Happy Halloween!!!

In honor of All Hollow's Eve, Elvis came back for a visit. 

He had a limited appearance of last Wednesday night only and then he quickly disappeared.  Wonder why?  For some reason he couldn't get his lip to curl because I he was too busy laughing.

And it wouldn't be Halloween without a witch.  Lisa is one of the sweetest witches you'll ever meet.  

This is Susan (in the orange) and Renee (in the blue).  You might remember Renee from this post.  She was one of my very influential teachers.  Both of these ladies are remarkable.  Guaranteed to make you smile on a bad day. Don't they look like they're up to something...they probably are.  That's half the fun!

She really is just one of the sweetest women.

Here's my Sainted Mother and Eleanor.  Eleanor is our local librarian.  She doesn't quite fit the stereotype, does she?  She has the most infectious laugh.

And this is me and one of my best friends, Sue (in the blue).  She's as beautiful on the inside as she is the outside.  She's one of my "go to girls."  Whenever I'm having a bad day or a good day, I can count on Sue to be there and share in my triumphs and cry with me when I need it.  She always has a ready glass of wine and a shoulder or a hug. How lucky am I?

Susan (the one in the orange) is The Soap Lady.  On the last Wednesday of the month we all get together at her store, of the same name. We bring wine and food and have Ladies' Night.  As Susan says, "It's not about selling anything, it's about the fellowship."  Sure we go and spend our money, that's part of the fun.  But we also go to lift each other up so we can get through this crazy world until the next "Last Wednesday."

Thanks Ladies!  You enrich my life and warm my heart!

Finally! Cars and Stuff

Well, the weather is now sunny and beautiful!  No crazy storms to keep me up at night and The Boys have teacher work days so they get a two day break from school.....this means I finally have access to the computer!

First, here are the pictures from Car Guy's (and my) day at the Oktoberfest.  Fair warning: There are many gratuitous car photos here.  Ladies, if this bores you (and I can understand if it does) please move along to lower section of this post....

Car Guy pretending to own this beautiful 356 Porsche

Number One Son cleaning our 914 for the Shine & Show

Isn't this gorgeous!?! One of my favs - E Type Jaguar

By far, one of the best pictures I've ever taken....of a car?!?! What's up with that?

Some of the pictures are a little dark, but I'm still learning.  I was so pleased with the picture above.  As you can tell, there were a lot of beautiful cars.  Number One Son and Car Guy were in Man Heaven!  There was also a Motor Cross - none of us tried it because our car was in the Shine & Show.  And there was food...oh my! The Food!  I wish I had thought to take a picture of the spread they put out.  Yummy! But just so you won't be disappointed....

This is Car Guy's Birthday dinner. Yummy! The bowl on the left is green beans...Not just any green beans, but simmered all day with bacon green beans.  We call them "cooked to death."  They are delicious. In the middle bowl is Country Style Steak with Gravy.  Country Style Steak is cubed steak covered in flour with salt and pepper then fried....very good, but not so good for you.  And in the last bowl on the right are the Mashed Potatoes. No meal in the South with gravy is complete unless you include the "mashed taters."  This is one of Car Guy's favorite meals.  He doesn't get it very often because it probably has no nutritional value.  But it is sooo good.

And here is the Birthday Cake - white cake and chocolate frosting. Can you tell that Car Guy is a traditionalist?  No crazy froufrou food for him.  No sir!  We want good ol' meat and taters.  Stick to your ribs food.  Stuff that makes you want to take a nap immediately after you eat.  He is so happy when the holidays roll around and he gets to feast on this type of stuff.

I will have to give credit where credit is due.  My dear Sainted Mother fixed all this food.  She does this for everyone in the family.  When your birthday rolls around, she fixes you your favorite meal and cake. She's been doing this since I was little.  See how spoiled we are? I am so very lucky to have her!

As you can see, the ripple blanket is almost done.  Just a few more rows and it will keep someone warm and cozy this winter.  Please ignore the sweater to the left cluttering up this photo.

Here's a close up of the yarn.  Isn't it lovely?  It's so soft and the colors are so pretty!

Are you ready?  Here is the Ta Da moment.........

This is a wrap that is a Christmas gift.  The yarn is variegated in shades of cream and gray.....you could see it better if I had remembered to use the flash....and it's a mohair blend, so it's warm and fuzzy, but very light weight. It's also very lacy looking, but I haven't blocked it yet.  I'll show it again once I get it blocked.

This is a tea cozy I made for my Sainted Mother.  I finished it a while back, but I saw it the other night and thought I'd share it with you.  It makes me smile because of all the flowers.

Well, that's all for now.  I'll be posting again soon because I have pictures of the lovely ladies I am fortunate enough to call friends.  We got together last night and as always, had a wonderful time.

Wild Night!

