Stairways to My Childhood

I was watching a show on HGTV the other day (HGTV makes my heart go pitter pat). I think this show was House Hunters International, but I could be wrong because I don't take ANY fish oil. Work with me here, OK? They had this couple looking at houses in Roatan Honduras. The woman was nixing one of the houses because it had stairs. She said that was too dangerous for her 2 toddler daughters. They weren't even lots of stairs either. It was just a few. They were also very deep stairs so the kids would have to take a few steps on each stair in order to proceed to the next stair.

Well, let me tell ya, she could NOT have lived where I grew up. The following is a 'cheater' photo of the house I grew up in (y'all)... I say cheater because I don't happen to have any photos of it that I took myself and I have no idea where the old snap shots might be! I got this screen-shot off of Google Maps (which I think is a pretty darn cool web site).

This huge house is 3 stories plus a full basement. There were stairs everywhere! There were babies everywhere! Remember, I'm the oldest of 8 kids... That means that my mother had a baby nearly every 12-18 months for a while there. We all learned stairs when we learned to crawl and walk, without the benefit of baby gates or anything!

::gasp::

Of course, we also rode our bikes without helmets, elbow pads or knee pads. We rode in the car without wearing seat belts and there was no such thing as the fancy baby seats they have nowadays. Now I don't want you thinking my mother was just letting the babies go anywhere they wanted without her eagle eye on them, because that's not how it was at all! I'm just saying, things have really changed. I don't know how she managed to get all 8 of us to adulthood without all those safety thingys.

I'll be making a trip to Winthrop with the SisterDears next month once the excitement of the wedding is behind us. This house is the first place on my Winthrop list. It happens to me my most favorite house ever, and I really can't imagine any house being more awesome than this one!

It's the last day of July already! It's also Saturday and the weekend is finally here! Woohoo! For me that means errands and chores. Boohoo! I hope your day is fabulous! Big Hugs ♥

PB&J and a Scooby Snack

I had a PB&J sammich for lunch yesterday. I made it my favorite way... Creamy Jif with Raspberry Jam on Soft Italian bread. Not that I'm that fussy about my PB&J's. I've never met a PB&J I didn't like.

Do you have a favorite way to make your PB&J sammich? Do you put your jam on top of the peanut butter or on the other slice of bread? I put mine on the other slice of bread. I have to spread the jam all the way to the edges of the bread, so that some oozes out. And then I cut it not quite diagonally; not quite straight in half. It just tastes better that way. :-D

As you can see, as long as there's a glass of milk my cats are good with whatever kind of sammich is made! Oh, and we prefer skim milk for drinking, in case you were wondering. Whole milk is only for cooking around here.

I use Crunchy Jif for baking my Peanut Butter Cookies, which totally ROCK! Or so everybody who's had them say. It's THE easiest cookie recipe in the world, too.

Back in the days when she was a very little girl (she'll be turning 23 in a few weeks!) I use to cook and bake a lot with my niece Jennifer. This recipe is actually from Emeril's There's a Chef in My Soup cookbook.

This brings back so many fond memories....

One lovely Saturday afternoon Jennifer and I drove down to Bradenton, FL to a Barnes and Noble where Emeril was having a book signing. I brought all of my Emeril's cookbooks with me for him to autograph. I also brought a photograph of my BIL Rick in his Emeril's apron which I had bought for him one Christmas. Emeril BAM'd and autographed all of them for me! I then matted and framed the photo and sent it to Rick with an autographed Emeril cookbook. It's still hanging in his kitchen to this day!

Anyway...

The recipe is called Mal Mal's Peanut Butter Cookies, but since that very first time Jennifer and I made this recipe it replaced my old Peanut Butter Cookie recipe and became MY Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup creamy or crunchy peanut butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large egg, beaten

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Preheat the oven to 350
• Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and stir well with a wooden spoon until smooth
• Divide the dough into 24 portions, about 1 heaping tablespoon each.
• Roll each portion between your hands to form a smooth ball.
• Place the balls of dough about an inch apart on the ungreased baking sheets. 
• Press down with a fork in two directions to form a crosshatch pattern. You should get 12 cookies per sheet.
• Bake one sheet at a time on the center rack in the oven until the cookies rise and turn lightly golden, about 10-12 minutes.

Yield: 24 cookies

Note: When baking the Peanut Butter Cookies for the first time, you may want to experiment with the baking time. I've always let them bake a bit longer than the recipe calls for (y'all).

Did you notice there is no flour in this recipe? And only 3 ingredients? And those 3 ingredients are ALWAYS in my house!

Do NOT attempt to make these if you don't at least double or triple the recipe or you will be very, very sorry. Tripled is gooder. :-D

You're Welcome.

You're going to make these right now, aren't you?

I would.

And while I was cropping the photo of Enrico Suave, Gracie and Whitey decided to help. Naturally, I had to take a few photos. Then I got this one. It's out of focus but it cracked me up.



Gracie is eating Whitey's head! hahahahaha! It was a late-afternoon Scooby Snack.

It's Friday! Woohoo! Enjoy today's trip around the sun! I know I will! Big Hugs ♥

Jambo!

"Jambo! Now you know how to greet people in Swahili!"

When you log into Flickr, it always greets you in some other language and tells you which language it is. Today I got "Jambo". In my family "Jambos" also happens to be a word we use for relaxing clothes and/or sleeping clothes. I actually used the word "Jambos" in yesterday's post, so I thought it was kind of funny.

Yesterday some of you asked why my friends got a salt water pool... Um, I forget. Well, I forget the particular reasons they ultimately chose to go with salt water. There are pros and cons for salt water versus chlorine. I think that partly they didn't want to be buying chlorine all the time (salt generates chlorine) and partly they liked the softer feeling on their skin from salt water. It's more like a water softener you'd buy for your house water supply. Of course, there are still chemicals to buy and monitoring and adjustments to be made but it's all hooked up to a computer to do all that stuff. Keep in mind that it's nothing like the salt water in the ocean. The pool is absolutely gorgeous! It has the same beautiful, clear blue water you would normally associate with the more traditional chlorine pool.



Some great news! I've had 3 really good days in a row at the office! Typically in my industry, July, August and December are slow, but overall this entire summer has been slower than normal. That makes me all the more grateful for the good days this week and I certainly hope this continues! It's much too soon to even think that this could mean there's a change in the economic climate but I dearly hope to see more of this!

I've got a few errands that I've got to get done today that I wasn't able to get to because of those busy days. The Weather Channel is forecasting 100 again today. I absolutely hate going outside when it's this hot and humid!

Enjoy today's trip around the sun! I know I will! Big Hugs ♥

Come as you are!

Gracie on my keyboard

The night before last I stayed up late! Well, late for me... it was 9:45pm when I got home! As you might expect, that was followed immediately by one of those rare mornings when I slept until 6:00am!

A few months ago my neighbors bid farewell to their well-used, above-ground pool and had a sexy salt water in-ground pool put in. They invite me over almost every night, but they usually don't go out to the pool until 8:00pm. By then if I'm not already in bed, I'm certainly in my jambos. Well, last night they called much earlier. I told her that I was already in my jambos and she said, "So? Come as you are!" And I did! Look at me being all spontaneous!

