What To Do?

I'm a little bemused.  Tonight, Car Guy and Number One Son are going to the Duke basketball game.  Number Two Son is having a friend sleep over, so he'll be occupied.  I'll be free and clear for a few hours to do WHATEVER I WANT?!?!  Now I'm trying to decide.  I have TONS of laundry that needs to be done and I do have to stay at home so the boys have some supervision....but who wants to do laundry on a Friday night? Not me.  I'll also have the remote control all to myself.  I can watch anything on TV that I want to....maybe I'll have a chick flick marathon, while I work on my crochet projects.  Maybe I'll get the completed projects blocked.  Maybe I'll read a smut novel while eating way too much chocolate while having a glass of wine...Hmmm.  Oh the possibilities!  Any suggestions?

Not Enough Time!

Where does the time go?  I only asked because I noticed that one of my neighbors actually has a Christmas Tree up.  What?  Did I miss Thanksgiving?  Oh, I hope not because I'm really looking forward to that L Tryptophan nap caused by the Turkey and all the other wonderful food. I'm also looking forward to the Craftsman's Fair and, dare I say it, completing most of my Christmas shopping.....gasp! You know my Sainted Mother always told me to dream big.....and finishing my Christmas shopping early is a real big dream.

I'm afraid that life is going to be getting very busy here.  Both of The Boys are on the wrestling team this year and the season is starting to gear up.  The first match is next week and then it will be non stop - matches during the week and tournaments on the week ends.  Add the holidays to that and I'm going to be busier than a one armed paper hanger.  I'll try not to bore everyone with pictures of The Boys at their wrestling matches - Two wrestlers, twice the pictures....as long as I can remain calm enough to take them.  I have a tendency to get a little antsy when they wrestle.  Please note - This is Number One Son pinning his opponent, not rolling around on the mat.  This picture is also a couple of years old.  He's grown so much since then.

So please bear with me.  I haven't dropped off the face of the earth.  And please continue to come by because I do enjoy the visits!

Veterans' Day - a day late, but still sincere

'Nuff said.  A heart felt thanks to all the veterans out there - Friends, Family and Strangers - that allow me to have the privileges I have.

Seventeen Years Ago

Seventeen years ago today my life irrevocably changed.  After thirty-six hours of intense back pain, I managed to produce the most beautiful, stubborn, kind hearted, sarcastic, intelligent, red headed babies ever. He was born sunny side up, with his eyes wide open and he was looking right at me.  At that moment, even though I felt like I'd been hit by an eighteen wheeler, I also felt like I could take on the world and win.

He has grown up entirely too fast. He started out as a chunky little rolly polly baby with the sweetest smile.  As he's grown, he has maintained that sweet smile even though his face has lost it's roundness.  He went from grabbing my legs for balance to standing tall and spreading his wings. He has given me some of my brightest moments.  He has made me feel so powerful.  He has scared the life out of me and made me feel so humble. He's part of the reason I get up every day and do what I do.  He's enriched my life and broken my heart just by being a part of it.  I can truthfully say that this is one of the best things I've ever done. Happy Birthday Baby!  I love you and always remember, no matter how big you get, how old you get or how far away life may take you, you will always be my baby.

Oh! The Shame!!

I can't believe I'm admitting this.  It's rather embarrassing. Particularly for a southern woman.  You see, we pride ourselves on our cooking.  Even in these modern times, it's important.  I can make fried chicken.  I make really good gravy.  I'm a good cook.  That's not vanity. It's just that I've cooked enough meals and received enough compliments to know this.  Besides....no one has died...yet.  But that could all change.  It doesn't seem to matter how many times I try, one item still defeats me.....I can't tell you how much this hurts......I can't make biscuits.  I don't know why.  Car Guy and The Boys have weathered every attempt, and there has been some good natured (and not so good natured) ribbing.  But my biscuits are *cringe* hockey pucks in disguise.  They should be registered as a lethal weapons.  One biscuit across the ol' noggin and you will be down for a couple of hours, at least.  It's so embarrassing, I'm dieing here.  I was raised on biscuits and gravy.  It's in my blood, but evidently, not in my skill set.  Is there anyone out there who can help me?

I've made stew for dinner.  It's cooked all day, so it will be really yummy.  The house smells amazing and maybe, there will be enough to soak the biscuits in....So this is my plea....I'm begging for an intervention....someone save my family from this shame...and run to the store for some Pillsbury biscuits before someone breaks a tooth!!!

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!

