summertime part 1..........

Yeah, it's me.....no blogging for a month Dawn. Sigh. This summer. Whoo. This summer. Took it all out of me int-netz. Ever have something big you have to do that's really really hard and after you've done it you have nothing left? I mean nothing. And you can't even blog about it? That has been me this summer. The big thing I did is now over. It's done and we all survived. Yep, I know, you are saying "wha??" and "why so secretive??" I don't blog about anything that would hurt someone else's feelings. Especially someone I care about. Let us just say that this person now owes me a big gift...preferably fabric. Maybe say ohhhhhh 600 yards!

On with life! See that cute kiddo over there?? That is Jen's son. She came to Dayton for a visit at the beginning of summer and we took the kids to Waynesville. Ahhhhh Waynesville, you had me at hello. There are ducks swimming happily in a lake, Amish food which I partook of very happily, a jammin fabric store and a bunch of antique shops.

We also went to Young's Dairy while they were here. As you can see My Boo-Bear is in love with the baby cows. This one fell under her spell and they had a long conversation about how she will never eat a burger again. Never. Ever. Til two days later when we went out for dinner and she forgot her baby cow love. :)













This is my niece. Smiling. Even though she proclaimed that Dairy's smell like cows...and goats...and why oh why did we not go to the mall/pass the hand sanitizer!

















Nothing like a bunch of kids with dimes in their pockets and a machine that lets you pay 10 cents for a hand full of pellets to feed the baby goats. There was much happy dancing that day...especially when we went inside and got some of their very yummy ice cream. No I do not have a picture of that. Seems I eat my ice cream like a woman starved on a desert island. heh.











I broke up my summer in 4 parts. Stay tuned for some sewing pics....they are already downloaded on the computer...just awaiting their turn....lots of greens and Burgundy's and yummy mustard's! Oh fabric, I thank you for being there for me this summer.

hugs everyone!!

So yeah, not a whole lot of blog posting going on over here at Chez' Owens. This summer...gah...this summer. I have three girls....counting the niece....living under one roof. All needing special time with the woman of the house. Two are close walkers and I am tripping constantly. Two are always wanting to sit on top of me. Two...count em girlfriends...two. Yesterday?? Major Mall Fail. It was the day I lost it in the mall. In front of God and everyone. I imagine people are still talking about it this morning.

It all started at Panera. I had The Two with me. One was rubbing my back standing on my foot and asking me if I was stressed..no...the other was picking any and all stray threads off of me that had wandered there from a day of quilting Christmas stuff and standing on the other foot. Every time I moved forward they would re-adjust. The man in front of me watched it all in fascination. After dinner we went to the mall where one of The Two had to....just had to...try on 85421 pairs of jeans to make sure she had a good fit. I?? Gave her ten minutes and then threatened to leave. Got up to pay when she realized she read the sale sign wrong. Then The Two proceeded to walk on me and each tried to rub my back and ask if I was stressed and one kept saying I'm sorry and then it happened. Something that has been bubbling up in me for awhile and yes int-netz. I lost it. Right there. I was a glorious example of woman fail. By the time I finished I couldn't catch my breath. And I needed ice cream. Or chocolate. The Two looked at each other and asked me if maybe we should go home and was I okay and OH MY GOSH ONE OF THEM SAID SORRY! I told them if I heard I'm sorry one more time....or tripped one more time....or either of them called me or even acted like they knew me I would explode. Then I turned to the mom standing by a railing and we gave each other the "This to shall pass/I feel ya sister" sign. We also may have bumped fists.
After the mall we went home. I picked up the last girl and we went to the movies where The Two tried to sit by me and one got her feelings hurt and sulked til the popcorn was gone.....and then decided she wanted some popcorn. Guess who didn't get any cause dog-gone it you snooze you lose in the whole popcorn eating thing. The only thing keeping them alive is that the hubby is coming home today. He has been gone all week long. It's been a long week without him.

Today is a new day!!! I am thrusting myself back in the ring. I am woman...hear me roar!!! Or else just pray for me that I make it. Without tripping over anyone.

life and times with OCD.... :)

So this morning I woke up to my OCD raring to go and do a little sumpin sumpin in the house. My niece has been here for the summer and we've been running hither and yon. I am in the car taking teens places more then not it seems. This morning my inner self had enough. I woke up to the OCD dawn telling me that today I was going to clean. I mean really deep down clean. Take the curtains off.....wash them...fabric softener them...hang em up wet with windows open....use any and all attatchments on the vacuum and attack the dust bunnies....tear apart Boo-Bears room and buy her a cute little 9 block cubbie from Meijer....wash rugs....take another look around and decide the kids are getting in the way and kick everyone out...that kind of clean.
When my kiddos realized that I wanted them out of the house they breathed a sigh of relief. I've worked very hard at trying to control the cleaning monster inside of me so it doesn't affect my kiddos. Two are out and two are at the pool. The hubby is gone. I have a brand new industrial size bottle of Pine Sol and I'm not afraid to use it.
Even the dog is hiding under a bed. She knows when I get like this it's bath time for her.
Okay, I'm off. I need to find another USB cord for the camera so I can download some pics. I guess that means I will be also cleaning out closets.
Have a great Sunday everyone!!

Who in their right mind calls these the Lazy Days Of Summer????? Where is the lazy I ask you??? I was trying to catch up on some blogs and realized I hadn't posted anything on mine in like a coons age! To say I am ready for these chil-ren of mine to go back to school so I can get some rest is an understatement. I am tired int-netz. Oh so very tired. Yesterday my soul screamed enough!!! Enough I say!!! and I quilted. I informed the house that I was not getting in the car even if wild horses charged in here. I was not answering any questions. I was not listening to anybodies life stories. I was not getting up to rub any ones back while they threw up.....yeah, that one was fun at 3am the other night. "Mommy! I'm going to throw up! You might want to come in here and rub my back!" Oh might I???? Lucky lucky me. heh.
So yeah, yesterday I shut the door to my little oasis and took my time quilting. I cut. I pinned. I ironed. I didn't really get anything done. I just enjoyed the process. If I can find my camera I'll take some pics today. The colors I'm using are just delicious! I am off now to get the house picked up a little and get back to my sewing machine. Hope you all are hanging in there and having piece-full days. (get it...piece...like quilting....BWAHAHAHAHAHA)
Summer is almost over moms!! huzzah.

And away we go!!

Oh boy!! I just filled out the application to join the HUGS FROM HELEN Angel Stitchery Swap. I am beyond excited!!! This is the first swap of this kind that I've ever entered. I've done two block swaps and enjoyed them a lot. Now onto something bigger! Huzzah! Go on over and sign up if you haven't already.
Let the fun begin!!!