Good Morning All!  As you can see, there are no pictures or posts from last night.  I got off work, picked up The Boys from wrestling practice, got home, fixed dinner, took Number One Son back to school for the soccer game, took pictures of my surprise Ta Da....and had to give up the computer before I even downloaded the pictures.  Number Two Son needed the computer for homework and then the National Weather Service issued a Tornado Watch - which means that conditions were ripe for a humdinger of a storm and the possibility of a tornado. So I got hang out in the basement and work on Christmas gifts. Thankfully my neighbors were at the soccer game and brought Number One Son home safely....I love my neighbors, they're the best!

So you'd think we had a quiet night, right?  WRONG!  At 3:30 am, we were woken out of a deep sleep because the Weather Alarm Radio started squawking loud enough to wake the dead (that's me when I'm asleep) to lets us know that the National Weather Service had issued a Tornado Warning.  This means that either a Tornado or a Funnel Cloud has been spotted in your general vicinity and you need to take cover. So Car Guy was up for a bit while he kept an eye on things and let us sleep - Sweet man!  I must admit that, while I was rather irritated by being woken up like that, I do prefer the alert and getting my family to safety, if needed, than waking up and having the roof torn off the house.  Tornadoes are scary business because they come out of no where and come fast. This picture was taken by our friend Martin back in April. That ugly storm caused a lot of damage, but fortunately, not for us.  We've been very lucky.

I didn't realize that at my age I wouldn't be getting up at all hours of the night like that. Now, I get to be a total zombie at work....but I'm sure I won't be the only one. Tonight I have the monthly Girl's Night get together and then I'll try again.  Who knows, there might be some extra pictures of some of my favorite ladies!  I'm learning how to use the camera and I think my pictures are getting better...I know, the proof is in the pudding.  I promise to show you!  No really, I will....

Good Morning!

Well, Car Guy got to celebrate his birthday ALLLLLLL weekend long and claims that it was absolutely wonderful.  Thank you everyone for all your birthday wishes.  I'll get the pictures up tonight after dinner and let you see how great it was....lets face it, he was surrounded by cars all day Saturday, so that's as close to perfect as it can get for him. Ta Ta for now....Oh!  I'll have a little Ta Da moment for you too!  I haven't even told you about this project, so not only will it be a Ta Da Moment, it's a surprise!  Have a wonderful day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Just q quick note.  Today is Car Guy's birthday...48 years he's blessed us with his presence.  As you can see from the picture, he's always had delusions of grandeur.  He thinks he's the "Stig." Well since it's his birthday, we're going to let him pretend.  We're going to the Porsche Club of America, Carolina Region's Oktoberfest.  They'll have lots of pretty cars in the "Shine and Show" and he'll get to try his hand at auto cross.  More to come later......Happy Birthday Honey!!! I Love You!!!!

Ugh...Is It Friday Yet?

  I know it's only Tuesday and I typically don't wish my week away, but this one has been a real humdinger.  It started yesterday when it was brought to my attention that I made a HUGE mistake at work.  One that has cost the company money and could have a domino effect.   I was told that I wasn't the first person to make this mistake, but that doesn't make it any easier to deal with.

  Then last night, the clothes dryer went kaput. I'm sure that this is something that Car Guy can fix, but it is an annoyance because we aren't allowed clothes lines in our neighborhood. So it's either not do laundry, do laundry at my Mom's house or ask a neighbor if I can use their dryer.  On a happy note, I'm very fortunate in that I have wonderful neighbors who would let me use their dryer and my Mom lives close enough that if I absolutely had to, I could go over there.

  My biggest fear is that things typically happen in threes...have you noticed that? So I'm sitting here waiting for the other shoe to fall and worrying about something that hasn't happened yet. I hate that sense of impending doom.  It goes totally against my normal nature.

Well thanks for listening to me gripe.  I'll have a little cheese to go with this whine wine and everything will work out.

My Boys

I'm very fortunate in that I have two amazing sons.  Seriously,  look at those faces! They are just too cute for words, if I do say so myself.  This is one of my favorite pictures of them.  It's so sweet and innocent.  This is back when they still liked each other.  Back before they learned how to aggravate the living daylights out of each other.  Then they grew up.  Now a civil conversation is a miracle.  Part of this is because they are brothers and there is only two years between them.  And part of it is because they are as different as night and day.

Number One Son

Number One Son takes after Car Guy, even though he denies it. He's crazy smart and doesn't realize it half the time. He also has the most amazing sarcastic sense of humor.  He over analyzes everything and worries way too much.  He'll be 17 next month and I fear that by the time he's 25 he'll have an ulcer because he keeps everything inside.  He's also a lot more sensitive than he lets on.  I do love him so.  I'm having lots of "Mommy Moments" where he's concerned because he's growing up so fast.  He's a junior in High School and will be leaving the nest soon.  That scares the living daylights out of me.  Have I done everything I'm supposed to?  Have I taught him how to be loving, caring, giving, confident and strong?  Have I taught him how to be a good man?  Will he go out and conquer the world?  Will I be there to catch him if or when he falls?  Will he want me to?  Watching him grow up is breaking my heart.