Better Late Than Never

OK....so I know it's not last night.....I know I'm late....FYI.....I'm ALWAYS late.  But I eventually get there and always do what I say I'm going to do....slowly but surely.

This was my Sunday morning.  It was a rainy dreary day, and the week has continued to be that way. In case some of you aren't from "around here,"  I'll tell you what I served up that morning.  Bacon and scrambles eggs - duh - with some cheese in the eggs.  I love cheese almost as much as butter.  Those lumpy looking things on the plate are cranberry scones....yum!  With butter (of course) and home made strawberry and fig jam.  My Mom's best friend Brenda donated the jam.  She's another amazing woman and pretty much my other mom....but that's another story for another day.  Let's just say that she's always there....Love her!!  And now for the fun stuff....that white weird looking stuff in the pot on the back burner are grits.  Ever heard of them?  This is a distinctly southern food.  Kind of like cream of wheat.  Some people call it hominy.  It's made from ground up corn and you serve it with butter (another duh) and salt.  Do not ruin grits by putting anything sweat in it, like milk and sugar - YUK!!!  It is kind of like cream of wheat in texture, but not in taste.  The best way to have grits is with Country Ham and Red Eye Gravy....again, another story for another day.

Anyway, that is what I wish I had this morning instead of a slice of toast and coffee.  Course, I also wish I could have stayed home so I could work on this:

This is the ripple blanket I mentioned before.  It's very subtle because it's a gift and the receivers aren't flashy color people.  It will look beautiful in their home.  Car Guy helped pick out the colors.  The yarn is Lion Brand Home Spun in Herb.  It's a soft variegated yarn.  I'll have to take a close up picture so you can see the variations in the color better.  It makes me think of fall and leaves changing.  I'm about a third of the way done.  The weather needs to get a little cooler because, now that the blanket is getting larger, it really does warm me up when I'm working on it.

This is a sweater that I just finished.  It needs to be blocked again because it draws up funny.  I also need to find the perfect button.  The pin is just something I put there so that it would stay on the hanger for the picture.  I'm looking for something unique, but not to flashy.  Again, this one is a gift and the receiver leans towards more subdued colors.  It's made out of a cotton linen blend yarn, so it's really soft....and washable...by hand...but at least it doesn't have to be dry cleaned, which was my main goal.

And finally, the granny square purse I'm working on.  This is a gift also and this person LOVES color and lots of it.  If you look at the bottom right of the picture, you'll see that the top of the purse is going to be a zigzag shape. And that bright, crazy material behind it?  That's going to be the lining.  This is still a work in process because there are a lot of technicalities that I've got to work out.  Thank goodness my Mom is here to help.  I think we might work on it this week end.



Well, now you know what I've been up to. Couple all this with work, my boys being back in school, keeping up with Car Guy and I've been pretty busy.

You also may have noticed that I've changed my blog picture to a more seasonally appropriate one.  Fall is finally getting here.  Soon the leaves will be changing and I'll be testing some of my photography skills so that you can see how beautiful my part of the world is. The new picture actually doesn't do North Carolina justice.  When the leaves start changing, I'll take you all with me to the Blue Ridge Parkway in the mountains.  Some of the views are so spectacular, they will take you breath away.

It's time for me to get back to work.  the world is knocking at my door and won't be ignored.  Thanks for stopping by!!

Later

OK.  I've been slack.  I know it.  I have pictures and tons of stuff to talk about and the real world has kept me too busy to get to it.  Sorry!  I've read all your comments and I REALLY appreciate them.  By the way, my mom is  Super Woman....just in case you didn't know.....or is she Wonder Woman......either way, I know that she's amazing and I'm one of the luckiest people in the world to have her.

So tonight, I will get the pictures together and we'll catch up. I'm looking forward to it!

I don't feel. Thanks Mom!

When I was little and wasn't feeling well, I'd say to my sainted Mother "I don't feel, Mommy."  I guess I didn't know that I was supposed to tell her that I didn't feel good.  But Mom always knew if I said I didn't feel, that I was getting sick. It's funny how these odd little things carry through life.  I am now 42 years old.  I am the mother of two and wife of one, but here's how the phone conversation went Saturday:

Mom: "Hey Honey, how do you feel?"
Me: "I don't"
Mom: "Do you need anything?"

