Big Hair Envy

Epiphany

2012-01-19T20:57:00.004-05:00

I had an epiphany this evening. I've become "THAT" person...you know, the one you pray your whole life that you never become:/

What happened to me? I used to be the career woman/mom who worked hard all day and rushed home to prepare a nutritious meal for her family to share. There was conversation, there was laughter, ~~there was Snow White's phone alerting her to a new text message every thirty seconds~~. Most nights, I went to bed with a sense of having accomplished something in my professional AND personal lives.

Now? I work four ten hour days. (Hey! I'm STILL a career woman!) I come home, light candles, turn on the radio and ~~stalk people on Facebook~~ try to decide what I want to eat for supper. (This week, my dinners du jour have been Cheez-Its, and/or Crunch & Munch. Each paired well with a nice Cabernet. Or, a cheap Merlot.) I then fall into bed, exhausted and wondering if I need a pet to keep me company. I'm six cats and a muumuu away from becoming the Crazy Cat Lady!!!

How, you may ~~or may not~~ ask, do I fill the hours on my day off? Well, let's see, I go to the dump, do laundry, burn trash, clean, and, on a good week, I go to Wally World to stock up on wine. And Crunch & Munch. It really IS all about the simple things in life. Or, perhaps, I've just become SIMPLE!!

My GOSH it's great to be blogging again! I've missed you all terribly, and I'm sending out an S.O.S. for you to come to BFE to visit BHE. VERY soon...

Side Note to My Uncle R: It really is safe for you to come and visit next month. I promise! Do you like Crunch & Munch?

Tuesday Tid-Bits

2012-01-17T13:01:00.000-05:00

1. Today is a Tuesday-that-feels-like-Monday-stick-out-your-tongue sort of day. Neither good nor bad, just BLAH!

2. I ate Cheez-Its for supper last night. My high school Home-Ec teacher would be horrified. Although, they made a colorful plate...um, napkin.

3. Snow White and I spent a wonderful holiday season together:) She is now back at school, has pledged a sorority, and has fallen into her old ways of forgetting to text her Mama on a regular basis:/ Oh, well, I'll hear from her soon...she'll need money!

4. Why is it so much fun to burn trash in a barrel?

5. How did I ever survive without my Tervis Tumblers? "The world's first smart cup," INDEED! I. LOVE. THEM.

6. I have not had a television, by choice, for almost a year. My sister gave me her DVD player, but it had been sitting unused in the living room for almost a month. Yesterday I made the mistake of popping in a movie. I figured I'd enjoy a show while polishing off a pot of coffee on my day off. Well, three movies and a four hour nap later, I realized WHY I had chosen NOT to have that sort of entertainment around...I WON'T GET ANYTHING DONE!!! ~~I turn into a lazy slug~~

7. This pesky cold has been hanging on for over a week now. I believe I will use this as my excuse for taking a four hour nap yesterday.

8. Did I mention that I took a FOUR HOUR NAP yesterday?

9. My great-grandmother was right, Vick's Vapor Rub and Nyquil CAN cure most anything that ails you.

10. What's happening in your world today??

State Fair

2011-10-10T09:04:00.000-04:00

The State Fair rolled into town a couple of weeks ago, and I was fortunate enough to have been able to go and enjoy all of it's fried food-smelly animal-barking carnie goodness!! The little guy you see above was my prize for winning the squirt gun game, which I ROCKED;) Sadly, the Whack-a-Mole game was nowhere to be found...

Named "Green Monkey", because I'm original like that, he has given me more than a few smiles since I brought him home. As you can see, I've already trained him to bring me flowers. Of course, they came off of the rosebush in my yard and I had to clip them, but it's the thought that counts. Right? Don't judge.

I didn't go to the Fair last year because I was in a huge pity pile after Snow White left for college, and it wouldn't be the same without her, and it was too depressing, and wahh, wahh, wahh. Well, this year I decided to send her photos while I was there. Pig races, tractors, farm animals, OH, MY! To my delight, she and I carried on quite a conversation via text as I visited many of our fair faves:) Still wasn't the same as having her home, but that chapter is closed, and we are beginning to create new traditions. With the holidays tapping at the door, it's time to embrace our new reality, and look for ways to just make things work!!

The sun is shining here this morning, and the temps are predicted to reach into the eighties. I have a busy day ahead, and plan to enjoy every moment of it! Happy Monday, my friends! ((hugs))

Crossroads

2011-10-08T09:41:00.000-04:00

The urge to get back here and post has been overwhelming, so here I am. Life has taken me to a place I never thought I'd be, and I am doing my best to navigate these waters. There are good days, and there are not-so-good days. All things considered, I feel stronger and more determined than ever to live life to the fullest. I have an amazing family and fabulous friends who have held me up when I was falling, and who have told me what I needed to hear when I needed to hear it. For that, I am MOST thankful.

I'm living in my grandmother's house and attempting to put it back in order. My goal is to have it ready to receive family and friends for the holidays. It's important that it be as warm and welcoming as it was when Grandma was at the helm...a daunting task, at best! I talk to Grandma every day, and I know she's here to guide me along. I just wish she could tell me where to find her recipes for homemade chocolate ice cream (hers was the best in the county), and for deer barbecue! It's the little things...

I lived in this house many years ago, and at that time the roads were identified by Route Numbers. When the county set up the 911 system, each road was assigned a name. I now live on New Hope Road, very close to where it intersects with New Beginnings Road. New Hope and New Beginnings...it's nice to be home.

Apple. Tree.

2011-03-28T16:40:00.000-04:00

Well, my baby girl has come to the dark side. Please head over and give her some bloggy love!

Snow White's Blog Spot, Musings Avant-Garde, is located here.

I guess this is my clue to get back on here and actually POST something once in a while!!! I miss visiting with the people who live in my computer:/

((hugs))

Bricks

2011-02-18T15:20:00.000-05:00

On a recent work-related visit to a teeny, tiny little town in the middle of nowhere, I stumbled upon this pile of old bricks. The house (a portion of which is shown in the top right corner) had burned, and these beauties were salvaged from the wreckage.

I couldn't help but wonder where these bricks would eventually end up. What would they be in their next life? My imagination went WILD with the possibilities! Personally, I would be willing to give them a nice home, and lovingly care for them. Unfortunately, no one offered to hand them over!!

What would you do with these bricks? I'm really hoping that my friend the Vinyl Villager responds to this question...he always has the BEST ideas:)

The temperature is hovering in the mid-seventies today. It gives me hope that spring is near. It's been a long, hard winter, and this chick is SO ready to get outside and play in the dirt!!!

19

2011-02-04T00:05:00.002-05:00

Nineteen years ago today, I gave birth to an amazing little bundle of joy. She has been my sunshine since the moment I first saw her!

I've watched her learn to walk, and learn to drive. I've seen her dress like a princess, and sing like a bird. I've wiped her tears, and picked up pieces of her broken heart. I've worried, prayed, cheered, scolded, clapped, laughed, and worried some more. She made my life complete.

This is the first time that I have not been with her on her birthday. It's sad, but I take comfort in the fact that she is moving on to bigger and better things. She is once again learning to walk....this time, on her own.

Happy 19th Birthday, Snow White! You are the light of my life!

Red Doors

2011-02-01T21:35:00.001-05:00

I started a new job in December, and one of my favorite assigned tasks is to visit an old property to determine if it's a candidate for revitalization. These doors belong to the beautiful Oak Grove Elementary School in Westmoreland County.

I don't know if she'll ever make the cut...

...but, as with most things in life, time will tell.

Thinking of my beloved grandmother on her birthday. She would have been 99. Happy Birthday, Grandma! You are loved and missed.

Friends

2011-01-16T20:21:00.005-05:00

As soon as Noe Noe Girl posts photos to Facebook, I will try to update this post with a visual. Until then, you will just have to take my word for it....I have the best (and cutest) friends EVER!!

Last night, Noe Noe, Chesapeake Bay Woman, and a host of other characters stopped by for a bit of socializing before we headed out to hear a local band. The words live, laugh, love spring to mind when I try to think of ways to describe this group. We are all living our lives one day at a time, and trying not to take ourselves too seriously. We all crave the craziness that ensues when old friends gather, and wine is consumed;) And, I love them all as if they were my family. In many ways, they ARE family! (Names have been changed to protect the guilty.)

Today I am most thankful for good friends, good music, good food and good times. Life. Is. Good:)

Neglect

2010-12-10T21:20:00.004-05:00

Neglect. Well, that sums up my life since I last posted...over a month ago:/ I neglected to acknowledge my 300th post (this is number 302), I've neglected the house and the laundry, I've neglected my dog (who needs a good brushing), I've neglected to make a Christmas list, much less begin Christmas shopping, and I've neglected my need for sleep. Oh, and did I mention that I've neglected to worry about ANY of these things? Talk about feeling out of sorts...

There ARE some things that I HAVE done...I've cut my hair, I've started a new job and I've packed my lunch every. single. day. Hmmmmm, not sure who is even reading at this point, but I'm going to make an earnest effort to get this blog up and going again. I'd hate to be banned from Blog Fest because, well, I no longer appear to be a bonafide blogger!!

Snow White comes home from college Tuesday. She will be home for almost a month. I'm hoping to become reacquainted with my daughter, as well as my groove, during the next few weeks. Any words of wisdom you wish to share would be greatly appreciated. Most days, I'm not sure whether I'm coming or going. One thing of which I am sure is that I am thankful to all of you for your ongoing support. I don't know where I'd be without you in my life!

I'm going to get up out of my pity pile now. Putting on the big girl panties, and moving right along!!! Please send the Christmas Spirit my way...I need a few moments of His time:)

For The Wordies: Part I

2010-11-10T11:22:00.000-05:00

With credit to my Uncle R for sending this to me, and to Sandra L for sending it to him....ENJOY!

"For all you word-smithees.

The Washington Post's Mensa Invitational once again invited readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition.

Here are the winners:

1. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period of time.

2. Ignoranus: A person who's both stupid and an a$$hole.

3. Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.

4. Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly.

5. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.

6. Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.

7. Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.

8. Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.

9. Osteopornosis: A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)

10. Karmageddon: It's like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And the, like, the Earth explodes and it's like, a serious bummer.

11. Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.

12. Glibido: All talk and no action.

13. Dopeler Effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.

14. Aracnoleptic Fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.

15. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.

16. Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a worm in the fruit you're eating."

Which one of these is your favorite? I'll post Part II tomorrow!

