tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92207486481986022412024-03-05T09:40:34.177-06:00quilty chickBrookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623916431810841003noreply@blogger.comBlogger284125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9220748648198602241.post-51902487297342513072012-06-18T21:55:00.001-05:002012-06-18T22:32:22.191-05:00Brush, boys and high centered weenie dogs.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We had a major brush, dead weedy stuff, overgrowth and unruly foliage issue. What could be more fun than chopping and chainsawing to start off the summer? I chainsawed, and yes I still have all my appendages, while blonde rascal loaded up branches and hauled them off to the back of our property. It's why you have boys right? <br />
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He was driving the truck and I was driving the gator....what is wrong with that picture? Check out our boy Baxter in the bed of the truck. Love that dog. Baxter was not much help, just looked cute and wagged his tail.<br />
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We had just had a big rain storm the night before. Puddles are especially big when your legs are 3" long....<br />
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Don't love this dog. Missy is SO bad. Clearly when you bottom out in a mud puddle, you must go to great lengths to dry off.<br />
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Bad, bad dog. She decided to do this on our last load of dumping branches. I was tired, hot, bruised, cut up and battered....and then I had to give a muddy weenie dog a bath. A woman's work is never done!<br />
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<br />Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623916431810841003noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9220748648198602241.post-50371337691108872032012-06-06T11:09:00.000-05:002012-06-06T11:09:28.249-05:00It was August 2011My last post, that is. And my post before that was like 12 years prior. Both times I threatened that I would be back and posting regularly. Ya, well clearly THOSE were empty threats.<br />
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But here I am!!! Smack dab in the 2nd full week of summer. Summer to me is kinda like New Years. A time for a clean slate and lofty to-dos.<br />
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Getting back to my blog has been on my guilty to do list, you know the one...<br />"<i>Oh I really should</i>...." but the motivation behind that list is always lacking because who really likes guilt. Am I right?<br />
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Here is why I want to blog again. (Notice I did not say a definitive AM GOING TO BLOG? Have to keep this decision on the guilt free to do list) So my decision is two fold, or really four fold, I don't know how many folds but....<br />
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#1 is that I don't take hardly ANY pictures when I am not blogging. Besides the typical birthdays/holidays/vacations picture events. I so miss the random life moments that I used to photograph...when I blogged. SO much happens between the birthdays/holidays/vacations that I want to remember. Also tangled up in this particular revelation is that I want to continue to scrapbook in some form or fashion. This falls onto the guilt list. I have not scrapbooked in 3 years. Sigh. Have to find the scrapbooking medium that fits my life right now. No guilt.<br />
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All of that in a nutshell...no pictures = no scrapbook. Blog makes me take pictures. Must blog.<br />
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#2 My Dad loves my blog. My Dad is one of the greatest guys on earth. Simple, huh? Hi Dad!<br />
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#3 The obvious narcissistic personality that on some scale all bloggers must posses? Life is beautiful and crazy and entertaining and <b>sometimes I crack myself up</b>... and like to write about it. <br />
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#4 I have TIME to blog now!!! The long and short of it.... 3 years ago we moved 90 miles from "home" to this fantastic small-ish town where hubs opened a used car lot. He was wildly successful and loved it. I was working 2-ish days a week at the lot as the office manager extraordinaire. Our business partner turned out to not have the same work ethic/drive/standards as hubs. He walked out last June and then proceeded to try and extort money from us and then "procured" a large sum of money from our business account later in the year. The hubster and I buckled down and put all of our money/energy/time into our business. All the while making a concentrated effort to keep bitterness out of our hearts and praying that our God would provide the path for us to follow and remedy the situation in His time.<br />
