Home with Mama Sue

Good morning, friends.

If you would say a prayer for our John Sutton, I sure would appreciate it. He has RSV. He’s just over 2 weeks old, so that’s pretty scary for a little baby. His sweet Mama, Kylie, is worried sick, so say a prayer for her too. I appreciate you all so much.

Amy sent us this pic last night. Harold and I had just left from going over to check on him. I know God has him in the palm of His hand. You never want to see them sick, but when they are so small, it’s extra hard.

21 hours ago | [YT] | 109

Home with Mama Sue

You all know how much we love tomatoes. There’s nothing in the world like a fresh, garden tomato. It’s almost impossible to find a good tomato during the winter. The ones in the grocery store don’t taste right to me. My Mother always said they tasted “mealy.” I don’t know what mealy is, exactly, but I agree with her. They just aren’t right.

Believe it or not, the best tasting tomatoes that I can find are at a local junk store. If you’re local, J&J Junk always has good tomatoes. They are the closest that I can find to garden tomatoes, so I had to get some today.

You know how Bubba Gump was with shrimp? That’s how I am with tomatoes. I like them any way. Tomato sandwiches, stewed tomatoes, sliced tomatoes, everything is better with a good tomato! Do you eat tomato sandwiches? If so, how do you like yours? 🍅🍞

21 hours ago | [YT] | 37

Home with Mama Sue

Happy Wednesday, friends!

One job that never ends is laundry. I often wonder how 2 people can make so many dirty clothes! I do at least one load of laundry every day. What about you?

For a year now, I have used the Downy Calm scent beads that Mississippi Kween recommended. I use them with the Gain liquid detergent in the Moonlight Breeze scent, like she said. That combination is incredible, and it was the best laundry combo I have ever smelled…until Amy suggested something else.

She started using these Downy scent beads in the N.26 scent. Y’all. I smelled it on one of her shirts and couldn’t believe how good it smelled! She told me she had recently switched her scent beads, and I decided I needed to try it for myself. The first load I washed was our sheets, and it was heavenly! I love how it makes our clothes smell! Do you use scent beads? If so, what scent do you use?

Let’s play a game. Remember how we loved the dishwasher game, and seeing how people loaded their utensils? Well let’s do a laundry spin on it (pun intended 😉). Leave me a comment and tell me this:

Laundry detergent - liquid, powder, or pod.
Brand and scent.
Scent beads - yes or no (and what kind)

If we have to do the laundry, we might as well have a little fun with it. 🧺🫧

1 day ago | [YT] | 17

Home with Mama Sue

Happy Tuesday!

I have been thinking about my post last night of Shawn getting the garden beds ready. Gardening is a lot of work. It’s more than just planting and picking. Shawn was literally spreading poop in the dirt. That’s not something that you really want to do.
Then I see a picture like this one, and I understand why we do it. This was me a few years ago, standing in front of some of my things I canned that year. This makes me so happy. I love having the home grown things canned and put up for us to enjoy. The jars are beautiful…but they always weren’t this way. This is the finished product, but it started off with spreading some poop for fertilizer. Not beautiful at all.

What are you doing today? Your plans may be fun and elaborate. They may be boring and mundane…kind of like spreading poop. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it as unto the Lord - and I promise that you will reap a harvest.

The winter won’t last forever, my friends. Spring IS coming. Hang on. What are you doing today?

2 days ago | [YT] | 79

Home with Mama Sue

The peer pressure got to me. I saw everyone else doing their AI pictures, so I had to do it, too. What do you think? Does it look like me?

2 days ago | [YT] | 44

Home with Mama Sue

Hey friends!

January is over. Is it just me, or did it feel like it was 50 days long? It’s a new month now, and each day gets us closer to spring. I know the groundhog saw his shadow today, but I am choosing to look at the bright side. The days are slowly getting longer. In only 32 days, Daylight Savings Time will begin. I will gladly “give up” an hour of sleep in exchange for an extra hour of sunshine.