A Birthday Wish

2010-10-28T10:05:00.005-04:00

My fabulous friend, Noe Noe Girl, is celebrating her birthday today! I want her to know how happy I am to have her in my life. She makes me laugh, she lends an ear when I need one to bend, and she is the one who is responsible for my wonky teeth fetish! What more could you ask from a friend?!

Happy Birthday, Noe! Love you BUNCHES:)

Tuesday Tid-Bits

2010-10-12T00:15:00.004-04:00

**Snow White called today and we talked for 45 minutes. She will be home in six weeks, and I doubt there will be time to sleep....too much catching up to do!

**I'm beginning to organize my menu for our Day-After-Thanksgiving Celebration. Besides turkey, what is your favorite holiday dish?

**Yesterday evening I went out into the yard and picked up a large ziplock bag full of acorns. I plan to incorporate them into my holiday decorations this year. Move over, Martha, BHE is in town!!

**Well, ladies, it seems that our girl, Krystal Ball, is as much a fan of hijinx as the rest of the Blisters!

**There is a dead baby copperhead in my driveway. We believe our cat is responsible. She is being given extra treats this week:)

**Just say "yes" to tortellini with andouie sausage:)

**My sweet dog is not feeling well. Please keep him in your prayers, positive thoughts, good vibes or whatever it is that applies. He's almost 13, and a Mama worries:/

**Favorite summer memory? GO!

Tuesday Tid-Bits

2010-10-05T11:47:00.000-04:00

* I've begun to realize that this blog has been inspired mostly by my daughter. Now that she is away at college, I really don't have much to write about. Sad. But true. I am, however, working on getting a life!

* We attended a funeral yesterday. Why is it that it takes a wedding or a funeral to bring certain groups of people together? Let's all promise to stay in touch with those who are important in our lives. UmK?

* It was 42 degrees at home this morning. Brrr! I'm a summer gal, but, in all honesty, I do enjoy a nice warm sweater:)

* The beautiful hummingbirds graced us with their presence from the first of May to the first of October....longest season ever! I hope it's a new trend:)

* Our pool will officially be closed on October 13. I consider that to be the beginning of the holiday season! (51 days until Thanksgiving, 81 days until Christmas)

* Our church will honor its 168th year with a Homecoming celebration this Sunday. It's humbling to be a small part of something that has served our community for so long.

* I helped cater a wedding last Saturday. The wedding was held at a local church, and the reception was at the bride's family farm. As the afternoon wore on, I noticed that no one was dancing. It was only when I went out to begin clearing the tables that I realized WHY no one was dancing.....they were all playing cornhole!! Bwahahahaha!!

* Tuesdays really aren't so bad:) Enjoy!

Fly Away Home

2010-09-21T15:52:00.000-04:00

It's not uncommon to see dragonflies skim across the top of our pool in the summer. However, it IS uncommon to see a dragonfly ~~on steroids~~ the size of a BIRD attempt to skim the top of our pool. Yep. Didn't go so well for him.

I heard the kerplunk, looked over and saw the ~~wake~~ ripples in the water, and just KNEW something was in trouble over there. Imagine my surprise when I found this guy floating around! It was pitiful to see him struggling so hard to fly out of the pool, so I grabbed the net and rescued him. After gently setting him down, I ran to get my camera and prayed that he wouldn't fly away before I could get a few photos!

He cooperated. I only wish I had put a ruler beside him so you could get a better idea of how FREAKISHLY LARGE he was! The big guy eventually flew away home.

I hope he comes back to visit once in a while:)

Click here to learn more about dragonfly symbolism.

You'll be glad you did!

Cotton's High

2010-09-20T10:02:00.000-04:00

Last Saturday, I was on my way to help cater a wedding when I came across an absolute sea of cotton. (For those of you who are familiar with King & Queen County, these shots were taken down Chain Ferry Road.) As I drove down the narrow road with no centerline, I was overcome with the beauty of those cotton fields. Only a panoramic camera would be capable of capturing the vastness. While my photos don't do it justice, I hope you will enjoy a little glimpse of greatness!

And now I will leave you with a little tune to hum. It's one of my favorites from Porgy and Bess.

"Summertime"

Summertime,

And the livin' is easy

Fish are jumpin'

And the cotton is high

Your daddy's rich

And your mamma's good lookin'

So hush little baby

Don't you cry

One of these mornings

You're going to rise up singing

Then you'll spread your wings

And you'll take to the sky

But till that morning

There a'nothing can harm you

With daddy and mamma standing by

Summertime,

And the livin' is easy

Fish are jumpin'

And the cotton is high

Your daddy's rich

And your mamma's good lookin'

So hush little baby

Don't you cry

Road Trip - Savannah

2010-09-13T10:42:00.001-04:00

The last stop on the ~~Griswold Family Vacation~~ trip was Savannah, Georgia. What a beautiful city! We spent what little time we had there ~~in a wine shop chatting with the owner~~ admiring the charm and beauty around us.

From the waterfront...

To the City Market...

To downtown...

We enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere...

The exercise...

And the laughter...

We also enjoyed the Dominos pizza we had delivered the first night.

Yeah.

Just keeping it real!

Road Trip - New Orleans

2010-09-07T16:25:00.000-04:00

WHO DAT? DAT's WHO!

N'awlins was the next stop on our little 3,400 mile road trip. There's magic in the air, I tell ya! Or, perhaps, it's voodoo?! Little shops and museums like this were tucked all over the French Quarter.

The trolley gave us a much needed break from two days of walking, and it was a lot of fun! AND it only cost a buck twenty five...BONUS!!

Hitching posts lined the sidewalks, but I never saw a horse tied to one. A couple of drunks, maybe, but never a horse!

Bourbon Street was fun. For about two hours. After that, I was more than ready to explore the less populated areas!

This terrace was too beautiful to leave unphotographed...

It looked as if these folks were expecting to see many, many breasts later that evening. I picked beads up off of the ground and didn't have to show a thing. I'm sure the revelers on the balcony were as pleased as I was about THAT!

We saw the Saints' number one fan!

And signs, signs, everywhere there were signs...

I cannot wait to return to this fabulous city! Their stories are sad, and many, but their hearts are open and their food is over the top!

Boudin, anyone?

Road Trip - Texas

2010-08-31T10:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Texas!

Home of the elusive, yet ever-lovely, bucket-stealing Grandma J!

Where husbands wither in the ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEEN degree heat!

Where sad parents drop their daughter off to pursue her dreams.

Where blog friends meet for the very first time!!

Hi, Krissa!! SQUEEEEEEE!!!

Where couples enjoy ferry rides.

Only in the beautiful state of Texas;)

GO COWBOYS!

Road Trip - Pensacola Beach

2010-08-30T10:20:00.007-04:00

It's been almost three weeks since I have posted, and WHAT a three weeks it's been! We had a little family beach vacation, dropped our daughter off at college, visited blog friends, and ~~ate our way across the country and back~~ trekked through nine states! WHEW! As much as I enjoyed that 3400 mile trip, it sure is nice to be home:)

Today's post is dedicated to our beach trip. Our family has enjoyed vacationing at the beach since SW was a baby. It seemed only fitting that we hit the beach one last time before she headed off to school!

The beach was WONDERFUL, but, judging by the pictures I took, the food must have been our main focus!!!

Anybody hungry??!!

The beautiful white sand beach was a real treat! My dad told me that it would look like sugar, and it certainly did!

A BP cleanup crew was working a ways down the beach. I'm not sure exactly what they were cleaning up, but goggles and handwipes were available at every boardwalk. The water was clear, dolphins were swimming AND schools of little fish were jumping all around the area where CB and SW were wading in the water.

The day got a bit stormy, but we were not deterred from enjoying our time outdoors!

This photo was taken our last evening before departing for Texas. I LOVE this pic of my two faves;)

Look for the Texas post coming later in the week. Missed you guys!

Packing

2010-08-11T11:46:00.005-04:00

Well, we've hit mid-week, and packing is progressing slowly. We have, however, successfully purchased a laptop and a net book, and have crossed numerous other items off of our collective to-do lists. Now, if we could JUST find out about Snow White's room assignment! GAH!

SW has been extremely organized, and there are only a dozen items remaining on her "needs" list. One more trip to Target, and we should be done ~~spending so much freakin' money~~ shopping for school.

The family room is a disaster. I'm confident it will get worse before it gets better!!

Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock...

One Week

2010-08-09T09:41:00.001-04:00

This photo was taken at Bud's Beach back in April. Snow White was on Spring Break, and we had a wonderful day relaxing together!

One week from now my family will be on a sunny beach soaking up a few rays. The car will be in the parking lot, packed from top to bottom with all things college. I'm sure the conversation will also be about all things college. And childhood memories. There will be laughter, and perhaps a few tears. A brief time of familiarity before transitioning into the unknown.

Over the weekend, SW had about forty of her friends over for one last hoorah before they prepare to head off to college. And hoorah they did! Many were overcome with the reality that they weren't going to be seeing each other until Thanksgiving or Christmas...no more chatting in the halls, or at the Friday night football games. (I was overcome with the amount of filth that forty kids can generate in a relatively short period of time!) They said their tearful goodbyes and promised to keep in touch.

This week I am going to attempt to document the preparation that will go into our pending road trip. The good. The bad. The ugly. Stay tuned...

Squirrel!

2010-08-05T11:01:00.000-04:00

Snow White's godparents were in town over the weekend to help celebrate my mom's birthday. (Happy Birthday, Mom!) One of the scheduled activities was a trip to the ball field for an evening of baseball. Due to the busyness of life, and a pesky little franchise change, it had been YEARS since we had gone out to the field.

Photo Credit: www.madeineastwood.com

In all honesty, I had forgotten how much FUN a baseball game can be...especially if it's at night! The ~~cursing at the umpires/pitcher/third baseman~~ cheering, the ~~drunks spilling their beer~~ lively crowd, and the silly antics of "Nutzy", the mascot, made for a wonderful evening. The season is winding down, but I'd like to think that we will be able to squeeze in one more game before it's over.

When is the last time you went to a baseball game? Played baseball? Spilled your beer?

Tired

2010-07-26T09:51:00.000-04:00

My cat has the right idea...sleep, eat and sleep some more!

Vacation Bible School arrived on the heels of Blog Fest. Both were topped off with a heaping helping of triple-digit temperatures. As if THAT weren't enough, Snow White is preparing to leave for college in a few short weeks. Eye appointments, dental appointments, driving school and dorm shopping are but a few of the many tasks at hand. The joint is jumpin', and I am exhausted!

