Things Rattling Around In My Head

Another Thing I Made + A Recipe

2012-01-24T18:44:00.002-06:00

This is my Wild Monkey Bracelet.

There is a birthstone color for each Wild Monkey.

And of course a Wild Monkey Charm.

It too has helped assuage my desire to make bracelets.

I have been looking at how to make bracelets on Pinterest.

I have Googled how to make bracelets.

Lately all I can think about is bracelets.

David gave me a bracelet for Christmas......

And now for the Recipe.

I have served it twice.

The second time I served it at my book club.

And they raved about it.

And they are foodies...one has even published two cookbooks. Yeah. I was a cooking rock star.

Lasagna Soup

INGREDIENTS

for the soup:
2 tsp. olive oil
1-1/2 lbs. Italian sausage (I added a 1/2 to 1 pound of ground chuck)
3 c. chopped onions
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
2 T. tomato paste
1 28-oz. can fire roasted diced tomatoes
2 bay leaves
6 c. chicken stock (I used a lot more......twice maybe)
8 oz. mafalda or fusilli pasta (I used bow tie once...then the fusilli second time--both were fine)
1/2 c. finely chopped fresh basil leaves
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

for the cheesy yum:
8 oz. ricotta
1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp. salt
pinch of freshly ground pepper

2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese

PREPARATION

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add sausage, breaking up into bite sized pieces, and brown for about 5 minutes. Add onions and cook until softened, about 6 minutes. Add garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute. Add tomato paste and stir well to incorporate. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the tomato paste turns a rusty brown color.

Add diced tomatoes, bay leaves, and chicken stock. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Add uncooked pasta and cook until al dente. Do not over cook or let soup simmer for a long period of time at this point, as the pasta will get mushy and absorb all the soup broth. You may even want to consider cooking the noodles separately, and then adding some to individual bowls before ladling the soup over them. This would be an especially smart move if you are anticipating any leftovers. Right before serving, stir in the basil and season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

While the pasta is cooking, prepare the cheesy yum. In a small bowl, combine the ricotta, Parmesan, salt, and pepper.

To serve, place a dollop of the cheesy yum in each soup bowl, sprinkle some of the mozzarella on top and ladle the hot soup over the cheese.

Servings: 8

I served this with a nice salad and garlic bread...it was great.

Things I Have Made Lately

2012-01-23T21:02:00.001-06:00

Since we went Christmas shopping and I bought a few things at Hobby Lobby, I have not been able to stop thinking about all those beads....I wanted to make a marriage bracelet and a wild monkey bracelet.
So when we had to go to Tupelo Saturday, I ~~threw a fit for David~~ asked David to drop me off at Hobby Lobby.
Honestly I could spend hours in there.......but anyway...I made this.

The amethyst bead is for David, the blue/green is for me (our birthstones) and the one in the middle is for our marriage. The bracelet is to help me remember to pray for David, for myself and most of all for our marriage.
I'll post a picture of the wild monkey bracelet tomorrow.

Things I Bought At The Auction #Something

2012-01-15T19:29:00.001-06:00

I know you have missed seeing the stuff I have bought so I'm posting pictures.
On of my friends told me to please not junk up my new house. Too late.

Electronic Murder

2012-01-02T20:39:00.000-06:00

I have spent the day killing my electronics.
As you all will remember I killed my laptop several months ago.
Today I really really needed to balance my check book and pay bills. This is done easier if I can print my bank statements from online...but when I tried to print, I killed the printer. Now it was at least 6 years old, which is probably over a hundred in electronic years.

I tinkered with it a little bit, but soon gave up. And of course it had the last laugh because I had just bought 2 new ink cartridges........sigh.
While I was trying to resuscitate the printer, I bumped the air card...and yep, I killed it too. And it was a gentle bump and despite an hour on the phone with AT&T tech support I was unable to resuscitate it either.

(Thank you AT&T tech support, yawl are always so kind and patient and helpful)
So I went to the local AT&T store and bought a new air card that yipppeeee is 4G and is faster that my old one. I also bought a new Canon printer at Wally World for $63.10 that will scan, print, calculate if the wind is from the east/west/south/north and notify me if the dogs tee tee in either of the back bedrooms.
Oh and did I tell yawl that I killed my iPhone a few months ago and had to wait till the iPhone 4s came out and then get on the waiting list? Yep, I have a new iPhone 4s, only had to wait 3 weeks before they sent it.....which is like 8 weeks in iPhone withdrawal......
Oh and did I tell yawl that David lost his phone in the woods last Friday night? And....we found it today? It was a miracle...but that is another story.
I'm thinking that when I go back to work tomorrow, I better stay away from the defibrillators....hmmm....

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T13:30:00.002-06:00

Happy New Year From The Wild Monkeys!!

And Arfy New Year From The Puppiebabies!!!

I Actually Made Something

2011-12-31T13:57:00.001-06:00

I bought this tomato spoon/server months ago at the auction. It was with a whole bunch of silver plate stuff that I eventually polished and now use. When I saw it I knew that I was going to make a pendant out of it.

Soooooo, the other night, I got out my hammer (I keep it hid from David) put the spoon between several layers of newspaper and beat it till it was flat. This was simple as it was only very slightly turned up.

Then I bent it, which was fairly easy as I only had to use my hands. And voila!! I slipped it over this chocker.

And, I wore it to work the next day and received several complements. I really should have made the bale a little higher and flatter......but at least it's laying on the kitchen counter anymore.

It's Not Christmas Unless The Ambulance Comes

2011-12-30T18:44:00.000-06:00

Me/daughter/DIL each had a glass of white in our hand when the ambulance got there.
1: Bottle of white wine

1: seizure—BIL
1: ambulance
7: wild monkeys
8: (semi) adults
1: tree with lights only (it fell earlier in the week and we never put the ornaments back on)
3: dozen+ presents
1: ham-spiral cut
6: side dishes
1: lava lamp dropped and broken (well almost—it still doesn’t work right)

1: car stuck in the front yard that David had to pull out with the tractor—(this happened before BIL had the seizure thank goodness)
1: air mattress (thank you Kay)
9: time I went to bed (mellow) and left everybody up arguing with the wild monkeys about the sleeping arrangements.
2: couch sleepers
3: air mattress sleepers
2: with mama/daddy sleepers
2: time I got up and 3 of the wild monkeys were up eating a ham sandwich
3: time BIL was caught outside sneaking a cigarette
So you see it makes sense what I told someone you don’t have to be tipsy to enjoy a "Rattle" Christmas, but it helps.

2011-12-24T17:05:00.001-06:00

Hi everybody. You remember that I killed my laptop, which is what I used for all my blogging. And I have yet to get a new one. I almost did, but that is another story. And until I get a new laptop, my blogging will still be sporadic. But I wanted to let you know that I keep up with your posts on my iPhone and that I wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. And share with you a little Christmas "rattles"
First of all, we bought a gorgeous tree from a local grower...finally got it up, where it stayed undecorated for several days.
Then David decorated it and it was beautiful...see: 9 feet tall and awaiting the angel on top.

Then while I was in the shower, and David was watching TV....

It is back up, but we haven't put the decorations back on. And it's Christmas Eve. But one of the wild monkeys has been very sick and in the hospital, so we have just not redecorated it....Hopefully the wild monkey will get to come home tonight or tomorrow and we can have our celebration.
As I was frantically cleaning house, trying to decorate the outside, decorated the inside.......I thought, you know trees, ornaments, ceramic Santas, wreathes, parties, on and on.......Christmas is still all about Him. And it will come without all the trappings. Let Jesus be praised..let me worry more about my worship of Him rather than decorations and shopping.
Now that said, I leave you with a favorite picture.

'Twas the day before the night before Christmas, and in the McCaulla house, the puppies were sleeping on top of the couch......

2011-10-11T17:44:00.002-05:00

Have yawl been wondering about me?
I would love to tell you that I have been doing amazing things.
But I have only been doing ordinary things.
I killed my lap top and I rarely ever come back here in the bedroom to use the desk top unless I have to balance the check book or pay bills. Yeah.
I want an iPad......I want a new lap top....I want/need a new iPhone.
Well I did do one thing......and it was awesome.
David and I went to the National Quartet Convention in Louisville KY. (I love 4 part harmony)
And no matter where we go David finds "Elvis."
So there he was walking around the Kentucky Convention Center and David had to stop and have a conversation with him.
Part of the conversation went like this.
David: Do you ever enter any of the Elvis impersonator contests?
Elvis: No, those guys scare me.
We walk off and David is kinda in a daze....he asks me, What did that mean? Does he not realize that he is one of those guys?

Fast forward a few days later, Avery saw this picture in my phone and here is our conversation:
Avery: I thought Elvis was dead.
Me: He is
Well who is that?
That is an Elvis impersonator.
What is an Elvis impersonator?
Well he is pretending to be Elvis.
Oh...does PapPaw know that?
She never fails to make me smile.....

I Have Been Hibernating

2011-08-08T21:15:00.000-05:00

Maybe yawl have been wondering where I have been and what I have been doing. Please note the picture above...temperature 104*. And I'm pretty sure that it has been higher than that at times. The older I get, the less I am able to tolerate the summer heat here in Mississippi.
So I just hibernate. I got to work and church and that is about it. I only go to Wal Mart when I have no more toilet paper. I make David go to the grocery store.
The AC here in paradise runs constantly. We keep in on 71* and it only stops running after dark. During the day the house stays around 74* and that is with the thermostat set on 71*. I am regretting all these French doors and windows and high ceilings. They are indeed pretty, but when I pay the heating and cooling bills I sigh deeply. I have placed sheets over the sheers in the master bedroom. (I do not have curtains on any of the windows--there are sheers on every window and it too is indeed pretty for the view) Sigh.
David plowed/seeded/watered the front yard. The grass only grew in the places it usually grows. The water bill was $179.00 last month and $117.00 this month. He quit watering when we got the first bill. We still don't have decent grass. So it's as if he took $297.00 and flushed it down the toilet. Sigh again.
He did make me two very nice flower beds.....one is doing well the other (which takes the brunt of the sun) not so much. But I love them...they were my anniversary present.
Married 16 years June 16th. Sigh again. I adore my husband, he is my heart.
I have been on Adkins and have lost 26 pounds. Sigh again. But I'm stuck. The scales are not going to move anymore unless I do. I have walked some at the gym in our church, but I have PROMISED myself that I will walk daily when it cools off. Sigh again.
Adkins has been very hard on my body, and my liver studies elevated. So my doctor told me to slow down and eat more carbs. I have and have not gained, and I know I have got to come up with another plan.......Sigh again.
The furbabies are fine. The ~~Wild Monkeys~~ grandbabies are also fine.
I will leave you with these final pictures...let me set the scene. David had been baby sitting 4 of the Wild Monkeys while I worked (yes I was scared). I came home to them playing in the sprinkler. He had to run an errand and left me in charge.
I said, "Don't get in the mud."
I said, "Don't throw mud balls at each other."
I said, "Don't make a mud hole in PapPaw's front yard."
Well, take a look for yourself.

Audubon Ruffed Grouse

2011-06-13T20:32:00.001-05:00

Soooo, this is a framed print that I bought at the auction for the grand total (I think) of five bucks. It just looked old to me and of course I have a thing for old prints. When I got it in my hands I noticed the word Audubon in the lower left hand corner. It stayed on the floor in the bedroom for a week or two and then I hung it up. Then I tried to read what was in the lower right hand corner....hmmm, Havell 1833...hmmm. I began to do a little research, and of course it is a reproduction. Namely the main cue that it is a reproduction is the size...I have actually seen a Audubon double elephant folio and it used to reside about 5 miles from where I now live. In the home of J.Z. George--"Cotesworth." Of course I was in high school then and was impressed despite the fact that I didn't know what I was looking at. I wonder if they still have it displayed or if it is in a vault some where.

This is Cotesworth.
When I was doing my research, I noted that the original double elephant print of my Ruffed Grouse was listed for $27,000 on one website ....so according to Wiki, "Of the 119 copies known to survive, only eleven are held in private collections. In March 2000 the Fox-Bute copy sold at Christie's (New York) for $8,802,500. In December 2005 an unbound copy, the Providence Athenaeum Set, sold, again at Christie's (New York), for $5.6 million
Although I didn't find a treasure money wise, I did find a treasure in that I learned a lot about the amazing Mr. Audubon...and that was worth five bucks, plus it looks great in my guest bedroom...

Victoria's Secret Finally Found Me

2011-06-12T21:27:00.000-05:00

Yep that's right, they have been looking for me for about 16 years...let me explain.
I am a big girl. Okay? And apparently prior to my arrival in David's life he had never dated or even been around any big girls. Our daughter is slim, his sisters are slim, his mother was slim and on and on.
On our first Christmas after we married we were all shopping in the mall. Our daughter made her way into the Victoria's Secret store. I went elsewhere. However, David followed her in and began to look around. He went up to one of the clerks and inquired about buying me some sexy lingerie. The clerk asked him what size bra I wore...and he told her. She laughed and told him that they didn't sell that size in there. He slunk out -- embarrassed.
I have been a bit peeved with them ever since.
I mean she didn't have to laugh at him. He was being sweet and apparently he didn't realize just how big a girl I am.

Now for some odd reason, they have found me and are sending me catalogs. What the heck? I have never ordered from them. (See above--they don't have my size) I have moved 3 times since then. How the heck did they find me? Why are they sending me catalogs? I'm still a big girl, however I am on a diet and have lost 16.6 pounds. Do they think that I will be a prospective customer? Are they trying to make amends? I still can't wear any of their stuff...they don't have purses in the catalog do they? That's about the only thing that I could order.
Needless to say, I toss the catalog and never look inside.
And they are trying to sabotage this post!! I have tried to post pictures from their website twice and both times I was knocked off the Internet.
So there will be no VS pictures, I will post this picture of the puppies instead.

So there VS!! Take that!!!

Mommy We Were

2011-06-08T21:39:00.000-05:00

Wondering about something:
Me: Okay what?
CiCi/GinGin/TanTan/BitBit: Well it's acually two somethings.
Me: Okay what?
CiCi/GinGin/TanTan/BitBit: Well first of all, why were you taking a bath in Daddy's tub with your clothes on?
Me: I wasn't taking a bath I was scrubbing it out. It's too deep to bend over and get the sides clean and the stuff I use makes it really slick and slippery. Soooo if I slip and fall and break something I won't be naked when the paramedics arrive.
CiCi/GinGin/TanTan/BitBit: Oh.
Me: What's the other thing?
CiCi/GinGin/TanTan/BitBit: Why haven't you been clogging?
Me: You mean blogging.....so many reasons, the laptop is cranky, I've been busy trying to keep up with housework and stuff.
CiCi/GinGin/TanTan/BitBit: You sure have been going to the auction a lot.
Me: Yeah I know, they have been having Monday night sales...I may need to get into a 12 step program....maybe not...there won't be any more until August.
CiCi/GinGin/TanTan/BitBit: Why don't you show your clogger friends some of the things you bought.
Me: Okay.

This little box is from oh heck I can't remember, one of those mall stores...mine for $2.50.

Bean pot for $2.50...for David to keep his peanuts in.

Little planter, old brown bottle and galvanized kerosene can...I know I know....

Ceramic magnolia for a dear friend who loves them...$2.50.

A Medical Dictionary published in '47, with this very sweet inscription.

These two very sweet canisters for $2.50. I gave one to a friend and the other will hold the body cream that I make.

Couldn't resist these 5 stitch encyclopedias...they too were $2.50.

And last but not least, these maracas...why? I have no idea, except that they called to me....$2.50.

Water

2011-05-15T21:50:00.000-05:00

I have been thinking a lot about water lately. Why you may ask? Because things rattle around in my head, that's why.
When I was growing up we didn't have running water in our house until I was about 8 or 9. At that time our little town got "city water." Mama had our house plumbed for water, she closed in an end of a hall and we had a bathroom. We also had an outside hydrant so that my uncle could water the garden. Water was then and has ever since been a luxury for me that I still respect.
It was one of my jobs to draw water from the well. Which I never did do joyfully I have to admit. This is a picture of what the bucket looked like.