See?!  Sainted Mother.  I am old enough to take care of myself and I have a husband that can help.  I have two strapping teenage boys that can help too.  But one phone call from my mom when I'm feeling poorly and I revert back to that little girl with the pouty lip sticking out, telling her Mommy she doesn't feel and she's asking me if I need anything.  Here's how the conversation went Sunday evening:

Mom: "Hey Honey, how do you feel?"
Me: "I feel"
Mom: "Well that's better.  Do you need anything?"

Again, she picked up on the dynamic of the conversation and that I feel.  I might feel like crap, but I feel, which means that I will eventually be back amongst the living. And I am.  Sort of.  I'm going to work and taking care of my sick son and hopefully working towards being a "Sainted Mom."

Here we are.  She's the beautiful woman on the right.  She's amazing, so I have a lot to live up to. She's gone through hell (three time cancer survivor) and NEVER cried in front of me or my sister about it.  She thought it was very important that we never think she was defeated by anything.  She told us "I have cancer, it DOESN'T have me."  Then she promptly kicked cancer's butt.  She's my biggest fan.  I know this because she's told and she's always there cheering me on.  I am lucky to say that my Mom is my best friend and mean it.  Thanks Mom!

Now I'm off to make ginger tea for my sick one.  He doesn't feel.  Poor thing.

Long Weekend

I must say that I so enjoyed my long week-end.  Going back to work was very tough.  Why wasn't I born rich so that I could be a lady of leisure?  Oh well.

The weekend started by going to the my sons' High School football game. Neither one of them play football, but it is always fun to go to the games and visit with friend....and hold my friend Sue's hand when her son takes the field. As all mom's do, she gets quite nervous when he plays.

Saturday was crazy busy.  Car Guy wanted to go to the car show at Old Salem (a historic community that still looks and functions as a colonial town)  It was really neat to see all the "modern machines" amongst the old buildings. After the car show we met my dad for a late lunch and visited with him and my step mom for a bit. Then we had to take our boys over to my in-laws so that they could take the boys to the Elon football game.  By the time we got home, Car Guy and I were so tired that we had a very quiet evening.

We went to a coffee shop and had amazing crumb cake and cafe lattes, then went home and fell asleep watching the tube....how boring are we?

Sunday morning we got up, had breakfast and went for a pleasant ride in the car.  Then we went home so we could watch the Formula One race - which translates to Car Guy watched the race and I took a nap.  I did manage to finish the sweater I was working on and begin the granny squares for a bag I'm making.

I took Monday and Tuesday off, so on Monday I worked on the various projects I'm in the middle of. I started blocking items that I've made, but have been to lazy to block.....I hate blocking.  It's so frustrating.  I was working on the sweater and because it is a lace stitch, it keeps stretching in funny ways.  I finished the granny squares and put them together and blocked them.  Now I just have to make the strap and line the bag and it will be done!  Yea!  And because I didn't have anything else going on, I started a ripple afghan that will be a Christmas present....not saying for who.... : )

I must say, though, that Tuesday was the BEST.  I haven't enjoyed a day like that in a long time.  You see, it was my birthday and I spent the majority of my day with my dear college friend Linda.  She is one of those crazy, funny people that just make you happy by being around them.  We lost touch with each other and reunited on Facebook and met yesterday for lunch.....at 11:30 am.  I didn't get home until 5:30 pm.  We ate at an amazing restaurant called Green Valley Grill and I had the Crispy Risotto Cake Napoleon.  It's a Risotto cake with herbed goat cheese, grilled portabello mushroom, creamy marinara and wilted spinach.  HOLY COW!!! That was amazing.  I do believe I dreamed about it last night along with the Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée with raspberry coulis.  All this was enjoyed with a yummy Argentinian Malbec from the Don Gascon Vineyard.  We decided that since we were shirking responsibility for the day we could have wine with lunch....with dessert....and after lunch..... Then we went over to one of my all time favorite stores in the world, Anthropologie.

And the great day continued when we got there because there was the pocket book I wanted and it was on sale - 60% off!! I mean, seriously, how cute is this?  Embroidered leather and it will go with everything!






After we shopped/drooled over all the amazing stuff at Anthropologie, we went back to Linda's house for a bit.  Of course the time slipped by way too quickly, and I had to leave because my mother was cooking me dinner for my birthday.  She fixed Salmon and Caesar Salad....Yum.....Are you notice a repeating theme of food here?  I'm beginning to think that I'm something of a food whore.....Of course there was yummy chocolate cake.  I received some crochet hooks and a crochet project bag from my Mom.  Some money from my Step Dad and some lovely crochet books from Car Guy and my boys.  It was a truly wonderful day and I know it was because  I was able to spend it with people I love.