The pool is just lovely and, thankfully, the mosquitoes were nowhere to be seen. It was probably too hot for them. That's my theory and I'm sticking to it! Our low has been about 80 degrees and to say that I'm sick of it would be an understatement. I can't wait for Winter! I'd even welcome a little snow at this point. Just saying.

Anyway... back to my friends... They're very excited as they leave for their cruise in a few days! A few weeks ago Carnival called them and wanted to upgrade them from the Spa Suite to the Penthouse Suite. What about that? And how do you suppose they replied? Duh!

I also got to meet a few neighbors I had not met yet - a young military couple and their 'almost 3' year old daughter. What a little cutie pie she is! I had fun just watching her and listening to her squeeing as her Daddy played with her in the pool. Two is such a cute age! Oops... 'almost 3' is such a cute age!

Oh. And because nobody asked me... while we're on the subject of little ones and water... I have to say that I'm not a huge fan of Swimmies. I feel a whole lot more at ease when kids wear a life jacket, especially in any body of water where the kids can't stand up. Those Swimmies just don't cut it for me. Just saying.

Gracie on my hand on the keyboard. She likes to help. Whitey does this same thing, only he's much bigger.

I had a good day at the office yesterday and a really good day the day before! I'm hoping this continues! I also had someone call to thank me for NOT selling him a part. I recommended he go down to his local Grainger store to buy the motor he needed. If I sold it to him it is $325. I told him Grainger had it at a fraction of the price. I told him to bring his motor with him so they could match it up, paying attention to the gear on it as that was critical for his particular application. A few hours later I got a call saying, "Barb, this is Lee. $32.00! I don't know how to thank you enough". Well Lee, I believe you just did. I have always treated my customers the way that I would want to be treated. In the case of those pesky people who are always cantankerous and disagreeable... I refer them to my competition, of course. They deserve each other! hahahaha!

My computer guru called yesterday. He finally got that nasty virus off my computer. I sure am glad I brought it in to him. He said he ended up having to put a special program on there to find it and get it off (y'all). I'd have been bald-headed by now. All I have to do now is find the time to go pick it up and pay him.

Gas to computer guru $5.
Cost to have computer guru disinfect computer $50.
Not having to do it myself or reformat and restore my entire computer... Priceless.

And that's all I know today. Happy Humpday! Big Hugs :)

Gracie, get out of the trash!

Gracie

Now there's a phrase I never expected to be saying, let alone several times a day! I can't imagine what the attraction is for Gracie - 99.9% of what's in there is paper. Nonetheless, she delights in rummaging through my office trash can! She even takes naps in there!

I really thought she'd outgrow it by now but she's 8-1/2 months old now and she seems to enjoy it even more, while I on the other hand seem to find it less cute and more annoying, especially if I happen to be on the phone with a customer.

Of course, I only have to see that face and I'm a goner all over again! =0)

I just discovered that when my iPhone updated to the latest software on iTunes the other day it did not sync my music that I had purchased on iTunes. Anybody care to guess what that means? Well, it means that I'm out of luck. I had about $200 worth of my favorite CDs and a few movies in iTunes that are just gone. And I can't download them again. Anybody care to guess how many more purchases I'll be making on iTunes? If your guess rhymes with Hero, you're a winner!

I do love technology but sometimes Technology Bytes!

Well, that's all I know today. Enjoy today's trip around the sun! I know I will! Big Hugs :)

Eggplant anyone?

I love eggplant. I usually make Eggplant Parmesan. However, I just found this recipe on Hellmann's website and I will be making it tonight since Wally World actually had fresh eggplant!

If you don't like eggplant, this recipe would be just as yummy if you substituted chicken.

Or whatever else you'd like!

Shoot, it's your sammich... Make it anyway you'd like!


And the website said it would pair well with the Chicken and Potato Salad. Alas, that's all gone!

My computer guru called me late Saturday afternoon to tell me my computer was ready... followed immediately by another call telling me, oops, no it wasn't. He says this is the first encounter he's had with this particular virus (Antivir) and it was being nasty and tenacious. I knew I didn't want to mess with it after about 5 minutes! We'll see what he has to say when he calls me today.

I switched to AVG Free Anti-virus last fall at the recommendation of above mentioned guru. I'd always used Norton's since my first online experience in the late 1980s. I switched because a) it really slows down your computer and b) I had had one virus get through while I was dropping EntreCards, which by the way I'm SO glad I no longer do! So this is only the second virus that ever made it through my Anti-virus software - once with Norton's and now once with AVG. To me the much longer time without a virus factor said Norton's was better, so I downloaded it yesterday. I had forgotten how much it sucked the life out of the resources of my computer!

I uninstalled Norton's this morning and reinstalled AVG.

Conclusion? Get a Mac! And I will, as soon as my I've used up the goodie out of my newest computer.

Happy Monday! I love Monday because it means I once again have the potential to earn $$$. I got my annual Social Security Statement in the mail over the weekend and I sure can't retire on THAT! Enjoy today's trip around the sun! I know I will! Big Hugs :)

Stuffed Olives and Other Sunday Stuff

Feeding Time at the Zoo

Did I ever tell you that I fall asleep every night with the TV on? I need the background noise to sleep. Anyway, when I woke up this morning the TV was on a channel I'm not familiar with (y'all) - G4. It was apparently between shows and was airing a commercial for itself... shouting at me "Movies That Don't Suck!". Excellent. I prefer movies that don't suck, don't you?

I shut off the TV and bid Whitey and Grayson a "Good Morning" and walked out to the kitchen to make coffee. It was there that I found Gandalf str-e-t-c-h-ing on the lounge, which he now believes to be his, and Gracie hovering over a small green tree frog covered in cat hair and barely moving. I grabbed a paper towel, scooped up the tree frog and tossed it out into the back yard. I doubt he had a prayer of making it. I don't know how these critters make it into the house. Haven't their friends noticed none of them ever return... safely?

Then I made my coffee.

While the coffee was brewing I fed the cats and cleaned the litter boxes.

Then it was 3:30am and my coffee was done! And Gracie was still prowling around the kitchen looking for her tree frog.

Just so ya know... I finished off the leftover Chicken and Potato Salad the other day. After having a few days for the flavors to blend and 'get happy' I've decided that the next time I make it I will NOT add the olives. By the 3rd day they totally overpowered every other flavor. Other than that, I loved it and I will definitely make it again. The next time I believe I may use red onion and shredded carrots.

Yesterday was an exhausting day. I headed over to the mall early to try to beat the heat. I went to Lowe's for my office ceiling paint and trim pain. Then went over to Sam's for a few things. Next was my computer guru. I dropped off my infected PC and I brought my wide sexy monitor with me, too. As soon as he saw it he said I'd be much better off to just buy a new one rather than repair a flat panel  monitor. I was afraid of that. Which reminds me... I meant to pick up a few new surge protectors while I was over by the mall. My monitor was not plugged into one when the lightning hit.