(This is not our actual bucket, which I have hanging in the garage.) I can still hear the sound it made as I let it down into the well as it hit the sides of the 12 inch concrete pipe inserted into the ground. And I can still hear the sound it made as it hit the water and I as I hauled it up with the pulley. I would pull the release and the water would flow into an aluminum bucket. Then I would tote that bucket up to the back steps and then up onto the porch. There was nothing quite like that first drink of cool delicious well water drank from the aluminum dipper.

Running water meant no more going to the outhouse, no more drawing water, no more bathing in a #3 galvanized tub outside in the summer and in a smaller version inside in the winter. No more aluminum buckets and dippers, no more boiling water outside to wash clothes.......or inside to bathe.
That summer that we got "city water," we had a month of free water, we were encouraged to run the water as much as possible to flush out the pipes, and boy did we! I had a ball playing in the water outside, making rainbows, playing in the sprinkler........it was great.
Even today I still relish and appreciate every single tub bath or shower, every load of clothes washed in the washing machine, and every load of dishes washed in the dishwasher.
There have been times when we were without water and all I could think about was water...I need to use the bathroom, I need to brush my teeth, I need to wash dishes, I need to wash clothes, I need water to cook...I need water! David can tell you that I almost drove him crazy...we finally got our water back, but we didn't have hot water...I was near the breaking point and I went to a motel....
I love the beach, I love looking out at the water in the gulf and listening to the waves, we live on a lake and I'm constantly looking out at the water, we don't have a swimming pool-but I want one.
This past weekend we went to Louisiana and crossed the mighty Mississippi at Natchez.

The above picture is a floating casino river boat that is now closed because of flooding.

This is the Red River, also in Louisiana, and it too is over flowing its banks.
Water.......see what I mean? Things rattle around in my head.

Puppy (Dog) Therapy

2011-05-02T19:37:00.000-05:00

This therapy is good for anything that ails you...insomnia, anxiety, saddness....you name it.
First of all gather your dogs, I have four...which as far as I'm concerned is the ideal number, however utilize how many ever you have.
The ideal weight of the dogs is from 2 to 10 pounds, which again is the weight of my dogs.
Make yourself comfortable in your bed, lie on your back with your head up on at least 3 pillows. Place a neck roll under your neck. Allow enough room between the top of your head and the head board for one dog. This is where I place the smallest dog--the 2 pounder. The closer she is to the top of my head the better I feel, so she is usually sort of draped around the top of my head without actually being on top of it. This is very therapeutic, especially when she puts her nose close to my ear so that I can hear/feel her breathing.

Next, tuck another dog as close under your right side as you can without smothering them, repeat with another dog on the left side.

Lastly place the largest dog either on your chest with her head tucked under your chin (this works best when anxiety is at the worst) or on your lap.

Pull covers up to your chin. The best choice for covers is an old soft ugly blanket.

Lastly place each arm on either side of the dogs at your side tucking them securely under your arms.

Now breathe in and out slowly and feel the unconditional love.

Rattles To Tell You

2011-04-10T19:20:00.000-05:00

This the sweet little Betsy McCall doll that my cuz sent me after I cleaned her up a bit and washed her clothes. I'm trying to find her some shoes and socks...I got outbid on some on eBay....

This little Madame Alexander doll was in the "Tuesday Morning" store in Jackson, in the old days before the economic turn-down, she would have come home with me....she and probably at lease one more...sigh.

I bought this chair at the auction (yes I have a thing for chairs big and small) had the seat re-covered and it perfectly matches my grandmother's occasional table.

One of the ~~wild monkey girl's~~ grandbaby girl's feet...I love this picture, I'm pretty sure that I took it when they were asleep.

I bought this sewing box at the auction--I can't resist them. I only look at what is on the very top and I wait till I get home to take out everything and savor each thing. Nothing says love to me like a sewing box or or a sewing machine...because when I was growing up, my mother made all my clothes. Just look at those wonderful needle cards..

I also bought these pretty girls at the auction and paid very little for them. I'm giving them a make-over now.

For somebody who does not drink, it seems that I am always buying whiskey carafes...this one is so pretty. Mine for $2.50. On the bottom is says "liquor bottle."

I can't remember if I posted this before, It's a wicker baby basket...mine again for $2.50.
And last but not least I would like to thank Helen at Dollz and Thingz for mentioning my blog in hers. We have become great friends. I found her through the old days on Yahoo 360, when I searched for someone who loved dolls. Please go visit her, I promise you will be amazed--she is a very talented artist.
More later.

Another One Of My Collections

2011-03-27T17:03:00.000-05:00

I have always been draw to little chairs, and I don't know why. I just noticed one day that I had several of them and decided to group them together.

These are grouped together in a corner of one of the bedrooms. The red one is my little red rocker that I got as a gift for my 5th birthday. So that would make it 51 years old this December. The slatted birch chair I bought years ago at Freds. It folds up flat. The others I have bought at auctions and estate sales.

Tyler Wentworth sits regally in this chair on the nightstand.

And these are on the wall directly above the ones in the first picture.

They make me think of a story:

Many years ago my friend Sheila and I were talking about how there used to be country music shows about once a month in our little town. She remembers Peggy Sue, Loretta Lynn's sister performing and that her dressing area was in the kindergarten room. She had brought her daughter Darletta with her on this particular occasion. Apparently Peggy Sue had a very thick country accent and Sheila remembers her saying...Daaarrrrletta jes lookit all them little cheers.

For years after Sheila telling me that story, every time we passed each other in the hall we would say..Daaarrrrletta!!! jes lookit all them little cheers!

I think I'm going to paint that saying on a canvas and hang it on the wall under those little cheers.....

Sang it Peggy!!

Apology

2011-03-20T20:05:00.000-05:00

Apparently I need to apologize to everyone in the world, no everyone in the entire universe, because according to David I have kept you all awake with my snoring.

So all of my friends on this continent and across the oceans, I apologize.
I really don't want to have one of those 2 night sleep studies done, and I'm hoping that since my husband is a Respiratory Therapist, and he is going to borrow an oxygen saturation monitor and check to see if I stop breathing, maybe just maybe my doctor will write me a prescription for a CPAP machine.
Or maybe one of my friends is going to let me borrow one.
Or maybe another friend will bootleg me one for another little while, but I will have to buy the tubing which is $167.00!! (The machine is $600.00+)
I think that my deductable is paid, but I will still have to pay the 80%.
Why am I quibbling about this, when all of yawl and my husband can't sleep?
So until I get this all worked out, could you all just put some cotton in your ears?

Things I Bought At The Auction #Something

2011-03-19T14:59:00.001-05:00

I know I haven't been here much, but I just can't seem to get it together anymore. However one thing that I do for myself is go to the monthly auction.
It seems that lately I have been on a picture kick, or maybe I should say art kick. Like so many of us wealthy people (hahahaha) we collect art, and I'm adding to my collection..........
These pieces of art were bought by me ~~at a gallery~~ at the monthly auction and ~~were~~ ~~very expensive~~ none cost more than $7.50 most were $2.50.

The first one has to be my favorite, it is a signed water color....(I love water colors). See the red-bird? It is hanging in my dining room and looks wonderful in there. It is also framed very nicely. The second one is also a water color and is hanging in my bedroom. It looks sorta Christmasy, but I love it anyway.

These two are what I think are vintage prints of state birds/state flowers....of course when I bought them I didn't realize that one of them was the Magnolia...very sweet. I think they may be pages out of a book. I love them too and they hang in one of the bathrooms. Since we live in the semi-country on a lake, I love to collect ~~pictures~~ art work of birds and animals.

I also enjoy collecting ~~pictures~~ sigh, I mean art...of women, I have several representing various ages of women. I thought this was very sweet. It too is in a bathroom......Hmmm could it be I'm running out of wall space?

And of course I love this oil, because it depicts a lake and I adore dogwood. It is signed by Pat Pucket and has the date and place on the back...I forgot to take a picture of the back...and I can't remember what is written there.
Each picture is framed and I have pleased will all of the frames except one.
This is only some of the art that I have collected over the past couple of years. And I have more things to show you at a later date that I purchased at the last couple of auctions.

"Cause It Smells Good"

2011-03-08T22:09:00.000-06:00

This had been setting in the orginal box, in the back corner of the bathroom cabinet for maybe 2 years.

David "discovered" it the other day and maybe used it once. I like the way it smells....so I have used a couple of dabs here and there for the past few nights after my shower.....and I mixed a few drops with the body cream that I made....
David hasn't mentioned it....and nobody at work has mentioned it....
You think I'm getting eccenric in my old age..??

A Question For Nonna

2011-02-25T18:56:00.000-06:00

Avery: Nonna, why does Fontanna have a teeter?
Me: The same reason that your brother does. Take a deep breath and hold it....hold it....hold it...
Avery: Oh.
Me: Let breath out slowly....

The Tune In Dan's Cafe

2011-02-23T21:57:00.002-06:00

If any of yawl are of a certain age...like me and watched Rod Serling's Night Gallery sometime around 1972...like I did and watched the re-runs....like I did you will remember the episode "The Tune In Dan's Cafe"....like I do.

And if you were an impressionable teenager...like I was, you might just remember the episode quite clearly...like I do.

"A weary couple destined for divorce happen on an old out of the way diner which has a creepy jukebox with a mind of its own. The couple learns the tale of the jukebox and not only is their marriage healed but an angry ghost finally wreaks his vengeance."

It seems that despite the fact that the records have been changed over and over, and despite that even the jukebox has been replaced with another one ...it still plays the same song, over and over....which was their song...it can be heard here.

And the story of the song can be read here.

And now you know why on a recent trip to Florida when we stopped to let the dogs take a walk and I saw this I was ready to get the heck out of there.

AngelMc's Favorite Things

2011-02-06T18:28:00.002-06:00

I'm sitting here with David watching the Super Bowl, not because I like football, but because I like being with him and we made a football board at work. Each quarter somebody wins $120.00. It's fun to see who is winning. Yes it's gambling.
But anyway, since Oprah has her favorite things, I thought I would share some of my Favorite Things.

I love this shampoo. I don't buy shampoo for conditioning, thickening etc. I buy it for the scent. And these make your hair smell wonderful. I especially like the teatree mint.

Okay now let's see..

The above thing is the greatest thing since sliced bread when you have ceilings like this. I went for 2 years, that's right 2 years with no light in one side of the bed room and a pitiful one on the other side. This is the ceiling in the living room. It would be impossible to change these without this little gadget. David bought it about a month ago. And I was beyond excited. Now I have new lights in the bedroom and was able to change one in the living room. Oh and it also has other pieces that will fit it you break off a bulb and a duster too. Sigh....

I don't know what I would do without my Swiffer WetJet. I use it constantly. This is my third one. I wore the other two "slap out."

Odor Ban is better than Frebreeze, Nature's Miracle or anything else I've tried, and trust me I've tried everything when you have 4 furkids living in the house with you.

I had a light bulb moment and now their puppy pads go into this diaper genie, rather in WalMart bags.

And again since we live with 4 furkids, I wash just about everything in hot water. Tide is the best I have found to clean and "descent" everything.

And of course Favorite Things would not be complete with out my babies.

Fontana, named after Elvis' drummer--D. J. Fontana.

Ginger-named after Elvis' last girlfriend, Ginger Alden.

Ann Margaret, named after of course Ann Margaret, one of Elvis' long time friends.

And of course, Priscilla, named after Priscilla Presley.

Things My Cousin Sent Me

2011-01-29T21:20:00.000-06:00

My cousin has a vintage clothing store that she named after our grandmother, Sweet Ludie's Vintage Clothing."
She is the ultimate estate sale shopper and she found theses neat things for me.
This is a 1940s nurse's uniform that she even cleaned before she sent it to me:

These vintage nurses books---which I adore:

This precious Betsy McCall doll (I have always wanted one), handmade clothes and also this doll case. I just love them.

And this hankie. Sigh. Thank you cousin.

I Bought This At The Estate Sale

2011-01-18T19:54:00.000-06:00

I have been meaning to share this with you. I bought this really cool old post card album from at an estate sale.
I know the people, and it was kinda sad, but still these things are loved again by me.
The album is in poor condition...but that doesn't keep me from loving it.

These are some of the cards that are inside:

Pretty cool huh?
And I also bought this tiny devotion book. It is about 2 and 1/2 inches by about 1 and 1/2 inches. Does anyone have any idea how I can clean the outside without harming it?

This is the inscription on the inside.

It's over a hundred years old!!!! And I paid $2.50 for it...
Here is on of the devotions.

More pictures of my treasures tomorrow....or the next day....or the next...

A Time Saver Tip

2011-01-16T20:50:00.001-06:00

For years I pretended I was Martha Stewart/Donna Reed.
I folded David's underwear, sorted and paired his socks, separated everything and placed it neatly in the chest of drawers.
The way I folded the T shirts was thing of beauty. I was able to get dozens of them lined up just so in the drawer.
The socks were also lined up just so, sorted by color and type.
The briefs were folded just so...I wish I had a before picture to show you.
And even when David would dig through them and unfold/mess up everything, I would sigh deeply and straighten it all back out again. I was so proud of my Donna Reedness.
And then one day I had a moment of perfect understanding. This was a waste of time. This did not fill up David's love tank. He did not care whether the underwear was Donna Reed neat!! He only cared that it was clean and in the drawer. I was doing it for me. Not for him. I could save an untold amount of time by just dumping it all in the drawer.

Today I did separate the T shirts, briefs and socks. But other than that I just threw them in the drawers!! And guess what? It only took me a few minutes.
And guess what? I did not have chest pain or apoplexy.

And since I did not have apoplexy I did the same thing with my underwear!!! (But you don't get to see a picture of mine--sorry...)

For Those Of You In Colder Regions....

2011-01-10T16:31:00.001-06:00

please forgive us down here in Mississippi, we get all giddy-headed over a little snow and sleet,
Some of us got (reportedly) 8 inches and here where I live in Middle MS, we got about 2. Schools closed, doctors' offices closed, pharmacies closed, government businesses closed, stores closed, it was kinda surreal as barely any traffic was moving this morning when I went to work.
There were (reportedly) 30 traffic accidents Sunday night.
Wal Mart, and every other store was out of bread, milk and eggs.
David was in hunting paradise.
Thanks to a friend of mine who grew up in Michigan I can drive (sorta) on ice and snow. I remember the first year she moved down here in '76 how she hooted at and then stared in disbelief at all of us driving like idiots.
She drove this:

Well this isn't the actual Monte Carlo but it was very similar. And honestly people would gawk when they saw us cruising by in the snow and ice. She always drove with the sun roof open and that winter of 76 she almost killed me.....I stayed sick with a cold. She never had chains on her tires but she could put that sucker in the wind/sleet/snow anywhere she wanted to go.
She taught me how to stop, how to turn my wheels and how to steer......
Anyway I am so enjoying the snow.
And I will leave you with this from Sunday night:

Avery: "Nonna, when it snows is God happy?"
Me: "Yes."

Chicken Nugget Run

2011-01-03T20:21:00.000-06:00

I'll tell you a little secret, okay it won't be a secret after I tell you but anyway here goes....my BFF Janice and I sometimes go on chicken nugget runs (CNR) on our lunch break. Well, we only get 30 minutes for lunch so it has to be an extended lunch break.
It's kinda like ditching school after lunch..kinda because we do go back to work....eventually.
Here is what we do. We go to McDonald's and get the chicken nugget meal, I dump my nuggets and my fries into my sack all together. Janice doesn't do this because she only eats one thing at a time, and we hit the road. It's easier to eat chicken nuggets than a burger while you are driving. Sometimes we have someplace we want to go and sometimes we just head out. Sometimes we eat in the cemetery and talk.
On our last CNR we went somewhere I was curious about. We turned down this gravel road .... then that gravel road and we saw this.

That is a bunch of junk.
Then we saw this,

which is more junk.
Then we saw this,

where suddenly the road dead ended...and we could hear "Dueling Banjos" playing in the background. At that we turned around and "high tailed it out of there."
It was pretty surreal.
This was about 3 months ago...and I'm feeling the need for another CNR...(it gets in your blood)

A Few Little Things

2011-01-02T21:18:00.000-06:00

To Tell You.

One of the Christmas gifts that I gave #4 was this:

and her Mama said to leave it here for her to play with...apparently somebody told Mama that these things are quite messy. But that's okay, 'cause it looks like a lot of fun to me...can't wait to play with it, I mean I can't wait for us to play with it.