I got to change my hymn calendar and here is this month’s hymn. I loved sharing last month’s hymn because I loved reading your favorite hymns. This month, let’s try something new. Today, I want you to leave me a comment and let me know what hymn(s) remind you of a person or people. I’ll go first. Anytime I hear Near the Cross, it reminds me of my mother. We sang that at her funeral. Heavenly Sunlight reminds me of a precious older man from my growing up, Mr. Sewell. He led the singing and I can still hear him belting out the chorus of that song. I can’t wait to hear the songs that remind you of people, and why. 🎶

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2 days ago | [YT] | 28

Home with Mama Sue

Sunday!

“Baby, it’s cold outside” couldn’t be more true today. Our car read 17° on the way to church. The sun is shining brightly, and I’m thankful for the warmth inside. My heart especially goes out to those who don’t have shelter in these temperatures. I’m grateful for the cities that open warming stations when the cold is dangerous. I pray each of you is warm, safe, and well today.

2 days ago | [YT] | 85

Home with Mama Sue

Ok y’all. Let me just tell you. I had every intention to take more pictures and maybe a video from our afternoon mahjong game…and this is all that I managed to get. We were too busy concentrating (and talking and laughing, if the truth be known). We are by no means experts yet…but boy, do we have fun! I need a lot of practice, and I honestly can see that with each game, I start to understand a little bit more. I even got a Mahjong today…until I read the parentheses on my line and realized that I didn’t follow the line exactly. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Oh well. I learned something about line 4 in the Consecutive Run category. 🤦🏻‍♀️

These girls were so much fun! McKenzie had never taken a lesson or played until today, and she got her first Mahjong! She also brought some DELICIOUS homemade sourdough cinnamon rolls and homemade scones. I told her she needed to come back and do a cooking video with me. McKenzie and Hannah (Brigitte’s daughter) have been best friends since they were in kindergarten, just like Brigitte and Amy have. Friendships like that are good for the soul. I loved having all of these young ladies over with me today.

Please look at the second picture. Harold had to be our photographer, and once he handed Amy the phone to look at the picture she said, “DADDY! Move your finger!” I had to include that one here, just for the laughs.

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2 days ago | [YT] | 52

Home with Mama Sue

Saturday, It was 23* here, felt like 2*, and the wind was gusting like crazy. We saw some flurries on and off, but nothing to stick. It’s not fair, really. If it’s going to be this cold, it really needs to snow. I sat on my sun porch under my heated blanket with my coffee watching the birds. It’s just like God tells us in Matthew 6:26. “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”

WOW! If our God takes care of the birds on this terrible weather, he certainly can take care of us.

What did you do on Saturday, friends? Amy, her best friend Brigitte, and Brigitte’s daughter Hanna came over to play Mahjong. Our club play night is on Tuesday, so we wanted to get some practice in before then. Let me know what you did, what was the weather like for you, and be sure and stay warm! I love every one of you. Look for the birds, and know that while God takes care of them, He loves you even more. He is well able to take care of you.

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2 days ago | [YT] | 25

Home with Mama Sue

Happy Friday, friends!

What are you doing today? I have some errands that I have to run and some things to do around the house. We have another cold front coming in tonight, and tomorrow is going to be REALLY COLD. Cold like we rarely see in central Alabama. I am already dreading it. If it’s going to be this cold, it’s not fair that we don’t at least get some beautiful snow to enjoy. 🤷🏻‍♀️

You know how they say that everything is bigger in Texas? Well I guess that premise is true at Texas Roadhouse as well. Would you look at this country fried steak that Zack got? It’s as big as the whole platter! I couldn’t believe it when they sent me the picture. I told them that I had to share it with my friends. He couldn’t eat it all, so he made 2 meals out of it. We love Texas Road House. I think their steaks are delicious, and don’t even get me started on those yeast rolls. They are my favorite! I get full just on them and the cinnamon butter.

What’s your favorite steak place? Leave me a comment and let me know. What is your order? Do you get a 🥩, or are you like Zack and opt for something else? I love reading what all of you like, so leave me a comment and play along.

Maybe I can get Harold to do another Q&A video today. What do you think?

6 days ago | [YT] | 57