I took 2 naps yesterday afternoon, y'all. TWO! That heat and humidity really zaps it out of me! Actually, it was more like one nap which I briefly woke from and went right back to sleep. And then I went to bed around 6:30. Seriously.

Y'all know I go to bed around 7:30-8:00 most nights and get up very early, right?

It's now 4:20am... And Gracie is STILL prowling around the kitchen looking for her tree frog.

Go out and make it a great day! Or in my case, stay in and make it a great day! Big hugs :)

Saturday Stuff

Grayson

This is Grayson. He's my long-haired Gray Boy. Gorgeous, as always. Unfortunately, I find it very difficult to get many good shots of him. I am pleased with this one. His eyes are both open and he's not blurred. Works for me! The reason I point this out is that there was some confusion yesterday. I talked about Gracie in the post but the photo is actually of Gandalf. When I choose a photo for the posts, it may or may not have anything to do with what I ramble on about (y'all). I just choose whichever photo suits my fancy. Sorry for the confusion.

And about Zumba... Never did I say that I was any good at it nor did I day that I was managing to do it for very long. I am a Beginner. I have no doubt that the longer I do it the more stamina I will have, but I will never be a dancer! It IS fun and it gets me up and moving and that's all I'm really concerned with (y'all). I mostly sit at a computer every day, all day... that's No Good! I also like that it gets me laughing at myself - at how completely uncoordinated I am! It's a good thing nobody can see me! hahahaha!

Today I need to drop off my infected computer to my guru. I'm also bringing my wide, sexy monitor that the lightning fried to see if it's worth fixing, if it even can be fixed. Then I have to run into Sam's and Lowe's. I really hate going to the mall. Hate. Traffic and crazy people are always found there.

Today marks a mere 4 weeks from the wedding day of my nephew and his lovely lady. I fly out on the 18th and I still have nothing to wear to either the rehearsal dinner or the wedding. That's not good. Thankfully, it's a late morning garden wedding so I can dress fairly casually. A capri suit, some beads and dressy sandals and I'll be good to go.Maybe I'll even find a fabulous hat!

After the wedding is done and things settle down, I'm planning a mini-reunion with a bunch of my classmates as well as a get-together with Linda.

Winthrop's Water Tower, By acme401

There will also be a sister weekend to our old hometown of Winthrop by the Sea, a small seaside suburb of Boston where we all lived for the first half of our childhood. Both of my parents and all but 1 of us 8 kids were born and raised there. Most of our ascendants/deceased relatives are buried there. My parents always plan a trip to the graves every year. Me? I've never done that. Perhaps I should.

For many, many years the town Historian was my Great-Uncle Arthur. If I ever hit the lottery I wouldn't mind having a three-season home there. They can keep the winters though! hahahaha!



Enjoy your weekend! I know I will! Big Hugs :)

I'm a rebel

It's Friday again! That means it's the weekend and I can get to all those errands I saved up for the weekend now. Swell. No problem. I'm sure I'll find some relaxing somewhere in there.

Yesterday I had supper for breakfast and breakfast for lunch and dessert for supper. And the world kept on spinning! Sometimes you just have to thumb your nose at the universe! Just don't tell my mother, OK? It will totally throw her universe completely off kilter.

I spent far too long reconciling my business bank statement yesterday. I was off $3. It drove me nuts. It turned out that one of the checks cleared for a different amount than what I had written it for (y'all). I figured out that the time I spent on finding that $3 took about $100 of my time. But by George, I found it and all is right in my business world again! Well... I'd love it more if business were better. Just saying.

Oh! THIS JUST IN! Gracie has finally figured out that getting brushed is NOT torture after all! I brush all of my cats every day, quite often more than once, and they all fight to be first. Except Gracie. Every day for the past 7 months I've always run the brush across Gracie's back, too, trying to get her use to it. Well, all of a sudden she has realized that she LOVES it! The trouble I'm having now is that she's so excited about it that she's a complete Wiggle Butt! Now I have to try to brush a moving target! Still, it's waaaay better than a growly, hissy, swatting, biting butt! She's a hoot!

I'm still working on getting her to at least tolerate being held. She Absolutely.Hates.It. She'll sit in my lap for hours, but will not be held! I can now hold her for about 3 seconds without getting huge scratches. Believe it or not, that's progress!

 Well, that's all I know right now. Enjoy today's trip around the sun! I know I will! Big Hugs ♥xo

Zumba! I'm joining the party!

I found a fun way to exercise! Dancing! It's exhausting, but it IS fun! I've been watching the infomercials on TV and almost ordered the DVDs and maraca-like Toning Sticks but then I found a bunch of Zumba videos on You Tube! I figured this was much better to get me started, because that's FREE and as I said before... it's revolting how out of shape I am. Just as my legs are about as limp as a pot of Al Dente Pasta, the instructor says, "OK, give me 8 more"! Argh!

About the Zumba® Program
The Zumba Program was created in the mid-90s by Colombian native Beto Perez. Inspired by the traditional cumbia, salsa, samba and merengue music he grew up with, Beto paired his favorite, pulsating Latin rhythms with the red-hot, international dance steps his clients loved and the Zumba Program was born.

I even found several instructors right here in town! I may sign up for a few classes a week... once I have stamina lasting upwards of 5 minutes! LOL!

Ditch the workout! Join the party!



I made this yummy Chicken and Potato Salad yesterday to use up the rest of my Rotisserie Chicken. It's a variation of a Hellmann's recipe because I didn't have carrots or sofrito... I would not have added the sofrito anyway!

Ingredients I used:

2 rotisserie chicken breasts, shredded
4 medium. red potatoes - I left the skins on, chopped into 1/2 inch cubes and cooked until tender, then rinsed and cooled in ice cold water
2 celery stalks, chopped finely
5 green onions, including some of the greens, chopped finely
about 15 green olives with pimentos, chopped
1 Granny Smith Apple, I left the skin on, chopped
crumbled bacon to taste (about 4 pieces) but I use Oscar Mayer Real Bacon Recipe Pieces, because I can!

fresh cracked peppercorn medley to taste

1/4 tsp sea salt

3/4 cup of mayo, soured with the juice of 1 fresh lime (I mixed my salt and pepper in the mayo and lime juice before adding to the chicken and potatoes)

Directions:

Throw everything in a large bowl and combine, gently folding in the potatoes last. Then fold in the mayo mixture. Chill well.

It was really fast to throw together since I used my leftover rotisserie chicken. From start to finish it took perhaps 20 minutes? That's hard to beat for a yummy dish! I bet this would be awesome with shredded carrots and broccoli, too! Maybe even my personal favorite add-in - French's Fried Onion Rings!

So is it a side dish? A sandwich middle? Yes! At any rate, I called it dinner!

I had it with a simple salad, some nice French bread and a glass of wine. Mmmmm... Al and Barbara came over and we had this nice cold supper on a very hot night. And I've got left overs for today's lunch! .