A day in the life.....

To explain why I haven't been blogging as much lately let me take you on a journey. A journey of one day in my life.

Ahem, let us begin.

This was yesterday...

Took hubby to work so I could have the car.
Took youngest to volleyball camp.
Came home.
Did some laundry (two loads) and picked up the house.

Had a cup of coffee while watching neighbors uncle and father sit outside and drink beer with no shirts on and burp loudly. Wondered if they would be my friend cause I am kinda desperate like that. Figured if I brought over some beer they would welcome me with open arms. Checked fridge for beer and guess what?? None. Friendship with burping uncle and father - fail.

Got a call from hubby that he didn't like the uniform he picked out for the day and that I needed to come get him. He is in the Air Force. Every uniform is the same.
Rued him.
Got him.
Took him home so he could re-shower (why????) and change into a different uniform.
Took him back to work.
Rued him again in my heart and decided to put wet towel on his side of the bed.
Went home and picked up 16 year old so I could take her to work.
Had in depth conversation about 16 year old stuff while we waited the 15 minutes before she had to sign in. Thanked the good Lord above that when I was 16 all I had to deal with was sex drugs and rock n' roll.
Drove 20 minutes to pick up youngest at volleyball camp and got there an hour early because of above daughter needing to be at work.
Read my book...(Nora Roberts how I love you and stalk you in my dreams!!)
Drove with youngest to pick up hubby from work at end of his day.
Went home to pick up niece who wanted some one on one girl time. Drove to Applebees and had dinner.
Drove to a pet shop so she could pet all 16542 cats and ooh and aah over each one. (in the full interest of honest disclosure I must admit I patted my share and then we both washed our hands cause we found out one of the kittens was sick)
Drove to Michaels to foster creative nature of niece and buy her almost $100 worth of scrapbook stuff. Wondered where I lost control of the basket.
Took a minute to pat self on back and say "Self?? You rock"
Went to Barnes and Noble to read books for free with niece and walked into the restroom to wash hands. Looked in a stall cause maybe just maybe needed to use one and saw the most hideous thing I've ever seen. Also?? The biggest!! Told niece to come and look. Told niece that the person who did that monstrosity probably is laying somewhere dead. Laughed like 12 year old boys. Tried to explain to mature type woman who walked out of another stall that yes, we were 12 year old boys and we find poop funny. She? Did not.
Somehow was talked into buying book for niece. May have had book envy and so purchased one for me.
Went home exhausted.


And that good bloggers was my day. Just one little day. Today was sort of the same. I explained to one and all that tomorrow I was going to stay home. I could not, COULD NOT! play with any of them as I needed to give my house a little TLC. And laundry?? OMG!!! The bane of my existence!!!
Hope everyone had a quieter day!!! :)

Vampire Lovin'

Two nights ago as I was doing laundry I walked into the computer room and one of the teens in our household was watching True Blood on the computer. Now I've seen True Blood twice. Both times I made sure all the blinds were drawn and the doors were locked. Have you seen it??? Lots and lots of Vampire lovin going on. The second time I watched it my mom happened to call during "a scene" and when I saw her name on the caller ID I actually blushed. Then I panicked cause what if she got some ju-ju-vibe out there in Illinois that her daughter was watching True Blood and was calling to tell me my computer privileges were revoked for a month???! It was then I told myself, "Self, if you can't watch this without feeling guilty daughtery feelings you shouldn't watch it at all" and that was that. I quit it cold turkey. So you can imagine my surprise when I found out, after busting afore-mentioned teen, that TWO teens in this household watch it! I did what I usually do in such matters annnnnnd told the hubby. It was decided that a family meeting was in order.

Now what does an Owens Family Meeting consist of you ask?? It is where all able bodied people living under this roof meet at a specified time to talk about familial things.

The what you can and can't watch was discussed. The saying "When you live under my roof you will do what I want" may have also been discussed. Boundaries were established based on age and maturity level. Then other things were talked about. We each take a turn. If there are hurt feelings inside of tender hearts it is put forth and apologized over. If someone is barging into someone else's room and OH MUH GOD TAKING ALL OF MY PRIVACY AWAY AND WHAT IF I'M GETTING DRESSED??? I WILL DIE!! DIE I TELL YOU!!! it is apologized over. If someone is being bossy and only 12 years old and ISN'T! JUST ISN'T! the boss of her cousin and the cousin is being MEAN SNIFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF! to the 12 year old, we talk about it and reach a happy middle place. Feelings are made to feel important and ruffled feathers are smoothed. No one is allowed to attack anyone else. Everyone is to use listening manners and tissues can and will be dispensed if you are one of the 4 people of female persuasion at the table and your hormones flair up and you realize that when one of the men in the family said your pants were much to tight it devastated you in ways unimaginable. You may never be the same, please pass the tissue, whilst all the other female members of the family glare at offending male members. hmph!

When the family meeting is closed we make sure to tell the kids that everything discussed is family business and not to be talked about with friends. It is private stuff. Family meetings are to be a safe place where anything can and usually is discussed. Then we do something together like watch a movie or eat dessert or take a walk or sing Kum-By-Ya-Muh-Lord whilst weaving grass mats and burning incense. :)

So far so good. True Blood hasn't been seen hide nor hair of since........well.......except maybe yesterday at three o'clock......by one of the 4 women who live in this household......and thinks maybe Vampire Lovin is her drug.
Hello, my name is Dawn and I have a problem. heh.

Morning everyone out there in blog land!! What cha all doing today?? I have a very exciting day of laundry planned with a some reading of my new books. Yep, the excitement never ends!

Our Boo-Bear is visiting the Rents this week at their campground. This is her first time camping and she is having a blast. My parents have this hee-uge! camper complete with lazy boy chairs....shower.....kitchen area....air conditioning....and a fully stocked movie cabinet. My girl is soooo not roughing it! ha. She has spent time shopping, cause no one spoils like a grandparent, fishing, eating awesome stuff cooked on a grill, sitting by the fire, reading, watching movies and generally having a really really good time. This is a time she will never forget. Just have my parents all to herself.
The house is so quiet without here in it. My husband gave this great big sigh the other night while we were watching TV and told me he missed her already. She'd been gone for little more then a day. We drive the five hours to pick her up Friday. :) I cannot wait! Please someone remind me of this when I am lamenting trying to get her out the door for school in a couple of months!
I'm off to start my day. Have a good one everybody!!

Wha???