This chair is old, it came out of my Mama's cousin's house. It was in our house for I know around 45 years. My brother had it in his house and his wife recovered it in that material. When they divorced it returned to us. I didn't know what happened to it, hadn't thought about it in years since Mama sold the farm and moved. Apparently she left it in the house.......and the other day when I went home, I drove up to the house and it was sitting on the front porch. The people that bought the house only come home ever so often and it was quite tempting to just try to put in in the trunk. It's going to ruin sitting out there in the weather.

I put this gorgeous compote on my wish list at Special Treasures, a fabulous gift store in town...I didn't get it. And I didn't get that Sorrelli necklace or bracelet either.......buuuutttt I did get a new TV for the bedroom which I wanted and I got something I have been asking for for years...

A bottle tree!! Mine looks something similar to this one. Right now it is lying on it's side in the front yard waiting for me to find a place for it. I have plans...all those bottles David brings home from the woods and colored bottles from here and there...
Okay---more later.

This Post Has No Title

2011-01-01T20:25:00.000-06:00

CiCi/GinGin/Ann Margaret/Fontana (CGAMF): Mommy put some pictures on here...put some of those really cute ones of us...just put some pictures on here, heck just put something on here.
Me: Okay...here goes

This what the weather looked like last night when David and I celebrated a very exciting NYE...yep Wal Mart, movie--True Grit which was quite good by the way and then an elegant meal at the Waffle House...ahh the joy of simple southern living.

A very very cute picture of Fontana taking a nap...

The 7 wild monkeys using their fingers to tell you what number they are in the line up of Gkids. We took all of them to breakfast at McDonald's this past Sunday and I had them all line up by age at the counter to tell the lady what they wanted, except for 7, PapPaw held him and he nodded yes to a sausage and biscuit. You should have seen all the smiles we got.

Isn't Ann Margaret cute? She looks like a little mouse...

All my babies...Fontana has his pink cast on in this picture.

I bought this sugar cube holder at the auction last month of $2.50..I think I may put the body cream that I made in it....the recipe is here http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/2009/11/say-goodbye-to-expensive-department.html

Another auction buy..chip and dip? Does it look like it might be mid century?\

And I bought theses gorgeous linen napkins one dozen at the auction for $2.50. I sent them to the cleaners and they turned out divine. I will use them at my next book club.

More stuff later..Happy New Year !!!!!

A Long Story Made As Short As Possible

2010-12-23T19:49:00.000-06:00

I have been away for awhile. I haven't been in an asylum, rehab or on a desert island...let me explain...
(and I am not lamenting--I'm just explaining what all has happened)
Not long after my last post early on a Saturday morning, Fontana was running around on the bed, missed the steps, fell off and broke his little foot. The vet put a on a cast (pink---sigh) that he wore for 3 weeks. He quickly learned how to get around with the cast on his little foot.
The following Sunday morning at 3 AM, the nursing home called and my sweet uncle John had passed away in his sleep. We had his grave side services on Wednesday. It was quite beautiful...the military played taps and presented me with the flag. And a family friend that he had taught how to play the guitar, played Amazing Grace on the fiddle (yes fiddle, not violin). All and all it was a wonderful tribute to a simple man who found great pleasure in simple things.
The following Saturday, I woke up and knew something was wrong. Went to the ED and sure enough I had a large kidney stone that was too large to pass and was blocking my kidney...this bought me a trip to a large medical center and lithotripsy the following Monday.
I came home Monday after the lithotripsy and then of course Thanksgiving was Thursday. So between passing the "sand" from the stone, running fever, cleaning and cooking......well enough of that.
Back to work.........then last Wednesday went to the urologist for a check up and....have two more stones that are small enough to pass sigh......feeling okay but on the way home started running fever......missed more days of work.
Oh and during this time my lap-top is at the computer doctor....I have been reading your posts on my iPhone, but I haven't been making comments.
Now I'm propped up here in the bed in my semi-decorated house...
Me: David this is not all of my Santa Claus figurines
David: Well, I got all the boxes down.
Me: Can't be...
David: Is to.
Me: Is not.
David: Is to.
Me Is not.
Most all of the gifts are bought, but none are wrapped.
Fontana's puppy foot is fine. Priscilla, Ginger and Ann Margaret are fine.
I miss my uncle, but I know he is in Heaven playing "Rubber Dolly", "Carroll County Blues" and "My Bucket's Got A Hole In It" on the fiddle (yes fiddle-not violin).
Our kids are fine,
All the Grand Kids are fine,
David is fine,
I am fine.
Life is good.
And let my Heavenly Father be praised.

Things I Bought At The Auction IV

2010-11-07T20:29:00.001-06:00

The only thing that I really do for just myself and the only time I ever leave the house messy on a Saturday is the first Saturday of every month. That is the day of the local auction. I only miss it when we are out of town or I am sick.
I check out the website before I go and look at the pictures. That is the time I decide on the things that are coming home with me. No matter what. I do have my set point...but if it is a certain thing that I need it is most definitely coming home with me.
Case in point. The glasses that match my every day china are Fostoria Virgina in the color brown. I have 8 but that of course is not enough at Thanksgiving or any other family get together. And we wind up drinking out of plastic cups--which is just not right. I have been trying to complete the set now for a couple of years. I find them on eBay and have found some pretty reasonable prices...but the shipping is always prohibitive. So imagine my joy/excitement/etc. when I saw 16---yep count 'em 16 on the auction website.
Long story short--I got 'em for 20 bucks!!! Whoopie! Yeah! And so on. Now I have 24. That's right 24. I probably could have waited until the auctioneer went down to $15.00 or maybe even $10.00, but sometimes that starts a bidding war.......nobody but me bid on them. So I figure I did really well. I got about $160.00 worth of glasses for $20.00. I will be patting myself on the back for the next few days.

The other thing that made me happy was this almost complete set of Oneidacraft stainless set--Lasting Rose. It is service for 12, 3 of the knives are missing and a couple of the forks, but everything else is there--the serving pieces-butter knife, sugar spoon, pickle fork, cold meat fork--you name it. All in the original plastic holder. Now here's the thing, flatware is like socks around here--it just disappears and I always run out at Thanksgiving. So I bought it for $10.00. A good run through the dishwasher and it is as good as new and now resides in the china cabinet awaiting the next family get together.
And I bought a small box of silver plate flatware for $5.00 that had 4 serving pieces, 4 forks, 4 salad forks, 12 teaspoons, a butter knife, a sugar spoon, a pickle fork and a few other pieces that went from this...

to this with a little silver polish.......

the patina is very pretty...these pieces too now reside in the silver drawer of my china cabinet...I've decided that I will continue to buy random pieces of silver plate...for you know when I entertain here in rural MS...
Oh and I really didn't mean to have a theme...but I bought these two gorgeous coffee table cookbooks. And the recipes are wonderful as well......I wonder if I could sale 'em on eBay.........

Oh and I bought a cool old trunk too, but it's still in the trunk of my car....all and all it was a great day.

Meet The Newest Members Of Our Family

2010-11-06T21:51:00.000-05:00

David and I had been thinking about a new puppy for awhile now.
We contacted CiCi and GinGin's breeder Loretta and long story short we went to Birmingham and picked up a brother and sister.

That is Fontana Eastwood McCaulla on the left and Ann-Margaret McCaulla on the right-asleep in my arms.

I love this shot of the back of their heads.....Fontana's ears are big....I'm sure that he will grow to them.

Avery holding Ann-Margaret on the way home.

I love this picture of Avery giving them kisses. Avery, Loretta and I understand that they are more than just puppies...they are real.
CiCi and GinGin have adapted pretty well to having a little competition for attention. We make sure that all are given attention and love. Our friends think we are crazy because we now have 4 dogs in the house. But we have 4 times the love and puppy snuggles.
Oh and D. J.Fontana was Elvis' drummer and of course Ann-Margaret was a girl friend and long time friend of Elvis. They too will have nicknames....BayBro for Baby Brother and Maggie for Ann-Margaret.
Sigh....

Mommy, Why Are Our Neices

2010-10-30T22:00:00.000-05:00

and nephews dressed up in crazy outfits?

We know that you always call them Wild Monkeys...so why are the dressed up as....

a pirate?

a cat? (of all things...a CAT!!!!)

and is that a Dragon Slayer? an Alien? a Genie? (isn't there supposed to be a bottle somewhere?) and a Diva? a Diva?
Why didn't we get costumes? We never get costumes...and we never ever get candy. Never. Not even if one of them drop some of their loot...yawl grab it up before we even get half a chance to nab it and run under the bed...
Just wait till next year...we going as...Priscilla Presley and Ginger Alden......yeah that's right....our names sakes....

Mommy, You Haven't

2010-10-24T20:30:00.000-05:00

posted anything in a long time again. Quite frankly we don't like it. And we are kinda sad because we like to read the comments from your clogger friends. Because sometimes they say how cute we are. And you know we like that kind of attention.....and besides you got some cool stuff from the talkshon that you went to. I know they would like to see it..
Me: Okay, I really don't have a good excuse except that.....well whatever. And once again it's blogger, not clogger. Oh and it's auction not talkshon.

I kept my eye on this vase until it was brought up--well I'm actually close friends with one of the runners and he put it up for me so that I wouldn't have to wait in anxiety for the entire auction. Nobody but me wanted it and it was mine for $2.50. It looks like it is hand blown glass, but what do I know? I just know that it makes me swoon every time I look at it. It is about 12 inches tall.....and it's purple....and it has a special place on top of my kitchen cabinets. Oh and it has that twisty stuff in the stem....sigh....if any of you glass people think that it might indeed be hand blown, please advise.

The other thing that I bought for $2.50 is this candy dish. It is pink with purple grapes and is about 14 inches long by about 6 inches wide. I have no idea why it appealed so to me. But I had to have it. It now resides on my fireplace hearth. (Till I find out where it is suppose to reside)

Another thing that came home with me is this jug. I love it. It is a gallon jug that has one half of the original cork in it. The auctioneer held it up and said "It even has the original cork in it." And proceed to try to pull it out and broke it off. I have the other half and I think I'm going to put it back together with a long needle to hold the two pieces together. The runner you see in the back ground is the one I bought for 25 cents at the Salvation Army. And that is tatted lace on the edge. It is on a chair that I bought at an estate sale. I cleaned the chair up and it is a catch all at the back door. I think I had to pony up $7.50 for the jug, but I wanted it very badly. It was the highest thing I bought.

When I look around my house, I realize that it is decorated with auction/estate/Salvation Army/thrift store/flea market finds. But every single thing makes me smile. So my decor is eclectic junktique...
Oh and here is one more picture that makes me smile...Avery GBaby #4 and Ginger. Like me, Avery is the only other person in the family that knows the puppies are more than just puppies. They are real. They are puppy girls.

Mommy, Why Haven't You

2010-10-09T17:59:00.001-05:00

been playing with your laptop thing...you know tapping your fingers on it...and putting pictures of us on your clog thing...so that all of your cloggy friends will know what we are doing?
Me: I don't know, I keep thinking about all these things that I want to blog about--it's blog not clog, but I just can't seem to get around to it.
CiCi and GinGin: Oh blog..okay. Well go ahead tell them what has been rattling around in your head.
Me: Okay, here you go...
I went here the other day, because there was something there that wanted me, and whatever it was...was calling to me.

For those of you that read my blog will know that I have posted about shoes at the Salvation Army before. Check it out here
For some reason, I'm drawn to the shoes there and (no I'm not crazy) and think about what are the little stories behind them..so here goes.

These are Ferragamo pumps with "Made in Italy" stamped inside. Ferragamo is embossed in gold on the buckles. My cousin Annette says they are from the 80s. It's hard for me to imagine these shoes on someone deep in the Mississippi Delta...they remind me of Krystle Carrington...somehow she must have made her way through here while filming Dynasty.

These are Chrissy.. from Three's Company.

These are Alexis Carrington.....hmmm they were both here. I wonder if they got in a cat fight while dining at Lusco's...

And here are the twins Ann Landers and Abigail VanBuren...

And last but not least they are still here......to the anonymous bridesmaid.....always a bridesmaid...never a bride.....
Disclaimer: One of the rules of my little game, is that I can't touch the shoes, only photograph them. And the thing is, nobody in the Salvation Army pays the least bit of attention to me while I'm doing this.

A Little Rant

2010-09-26T20:31:00.002-05:00

Yesterday as I was driving towards "The Delta" to do a little shopping, I turned on the radio. I was struck by the fact that I couldn't remember the last time I had actually listened to the radio. I prefer to drive in silence. And I don't really remember when this started.
At some point I began to be really annoyed with the music that is currently being churned out these days. I was raised around music. My brother is a retired musician. My uncle John L. (who is now 85)--if you put something in his hand he could play it(before arthritis took it away).
My Mama always said that if it had a string on it John L. could play it. He is the real deal...the music is in him. The music was in my Mama too. She, Uncle John L. and my brother all "played by ear." I started piano lessons when I was in grammar school. I still play, but I in no way have the ear that they do.
That said, I grew up around music of all kinds, and I love music of all kinds...some of course more than others.
But I said all that to say this. Am I the only one who doesn't get it? Usher was on American Idol and I patiently listened to him. I listened with an open mind. Then David (who is an awesome drummer by the way) and I just looked at each other in wonder. What is all the hoopla about?
I don't get Akon. I don't get Avril Lavigne. I don't get Christina Aguilera--who by the way has an awesome voice.
I don't get Brittany Spears. Lady GaGa makes me break out in hives. I can't tell you one single song of Taylor Swift's. I checked out the top 10 songs of 09 and I didn't know a single one of them...well after all I did stop listening to the radio.
I think that Kelly Clarkson has an amazing voice...she had one of the top ten songs of 09--"My Life Would Suck Without You." Are you kidding me?
I have also tried to listen to a little rap...but it makes me close to apoplexy.
I have always loved country music, I could go on and on about Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, Charlie Rich, Rodney Crowel, and Travis Tritt, who are just a few of my favorites...but I have lost track of almost all of the newer artists...I looked at the list of 2010's top songs--and I didn't know a single one. The only new country artists that even begin to pique my interest is Lady Antebellum...I really like "I Need You Now."
Okay, I'm done with my little rant...I think I've figured it out...I'm living in the past...and Emmylou is singing... I would rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham
I would hold my life in his saving grace.
I would walk all the way from Boulder to Birmingham
If I thought I could see, I could see your face.

Sherry, Sherry Baby

2010-09-20T21:09:00.000-05:00

Sherr-erh-erh-erh-erh-erh-reee Baay-yaaa-beee...uh...yeah, I was in Frankie Valli Heaven. David and I went to see Frankie Vallie at The Orpheum in Memphis. We had a great time. He was great, and even though he is now 76 years old, his voice sounds just like it did he first time I heard Sherry, or Rag Doll, or Walk Like A Man, or Dawn or Stay or Oh What A Night or....I could go on and on.
And his back up band was awesome, horns, saxophones, flutes, 6 guitars, keyboards, drums...the sound was just awesome. He had four young back-up singers with him that were superb--from what I understand, they are now "The Four Seasons." I don't know if they were any of the guys that were in Jersey Boys, but their voices were just beyond compare.
David and I saw Jersey Boys at The Orpheum back in February and had an awesome time, so I was beyond excited to get to see Frankie (yes I can talk as if I know him personally) in concert.
I have always loved him and that pure falsetto/tenor three octave range of his.

Sigh, so I can now mark Frankie off my Bucket List. Now on to Tom Jones!!!

While We Were On Vacation,

2010-09-16T20:27:00.001-05:00

I mostly read/ate/slept/and hung out. The beach was pretty but there was a lot of sea weed in the water and on the beach, and since it was lonesome with out David, I hung out at the pool-which was very nice.

As the holiday weekend approached the beach cleaners were out early in the mornings and removed all of the seaweed. I shared the beach with these little sand pipers one morning.
When we were in Perdido, David fished and I would hang out under a tent. He was always close by and I much prefer this, but with all the seaweed in the water, fishing from the beach was impossible.

The pier is a quarter mile long. I walked it only twice. Late in the afternoon. No way would I be out there in the heat...I don't see how David stood it. We could see the pier from our balcony and windows. I could even see David with binoculars and I could see him on the pier web cam...technology...