And regarding some of the comments on yesterday's computer virus post... I was up and running in no time, as far as being able to work. I spent the day installing software to my backup computer which got a new hard drive last fall. It was basically empty - a clean slate except for having Windows XP installed as well as an Anti-virus and a few other basic programs. I was able to run my business in minutes. I'll be bringing the infected computer to my guro on Saturday most likely. I'll let him disinfect it! =0)

That's all I know today, except that I'm real sore! hahahaha! Enjoy today's trip around the sun! Big hugs :)

Pond Scum should never be confused with Swamp Stuff

Despite having up-to-date Anti-virus, Ad-Aware and Malware software... I got a virus. I spent all of yesterday loading all of my software onto my older computer because about 6:00am my newer computer got infected with Antivir. I have no idea which website gave it to me. Not that it would change anything.

Fortunately, I have 2 backup PCs and 1 laptop. They're old, but they work! Even better, I have Carbonite Online Backup and it will be restoring all of my files for me while I sleep over the next week or so... I have tons of photos backed up!

I really just do not get what makes spammers and hackers tick, but they seriously need a visit from the FBI. Or they could step into a ginormous mountain of ravenous, angry red ants. That would work for me, too.

Can you believe these particular geniuses are actually hoping to sell the unsuspecting user their software?

Antivir is a misleading anti-spyware application that reports false or exaggerated system security threats and infections to make you think that your computer is infected with malware. Once installed, it will simulate system scans and display a list of infections, but won't let you to remove those supposed infections unless you pay for a full version of the program. As you can see, the main goal of this misleading application is to trick you into purchasing the program. This is nothing more but a scam. Do not pay for it and uninstall Antivir from your computer as soon as possible.

Well, duh.

So if I didn't make it to your blog yesterday, that's why.

And Miss Bee? I knew you'd say "Get a Mac". =0) And I will. My newest computer is still too new to justify replacing it right now, plus I am still doing my Due Diligence as far as finding Mac compatible software that will meet my accounting and admin needs. I haven't found anything comparable to my Peachtree yet. I've been using Peachtree Complete Accounting since 1987... since DOS! I can do Peachtree in my sleep. Over the years I've taught it to a bunch of my customers and even some Frienemies - my competition. It rocks!

Well, you know what I'll be doing today! Enjoy today's trip around the sun! I know I will! Big Hugs ♥xo

Punchliner - More Blogger Cruise Fun

While reading John Heald's blog I discovered that in addition to a Twitter page and a Facebook page that  Carnival also has a FlickR page! I found this photo from last year's Blogger Cruise 3. Nothing says FUN like getting a bunch o'peoples to dress similarly and then herding them into a big old pile o'people for a group photo, huh?!


And this is our very own Senior Cruise Director John Heald all dressed up in his pin-striped suit and dapper hat.

Why don't people wear hats anymore? I love hats!

And how come he didn't have to dress in kind for the group shot?

I tried my best to find Miss Bee and Sarge Charlie in there but couldn't. Were you on that cruise, Miss Bee?






John's latest announcement on his blog was Carnival's new fleetwide Punchliner Comedy Clubs. Woohoo!

Well, they are the Fun Ship, after all!

Laugh the Night Away - Our hilarious comedians will tickle your funny bone when you visit The Punchliner Comedy Club. New, this humor filled hot spot will be on all of our "Fun Ships" by the end of the year and hosts tons of fabulously funny shows each cruise. So, enjoy a night filled with jokes you'll want to re-tell and never forget.

"FUN SHIP" STYLE NIGHTS

Feel the Rhythm of the Night

» Night Clubs

» Piano Bars

» Live Music

» Comedy Shows

» Stage Shows

» Karaoke

» Pool Parties

Did you read the Karaoke part? Who is doing that? Because I will SO have my camera ready! I.Can't.Wait. Enjoy today's trip around the sun! I know I will! Big Hugs ♥xo

55 is not the new 40

So it's Monday already! My, my, my! I didn't make it out to Lowe's yesterday for the blinds. By the time I vacuumed and finished the laundry and a few other things it was too hot to head out to the mall. So I watched a chick flick!

My neighbors told me they just got some of the white roll-up blinds at Big Lots for $4.99 for their back patio so I'll definitely be going there first to see if they have what I need. It's right around the corner and that's way cheaper than Lowe's - they want about $29.99! I like Big Lots for some stuff. You can find some good stuff there every once in a while. For instance, I got my painting drop cloths there for about a third of what Lowe's wanted and they were bigger!

Then I went to Bingo and won $200! Woohoo! I had 2 waits for the jackpot, too, but that didn't happen. Rats. My mother's friends all ask about her. They miss her, too. OMG! Have I become a Bingo Biddy?!

When I called to talk to MotherDear last night they were all having a glass of wine out on the patio while they waited for the water to boil for the pasta. MotherDear just made a simple red sauce with scrambled hamburger and Italian sausage. Not as good as her meatballs... but it's pretty yummy! I was sure wishing I was eating with them! I had a Healthy Choice Steamer. ::sigh::

I fly up for the wedding 4 weeks from tomorrow and I still haven't got anything to wear to the rehearsal dinner or the wedding. I'm waiting to buy anything in case I lose a few pounds with my healthier eating plan. I haven't weighed myself but I'm not seeing any change yet. Especially since my exercise plan is much harder to get up to speed than it was 15 years ago... I don't care who says so, 55 is not the new 40. Just saying.

I'm using 2 of my Italy coffee table books as weights to exercise my arms. They're big and pretty heavy. OMG! Those muscles are screaming. It's revolting how out of shape I am.



My Great White Herons are spending lots more time in my little corner of the Swamp. My neighbor and his buddy actually stocked the Swamp in the Spring with catfish and some other small fishies. The Herons approve! I watched this Heron hunt yesterday morning for a long time but he didn't catch anything while I was watching. I stopped watching him, in case I was bad luck or throwing off his game or something!

I hope your Monday is awesome, and mine, too! Big Hugs ♥xo

White Roll-ups

Hi, come on in! Take your shoes off. Set a spell. I'm heading out, but don't worry, I won't be long.

Today I'm on a mission! I'm off to Lowe's, Home Depot and maybe even Big Lots if needed! My patio is too danged hot and I'm going to pick up some of those white roll-up blinds to hang on the west side of the patio. When the sun is setting in the late afternoon you could fry an egg on my patio table! I had some on my patio in Florida, and believe me, they reduce the temperature on the patio by about 20 degrees!

Y'all, you know I love my Raspberry Jam mud room/breakfast nook color, right? But I may be getting tired of it already. Don't hate me. I may be repainting that next year - after I've painted my office, the hallway, guest bedroom and hall bath.

Oh. And my bedroom here at the Swamp? I really am not happy with the color I painted it. Not at all. According to the color swatch chip it was supposed to have a nice neutral-earthy-greenish tint - but after 2 coats on the wall and the limited natural light in that room it pretty much looks like battleship gray to me. Hate it.

Off with its head!

That's my favorite thing about paint. Nothing beats it for totally changing the mood and look of a room as fast and inexpensively. And you're never stuck with it. Don't like it? Tired of it? Doesn't match? No problem... just repaint. It's just a gallon or two of paint, a little prep and a few hours!

But today I will not be buying paint at Lowe's. I'll be buying white roll-up blinds. OK, fine... I will be buying a gallon of ceiling paint for my office and a gallon of my Milk Paint trim color.

