers don’t miss it, and because I like to share, here is a small sampling of the many favorite things I saw around the blog-o-sphere in January. Enjoy!

Stories:
An Ornery Angel Update from Chickens in the Road
Some Things I Love About My Dad from Rocks In My Dryer
Back in the Days of the Cigar-Smoking Grandpas from Big Mama
Flashback: April 19, 1995 from Re-Ramblings
One Thing You Might Not Know About Newspapers from Burnettiquette

Inspiration:
Life’s Passages from View From the Pines
Memorium to a Friend and Sledding on Thin Ice from Red Dirt Ramblings
Heroes in Harm’s Way from Straight Shooter
Meditation from If Mom Says OK
Looking Backward from From The Front Porch

Funnies:
He Descends From George Jefferson and Next Time...the Sports Section from Momo Fali’s
Dork-vertising and And Now, A Song About the Pancreas from Fire Horse
Creating Memories and Helping from The Country Doctor’s Wife
CPT Starfish Goes Air Assault from Oklahomeless
I Love Jesus, But from Okay City

Recipes:
Hamburger Pot Pie & Onion Pastry from A Quiet Place In My Mind
Healthy Banana-Blueberry Muffins from Mrs4444Cooks
Caramelized Banana French Toast from Simmer Till Done
Grandma Ryan’s Sloppy Joes from The Greasy Skillet
How to Make Girl Scout Samoa Cookies from Frantic Home Cook

Animals:
A Little Cowboy Wisdom and Making the Best of a Trip to Walmart from The 7MSN Ranch
My Tale of Magic from At The Farm
Meet Annabelle from Chickens in the Road
If They Can Do It, So Can We from Jill Shalvis
Sunday. Cold and Cool from Causes Rats in Laboratory Cancer

Other:
Urban Cowboys and Generation Latchkey from JenX67
It’s Snot 2008 Anymore from Nanny Goats In Panties
Inauguration Stuff from Cari-Okie
Empire Strikes Nova Scotia from The Official Star Wars Blog with more pictures here
Custom My Little Ponies from Spippo Mari Kasuinen at DeviantART

Blog - Roll with me baby

Some of you may have noticed that I added some new names to the list of Blogs I Read.

What kind of Blogs do I add?
Mostly Okies.
Family blogs.
Blogs that make me laugh or cry.
Blogs by people who make me think or inspire me.
Blogs of people who regularly visit my blog, link to my blog, and leave comments on my blog (Okie Sister loves comments).
All of the above.

Blogs I don't add are ones that don't update often.
Blogs that consistently use foul language or are not rated PG13.
I'm not a fan of long winded posts, especially ones that are jumbled up together without benefit of paragraphs. (If I want to read that much, I'll grab a novel off my bookshelf.)
To each his own, I’m just stating my preferences. For instance, I have trouble reading white font on a black background but I link to a couple of those anyway.
Also Okie Sister doesn’t like blogs that start playing music and blogs that have excerpts with a link you have to click in order to get the full story.

Wait, what was my point?
Oh yeah, check out my new Blogroll.
There’s bound to be a palatable one for you.