This sculpture is in the atrium on the ground floor, we were 15 stories up, I made the mistake of looking down at it from our floor...I didn't do that again. I'm scared of heights, but I eventually got used to being up that high.

Bought this at an antique mall...

I'm a fool for a lonely, chippy and rickety chair. But there would have been no way to get it home, we didn't have room in the car.

This purse was at the flea market, it seems that two little girls have been sneaking out of the house while their daddy and I are at work and doing a little free lance work...I'm going to talk to them about it.

I bought this round bottom bottle because I love the color and it looks like sea glass. I can't really be sure that it is sea glass, but it is frosted inside and out. From what I have read, these bottles were made in the late 1800s early 1900s. I can just imagine this bottle being thrown overboard and washing up on the beach 100 years later, where it turned up in a flea market outside of Navarre...I bought it for $3.50. Oh and the peaches and pickled asparagus came from the flea market too.
There was a lot of stuff there..but it was soooo hot, I could not fully appreciate all of it.

And for those of you, who like me came of age in the 70s I leave you with this picture of 8 track tapes. Did any of you ever stick a piece of paper under the tape to keep it from dragging?

Mommy, Do Your Blogger Friends

2010-09-12T19:26:00.000-05:00

Wonder Where You Have Been?
Me: I guess I need to let them know what we have been doing don't I?
CiCi and GinGin: Yeah and be sure and show them pictures of some stuff.
I have been reading all of your blogs, and have been keeping up with all of you. We have been on vacation and when we came home we have been playing catch up.
We went to the beautiful beach of Navarre Florida. Our condo was beautiful and best of all for David, within walking distance of the fishing pier. David literally fished from can to can't. He was out there when they opened at 5AM, came in for a break around one or two and then would go back out again around six and stay until around nine. And get this---he didn't catch anything. Nothing. Nada. Even though nobody was catching anything, he was not in the least bit deterred or disappointed. He enjoyed himself immensely. Apparently it is just as much about the anticipation and the act of fishing as it is about catching the fish. Some people were catching Spanish Mackerel, Blue Mackerel, Lady Fish..and I saw pictures of Pompano. I had my heart set on grilling fresh fish, but it didn't happen.

[CiCi and GinGin: This is us with our Daddy. He is just back from fishing, had taken a bath and is taking a nap while our Mommy gets dressed. He took our Mommy out to eat. That fishing stuff must be really tiring.]
The things I did were: ( and not necessarily in this order) eat/drink, sleep, read and hang out at the beach/pool. Oh and I did some shopping at a few antique malls and I went to a flea market. I'll post pictures later.

Let's See...

2010-08-26T21:24:00.000-05:00

Do I have anything interesting to tell you?
Hmmm.
Just had my book club buddies over, we read "The Glass Castle." If you enjoy autobiographies like I do, I recommend it. It was a very interesting read.

Right now I'm reading "Of Human Bondage" by Somerset Maugham. It was a free download to my Sony eBook.
I made it through another major ~~Head Cutting Meeting~~ Department Head Meeting. And good news---David and I still have jobs. I had a major proposal to present and although the DHs didn't vote it through, it was quite a success as I received a round of applause and many compliments on it. The boss was as complimentary as he is able to be to me and said that he felt that it was something that we could incorporate in the future. I knew it was visionary.....but hey, I'm happy.
David and I are planning a brief getaway to Navarre beach. We really need it. I found a condo that will let me bring the furbaby girls and they are excited...well no, I really haven't told them yet. I plan on doing nothing but propping up on the beach, listening to/looking at the waves and reading as many books as I possibly can.
6 of the wild monkeys live here and 3 have started school here for the first time, One first grader (how can #4 be 6 years old?--only yesterday I was taking her picture in the dough bowl--I'll save that story for some other time) #s 2 and 3 are in the second and fourth grades respectively. They moved here during this past summer. They all look so cute in their school uniforms!! #s 6 and 7 are in day care for the first time. #5 is in kindergarten. Gosh they are all growing up so fast. #7 is starting to talk and string sentences together. I just love it when he says Nonna.
I actually felt a teeny tiny bit of Fall in the air this morning....and when I walked outside when I got off work, it was a balmy 90 degrees with the wind blowing and no humidity. Heaven.
I am already dreaming of snow......I'm starting my snow conjuring early this year. I have a plan...I'll let you know when I figure it all out...

I Have Four New Tires!!!

2010-08-20T21:54:00.001-05:00

My car is almost 10 years old. I have 88,000 miles on it. It is still in pretty good..to very good shape...except the head liner is coming down, and there are a couple of small dings here and there. I have only had one set of new tires put on at somewhere around 40,000 miles.
So I was way past due for a new set of tires...the old tires made my car shimmy and shake like Beyonce...."I'm a single lady, I'm a single lady..."
Okay...anyway.....so yesterday afternoon when I got in the car to leave work, I thought hmmm what is that smell? Smells like new tires....I quickly dismissed it.
But this morning when I cranked the car up and the "low tire pressure" alarm came on again...I sighed and turned in at the Exxon station.
Me: Trent when are my new tires going to be in?
Trent: I put them on yesterday. Couldn't you tell how much better your car rode? (They forgot to reset the low pressure alarm)
Well, as a matter of fact, blah blah blah blah.
Long story short, sweet David ordered and paid half of what was owed on them. I wrote the check out for the rest and was on my merry way.
And....I was so excited. I don't know when I have been so excited. I wasn't this excited when David brought me that bracelet back from a hunting trip to Colorado...
At work I told everybody "Ive got new tires, I've got new tires, la la la la"
And then a light bulb went off in my head.......you know you are getting old when you get really excited about new tires. More than jewelry. More than a movie and dinner. More than that new blush you ordered from your Mary Kay representative. And (are you ready?) more than that stuff you bought at the auction.
NOT!!!!
But still you get the picture. I was excited. And I'm old...well my body is old...my heart is still young...except for the tire thing...my heart is still young.

Coping Mechanisms

2010-08-17T21:33:00.001-05:00

The other day after I had washed/dried/hung up some of David's jeans, I put them all together and counted them. He has 26 pair. 26. That's right--26. I think that this is ridiculous. Why? Because he works in scrubs...He can't possibly wear them all. He has brand new ones that still have the labels on them. He has some that are so worn/torn that you can see...never mind. He has some that are too tight, that he is forbidden to wear. He has some that are to short, too long........And every time I mention it to him, he's like yeah, I need to go through them and do something with them. But he hasn't. So in order to cope with this, I folded them a certain way and turned them all the same way on the hangers. It made me feel a little better.
Yesterday when I was looking at them I decided that if I tried to get them all about the same length on the hanger, I would feel better. So I took each one of them and tried to hang them about the same length from the crotch on the hanger. This made me feel better.
Then this afternoon I was looking at them and I decided I would feel even better if I hung them from lightest color to darkest color. Hmmmm. This made me feel better. Then I thought maybe I should put them all on the same color of hanger, most of them are on white hangers sooo......but I didn't.
No I do not have OCD. I'm just trying to control my environment....is that a little crazy.....hmmm maybe...but at least it makes my closet a little neater.
Oh and by the way there are on 23 in the picture and I have no idea where the other three are.....

Mommy, This Has Got To Stop...

2010-08-07T22:03:00.000-05:00

CiCi and GinGin: Mommy, you have done it again...you went to that auction didn't you? Didn't you? You haven't even played with all the stuff that you bought at the last auction, or that estate sale thing...
Me: Sighing deeply.....I know I know...but I can't help myself...it's just so much fun. Maybe I'll take yawl with me sometime......

Let the bidding begin.....

I go this which is a piece of the Fire King Depression Glass cookware that I collect...and are you ready for this, the auctioneer was selling a box of stuff which included this:

and this

there was another platter that I gave to my auction buddy....oh and a jello mold...are you ready? All for $2.50 and the auctioneer put the Fire King in at the last minute.

This is the thing that I went to get. Last time the auctioneer stopped dropping the price at $50.00 and took it off the block. This time I was determined that it was going home with me. It is a beautiful little sewing rocker that folds up...I got it for $40.00.

This compote will look great on my dining room table. $7.50.

This was a mistake. I didn't look at this close enough. It's a gravy boat, but it is hand painted ceramic piece, and poorly painted at that. I paid $5.00. Can I paint over it?
CiCi and GinGin: What is that thing you bought for daddy that sounds like a duck when he blows on it?
Me: It's a beginner's bagpipe thing.

CiCi and GinGin: See what we mean...you are slipping.
Me: No, that just goes to show yawl don't know everything...Daddy loves bagpipe music and said he wished he could learn......so there.
CiCi and GinGin: Mommy....
Me: It's true..just ask him.
CiCi and GinGin: Sigh.....

Soooo Mommy Let's Talk About This Estate Sale Thing...

2010-08-01T18:10:00.001-05:00

CiCi n GinGin: Mommy, we don't understand the hoopla about this estate sale that you went to. What is the big deal? You blew off work for an hour and a half Thursday and stood in line in the early morning Mississippi heat, what is in that house? Puppy Treats? Birds? Squirrels? Ice Cream? What? And then you went back today after church didn't you? Didn't you? And that heat index thing was 110. Wasn't it? Wasn't it?

Me: Okay, okay. Yes I did....but I know the lady whose stuff they were selling, seems she moved into an apartment and had to get rid of her stuff. I have actually gone to auctions where she and I bid against each other...we like the same stuff. Also she used to have an antiques store, and she has spent 50+ years collecting. So it was three stories plus a garage full of stuff. Stuff for days and days and days. I bet there was a squirrel in there somewhere...
CiCi n GinGin: So what did you buy?
Me: Well, just a few things that I wanted...there was soooo much stuff there it was just overwhelming. But I bought...these...

They are kinda atomic glasses, I think that is the Mississippi Valley Gas logo on there. And there is a lady (Donna Reed-ish) standing in front of a stove. 7--as Larry the auctioneer says, a set of 6 with 1 to break.

And this slightly scruffy tea set...it has the words 24 karat on the bottom. Whoop!

And I take it you like the beaded purses...the white one is your favorite?

And yawl know I'm a fool for these old pictures, especially of ladies......

And these girls need my help....two bride dolls, a Dale Evans doll and this Tammy doll...all just need my loving touch...I could not leave them there......

This chair despite the fact that it's kinda grungy will clean up nicely and be a great catch all at the back door...I love chairs..

Oh and last but not least...this little hand made high chair...Thursday when it wasn't priced the estate queen bee asked me how much and I said $2.00, she snickered at me and put $8.00 on it. I left it there. Today I got it for $4.00. It was waiting on me to come back. Did I mention that I love chairs...especially little ones?
And did I mention that today was half price day?
CiCi and GinGin: Sigh.......

Most Times When My Uncle (Who Is In The Nursing Home)

2010-07-30T20:34:00.000-05:00

tells me things, like...well for instance, he has a small refrigerator in his room and the nurses put a thermometer in there to make sure that the temperature stays at a certain level. They also have to document this, so they come in and check it quite often. So the other day he told me "they say they are coming in here to check the temperature, but I know different, they are checking to see if I have any beer in here." I don't even argue with him...
And, "I saw this man walking up and down the hall today, they said he was an inspector from the state, but I know better, he's from the CIA." Sigh.
I promise you my uncle does not have a dementia problem, he just gets funny ideas.
So when he told me today that the therapist told him that he had left 2 horses out side and he surmised that he had probably rode one to the Nursing Home and the other horse was probably tethered to the first horse...I just said....yeah...because this is what I saw when I drove up.

The only thing is that he didn't ride the horse to the Nursing Home, he did have a trailer and he did have two horses, the other one is behind the trailer.
Only in Mississippi....

People Watching

2010-07-28T22:13:00.000-05:00

I love to people watch. I love to ride by houses and look at yards whether they are immaculately kept or uhhh junky. I'm fascinated by people and where/how they live. I drive David crazy when we are out in public and he catches me staring. I don't mean to be noisy, I'm seriously interested in people. I just want to know why, what, when, where...etc. Just because I'm fascinated. I love getting to know you. Where are you from? Who's your folks? Are you kin to so and so?

Soooo when I saw this older gentleman in the parking lot of McDonald's the other day and I nearly rear-ended the guy in front of me and I stared and did a 180 in my seat and I really wanted to stop the car and take his picture, I absolutely was not being snarky.

You see he had the most amazing hair. I first thought gosh look at that old dude with the Mohawk. The hair on the top of his head was curly and reddish, but when I looked closer he had hair over his ears but it was gray and slicked back...and I though ohhh cool, he has an ole fashioned duck tale. But no!! It was slicked back and then combed up with the rest of the lower part of his hair on the back of his head. And that was what made him have hair on the top.......yep a comb up.

And I swear I wasn't being snarky. It was just amazing. How in the world did he get it to stay up there like that? I sooo wanted a picture. And if I could have gotten away with it, I would have taken one. To post here. Would that be wrong?

I googled comb up, but couldn't find anything, But I did find this when I googled comb over...and this is the closest thing that I could find.

Now I'm starting to think that maybe the heat down here has made me a little crazy.........'cause this is what has been "Rattling Around In My Head."

As It Turns Out

2010-07-18T19:45:00.000-05:00

David is quite the baker/dessert maker. A couple of months ago he won 2nd and 3rd place in the hospital dessert contest.
So when our church had a men's cake contest he was up for the challenge.
He made a blueberry-almond upside down cake. This is the picture that was in Taste magazine.

The original recipe called for blackberries, but there were no fresh blackberries to be found so he substituted blueberries. This is what his cake looked like.

Isn't it pretty? (You may notice that it is on my Fire King Flora Gold platter.) And it tasted delicious. It was from scratch. And he won most creative. There were over 25 entries.

Then our daughter-in-law wanted a lemon pound cake. He made that too. From scratch. I didn't get a piece, but she said it was very good. I didn't get a picture, but it turned out pretty too.

Oh and this is a picture of the kitchen aftermath from the pound cake. He did clean it up though...

The only cake I ever made from scratch was a dud. It was a Coca Cola cake, with coke in the cake, and in the icing. It was an heirloom recipe given a whole page and a story in Southern Living magazine. It was nasty. It was terrible...anyway that's another story.
My husband--Ace of Cakes...

Conversation With The Puppies

2010-07-11T17:51:00.001-05:00

CiCi and GinGin: Mommy?
Me: What?
We need to talk to you about something.
Now what? Is it Avery again?
No. No.
Well then what is it?
We noticed that you haven't been cleaning the house like you usually do.
What do you mean?
There are towels in the bathroom floor, all those Lego and block things are still in the floor in the back bedroom that #7 didn't pick up last night, there are clothes in the laundry room that need folding and putting up, the house is dusty and the floors need mopping. And of course our puppy hair is everywhere 'cause you haven't vacuumed this week. And we were wondering if you were okay.
I'm fine. I just decided to goof off this weekend...and last weekend...and this week. People are more important that cleaning.
And oh yeah by the way, before Daddy and I left for church this morning yawl were lazing there in the bed and I asked yawl to help out some. Remember? I asked yawl if you could just fold/put up the clothes and empty the dishwasher. And you looked at me with that sweet puppy look on your faces that melts my heart.
Yeah....we know...we are good aren't we?

Things I Bought At The Auction III

2010-07-06T21:26:00.001-05:00

Honestly for the $37.45 that I spent for 4 hours of entertainment Saturday, I truly think that I got my money's worth. It's the thrill of the hunt, the thrill of the battle and of course the triumph when you do win the item.
For instance, as of late I have found myself fascinated/craving silver plate. This beauty was a surprise when the auctioneer held it up. It's huge, has gorgeous edging and handles and is footed.

The initials in the middle are CAM...mine are AJM....and it polished up to a beautiful shine. I love it. Oh and the guy who is a dealer and was bidding against me, said oh I didn't know you were bidding on it...I have gotten to be friends with a lot of the regulars......I flipped it over, looked at him and said these magic words--"it's Gorham." Mine for $12.50!!!!

This is a large vintage sewing basked, stuffed to overflowing with all kinds of vintage goodies--wooden spools with silk thread, bobbins, machine parts, needles.....I haven't even looked at all the stuff in the bottom yet.