Dear Mall Down The Street,

Ahem. When I am trying to explain to my niece with the very cute shape that she can choose a one piece bathing suit or a very lovely tank-eenie why do you work against me?? We found one....count it....one tank-eenie in the whole mall that we both agreed upon. Then it was to big on her size -5 frame. You must work on this as soon as possible as we are wasting summer time over here at Chez' Amish Owens Of The Cover Your Damn Selves home. Also?? Can we discuss your employees?? Especially the very cute girl at Store Every Teenager Loves. I don't mean to tell on anyone but when asked where the tank-eenies were I did not appreciate her blank stare or her look of confusion when she glanced at my niece. I could hear her, you know, saying to another co-worker "Why does she want to make her wear something like that???!" I understand her not understanding especially with her wondrous tattooed "bubbies" (kisses Real Housewives of New Jersey!!!) hanging out for all to see. Everywhere we went we were met with "Tank-eenies?? One piece suits????" then you employees shuddered and went to the other side of the store. So Mall, do you understand my frustration?? Not one suit to be had. Sore feet? Check. A frosted cookie eaten by one very tired Aunt?? Check. A neice who is fabulous and bought herself a dress instead?? Check. A bathing suit?? No. No check.

Tomorrow we go back.

God help me.

Went and saw Transformers last night and loved it!!! Oh my gosh was it funny. The youngest laughed and laughed and laughed. The movie theater was packed and a good time was had by all. It was just a really good summertime movie. :)
Today I am off to fight the bathing suit wars with my niece. She is here for the summer visiting us and needs a new suit. Now just being in the bathing suit department is going to give me hives but how do you pick out a bathing suit for a 15 almost 16 year old that covers her like the days of old??? I mean really!!!! I keep putting up pics like this..... on the computer hoping to convince her that this is the way to go. So far it hasn't worked. Wish me luck!!! heeheeheeheehee

Oh Yuck.

Being all Fathers-Dayey at our house yesterday I decided to make the love of my life a leg of lamb. I had it roasting nicely in the oven, the yummy smells wafting around the house, my huggy bear ensconced on the couch doing Dad things (scratching and burping) and my children hither and yon. It was a good day. Then I noticed someone needed to take the trash out. Hmmmmmm I know! I'll take it out since it Fathers Day and my hubby should rest and keep doing the dad things. (note of truth here: the hubby never takes the trash out as his motto is why do that when there are three people running around here eating his food for free and since they are the fruit of his loins they can darn well take out the trash and do other character building things....like mowing the lawn...and dishes!)

Back to my story. As I was walking out back to take that trash to the can I was happily humming the new song from church. The birds were singing. There was a gentle breeze. Jane Eyre was busily writing a new story of how perfect my life was at just that moment. Then?? Life stopped being so perfect. Just as I was lifting up the lid I saw something go plop out of the trash can. Things started going in slow motion after that. I turned my head to get a closer look and realized something was not quite right. Were those?? Could those be?? Noooooooooooooooo
Maggots. From all the rain we've had around here and the flies that have come out in droves I had maggots in mah trash can. Now people, we have talked about my little ocd-ish issues. You know that pine sol is my friend. I have "Cleanliness is next to Godliness" engraved on my heart. There is no room in my life for fly-babies.
I ran in the house to get the aforementioned hubby enjoying his Fathers Day on the couch to help me HELP ME I SAY!!! He comes outside after finding gloves and heavy shoes cause God knows that the (m-word) things will leap across the yard and get on him. Then he tells me that he will pour bleach on them. BLEACH!!!! I am trying to cultivate a bird paradise out there and he wants to get all happy with the bleach. A very loving talk ensues between two grown ups. One of those grown ups grabs the hose and starts spraying everything down that is even thinking about having a (m-word) on it. Hubby decided to go to the store and buy vinegar cause I guess vinegar will kill them. Wanna know something?? It doesn't.
After an hour of spraying the can down and getting them off of my sidewalk (and onto someone else's) I had a ton of happy robins eating away. Much chirping between them about how this was the best yard ever!
I then went into the house and took a long hot shower. And ate lamb. And told the son he had to make sure the trash went to the curb for the trash man...I may or may not have omitted the whole infestation problem-o we'd had earlier. :) Then I took another shower. Then I prayed that the flies and I had come to an understanding and they will be raising their babies elsewhere from now on.
heh.
Happy Fathers Day everyone!!!

Update: I just went to check the trash can and make sure all was well with my world. They are back. Not as many as before but there are at least 5 in there.
We may have to move.

My backyard oasis...

Ahhhhhh the lazy days of summer have officially come to Dayton. I am using that as my excuse for not posting in the past two weeks or so.
What have I been doing you ask?? Working on my backyard! When we moved into the house last year the season was to far gone to plant anything. I closed my eyes to the work needing to be done and promised myself that as soon as spring hit I'd make a little place for myself out back. I dreamed all winter long of herbs...and tomatoes...flowers.....and a table.
I finally have it and I am ohhhhh so happy out here. :) See my tomatoes thriving next to the basil and lavender?


This used to be a pile of weeds....and yes this tiny space kept me up at night thinking about what to do with it. Now I can walk out my back door and breath a sigh of the contented.











This is where I sit with a crossword puzzle and a little sumpin sumpin in my favorite glass while watching night roll in.











And here is my favorite cat come to visit.

Thanks for sticking around waiting for my return with baited breath......you were sticking around with baited breath right?? Right??? Ummmm hello??? Is this thing still on???

heehee

Hope everyone out there has found a little oasis this summer!!

A trip to Columbus....

Took a little trip to Columbus a couple of weeks ago to sit out in our friends wonderful garden and enjoy a barbecue. I love it out here. These two guys have done such a wonderful job in making this gorgeous 4 story (yep!) home a warm and inviting place to relax and take a load off.








There were arbors......and water features.....and grass mowed oh so wonderfully. I was in Heaven!











Being not of the party pooper variety I made myself at home in their kitchen of delight and found where they keep the Sumpin Sumpins. giggle.

sidenote: Plese exuse the double chin - I was retaining water that day.
Yes I was!!!












Then I may have flirted a bit with this piece of handsom-ness that is mah hus-bee-and.
(he is trying to look all unaffected by my womanyly while but let me tell you they work!! Yep!! The do...giggle!!)
It was a really nice Spring day. Lots of food was consumed and more sitting and enjoying was done. I did have pictures on here but because I am all not computer savvy and I am doing this while coloring my hair I deleted them by accident. sigh.
I don't even have a sumpin sumpin to blame it one.

A New Quilt....