Enjoy today's trip around the sun! I know I will! Big Hugs ♥xo

De-Hagified Hair, Tiaras, Lightning Strikes Again and DirecTV is not my favorite right now

It is very hard to take one's own side-view photograph. Who knew?

So here's the BEFORE: Hag Hair

My goodness, my nose is bigger than I thought!

And here's the AFTER: De-Hagified Hair

My goodness, my ears are even taller than my nose is big! Freakishly taller!

Oh, the hair. Well, it's shorter, sassier, cooler and it does what I tell it to do. Nice hair. Good hair. Sit pretty. Purrrrr...

No, I didn't color my hair. It's just the lighting. In the first photo my hair is too red, my face is too yellow and my eyes are too grey. Wrong, wrong and wrong! My skin usually looks reddish in the heat and humidity, my eyes are blue and my hair is very dark brown so the color is more accurate in the second photo.

That being said, I do believe all the hair product tends to make my hair look darker. I wonder if all the silver streaks were only at the ends of my hair? Ya think?

Anyway, I'm so glad to finally get it cut short again and that I don't have to grow it out anymore and be miserable. Somebody smack me if I hint at doing that again!

Tiara Question!!! I need a new Tiara as my favorite one seems to have tarnished. My 2nd favorite one is OK, but it's not a shiny genuine gold plastic one with sparkly genuine diamond wannabees. It's more of a casual bronzy one, which oddly none of my SisterDears seem to like, nor does MotherDear. Especially MotherDear. She must tell me every 5 minutes how horrible it is whenever I'm wearing it. That's just rude, isn't it? I think it's conduct unbecoming a Princess, at the very least! Well, I'm thinking where I bought them isn't the best Tiara Boutique in the intergoogles. Any suggestions?

The DirecTV guy is supposed to come out and get my service working again. Oh, I didn't tell you?! For the second time this week I had a really bad thunderstorm and got struck by lightning. Thursday afternoon one BIG crack of lightning simultaneously fried: my very sexy 26" computer monitor, my mother's home phone, my business fax line and my satellite dish.

I still have my old, not-so-sexy and much smaller monitor so that's not too awful. The AT+T guy was here first thing yesterday morning and fixed my fax line. It was fried at the pole as well as frying the DSL filter. My 2-line phone equipment is fine! Hooray! I'm grateful that Business line service calls have a higher priority than residential. Thank you very much!

It's a 3-day wait to fix the home phone, but when the AT+T guy realized the home phone also had a problem he told me he'd fix that today, too, after he fixed all the others in the neighborhood! My mother's home phone line had a problem outside as well as totally frying the phone equipment. AT+T dude said since there was a problem outside and he was here anyway, he won't be charging for the repair. Phew! Bad lightning storm! Nice AT+T guy! Thank you very much!

However, DirecTV said that the lightning knocking out their satellite dish that I don't own is going to cost me $49. And for extra fun, they can't get here for 2 days.

I pointed out to her that I only switched to them after using Dish Network for 14 years so my Dad could watch his Red Sox baseball even though that meant my mother had to give up her Hallmark Movie Channel. I also told her that never once in those 14 years did Dish Network charge me for a service call caused by an act of God, or anything else for that matter. She didn't go off-script and I'm sure never batted an eye when she said that was their policy.

I asked how much it would cost me if I cancelled it now. Because I just might, but I'll wait until I'm not mad to decide. In the mean time I signed up for their maintenance plan which covers absolutely everything and is free for the first month and costs $5.99 a month thereafter... it has NO CONTRACT. mmmmm-hmmmm.... =0)

I'll try to be on my best behavior while the DirecTV repair guy is here. It's not his fault. And he is fixing it. Thank you very much.

Once he's done, I have the usual Saturday errands to run. I may actually cook dinner instead of microwaving one of my Healthy Choice Steamers. Or not. I am in the mood for some salad, grilled chicken and Smashed Potatoes though!

And I'll be waiting to duck and cover for that 3rd lightning strike. ::sigh::

Enjoy your day! Big Hugs :)

Flying at the Swamp. Honk, Honk.

My geese will be flying off for the next half-year soon. I haven't seen the other family of four in a few days now, so either they've already flown off or they're on the other side of the Swamp. They do that fairly often, so until a week goes by without seeing or hearing them, I won't know for sure that they've flown the coop, er... Swamp.

They usually return in early February. Of course, they would normally be gone by now. I have a theory that they somehow know it's just as hot or hotter up nawth right now, so why bother flying just yet. It's just a theory, but I bet it's the truth!

And look!



I finally got a half-way decent shot of one of my Great White Egrets. Or White Heron. I'm never sure. I think an Egret is actually a Heron, but what do I know? We do get quite a few Blue Herons, but I've never been able to get a decent shot of them. Yet.

The Egrets usually stay on the other side of the Swamp so I don't get a chance to photograph them. My little Point and Shoot just won't handle that kind of zoom! However, this one decided to forage on my side of the Swamp and I managed to get 2 quick shots before he flew off. I didn't film it, because it takes too long (I'm limited to 1:30 minute videos on FlickR) but I sat out on my patio and watched him hunting. He always chooses a spot in the shallowest part of the Swamp and basically he remains virtually still, only ever-so-slightly lowering himself downward as he waits patiently for his pray to wander within range of his beak. His movement over a few minutes is nearly indistinguishable! He had himself nearly flat when he finally made his move! I couldn't tell if he'd caught a frog or a small fish, but he had himself a quick little meal!

Thanks for visiting, Mr. Egret! Come back soon!

I just love living at the Swamp. It's so fascinating to observe Nature!

Enjoy today's trip around the sun! I know I will! Big Hugs ♥xo

The Ark

I got an chain-letter type email the other day, the type of email that I would normally delete without a thought... except this one piqued my interest. It had this really cool photograph in it. Not this exact one, but one very much like it. I like this one better, so I'm using this one! And no - it's not Photoshopped!

I googled my way around the intergoogles until I found the Official website - Ark Van Noach.

This Ark is a replica built by a Dutch contractor. It was built to the approximate scale of the Biblical Dimensions, about 1/2 of the length and 1/3 the width. Part of the reason they built it the size they did was because they travel with it around Europe!

I started in the About the Ark section where I discovered that they are, in fact, in the process of building a "real-sized" one now! They have a very large photo gallery of the work in-progress.

Fascinating! And seriously cool!

Enjoy today's trip around the sun! I know I will! Big Hugs ♥xo

Similarities to a Spanish Matador. She has them.

One of my favorite Blog subscriptions to hit my reader every day is The Big Picture from Boston.com. They tell a News Story in Photographs. Usually about 42 incredible Photographs. Daily. For Free. Without all the self-serving, biased, crappy words. It's more fabulous than I can say. Check it out.

And the yesterday this was the photo in my reader, inviting me to go see the rest.

Spanish matador Oliva Soto stares at a bull during a bullfight during the San Fermin festival at Pamplona's bullring in northern Spain on July 9, 2010. (RAFA RIVAS/AFP/Getty Images)

But the very first thing I thought of when I saw that Spanish Matador photo of the Matador was... Gracie. See?

