An Embarrassing Story

Elvis wasn't the only one that wore jumpsuits!
Of course you know this itty bitty blonde model is not me! But I did have a jumpsuit and belt just like this.
Remember ladies jumpsuit fashions from the 1980's and early 90's? I used to wear them and I liked them because they were comfortable, dressy....and I thought fashionable. Well, I have an embarrassing memory connected to them that I thought I would share with you today. I hope it makes you chuckle. It has certainly brought some laughter to the people I have shared it with throughout the last 20 years.

I worked in a mall at a jewelry store where I sold fine jewelry. We were required to dress nice, and we had to wear hose, and dressy shoes. We mostly wore dresses and ladies business suits, but we could also wear slacks and jumpsuits if they were not too casual. Well, one day on my lunch break I went over to JC Penny's and decided to try on a jumpsuit. I picked out a couple of them and when I had the first one on I came out of the dressing room so I could look in the 3 way mirror. I was admiring how I looked in it when I hear this man's voice saying,..."oh my god it makes your butt look huge!" (Sorry ladies,...but that's exactly how he said it). I turned around to face him and I said, "excuse me?!?!?!" And as I looked at him his mouth fell open and his eyes got big and his hand covered his mouth as his face turned bright red, and he said,..."oh I'm sorry ma'am, my wife was trying on the same thing and I thought you were her!"

Well, I hurried back into the dressing room and kept trying to look at my backside in the single view mirror to see why he said that, and I turned from side to side and kept looking, and then I decided that even if it did what he said it did I was going to buy it anyway. (Can you believe that?)

I hurried back to work after I made my purchase and then I proceeded to tell the story to the ladies that I worked with and they all cracked up. Then they had to see the jumpsuit, so I pulled it out and they all liked it. (:>) So I decided that I would keep it and I even wore it to work several times.

I told that story over and over again and people always got a good laugh at my expense, but I didn't care. It was kind of fun.

I was a size 12/14 back then, so I wasn't considered fat, but I have always been ample in the hip and thigh area, and had just accepted that fact. (My momma was built that way too).

I have included some pictures to remind you what those jumpsuits looked like. Did you ever wear them? Leave me a comment and share some of your embarrassing moments, cuz I could use a few laughs today!

Oh,...I do remember one thing I DIDN'T like about jumpsuits,...you had to practically take the whole thing off just to go to the bathroom! ((smile))

Fall Trees From Our Town Here In Kansas

When we got home from our trip to Branson the trees around our community were a blaze with color too, so I have added some pictures from our little town. I had fun driving around snapping pictures. I hope you will enjoy them.

They were beautiful this year. I took a zillion pictures!
But I limited myself to just ten (ha!) to post on here. It was really hard to pick because they were all good. I love trees!

Pictures From Our Trip To Branson

We recently returned home from another vacation in Branson, Missouri...We love that place!

This time our oldest daughter Lisa and her husband Brad and their daughter Bailey joined us. We saw a Chinese acrobats show that was really good, and we spent a couple of days at Silver Dollar City amusement park where they were having their annual Fall Craft Festival. We enjoyed watching the artisans perform their arts and we also enjoyed shopping at the booths.

As usual they had several music shows throughout the park, and all of their awesome rides for the thrill seekers. This grandma doesn't go on those, but I did go on the swings and the tea cups which are more my speed! Ha!

John and I were there for 4 days before our kids arrived, so we stayed in a little cabin/cottage that had a kitchenette so that I could cook a little bit. It had a great view, but it wasn't very nice, so when the kids came we moved over to the condos and it was much better. It was spacious and had a full kitchen so we had a couple of good homecooked meals and we enjoyed the fireplace when the nights turned chilly.

We went on a couple of scenic drives and also took lots of pictures. One night we had a delicious meal at Ruby Tuesdays, but our refrigerator was full so we did a lot of breakfasts, lunches, and dinners in the condo.

John and I were there for 9 days and we enjoyed every minute. He rented a little boat and went fishing for a few hours one day, and golfed the next day. I read a couple of books while I was there. I love to read and I enjoyed it as I sat outside and enjoyed the view as I read. I also took a nature walk and it was heavenly! I listened to the birds, and watched the squirrels running around picking up the acorns, and I watched the leaves floating softly to the ground as they fell from the trees in the breeze. We also had deer on the grounds.

It is such a beautiful place to visit. This year the trees weren't as vivid as they have been in past years, but they were pretty just the same. I love the hills and the valleys, and the lakes, and the trees. I will try to limit my pictures to the ones I like the best, but it will be hard. ((smile)) I hope I don't bore you with all of these. I am just crazy about the beauty of God's creation!