When I was at Leigh's house a couple of weeks ago we stopped by a fantastic quilt store called A Sewing Basket. This quilt was on their wall and called out to me to buy the kit. Yes, of course I listened and bought it right away. It's called The Hidden Cross and I thought it would be perfect for my Mother In Law. The only thing.....it's to big for my quilt frame so this baby is going to have to be sent out to my quilter.... Ms. Karen this quilt will be coming your way on payday. :)

It went together really fast....like a couple of days. Plus it was a lot of fun. It has been raining a bit here so sitting in front of my window watching the rain come down while quilting away and listening to the radio has been heaven for me.

Happy quilting everyone!!

Ahhhh it was the Irish In Me

I never know what to do at Wakes or Funerals. Should I cry.....pass out tissue...stand somberly around and look very very sad......hug everyone as they pass and say Peace Be With You?? What to do. So many options.

I chose to do the following:

Walk up to the casket for the viewing with two of my brothers. As Mike and I kneel down together our other, very mature brother, stands behind us. It was a very solemn occasion. I could feel myself start to fidget and I wondered what does one say. I lean over to Mike all prepared to say something very profound and this pops out "I'll pay you a quarter if you touch him." Then we got the giggles. In between giggles I kept saying "Oh my goodness was that inappropriate...I am so sorry!!" Then we would look at each other and giggle some more. It's the Irish in me my mom says. We Wake our loved ones with toasts to health wealth and long life to those left behind and we laugh.

I love the Irish in me.

I love my brothers. All three of them. They are pretty amazing men.

My daddy had to say a few words and I cannot tell you how proud I was of him. He said beautiful words about his brother. Not a dry eye in the house. I didn't giggle once.....at least not until my brother, yep Mike again, leaned over and whispered "I'm going to Burger King...you in??!"


"Kind family and friends please join me in rhyme
Come lift up your voices in chorus with mine.
Come drink and be merry
Turning grief to good cheer.
Till we stand with him
Again drawing near.
Here's health to his family
And one to his lass.
We hold up a pint
And all share from one glass.
Let us drink and be merry
Turning grief to delight.
Till that day when we see him
And again hold him tight.
Here's health to his lass
That he adored without a doubt.
Their love and their bond
He could not live without.
Never failing his friends
Always there to give aid
Always leading his family
As he knelt and he prayed.
His ship lies in harbor
Waiting to sail
I pray for smooth seas
And soft winds to prevail.
When we leave here to meet him
Whether by land or by sea
I will never forget
His affection for me."

God Bless you and keep you Uncle Jack.

Plane Trip....

I'm here safe and sound at the Rents house this morning. Had a wonderful night last night with all three of my brothers. We sat around a fire they built and just laughed and talked til I couldn't keep my eyes open any more. My stomach muscles hurt this morning from all the laughing and yes, I am counting that as an ab workout!
I had just about the best plane ride ever yesterday. I started to get worried when they assigned us seats before we boarded. I got an isle and really needed a window. I like to look out the window when we are taking off and landing. I feel I am helping the pilot fly. heeheehee. My seat mate walked up and since I am so nice I offered to move over so he could have the isle seat. He didn't speak much English and I am ashamed to admit when he appeared confused I told him it was all right, smiled my biggest smile and moved on over. Crisis averted and I was able to help the pilot get us off the ground. When we were air born I looked over at the man seated next to me. He had earplugs in and his eyes were closed. He slept the entire way and never once tried to talk to me. It was Heaven! He totally understood the "Rules Of The Air" which are no talking to Dawn as she is trying to read her Oprah magazine and look out the window every time there is turbulence so she can help the pilot stay on track with the amazing powers of her Jedi mind control.
When we landed he got up right away. I was able to be off that plane in under 5 minutes flat. I took my time getting to baggage claim and guess what?? I was the only one on that tiny crop duster plane that checked luggage. I didn't have to wait for five zillion bags to be unloaded. Mine zipped right out and I went outside to see my brothers a-waiting for me. I even had time to get a Starbucks.
Ahhhhhh Fate...you spoiled me yesterday and for that I am extremely grateful.

Off to Wake my Uncle Jack and hold my daddy's hand as he says his last goodbyes.
Hope everyone out there is safe and happy. Kiss your loved ones.

Road Trip...

I had a great blog post planned for today. I have a quilt finished....a sweet coffee story....something Boo-Bear said that cracked me up...and a story about a guy who came to fix our bathroom. He walked up to the house smoking a cigarette. He put it out but left it on top of a wooden cabinet I have placed oh so pretty on our porch. heh.

All of these have to wait. My dads brother died. I am leaving on a jet plane really early tomorrow so I can be there for the wake. No funeral, just a wake. As my dads family is German and has no Irish or Scottish in them I fear there will be no shouting of "Cheers to Uncle Jack!!" while having a little shot of sumpin sumpin. The only way to get through a wake if you ask me.


So, I'm off to be there for my dad. And I'm taking a crop duster so if you could light a candle for me tomorrow morning and maybe do a chant that I get there safe and sound I'd really appreciate it!
Now go and call all of your uncles and tell them you love them!

International Festival Of Food....

This weekend there was an International Food Festival at the Convention Center.
What's not to like about a festival totally devoted to food I ask ya??!
We took the youngest with us as the other two are feeling grown and were having lives of their own that night. heh.

I seem to have taken a lot of pictures of the Irish men in kilts...they are my people you know. I may also have yelled out "Jesus Mary and Joseph" a couple of times so that they could see I was one of them.

See, again with the men in kilts thing I had going on. My daughter asked what I was doing and I explained to her that I was taking pics of mah peeps. That I was half German...quarter Irish..and quarter Scottish...and yes I can hold my liquor thank you very much but no, I didn't share that little tid bit with her. :)
She then asked if we could go get some pics of her peeps with her new digital camera she got on her birthday. I said sure, thinking she would want me to grab a kilted Irishman for her to stand next to. Or a robust German...even maybe one of the Scots that were standing around the beer area. Umm no. My dirty blond haired, blue eyed baby walked over to the African booth. "Hello, I am of your people and my name is Boo Bear. Ignore the hair and eye color thing I have going on and ummm yeah, ignore the skin tone as well. I am working on that. Just know that I claim the Zulu as my own and get yourself over here so I can take a picture with you."

That's my girl............. Jesus Mary and Joseph.

I took pictures of her with her camera so do not have any to load on here. I think the man from Nigeria was puzzled with why she was so thrilled to be over by his booth. He must not have recognized her as the African Princess she strives to be.

After we hob-nobbed in Africa my husband spotted these two guys....