Mine for $5.00

I love this amber glass coffee canister..so what if I can't get the lid off...Mine for $2.50!!

This little tea cup has Made in China on the bottom and all that gold all over it. I knew it was going home with me. Mine for $2.50.

I thought that I had sworn off vintage purses, until I saw this beauty. Needlepoint....me sighing very very deeply...Mine for $2.50...
All in all it was a very good day... I can't wait until the first Saturday in August.

Conversation With The Puppies

2010-06-29T19:12:00.001-05:00

CiCi and GinGin: Mama we need to talk to you a minute.
Me: Okay. Whatsup?
It's about Avery.
And?
Well it's just that, well you know we love her.
And?
Well, we know that she loves us.
And?
She loves us more than our other 6 nieces and nephews do.
Get to the point. She more than loves you--she adores you.
It's just that....
You mean it's just that she's squirmy, never still, talks incessantly, asks millions of questions and does not know the meaning of the word no?
Uhhh yes...and she wears us out. We have to hide under the bed to get some rest.
What's your point? Be glad you can get under the bed.

Blue Blazes

2010-06-27T21:13:00.000-05:00

It is as hot as blue blazes here. (I got that saying from my Mama)

And I have been hibernating.
Bears hibernate in the winter.
And my Northern friends, maybe you hibernate in the winter too.
But I have figured it out.
This 54 year-old Southern Belle is gonna hibernate until around October.
The heat index is 110 and it's not even July or August yet.
I don't know if I'm gonna make it.
I'm gonna go to work and home.
That's it.
I may or may not go to the grocery store, or Wal-Mart.
It depends on how desperate I am.
I'm only going to work because I have to pay bills. (And there are a lot of them.)

Staycation

2010-06-14T14:58:00.000-05:00

Today is the first day of my staycation.
Normally we
would be in Perdido Key about now, laying on the beach, soaking up the sun and David fishing in the surf.

We usually always celebrate our anniversary (15 years Wednesday) this way.
But two things have come together to keep us at home. The oil spill and the economy--(meaning our vacation budget) have come together to keep us at home.
Sooo, I'm cleaning house today, cleaning out the garage tomorrow and just generally goofing off. Reading,

blogging, watching all of the TV shows I've recorded. Fraiser, Miami Medical, Pawn Stars, Pickers etc. I may watch The Tudors again.......I just don't know....
Sooo if any of you have an idea of something fun and cheap to do in Mississippi.......well please advise, otherwise I'll be here on the couch just vegging out.......

I Love Snow Scenes

2010-06-07T20:50:00.001-05:00

Maybe because I live in Mississippi and snow is such a rareity, I love snow scenes. We have two prints in the great room......and now I have one in the dinning room.

The snow scene is to the right of the china cabinet. And it fits right in. The dining room is kind of a tribute to the wildlife out here on the lake....see the antlers on top of the cabinet, the resin duck bust on the table, and there is a mounted duck and painted turkey feathers on the walls and now this little guy or girl.

I just love everything about it--the colors, the rabbit, the snow, the story it tells, the frame, and of course the price--$7.50 at the auction.
It sat on the floor in the bathroom for about a month before I could decide where to put it...and then one day it hit me...oh that's where it belongs.
It just goes to show you, if it calls to you, buy it--you will find a place for it.

I Was Wondering What To Blog About....

2010-05-29T23:00:00.000-05:00

when I received an email from Barbie Collector and low and behold.......have you all seen this stuff?
I am amazed. I don't know if I love it or hate it. I know I love Barbie and after reading her profile I think I love it, I don't love the prices.....and I'm wondering, why didn't I think of this?

You can visit her blog here. Pretty amazing stuff.

Conversation With The Puppies

2010-05-21T17:35:00.001-05:00

CiCi and GinGin: Mommy.
Me: What?
CiCi and GinGin: You know we have our jobs.
Me: Like, being cute all the time, making sure that your DNA (via shedding dog hair) is scattered far and wide. In fact this past Sunday I noticed some dog hair inside my Bible and absent mindly plucked it out and dropped it on the floor...
CiCi and GinGin: No our main job.
Me: What is that?
CiCi and GinGin: You know, being door bells.
Me: Oh yeah.
CiCi and GinGin: And being ~~guard~~ alert dogs.
Me: Yeah, and you do a great job at it I might add.
CiCi and GinGin: Then why does Daddy get so upset about it?
Me: Maybe it's your timing.
CiCi and GinGin: What do you mean?
Me: Well, barking at 3AM kinda upsets Daddy. And what are you barking at? An armadillo? A possum? A raccoon?
CiCi and GinGin: Yes.
Every night?
CiCi and GinGin: Yes.
Me: Sigh....

It Was Kinda Late.........

2010-05-16T20:07:00.000-05:00

around 9PM in fact, but David had been fishing for brim so that we could have some for supper. He caught just enough.
I was cruising the internet and he was cruising the kitchen.

Him: Do we have any corn meal?
Me: If we do it's in the refrigerator.
Him: No don't see any.
Me: Just coat it in flour.
Him: No, that's just not right.
Me: I'll call the neighbors. Can we borrow a cup of cornmeal?
Neighbor: Sure, I'll send D over with it.
Me: Thanks, that's great, I'm in my nightgown.
Neighbor's son comes over with cornmeal when David says...
Him: Do we not have any oil?
Me: I don't know, did you look over the stove?
Him: Yes.
Me: Then I guess we don't have any.
Neighbor's son: Do you want me to go get you some?
Him/Me: Yes.
Me: Calling neighbor and laughing hysterically.....can we borrow some oil?
Neighbor: Why don't yawl just come over here and cook the fish?

It All Started........

2010-05-15T15:12:00.002-05:00

when I decided to give the dogs a bath.

CiCi needed it the worst.
When I got home she and GinGin were on the bed and as always, excited to see me.
They were jumping up and down and I gave them the loving they wanted.
I decided to do a little experiment to see of CiCi could really read my mind.
I looked at CiCi and thought about how much I loved her. She looked back at me smiled. (yes she can smile at me). Then I looked at her and thought about how I was going to give her a bath. She immediately ran under the bed. See she really can read my mind.
I eventually captured her and gave her a bath in the kitchen sink as usual.
In the mean time David was back from an errand and began to make a chocolate "explosion cake" and some crazy creation of a pie that he made with vanilla pudding and cranberry sauce. Yuck.
So GinGin missed her bath.
When I got up yesterday morning the kitchen is what looked like an explosion. But he won second and third place at the hospital picnic with his deserts. And he recouped the money he spent on the ingredients because he won 2 books of meal tickets.
After we got home from work, we found out company was on the way and we began a quick clean up of the house. He began to clean up the kitchen.......and he is nutty about the dishwasher. He washes the dishes before he puts them in the dishwasher....it seems the dishwasher is for sanitation only....crazy. The conversation follows.
Me: Where did you get that cloth you are washing the dishes with?
Him: I don't know it was in the sink.
Me: That's the one I bathed CiCi with last night.
Him: You're kidding.
Me: Uh no.....deep sigh....

Draws

2010-05-12T20:02:00.001-05:00

Last Friday I was doing Avery's hair and make-up for her dance recital. I was loving on her and I said....
Nonna loves yo dirty draws. (Copped from my black friends at work)
And she said...what is draws?
And I said...you know drawers...
And she said ...what is drawers?
And I said...panties...
And she gave me a look.
The next day my son-in-law said...why is Avery telling everybody you love her panties?
And I said...it's a long story...just don't mention it to DHS....

James W. Tufts

2010-05-11T20:16:00.000-05:00

I bought a set similar to this at the auction. Except my sugar bowl does not have the top, and my creamer has a dent and my set is scruffier. But this set is for sale on eBay for $29.99 and I bought mine which also has a bigger bowl (with no lid) for $5.00. The set cleaned up nicely and looks quite charming despite it's wear and tear. Does anybody know anything about James W. Tufts quadruple silver plate? I'm thinking about planting a little maiden hair fern in the larger pot...what do yawl think? Will it ruin it? I don't plan on reselling.....and I love the idea of things repurposed.

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-08T21:10:00.000-05:00

Happy Mother's Day in Heaven....Mary Emily Box Jacks and Dorothy Eloise Clemmons McCaulla.
Mine and David's mothers...........

A Funny Thing Happened....

2010-05-02T08:29:00.000-05:00

when David was laying some peel and stick tile.
We are renting my mother's house, so we have been doing a lot of painting and cleaning. David pulled up the carpet in one of the bedrooms and replaced it with peel and stick tile.
The tile is made in China.
He noticed a perculiar lump between the peel-off paper and the tile itself. Hmmm now what could that lump be?
Well it was this.

Chinese cigarettes.

Yeah Westminster So What!!

2010-04-23T19:29:00.000-05:00

Now I having nothing against this year's best in show:

Westminster Dog Show 2010 Results - The Westminister Dog Show 2010 Competition will include 2,500 dogs and will take 2 days to complete. The “best in show” – the highest honor – will be awarded by 11 pm on February 16 and so far, here’s what we got.
The 2010 Best In Show Trophy was awarded to “Ch Roundtown Mercedes Of Maryscot,” a.k.a. “Sadie,” a Scottish Terrier
Breed: Scottish Terrier
Sex: Bitch
AKC: RN 08013301
Date of Birth: April 02, 2005
Breeder: Mary O’Neal & Anstamm Kennel
Sire: Ch Anstamm Like A Rock
Dam: Ch Maryscot Painted Black
Owner: Amelia Musser
Sadie is indeed a wonderful and beautiful dog, but I wonder if she is telepathic.
That's right my dogs can read my mind.
Let me explain. Just now I was thinking that Priscilla and Ginger both need a little trim. They were both rough-housing on the bed, having a grand ole time until I said Priscilla come here a minute.
Normally when I say that she is all over me. But she looked me in the eye and went to the other side of the bed. I went over to the other side of the bed to pick her up and under the bed they both went.
They both know that I can't get to them under there.
See what I mean, they knew that I was going to get the scissors and give them a trim.

Rejoice

2010-04-17T11:33:00.001-05:00

I woke up this morning with 2 little dogs licking me, Avery and Bryce awake. Yawl please go back to sleep, I'm not ready to get up.....not to be.
Text to husband who is turkey hunting. "Please bring coffee and sausage and biscuits" We are up.
No response, call to him--he is heading to the truck and on the way.
An hour or so later he says it's gonna be awhile, he is blah blah blah. I didn't know he was turkey hunting 30 miles away. I thought surely he would hunt closer to the house........sigh.
Anyway, cleaning, washing, making up beds, #s 4 and 5 whooping and hollering.....I'm tired....and I'm getting p!$$*d.
He and my son show up with breakfast, we eat, they go fishing while I'm left to continue doing all the housecleaning and stuff that we women have as our "job." And I'm getting more and more P!$$*d.
Then I say out loud, Lord why am I allowing Satan to steal my joy today? I have everything. I'm living in my dream house. Why am I mad about cleaning it up? You answered my prayers for a husband with children so that I could have grandchildren. Why am I complaining about babysitting them for a few hours? You answered my prayers to send my son home safely from Iraq. Why am I mad they he and his father are able to go turkey hunting and fishing together? What is wrong with me?
Why am I allowing Satan to steal my joy? Help me Lord and forgive me Lord. Let me rejoice in this day and my blessings.

Tabu

2010-04-15T21:30:00.003-05:00

Back in my wild days...my best friend Donna, who was a party animal, taught me some stuff. She was a petite blond and she never wore any type of shoes but 6 inch heels. Platforms, spikes.. always 6 inches...and now that I that I think about it, kinda like Dolly Parton. The heels not the other parts.
She was a guy magnet. They fell at her feet. She was sort of mysterious too, she always kept the guys guessing. Besides being a petite curvy blond the other thing that made them fall at her feet was her cologne. They never failed to tell her they loved her cologne...and she never ever told anybody (except me) what it was. Everybody thought it was some expensive exotic perfume that matched her mysterious exotic personality.
You guessed it, it was Tabu. I saw the sample sizes in Wal Mart the other day and bought 2 of them for around six dollars. I mixed it with baby oil for a nice after bath moisturizer. I sprayed a couple of spritzes on a container of baby powder...and I have to admit, it's pretty potent stuff.....a little bit goes a long way...and you can just guess what I mean.....sigh.........

No Not My Mouth But My Mama's (And Uncle's)

2010-04-13T18:57:00.003-05:00

My friend was telling me a story the other day about how her mother was prattling on and on in front of some people telling things that embarrassed her and were really Too Much Information. TMI. I said, just put your hand over her mouth.
What? Put a hand over your Mama's mouth?
Of course, it's much better than the alternative. Now isn't it?
Let me explain. My mother dearly loved to talk, and especially to tell things. Especially things about me. For instance, Angelyn got a raise, and now she's making ......dollars an hour!!! Can you believe that? Angelyn and David bought a .......can you believe how much they spent on that? Angelyn has got to have surgery on her.....because she is......
Now do you see what I mean?
So when she would TMI me, I would smile sweetly at whomever was on the receiving end of the TMI, shrug my shoulders and very very gently put my had over her mouth.
And they always got it.
Always. 'Cause I'm pretty sure if any you my sweet readers be truthful, your Mama has done the same thing to you.
My uncle is also a rattler. And I was thinking the other day after leaving the Nursing Home, is this where I got my "Rattling Around In My Head" stuff?
I usually just sit there and half listen. I key in about every 50 words or so, unless I hear something kinda crazy. Like the other day he was rattling, I wasn't listening until I heard the word "creosote." That's right, creosote. I never said a word, but apparently he thinks that the housekeeping staff may clean the floors with something like creosote.
Sometimes when I call him, and he is in a rattling mood I put him on the speaker phone and go about my business. I have even taken a shower with him just rattling on and on.
Last year I had him in the doctor's office, I was trying to tell the doctor what I thought was wrong and he was yada yada yadaing. I very sweetly put my hand over his mouth and finished telling the doctor what I needed to tell him. The doctor was not shocked, he understood. If you know my uncle, you understand.

Today's Rattles

2010-04-11T21:59:00.002-05:00

These are some of the things that were rattling around in my head today.

Names:
My brother's name is Nicholas Leroy II. And of course my daddy was Nicholas Leroy. My grandmother named my daddy after her father-in-law Nicholas Daniel, whom she loved and respected. Everybody except my grandmother called my brother Nicky. She called him Nicholas. "Come here Nicholas and give me a hug." She informed everybody that even though everybody called him Nicky she would always call him Nicholas. This she did out of love and respect for her father-in-law.
Although my daddy's name is Nicholas Leroy, he went by Roy. And you better not pronounce Leroy Lee-Roy or my mother would correct you. "It's La-Roy" she would say.
But on his tombstone she put Nicholas Roy...I asked her why and she said "because everybody knew him as Roy." Okay.
Once at Thanksgiving we were all gathered around the table, grace had been said, and we were passing the mashed potatoes, corn, etc. My Mama said to my nephew, who is Nicholas LeRoy III, (known as Nick) and was about 8 or 9, "baby do you want some .....", when my brother said "don't call him baby." Mama who rarely cussed, and especially not at the dinner table said in no uncertain terms and with a firmness that only a Mama can say, "I'll call him any d@^^n thing I want to." "And I'll call him baby any d@^^n time I want to."
Before our #4 gbaby was born, she, being my daughter's first child, was the subject of much controversy over what she would be named. I liked the name Avery and so did my daughter. But my son-in-law Joel was insistent on Madison. One Sunday we were rather heatedly arguing over this at Mama's house. I'll never forget, she was sitting there quietly in her recliner. I didn't think she was paying any attention to what we were saying, when she spoke up and said, "Joel, it's the mother's prerogative what to name the baby, because she is the one who goes down in that deep valley to have her." Everything became very quiet....oh and those of you know #4's name is Avery.
Smile....sweet sweet memories.

My Newest Addiction

2010-04-09T20:32:00.000-05:00

This is my latest addiction. "Words With Friends" You play it on your iPhone. If you like scrabble, or if you like word games...do not, repeat do not download this game. It will consume you. You will play it any and every free minute that you have.
Unlike _22_ I have never made that many points...the most I have ever made was 68 and I was elated. I downloaded the free version. But the version without the ads is only $2.99. You can play up to 20 people at a time...and the games can last for as long as you and your partner play--until one of you wins or resigns. You can play with random partners or you can play with friends.
Oh gotta go....just got an alert...it's my turn...