After church yesterday, I grabbed a float and relaxed in our tepid pool. I attempted to take a nap out there, but my mind just kept racing:/ So much to do, so little time! Before I knew it, Sunday was over and Monday was knocking at the door... with no naps in sight!!

I hope you all had a nice weekend, and that the work week will sail smoothly by!

Silly Goose!

2010-07-21T12:29:00.005-04:00

Gustav was one of the featured characters at Blog Fest '10. He is notorious for hissing, spitting and generally being in a ~~fowl~~ foul mood. Evidently, if there is no one else around to bite, he bites himself!!!

He has a movie out now, but it's only being shown locally;)

Blog Fest Thanks

2010-07-19T15:30:00.006-04:00

Today I have moved from anticipation mode to memory mode. Blog Fest '10 has come and gone, and this post is all about thanking those who made it so special. If I forget anyone, please feel free to chastise me in the comment section;) Too little sleep makes for a foggy brain!

First and foremost, I'd like to thank the Chesapeake Bay Family for hosting this event. It's hard to believe that they let us into their homes two years in a row! It would be impossible to find more gracious hosts. They are all beautiful, inside and out.

Next, I'd like to thank the ladies who showered me with gifts. You have no idea how special these mementos are to me! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!

Wine Glass - Soupy Meg aka My Sister (It should be ready for full use by Wednesday. I promise to give it a good workout!)

"I Love George" Pin - Kate (My pets are NOT happy!)

Crab Slide and Polish - Daryl (Snow White was eyeballing that polish last night. How do you think THAT will end??)

Girly Dog Tag-ish Necklace - Mental P Mama (LOVE this! It's nouveau preppy.)

Fiddler Crab Crap - Noe Noe Girl ( Have fun topping THAT next year!!)

I'd also like to thank Bayman for allowing us, once again, to descend upon his beach. I'm convinced that this beautiful piece of real estate will cure what ails you! (Thanks to CDub for the fabulous sign!!)

Thanks to Ms. Foolery, we had our own logo this year! What better way to display the logo than on the front of wine bottles? She also deserves a big thanks for dragging her adorable family along...they will probably be in therapy for years!

No list of thanks would be complete without mentioning Noe Noe Girl and Re. These two ladies worked tirelessly to ensure that the house was kept clean, and that everyone had something to eat or drink. They also provided a great deal of entertainment;) I love you both!

Finally, I'd like to thank all of the bloggers, locals, family and friends who made this Blog Fest enjoyable from start to finish. It would not be possible without you. I am humbled by your kindness, friendship and love.

And So It Begins

2010-07-12T09:41:00.004-04:00

It's hard to believe that it's been a whole year since the Blisters converged on Mathews County, VA! In a few short days, we will reunite for another magical weekend of laughter, hugs, ~~wine~~, and adventure.

I am officially ready for the games to begin. CBDaughter was kind enough to decorate my ~~boring, plain jane~~ Blog Fest folder.

AND...the tumblers have arrived! I hope you like them:)

I'm going to pick up a few last minute items at lunchtime today, then it's all over but the packing! Oh, and work through Wednesday...:/

Are you ready??

"Summertiiiiime...

2010-07-11T18:39:00.003-04:00

...and the livin' is eeeeeasy"

-Porgy & Bess

How did you spend your weekend?

Cooler Guard

2010-07-06T16:05:00.003-04:00

"If you want a cold drink, you'll have to get past me.

Bring it on, Gustav!"

Time Marches On

2010-06-22T10:48:00.000-04:00

Two weeks? Has it really been TWO WEEKS since I last posted? Time seems to be slipping away from me these days, but I'll try to catch you up on the recent goings-on at Casa de Envy.

In the summer months, our cat enjoys being outside as much as possible. This has never been a problem before...she goes out, comes in to eat, and goes back out until morning. She then sleeps all day in the air conditioning. One recent morning, at 3:30, she was attacked by something on our porch. Cool Breeze and I heard the most horrible howl, and ran outside to see what was going on. There was cat hair everywhere, but no cat in sight. We searched high and low for her, but didn't see or hear a thing. About thirty minutes later she came walking around the side of the pool fence. She had a scratch in her right ear, and a gash on her left rear paw. We still have no clue what happened, but have been keeping a vigilant eye out for whatever may be lurking in the woods. Our kitty has found a spot where she will be perfectly safe when she ventures outside - the top of the shed...

In other news:

We attended Snow White's Baccalaureate Service. I was disappointed with the turnout, but was thrilled that my dad was able to join us! (Dad just celebrated a birthday. Happy Birthday, Dad!!)

The service was held at Snow White's high school. Cool Breeze pointed out that it would be our last time in the building. We couldn't have asked for a better group of teachers and staff, and I will definitely miss being a part of the school community.

Graduation was the most recent event on the list. We were about to burst with pride as our daughter sang in the choir and then received her diploma! I love you Snow White. You are an amazing young woman with a bright future ahead. I can't wait to see what the next phase of your life holds in store. Sorry we made you eat at the "old person's restaurant" - did you at least enjoy your meal? Maybe the graduation party made up for it?

I hope you never stop viewing the world through rose-colored glasses:)

Last Dance

2010-06-07T14:14:00.004-04:00

Snow White's Senior Prom was held this past Saturday night. She wore the traditional white dress, and looked like a Disney Princess. Please enjoy the following scenes from her last high school dance...

Waiting for her date.

Grandma (Cool Breeze's Mom) was there to pin the boutonniere.

Beautiful!

Klassy!

We hosted the after-prom party at our place. Cool Breeze and I stayed awake all night to supervise. Out of about thirty, only four kids made it through the night. Lightweights! When's the last time you stayed up all night?

We've scheduled sleep for sometime in July!

Over? Already?

2010-06-01T10:54:00.003-04:00

Where for art thou holiday weekend?

Meet The Parents

2010-05-24T10:02:00.000-04:00

Hi! My name is Lucky, and I'd like to tell you about my big adventure. Last Friday, a nice lady named Middle Sis packed me up safely in her car and took me to BHE's house. When I got out of the car, BHE and Cool Breeze were there to greet me. They smiled a lot, and tried to get me to come over to them. Honestly, I was more interested in playing with that big black dog of theirs, and lying in this soft green stuff. I believe I heard them call it grass. It was new to me, and I couldn't get enough of it!!!

They finally convinced me to come into the house, where I found a little snack waiting for me. The other dog didn't even TRY to eat my food. I'm not used to that.

Middle Sis left to go home, and Snow White arrived just a few minutes later. She scooped me up and snuggled me right away! I liked it alright, but I wanted to get down and play in the grass some more. Just about the time I started to get really tired from running around outside, Snow White picked me up and took me into the house for a quick bath. I didn't wiggle a bit. The warm water felt good, and the shampoo smelled really nice:)

By this time, it had gotten really late. Everyone was tired, but nobody wanted to go to sleep. I finally had to give in. It had been a long day.

BHE put me to bed in Snow White's room. I've never felt anything as soft as that blanket! It felt so good that I didn't make a sound all night. I certainly didn't want anyone to take me out of that warm bed.

BHE came in and woke me up at 5:30 the next morning. She said something about having to go potty so we could get on the road. I wasn't sure what that meant, but I played along. Although, it did take me a few minutes to get myself together. I yawned and yawned, and was finally ready to face the day.

BHE had my doggy condo all ready for me when we went outside. She had borrowed it from Noe Noe Girl, and it was just right for me! There were lots of blankets and towels inside....perfect for going back to sleep! We were on the road for 3 1/2 hours and I slept most of the way. BHE stopped twice to let me get out and run around a bit. I thought we'd NEVER stop for good!

The third time we stopped, I could tell something was very different. I could hear a lot of noise, and I saw cars and trucks everywhere. This was all very new to me. Fortunately, there were also two very special people there, Bubblewench and Hubs. Once I realized that they were there to take me home, everything else seemed to disappear! They wanted ME! They loved me enough to make me part of their family!

I posed really pretty one last time for BHE. I saw something wet on her cheek when we were leaving, but I'm not sure what that was. She gave me a big snuggle, and then I was off to my forever home.

It's good to finally be home!

Puppy Update

2010-05-20T21:42:00.000-04:00

Yes, Virginia, there IS a Santa Clause!

As of five minutes ago, the puppy I posted about yesterday officially has a new home. YAY!! She will meet her new parents Saturday. Once again, I just LOVE happy endings!

I worked out of town with my sister today and have not had access to anything more electronic than an automatic door lock. Imagine my surprise when I came home and discovered that the interwebs had been ablaze with activity regarding this little puppy in need of a home! You people are amazing!!! I will properly thank all involved once I get some sleep and get the pup delivered to her forever home. Until then, I'd like to send out a big THANK YOU to all who have sent posts, tweets, facebooks and whatever else has been going on in my absence!!

If your faith in humanity is ever shaken, just turn to the blog world. There, you will find love, hope, support, laughter, and the best group of friends you could ever imagine!

Thank you ALL!

Are You My Mother?

2010-05-19T12:09:00.000-04:00

Once upon a time, a puppy was born with a not-so-perfect foot. She knew that she would not be able to hunt like the other puppies, and quickly realized that she would have to find a new home. The new home she dreamed of had plenty of space to run, a soft bed to sleep in, other animals to play with and even some children to chase! She hoped that her new mother was out there. Somewhere. Just waiting to take her home.

She posed perfectly....please pardon the poo!

She only has a few more days on this earth...unless we can find her a place to go. This is my last-ditch effort to find her a forever home. Does anyone have a little space for a new family member? Anyone?

Crisis Averted

2010-05-04T16:43:00.004-04:00

Last night one of the handles on my corkscrew broke JUST as I began to pull the cork from the bottle. (Who was that? I heard someone GASP audibly!)

As luck would have it, I remembered the corkscrew that I purchased at Wal-Mart in Texas last month. Cool Breeze and I bought a bottle of wine to take back to the room, and we picked up a corkscrew at the same time. I thoughtlessly packed it in my carry-on bag the next morning, and was treated to a tongue-lashing at the airport because of it. The nice man let me go with a warning. Where was I? Oh, yeah, so I dug the back-up corkscrew out of my bag and finished the job.

Don't you just LOVE happy endings?

Men In Tights?

2010-05-03T14:02:00.000-04:00

What do Bloggers do when one of their own ~~cries out for help~~ invites them to attend a Womanless Beauty Pageant? They ~~laugh their heads off~~ rally, of course! Such was the scene in beautiful Mathews County last Saturday night. Chesapeake Bay Woman, Soupy Meg, Noe Noe Girl and Re were among the attendees.