Gracie stares at Whitey during office hours at the Swamp. (Mom Images)

Here's a side by side comparison to give you a better idea of what hit my brain.

Intimidation. She has it.

 
It's the same look of In-Your-Face Intimidation, right?

Poor Whitey.

Enjoy today's trip around the sun! I know I will! Big Hugs ♥xo

PS. I do not recommend looking at all of the photos marked Objectionable, as they are quite graphic. I don't "get" bull-fighting. I find it bizarre. I love all animals. Even bulls. After seeing that story, I have even more compassion for bulls.

Mad Skills

Gracie has mad hunting skills. Sadly, that means there's one less Froggie Tenor in the Swamp Chorus now. She also likes to make the hornets go deaded. I don't know how she manages that without getting stung!



While I was writing the post for yesterday's good news about Patches getting her Forever Home for the cat's blog, Whitey brought me not one, but two mousies! I wish I could get him on video doing this because he meezes quite loudly while the mousie is in his mouth! The first time he ever did that I thought he was hurt! It's a loud, mournful sound! Unfortunately, as soon as he hears the camera turn on he drops the mousie and meows at me. It's completely adorable!




Then he gave me the upside-down Love Eyes. He's such a sweet boy!



Moments like these make scooping the litter box tolerable!

I have my hair appointment! It's tomorrow at 9:00am! Yay! I'll be there with bells on, y'all.

And for the record, yesterday Sandy commented that I might have been tempted to keep Patches if she didn't find a home on time. That's partially true, but NO! Did I ever mention that Gracie's middle name is Caboose? As in 'the end of the line'. I never meant to have a third, let alone a fourth, and there certainly will not be a fifth, unless it's a fifth of Tequila to make a nice limey Margarita! However, I will work my fingers to the bone to find a stray or abandoned kitty a home. I listed Patches on at least a dozen animal advocate/welfare sites, as well as my blogs, Twitter and Facebook. In the end, the couple that adopted her were local and an answer to prayers. My neighbors who were fostering her happened to be in the right place at the right time. Divine intervention, purrhaps? =0)

And half of July is in the books already. How did that happen? Wasn't I just counting the days to Linda's visit? At this rate the BC4 cruise ought to be any minute now!

Enjoy today's trip around the sun! I know I will! Big Hugs ♥xo

Sultry Summer

Well, I do have some awesome news! Patches, the little tortie kitten in need of a home before the end of July, went HOME yesterday! Hooray!

And it wasn't to my house! Bigger Hooray! =0)

You may recall that I was going to get my hair cut the other day because I just couldn't stand it another moment but I managed to get past that frustration. Well, after even more heat and humidity and feeling like I have a blanket stuck on my head and neck, I decided yesterday to give up on growing it out - even though it's more than halfway. I just can't stand it another day. Well, I may have to stand it another day or more, depending on when my hairdresser can work me in to her very busy appointment book. I at least know the days are numbered!

I finally got the website address that I needed to list my house For Rent to military members, so that's done! Who knows... maybe I'll get it rented today! Other than that I have nothing exciting planned for today. Just work and more work. Sometimes, that's just the way things are! ::sigh:: Here's hoping your day is lots more exciting! Big Hugs ♥xo

Window Watchin' Boyz

Da Boyz enjoy window watchin' a lot! While they do this daily, this photo was taken last November, Thanksgiving Day actually, at the Yellow House.

Window Watchin'

I look back now at how much I stressed thinking about introducing Whitey into my home with Gandalf and Grayson... The Gray Boys had a perfect relationship and there were absolutely no behavior problems. I was afraid Whitey would totally screw that up.

But then there was Whitey in such need, and he was so darned lovable! Seriously? You guys have no idea how sweet this boy is!

Bringing Whitey home was very upsetting to be sure. Then 5 months later the issues were compounded again when I brought Gracie into the fold...

Of course it's nothing like I imagined. No matter what it is you're concerned about, no matter how much you think about something and no matter how many scenarios you imagine in your head, it's never ends up being any of those things. Kind of like wherever the Weather Dudes predict the Hurricane will go, go there, because you know that wherever they predict it's going it's SO not going there.

It's been a year now since Whitey moved in and about 7 months since Gracie moved in, and it's mostly worked itself all out. Grayson still doesn't like Whitey, but Whitey doesn't care that Grayson doesn't like him so I'm good with that. And Gracie? Well, she never cares about anyone's opinion but her own! She takes after me in that regard! hahahaha!

Window Watchin' in B&W

I don't recommend getting four cats, just in case you were wondering. And it's totally screwed up my Living in a Condo Retirement Plan, because none of them accept more than 2 pets, and even they are mighty hard to find. I'm hoping by the time I retire the big mean building developers will realize all the money they are leaving on the table by having No Pets Allowed buildings and will start building Pet Only condos. Millions of people have pets and want them to live with them. Duh. That seems crystal clear to me.

Of course, I am the Crazy Cat Lady now.

Enjoy today's trip around the sun! I know I will! Big Hugs ♥xo

Swamp Song in the Key of Frog

Today is one of those days that I got up real early. As in well before 3:00am. The older I get, the more often that seems to happen. Oh. And the odds go up exponentially on mornings like this morning when Whitey decides to walk all over me until I acquiesce.

I went out onto the patio a little while ago and had to come right back in for my camera to capture this audio of the frogs. While it isn't the stadium wave effect I mentioned, it is quite a cacophony!



Is it because it rained like crazy last night? Is it Swamp Frog Mating Season? Is it the Apocalypse? I don't know, but they sure were belting it out, weren't they?

If you happen to have superpowers and one of them happens to be super-hearing, then you may have heard Gandalf in the background, as well as the early-morning freight train. However, the Swamp Frogs pretty much trump all but the really powerful superpowers.

And this photo was taken the other morning at a much more respectable hour - 5:56 am. Lovely.



Today is tons of paperwork, hopefully interrupted occasionally by some orders. Enjoy today's trip around the sun! I know I will! Big Hugs ♥xo

When I have idle time on my hand my mind wanders...

I feel about airplanes the way I feel about diets. It seems to me they are wonderful things for other people to go on. -Jean Kerr

I've been thinking a lot lately. Sometimes, that's not a good thing. For instance, why do people need to plan every moment? I mean, I like to prepare as much as the next person, but what happened to spontaneity? Why can't we just relax and see how things go? Nobody seems to play it by ear any more. Over-planning for every possible scenario is no fun for anyone. To me it is control, or more precisely, it's being a control freak. It all adds up to stress. I don't like that one little bit. I can do without stress quite nicely, thank you.

That is mostly why I prefer to plan my vacations around non-events. Non-events are way more fun than planned events. I like relaxing much better than stressing. Just saying.

And another thing, I don't get weddings any more. Why do they cost so much money? Wouldn't it be better, if you have that much money to spend and just have to spend it, wouldn't it be waaaay more sensible to spend it on a down-payment on a house? For that matter, why do divorces cost so much? Mine was $124. Really! No lawyers were present at my divorce. That's why it was so cheap I guess. We didn't pay someone else to decide for us who got what. Duh.