Snippets From The Easter Wild Rumpas Or.....

2010-04-07T22:18:00.000-05:00

Does AnyBody Have Any Craft Ideas For Left Over Plastic Easter Eggs?
And I do mean lots and lots of plastic eggs, eggs that are still lying in a virginal state in a box...
It all started Friday when Son, DIL and gkids #s 6 and 7 came down. They are moving into my mother's house. It seems that Son is ready to be home and close to his daddy--he misses them hunting and fishing together, and coming home from his second tour of Iraq, he needs to be closer to home.
So Saturday there was cleaning, moving, painting, storing and selling. But I went to the auction. I showed my DIL the 4 things that I did not want to sell...my grandmother's two tables, which I never remember not having around, my mama's sewing machine and a very very old mirror that came from one of Mama's cousin's house. I was ready to move on and had prepared myself by watching "Clean House." But I just could not see my Mama's bed and other stuff leaving. My DIL did a wonderful job for me.
Sunday dawned and found me in a daze from the crazy whirlwind of children, David's special needs brother, and grandchildren in the house. I sat on the deck sipping my coffee and thought to myself, you have a decision to make. You can be like either Martha or Mary in the Bible. You can be like Martha and run around making beds, picking up clothes, mopping floors or you can sit back and enjoy the moment like Mary did.
I chose to be Mary.
David boiled and the kids dyed 4 dozen eggs. 2 and 3 got a great kick out of this. I wondered if all they have ever had is plastic.....

DIL, gkids and I all piled in the bed and watched the chipmonks movie.
We didn't cook, we ate takeout...yeah I know that is kinda anathema for Easter but...and I hope He understands why we didn't make it to church.....
That evening our neighbor came over with some more plastic eggs and they hid probably a hundred. 7 kids hunting eggs in the yard....from ages 11 to 2.....fun.
By the end of the day my feet were sticking to the floor in places, I was tired of saying have you seen _____ insert name of one of 7 gchildren and/or CiCi and GinGin, and constantly being on chocolate watch for the dogs, wondering what that pink powder was in various places (seems like it is some kind of dipping powder), and hearing "Nonna 7 dropped this in the yard" (my scan drive that has all my back-up files on it!!!), loss of a rent check and so on and so on.
After everybody left, I realized that the very thing that I said in my wedding vows to David at our wedding almost 15 years ago, "I want to grow old with you, sit on the front porch and watch our grandchildren play in the front yard" had actually come true.
Life is good.

2010-03-30T18:39:00.003-05:00

You know things "Rattle Around In My Head" and since I haven't been able to post much lately, here are a few things that have been rattleing and I need to get out.

Once David and I went to an Elvis impersonator's competition (I know I know) held at a casino on the Mississippi side of Helena Arkansas. We got off the elevator, took a left and walked a mile down a narrow hall, took another left, walked another mile to our room. I looked at David and said, "this is a good place to hide from the mob." From then on I have thought about hideouts. I was thinking about that the other day when I was snoozing in the recliner in my uncle's nursing home room. It's at the end of a long hall...

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David's idea of putting up his clothes. I swear there are 4 or 5 layers here. Starting with his Sunday clothes, pajama pants, jeans, shirts etc. I left them here just to see if he would ever put them up, of course he didn't until I mentioned it, then he piled them in the closet. Sigh

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I got stuck in our ex-neighbor's yard. David had to pull me out and we made quite a mess that we had to fix. I took my car to the car wash the next day because it was covered in mud. Now I love the car wash, I love to sit in there with the radio turned up and watch the soap and water on the windows. ( I know--I have no life and I'm shallow.) So I pulled up, put my money in, turned on the radio all excited about the "show" and ready to enjoy myself. And guess what was on the radio?? One of my all time favorite songs--Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynold's song "Don't Pull Your Love Out." One of them is a Mississippi boy--Joe Frank or Hamilton..oh well I can't remember. But it's the simple things...

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I bought this knock off bag out of the back of a Lincoln. I couldn't help myself, in my never ending quest for the perfect purse--it's red, large, had a lot of hardware, the imitation leather is very good--it's very soft and supple..I love it. Then the guilt set in, because it's a knock off. I apologized to the purse gods and promised I wouldn't do it again. Until yesterday....she came back and there was this gorgeous black patent one...but I promise never ever again.
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Conversation with myself and the dogs after I got home from work today--got home let them out...CiCi came back...but where is GinGin?
Me: GinGin!!! Ginger Marie!!! Puppy Dog--Mommy wants you go come inside!!! Puppy Tweet!!!
Where is she? CiCi where is your sister?
Me: Looking for the key to the 4-wheeler, can't find it...(going to ride around looking for her) calling David on the phone...where is the key??? Gosh where is my baby girl??? What if something has happened to her? Where is she? Where is that durn key? Why won't David answer the phone?
Open the back door and see garbage sack torn open and then...
Me: "GinGin give me that chicken bone!!! (as she runs in the back door and under the bed never dropping the chicken bone)
Sigh--puppy children...she was in the garage the whole time.......oh and I guess the bone is still under the bed...

Questions I'm Asking Myself

2010-03-22T21:14:00.000-05:00

When are you going to get all the tax stuff together and take them to the accountant?
Deep sigh....I'm working on it, I'm working on it, I intended to work on 'em Sunday, but church and chicken and dressing at Bev's Cafe made me sleepy and I took a 3 hour nap after we got home, and then I was just too tired and I wanted to watch some TV and blah blah blah......
Why did you buy that crazy picture at the auction?
Uh, I don't really know, I thought that maybe he was an important photographer and I had found a treasure and somebody else bought the other one of the oxen.....and it had that really rustic frame, and it was signed and dedicated to Lori....and heck I don't know, it was $2.50....

Where do you think all those white socks go? (see the 7 below without their mates)
If I knew that I would be rich.

How do you know what kind of day you are going to have at work?
I just look at the new fire alarm system thing that was just installed at work just outside my door. See what it says? "The system is normal." So that means that the "system" at work, at home, and in life in general is okay. If I ever get to work and it says the system is abnormal...well I'll figure that out when the time comes.

CiCi And GinGin and Pizza

2010-03-19T21:39:00.001-05:00

CiCi And GinGin: Mommy, when are our neices and nephews coming back?
Me: I don't know, #5 will probably be here tonight. Why?
Well, they are kinda fun, but they also tire us out.
What do you mean?
Well they like to play and #5 loves to chase us around the house, and #4 just plain loves us, but you know we need our space.
Oh.
Yeah, we are used to having the house and you and Daddy all to ourselves.
Oh.
But there is one good thing.
What.
They drop crumbs and stuff.
Yeah, did you (GinGin) enjoy that pizza that you grabbed out of #7's hand?
Yes, but I would have enjoyed it more if you and Daddy hadn't been hollering at me and poking at me under the bed with that broom.
What about you grabbing that corn dog that #6 dropped out in the yard?
Yeah...but yawl all ganged up on me, cornered me and managed to wrestle it out of my mouth....I never even got a bite.
The pizza was enough. Yawl aren't supposed to eat people food.
What do you mean people food?
You are only supposed to eat what Daddy and I put in your puppy bowl.
Again, what do you mean by people food? Don't you call us puppy girls?
It's hard to explain, your puppy girl tummies are more delicate that us big people's tummies.
Is that why #4 tells everybody that you are gassy? What does that mean?
Sigh..........

The Wild Weekend Rumpas Or Bear With Me I Have A Lot To Tell You 2

2010-03-16T21:30:00.001-05:00

It all started last Thursday, still feeling ill from a chest cold, I took off at noon to rest up/get ready for #4's birthday party to be held here.
I went home and went straight to bed...took a nap, woke up, ate, took a bath and went back to bed.
Friday morning dawned bright and early for me at noon, when I drug myself out of bed and began to clean the house. Having your house clean/straight for yourself is one thing, clean/straight for friends and family is another and having it straight/clean for folks that don't know you is something different all together.
By around 5 or 6 I had it presentable. Enter daughter and grandkids #4 and #5. Goodie bags were made,cake was repaired from a slippage, garage was cleaned up and what couldn't be cleaned up was covered up. #4 spends the night and goes to sleep around 11PM...

(The cupcakes were supposed to surround the cake, but the cake slid to the left.....soooo we improvised)
Saturday the guest arrive, the jumpy slide thing is up, kids are sliding and jumping, pizza, cake and ice cream is consumed, pinata is busted, kids scramble for candy.....life is good.
Son and 4 of his 5 kids do not make it here in time for the party.....but I remind his daddy that he will be here when you see him coming....that's just the way it is.
Party is over, stuff is cleaned up and no kids had any injuries on the jumpy slide thing. #4 had a great time and a wonderful birthday. She got some dolls that I wanted......

That's the birthday girl on the jumpy slide thing......I admit that my daughter convinced me to get on it Sunday to the delight of all the grandchildren...there is a picture somewhere......
Saturday after the party #1 and I take a trip to the Dog Whisperer for dog food.....I asked the Dog Whisperer about CiCi and GinGin gaining weight...she told me to exercise them more and asked me did I not remember what she had taught us. "Exercise, it will be good for them and you too." I did not take offense, she is right and besides she is the only person on the face of this earth that I would trust CiCi and GinGin with other than my daughter.
#1 and I also went to the Salvation Army, which was a first for her. You should have seen the look on her face, "Nonna, this stuff is used!" I bought her a paperback book and I bought myself some kind of cut glass thing..total 80 cents.
Saturday afternoon my son and the rest of his family arrive.......#s 2, 3, 6 and 7. All are on the jumpy slide thing......then this happens to #3.

Which gets a trip to the local Emergency Department, Xray and a splint.
Then this happens...

...to #2 which gets ice and elevation.
Nothing much happens Saturday night except that I announce to my DIL and all that I have "hit the wall." I go to bed and hear various sounds of bubble baths being given, blankets being pulled out of closets...etc.
Wake up Sunday morning and miss church....feel guilty....sigh...more kids on jumpy slide thing, sausage and biscuits....picking up around the house, washing/drying/folding of many towels etc. A little whining, crying, tattle telling, no major fights.
Then we notice that #3 is not moving and will not move his arm. Elbow is swollen and tender...can't bend it...sigh...and it's cooler and paler than the other arm. So back to the local ED. And from there on to the University Medical Center Pedi ED....long story short, something may have compromised the circulation but after removing the splint and placing in a sling, by the time they got to UMC it was better...so no fracture could be seen, which is typical for pedi bones...got a soft cast and goes back in week. If a fracture is seen at that time will get a fiberglass cast.
During this time, #s7, 6 and 2 get a bubble bath, while #7 wails for one hour for his mama. #1 has gone home to her mama, #s 4 and 5 have gone home to their mama. DIL's mother drives down to help, because we didn't know if #3 was going to have to have surgery.
Now it is Monday night, many sippy cups, wet diapers, coloring books, play dough, laughs, tears, ice cream, cup cakes, balloons, misplaced socks, and Wii games later it is all over but these precious memories. Did I stop and enjoy it enough? Well I did better than I usually do, I didn't worry so much about the dirty dishes and sticky floors. They won't be this age much longer......sigh.
Oh and this is a conversation right before David went to bed. I'm in the shower and he is running water for his tub bath.
Him: "Is this a donut in the tub?"
Me: "Yes."

Stuff To Show You and Share With You

2010-03-09T21:34:00.001-06:00

I finally got my snow a couple of weeks ago. David turned on the outside lights for me and I watched it snow as I dozed. I think that the last time I looked outside was around 3 AM and it was just about stopped. I got up early that morning and took my time getting ready for and going to work. I enjoyed the brief moments of snow....I stood outside on the deck, rolled down my car windows and opened the sun roof....smelled and felt the freshness of it. By the time I got home from work, it was gone...and if it had never happened. But I enjoyed it while it lasted.

This picture is of #4 taking a bubble bath, look at that pure joy on her face...

This a piece of Fire King cookware. It is depression glass of the Philbe pattern. It is a large mixing bowl. I collect this and it was mine all mine at the auction for five bucks!!!

This funky silver plated bowl now holds QTips in my bathroom....bought at the auction--mine for $2.50.

Annndddd my Auction Buddy Judy got this Longaberger casserole with the basket for five bucks!!! She showed it to me and dared me to bid against her...dared me. It was hard, but I love her too much and besides I got my Fire King, so I was happy.

And of course a puppy dog picture.........

And last but not least the bus that brought my son home from Iraq to Germany, from Germany to Maine, from Maine to Biloxi and from Biloxi to Hattiesburg.......and tomorrow he will come by here on his way to his house. Praise The Lord!!!

The Explanation Behind My Native American Name

2010-03-05T20:33:00.001-06:00

Sometime last year the gang and I were at the Mexican restaurant and somehow we started talking about Dancing With Wolves. Therefore we started giving each other Native American names. For instance, "Much Loves Chicken" is Terri's name because her favorite place in the world is ChikFilA. Janice is "Sister Hair Not Golden Enough" because she once said she needed to get her hair highlighted because it wasn't blonde enough...sigh. Anyway, my Native American name is "Sleeps With Dogs."

It all started with our first Chihuahua, Presley. That's him below. We got him about 13 years ago and he lived to be 10. I didn't want a dog in the house, but David won out. When we picked him up at the breeder, he weighed a pound and a half. I really have never seen David so excited. He was just on the moon about him. When we got in the truck I was holding him and he crawled behind my neck and stayed there until we got home.

I fell instantly in love. Presley eventually owned us, we didn't own him. We lived in his house, sat on his furniture and slept in his bed.
The first night I made him a little snuggy bug bed and put it in the living room under the heater. I put him in there and went to bed. He may have stayed there 2 minutes. I couldn't stand it. I got the box and put it on the floor next to my side of the bed. He may have stayed there 30 seconds. It was too cold down there, he was away from his Mama from the first time etc.
But where was he going to sleep? He was so little. If I put him above my head next to the head board he would fall through. He couldn't sleep between David and I, David would squish him when he turned over. (David is a flopper) So, I put him in the crook of my arm and that is where he slept for months until he got a little bigger and began to sleep under the covers at our feet. But he always started out sleeping in the crook of my arm. After about an hour or so, he would make his way to the foot of the bed. And in his later years, if we disturbed him, he would nip our toes. I didn't care, I loved him too much.
When it was time to go to bed, I would ask him if he was ready to go night night puppy and if he snorted and wagged his tail, I would pick him up and off to bed we would go. But if he growled at me, I knew he wasn't ready. When he was ready to get in the bed with me, he would come to my side of the bed and snort and yip at me until I picked him up. But here is the kicker. He would rarely let me lean over pick him up. I had to get up, follow him into the hall and pick him up. Sometimes I would make him snort and bark for several minutes, but I always gave in. I bought him stairs to get up in the bed, but he absolutely would not use them.
Presley spent his last night on the earth sleeping on my chest right over my heart....he had started to have seizures and probably had a stroke. David called the vet at 4 AM, he met us at his office and put him to sleep while I held him in my arms.
David said, no more dogs. I said oh no...I have to have a puppy dog. So several months later we got Priscilla-or CiCi the blond in the second picture above. She too was a fuzz ball that weighed about 2 pounds.
I made her a snuggy bug at the top of my head. I put a pillow up there and rolled up a small blanket around it so that she wouldn't fall off the bed. I also nestled her in the crook of my arm. To this day she loves to sleep either at the top of my head or in the crook of my arm. She usually gets in the bed and crawls to the top of the pillow and wraps herself around my head.
We got Ginger-GinGin about a year and a half after we got Priscilla. (1st picture) Where was she going to sleep? CiCi was sleeping on the top of my head...so I put GinGin who was 6 months old and weighed about 3 pounds, on my left shoulder.
So there I was in bed with David who was surrounded by his pillows,me flat on my back with my head up on 3 to 4 pillows because I have reflux, CiCi on top of my head and Ginger on my left shoulder. And I was happy.
Now that they are bigger, they still start the night with CiCi at my head and GinGin on my left shoulder, and usually end up cuddled up one on one side of me and one on the other.
My friends know this...thus "Sleeps With Dogs."

Payback....Yep, It's Coming.