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In a nut shell, I for all intents and purposes became the full-time partner. Therefore no time for blogging or being a housewife. I have to commend full time working moms. I believe they wear capes! <br />
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Despite the upheaval and unknown of where our business would go, hubs and I made a great team and it enhanced our marriage and our business continued to succeed. My man is an incredible businessman and provider for our family. I could not be more proud of him.<br />
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Months passed as we worked hard and tried to be patient while we waited for God's answer. The answer came last month when a large dealership in a town about 60 miles away, that hubs has done business with for years, randomly called and offered him a job. A job as the fleet manager. Which involves him traveling all around our area. We don't have to move. He has a lovely salary, benefits, a vehicle and is doing what he loves with a passion...blah, blah, blah. All of that and no headache of owning our own business with a smarmy business partner that would not go away.<br />
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That all leaves me gainfully unemployed. To which I say....HOORAH!! I love being at home and taking care of my family.<br />
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So here I am! After the harrowing minutes this morning realizing I forgot my blog password and trying to figure out which email address used ...I gave google blogger a blood sample and fingerprints, now I am back in business!<br />
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Lots has happened since last August but here is the top of the list. In April we drove to Arizona to welcome The Marine home from Afghanistan.<br />
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The Marine and one happy darling-daughter-in-law!!<br />
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I was one elated mom. Best day ever.<br />
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Hubs...with a BIG sigh of relief!<br />
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Blonde rascal has his brother back, all is right with the world!<br />
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I pray for the safe return of all of our service men and women. Every military family deserves the indescribable joy of a deployment return! <br />
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<br />Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623916431810841003noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9220748648198602241.post-72956068784854348152011-08-28T17:45:00.015-05:002011-08-28T22:22:01.512-05:00Some sewin' goin' on!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-F9Rk9jIiH5fk7zjOj63ypFAdRnnnbfb5ghYyqGynQTjp7JcrdaAuArBRyICp5kuyTpfPp3yEbAOfoJIUeFgFYlX5a6kiIX5nqOmaNngPNGryhLL5xYGPBcxtCnW3_Cd4K-I_zl1gjJc/s1600/IMG_6645.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-F9Rk9jIiH5fk7zjOj63ypFAdRnnnbfb5ghYyqGynQTjp7JcrdaAuArBRyICp5kuyTpfPp3yEbAOfoJIUeFgFYlX5a6kiIX5nqOmaNngPNGryhLL5xYGPBcxtCnW3_Cd4K-I_zl1gjJc/s400/IMG_6645.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646075176756165730" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDXGcEx2l9TvgSv2wcUQQIP1EjvHWbhe7CyncUlgAMbeGruT54bch0-y_xq4h_7NxjlzQhyfJboaDAbvX-q8zcMioI2PqTgBMJceLCZqaqYH-qTrqmtrtFnJUc1q5SptraT3a9eMOiho/s1600/IMG_6646.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDXGcEx2l9TvgSv2wcUQQIP1EjvHWbhe7CyncUlgAMbeGruT54bch0-y_xq4h_7NxjlzQhyfJboaDAbvX-q8zcMioI2PqTgBMJceLCZqaqYH-qTrqmtrtFnJUc1q5SptraT3a9eMOiho/s400/IMG_6646.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646075187342467794" border="0" /></a>
<br />I renewed my sewing mojo when I went on a weekend quilting retreat back in April. I took a Santa kit, to work on, that I have had in the wings since... the beginning of time more or less.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8uXaRco2gIZT3sr-Yac156L2bqX10lS2sMmhRE_ykCnUz7KsP1PofjnjR2Va8i6wNQX6RJ3DkFa2nzGnGI1_7BHuN3xQAjPrunKViPlLA_Psb3KmkK-NRjE9wsl1c0M0hkKuZq2PK_U/s1600/IMG_6602.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 376px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8uXaRco2gIZT3sr-Yac156L2bqX10lS2sMmhRE_ykCnUz7KsP1PofjnjR2Va8i6wNQX6RJ3DkFa2nzGnGI1_7BHuN3xQAjPrunKViPlLA_Psb3KmkK-NRjE9wsl1c0M0hkKuZq2PK_U/s400/IMG_6602.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646043046327381074" border="0" /></a>He turned out quite cute, if I do say so myself. I hung him haphazardly in the living room, in August, to see how he looked. Santa looked like it was too hot outside to have him on the wall. Now he is hanging comfortably in a closet... for another month or two. It felt great to get that quilt finished.