The pageant was organized to raise money for the local Relay for Life team. It was a wonderful way to involve the community, and to raise awareness of the ongoing need to fund cancer research. The cancer survivors in the audience were recognized, which really personalized the event........there were people in the same room with us who had fought, or were currently battling this horrible disease. I was thrilled to be a very small part of it!

Due to a previous commitment, I was the last to arrive at CBW's house. As soon as I stepped in the back door I KNEW that these ladies had already gotten down to business. They were ~~drinking wine~~ hovered over Bayman, and once in a while someone would shout out words like "DARK LIPLINER", or "GLUE WON'T STICK"! Bayman looked puzzled. I don't believe he understood "Woman Talk." Although, after Saturday night, it's possible that he is now fluent.

Re made these pretty wine glasses to commemorate the event. Aren't they adorable??!! Do you recognize the view out of CBW's back/front door?

We made posters to show our support for our favorite beauty. I'd like to personally apologize to the nice folks who were sitting behind us in the auditorium. I really am sorry that you had to move because ~~we were so loud and obnoxious~~ our signs were in your way. Please forgive us. We don't get out much.

The people behind us weren't the only ones who ran away. So did the children. True story.

We were all happy to see The Waterman, who made a surprise appearance while the transformation was underway. After looking back at this picture, I believe I have figured out why he was in a hurry to ~~get the heck out of Dodge~~ leave. He was afraid that he might be next!!!!

Bayman might have been fixed up all purty, but he still couldn't hold a candle to that Chesapeake Bay Woman!! She always sparkles;)

One final pose for the ever demure Mademoiselle Boudoir.

The men who participated in this event are to be commended. They sacrificed their time, as well as their dignity, to entertain an auditorium full of people. I never heard the final total, but, thanks to their efforts, a tremendous amount of money was raised to combat killer cancer. Let's keep up the fight!

Crash

2010-04-28T16:57:00.004-04:00

Yep. I got that phone call last Wednesday morning. After two years it finally happened. Snow White was in an accident. She's still completely intact (thank goodness!!). The car? Not so much.

I was forty minutes away when the call came. Fortunately, her dad was able to arrive on scene within just a few minutes. He was able to calm her down, as well as handle the details with the insurance company, the tow truck driver and the body shop. Cool Breeze is my Hero of the Week!

We received word today that they have declared the car a total loss. I don't think we are going to replace the car right away. We have managed to juggle vehicles enough to ensure that we all have transportation. Besides, SW will be going to college soon and will not have a vehicle on campus her Freshman year. Seems silly to rush out and purchase something that will just sit in the driveway and increase our insurance premiums!

My thoughts on this whole experience?

-Cell phones are a necessity.

-Cars can be replaced, people cannot.

-I will never switch insurance companies because no other could possibly provide the level of customer service that we now receive.

-I probably will not purchase another small car for SW. Ever.

-Another of my "worst possible fears" has come to fruition, and I survived.

-Things could always be worse...

Rope Swing

2010-04-15T14:42:00.000-04:00

BHE

Age Two

One of my favorite memories of visiting my grandparents HAS to be swinging on the rope swing. My grandfather would take two large ropes, loop them over the biggest branch of the old oak tree, and tie them together at the bottom. He would then fashion a seat out of an old plank by cutting v-shaped notches into each end and fitting it over the rope. Instant swing!

Anyone who is familiar with OLD oak trees knows that they have incredibly large roots. Once, I was ~~showing off~~ teaching my sisters how to swing really high and I leaned back just a bit too far. The next thing I knew, my sassy sundress-clad back was scraping across one of the biggest roots ever documented in the northern hemisphere. Lesson learned. Keep your back in the upright position when preparing for landing.

To this day, there is a homemade swing on that same oak tree. A tire has replaced the wooden plank seat, but the sentiment remains.

Bud's Beach

2010-04-09T10:52:00.002-04:00

Snow White and I spent a few hours this week down at Bud's Beach. (Thanks, Bayman!!!) Those of you who attended Blog Fest '09 will remember the place. It's on Gwynn's Island, just this side of Heaven!

I spent most of my time reading and searching for sea glass, while Snow White slept peacefully on a beach blanket. Temperatures were in the mid 80's, and there was a wonderful breeze blowing off of the water. We ended our girls' day with a light lunch at the Seabreeze, and then headed home.

No matter what life may throw your way, a trip to the beach always puts things back into perspective.

Vintage Easter

2010-04-06T13:49:00.000-04:00

BHE & Middle Sis sporting new Easter duds.

Circa 1970-ish

Please Note: This photo is proof that I once had slim thighs. When I was FOUR!

I had intended to re-pot my Easter cactus over the weekend, but I was advised to wait until after it finishes blooming. AND, Snow White went away for the weekend with my camera. SO, there are no photos of the cactus. OR of Easter.

The End.

Texas

2010-04-02T10:54:00.000-04:00

Photo Credit: http://www.texasaces.com/gold/images/Baylor_bear

Earlier in the week, the whole family hopped aboard a jet plane ~~at four a.m.~~ and headed for the great state of Texas. I am not a fan of flying, but it seemed silly to take a week off from work and school to drive twenty-two hours each way for a fifteen minute audition. But that's just me.

Snow White is interested in attending Baylor University. As a voice major, one of the requirements for admission is an audition. In person. ~~Even if you DO live 1,400 miles away.~~ The poor child was SO nervous about auditioning. She isn't typically like that, but I believe the lack of sleep, coupled with the fact that she had a lot of time to dwell on it as we traveled, made for a bad mix.

We arrived in Dallas Monday morning, picked up the rental car and headed for Waco. Once we were out of the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, we were struck by how FLAT everything was. We could see water towers that had to have been six or more miles away. The rural areas were beautiful, and the real, live longhorns didn't disappoint!!

Once in Waco, we attempted to orient ourselves in order to avoid getting lost en route to the audition. We enjoyed a little driving tour of the Baylor campus, and were thrilled to see the bear habitat in person!! It would have been nice to spend more time on campus, but we were all operating on very little sleep, and we wanted Snow White to get some rest before the audition. SO, we checked into the hotel and slept for two blissful hours!!!

To make a very long story short, the audition went well, and we all arrived home safely Tuesday night. Snow White should get her results within the next week, and then it will be time to make a decision...

My only regret about this trip is that we didn't have enough time to see my BFF Grandma J, who lives very close to Waco. Next time, Grandma J, I promise:)

Wishing you all a very Happy Easter! I'm going to re-pot my Easter Cactus this weekend, and will have photos up Monday:)

Recent Observations

2010-03-25T15:01:00.000-04:00

*Denim bibbed overalls certainly make a statement when worn by large, burly men with beer bellies.

*The mullet appears to be alive and well in Central Virginia.

*I am married to a procrastinator. I also gave birth to one.

*If the beautiful blooms are any indication, Spring has indeed sprung!

*Some people have more energy than the law should allow. I am not one of those people.

*If you purchase clothes that are one size too big, it will make you feel as if you have lost weight.

*Healthy Choice Steamers are delicious when consumed once in a while. Every day for three weeks? Not so much.

*When you prune crape myrtles, they look naked.

*Having pets is wonderful....until one of them pukes on the carpet.

*I like the word "puke." It requires no explanation.

*There really is someone for everyone.

*I have the best friends in the world!

*My cat's definition of a present and my definition of a present are VERY different.

*It's almost the weekend!

What have you observed recently?

Blonde?

2010-03-24T11:11:00.004-04:00

I've made two trips to see my ~~magician~~ hairdresser in the past week. First, the cut. LOVE it! During THAT visit, she once again remarked that my hair was REALLY getting gray underneath. No joke, Sherlock!

It was definitely time to go for the color, so I scheduled an appointment as I left. Yesterday, I went in and we discussed what color highlights would go best with my hair. When she mentioned "caramel" I envisioned something a bit closer to my natural color. This is BLONDE my friends!!

I felt a bit guilty because my first reaction was more SHOCK than LOVE! I didn't HATE it, but I knew that it was going to take a bit of getting used to. My magician told me that the first time she highlighted her hair she cried, but that she loved it within 48 hours!!! We're almost to 24 here, and it's already starting to grow on me;)

This high-quality photo brought to you courtesy of BHE's cell phone. I was bullied into getting a photo up as quickly as possible.

This is the part where you all leave comments telling me how FABULOUS it looks, and that it has taken 10 years off of my face. UmK? Thanks!!

Your Leaders

2010-03-15T10:01:00.001-04:00

Your fearless Blog Fest leaders convened over lunch yesterday. Be afraid. Be very afraid! We put our ~~minds~~ mind together, and came up with some additional activities for Blog Fest '10!

We thought about eating lunch here...

But we settled on this cozy spot, where oysters and wine were plentiful. My fish tacos weren't bad either!

I worked Chesapeake Bay Woman and Noe Noe Girl like DOGS! Then, I let them eat their lunch;) I'm fun like that.

The details were really starting to get to me...

So we called it a day ~~three hours later~~!

Here are a few highlights from the meeting, in no particular order:

Margaritas, Karaoke, Shrimp (Bawl) Boil, Ghost Tour, Sparklers, Wine & Cheese, Boats, Jet Skis, Flags, Flip Flops, Toe Rings, Wonky Teeth, Bud's Beach, Beach Balls, Volleyball, One of a Kind Jewelry, Designated Drivers.

Any questions??

Planning

2010-03-12T12:06:00.000-05:00

Plans for Virginia Blog Fest '10 are well underway!! Another meeting is scheduled for this weekend, and we'd like your input. Please leave a comment, and let us know your questions, suggestions or special requests.

This year's event promises to be even bigger than last year. Be sure to make your plans NOW, as space is limited. Lodging, especially, is at a premium.

For more information, please click the pretty sunset picture in the top right corner of my blog. That photo was taken on Gwynn's Island during Virginia Blog Fest '09:)

Can't wait to see you all there!!

Trash

2010-03-10T10:45:00.001-05:00

When I was a child, I was taught to place my trash in the proper receptacle. Once the receptacles were full, the trash was either taken to the dump, or burned. If a large item needed to be disposed of, it was gathered up and placed in the pickup, and was taken to the dump along with the other trash. Trips to the dump didn't come along often, and I never passed up the opportunity to go!