2010-03-04T20:16:00.001-06:00

David is always fussing about my snoring. And he says that he doesn't snore. Nope. Doesn't do it, he is way too cool to snore. So the other night, I recorded him snoring on my iPhone. Now to his credit, it was light delicate even sweet snoring with a little "pooohhhh" sound on the end when he caught his breath.
But we have had this conversation:
Me: David turn over you are snoring loud and rattling. You are stopping breathing. If you were one of your patients you would have put an airway or an endotrachael tube in them. "A noisy airway is an obstructed airway."
David: No I'm too comfortable, I'm not moving.
Me: Okay, die then.
He turned on his side.
When I played the sound of him snoring, he didn't want to believe that it was him, but who else would I record snoring at 3AM?
Soooo, yesterday morning, he and Dr. R. were in my office when he flipped open his phone and said, Doc, listen to this. After a few seconds I said, "No you didn't!" He had recorded me snoring and it was impressive. Very impressive. Loud. And it seems that he had played it for the nurses on the Medical Unit, the nurses in the Emergency Department, the Pharmacist and who knows else.
But all I can say for him is "Be afraid, be very afraid."

Was I Embarrassed?

2010-03-03T21:01:00.001-06:00

I have been sitting in front of makeup mirrors for years, because I have been wearing makeup for years, because I have been working in a public setting for years. And let's face it, sick people do not want to look at somebody that looks worse than they do.
I always paint up, pretty up, dress up to go to work. So when the bulb in my lighted make up mirror burned out, I was perturbed.
David tried to replace the bulb with one we had here and I heard this sound...pizz shssss pop along with a bright arc of light. So much for that bulb. He looked all over town to find another replacement but couldn't.
I went to the local Wal Mart--no dice, Freds--no dice, Angel's beauty supply--no dice. I traveled to a town 20 miles away to a super Wal Mart--no dice...sigh and from there I drove another 30 miles to a Salley's Beauty supply and at last--dice.
I brought it home plugged it's shiney little self in, removed the protective covering on the mirror on the regular side and it was was fine, buuutttt the magnified side had this blur to it. I cleaned it with a little water--no dice, cleaned it with a little alcohol--no dice...durn...still blurry.
Okay this was the last one on the shelf. I had kept the receipt and the box as the lady suggested 'cause you just never know, I would have my $71.00, but I still wouldn't have my mirror and I just can't see well enough without it to look my ~~gorgeous~~ fairly decent self. Hmmm maybe she would give me some of my money back and I would at least have a partial mirror.
No dag gum it, I was going to get my $71.00 back. So Friday evening after work, David and I drove 30 miles back to Salley's beauty supply. I had the box, the instructions, and of course the receipt. I didn't put it in the box 'cause I didn't want to have to unbox it to show the saleslady, she could just give me my $71.00 and put it back in the box herself.
I walked in and showed it to her and she said....hmmmm and pulled the protective covering off the blurry side and viola!! it was magic........it was perfect. I was speechless standing there with my mouth hung open, yep I had not removed the film from that side. But I was sooo happy, I just grinned and took my $71.00 lighted makeup mirror right back out that door. Sigh.

What I Have Been Doing or I'm Back!!!

2010-02-28T17:07:00.002-06:00

I finally have my laptop back. I have been visiting all of you from my iPhone, but it is hard to to type in comments on the small keyboard...I'm always pressing the wrong ones and having to start over. Anyway I have missed posting and I'm back.
It has been crazy busy at work. There are 4 RNs that keep kinda keep all the plates spinning, first of course is the Director of Nurses, then the Nurse Managers of the ED and the Medical Unit and then me the CQI/UR/Infection Control Nurse. The four of us rotate executive call, in other words after hours we put out the little fires and handle call-ins etc. The DON is on sick leave and the ED Nurse Manager is in Nurse Practitioner school. That leaves me and the MedU Nurse Manager to put out the fires. Oh and the administrator rolled the ED Nurse Manager position into the DONs responsibilities......so when the DON comes back there will still be just 3 of us rotating call.
Sooo it has been really intense for the last 3 weeks. This is a picture of my desk. I quit cleaning it up, I just keep layering things on top of things.

Okay I can't upload any pictures. I wanted to upload pictures of my office for you to see......but Blogger is mad at me and won't let me.

I'll be back with stuff that is Rattling Around In My Head, maybe with and without pictures...we'll see. If you have any ideas on how to fix my problem, let me know.

Okay, checked back and was able to upload this image. Please note the schedule for 2 weeks is the yellow paper. All that white out and scribbling is mine. I am in love with the white out thingy that is in the lower right hand corner. I get all giddy when I get to use it. Just above that is a purse mirror that a staffing agency brought by along with some more goodies. You will note the generic Naprosyn and Pepcid. A must have when you have carpal tunnel and an aching shoulder. And of course the lipstick stained coffee cup. I must have at least two large cups in the morning before my brain really works. Rubber bands, paper clips, stapler, but no tape...lost the dispenser over a year ago and never replaced it. Several note pads. Wound care products and skin preps for starting IVs. That wood box used to hold an O2 saturation monitor in the ED. I pick up discharded things....

This a vintage bedside table that I bought at an auction and on top of it lives a collection of McDonald's Happy Meal toys from the Wizard of Oz and one little chipmunk. Oh and Snow White was won out of one of those pick up machines by a co-worker's child. The sign behind them was posted on a door in surgery. I always meant to put in in one of the bathrooms at home...

And this is a shelf laden with my work--that's my work or last 5 years on the bottom two shelves. Reports, indicators, minutes, policies and procedures blah blah blah.
On the top and first shelf is my stuff. My nurse dolls, my cap (nobody even gets one anymore) that I never liked to wear, various glass syringes, an old fetascope that we used to listen to fetal heart tones before the days of dopplers, old books and bottles and etc.
Yes my office is just like me, messy and multi-layered. Sigh.

Pictures From Memphis or What I Ate At The Blue Plate Restaurant

2010-02-11T19:57:00.001-06:00

I sure have missed posting stuff and putting comments on your blogs. But trust me I read each and every one of them. It's just hard to post from my iPhone. I can post from my iPhone, but I can't upload the pictures that are saved on there.
Anyway....
Here's some pictures from Memphis.

This a life-sized statue of W.C. Handy that is in the lobby of the Hilton Hotel in Germantown, which is where we stayed. Cool huh?

This is the tag that I forgot to take off of the hoodie that I wore all over Memphis on Saturday.

This is the famous "Blue Plate Restaurant." The line was almost out the door. But we didn't have to wait too long.

The restaurant is filled with these wonderful pet portraits by Debbie Richmond. The Yorkie immediately made me think of my blogger friend Helen and my cousin Annette. It is just awesome. The colors are amazing.

Aren't they wonderful? I really wanted to wander around in there and take pictures of all of the portraits and not worry about disturbing everybody's meal......but I didn't.

I ate a brunch that would make a cardiologist sad.

For starters:

Biscuits with.......

Saw Mill gravy.....

Grits floating in butter, 2 eggs over easy and country ham.

Ahhh now on to see "Jersey Boys." Life is good.

Weekend Fun

2010-02-08T20:00:00.000-06:00

I thought I would post some pictures from our weekend in Memphis. But I can't figure how to upload the pictures from my phone to Blogger. Hmmm. But I guess you may not about what I ate for breakfast at The Blue Plate. And you have probably seen pictures from the musical "Jersey Boys." And you can go to Debbie Richman's website yourself to see her wonderful pet portraits, and you can go to "The Edge of Darkness" website and read about the plot. I don't particularily care for Mel Gibson, but he sure can make some good movies-this one was twisty-turny just like I like.
I can't say enough good things about Jersey Boys...I was so happy...that harmony...I can mark it off my bucket list...now I just want see Frankie Valli in concert.

Things That Make Me Happy Part II

2010-01-31T17:26:00.000-06:00

Before I get started, I want yawl to know that I haven't been posting or commenting on your blogs as much as I usually do because, 1. My laptop's, charger is on the fritz and I have ordered a new one. 2. The PC is in the part of the house where the central unit is out and even with an electric heater running wide open, it is still pretty cool back here. 3. I keep up with what all of yawl are doing on my iPhone, but it's hard to comment and post from the little screen. 4. The charger should be here sometime this week...and I'll be back to my regular posting and commenting. Now on to Things That Make Me Happy Part II

This little silicone thing that I bought from a friend's child, who was selling stuff for his school.

I love my piano. It is the fulfilment of a dream of mine to have a digital piano. I just don't play it enough. I don't take the time that I should. Over the piano hangs a vintage poster that I bought years ago for five bucks. It reminds me of my uncles when they played music. You can see one of my uncle's guitars next to my piano.

I love these old hats. I bought them at the auction. And I really love the picture. I bought the print for 10 cents when I was in the third grade. I had it framed when I started work as a nurse. It has followed me everywhere. These are in my powder room.

This is my tricycle that I got when I was about 4 or 5. And now it is repurposed as you can see in the powder room.......

More favorites later......love you all and have a great week.

These Things Make Me Happy

2010-01-30T17:03:00.000-06:00

These Little Golden Books are from my childhood. They are hung in the master bathroom (I know they are framed cheesily in Wal Mart frames......but hey) and I love them. I grew up to be a nurse and even though David is a city boy, he is a country boy wannabee and is never happier than when he is on his tractor.

This some kind of shoe thing that was in the attic of my family's log house ever since I can remember. It has followed me around for years, with no particular use except to just be. Then when we built our new house, I decided that I would repurpose it for this.....I love it, but I wonder what my ggggranddaddy would think......

David found this old Chlorox bottle at an old house place where he hunts, the silver plate tray came from an auction. The Chlorox bottle hold hand soap and the tray organizes some of my stuff.

These puppies playing on my bed make me very happy....this is the only picture of them playing that wasn't so blurry you could tell what they are.

This picture of Elvis is one I gave David for his birthday and used to be in his shop. It now resides in our closet. He is propped up behind clothes and stuff. He makes me smile when I open the closet and see him hiding there.

I had these cabinets built with glass so that I could enjoy looking at my dishes that I collect....Fire King cookware and those old fleur de lis dishes that came in either detergent or when you bought gas......I only now realized as I'm posting that you can't see them from the glare.....sorry, but you get the idea.

And last, but certainly not least, my beloved David taking a post hunting, post prandial mid-day nap. I plan to post more pictures of Things That Make Me Happy later.

Pictures From My Past

2010-01-19T20:19:00.000-06:00

My friend Chris over here at "I'm Not Old, I'm Vintage" tagged me with a meme. I had to think a little bit about my favorite photograph and I came up with these two. These are two favorites of many.

This is the first one. It is framed picture of my Mama holding Avery (#4 grandchild, who is the first child of my daughter) Look at those precious hands holding her. I just love looking at those precious hands. Those hands held me, comforted me, wiped my tears, sewed innumerable clothes for me, and cooked wonderful meals for me. Once I said the thing that all kids say to their parents...you don't love me, I'm adopted. Her response was, look at my hands and look at your hands...they are exactly alike. True enough they are. But my hands will never be as precious as hers.

The second one is of me and "Tippy Toes". I think I'm about 35 or 36 here. I would soon be going through major surgery and 1 week after coming home, go through a devastating divorce. This little cat was named after my very first cat. Tippy Toes was an immense comfort to me, I remember lying in bed at night feeling so alone and that the world that I had previously known had disappeared. Then I would feel around under the covers with my foot until I found her, and as soon as I felt that velvety black coat of hers, I would know that I was not alone. The anxiety would leave me and I would eventually drift off to sleep. She was an immense comfort to me.

These two pictures are side by side on my dresser and I look at them everyday before I leave for work. They always make me happy.

Conversations

2010-01-12T20:51:00.000-06:00

Good friend L. when she came over and took the grand tour of the house.
L. Why don't you have curtains in your bathroom?
Me. I just haven't been able to find any that suited me.
L. Do you take baths in that tub?
Me. Yes.
L. How many people have you killed?

Picture of one of the windows over the tub....the other is to the immediate right.

Cassie (#2 gchild): Nonna, do you know what I enjoyed most about today?
Me: Thinking, the trip to Wal Mart, Pizza Inn......(she was a tremendous help to me cleaning out my Mama's house Saturday) No what?
Cassie: Just being with you.
Me: What? Wanting her to say it again.

Cassie: Just being with you.

David: Gotta move my cameras (the ones in the woods)...corn feeders blah blah....scrapes yada yada....deer stands....blah blah blah.....scope.....camouflage.....food plots....yada yada yada...gloves, boots, rifle, insulated socks, under armor, antler rattler thing......doe urine.........
Me: Sigh..........

Bear With Me, I Have A Lot Of Stuff To Tell You

2010-01-10T11:56:00.000-06:00

First of all as you may have heard, somebody mistook Mississippi for Minnesota. It has been down in the single digits here. And the bad thing about it, we didn't get any snow to speak of. It snowed for a few minutes and stayed on the ground for a few minutes. At work we were hanging around the windows ooohhing and ahhhing like crazy. The lake behind our house had a thin sheet of ice on it, and our neighbor who was living here when the lake was built said this was a first......15 some odd years and it has never frozen. It is slowly going away now. Yesterday morning when I woke up, I saw geese sitting in the middle of the ice and since I couldn't see them moving, I thought they had frozen to death in the ice over night. Dummy. I got out my binoculars and I could see them moving their heads...so I thought they were trapped in the ice. Dummy. And of course when I looked later they were gone. Dummy. They had just been enjoying themselves. Here are some pictures of the lake.

Now the other thing is this. The central unit that heats the west side of the house is out. The heating dude came over and said blah blah blah warranty yada yada yada parts in Tuesday blah blah blah...Long story short we go get two electric heaters because the west end unit heats the living room and the two guest bedrooms and DIL and 2 gchildren are coming to go hunting. (Crazy in this cold) She wants to prove to son who is now back in Iraq that she can kill a deer. (I hate hunting, but there is nothing I can do about it..why can't they hunt with their cameras?) Still the temperature in the house has never gotten above 64 with the east side unit going semi-full blast. Had to be careful, we didn't want to burn up the fan motor or something.

Also the Christmas decorations are still up. And I'm not going to sweat it. David has to get the boxes down out of the attic for me to pack them up. And he has to move the tree out. Remember, nothing is more important that hunting. I'll let you know when I finally get them down.

Now the other thing to tell you is that my mother's house has sat empty since my uncle went to the nursing home 3 months ago. My Mama has been dead for 3 years. For the first year I wouldn't even go in the house. I just pulled up to the house and my uncle came out, and he visited me. The second year I would go in for a few minutes maybe, but he mostly came to my house. Only after he went to the nursing home would I actually go in there and look around. The house was just like they left it. They both could have walked right back in and picked right back up where they left. Sigh.

I knew it was wasting money not to rent it but I was procrastinating about getting it ready. Last week I got a call from friends of an elderly couple that their house had burned. Friday night David, Amber and I put all the keepers in one of the bedrooms, bagged up all the junk and then yesterday Cassie and I (#2 gchild) cleaned up the kitchen and vacuumed etc. They moved in last yesterday afternoon. It was bitter sweet. And it was time. It was just what I needed to get me motivated to do it. They will only be there 2 months, but the money will help me pay for my uncle's private room at the nursing home.

Cassie was invaluable to me. She could reach all the things that I couldn't--like in the corners of the bottom cabinets.

As I was cleaning, I turned on the cassette player and there was a tape of Mama and me singing...I listened and smiled. It was such a sweet memory. And then as I listened further, there was more on there of her singing Amazing Grace a cappella. I called my brother and played it for him. He was speechless.

Another sweet thing happened Thursday. I met the gas man at the house on my lunch hour so that he could turn the gas back on. I went into one of the bedrooms and opened a file cabinet..and there was my baby book. I opened it and found this picture...it had been years since I saw it.....and it is the only picture I have of her holding me as a newborn.

Some of the treasures that I found.

My Grandmother's butter bowl and my Mama's juicer.

My Mama's cranberry sauce server.

Almost like new Faberware-that I really needed.

Brand new iron. Sigh......it makes me wonder if she put it up under the cabinet and forgot about it....I just don't remember her using it....
I guess I have goofed off enough and now it's time to get moving........more later.