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<br />Santa was followed by a log cabin that was part of a quilt along at our local quilt store.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAh0-sDzCWyn2yjk-a_u2xG8Ef2-kQsYZyD6mxuQ2e_il64jvWDheBfrVLXQq41InwWyOdZYWxsG3C9kcUvaBhodyfrxEd-Z57A0QtRyhiLbOpjNOn-SRNVFWJtcB8XJ8FU83x-Z9_iRo/s1600/IMG_6579.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAh0-sDzCWyn2yjk-a_u2xG8Ef2-kQsYZyD6mxuQ2e_il64jvWDheBfrVLXQq41InwWyOdZYWxsG3C9kcUvaBhodyfrxEd-Z57A0QtRyhiLbOpjNOn-SRNVFWJtcB8XJ8FU83x-Z9_iRo/s400/IMG_6579.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646065925752886258" border="0" /></a>It is stripey and dottie and just wonderfully crazy.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDPL_XRYEluJEuQyp_8elZCyGnwfEXD4ET0x2OPPxrhpvud8hHL0u0n4o3CGR4fnh0JEMfyZrX5_e1tQpGImtcavxYmIKqpA7DSUAnQeYa75ChsHAQDVAYY_e5kxV3Hu8X9x0TY-xtRE/s1600/IMG_6620.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDPL_XRYEluJEuQyp_8elZCyGnwfEXD4ET0x2OPPxrhpvud8hHL0u0n4o3CGR4fnh0JEMfyZrX5_e1tQpGImtcavxYmIKqpA7DSUAnQeYa75ChsHAQDVAYY_e5kxV3Hu8X9x0TY-xtRE/s400/IMG_6620.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646056832207606594" border="0" /></a>At this point I swore I would never do another log cabin as this is possibly the most un-square quilt I have ever made.
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<br />I quickly forgot that vow when I saw the coolest log cabin that is an American flag. I may have to make it for the marine. If he can fight for our country...I can surely suffer through another wonky log cabin, right?
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<br />Then I did 2 little tunics for my precious twin nieces.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQFcAesA4k8aPBpAqrhSZ3o8hFyETxlhONFjvPQKLVTERcMsMDfs8xCoRwHPmVdnO3wEmqj_4SldFo725LwJPjJAp9IEZh9gCY_T4UHuH4D8fceS13cUjHkAM5jvfkggL6YtHYvG_N2Y/s1600/IMG_6662.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQFcAesA4k8aPBpAqrhSZ3o8hFyETxlhONFjvPQKLVTERcMsMDfs8xCoRwHPmVdnO3wEmqj_4SldFo725LwJPjJAp9IEZh9gCY_T4UHuH4D8fceS13cUjHkAM5jvfkggL6YtHYvG_N2Y/s400/IMG_6662.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646050977138232866" border="0" /></a>I have not sewn clothes since I was in college. I may not ever sew clothes again. These sweet little tops had shorts that went with them. I won't even go in to the <span style="font-style: italic;">comedy of errors</span> that was me attempting... and then scratching the shorts idea.
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<br />Next on the agenda is making a slip cover for my darling daughter-in-law.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAW40t5mVKTKGe_5HOtnRWdTFJBq8JVB2e6z-wECvXDCnpLg51p5ZHJu038X8lk_yAJOjJVhWexnowT7_CZ4e7CpECLJ232rCPMAf19PTG3V1XVryfpCpglhJOg0twe6r84fWD7r0YqA/s1600/IMG_6651.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAW40t5mVKTKGe_5HOtnRWdTFJBq8JVB2e6z-wECvXDCnpLg51p5ZHJu038X8lk_yAJOjJVhWexnowT7_CZ4e7CpECLJ232rCPMAf19PTG3V1XVryfpCpglhJOg0twe6r84fWD7r0YqA/s400/IMG_6651.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646077977435750306" border="0" /></a>It if a funky junk store chair that I am going to slip cover with cotton seed bags. She is going to put it in her sun room. I am waiting until a day when I feel I have sufficient brain power to start that project. After the <span style="font-style: italic;">shorts debacle</span>, my confidence is temporarily, I hope, waning.
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<br />These spurts of creative energy are usually followed by fits of rearranging and reorganizing of the Quilty Shack.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBICJIMKzZ8gIFS-kys9f-3EZbnAnQpEutHT57KegZ0mBkaFE0ohHcaHT1Rf1qfPNlQIgKVxrQARiEn8DdA-V_EvFKefwkdHqRONt4vET-nra383u-HYhIt5Cp5YeEkzcIBCr5r9nGD8/s1600/IMG_6629.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBICJIMKzZ8gIFS-kys9f-3EZbnAnQpEutHT57KegZ0mBkaFE0ohHcaHT1Rf1qfPNlQIgKVxrQARiEn8DdA-V_EvFKefwkdHqRONt4vET-nra383u-HYhIt5Cp5YeEkzcIBCr5r9nGD8/s400/IMG_6629.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646065938508500994" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQuZYruSaq5cy928dXSMkGcekluiv3cLVfjhU9_Sz1T_YFhWoX5ymRypT8g51Kr4rkAmB-PXePhDfgH7a8uBpGKKaFuziGQycWOvBMUS6DJaC9oVXqpGQZh8crWejwjBCe2xMMlJ7VtEA/s1600/IMG_6628.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQuZYruSaq5cy928dXSMkGcekluiv3cLVfjhU9_Sz1T_YFhWoX5ymRypT8g51Kr4rkAmB-PXePhDfgH7a8uBpGKKaFuziGQycWOvBMUS6DJaC9oVXqpGQZh8crWejwjBCe2xMMlJ7VtEA/s400/IMG_6628.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646065927911308338" border="0" /></a>Can you tell it has been a scorcher of a West TX summer?