Of course, back then, ~~when dinosaurs roamed the earth~~ there were no seatbelt or helmet laws. Children were allowed to sit in the back of the pickup and ~~fight over who got to sit on "the hump", which was what we called the interior wheel wells~~ let their hair become tangled beyond belief in the ensuing breeze! Their feet were usually bare, tan and dirty, and their noses were always a bit sunburned. Pure child abuse...;)

Unfortunately, today's children will never know the joy that comes from trips to the dump. You see, their parents think it's too far to drive. They also think that it's MUCH more convenient to just toss their trash out along the road as they head to, say, the grocery store.

These tires live on the hard surface road, just past our driveway. They have been there for so long, that the crews trimming trees around the power lines have begun to fill them with firewood. I've thought about planting flowers in them, but just haven't had the time!

On our way home from church last Sunday, we caught a glimpse of something shiny as we came up the driveway. I got out to investigate, and discovered a television in the ditch. Yes, a television. These folks didn't want to get caught dumping trash along the road, there's a fine for that. But, HEY!, there's no fine for dumping an old tv on private property because no one will ever catch you!! Right? Oh, how I wish we had pulled in behind them...

Wonder if it works?

Candy & Flowers

2010-03-08T10:27:00.000-05:00

I have the most amazing friends! They always seem to know when I need a little pick-me-up, and they always deliver. Literally, in this case;)

It's probably no surprise to you, but I am SO OVER WINTER WEATHER!!! If it never gets cold and snows again in my lifetime it will be too soon. I'm even considering moving to a warmer climate. Then again, I always threaten to do that around this time of year, and that's about as far as it goes. Spring, Summer and Fall in Virginia are just too beautiful to miss!

Last week I received two packages in the mail. The first came from Grandma J. She had a give-away recently, and sent all of us Abba Zaba bars. As a child, I prided myself in knowing my way around the candy aisle, but I had never heard of these little goodies! I must say that they are tasty! I must also say that my dentist will soon be sending Grandma J a little Thank You note;)

The second package arrived three days later. It was from Daryl, who recently cleaned out her mother's things, and didn't know what to do with the items neither she nor her sister wished to keep. She posted the items that needed good homes, and this beautiful little bone china bouquet called out to me. It wanted to sit on my kitchen window ledge. It's now happy and settled into its new home, and it brightens my day each time I look at it!

I fought a nasty cold last week, and even took a RARE sick day from work. Once these gifts arrived, my cold seemed to ease and the weather took a turn for the better. Coincidence? I think not! Thanks to my fabulous friends for the wonderful surprises, and for turning my week around!!! Can't wait to see both of you in July:)

Oh Summer, Where Art Thou?

2010-03-03T12:47:00.002-05:00

If you find her, please send her my way...

Skunked

2010-02-24T15:20:00.003-05:00

That special time of year is once again upon us. Those of you who live in the comfy confines of concrete and street lamps may not be aware, but it's officially Skunk Mating Season! YIPPEE!

One of the first signs of SMS is seeing the carnage. There is a direct correlation between the number of dead skunks stinking up the roadways, and the number of baby skunks that come along seven to ten weeks later.........next year's roadkill. I've noticed recently that the smell of eau de polecat has ~~slapped me in the face and burned my eyes~~ greeted me on my morning commute. Oh, joy.

Another sign of SMS is smelling the faint funk that will occasionally surround your house and field. You know they're out there, but you can't ~~get the gun fast enough~~ see them. I'm okay with this, as long as the smell stays OUTSIDE!

The third, and final sign of SMS is realizing that you need to ask yourself the following question: "HOW IN THE *&!!!*(&^#()&* AM I EVER GOING TO GET THIS SMELL OUT OF MY HOUSE?" You may wish to substitute "MY CARPET", "MY CLOTHES", or even "MY HAIR" - whatever the situation warrants. For me, personally, it went something like this....

Monday night we let our dog out for one last potty break before bed. This is an everyday occurrence, and one that rarely ends poorly. Shortly after he went out, he ran across the yard into the shadows. We were aware that it was SMS (see the second sign above), but we ~~were too tired to worry about it~~ didn't give it a second thought. When I heard our dog bark to come in, I naively went straight to the door and opened it for him. He had barely gotten into the kitchen when we realized that it was NOT a deer he had been chasing into the field!! The smell created a house-wide funk warp in under three seconds. It was so bad that I wondered if it would be possible to die from inhaling the fumes. (Then I saw the light... Bwahahahaha!!)

It was too late to do anything about it that night, so we put the dog outside and went to bed. We all went to work/school Tuesday well aware that we reeked!! Snow White sent me a text and said that her purse smelled like skunk, and that she was going to have to leave it in the floor in all of her classes! I told her to watch the people around her and see if anyone caught a whiff!! I checked the internet to see what advice they had for skunk funk removal, and headed to Target and Pet Smart to stockpile my arsenal. Armed with Skunk Remover shampoo, Pine Sol, Baking Soda and Carpet Fresh, I headed home.

The house smelled awful, so I poured a glass of wine and got busy. I put Carpet Fresh on the rugs and little cups of Pine Sol in every room, lit candles, candles and more candles, cranked the ceiling fans up on high and opened the windows. Cool Breeze saturated the poor dog with the Skunk Remover shampoo. It may have helped, but I think we have just gotten used to the odor!!!

I'm hoping for a less stinky evening tonight, but I'm not counting on it. The last time this happened it took about two weeks for the smell to dissipate. What's in that stuff anyway?? I wonder why they haven't found a way to use it as a weapon? It would be like pepper spray on steroids!!

Do you have a skunk story?

Things To Do Thursday

2010-02-18T11:15:00.004-05:00

~~Who's~~What's on YOUR list for today?

Canceled

2010-02-11T12:31:00.000-05:00

After four months of planning, my girls' trip to NYC was canceled. Because of snow. "Snowpocalypse", actually, because that's the ONLY thing that could have kept us out of the city this weekend! Bloggers Gone Wild!!! I feel as defeated as this poor pampas grass...

It seems that I went to bed one night and woke up in Whoville. Unfortunately, the holidays are over, and there was no brightly-lit tree to circle while singing cheery carols. I have discovered the reason that the Grinch holed up in a cave with his little dog.......he HATED the freakin' snow! It all makes sense now.

Snow White drove her car today for the first time in two weeks. She was ecstatic! Me? Not so much. I'm a bit of a worrier.

Cool Breeze has done an excellent job of keeping our sidewalks and driveway as clear as possible. I've helped, but he's done the bulk of it. The ONLY bright spot in all of this has been watching our dog enjoy every. last. minute. of his time in the snow! He will certainly miss the ~~evil white stuff~~ snow if it ever goes away.

Excuse me. I need to go make a phone call...

18

2010-02-04T00:05:00.000-05:00

It's hard to believe that 18 years ago I brought home a tiny bundle of joy. She always had a smile on her face, and she sang along with Luciano Pavarotti before she could walk. She was, and still is, a camera hog, and I've got the videos to prove it! I've had the privilege of watching her grow into an amazing young woman, and I'm proud to be her mother.

Happy Birthday, Sweetie!! I love you:)

All dressed up to attend a wedding.

Sporting the pearls at a family Thanksgiving gathering.

Feeling like a princess after the dance recital!

First fishing trip. She caught six fish!

Fun at the river! Performing "Jubilation T. Cornpone" from Li'l Abner

Enjoying Disney with Grandma and Granddaddy!

Always happy to be cheering, despite the weather:)

Now, if you'd excuse me, I need to go blow my nose......**sniff, sniff**

98

2010-02-01T08:32:00.000-05:00

Today my paternal grandmother would have celebrated her 98th birthday. She passed away two years ago on New Year's Eve. My life is not the same without her.

My sisters and I spent many summers at Grandma's house. There was no air conditioning, which taught us that it was better to get up early to get our work done, and to rest in the heat of the afternoon. There was no television, which taught us to find ways to entertain ourselves. There was a huge garden, which taught us that if everyone pitched in, the work would be light. There was homemade ice cream, which taught us the simple rewards of a busy day on the farm. Life lessons learned from a kind, gentle woman.

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

The photo above shows Grandma holding a six-month old Snow White. I had hoped that SW would be born on Grandma's birthday, but we missed it by three days. There are SOME things over which we have no control!!

Acronyms

2010-01-27T10:07:00.002-05:00

Earlier in the week, our CPA dropped off our EOQ and EOY business tax forms. The packet included W-2's & 1099's. There was also a note asking BHE to update her SUI rate in QB. ASAP. FUTA rates were current. FICA was already paid.

Snow White came by the office after school yesterday. We discussed her scheduled auditions at JMU & NYU, and decided it was best to just send a CD and a DVD to Baylor. Afterward, she and Cool Breeze worked on her FAFSA form. I played BB on FB.

Once in a while, someone will call Cool Breeze and request a WQIA. Sometimes DEQ and the ACOE will get involved, but not always.

We are living in an acronym world, and I am an acronym girl.

Things To Do Thursday

2010-01-21T19:40:00.000-05:00

What's on your list for today?

Frankie Says Relax

2010-01-20T12:32:00.000-05:00

Cool Breeze and the Kitty Cat have mastered the art of relaxation. They can often be seen dancing to The Groove, or simply kicking back for an afternoon of football and Die Hard movies. It's good work, if you can get it!

I, on the other hand, seem to struggle with the whole relaxation concept. There are meals to prepare, clothes to wash, and heaven forbid there should be a dirty dish in my sink. The fun never ends. WooHoo!

Then there's the issue with the remote. It never seems to fall into MY hands! During hunting season, CB was gone all day EVERY Saturday. While he was giving out one-way tickets to the skinning shed, the DVR got a good workout ~~while I sat on my increasingly large rear~~, and I was able to catch up on all of my shows.....while relaxing. I checked the DVR earlier this week. I'm three weeks behind on every show. The accumulation of recorded fodder is starting to stress me out. When will I EVER be able to catch up? How long will it be before the DVR is full? These vexing questions are starting to short-circuit the few remaining synapses in my overloaded brain. The good news is that I have yet to lose sleep over it. I expect that to happen within the next forty eight hours.

I need to get a life. Or maybe the t-shirt;)

Memories

2010-01-18T14:53:00.000-05:00

I had the pleasure of meeting some special friends for lunch last Saturday. We went to our usual meeting place, Nick's, in beautiful downtown Shacklefords! The cast of characters included Chesapeake Bay Woman, Bayman, Noe Noe Girl and Hillbilly Gothic. My dad was also able to join us, which was a wonderful surprise!

We spent a couple of hours tossing back carafes of wine, celebrating CBW's birthday and laughing our fool heads off!! Oh, and at some point we actually managed to eat lunch;) We were not asked to leave, but Hillbilly Gothic was busted by the "You Can't Bring Your Own Drink In Here" police. After she explained that she is on a very strict diet, and that it was absolutely necessary for her to bring her own beverages, they decided not to arrest her. WHEW! Crisis averted!

