Celebration of Freedom!

"The greatest glory of a

free-born people

is to transmit that freedom

to their children."

--Thomas Campbell--

Red Light Special...Saturday Centus

This is my first time,

so be gentle.

It's been a long time since

I have said that!

Well, this is my first time...

to participate in Jenny Matlock's

Saturday Centus.

What is Saturday Centus?

It is a themed writing meme.

Each Saturday, Ms. Matlock will give

a writing prompt.

Your assignment...

if you choose to accept it...

is to write a 100 word story.

Yes, 100 words or less...

not including the "prompt words".

Oh, and the prompt words can

be used anywhere in your story!

Sounds like fun, doesn't it?

The writing prompt is good for the entire week,

so you can join in at any time!

THIS WEEK'S PROMPT:

"May I help you, miss? You look puzzled."

"Mmmm...thank you, I'm just looking for my father.

We came in together a moment ago, but he seems to have

wandered off."

So here is my contribution

to Saturday Centus...

___________________________________________________________

"May I help you, miss? You look puzzled."

"Mmmm...thank you, I'm just looking for my father. We came in together a moment ago, but he seems to have wandered off."

He was always wandering off. Disappearing was his specialty.

He could play this game with her mother, but she wasn't falling for it. Would she find him chatting up the blonde at the cosmetics counter or flirting with the brunette he spotted in house wares?

She was going to catch his sorry rear this time and stop him before any damage could be done. She owed that much to her devoted mother.

She heard his laughter and turned just in time to see him walk out the door with a blender in one hand and the brunette in the other.

Sweetie Made Me Do It!

No, this is not the number

of posts I have done.

No, this is not the number

of followers I have.

No, this is not how many days

I have been blogging.

Then what is it?

It is the temperature

outside today...

on my porch...

in the shade!

Seems like we are in the

"dog days of summer"...

and it isn't even summer yet!

Elvis remembered that dogs need

plenty of fluids in the heat...

even if the fluid is a strawberry daiquiri!

There is a bar on the coast of Texas

which allows patrons to bring along their

dogs and every dog

gets a bowl of beer!

I know, I know...

alcohol isn't good for dogs!

I didn't say I give my dog beer!

Nope...

I give my dog, Sweetie, Jack Daniels!

This really is Sweetie in the photo,

but that is not her Jack Daniels.

She forgot her credit card that day

and I am not gonna support her habit.

Anyway...

it is so hot outside that Sweetie

has been begging me to potty train her!

She doesn't even like to go outside anymore!

Of course, with all the Jack Daniels,

she needs to go all the dang time!

It's too hot outside,

so Sweetie and I are just

gonna go back to bed.

Somebody wake us up in October!

Disclaimer: There were no dogs harmed

in the making of this post.

Sweetie does not drink Jack Daniels...

she is much more of a Crown Royal girl!

I'm kidding.

No animal right letters please!

I believe that dogs have rights...

to drink!

Oh, No! Watch Out! Imogene Is Coming!

Many of you know that I have another blog, The Renaissance Chick. However, I have not had the time lately to to write much on that blog. I made the mistake of allowing Imogene to guest blog from time to time on The Renaissance Chick. Needless to say, Imogene is not happy that she is not getting to speak her mind right now, because she has lots of opinions on some things going on in the world. So now she is asking to guest blog on Moonlight Hollow!

I have tried to put her off. Honestly, I have! However, she won't leave me alone. She is very persistent and tends to get on my nerves until I just give her what she wants. Talk about nagging! She is like the damn Energizer Bunny...she just goes on and on and on...until she gets her way! I hope you will forgive me. Please be kind to her. She is just an old lady with opinions. Oh, baby, she has lots of opinions!

So with all that said, I am going to give her a try in the near future. Yes, I am allowing Imogene to be a guest blogger. What? You don't know Imogene? Imogene is pictured above. She is the elderly "blonde" woman on the left. I wouldn't have even recognized her if she hadn't been in the picture with her best friend, Ethyl. I have NEVER seen Imogene smile. When I asked Imogene about this picture, she told me the following:

"Ethyl drug me down to the damn Woolworths because Olan Mills was in town and you can't convince me that she didn't have the hots for that greasy little photographer. That shrimpy little tease behind the camera kept squeaking a rubber duck in my face until he forced me to throw one of those bouncy balls at him. It hit him square in the head, and I'll be damn if he didn't snap the picture as I was laughing at his pathetic ass. Ethyl loves this picture. She even put it in the Baptist church directory! Nobody knows me from Adam!"

Sorry, blogging buddies! I have to put up with her all the time, so surely you can put up with her from time to time. You MUST remember that Imogene is totally out of control and is totally politically incorrect! She really can't help it though. She doesn't get out much. You see, Imogene lives deep down inside of me and only gets to run around town when she and Ethyl are performing on stage! But I do have to warn you that once Imogene comes out, I have NO CONTROL...absolutely NO CONTROL! Imogene says what she wants to say and says it how she wants to say it! She is a small town, chicken-fried, Texas woman who is not going to be told what to do!

You have been warned. I hope you love Imogene. She grows on you!

By the way, when Imogene is blogging, I request that readers don't copy any of her words because Imogene is an original...and because she will come slap the snot of you if you do!

Are You A Giver or a Taker?

The last year has given me too much

time to think.

This last year has given me the desire to

prioritize things in my life.

This last year has prompted me to

get rid of the bad

and hang on to the good.

So my question for you is...

Are you a giver...

or a taker?