The other thing that I got for my birthday, which I could REALLY do without, was Car Guy's cold.  Really?!  I love that he wants to share everything with me, but there are some things he should just keep to himself!

I know I keep promising photos, and I really will get some taken.  The problem is that I am probably the WORST photographer known to man...and woman.  My hands shake so pictures aren't always clear.  I'm getting better, but I'm just not quite there yet.  I think I may have to invest in a tripod. Hopefully, when I get over the stuffy head I'll feel more like working on it.  Right now I'm just doing good to get to work on time.  I'm off to play catch up and see what everyone has been up to.  I'm afraid that between all the activities and the cold, I've fallen a bit behind. I can't wait to see what everyone has been up to!

Busy, Busy, Busy

Well, this week has flown by.  I've been busily working, crocheting and taking care of Car Guy and two very active teenage boys.  There never seems to be enough time in the day.  I've tried staying up later, but it just makes me grouchy and I just want to bury my head when I grouchy.

Then I walk around looking like this and that just scares people.  Anyway, I've decided to take a break, so I'm taking Monday and Tuesday off of work next week.  Hopefully, I'll be able to catch up on all my projects, take lots of pictures and basically liven things up.

I've so enjoyed reading every one's blogs and comments.  I am very new to this, so all the support I've been getting from my "new" friends is very encouraging.  I hope that you've enjoyed this as much as I have.  So until next time...Enjoy every moment you have, they are very precious!

Holiday Week-End

This Monday is Labor Day, so we have off from work and the banks and government offices will be closed.  The boys will be out of school, even thought they've only been back in for a week and a half.  I don't know what the week-end will bring, but I'm pretty sure that Car Guy and I will be running all over the place and I won't be around the computer, so I thought I'd leave you with something pretty to look at over the week-end.

This beautiful kitty is Smokey, my other fat, happy and superior cat. He and Oreo helped me lick my wounds when the bunny tried to kill me - I am truly a lucky human to have two beautiful cats that allow me to share their house....even though they don't make the payments.

Have a wonderful week-end!  I'm sure I'll have lots to "talk" about on Monday.

Bless your heart.....

This post is for my new friend Alice.  In my last blog she said that she'd replace butter with crochet on a list of gifts from God.  Crocheting is definitely a gift, but I guess I think of it a little differently.  Crochet is something that I LOVE.  It is a creative outlet and I MUST have a creative outlet of some sort.  It's just how I am.  It's in my DNA.  I couldn't get away from it if I tried.  You see, my mother is an artist...she paints, draws, etc.  Then there is my sister.  She is a professional make-up artist.  She also draws, paints, etc.  Then there is me.  I take after my dad in that I'm very logical.  I have an artistic nature with a mathematical lean.  I often call myself a frustrated artist because I would love to do all the amazing things my mother and sister can do, but it's just not all there.  It's in my DNA, but a key component was left out.....the talent.  So I crochet, make jewelry, cook, whatever I can to be creative.  It's just there.  It's who I am so I really don't think about it, I just do it.

Now, about butter.  This is something else that is in my DNA.  I am a southern woman.  I grew up in the southern state of North Carolina with biscuits, gravy, fried food, sweet tea, hot humid weather and slow talking.  As a Southerner, I have great pride in my heritage.  All Southerners do.  We can all trace our ancestry back to the Motherland, which for me is Scotland, Ireland, England, and Norway.  This makes me very verbose and I talk with my hands.  And...I cook with butter.  LOTS of butter.  Actually, for health reasons, I use mostly olive oil with some butter mixed in.  But butter makes everything taste better.  It can and does improve any recipe.  Make 2 cakes.  Use margarine/oleo in one and butter in the other.  The one with butter will taste 10 times better. The texture and moistness of the butter cake is actually noticeable compared to the non-butter cake.  And speaking of cake.  Make icing/frosting for that same cake.  It would be a sin to use anything other than butter.  It's creamy goodness is what dreams are made of.  Also, as a Southerner, we take our food VERY seriously.  We women are judged based on our cooking. "She's a pretty little thing, but she can't cook to save her life....Bless her heart."