Once our stomachs began to hurt from laughing, we decided that it was time to head up to my grandparent's farm for a little photo session. Old barns, old homes, big trees......OH, MY!

All joking aside, the farm is a very special place to me. Much of my childhood was spent entertaining myself with all of the things that a farm has to offer. Yes, there was "work", like shelling peas or weeding the garden, but the free time was what it was all about! My imagination knew no bounds, and there were SO many things to explore. Much like now.

The photo above, which was taken by CBW, is the back door of my great-grandmother's home. It is off of a small porch, and opens into the kitchen. After years of neglect, the house had fallen into a sad state of disrepair. My dad was finally able to purchase the home and the property, and has begun the slow process of renovating......as time and money allow. I'm trying to wrap my brain around a series of posts about the old home and barn, as well as my great-grandmother, but that is for another time.

For now, imagine yourself coming into the kitchen for a cold glass of sweet tea and a slice of marble pound cake. I believe the cake is still warm...

Winter

2010-01-15T13:51:00.000-05:00

This wonderful old dogwood tree lives in our backyard. It has brought us great joy throughout the years, and its beauty spans the gamut of the seasons.

A number of years ago, Cool Breeze and I were searching for the perfect piece of property. We would have preferred waterfront, but it was much too costly for a self-employed couple with a small child. Our search took us back to my home county, which is where we should have begun in the first place. The land was there. It was waiting patiently for us to arrive.

Once we purchased the property, it was time to begin clearing for our new home. The trees that we wanted to keep were to be marked, so they did not meet their demise at the hands of an eager bulldozer operator. Imagine our surprise when this little jewel was discovered! We knew that dogwoods were plentiful, DUH! it's Virginia, but we had no idea that one would have been able to reach this size after being smothered under the boughs of oaks and pines for so long.

Cats and children alike have climbed this tree. There have even been a number of squirrels and an ambitious o'possum who have graced the limbs. And then there are the birds. Birds of every size and color meet in this tree every spring to celebrate the warmer temperatures!

It's a shame that Keats never wrote an Ode to a Dogwood. Obviously, he was NOT from Virginia!! Perhaps I'll have to work on that poem myself...

45

2010-01-12T10:10:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday, Cool Breeze!

You thought I married you for your Camaro, but it was really all about your hair;)

LOVE you!

Things To Do Thursday

2010-01-07T12:48:00.003-05:00

What are your plans for this evening?

Christmas Memories

2010-01-05T15:20:00.003-05:00

I wasn't dreaming of a white Christmas...

...but I sure got one!

Rudolph told me to quit whining about the weather...

...and just enjoy the tree!

My cat didn't care if I whined or not. As long as I let her sleep under the tree.

Obviously, she's my favorite;)

Resolutions

2009-12-31T10:45:00.000-05:00

I received an email from my SIL earlier in the week. It contained the following:

HANDBOOK 2010

(origin unknown)

HEALTH

-Drink plenty of water.

-Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.

-Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants, and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

-Live with the 3 E's --- Energy. Enthusiasm. Empathy.

-Make time to pray.

-Play more games.

-Read more books than you did in 2009.

-Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.

-Sleep for 7 hours.

-Take a 10 to 30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile!

PERSONALITY

-Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

-Don't have negative thoughts of things you cannot control. Instead, invest your energy in the positive present moment.

-Don't over do it. Keep your limits.

-Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

-Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.

-Dream more while you are awake.

-Envy is a waste of time. You already have all that you need.

-Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner of his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.

-Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.

-Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

-No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

-Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply a part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like the algebra class.

-Smile and laugh more.

-You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

SOCIETY

-Call your family often.

-Each day, give something good to others.

-Forgive everyone for everything.

-Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.

-Try to make at least three people smile each day.

-What other people think of you is none of your business.

-Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

LIFE

-Do the right thing!

-Get rid of anything that is not useful, beautiful or joyful.

-God heals everything.

-However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

-No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

-The best is yet to come.

-When you awake alive in the morning, thank God for it.

-Your innermost is always happy. So, be happy!

And finally,

ADVICE FROM BHE

-Hug the ones you love. Make peace with the ones you don't. Life is too short to sweat the small stuff.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Oh, The Weather...

2009-12-18T10:26:00.006-05:00

Well-endowed snow woman courtesy of Snow White. Circa 2009.

Looks like we are in for a snowy weekend.
My Christmas shopping is FAR from complete.
Did I mention that I am not a fan of snow?
I'm also not a fan of grocery shopping,
but I've made my list:

Wine
Snow Snacks
Wine
Ginger Ale
Wine

Most people stock up on milk and bread.
I have those at home already.
Is it June yet?

The First Of The Lasts

2009-12-16T15:28:00.002-05:00

Last night was the last high school Christmas Concert in which Snow White will perform. It's the first of many "lasts" in her high school singing career. District Chorus, perhaps State Chorus **crosses fingers**, Show Choir Competitions, the Festival of Choirs and the Spring Concert are all on the horizon. It would be impossible to calculate the number of hours that child has devoted to the Choral Program in the past four years.....not to mention every year since fourth grade!!

The Christmas Concert, or Winter Concert, as it is now called, was beautiful. It always is. There is a Freshman Choir, a Jazz Choir, a Men's Choir, a Women's Chamber Choir, a Mixed Chamber Choir and a Women's Show Choir. The songs run the gamut from traditional Christian songs and Negro Spirituals, to German Folk Songs....which are, of course, sung in German!

The Mixed Chamber Choir performed a Hebrew song last night that brought the house down! The song is entitled Bashanah Haba'ah. The Choral Director was kind enough to include the translation in the program, and the lyrics are as follows:

Next Year

Next Year
we will sit on the porch
and count the migrating birds.
Children on vacation
will play tag
between the house and the fields.
You will see, you will see
how good it will be
next year.

Sounds perfect to me!

Menagerie

2009-12-14T13:51:00.006-05:00

Animals, wild and domesticated, play a major role in life at Casa de Envy. The cooler temperatures discourage outdoor activities, and we find our pets spending more time indoors. Snuggling. We also find our wild "pets" foraging with a sense of urgency. Their groups become larger, and their pace quickens. It may have something to do with hunting season. It may also have something to do with finding a warm place to sleep before it gets dark ~~at 3:00 p.m.~~.

This year, my kitty has decided that the Christmas tree bores her. She would much rather sit on the window sill and watch for birds and visitors. I'm hopeful that all of the ornaments will make it through the season intact.

This is usually about the time of day that the deer venture into the field. When dusk arrives, they seem to move around a bit more. I'm alright with that, as long as they stay out of the road when I'm driving by!

I found this little guy asleep on my porch early Sunday morning. Poor thing! It was pouring down rain, and he couldn't find his owner. I went outside and fed him, called his owner to let him know where Buddy was, and let my dog out to play with him for a bit. While waiting for his owner to arrive, Buddy curled back up on that soft cushion and slept a bit longer:)

Our cat has been taking over our dog's bed for a couple of months now. Once in a while, he is able to get in there first and prevent her from inhabiting his space. Once in a while, she doesn't care if he's in there or not.....she's going to snuggle in right alongside him!!!

It's a good thing that our pets provide so much entertainment. Snow White will be off to college in less than a year, and the animals will be all we have left to ~~comfort us in our time of grief~~ keep us occupied.

Are you an animal lover?

Retraction

2009-12-12T08:36:00.002-05:00

It has come to my attention that the abduction I blogged about a few days ago is being investigated as a false report. While I am THRILLED that there is not a psycho in our midst, I am saddened that a young woman with such promise would resort to something like this. So many questions, so few answers.

Please continue to keep this family in your prayers.

Abduction

2009-12-10T13:18:00.002-05:00

I've been trying to decide whether or not to post this, and I've decided that it's too important to let it go untold. While I have grown accustomed to seeing news reports about children being abducted, I never think about the possibility that it could happen close to home. Those stories always seem so far removed from my daily life that I tend to gloss over them. It's easier that way, isn't it?

When Snow White was very small she used to wander off from time to time. I remember telling her once that she HAD to stay with me or a bad person would take her away and hurt her. She was scared, and from that point on she held my hand when we were out in public. As she has gotten older, I have continued to remind her of the dangers that may be lurking. I've gotten the obligatory teenage eye-roll more than once for reminding her for the hundredth time that she should never go to the mall alone, or that she should park in a well-lit area after dark. You get the idea.

I received a phone call from Snow White yesterday morning. She was crying, and bordering on hysteria. She had just been informed that one of her childhood friends had been abducted the night before. In an instant, all of my warnings became a horrible reality for my daughter.

To make matters worse, her friend was abducted from her own church parking lot. Yes, you read that correctly. The psycho took her from a CHURCH PARKING LOT!! I recognize the fact that we live in a mad, mad world right now, but I cannot fathom NOT feeling safe at church. Are we really that far gone?

Fortunately, this story has a happy ending. Snow White's friend is home safe. I'm not so sure about the sound part. Time will tell. Thank the good Lord she did not end up a mere statistic.

Despite the outcome, I have had cold chills ever since I received that call. We can't always be there to protect our children, but we CAN teach them to be more cautious. After a LONG conversation last night, I believe that my daughter will now be a lot more attentive to her surroundings. We also plan to take a self-defense class the next time it's offered at our gym.

PLEASE talk to your children ~~over and over and over and over~~ about stranger danger and about paying attention to their surroundings at ALL TIMES! Make this your topic of conversation over dinner tonight. I don't care how old we are, we can always use a gentle reminder to be careful out there in that cold, cruel world.

Thanksgiving de Envy

2009-12-02T16:32:00.000-05:00

We started off with a nice hail storm.

Then family and friends arrived.

Photo by Chesapeake Bay Woman

After dinner, the shooting began. Cool Breeze supervised.

Photo by Chesapeake Bay Woman

Photo by Chesapeake Bay Woman

The cleanup took a while.

Despite all of the mayhem, these bloggers managed to spend some quality time together. Wait. Perhaps they CAUSED the mayhem. Either way, a good time was had by all!

Photo by Chesapeake Bay Woman

Thanks to thoughtful friends, my enjoyment has continued well into this week.