Number Two Son

Number Two Son is my child.  He takes after his Momma, bless his heart.  He is a funny child. This picture was taken in Target and he was on a little tri-cycle.  He lives in his own world and always has. He doesn't worry too much about what other people think.  I worry about him too, but in a different way.  He'll probably get through life just fine, but I worry because he has no fear, which scares me.  He is very sweet natured, but don't push him.  He has a nasty temper.  But he is so funny.  Once, when he was about three, we were at a friend's house for dinner and he told our friend to sit next to him, because he, my son "knows stuff."  He also said, "I'll never get married cause I'm obnoxious." So I never know what's going to come out of his mouth....or his brother's for that matter.

Let me lay some background out there.  Both of my boys were conceived while I was on birth control. This is not a secret in our family. We were having breakfast the other morning and I don't remember how the subject came up, but here's the conversation:

Number One Son :  I'm Super Man

Me:  How's that?

Number One Son :  I'm the only sperm that got past the birth control.

Me: No you're not (pointing to Number Two Son)

Number One Son :  Oh....well he's not Super Man

Number Two Son ponders this for a few minutes then looked at me.

Number Two Son pops out with: Thanks for not aborting us Mom.

Me: WHAT?!?! 

Number Two Son: We weren't planned, so it was an option you had.

Me:  No it wasn't.  Not for me.

Number Two Son:  Well, thanks for not doing it.

Wow. How else do your respond to that?  The fact that he even thought about that blows my mind.  But then there is the conversation tonight.  Again, let me give you some background.  I make my boys sandwiches to take for lunch.  One of their favorite sandwiches is the good old fashioned peanut butter and jelly.  Normally, I make this with grape jelly.  Well, I'm out of grape jelly so I made their sandwiches this morning with Brenda's homemade fig and strawberry jelly.  It's yummy.  It's just sooo yummy...I had to put that out there. So I pick them up from wrestling practice tonight and here's the conversation:

Number One Son:  Mom, that sandwich, man, that was a banging sandwich.
Me:  Good, I'm glad you liked it.
Number One Son: No Mom, you don't understand, that sandwich was like sex in a Ziploc bag.
Me:  Really?!  How would you know?!?!
Number One Son realizes what he just said and blushes a little bit while he laughs. He's embarrassed and now.....well now, I'm REALLY worried.

Brace Yourself!

I wish I could say that my absence has been due to some wonderful trip and time off relaxing or possibly laziness, but that's not the case.  I'm afraid that Number One Son has been keeping me busy with visits to the orthodontist so that he can get braces put on.  We have had a visit for impressions to be taken, spacers to be put in and today we had brackets put on his teeth.  Next, he'll have bands put on his back teeth and the wires will be added.  Once all this is done, he'll keep them on for almost two years and hopefully, in the end, he'll have a beautiful smile to show off. Between all these doctor visits and work, I feel like I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off - no direction and getting nothing done.  That's not the case, it just feels that way.

Saturday night was a WONDERFUL evening.  Back in September I had lunch with my dear friend from college, Linda.  Well, Saturday night she and her husband Dwayne had an Oktoberfest party. As Linda said, there was "beer, brats and debauchery to be had by all."  Just so you know, the debauchery was in the form of some incredible deserts - peanut butter fudge, chocolate molten cupcakes, chocolate covered toffee....I could go on and on.  I can feel my hips and thighs growing larger just from the thought of all this.  There was also barbecued pork, various salads and side dishes.  Linda and Dwayne live "out in the country" so they light up the barn, build a fire in the fire pit and fun is had by all.  I was also able to catch up with another college friend, Joss and see how beautifully her children have grown up.  Seriously, her children are going to be breaking hearts all over the place.  Car Guy and I met lots of new and amazing people.

The neatest surprise was meeting up with Ashley.  We went to Middle School together.  She always seemed like a very sweet girl, but we moved in different circles.....She was a cheerleader and I was (and still am) a nerd.  She never came across as anything but nice in school, we just didn't really know each other.  I must say she is one of the sweetest, most down to earth people I've had the joy of getting to know.  Again,  those nerves of mine were close to the surface.  I wasn't sure if she'd even remember me or if she'd just remember how awkward and dorky I was - I still see myself as that skinny, nervous, awkward child even though I'm a grown woman.  I spent quite a bit of time with her and have to say that she is just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside....and she's an absolute knock out.