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutEZns9fo-kPKMc5g_cGBVwmyeZQEImLn9OFiLt2B5LYlKDFMCMQRsKuBpnFv_bnK_KWv_AP2ZFo-RSmdplCB5yVv-NvpFplCXs6I-a2H2mOmtmZaesVgTjIRClVytP8CH94N4QFhwvE/s1600/IMG_6421.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutEZns9fo-kPKMc5g_cGBVwmyeZQEImLn9OFiLt2B5LYlKDFMCMQRsKuBpnFv_bnK_KWv_AP2ZFo-RSmdplCB5yVv-NvpFplCXs6I-a2H2mOmtmZaesVgTjIRClVytP8CH94N4QFhwvE/s400/IMG_6421.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646052585692395186" border="0" /></a>Here the little shack is earlier in the summer when the geraniums were slightly more happy and everything was a little less dusty.
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<br />There is always a plethora of animals hanging around the Q.S.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmshSistT9xHJ_RpHz43xBXRDVYh0LQGs3tuUAyTIjEa1LqPWVacqoHdyieyC-j64WhSczCL8JdKCxWKR1pdcjPAO7rFs5W_gBrzHQfGiNfPHuTH8mqfb7y5Mdf_pcHUEUCeRWzO_j5tg/s1600/IMG_6624.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmshSistT9xHJ_RpHz43xBXRDVYh0LQGs3tuUAyTIjEa1LqPWVacqoHdyieyC-j64WhSczCL8JdKCxWKR1pdcjPAO7rFs5W_gBrzHQfGiNfPHuTH8mqfb7y5Mdf_pcHUEUCeRWzO_j5tg/s400/IMG_6624.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646059974034121106" border="0" /></a>Missy, ever in the center of activity.
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<br />Then Jake,<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSK40q6IYikGi7on7hpW2Ldiy8IVJF5h3Fm7qHX5AblTH92wj_am9HQtsNlds1BCPCIiqhUHPaynkwXfU9PEbbRCNxDRp2IxeH-4DIc15hvN2iMMp-fqtM513PWEfny57emBOsTu_du8/s1600/IMG_6626.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSK40q6IYikGi7on7hpW2Ldiy8IVJF5h3Fm7qHX5AblTH92wj_am9HQtsNlds1BCPCIiqhUHPaynkwXfU9PEbbRCNxDRp2IxeH-4DIc15hvN2iMMp-fqtM513PWEfny57emBOsTu_du8/s400/IMG_6626.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646059990320792578" border="0" /></a>...who earlier in the summer dug up my cute little flower beds in front of the Q.S., looking for a cool spot. Darling.
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<br />Of course Bianca...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOmNeZePvffYkFtszTVmq8EDgiKeR1Q7oJIKuXM-lXJPt2zxHAZlkmR_Eevr2lkjeJPZvbBqSJftcf1lX9FwL4-HdcNO0rgj5KZF6LUdiFuTZ5KDh4pXIw9kJpvDS6ZNJI_SE8RmLiOg/s1600/IMG_6625.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOmNeZePvffYkFtszTVmq8EDgiKeR1Q7oJIKuXM-lXJPt2zxHAZlkmR_Eevr2lkjeJPZvbBqSJftcf1lX9FwL4-HdcNO0rgj5KZF6LUdiFuTZ5KDh4pXIw9kJpvDS6ZNJI_SE8RmLiOg/s400/IMG_6625.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646059979679075234" border="0" /></a>...the sweet Bordie Collie who is in dire need of some sort of spa day.