Tuskegee Airmen. Oh yeah. The Major (giggle giggle giggle!!) was in Heaven. He walked over to shake their hands and to tell them that because of what they went through he was able to become a Major a couple of days prior. Three happier men you couldn't have found in the whole place.









They were were really happy for him and signed the poster we bought. This is where I left my hubby....cause I was unable to pry him away from their stories of long ago and my daughter was getting antsy thinking that maybe there were people in the Africa Booth she hadn't met. This was causing her much worry and angst as all Zulu's must be met and silently looked at with worshipful awe.





I found this little lady while eating my bratwurst from Germany. She was quilting. She was lovely.

Ohio, you may just make me like you yet.

The Cake...and a very fashion forward 12 year old.

This is the great saxophone cake we had made for Boo-Bears party last weekend. Was it good! She had no idea what cake we got for her and oh my goodness her reaction was even better then I'd hoped for. :)











Here is my baby blowing out her candles wearing her part-ay finery. She had spent the night at a friends house...she had a sleepover party...and I got her home 20 minutes before the first guest arrived. I was running around the house doing last minute things when I happened to look out the window and spotted my girl in a tie dyed t-shirt...stripped pink gingham capri's...and her hair. Good gracious. I guess it was in a pony tail. I just sighed and went about my business.



I had the cake to help me get over her fashion sense.

recap...

Oh my gosh...my week.

Let me recap for you all out there...

Our daughters birthday bash on Saturday. Around 20 hungry, giggling, screaming, bouncing, candy eating girls descended on me. The saxophone cake was a huge hit. I took pictures, yes, and will upload it on here later to show you it's wonderfulness.

Sunday: Cleaned up after the almost 20 hungry, giggling, screaming, bouncing, candy eating girls.

Monday: Day of rest.

Tuesday: Hubby had surgery on his eyes. He didn't have Lasik. Nope. He had the more painful but much more workable for his eye astigmatisms PRK.

Weds: Taking care of husband. Drops every two hours. Big huge bags of medicine. Pad of paper on the dining room table to keep track of everything.

Thursday: Think about drugging up husband good and proper and then sneaking off to see Terminator. Get found out by angry children who told me (yeah, they really did) that I should sit on the couch and think about what I was about to do. Didn't go to movies after thinking about what I was about to do. Secretly did not feel bad about wanting to see Terminator and almost drugging the hubby with extra pain meds. Did feel bad about being found out.

Friday: Still taking care of husband and his bag o' drugs and having to clean house and do a mass of laundry.

Oh, in between all of this I totally redid our backyard patio area. Planted 4 tomato plants and a bunch of herbs on one side and a bunch of marigolds on the other. Complete with small wooden gate-y things lovingly placed in a 4 inch ditch I had to dig on my hands and knees. Think wild back yard with weeds up to the kneecaps now transformed into a lovely oasis.
I am now officially calling myself a gardener.

I also worked out two days this week. Yep. I am woman hear me roar. I am off to tackle this laundry and start my clean up.

Have a wonderful three day weekend everyone!

Turning 12...

Our very own little Boo-Bear turned 12 last Thursday. Today is the big birthday bash. She has been planning this party for months. She wanted a bouncy...a barbecue...music....a scavenger hunt...and she wanted to invite every girl she knew. What did I say??

BRING IT!

Today I will have anywhere from 10 - 25 girls here. What do I say to that??

I AM READY FOR YA!!!!!

Pray for me int-net. Just pray.

Someone must die....

You know those blog posts where mothers wax poetic about their love for all their children?? You do?? Well let me tell you.....this is not that kind of post.

OMG mornings with my youngest!!!! There is not enough coffee in the world to dull the pain known as she and I in the morning. Seriously, water boarding has nothing on her.

This morning we had the doozy of all fights. Want to know what it was about?? WATER!!! Yes my friends, I fought with my daughter over a glass of water. More specifically a glass of water that she kept telling me she neeeeeded. She didn't just tell me....she kept yelling "Mom!! Oh Mom!! Where are you mom with my water?!?!!!!"

People. Oh my gosh people. Each time she yelled for me AT 7 FLIPPIN AM!!!! I thought surely this would be the last time. That she would know she was oh so close to being shipped to China. But no. She is nothing if not persistent in her torture. The fifth time she yelled for me I actually levitated from my hiding place. Yes, I was hiding from her. Sad I know but we do what we must in times such as these and sitting on my freshly made bed with laptop on lap was the only thing keeping her alive at the moment.
As I opened the door to the sewing room, where she was on the treadmill getting her half hour in, my head actually popped off. It really did. Well, okay, not really, but I think I scared her with the crazy eyes a'la Jonathan Rhys Myers cause she stopped in mid yell and started to try and explain why SHE WAS DRIVING ME CRAZY IN THE MORNING YET AGAIN!!!! You know, it's funny, my voice sounded high yet low all at the same time. I think I even gritted my teeth when I told her "STOP CALLING ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NEVER SAY MOM AGAIN!!!!!!!!" Ahhhh yes, the love of a mother knows no bounds.
Now we are in our respective corners. She is in her room getting ready for school and I am in my room waiting for her to go. I think I may have a headache. And an ulcer.
Isn't it 5 o'clock somewhere??????

Blogging Friends.....

Blogging is so much more then putting thoughts and ideas out there in the world. You actually can make friends with people you've never met. People who pray for you....who worry with you over kids and husbands (or wives)....people you do the same for. I have a couple of bloggers in my cyber life I consider friends. People I would excitedly hop on the plane to go see if my husband would win the lottery already and keep me in the life I could easily become accustomed to. These three ladies would be at the top of my list.

Tracey read that my birthday was a-comin and sent me some goodies all the way from Australia. She is an artist who makes cards, calendars and magnets from pictures of her life. In her spare time she quilts...raises chooks....takes care of her family....helps to run her farm.....and is in charge of making sure that people who lost everything in those terrible fires have a quilt to warm not only their bodies, but their souls. She has opened up her home to collect donated squares from all around the world. Round these parts we call her Saint Tracey. :) Thank you my friend for thinking of me on my special day.

On to the wonderful Chocolate Cat. She shot me an email a couple of weeks ago asking for my kids real life names and how to spell them. Of course I told her...also told her our home address and all of our social security numbers cause I am nothing if not trusting! heehee

Look what she had made for me! I have worn it every day and when people ask me where I got it with wonder and awe in their voices I tell them from my dear friend who lives in Australia. Ms. Chocolate Cat is also helping Tracey with the quilts going to people who have suffered in the fires. She was raising some chooks as well as but her dog decided they were his personal play things and may have chewed on a couple.

Are you getting that there are some pretty special people living in the land down under??