That's another uniquely Southern "thing."  The expression "Bless your heart."  Here is a quick break down:

• Said out loud : "Bless your heart, honey. Don't do that..."continuation in our head, "You don't have the good sense God gave a billy goat." In other words, you are not a very smart person.
• Said out loud : "Bless your heart, that is the cutest dress"...continuation in our head, "You ought not be wearing that."  In other words, it doesn't look good on you or is actually the ugliest dress ever seen
• Said out loud : "Oh no dear, bless your heart..."continuation in our head, "Not a snowball's chance in Hell."
• Said out loud : "Bless your heart..." All by itself, it means "Let it disappear up your fundamental aperture." (my personal favorite) In other words - Shove it.  

You get the picture. By using this expression, we are always being mindful of our manners - another southern "must." But any Southerner knows that there is an insult in there somewhere.  In fact, they will spend the rest of the day, week, or month trying to figure out what that insult is.

Now that you've learned how this works, try it some time. You'll feel better and the recipient is none the wiser. Just be sure to deliver it with a sugary sweet, simpering smile.

Oh!  I almost forgot....here are some pictures!

This is my granny square shaw (Elizabeth Cat, I'm not.)  Car Guy calls me granny when I wear it.  He thinks he's being funny.  He also calls me granny when I'm sitting on the sofa crocheting.  He claims I'm going to crochet him into a corner.  On some days, that's not a bad idea - He He!

This scarf and hat set was made last winter to sell in a friend's store.  I'm almost glad it didn't sell because I've considered keeping it for myself.  That's still an option.

More hats and scarves for my friend's store. Most of what I make for her are for younger children. And of course there are lots of flowers.  They are so cheerful. 

I'm not a great photographer, so please bear with me while I learn.  Hopefully, I'll get better and share some more.  Have a great evening!!

Gifts from God

There are a few things in life that make me really happy. They aren't major things, but I think, for the most part, they are universal. So here goes:

1. Butter. This is truly one of God's greatest gifts...It makes anything taste better.  The smell of buttered toast makes me feel at home. Yum.
2. Coffee.  It gives me a needed kick in the morning, warms me on a cold day...or night, laced with some good Irish, and smells amazing.
3. Chocolate.  'Nuff said.  I could rhapsodize about this topic ad nauseum.
4. Babies. The smell, the feel, everything about babies makes me happy...except the vomit, poo poo diapers, crying at 3 am...That's why I love OTHER people's babies.
5. Warm Fuzzy Things. A yummy, hand made sweater or blanket, a cute killer bunny laughing at you as you fall on your face, a sweet cuddly kitty that snuggled with you after the fall....
6. Hugs From Children.  The pure joy a child puts into a hug is amazing. The total abandonment, the love.  We should NEVER loose that.  If you're going to hug someone, mean it.
7. Having one of your teenagers say "I love you, Mom." out of the blue.  Not the obligatory phrase right before going to bed or leaving the house, but the one that's said for no reason other than they wanted to say it.  WOW!  That one just kills me and makes me teary eyed.
8. Still getting "that" look from my husband...after being together for 20 years, even though I'm not that 135 lb hottie he met way back when. That's a nice little rush.
9. Receiving a Hand Made Gift.  Just knowing that someone took the time to make something for me. That they were willing to put that much time into it and they think I'm special enough to appreciate it.  Heads up - if you receive a hand made gift, that person REALLY cares about you.  Remember the ones from your children when they were little? Go ahead and melt a little bit.
10.  Puppies, Kittens, Dogs & Cats...or pets in general.  Whenever I have a bad day, I know I can go home and snuggle with my kitties and I'll feel better.  There's just something about a pet's love that can warm a person's heart.
11. Laughter.  I don't care if it's a child's or adult's laughter.  I hear laughter, especially a good belly laugh with no restraints,  and I smile.
12. A Completed Job, Well Done.  I love the sense of accomplishment I get when I complete something, especially if it works out.  I think this is why I like to crochet and make jewelry.  I might "fuss & cuss" during the process, but once it's completed, I'm usually pretty pleased with myself and am big enough to admit that.

I'm sure that I could think of several more things but I'll leave you with one last thing that makes me happy:

That's me and Car Guy.  This picture makes me happy every time I see it.  It's one of the best pictures ever taken of us.  I swear it's because of the people we were with - very dear friends of my husband's that he's known since childhood.





And that's one more thing that makes me happy...Old Friends.  You know the ones I'm talking about.  The ones you don't have to explain things to because they just understand.  Ones that you can go for months at a time without seeing them, but it doesn't matter because you know they are always there and when you do see them again, it's like you saw them just yesterday.  You can never have too many of those, so here's hoping your new friends turn into those wonderful "old friends" because that truly is a wonderful gift from God.