From CBW

From Noe Noe Girl

We plan to do it again next year;)

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-25T11:00:00.003-05:00

Wishing you all a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

My family will be coming over Friday to celebrate. I enjoy being in charge of the turkey. This year, I am going to brine the bird and stuff it before cooking. I got the idea last weekend when I was ~~spending too much time~~ watching the food network. The Neelys inspired me! I will use their brine recipe, and then stuff Big Bertha with onions, garlic, apples, celery, oranges, lemons and an assortment of fresh herbs. I'm also experimenting with an oven roasting bag. Switching it up so drastically for such a big event may indicate that I am psychotic. Please pray that it's edible!!!

What are YOUR Thanksgiving plans? What are your secrets for cooking the perfect turkey? What's your signature dish?

Whirlwind

2009-11-19T15:33:00.002-05:00

When I was a little girl, I couldn't WAIT to grow up! Grandma would gently remind me that it would happen soon enough. "Don't wish your life away," she'd advise. I was confident that she had no idea what she was talking about. What I failed to realize was how much faster the earth rotates on its axis once you hit ~~old age~~ your forties. Grandma knew that there are never enough hours in the day to ~~process all of the whining and complaining~~ tend to all that needs tending. Work, home, and family pull you in more directions than you ever thought possible, leaving you a rumpled mess at the end of the day.

Enter - THE HOLIDAY SEASON. The time of year that strikes fear in the hearts of mothers, and leaves small children with unrealistic expectations. Or, is it the other way around?

Those of you who have read my blog for any length of time are aware that the holidays changed for me once my grandmother went on to a better place. Last year was the year of firsts. First Thanksgiving and first Christmas without our beloved Grandma. We started new traditions, and muddled through the best we could. In retrospect, it wasn't bad, just different.

The main thing that changed last year was the pace. The whirlwind of holiday activity slowed a bit, as we focused more on family and food than commercialism. Spending precious time together became more important than exchanging gifts. I'd like to continue that this year. We are all watching our pennies more closely, and this may prove to be a popular plan with the extended family. The added benefit will be the stress reduction. Prepare your favorite dish, and come on over! Simple. Perfect.

We have a house FULL of relatives and friends who will be joining us next Friday for our "Day After" Thanksgiving Feast - Year Two. Our home, although crowded, will be filled with good food, laughter and stories of years past. I know Grandma would be pleased:)

Oyster Festival Rewind - Friday

2009-11-15T13:59:00.000-05:00

Mullets. Bands. Bike Cops. Firemen's Parade. Cowboy Hats. Laughter. Bloggers. Little Miss Spat. Meat Wagon. Oysters. Family. Friends. Wine. Red Boots.

Firemen's Parade

Notice the porta-potties (on the right) and the moon (top left).

Sirens. WHAT?

One of my favorite places to visit!

~~Meat Wagon~~ Cupholder.

The beginning of a fun-filled weekend ~~of women behaving badly~~ !

Kindness

2009-11-12T15:27:00.000-05:00

It's dark when I get up in the morning, and it's dark when I get home from work. It's been raining for two days, and all signs point to two more days of the blasted stuff. Along with flooding, downed trees and possible loss of power. The beautiful weather we experienced last weekend is a distant memory.

My cat is in a state of weather denial. She's a "stick your head in the sand" kind of gal!!

I'm fortunate to have some amazing friends whose random acts of kindness always get me through the storms. Krissa over at Halfasstic sent me this cute wall hanging. I'd better stock up on Aqua Net and buy a new teasing comb!!

Another friend stopped by the office today and brought this homemade apple pie. I'm going to stop on the way home and pick up some vanilla ice cream to go along with it. Jealous?

I am very thankful for the kindness of friends. They always seem to be there when you need them most.

My Favorite Veteran

2009-11-11T09:39:00.007-05:00

Photo borrowed from this site.

I call him every year to wish him a Happy Veteran's Day. This year, I decided to thank him publicly.

"Grandaddy" , thank you for serving our country in Vietnam. I cannot imagine the horrors you must have endured.

You are my hero!

Oyster Festival

2009-11-06T10:04:00.012-05:00

Picture borrowed from this site.

It's hard to believe it's been a whole year since I posted this, this, this and this about the Urbanna Oyster Festival. Where does the time go?

Well, believe it or not, it's that time again. I'm confident that I will return with a weeks worth of posts that are sure to make you laugh! Go over to Chesapeake Bay Woman's site to find out who is attending this year......you may know some of those crazy ladies;) My family will also be there in full force. They ALWAYS make me laugh......in a good way, of course!

As usual, I am rushing to try to get everything done before I have to leave. I still need to finish laundry, pack, get a cooler together and dig out lawn chairs and gloves. Did I mention that I'm at work right now? Nothing like waiting until the last minute...GAH!

Have a good weekend, and enjoy the eye candy I'm sending your way today;)

Vote

2009-11-03T12:14:00.003-05:00

Get out there and VOTE!

Birds Of A Feather...Or Not

2009-11-02T10:09:00.000-05:00

For a couple of weeks now, Cool Breeze has been telling me that there is an albino turkey living in our woods. I got my first glimpse Saturday morning. It's always exciting to see a large group of turkeys in the field, but the albino added a whole new dimension. A bright spot in an otherwise dreary weekend.

What was the bright spot in YOUR weekend?

Halloween Greetings

2009-10-30T14:56:00.003-04:00

Have a safe and happy Halloween weekend!

Adventures In Chocolate

2009-10-27T12:19:00.000-04:00

Cool Breeze and I have been discussing the fact that our daughter will be attending college in less than a year. We are painfully aware that there has not been nearly enough money set aside for the next phase of Snow White's life. The money tree out back died, and I had to come up with another way to boost the college fund. Enter Grandma J!

Grandma J hosted a giveaway on her blog. The prize? Dove Chocolate. Somewhere in the post, she mentioned that her daughter was a Chocolatier with Dove Chocolate Discoveries. She hosts chocolate tasting parties, and sells Dove products that are only available through these parties. Having been in direct sales before, I recognized a great opportunity when I saw it!

After several weeks of researching the company, trying to decide if I wanted to get back into direct sales or not and discussing the business opportunity with Cool Breeze, I signed up. The products had gotten a big "thumbs up" from Noe Noe Girl, whose husband was the prize winner, and I couldn't imagine a more FUN line of items to market!

Actually, the word "FUN" does not even begin to describe it. Once I received my kit, I started melting, dipping, tasting and creating! My whole family has gotten in on the act. In fact, I had my first tasting party over the weekend, and I couldn't have done it all without Cool Breeze and Snow White. They are my taste-testers, helpers and providers of support:)

I'm not sure where this new road will lead, but I'm looking forward to the journey.

Chocolate, anyone?

State Fair

2009-10-23T11:41:00.000-04:00

The Virginia State Fair is VERY popular with the Envy Family. Snow White was a mere seven months old when she attended her first fair. She won a prize for being the best "Pig Rooter" at the Pig Races, and has been hooked ever since!

2009 brought big changes to our beloved fair. A new venue, a new layout, and many new fried foods!

Meadow Farm, former home of Triple Crown Winner Secretariat, is now Meadow Farm Event Park. The new venue is spacious and CLEAN! Well, except for some of the folks working the Midway.

Main Stage entertainment included Blue Grass, Magic and a little Rock 'n Roll.

Secretariat was honored throughout the park, especially in the Farm Area.

These little guys were SO much fun to watch!

No State Fair would be complete without freakishly large fruits and vegetables.

Snow White has ALWAYS loved this singing pig! He appeared to be happy to see her again this year;)

These guys were downright CRAZY!

I found this amusing. Draw your own conclusions.

Billy Goats Gruff? He stood so still that we weren't sure he was real. Then he jumped down and started bossing the other goats around!

I was having an off night, and LOST at Whac-a-Mole. First time EVER!

The night wouldn't have been complete without a trip to our favorite food vendor....Porky's! This is a BBQ Parfait....BBQ, Sauce and Mashed Potatoes. YUM:)

And for dessert? Fried green beans, of course.

Can't wait until next year!

Homecoming '09

2009-10-06T13:53:00.000-04:00

The Homecoming festivities were held at Small Town USA High School this past weekend. Although we lost the football game, Snow White (far right) and her friends never let their school spirit wane.

The night of the dance, SW and her friends posed for a few photos before heading out to meet their dates. They take Homecoming VERY seriously in these parts!

There is always one mom in every crowd who can rally the teenagers long enough to snap a few group shots. Thank goodness for those moms! I had a hard enough time getting SW corralled for the couples shots:/

**sigh** SO beautiful!

There's nothing better than kids in dress up clothes:)

It made me sad to think that this was the last high school Homecoming that my daughter would attend. However, I felt much better when I realized that no matter how old she gets, she will still love her Mama!!

Monday Funny

2009-10-05T10:30:00.002-04:00

Happy Monday!

I received this via email, and have no idea who to credit for its origin.

"Crusty" Sighting

2009-10-01T12:23:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, my family attended the State Fair of Virginia. I am working on a couple of posts that highlight the event, but wanted to let you all know that "Crusty" was in attendance as well. Grandma J neglected to tell me that "Crusty" would be making the trip, but I was happy to see him! He's SUCH a jet setter! Evidently, he was glad to be back in Virginia for a visit, but was excited about heading back home to the Great State of Texas! We chatted for a few minutes, and then parted ways. I was heading off to play Whac-a-Mole, and he needed to get back to his supervisory duties at the seafood booth.

"Crusty" told me to be sure to say hello to his beloved Blog Fest friends! He can't wait to see all of you again;)

"Don't Judge My Hair"

2009-09-23T17:19:00.000-04:00

Photo provided by Wilma at Little Toes and Cheerios

I received an email yesterday that contained a link to THIS SITE. It is absolutely HYSTERICAL! I'm still not sure why it was sent to ME...;)

We all need to pull out those '80's photos and send them in. Go ahead. You know you want to!

Wilma....if you don't submit these pics, I will be forced to do it for you! I'm REALLY curious to see what sort of caption they come up with!!!

Head Count

2009-09-21T16:13:00.005-04:00

Photo borrowed from this site.

Alright. It's time to commit. One way, or the other. Are you coming to the Urbanna Oyster Festival?

Chesapeake Bay Woman and I need to get an accurate head count so the planning can continue. Or, possibly, begin;) If you've never been, you are in for a real treat! You'll want to plan to arrive Friday afternoon so you don't miss the Fireman's Parade Friday night. For me, that's one of the highlights! There will also be a fantastic band playing after the parade....BONUS!

The little water town will be buzzing with activity Saturday as well. Something for everyone!

Click HERE to read all about it!