Yep. There are! We have been emailing back and forth for awhile now asking each other all kinds of questions about living life in different countries. I tell her exotic stories about American Idol and she tells me all about living over there. She is special.....and hands off America! I saw her first!!!

For awhile I had been seeing a name I didn't recognize in my comments. I checked to see if the person had a blog and nope, no go. No email either. Hmmmm. I was curious so sent out a note on the blog for her to contact me so we could share secrets and become bestys. You know what?? She did!!!!! And for that I am oh so glad.

Today when I went to the mail box I saw a package. I may have squealed when I saw her name on it. I opened up the box and saw presents. Could this card be any cuter??!

And hello!!!! Look at this masterpiece of wonderfulness!!!!! When my youngest came over to look at all the goodies I may have karate chopped her and told her hands off.

Also, you know someone totally gets you when they send you a book mark. I pink puffy heart book marks and may have gotten teary cause I felt so fortunate and loved. You guys out there in blogland are the best!!!

I have a secret to share. Shhhhhhhh don't tell, but I have always wanted one of these hearts. Always. When I see them on other blogs I may have a twinge of the jealousies. Just a twinge, and I'm not proud of it but there it is.

So can you imagine how happy I was when I opened this in the box??!!!

For those of you out there that are wondering what wonderful things Mascanlon does...she is in charge of fixing global warming and just yesterday took care of the whole stimulus package mess on her own. :) You go girl!!!

Seriously you guys....thank you so much from the bottom of my heart! You rock and made my turning 40 extra specially nice. :)

On mothers day and be-heinies!

As I was taking the 16 year old to work today I noticed she was a tad grumpy. I asked her what was wrong and she proceeded to tell me that she has stress and angst. (okay I made up the angst part but what teen isn't filled with angst at 16??) The reason she is feeling all glass half empty is because she is saving for a trip to see a good friend this summer....saving for a car...her sisters birthday next weekend and the holy grail of holidays is this Sunday. What?? Don't know what the holy grail of holidays is?? It is Mother's Day ya'll!
In an effort to help her with at least one of those problems I gave her some hints as to what a certain mother in her life would luv luv luv for Mothers Day. She looked worried cause the last time I mentioned a gift I wanted more then life itself it was the quilt frame. I told her not to worry cause this gift would only cost around $10!!!! I told her to buy me a ticket to a movie on Sunday. Then get with her brother and have him buy me a ticket to a movie after that...also on Sunday. The youngest can hop on the bandwagon as well and buy a ticket for a movie after that.....yep, on Sunday. The hubby?? He can buy me a large popcorn and large soda so I can refill them all day long. After my speech and much sighing and saying Nirvana...sweet sweet Nirvana, my daughter said "are you really serious?? You want to sit in the movie theatre all day long??" I told her yes indeedy and I even know what movies I want to see! She, I am sure, was on pins and needles to hear what those movies were and since I am now a mature woman of 40 probably thought I'd want to see Foreign Films or something. I swear it's like some days they don't even know me at all. I am the woman who saw Twilight three times...okay 5! Yes, 5. Edward totally had me at "How you doin!"

Here are my movie pics in order of importance:

1. Star Trek...cause yes my inner 12 year old nerd loves her some Spock! and some Dr. Bones.....and who can resist Scotty?? I'm a mother not a hermit!! (heeheeheeheehee)

2. Wolverine...Hugh Jackman bears his heinie...can there be anything better in a dark movie theatre with a large popcorn and a large soda then some Hugh Jackman heinie?? What!!!??? You know you want to see it for that reason too!!!

3. Ghosts of Girlfriends Past....Matthew McConaughey, nuff said.

I do not want anyone to go to the movies with me. My hubby (note to hubby...I really don't care about Hugh Jackman and his heinie...really, I don't) falls alseep. The 16 year old asks questions during every movie. The 11 year old will probably get scared and want to sit out in the lobby and the 19 year old wants to see deep movies with a message like The Soloist.

Also, moms out there...we go to church on Sunday and I really really really don't want to pretend to be hungry at 6am (is it just me that feels like that???) cause that's when I have to eat their breakfast lovingly prepared so we can make it to church. I love my family. Lord knows I do, but trying to eat eggs and bacon and toast as soon as my eyes open without any coffee to fortify my loins makes me weak in the knees!!!
I would love to just get myself ready without the 11 year old whining at me that her leg hurts...her toes hurt...her tummy hurts....her hair follicles hurt...she may expire any second...all to stay home and sleep longer instead of getting her Jesus on. I would like to be taken to Starbucks where I can order a Grande Caramel Macchiato from Barista Boyfriend Will (his name is not really Will, this is just my nickname for him ever since he told me that "Girl! Love your earrings!!" I fell in love with him on the spot and am working up the courage to ask if I can call him Will and will he call me Grace) also, along with the coffee I want to get an apple fritter.

These are the secret desires of my heart. I plan on leaving hints all over the house. Lets see if it works. Wish me luck!!!!
Viva La Hugh Jackmans Heinie!!!!

I've been cranking out the quilts on the new frame! Here is a dress quilt that I made. I finished it this afternoon. It is from the book Quilting With My Sister (found the book Lise!! :) )

Each dress is hand appliqued and then I tried to get creative with the sashes.

This is a quilt I made for Boo-Bears teacher. I plan on giving it to her at the end of the school year as a thank you. I may have posted about this one before but since I have no memory (yes, my children have sucked it all away) I figured I'd put it out there today.

This quilt is for a special someone in my life. Can't say who in case she's reading this. She has a bunch of quilts around her home, I wanted her to have one from me. :)

K, that's all I got for today. I'm off to watch my most favorite show, Lie To Me. Love that show!!!!

Have a nice night everyone!!

What do you do when your hubby is having one of the biggest days of his life and you have promised yourself that you will take pictures to capture this moment for him...forever?? Of course you get all caught up in the ceremony and the wonderfullness of it all and leave your camera in your purse.....and you also don't take pics of when you surprise him with a visit from his Nana aka The Person He Loves Most In The World cause then you would be arrested for taking pictures in a secure area.

What to do???? If you have a Jen in your life then you are set!
Jen came with camera in hand and took all these pictures for us. I cannot tell her thank you enough!!!
First up is the flags that were in the front of the room.
Pa-retty snazzy!!























The woman smiling in acute happiness is my mother in law. I think we grinned at each other all day long! heehee










After a couple of speeches about how great this all was it was time to pin on his new rank of Major. The Son took one side and I took the other. The hubby just stood there looking very nibble-able and proud.









His mother and Nana got to put the ummmmmmm I think the correct term would be the Clamp Thingies on The Pokey Thingie.