There aren't many benefits of growing older. However, I have discovered that there are few perks of age. The thing I enjoy the most about growing older is the sudden ability to say what I feel without too much fear of repercussion. I like being out spoken. Age also offers us the wisdom of recognizing the important things in life and making time for those things. Prioritizing the important things in life forces us to make decisions on what we want to keep and what we want to throw away so that the moments of our lives become quality moments.

I have decided I don't have time in my life for takers.

No, I don't mean I don't care about people who need help. One of the biggest steps in building a life of quality is helping others. I'm talking about the people in my life who take, take, take, but never give back. You know who I'm talking about. You know you have those kind of people in your life too!

You recognize a taker, don't you? Or are you at that stage of life that you can't differentiate between real friends and those who are your friend when THEY need you to be their friend? You know...the one who takes your ideas and then takes the credit or the profit for it? Or the one who needs you to listen, but is always too busy to reciprocate? Or the one who learns from you and then steps on you on the way up the ladder? You know the kind of person I am talking about because they are all around you...in your address book, in your work place, in your social network and maybe even in your family.

Well, I don't have time for takers. Life is too short. Real friends deserve my attention. My life needs to be a life of quality.

So, it is time for me to say thank you to those of you who are the givers!

When the going got tough in my life this last year, the givers emerged!

I have learned that some of the best givers in the world are the friends made in the blogging world! Many of you I have never met in person and will probably never get the opportunity to meet face to face, but you were there every day...checking on us, praying and leaving words of encouragement! My blogging friends were never too busy to let a day go without giving to us! Thank you for being the BEST GIVERS! I know a giver when I see one and, believe me, you are appreciated!

I wish I could thank each of you individually, but I would only leave someone out and I never want to hurt anyone's feelings. Well, that's not true...but I don't want to hurt any of your feelings! :) Anyway, you know who you are!

I want to say a special thank you to three friends who were outstanding givers:

Thank you to MARY who suddenly emerged out of my past, reestablished a wonderful friendship, continues to motivate me on my new paths and supports me through life's tough times.

Thank you to SUE who texts, emails, listens and provides hope and friendship 24 hours a day/365 days a year. I don't know what I would do without you!

Thank you KAREN for holding my hand at the hospital every time I needed you. I hope you find true happiness in your new life.

So having said all that, I need to concentrate on making myself a better giver. How? By always being there for you!

I have learned recently that several of the bloggers I correspond with are undergoing major medical treatments. I need to learn from you wonderful friends and always be there with my prayers and support! I need to promote the events on your blog or giveways or online stores or sales or benefits.

I think blogging should be a full time support system...built for givers...by givers!

So I am gonna start now. Have you ever heard of Spirit Jump? It is a wonderful organization which lends support to cancer victims. How can you help? All they ask for you to do is drop a card to someone who needs a spirit lifted! How easy is that for a blogosphere full of givers?

Now, let me ask you one more time...what are you...a giver or a taker?

The Hat Says It All!

Do you wear a hat...

or does the hat wear you?

Madisyn's hat says

"I'm a Texas girl"...

Tango's hat just emphasizes

his body language,

"I'm cool! Don't mess with me"...

Cash's hat is saying

"Look how grown up I am!

No, those aren't baby cheeks,

I'm just retaining milk!"

I think I get to see this stylish crew

in the month of June!

It has been seven months

and Grammy needs to kiss

those milk retaining cheeks...

and high five Tango and tell him

that he is indeed cool...

and hug my Texas mini-me!

"Our grandchildren accept us for ourselves,

without rebuke or effort to change us,

as no one in our entire lives has ever done,

not our parents, siblings, spouses, friends-

and hardly ever our own grown children."

--Ruthe Goode--

Grand Opening!

I'm back!

Thank you...thank you!

Hold your applause?

You know I would NEVER do that!

That is much better!

Thank you, thank you...

now you must stop....

later!

I am so honored to be back!

I have been a busy girl.

Have accomplished many things,

but still have a lot to do!

But I am beginning to see light

at the end of the tunnel!

Have you noticed the GRAND OPENING

of my Etsy shop, Pent Up Girl?

Well, please go visit!

I am listing loads of items this week!

Want to see a sneak peak of

a few of the items?

Everyone needs a collection of heads...

don't you think?

I love this vintage decanter.

Of course, I love what comes in

decanters too, but, sadly, this one is empty!

Every gal needs a good pair of jugs!

Sorry, I couldn't pass that one up!

And what does every man need?

A...

pheasant.

Disappointed you, didn't I?

Ooh-la-la!

I love this Last Supper fan!

Imogene has a nice collection of church fans!

By the way, I hear that Imogene may

be a guest blogger this week!

Hmmm.

At one time, this decanter held a little

sumpin, sumpin for those partying

American Legionnaires who attended

their 58th Convention!

Have I mentioned that you need to visit

my Etsy shop, Pent Up Girl ?

These gals are here to make sure you do!

Now...

if someone will just help me up!

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

"Mothers hold their children's hand

for a short time,

but their hearts forever."

This is my favorite photo of Mom and me!

My Mom is one tough lady.

She is a "steel magnolia".

She is a woman of character

and a woman of faith.

I am ever grateful that she gave me

my sense of humor

and spark of creativity.

I am blessed that she taught me

important life lessons:

All people are created equal.

Treat everyone with respect.

Don't judge a book by its cover.

Hard work is honest work.

Always tell the truth.

By example, Mom taught me tenacity.

She hasn't always had an easy life,

yet she has persevered.

Mom survived...

the depression...

attending thirteen different schools...

working hard her entire life...

the death of her best friend, her husband...

living without the love of her life

for the last 28 years...

the death of two brothers and four sisters...

and cancer.

And the most difficult thing she has survived...

me.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, MOM!

I Love You!