Shelby Lynn at the wheel

Welcome back to Miz Judi’s Kitchen I hope all are doing well today. Thank you for coming back to visit with us once again. I would like to start off by saying how truly blessed we are. All we have to do is look around and see that we have a beautiful place, we have wonderful kids and grandkids, and we have good friends. On top of all this, we have made even more friends by doing this column! We also have our health, the good Lord provides, does he not?

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You know when you became parents it’s such a wonderful thing. You see them grow and become parents of their own, and they make fine young men and women. Then you become grandparents, and to me, there is nothing like being a Nana, because their love is unconditional! Plus you can spoil them rotten, and send them right back home. As you might already know we have six grandsons and one granddaughter. I gotta’ tell you that she is a sport-model! We all have spoiled her right down to the grandsons. I guess with her being the only girl, she just literally “rules the roost!”. She is a tomboy, you might say, because she wants to be outside all the time! Not only that, but she wants me outside with her all the time too! Now me and her have us an understanding… she gets to ride her three wheeler, but I have to ride her tricycle. Now if that ain’t a pretty sight! Nana on her tricycle riding right beside little Shelby Lynn! At the time though, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else! Now she likes her animals too. She has two goats, Romeo and Rascal, a pony named Honey, and a pot-bellied pig name Mutt! The weather is getting nicer now so she can come see Nana and play outside more. This winter it was either cold or raining. Mark brought her up to the house the other day and as they were coming around the corner she was hanging out the window. I hollered out to her from the porch and said, “Who is that?” Well she hollered back, “It’s me Nana,” and she was beaming from ear to ear! I must admit, I was too! I’ve learned to watch what I say in front of her, and all kids for that matter, because just when you think they’re not listening, that’s exactly when they’ve got you “tuned in!” As you all know, they’ll repeat everything you’ve said. Shelby and I were outside the other day, and she got on her three-wheeler and told me, “ Nana I’m going to Publix!” Publix is one of our grocery chains we have down here. Then she said, “since I’m the only one in this house that’ll go!” You see what I’m talking about? She’d heard her Mama tell her Daddy that quite a few times I’m sure. So I told her, “Ok, see you when you get back!” All of a sudden I heard her say, “This d… Publix is closed!” I looked at her and said, “Shelby Lynn, what did you say?” She looked up at me kind of red-faced, with a big ole smile and said, “Nana, Pulix is closed today.” They’re something aren’t they? I would like to give you all a little tip today. You know how long it takes a potato to bake. Well if you’ll boil them for about 10 min. in salty water, then have your oven pre-heated and hot, it’ll cut your cooking time way down. Please take time to enjoy life and the people you love, because life is too short. Also, don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today, DUB! Get outside and take a good look around. You’ll see all the beauty God has made for us to enjoy. So if you’ll just look around, you’ll soon see you really don’t have to spend money to enjoy things with your family. Sometimes the best things in life are free! So till next time, keep a smile on your face and one in your heart. May God Bless each and every one of you! Deb