Here are mah girls waiting their turn.

It takes a village to pin a Major.

This is the swearing in of the new rank. Yeah, I was looking for some tissue round this time.

In case anyone out there is wondering if it was a happy day, we have this picture.

(Totally my favorite moment of the day Jen!!!)

Yeah, a good time was had by all...a special thanks to my daddy for driving 7 hours in the car to come for the ceremony. You da' bomb diggity!!

The Promotion Ceremony....

It is official. My Capt is now a Major! He had his promotion ceremony last week. As a surprise I flew his grandmother in...you should have seen the look on his face! I couldn't take any pics of it cause where he works has a bunch of classified stuff and they don't allow cameras. Bummer.
His mom also flew in as a surprise...my dad drove up...a friend of his from 20 years ago drove in...and My Ya-Ya, Jen, and family came. It was awesome!!! There was pomp...and circumstance....his speech was a tear jerker.....we had cake....there were about 402 trips to the airport...we had dinner out...shopping.....wine....wine....wine......It was perfect in every possible way. I was able to get one picture before the ceremony started and then got caught up in it all. Yep. Bad blogger, I know. So now I'm back baby!!! I've got stuff to say! I just need to clean my house and get started on this massive laundry pile. Our dryer broke last week in the midst of all the company. When the repair man came and opened it up he called me in to look at the lint build up. I can only say OH MY GOSH!!!! He had me call maintenance so they could flush out our dryer vent. It took them 30 minutes to get past the clog. That's how full it was. I am very thankful that we did not have a fire. Seems a little bird has had a nest in there for awhile. heh. Stooopid nature.
Thank you to everyone who hung in there with me during these three weeks of absence and sent me emails to check up on me. A special thanks to Chocolate Cat and Ozcountryquiltingmum for sending me some wonderful pressies on my birthday. I am going to put pics of those on here.....as soon as I can get some of the clutter put away.

I'm off to start my Monday. Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!!!!!
d

I know, I totally dropped off the face of the earth. Things are busy my way. The Capt is having a big ceremony this week cause he is becoming a Major!!! Big Big Doings!! We have a couple of surprises in the works for him that I can't post on here in case he reads the ole' blog this week. I'll be taking this week off from blogging since there is so much to do. I hope I have some readers still when I return. I need to do a blog post thanking some wonderful Aussies out there!! They sent me some birthday pressies that I am in awe over. You guys are so great.......I just loves ya!!

Gotta run...did I mention our dryer went kaputz?? Yep. Life didn't want me to get bored or anything! :)
Happy Monday everyone!!

Two down, one to go...

Our Jen left about 5 minutes ago.
I am having one more cup of coffee and then it is my turn to start getting ready.
We leave for the airport in about 2 hours.

I am savoring.

The Great Ya-Ya Reunion of 09' is almost at an end.

sigh

And then there were three.....FINALLY!!!!

Oh yeah! Our girl made it to Te-Has this afternoon!! Leigh and I saw her pull up and made a mad dash to find our cameras. After much hugging Jen broke out the presents.....ahhhhhh presents!










What do you get for the girl who just turned 40????? You get her all kinds of goodies to snack on and some FABRIC!!!!!!!!












Mine is on the right and the one she got for Leigh is on the left. Yes fellow fabric lovers, we hugged it and called it pressssssssssssssssssious. I may even sleep with mine tonight.










Speaking of fabric, here is the kit I got the other day. Isn't it luscious!!!!!!!!! Yep, I hug it and call it pressssssssssious too.
I may have a sickness.












Here is me with my loot. Can you see that the sparkle is back in my eyes??! I am back with my girls and haven't felt this happy and yet so settled inside of my sould in months.

Ya-Ya's...they do a body good.

:)

One third of the way there!!!

I am having a ball Int-Netz!!! We have lunched. We have shopped. We've been to the gym twice.....yes, I almost died on the stair stepper. We've been out to dinner. We shopped some more. We ran some errands. We've partaken of some lovely wine. We've laughed til my sides hurt. We have talked about everything and solved many of the worlds problems. Ask me what to do about the whole Pirate Situation....we covered that one in detail.

I am savoring every minute here.

Yesterday we had pedicures on the agenda. There is nothing I like more the a good pedicure and this one was really really good. The chairs that we sat in massaged our backs and necks. The little lady who did me was someones Great Great Great Grandmother and was in no rush. I wanted to put her in my pocket and take her home to live with me forever.

I asked her if she could do designs and she assured me she could. I asked her if she had books I could look at to pick out my design. Again, she said yep, the had plenty of books. Then she proceeded to put exactly what she wanted on my toes.

Her friend was in the shop and they were talking about all kinds of stuff. Her friend took a look at the design she was doing on mah toe and said to me....I kid you not, I cannot make this stuff up...she says to me "I wish I had big feet!" She told me her toes were little dainty things and she couldn't get designs on hers. Yep, everyone stopped talking to look at me. What can you say when someone says that to you??? I laughed! I need to start thanking The Crazy for finding me while I am out in the world minding my own business. It surely makes my days more fun! hahahahaha

Here is a pic of our toes after they were done. My big ole' boats are on the left. :)

Tonight Leigh's son turned 9. We went out to dinner to celebrate and had cake. Ummmmm cake.

As soon as the kiddos go to bed we are breaking out the daiquiris from Daiquiri Express.

The only thing that could make this perfect would be if Jen were here....she arrives tomorrow.

Look out world. And then there were three!!!!!!

heehee

Dawn Of The Big Feets Signing Off For Now!

Muh Birthday And Going to Leigh's Hiz-ouse. :)

Okay, I know my birthday is over and I am a couple of days into 40 but I had to show the world at large why I love's me my hubby. For the past twenty years he has made sure that I get crab legs on my special day. I thought for sure that because of Saturday being such a busy day that it would be a no go so I didn't say anything. He surprised me by going to the grocery store and getting three pounds for me to have...all by my self!!!! Can you just say yummmmmmmmy??!




Okay, enough slobbering the love over The Capt...moving on....here is Ms. Grace in all her glory with a quilt on and ready to go. I love her!! Every time I walk past her she whispers to me..."come and play!! Dishes be darned!! Who needs clean clothes??? Come on and sew a little sumpin sumpin." Now I just need to figure out to do with the wall behind the machine cause it is driving me crazy. I'm thinking I may paint. Or maybe go to IKEA and see what they have. My frame is not happy in her sewing room. She needs some color in there...and storage....and a pool man named Paco! heehee

This is me feeling movie star glamorous before I went to the airport. It was a looooooong day folks. I don't even know what to say about all the waiting and changing gates and broken planes. Traveling is no easy thing these days. Good thing I had a People magazine with me so I could keep abreast of the whole Lindsey Lohan/ SaMANtha situation. The child needs a mother. That's all I can say about that.