A Funny Little Bedtime Story

2010-01-06T21:21:00.001-06:00

Last night David, the puppy girls and I were all snuggy bugged down in bed. We had said our good nights to each other when I noticed GinGin (the one on the right) rooting something with her nose. Hmmm, it's pitch black dark and as I picked it up, I thought this is cold, limp and wet just like a piece of raw chicken, and at the same minute I thought where on earth did they get a piece of raw ccchhhiiiccckkkeeeeeennnnnn!!!!! SSSSSCCCCEEEEEEAAAAAAMMMMM!!!!! WhenI realized that it was a dead mouse, I threw it. That's right, I threw it. I got up turned on the lights and of course I couldn't find it. And of course David hasn't moved and is lying there snickering. GinGin and I saw it at about the same time. She nose dived off the bed to retrieve her mouse, snatched it up and under the bed she went. By this time I was cussing a blue streak. And freaking out is putting it mildly.
My dear David who sleeps in the buff, had yet to move. Soooo, I snatched the cover back, smacked him on his butt and said....no screeched..."get your nekkid @$$ out of the bed and get that /)@^^# mouse!
I tricked GinGin out from under the bed with a puppy treat, while David searched for, found and replaced the batteries in the only flash light, got the little dead mousey out from under the bed with a broom and deposited him in a plastic bag outside in the garage. (Oh and he did all of this still in the buff. I wanted to take a picture of him buck nekkid on his hands and knees looking under the bed.....)
But I was still beyond upset....here is a sound bite....it's all your fault blah blah blah....'cause if you had just got the mouse traps earlier this week like I asked you to blah blah blah..........but noooooooo.....nothing is more inportant that hunting....yada yada yada.....
Sigh.

Things I Bought At The Auction II

2010-01-03T20:40:00.000-06:00

I told you I would share the other things that I bought at the auction. At the end of the auction the auctioneer called for us to bring up things that we would pay $5.00 for. And then he asked who brought it up, you raised your hand and your bid started at $5.00. I got this vintage Monopoly game for $5.00, the tag on it states that it dates from 1951, it has the wooden pieces, money cards etc. As far as I can tell it is all intact. Some are selling on eBay for around $15.00. I wanted to start a little business selling some of my stuff on eBay, but I never have and David said a big no to this---so I guess I'll keep it.

I also bought this other vintage game. "Cootie" The tag on it says that it dates from 1941 and the pieces are there...except one of the cootie eyes...but it may be in the bottom of the box. I'll have to give it a better look. The bidding started at $5.00 and somebody kept bidding against me and ran it up to $9.00. I didn't care I wanted it...and it came home with me!!

This one of the plates I bought, it too was $5.00 ( with the stand included), it has a gorgeous thick gold rim. I bought two others for $5.00 each, one has an etched magnolia and the other has flowers too. Things ran a little high, normally I would have expected to pay $2.50 for each of them...but it's okay. I wanted them!!

Let me know what you all think. Did I do good?

Things I Bought At The Auction

2010-01-02T21:03:00.001-06:00

I can't think of a better way to start the new year than by attending an auction. As you can see here, the fun is just about to begin. I was running late so I didn't get to look over everything as I usually do, but sometimes when they bring up the unexpected it is even more fun.

This is the first thing that I bought. I had one just like this when I was a kid, in fact I think I got it for Christmas. I think that it was a surprise, because I don't remember asking for it...or now that I think about it, it may have been a hand me down from a cousin. But anyway this one is very similar, right down to the dents

This is the next thing that I bought. I spotted it right away. Of course I was very cool when I looked it over, you must never ever let 'em see that you are interested. It is a very large platter and the picture is the capital. It appears to be quite old, with crazing and cracks...but I don't care. I love it. The picture below is an enlargement of the scene. And the eagle and inscription is on the back. There is also an hallmark that I can't read. I'm going to try to make a rubbing of it to see what it says. Do any of you know anything about this or have seen one like it?

I also bought some plates, but they are still in my car and I didn't take a picture. I'll post pictures later. Oh yeah and I bought a vintage Monopoly game and a vintage Cootie game. I'll post pictures of them later too.

After the auction my friend Judy and I went to the Salvation Army and of course the obligatory late lunch at the Krystal. (She loves those little bitty burgers as much as I do.)

The perfect day...an auction, the Salvation Army and the Krystal......

The Best Is Yet To Come!!!!

2010-01-01T11:03:00.000-06:00

Arfy New Year!!!!

Scenes From Our Christmas "Wild Rumpus"

2009-12-27T17:52:00.003-06:00

My Little Chrismas Story

2009-12-23T18:46:00.001-06:00

One day last week I woke up overwhelmed with all the things that I needed to do. Get ready for a Christmas party....decorate....and many other things. Normally I am a very happy glass is half full type of person, but this morning I was not in the best frame of mind. I was feeling sorry for myself and in an ill mood.

As I was driving to work it occurred to me that my days are numbered. No I don't have a terminal disease, but my days are numbered and only God knows how many I have. I should live in the moment and rejoice in every single day. As the scripture says; Rejoice and again I say rejoice. (Philippians 4: 4)

So during my short drive to work, I prayed to God. I always use ACTS for my prayers. A--affirmation--give God glory and praise, C--contrition--ask for forgiveness, T--give thanks for your blessing and S--supplication--give God your cares and ask for His blessings and grace. My short version of this is: I love you Lord, forgive me Lord, thank you Lord and help me Lord.

This particular morning I asked the Lord to help me be joyful, to live the day as if it was my last, and to inspire others with my attitude. I finished up my prayer as I walked toward the hospital. As I walked up toward the canopy, something made me look up. I saw a little feather floating down just above my head. It landed gently at my feet...I think He heard me...don't you?

From My House to Your House

2009-12-20T20:51:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas

Oops I Did It Again

2009-12-19T08:56:00.000-06:00

I took this picture late last night with my phone. I'm pooped.

Conversation about a month ago:

Joyce: Can we have the hospital Christmas party at your house?

Me: Sure!!

A few things to do...finish the deck, decorate outside, decorate inside, clean up the perpetually dirty/messy garage (David desperately needs a "shop")........make sure house is clean clean clean and neat neat neat (I ironed the turn down part of the sheets and the pillow cases--I know I'm crazy).

I am only about a fourth of the way ready and I'm sitting here on the couch resting/procrastinating. I'll post pictures if I can get the camera charged and find the USB cable...........

The Best Christmas Present

2009-12-15T20:40:00.000-06:00

My son is home on leave from Iraq and will get to spend Christmas with his family. God is so good.

Sigh........

2009-12-13T22:35:00.000-06:00

This is a whine free zone, so any of the things that I post that sound whiney are not...I'm simply stating facts. Here is what has been going on in my life. Monday through Sunday
Beg and pleade for David to go and get the Christmas decorations. (They are in the attic of our previous home that is now rented)
He does this and the garage is full of boxes of Christmas stuff.
The garage is also full of hunting gear.
The garage is also full of stuff he used to mount a deer for a friend.
Said deer is in a chair in the dining room..drying and awaiting finish work.
I take the 4-wheeler out and gather pine branches and some other dried branches and vines to decorate the front porch.
I do this, but I can't find the spot lights. Wal-Mart in Winona does not have any.
Drive to next largest town 20 miles away--that Wal Mart also does not have any..Good ole True Value does though and I buy two. Put them to highlight doors and porch. Looks nice.
Buy green spray paint and paint the ferns that are in ceramic pots on the front porch, place dried branches etc in them, along with silk poinsettias...this also looks good--until straight line winds blow them over..plan B...straighten them up and replace with more pine branches later on this week.
Arm starts to hurt...cellulitis in elbow from venipuncture? tendonitis in elbow? bursitis in shoulder from driving the 4-wheeler? or all of the above.
Plan on real Christmas tree this year..buy it at Christmas tree farm probably...looking at messy house, can't decorate inside until cleaned up. Laundry piled to the ceiling. Arm is hurting worse.
Arm is almost unbearable now. Understand why people with chronic pain are not nice people. Elbow is hot-get started on antibiotics. Have big monthly meeting and get throught it...but arm is hurting so bad, unable to think straight.
House getting dirtier and dirtier...too tired to clean when get home...much less decorate inside...the outside looks good though.......
Friday--took off work to try to rest my arm, which is hurting from my elbow to my neck...and am beyond miserable. Besides my house looks like somebody picked it up, shook it and put it back down. And next Saturday is the hospital Christmas party here!!! Got to get started.
Take my time and get the house cleaned up, ice my arm and alternate with heat to my arm.......maybe a little better.
Saturday--Nursing Home party for my uncle and retirement party for one of the physicians David and I have worked with for years. We are greeters...I am very good at this...I know a lot of people and I am a friendly person and I like seeing people and meeting new people. Arm a little better..can at least get it comfortable so that I can sleep.
Sunday--to church...we are going to a little country church now and I love it....David and I ride the 4-wheeler all over looking for a tree--no dice. Buy one at a Christmas tree farm...paid a little more than I intended but we left feeling very good about it because the young man said business had been very slow. Camera missing. Can't find cellphone either.
The ~~wild monkeys~~ grand children came over and helped decorate the tree and only broke 2 ornaments.
So it is official--Christmas can now come to our house--the tree is up, the snow babies are out, the tiny Nativity Scene is placed, and the Santas are on the mantel...but the house is a wreck!! Oh well I'll clean it up again tomorrow.
Oh and my arm is better. I'll post pictures soon as I find my camera.

Miss Maidee Had It Right

2009-12-09T18:14:00.000-06:00

It seems that Miss Maidee (pronouced May-dee) who was my second grade teacher, was right all along. She was an old maid and she seemed to me to be ancient. She had blue hair that she kept in place with a hairnet, wore those "Ole Lady Comfort" shoes (my Mama's name for them) you know the kind that came in any color that you wanted as long as it was black, and laced up and had big chunky heels...okay I digress......she wore shirt waist dresses that I thought were beyond ugly and she was germophobic. In fact she took germophobia to a level that is impressive even by todays standards.
She never ever touched any of us. Well, she never touched our skin. If for some serious reason that she had to touch one of us, like to jerk Mark Bowie out of his chair and stand him in the corner, she would grab the tiniest corner of our shirt with her thumb and index finger.
And she never ever ever touched a door knob. Never. There were three doors to our classroom. It was the job of whomever sat next to the door to open it for her. She never touched our desks, our pencils, our books and we never ever touched her desk or her. If we were called to her desk we stood within 3 feet of her desk and never touched it.
And are you ready for this, she kept a bottle of alcohol on her desk and poured if over her hands anytime she had a potential or real contamination of her hands. So see that was 50 some odd years ago and she was using alcohol to decontaminate her hands!! Now that said, her hands were always in terrible shape, they were red, raw, cracked and arthritic. But I don't remember her being sick or missing a day of school.
She would have loved the alcohol gels..........

Things I Bought At The Auction

2009-12-05T20:29:00.001-06:00

I love the first Satuday of the month. I had a choice--go to the annual Christmas parade and see my friends on the hospital float or go to the auction. Duh...I can see my friends everyday and I can go to the warehouse and look at the float.
So I got up early (for me) today on a Saturday, showered and dressed in my best auction clothes, extra layers because there is very little heat in the auction house, stopped by Micky Dees for a sausage/biscuit and large black coffee.

Next I go in the auction house, get my lucky number (22), mark my chair, speak to all my friends and puruse the merchandise. The first thing that I see is this gorgeous vase. I don't act like I want it, I don't even pick it up or touch it. I figure by now the people there know me and know that I collect/love vintage glassware, in fact I love most glassware. They are always asking me if I'm a collector. So that said, I'm afraid they will start bidding against me. Judy (my auction buddy) and I sit in the back, which has it's advantages--people don't know we are bidding. I know that this vase is coming home with me.
Judy's son, Chance, helps with the auction, and since I'm getting ancy, I (stealthly) point this out to him and he brings it up front for bidding. I wait till the bidding drops to $2.50 and I jump in. Somebody bids $5.00, but it goes home with me for $7.50. When I get it in my hands I realize that it is handblown glass!!! The bottom has the place where it was cut off from the blowing thing and the flutes are not all exact, it is a lovely shade of green. It looks great in the kitchen and I plan on putting Christmas ornaments in it. This picture doesn't do it justice...it is quite large.

This is the next thing that came home with me. An ice bucket without the top, but it has bubbles in the glass and the coolest deer etched on it. It is big, tall and heavy. Mine for $2.50.

This is one of two pictures of state birds and flowers I bought. I didn't realize until after I bought them that one is the Magnolia and Mockingbird of Mississippi. They are very cool and look like vintage pages out of a book. They are also framed nicely. Mine for $2.50 each!! They are now hanging in my bathroom.

Then...Judy and I were talking and I wasn't paying much attention when this beauty came up for bid.

I had not seen it when I looked over the stuff......and I thougth $#^+ that looks like Monax!!! If you don't know anything about Monax depression glass google it. Nobody but me wanted it.........mine for $2.50!!! And the funny thing is, all those dealers there, with their stores didn't recognize it!! I don't really know my depression glass, but this is only the second piece I have ever seen. It is American Sweetheart Monax which was produced between 1930-1936. I don't think Monax has been reproduced, it is very beautiful and as you can see is translucent.
I think that I made some great purchases....and I had a wonderful time.
Until next time..........

Strange Folks At The Salvation Army

2009-12-01T20:30:00.001-06:00

My friend Christine's post here made me think about my visit to the Salvation Army Store last Friday. There are always unique characters in there.

As I was checking out, this older gentleman who had been hanging around the counter talking to the checker said, "Well, I guess I better go, I got work to do in Winona."

Me: (ever the friendly/nosey one) What kind of work do you do in Winona?

Him: Oh just odd jobs--some of this and that. Do know Winona?

Me: Yes I live there.

Him: Oh that's nice, so do I.

He wandered back around to the other side of the counter and began mumbling to the checker again......and then he said to her, "I need to go, but I can't seem to be able to leave.....you must have hoo-dooed me."

I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt then that it was time for me to go. I don't believe in any of that stuff, but I'm just saying........

I've Been Waiting A Year To Post This Picture

2009-11-30T19:47:00.000-06:00

I don't remember where on the web I found this picture, but I immediately copied it. It reminds me of my childhood. No no not the girl, the pot belly stove. It is just like the one we used to heat our old house with. It was in the living room, and now that I think about it, it was the only source of heat that we had. I don't know how my brother and uncle kept warm in the back part of the house. Mama and I slept in the living room when it was really cold. Mama would heat bricks on it, wrap them up in blankets and put them under the covers at the foot of our bed.
I remember that Daddy would stoke that baby up so hot that you could see the embers glow through a big long crack in the "belly."
I remember that if you stood in front of it like she is, your face would be on fire and there would be icicles dripping off your behind.
I remember that Mama would keep my supper warm on it.
I remember that we heated with coal and it was my job to shovel the coal into the bucket and bring the bucket to the porch.
I remember opening the door and gazing mesmirized at the glowing embers.
I wonder why so many of my fondest memories are wrapped up in that old drafty log home? At the time most of my friends were living in much much nicer homes and I was ashamed of where I lived. If I had only known then what I know now............

Where Hotel Furniture and Casino Furniture Retire

2009-11-27T21:02:00.001-06:00

Yes if you have ever wondered what hotels do with all the furniture, lamps, mirrors pictures and stuff when they redo their decor, well it's right here across from Wal Mart here in Winona, MS. It is housed in an old factory building. And there is tons of stuff. It would take hours to really take it all in. Huge mirrors and pictures some really nice, some soso. Head boards for days and days. Seems hotels don't really have headboards they just stick 'em to the wall...miles and miles of bedspreads and sheets and pillows piled to the ceiling. In the picture above are entertainment centers 5 across with rows of 33. And that is not all of them.

And this is only a few of the lamps.....

This room in the picture below is full of lamp shades and that is dozens of chairs sitting on top....

This was scary........but I'm brave and I went in there.....more entertainment centers........in a big deep dark musty dungeon........the thought went through my mind that maybe I was in some kind of insane movie and maybe I couldn't get out. So as I got to back of the dungeon I turned around and slowly walked toward the light........whew.......out alive.

Ahhh out in to the light....and on the left are dozens of twin bed headboards....I didn't buy anything.....because nothing really enterested me...except a vintage mirror I saw as I was going out the door.......maybe I'll go back.