Hope to see you in November:)

Compliments

2009-09-16T13:06:00.004-04:00

Image borrowed from HERE

I have grown tired of the negativity and lack of couth that seem to be more the norm than the exception these days. I'm going to list ten compliments, and I want you to USE THEM. Compliment your neighbor, your hairdresser, the bum on the corner, or yourself. I don't care HOW you use them, just USE them!! Consider this MY small effort to restore decorum and civility to this crazy world. Or, just consider me crazy!!

1. I knew I could count on you!

2. Have you lost weight?

3. I LOVE your shoes!

4. I'm glad you're my friend:)

5. You are one of the smartest/ most talented women I know!

6. You deserve it!

7. Life certainly is agreeing with you!

8. That sweater is the perfect color for you!

9. You have excellent taste!

10. You always know just the right thing to say:)

Now, GET OUT THERE and let's spread a little sunshine!!

By the way, YOU look fabulous today:)

Heroes

2009-09-11T15:22:00.000-04:00

WE WILL NEVER FORGET

On this day of remembrance, I'd first like to honor a very special person who blessed my life in many ways. My cousin, Billy, was killed in the line of duty on January 2, 1990. Click Here to view his "Officer Down Memorial Page" He was just shy of his 24th birthday. This hero lives on in our hearts.

I've been struggling all day to come up with a post that would be meaningful. Searching for a way to honor and thank those who put their lives on the line for us. On the eighth anniversary of the day that our great nation was brought to its knees, words just seem insignificant.

In true hero fashion, the local boys showed up just in time! They didn't seem to mind having a crazy lady ask to take their picture in the middle of a parking lot. Thanks for being such good sports, guys! Here's a GREAT BIG THANK YOU for all that you do to serve our community! May God richly bless each and every one of you.

Just Yesterday...

2009-09-08T16:35:00.002-04:00

...my baby was graduating from Pre-School.

(1997)

Today...

...is her last "First Day" of High School.

(2009)

Oddly enough, I have not aged a bit! Bwahahahahaha!

Forever Friends

2009-08-28T15:29:00.000-04:00

Jen and I were BFF's in High School. I married young, and she moved to California. She and I, along with another good friend, organized our 25th Class Reunion this year. The time we spent together planning the big event made us realize how much we had missed each other. We are both now kicking ourselves for letting those years slip away, but are thrilled at the possibilities that await!

Back Far Left: BHE, Front Far Right: Jen (Circa 1982)

20th High School Reunion (2004)

25th High School Reunion (2009)

Do you have a forever friend?

Yo, Mama!!

2009-08-24T16:31:00.005-04:00

What do Bloggers do when one of their own is sad because her children are flying the coop? They come to the rescue, that's what they do.

And~~drink~~ RESCUE we did!

Mental P Mama was scheduled to drop off Baby Bird last Saturday, so a few of us put our ~~one combined brain~~ heads together and decided to surprise her. We agreed to meet at an Italian joint, which would ensure plenty of wine would be available to drown her sorrows. She thought it was going to be BHE, Party of Two. Bwahahaha! NOPE! Blisters, Party of Six;)

Mom x 2 buttered up the waiter so we could get ~~lots of leftovers~~ great service...

A very surprised Guest of Honor arrived to find the party was well under way...

Party of Six....Bottom to Top: Bay Man, Chesapeake Bay Woman, Mental P Mama, Mom x 2, BHE & Cool Breeze...

The Gang, finally calling it a night...

The Virginia Guys & Gals are missin' you, Mama! How's Oyster Festival looking?

You're ALL invited! Check it out here: Urbanna Oyster Festival.

Welcome Home Snow White!

2009-08-19T15:51:00.002-04:00

My baby has been in Texas since last Friday. Today she flies back to the nest. It's been a long week without her. I'm SO not ready for the college years...

**Hugs for Mental P Mama**

Be Thankful

2009-08-14T12:12:00.001-04:00

There are SO many things in life that I take for granted. I go about my busy days, hardly noticing my surroundings or the people that surround me. I'm constantly worrying about the next task at hand, the meeting tomorrow night, or Snow White's work schedule. Sadly, it takes something drastic to "shake me up" and force me to focus on what is truly important.

We have been preparing all week for Snow White's departure. Cool Breeze took her to the airport very early this morning, and put her on a plane bound for Texas. Alone. Over the next few days, I will be worried sick about her safety, her eating habits, and whether or not she wore her retainer. I know she will fly back home next week armed with hundreds of photographs, and hundreds of stories to accompany them. In the mean time, I am trying to be thankful that I have a healthy, confident teenager, who is not afraid of an adventure!

While I am at home worrying about what "might" happen while my daughter is away, I have two friends who are now dealing with what "IS" happening. Thanks to Facebook, I know that there are two families out there who are dealing with the possible loss of a beloved family pet. Please understand that I am NOT comparing the lives of our pets to the lives of our children. I am just pointing out that this is one of those things that pulls at my heart strings. I have lost pets before, and it's something I never fully get over. Yes, I move on, but those critters continue to hold a special place in the family memory book.

Last night I was complaining about the black dog hair that carpets my tile floors. I am SO tired of running the vacuum, only to see the floor covered once again within the hour. No amount of brushing seems to prevent this. After I had whined on about it, I went out to check FB. Two friends, two emergency vet visits, two dogs who may not make it through the night. One little gal had five obstructions in her intestines, had lived through surgery, and was suffering from an abnormally low body temperature. The big strong guy had a heat stroke, was bleeding internally, and was on doggie life support. I sat at the computer and cried. Then, I went in and petted my big old mutt and told him I loved him....hair and all.

Attitude adjusted. I am thankful.

UPDATE: This was just posted on my friend Jeremy's FB page:

"Look Mommy, it's Hunter...." "No, sweetheart, that dog's name is not Hunter." "Yes, Mommy. I know that dog, and it IS Hunter."

-Unknown child at Belle Isle touched by the spirit of an unparalleled animal. He was my best friend.

Another Bumper Sticker

2009-08-11T22:33:00.002-04:00

I spotted this bumper sticker on the way home from work tonight:

"Tree Hugging Dirt Lover"

I kinda like it...;)

The Cookbook

2009-08-08T16:25:00.002-04:00

Last week I posted a meme of "3 Things..." One of the things I said I wanted to do before I die is write a cookbook. With much encouragement from Bloggyland, I've decided to just START the darn thing! I will never know if it's possible if I don't try. Right? Even if it never materializes, I will enjoy the journey:)

What I'd like to do is write a cookbook comprised of recipes that YOU contribute. I'm thinking about having an intro/photo of each contributor, along with a shameless blog-plug, if you wish. My goal would be to meet each one of you IRL so I could include how/when we met, and a photo of us making your fabulous signature dish!

Here's where I need YOUR help. What should the cookbook be called? What sort of format do you look for when selecting a cookbook? What type of cover art attracts you? Are you still reading, or did I lose you at "Last week..."?

That's about as far as I've gotten. Perhaps we can put this thing together when we are all gathered for the filming of the Blog Fest movie. Just a thought!

What do you think?

3 Things

2009-08-05T14:42:00.000-04:00

Photo borrowed from this site.

The well is dry today, so I borrowed this from my friend over at The Vinyl Village. I took liberty with the format, but the content is the same.

1. What 3 words best describe you?

Loyal

Outgoing

Non-Athletic

2. What 3 words best describe your life?

Hectic

Ordinary

Fulfilling

3. What are your top 3 guilty pleasures?

"Real Housewives" Shows

Eye Candy

Cute Tote Bags

4. What 3 places would you like to visit before you die?

Alaska

Hawaii

Greece

5. What 3 things would you like to do before you die?

Retire & Travel

Bake Cookies with my Grandchildren

Write a Cookbook

6. If your life were ending, what 3 to 5 "flashes" would sum it up?

Childhood Summers at my Grandparents' Farm

Family Christmas Gatherings

My Wedding Day

The Day Snow White was Born

The Pets I've Owned

The Home in Which I Now Live

Fall? Really?

2009-08-03T15:33:00.000-04:00

As much as I hate to admit it, signs are beginning to point to Fall. Poplar leaves have begun to scatter about the yard, Halloween and ~~GASP~~ Christmas items are being placed on store shelves, and the calendar says that "August" has arrived. I'm still in denial.

Last Friday, Snow White's boyfriend headed off to begin his college career in the great state of Texas! He will definitely be missed.....and not just by Snow White! The Boy With The Perfect Teeth has a bright future ahead of him, and the determination to succeed. We are looking forward to his visit over the Thanksgiving holiday! There WILL be lime squares:)

My beautiful mom had a birthday on Saturday. We celebrated with a Girls' Brunch Out at Strawberry Street Cafe in Richmond. Mom x 2, Cheerleader Girl & Mom x 2's Mom rounded out our party of six. Three generations of two different families.....that's good stuff!!

It's not often that Mom, Snow White and I are all together. When we are, we certainly try to make the most of it!!

This doe and her two fawns showed up in the yard over the weekend. I believe that you can see the spots on the fawns if you enlarge the photo. Where was Asthma Girl's camera when I needed it??!! My little point and shoot doesn't take very good pictures at 321,452,881 yards.

Finally, these ~~phallic~~ odd mushrooms keep sprouting up all over the yard. Hmmmm...

(Insert clever comment. I got nothin'!!)

Fall. It will be here before we know it. **sigh**

Dear Joe Car Maker

2009-07-31T12:12:00.000-04:00

Dear Joe Car Maker,

I understand that times are tight. We are all feeling the effects of the sluggish economy. However, I would appreciate it if you would consider once again installing turn signals in your vehicles. It seems that this feature no longer comes standard with purchase. The extra cost must be exorbitant, because there are very few people on the road these days who have them.

This plea is not only for me, but for all of the other safe drivers out there who rely on signaling to know if someone is, say, TURNING! How about CHANGING LANES? It's a simple thing, really, but many drivers do not seem to grasp the concept. Perhaps you could also include a section in the owner's manual that covers the correct use of THE FREAKIN' BLINKER!!! I recommend that you call that section "Chapter One".

Finally, I would appreciate it if you would find a way to make the interior of each vehicle a "dead-zone". This would ensure that the lunatic talking on her cell phone this morning would NOT have swerved over into MY LANE and nearly given me a heart attack! You see, no signal = no cell phone chatter! Problem solved! Lives saved!

Thank you for taking the time to read my list of suggestions. I'm confident that it will take an ACT OF CONGRESS for these requests to come to fruition, but I remain hopeful. In the mean time, I'll try to stay off of the roads as much as possible.

Yours in Road Rage,

BHE