The Branson Hills Are Alive With the Sound of Music

The Branson Hills Are Alive With the Sound Of Music

As I sit here on the terrace overlooking Branson’s hills
I’m in awe of all the beauty, and the sounds they give me chills

I feel like Julie Andrews in that movie we hold dear
The wonderful “Sound of Music” that we watch from year to year

Yes the hills are alive, or so it seems… with oh so many sounds
The trees are gently swaying as the raindrops hit the ground

The wind is rustling through the trees and the birds are singing songs
The lake is lapping softly as the wind moves it along

The hills behind the water have a gentle, subtle hew
They are gold, orange, green, and red, and brown, and the farthest ones are blue

The clouds are such a heavy gray, but the sun is peeking through
As they move slowly ore the hills they're adding to the view

I woke up early and came outside at the first light of the day
I didn’t want to miss the show of this heavenly display

The lovely sounds make music to my open, listening ears
The view is oh so picturesque it nearly causes tears

As I age my tastes are changing… now I take the time to see
All the wonders the Creator placed on earth for you and me

God in his all awesome splendor gave these gifts for us to view
The wind, the rain, the trees, the lakes, the birds that soar past too

This scene is so breathtaking that I sit here rather still
As I pray and see these blessings all around the Branson hills

Have you ever really listened to the varied songs they sing?
Yes, the hills are alive and singing, and their director is my King!

Linda Hogeland October 2009

Off To See The Trees

We are going on a week's vacation to see the trees in Branson, Missouri. The Chamber Of Commerce said they will be at their peak this next week. I also have a friend who lives there and she said the same thing. So I am very excited! I hope to see the beauty of the Creator all around me.

I will take pictures and post them when we get back. I hope we see something like this. Don't you just love Autumn?!?!?!

Periwinkle

Periwinkle is a color that makes me feel alive
The soft hues calm my spirit, yet my senses seem to jive

It's not exactly purple yet neither is it blue
It is clean and quite refreshing, in its subtle, gentle hew

It makes me think of springtime on this chilly Autumn day
Periwinkle clematis climb and cling, to everything that's in its way

It's kind of purple-"ish" blue, with just a hint of gray,
With a touch of lilac blended in to make it look that way

I think that God just mixed it up, especially for me
Cuz periwinkle makes me smile and fills my heart with glee!

It's such a happy color and it really makes my day
When I see periwinkle I can hardly look away

"Violets are blue" they always say, but I tend to disagree
When I see violets I always say "they look periwinkle to me!"

I look into a sunset and there amongst the orange and gold
I see some periwinkle starting to unfold

Am I a little silly? Or is it really true?
Tell me, how does the color periwinkle have effect on you?

I saw it in the Smokey Mountains as I took pictures in the haze
I also saw it in Santa Fe when on plateaus I gazed

I also see it here in Kansas when the sun begins to rise
As the darkness flees and light begins to dawn upon the skies

When I get to see my mansion that the Lord prepares for me
I sure hope that periwinkle will be there for me to see

Periwinkle is just kind of a silly word to say
Try to add some periwinkle to your life today!



He who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.
(Proverbs 15:15b

Kreativ Blogger Award, and 7 things you might not know about me!

THANK YOU CAROLINE! (click on her name below and visit her blog)

My friend Caroline over at The Croley Gang gave me an award and asked me to pass it on to 7 of my "Kreativ Blogger" friends. Here are the rules:

Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them.

Copy and paste the award and post it.

Tell seven interesting things about yourself that people might not know.

Pick 7 Kreativ Blogger Friends to pass on the award to, link to them, and ask them to list their 7 things and to pass on the award to 7 of their friends, and to link back to you.

I think I got that right,...so here goes!



1. I love the color Taupe! The outside of my house is cream and has taupe trim. My carpet is a shade of taupe and so are my sofas, and some of my walls. I wear taupe a lot, and I like taupe purses and shoes. My car is even a light shade of taupe inside and out. So much goes with taupe. It is a good neutral, and you can add so many colors to accent it. I use a lot of black with taupe too and I think it is classy.


2. My middle name is Sue. I like to find out what people's middle names are. What's yours?

3. I am a member of a Baptist church. But I don't think God has a denomination.


4. I am reserved and quiet most of the time,...but I can get crazy and silly too,...especially when I am with my kiddos.

5. I have black appliances instead of stainless steel! Oh, the HGTV decorators would give me a hard time,..but I like them with my tan and black granite, and my light maple cabinets and floors.

6. I want to go to the New England states in the Fall on a Foilage Tour before I die! (But this year I am trying to just get back to Branson, Mo. to see all of those trees there before too long. It is so pretty there).

7. I have the most wonderful husband in the world!

And I picked these special blogs~~~please visit them:

Sarah

Amy

September

Becca

Denise

Dee Dee

Deanna