I saw a commercial for Bridezilla and it makes me wonder about stuff, too. Just how do they know a Bride is going to be a Bridezilla ahead of time to shoot the show? Can we really call that Reality TV since they know ahead of time? And who would want to watch something like that? And worse? Who would want to marry someone like that?! Seriously. Because you know a lawyer or two is in their future, right?

I've got a pedicure, a haircut and Wally World on my schedule today. And absolutely no Bridezilla! Happy Saturday, y'all! Big Hugs ♥xo

Basic Law of the Universe: Everything + Peanut Butter = Yum

In this case, an Everything Bagel + Peanut Butter = Yummy Breakfast!

I found this really neat website, Livestrong.com, that tells you exactly - and I do mean exactly - how many grams of fat, calories, carbs, proteins, etc... that you've consumed, daily, weekly and monthly. How cool is that? It has pretty much every food you can think of on there and all you have to do is type it in and it crunches all the numbers for you. You can't kid yourself on this one! It also lets you track your activity level and all kinds of other neat stuff if you opt-in for the $45 annual fee, but right now I'm just doing the free part to see how it goes. I figure it'll 'keep it real' and help me stay on track! And no. It's not a diet. I'm just making healthier choices. I'm not getting any younger and the extra pounds sure aren't doing me any good.

So anyway, I pretty much consumed 1/3 of my daily budget of fat grams on this breakfast. But it was SO worth it! 

It's still miserable degrees hot here. Yuck. The cats barely move a whisker in the heat of the day, and who can blame them?! In the mean time, I keep hearing the whirling of my electric meter as the air conditioner keeps me cool and drains my check book! hahahaha!

Well, that's all I know today. Enjoy today's trip around the sun! I know I will! Big Hugs ♥xo

Morning Light

I just love mornings at the Swamp. It's so beautiful and so peaceful.

So. Blogger is still having comment hiccups. I was either getting Service Unavailable, or no word showing on the sites that have Word Verification, or "We're sorry, but we were unable to complete your request",  or some other silly error message. People were split fairly evenly on whether or not they like the Disqus commenting system. Mostly it's the "newness" of it people seem to dislike. So...

"Off with its head!"

Speaking of heads, I came thisclose to chopping off my hair myself yesterday. Honestly, I don't think I'm going to be able to stick it out. Letting it grow out sounds like a fine idea when you first start out. However, after about 2 months it seems that no matter what I do to it, it looks just awful and it won't stay in place. It's just a horrible brown mop right now! I need a cute little haircut that's easy and quick and also does what its told!

I feel badly for all the northerners in the midst of this heat wave. I was talking with my BIL last night and he surprised me when he said his neighbor still did not have air conditioning. I can not imagine. Well, yes I can. When I first moved to Florida in April of 1975 my then-husband (now-Ex) and I bought a house with no air conditioning. We remedied that as soon as we could! I still have vivid memories of laying on the bed with my arms and legs not touching me and begging God to let me fall asleep so I wouldn't be so hot and miserable!

Ugh.

One of the things I love most about the Swamp is that its beauty is self-sustaining. Other than picking up pine cones and mowing, everything just grows and blooms. AL & Mike are giving me a hard time because I warned them that the plants my Dad brought over from the Yellow house and some new ones he planted after we moved here were all going to die when my parents left for 2 months. Mike keeps saying, 'but you're really going to water them, aren't you, Barb?" and I keep saying, "No, Mike. They're gonna die!" Well guess what? The other day Al was here and I caught him watering the plants. Then later that day Mike was over here watering them. Then later still, it rained. Guess what? They're gonna die... by drowning! hahahaha!

Well, that's all I know today. Enjoy today's trip around the sun! I know I will! Big Hugs ♥xo

Paddy O'Cats

I'm spending their inheritance on air conditioning the house yet Gandalf, Grayson, Whitey and Gracie are all sprawled out on the patio floor. Bad words fell from my lips when I opened my last electric bill. I could have gone on a nice little cruise with that money. No kidding! The sad part is, even though I've closed the vents in my parent's bedroom, their TV room and the guest bedroom and I've turned off the breaker on the water heater until right before I need to use it, I expect to get another one just like it this month.

It's been miserable degrees hot every.single.day! I just keep reminding myself that I live here because I don't ever have to shovel snow or defrost my car to go anywhere every winter. I have to admit, that argument is getting weaker with each passing year. I hate this stifling heat and humidity but even more I miss my SisterDears something awful. I want to be able to just pop in to chat over a cup of coffee, or stop by one evening for a glass of wine.

We talk about one day sharing a big house, the expenses and the chores when all their kids are grown for our retirement years. We all co-habitate quite well together for extended vacations so we think it could work quite nicely.  We'd all have our private areas and share a common main living area. It costs a gazillion dollars to live where they live. Even in this crappy housing market you can not touch a halfway decent small house for under $360,000. You can buy 2 or 3 very nice homes for that money here in the Deep South. Sometimes, I wonder if the trade-off was ever worth it. I ended up here because my Ex was transferred to Tampa, FL in 1975. I was 20 and he was 22 (you're doing math now, aren't you?). We bought a home right away - something we would not have been able to do for a very long time living in Massachusetts! Ah, hindsight, eh? It's best not to second-guess your choices because there's nothing you can do about it anyway!

Do you remember when I posted about the upside down tomato plants and the bell pepper plant my Dad planted? My Dad kept saying the pepper plant didn't look like any bell peppers he'd ever planted.



And he was so right! hahahahaha!

He ended up whacking down the tomatoes when they started ripening because as soon as they started to ripen, they also started rotting! He was very disappointed in that experiment and says he will never try that again. So no garden tomatoes or bell peppers for us this year!

Let me know what you think of the Disqus commenting system. I think it's OK since you have several ways to sign in, but I'm not all that hepped up about it myself. It does allow for a threaded conversation, but that's not a big deal to me; I can take it or leave it. Some bloggers really get into that stuff though.

Well, that's all I know today. Enjoy today's trip around the sun! I know I will! Big Hugs ♥xo

Disqus Test

Since Blogger had issues with comments I decided to try out a new commenting system that I've been seeing quite a bit: Disqus.

So. Discuss!

Enjoy today's trip around the sun! I know I will! Big Hugs ♥xo

An Executive Decision

Like I always say, it's good to have a plan, just be prepared to change it. Well, I've pretty much made up my mind to change it! I've decided that the market is absolute crap for selling my Yellow house in the Pecan Orchard so I'm going to rent it out. I'm getting my ducks in a row to list it out at the Air Force Base. I think I'll just hold on to it until the market is in a better place. In the mean time, I'll have some revenue coming in. Win-Win. At least, I hope so!



Even though Grayson still does not like Whitey after nearly a year, Da Boyz always seems to hang out together. They were all helping me update my business website. As you can see, they were workin' hard for the kibble. Especially Whitey... he had his Thinking Cap on.