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<br />Opening the door to the QS, always to be met by cluttered chaos that creativity generally creates.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCaBR4kRhDNL9MsHohqiafSnNyb1wr-ogAtJvHIbKhB_kH64eWgUuFq8HfAighLV5yHlcu0lZwfn7S9CsIVDpktwGmfWeEOdHYqQtS-bADsmvB2SkNyncTfXcHQ9GM49V0iIXG_L6qNaw/s1600/IMG_6634.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCaBR4kRhDNL9MsHohqiafSnNyb1wr-ogAtJvHIbKhB_kH64eWgUuFq8HfAighLV5yHlcu0lZwfn7S9CsIVDpktwGmfWeEOdHYqQtS-bADsmvB2SkNyncTfXcHQ9GM49V0iIXG_L6qNaw/s400/IMG_6634.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646065945956453730" border="0" /></a>Off to the left is lots of storage spots, my cutting table and dresser turned ironing board.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SHigRMIJ5woY5uavCSeYjP4DWZTwCWOL1b3iw8jcLmTr-r2AJjA_IfP5kfvtP-n2DUHU2xPNNRaNyqBqCZygIGYafj5XxM41Sb8JBwWM-9Np5e0JEowd-1tRJJYVCNiufyr7cIj4XvA/s1600/IMG_6641.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SHigRMIJ5woY5uavCSeYjP4DWZTwCWOL1b3iw8jcLmTr-r2AJjA_IfP5kfvtP-n2DUHU2xPNNRaNyqBqCZygIGYafj5XxM41Sb8JBwWM-9Np5e0JEowd-1tRJJYVCNiufyr7cIj4XvA/s400/IMG_6641.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646072407278782834" border="0" /></a>The. Best. Junk. Store. Find. Ever.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSS69iku7UuoNJUhwZxs5KOkyqT4XlIqUu86R-xwwqknjcxpWedk_E_oH5Fi2kpY501zNaHLfx1P7AO0GPQu4af-djOnDtX_mhFKJwCA-DPTdYWLwlv_UQOhCYG6B_7KBOoZ2Vp87AOA/s1600/IMG_6642.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSS69iku7UuoNJUhwZxs5KOkyqT4XlIqUu86R-xwwqknjcxpWedk_E_oH5Fi2kpY501zNaHLfx1P7AO0GPQu4af-djOnDtX_mhFKJwCA-DPTdYWLwlv_UQOhCYG6B_7KBOoZ2Vp87AOA/s400/IMG_6642.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646072409113612434" border="0" /></a>Old metal school lockers. Spray painted pink, what else? The storage capacity of lockers is stellar.
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<br />Back up at the front, past the dresser, is my sewing machine. It is parked on an old wooden and enamel table that belonged to hub's grandmother.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGvXDnA0Qj8RVDf4vtgS4Sx_XPa70ihxbGxiQn_Ah27QNgPvr1KqNY7ORPogSuZmN114PxL-5qGyXjKIF2q0etl4e1kVwYd9AikT-1ht0eN6kk7dJnynkBUEExy7ML8ZpsCiFrxo7ZXM/s1600/IMG_6643.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGvXDnA0Qj8RVDf4vtgS4Sx_XPa70ihxbGxiQn_Ah27QNgPvr1KqNY7ORPogSuZmN114PxL-5qGyXjKIF2q0etl4e1kVwYd9AikT-1ht0eN6kk7dJnynkBUEExy7ML8ZpsCiFrxo7ZXM/s400/IMG_6643.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646072420673845218" border="0" /></a>
<br />Keep going to the left is a bulky cabinet with more great storage capacity...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjnjOrWSqqnDgqUukYMolMZ4OTQH1P_Bx1_PrAfhHnbYiHDqM0pgvM2IxTyw1HLJQmCKXldQjwPr61MlX2HM_6hknmaSfl7VR5sfLqfH-R-G77efeNApyyOOnqimx23G8yNH6-5GONDI/s1600/IMG_6644.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjnjOrWSqqnDgqUukYMolMZ4OTQH1P_Bx1_PrAfhHnbYiHDqM0pgvM2IxTyw1HLJQmCKXldQjwPr61MlX2HM_6hknmaSfl7VR5sfLqfH-R-G77efeNApyyOOnqimx23G8yNH6-5GONDI/s400/IMG_6644.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646075171579090450" border="0" /></a>Keep in mind that this photo shoot was not staged. It is real life in the Quilty Shack...complete with pictures that have fallen off the wall and everything.
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<br />Next to incredible hulk cabinet, is my junk store (sense a pattern here?) cart, which I left in its original chippy yellow paint condition.