Okay, hope everyone is having a wonderful week!!! Today we are off to a quilt store and I feel the need to stimulate the economy!

Bye!!!

I'm here....and it's fab-u-lus!!! Got here after a very crazy day at the airports.....ummmmm American Eagle...WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH YOU GUYS AND YOUR SMALL AIRPLANES AND OMG THE TURBULANCE!!! I told the hubby as I was eating my breakfast that I should really be eating the double chocolate chip ice cream cause if the plane goes down I would be really mad that whole grain toast was the last meal....and a couple of times yesterday I was rueing that toast. We thought we were gonna eat it ya'll.....really. sigh.
This morning we celebrated our being back together with a trip to the gym! Yeah us!! Leigh is all working on her cute-i-fied-ness with a personal trainer so being the good friend I am I brought work out clothes and went with her. Good thing too cause I stepped on her scale this morning and ummmmmmmmmmmm note to my behind?? Yeah, you can stop growing now. It is not pretty. Seriously.
Okay, enough for now....off to shop til we drop and eat lettuce and carrots for lunch. heehee
hugs!!

Leaving on a jet plane!!!

Today is the day!!!! It is the day I hop on a plane and ride to Texas to see Leigh! On Thursday Jen will join us and the Ya-Ya's will be together once more.
I'm leaving for the airport in an hour...got my magazines....a camera with batteries....some money for coffee.....or wine if we hit turbulence.....and a great attitude. :)
I.
am.
So.
Excited!!!!!!

Thank you to everybody who took time out of their busy lives to tell me happy birthday! You guys are the bestest and I will reply when I get myself settled at Leigh's. Yesterday, she was a busy one and I only had about 5 seconds of computer time.

Hugs and Happy Easter Everyone!!!!
d

Heeheehee

Soooooo ummmmmmm remember when I said there would be pictures of the OHMYGOSHILOVEMYFRAME quilt frame?? Welll see here's what happened. I got out my camera. Took aim. Clicked. Nothing. I said to myself, "self, something didn't work right." Then I pointed and clicked again. Nothing. I pressed a couple of buttons then sat down to work out what was what with the camera and it wouldn't even turn on. I mean what the heck! I just put new batteries in it and everything! Then I thought...hmmmm batteries...new....my hubby left on Monday and was looking for some batteries...surely he wouldn't take mine when I TOLD HIM I BOUGHT BATTERIES ESPECIALLY FOR THE CAMERA!...oh yeah, he would and he did.
I opened up the battery part and guess what int-netz. Empty.
Now you are saying well why didn't you just go out and get some more. See, I've been busy. Really busy. I let my daughters talk me into going out to lunch and a movie the other day and then there was Cheesecake Factory for dinner the other night and then yesterday I knew the hubby was coming home today so I stayed in my PJs and read books all day long while the kids were willy nilly all over the world but hey, they weren't bothering me so what did I care??
Today the hubby comes home. Late tonight. I have laundry and housecleaning and then a trip to the store to get last minute Easter stuff. I need to pack for THE GREAT YA-YA REUNION OF 09' aka the trip where my soul is restoreth. Batteries are on the agenda. :) Plus I need to show the world my first quilt done on the frame. I put a new needle on there (thanks Ms. Karen for the tip!!!) and took off like a person who if she practices every day for the next 100 years may be a pro and a quilt was born people!!!
I am now off to clean the house. Life is nothing but exciting over here. heehee

It's here. It's wonderful. It took me five hours to load a quilt.

Five.
Hours.

I read the directions on how to make the leaders.....I re-read the directions cause they made no sense...I figured it out....I sewed them then attached them....attached them wrong...I said a bad word...no one heard me....it felt good.....I un-attached them and then re-did them the right way...I think....I decided that even though everyone said to practice that I was a quilting savant and put a quilt on there....took me forever.....I took a break and had some Doritos......and a coke....took a deep breath and went back in the sewing room to fight the fight of the righteous....I lost the fight of the righteous when I broke a needle five minutes in.....fixed the needle issue and poked a hole in my finger...got a band aid....had thread breakage and a major snag.......got out my trusty seam ripper and got to work....I no longer think I am a quilting savant.....I am now having a very large glass of wine.

I am eyeing Ms. Gracie right now and toasting her with a very lovely Pinot....she is gleaming and beckoning me. I am too tired to heed her sirens call.

Tomorrow is a new day. I will sleep then post some pictures.

Today was the best day ever! :)

Heehee she's here.

Update....

Stardate 42658:

The quilters rack has been sighted in Dayton Ohio and has been updated by the UPS people to say "being delivered."
I have looked out the window 542369 times...no wait....542370 times. It is 12:28 Mountain Pacific Standard Oceanatic time. Updates will follow....

Oh boy!!

I just checked the UPS website and my quilt rack is in Dayton!!! It should be delivered today. To say I am excited is like saying water is wet. I may kiss the UPS guy and give him a big ole' hug. Do you think standing in my window all day long waiting for him would be to much? No? Okay then!
My mom...brother...and niece have been here all week long. We've been busy stimulating the ole' economy. Not to worry America, after the new figures come out for all the shopping we've been doing we should be back in the number one spot. My mom always comes in my house, looks around, takes note of what I don't have that she thinks I should and off we go to the stores. This time is was my yard. We added lights to the front, she redid my porch and made it oh so pretty, the back patio is now the new home to a fire pit and two chairs with some tomatoes and herbs being talked about for the one flower bed I have back there. She has done all the laundry in my house. I've cooked. She has done dishes. I've made lunches. And we've talked. We've talked and laughed and talked some more. Moms that are your friends are the best, aren't they!
Today my hubby comes home from parts unknown. I talked to him last night and the man is tired. Bone tired. All of this traveling and working 15 hour days is starting to get to him. My plan is to baby him a little bit before he heads out again. I have a pork loin planned for dinner this weekend. A bottle of very nice wine is chilling in the drink fridge. (yeah, we have two refrigerators...one just for drinks. Mostly juice boxes and tea.) I'm going to fire up the new fire pit, already have the wood, and pour him a glass of that very nice wine. Settle him down in a chair and sit by him a bit. Help him to regroup the way women have been doing for their men for ages. Sometimes all it takes is a big dinner, a fire, and some quiet time together.
Anyway, that's what I'll be doing this weekend...what about you all out there???
hugs!
dawn