And Gracie? Oh, that Gracie! Al came over yesterday morning and we took our coffee out to the patio. While we were sitting there chatting something whooshed downward and ran into the house... Gracie! Neither one of us noticed she was up there on the patio ceiling beam again! She just jumped down, on all 3 legs. Special Leg or no Special Leg, she does pretty much whatever she wants! This one is Trouble, let me tell ya!

As any of you who have read my blog for the last few years knows, I usually tackle a few home improvement projects while my parents are up nawth visiting during July and August. This year is no exception. I will be starting some of the painting projects here at the Swamp soon. I'm trying to decide which to do first... the hallway or my office? I'm leaning towards my office. I hate the half-wall paneling in here!

I've already bought the wall paint. I got a lovely pale Cape Cod Blue for the top and a nice Arctic White for the paneling. I saw a trick to dress up the paneling with some 1x3s to sort of make it look like wainscoting. I'm definitely not up for ripping the walls down to put in drywall right now, so I'm just going to give it a fresh face-lift. I have to pick up some ceiling paint first as I like to do that first. This room will be challenging as the top half of the walls are popcorn... like the ceiling! Ack! Who does that?!

And that's all I know right now. It's back to work today and hopefully, lots of lovely orders! Enjoy today's trip around the sun! I know I will! Big Hugs ♥xo

Ceiling Cat

I walked out onto the patio yesterday afternoon and this is what I found! I had to get a chair and get her down. After I got my camera. I AM a blogger after all!

Gracie is busy, busy, busy. And absolutely loves Bug Hunting.

I deaded the hornet after I got Gracie down. I do have some priorities! hahahaha!

Gracie Girl is a gabber

Gracie, as seen through my patio screen. For some reason, anyone else can leave the patio and all of the cats are fine and dandy with that but as soon as I walk out the door from the screened patio, say to photograph the geese, all 4 cats get all talkative and active until I come back inside. Too funny!

It's interesting around here!

Sometimes it's real hard for me to tell what day it is, and it's has been just like that all weekend for me! I'm closed for business today because my vendors are closed. One of my main vendors is even closed tomorrow! They're making a 4-day weekend out of it. So I'll be catching up on some housework and paperwork. Am I exciting or what?!

Have a lovely day today! I know I will! Big Hugs ♥xo

Happy Independence Day

“America is too great for small dreams.”- Ronald Reagan

On the Go Singles (or Stix)

Have any of you tried these On the Go Singles that you add to bottled water? I'm totally loving them. I've got all kinds of flavors. Most of them are either 5 calories or 0 calories! It's hard to beat 0 calories! Well, they're also 0 fat, so I guess you can beat it! Woohoo! And so tasty! I keep some in my bag at all times now. My favorite is the Arizona Green Tea with Ginseng. I've always loved that and it's so easy to always have it on hand now. The Wally World brand of Cherry Limeade is another favorite. They're stocked in 2 separate sections of the store. Some are in the kool-aid and lemonade section and some are in the tea and coffee section. You know I'll be bringing a bunch of 'em on the cruise!

Oh. Have I mentioned that I cruise in 237 days?! I know my counter that Linda gave us disagrees with that number, but the Carnival website tells me 237 and I like the sound of that better! =0)

I hope you all have a very wonderful Fourth of July! Big Hugs ♥xo

Swamp Serenades

The crickets almost drown them out but the frogs serenade me every morning in the pre-dawn hours. If I happen to be out there real early, say 3:00am, they do this song that I can only describe as similar to "the wave" at a sports stadium. They start in one section and it spreads all around the Swamp, one section at a time, until it returns back to where it began. It's very cool. I hope I get it on video some day so you can hear it.



This was taken about an hour after the Frog Serenade. Morning has broken and now the Birds begin their Songs. You can almost tell what time it is just by listening to the Swamp Songs.

If you listened carefully, you also heard Gandalf's mumble. It's seldom quiet here, but usually peaceful!

Yesterday morning I did something I've not been able to do for months! I opened up the windows until about 10:00am! It was only 75 degrees!



As you can see, da boyz enjoyed it, too. ::sigh:: It was nice while it lasted!

Al & Barbara arrived at my sister Lynda's just a little northwest of Boston, MA yesterday morning after visiting the Biltmore in Asheville, NC, a few days with our dear friend Louise in Roanoke, VA and a short stay in Wilkes Barre, PA. Much to my surprise, they told me they had over 90 degree weather while they were up in the mountains! Ack! What's up with that?

This morning they'll be catching a plane back to miserable degrees hot here in south GA! And I'll be back to scooping for 4, once I pick them up at the airport! At least they're flying into Valdosta so I won't have to make the Jacksonville run again! I know their 4 cats will be pleased to have them home again so they can get back into their normal routine of bossing them around! I'm SO on to their little tricks! hahahaha!

Happy Weekend! Big Hugs ♥xo

What to pack for a Caribbean Cruise?

I googled "What to pack for a Caribbean Cruise?" after an email exchange with Linda. I have only been on one cruise and I packed much too much! Here's one of the lists I found. Duct Tape and Super Glue are on the list. bwahahahaha! And a cork screw. I actually keep a cork screw in my bag (oh, do try to hide your surprise!) but I probably would not have thought to bring one on the cruise. Can you bring bottles of wine on the cruise or buy bottles of wine on board? I would think not. So why bring a cork screw??

I have decided that it would be best to ask you seasoned cruisers for your advice. I really want to pack light but I also want to have what I need and certainly whatever is appropriate.

What is the current dress code for the Main Dining Hall? I know there is a Captain's Dinner which is formal. As I have already told Linda, I may skip that as I dearly hate dressing up. Annie told me Capris and a nice top is perfectly acceptable for almost anything else. I almost always wear sandals except for the really cold part of winter as I hate wearing shoes. I think shoes are Abby Normal, at least they are for me!

What say you, Miss Bee and Sandy? Could you make a list of essentials? And a list of suggestions? Pretty please with cake on top?

In totally other news...

Since I love Cosmos AND I'm trying to make healthier choices, I'll be trying this version of the Cosmopolitan. It's only 50 calories! Woohoo!

5-0 COSMO™

INGREDIENTS:

3 ounces Diet Ocean Spray® Cranberry Juice Drink
3/4 ounce Absolut® Raspberri® Raspberry Flavored Vodka
Squeeze of lime Lime twist, garnish

 DIRECTIONS:

Shake ingredients, except lime twist, until cold, in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with lime twist. Makes 1 50-calorie serving.

I found this recipe on OceanSpray.com. I just love cranberries! I guess, in part, because I'm from Massachusetts.

How many of you have ever been to a Cranberry Bog? I have! Did you ever wonder what a bog is or how they harvest cranberries? It's quite fascinating and quite beautiful, too! Picture a bog with all those red berries floating on top against the backdrop of the colorful Fall Foliage of New England! Gorgeous!

If you want some yummy recipes that use cranberries (or grapefruit), or just want to learn more about this very unique fruit, check out their website!

Oh, and by the way, I'm SO not ready for the gym. I can't make 5 minutes without melting into a puddle of exhaustion, huffing, puffing and sweat. And that's all I know today! Happy Friday! Big Hugs ♥xo