I've been spending the time in the orthodontist waiting room working of Christmas gifts.  The ripple blanket only gets worked on at home now because it's gotten too large to take anywhere.  I'm about done with the granny square bag and hope to reveal it later this week. Until then, have a wonderful week and thanks for stopping by!

Stuff - I'm aging myself.

I was surfing through some of the blogs that I read regularly and hit Stephanie's over at Momma's Soapbox concerning clutter and yard sales.  I started thinking about how obsessed we are, particularly Americans, about "stuff."  So much so that the late, great comedian George Carlin did a whole bit on it.  I can't remember all of it, but there was something about buying a bigger house so that there is enough room for all of our "stuff" and now there is a whole industry based on storage items for our "stuff."  I think I'll have to "you tube" it.  I recall it being very funny.  But all this got me thinking....you guessed it....about "stuff."

When do we become so materialistic?  At what age does it start? When do we determine that we must have this "stuff?"  A hundred years ago, it wasn't uncommon for a woman to only have a couple of "serviceable" skirts and blouses and men only have a suit or two.  Now we have walk in closets full of clothes - Yes, I'm guilty. And technology has blessed us with all kinds of "things" we think we need. Here are a few items that some people can't seem to live without -  This is where I'm aging myself

1. Cell Phones.  This is a tricky one.  We got our first cell phone back in 1993 when I was pregnant with Number One Son.

 It was huge....the phone and my belly.  It was in a bag - the phone - and required a special antennae be added to the car. Look familiar?  We got the phone because Car Guy was paranoid as all get out that I'd go into labor while driving the car.  That didn't happen, but he was being sweet and concerned, so no complaints.  Now, we don't have phones.  We have hand held multi-media entertainment centers.  You can talk, text, email and surf all on this little thing that you hold in your hand.  Home phones have become obsolete.  Is this really necessary? I remember when I was growing up I shared a phone with ~gasp~ the whole family!  What?!?  Craziness, I know.  I didn't get my own phone until I was in college.  And here's another shocker....I had a job and I paid for it with my own money.  Here's even more craziness....Number One Son, who will be 17 in November,  didn't get a cell phone until this past summer.  The ONLY reason why he got one  was because he was flying by himself to Oklahoma to visit his Aunt and Uncle and he had an hour and a half lay over at the Dallas Fort Worth airport.  Guess what - he got a phone.  No internet, no texting, no email.....just a phone to make calls on.  We are so out dated....Number Two Son still uses the phone at the house.

2. Computers.  We have two.  A desk top and a lap top.  We didn't get the lap top until this year.  It was a gift to Number One Son from his Grandma SuSu.  Since he's a junior in High School, she felt he needed one for school and to take to college with him.  I agree.  Between The Boys and Car Guy, there was constant conflict over who got to use the computer for homework, etc and when.  Now, don't get me wrong, I love computers.  I love surfing the net.  I love reading all the blogs out there.  I love making new friends.  I love reconnecting with old friends and I love all the cool things that are right at our finger tips.  I love that it's made my life easier.  I went from a paper pusher to a button pusher. 

Remember typewriters? Insert paper and type as you go.  If you were lucky it had a correcting ribbon on it.  I remember typing term papers on them. Footnotes were hateful things.  Getting the paper properly lined up only to have it slide out of whack. Now, just click on footer and type away...perfectly spaced and formatted.   So in that respect, it's wonderful.  However, how much time do we spend in front of the computer when we should be "doing other things."  Like actually talking with someone face to face. Visiting with our friends and neighbors in each other's homes, sitting down together over a meal instead of "chatting" on the computer.  And have you noticed, with the computer, came the rise in childhood obesity?  Our family pediatrician actually told me it was wonderful to see to healthy thin boys with more muscle than fat.  I'd like to claim I'm a super mom and totally restrict their time on computer/video games - and I do to some extent - but part of their physique is good genes. 

All this being said, without computers, I wouldn't have my current job either...so I guess I kind of do need this one.

3. Television.  I honestly can do without this one.  Car Guy, not so much. He lived alone from the age of 18 until 30.  It was his room mate - background noise - and I understand to a point, but I can do without it.  The Boys think it's so funny that we didn't get a color TV until I was in 1st or 2nd grade.  We didn't get cable TV until I was in High School.  For the longest time, I was the TV remote....



"Sweetpea?"
"Yes Daddy"
"Please put the TV on Channel 2."
"Yes Daddy."
"Sweetpea?"
"Yes Daddy"
"Please put the TV on Channel 8."
"Yes Daddy."



I've often said that I would happily move to the mountains and live in the middle of nowhere without these things.  Car Guy and The Boys think I'm nuts...The Boys more so than Car Guy.  He's starting to appreciate simpler things now.....there's hope for him yet.  By the way,  when I was a child, I walked 5 miles to school, in the snow, up hill, both ways......didn't we all? He He!