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOFkytn8wBPjGjeu3czFjNYifIqW3dZBx-HSsm5gB15B-ky6frFj1V9YyxfnIpfwFwA3TAJr5W5l5QhW3ir8sojmu2_Rj1e-qYHJMJBeX3cCS7edUHeAbdVXAkxNXcm_9rFY3MQDT0Jo/s1600/IMG_6659.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOFkytn8wBPjGjeu3czFjNYifIqW3dZBx-HSsm5gB15B-ky6frFj1V9YyxfnIpfwFwA3TAJr5W5l5QhW3ir8sojmu2_Rj1e-qYHJMJBeX3cCS7edUHeAbdVXAkxNXcm_9rFY3MQDT0Jo/s400/IMG_6659.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646079956564061810" border="0" /></a>Above it is an old wooden ironing board which also belonged to hub's grandmother, that is currently being used as a bulletin board, if you will.
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<br />My rusty cart holds some serious essentials...
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktw0XbPLJpN__sO6OqZA8e3t8-RWdxvHE99FdnQraO9CmBhtRs1B5s_1lcneRdeLroL9H3_kPg9866Cbrg7MKPBfuSru0f6gqQMrKvHHf0JfJEJd6n9s9cb7et45qm17hNS9_IyewG-o/s1600/IMG_6660.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktw0XbPLJpN__sO6OqZA8e3t8-RWdxvHE99FdnQraO9CmBhtRs1B5s_1lcneRdeLroL9H3_kPg9866Cbrg7MKPBfuSru0f6gqQMrKvHHf0JfJEJd6n9s9cb7et45qm17hNS9_IyewG-o/s400/IMG_6660.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646079967484302770" border="0" /></a>...an electric hot water kettle thing, Starbucks instant coffee and a Scentsy warmer to make things smell fab. A ridiculous amount of quilting magazines and an old school set of canisters, which were found at the junk store too. Why do you ask? In the canisters are some people snacks, along with kitty and doggie treats. You saw the unruly gathering of animals hanging around, and that was not even the half of them, they get hungry.
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<br />Missy has quickly caught on to the snack stash....and is obsessed. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6sCvc-Ni7345XkQGLU8wEOckM1nhJ00zsGrGo_SHME5l7_jmgZiuChBGTvBbI53FDhmOOyDDipVWJx1ddEDPWDNi9GBmTnJhSZUwj8HaPdD_6kH-TpKXRUoBkPvwjuOLIIQNx63u46NA/s1600/IMG_6640.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6sCvc-Ni7345XkQGLU8wEOckM1nhJ00zsGrGo_SHME5l7_jmgZiuChBGTvBbI53FDhmOOyDDipVWJx1ddEDPWDNi9GBmTnJhSZUwj8HaPdD_6kH-TpKXRUoBkPvwjuOLIIQNx63u46NA/s400/IMG_6640.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646072399441537090" border="0" /></a>All the puppy treats were gone...so she polished off the kitty treats. Meow.
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<br />Lastly we have my newly appointed scrapbook desk, which is still under construction and organization efforts...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFb1sYPJhtdnqEVqAnlGwX1fHUsmV94Hw2oqN0KJzO9YkmMfgbHuTGK7l0Iyqbk3ir61G6vGjuLbZEP4n2gr94XaMvImCao2CadZn_aO7cH6qX4lve636DOCct0D92HnI28BS4TzpUQU/s1600/IMG_6658.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFb1sYPJhtdnqEVqAnlGwX1fHUsmV94Hw2oqN0KJzO9YkmMfgbHuTGK7l0Iyqbk3ir61G6vGjuLbZEP4n2gr94XaMvImCao2CadZn_aO7cH6qX4lve636DOCct0D92HnI28BS4TzpUQU/s400/IMG_6658.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646077988009090178" border="0" /></a>I have not scrapbooked in some 3 or 4 years sadly, nor have I printed the 60,987 pictures on my computer. But, as you can see I am working on that. In theory anyway. Also you will see I painted the bathroom door with chalkboard paint. Good times.
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<br />Now, Missy is bored so I guess I better go.
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJYeJtse8LAvaniyziKBdQhMdD31BJfkk7gKW9gVp_HdRpX22L_jqTpRmKX4X2qSXGAWLbYxgS1yHwKGD0hYg89N9e6574mShl5p4vJNQbKhf2ayYKvhw3j4g0tqpKmMh1gWXQh01k5Q/s1600/IMG_6654.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJYeJtse8LAvaniyziKBdQhMdD31BJfkk7gKW9gVp_HdRpX22L_jqTpRmKX4X2qSXGAWLbYxgS1yHwKGD0hYg89N9e6574mShl5p4vJNQbKhf2ayYKvhw3j4g0tqpKmMh1gWXQh01k5Q/s400/IMG_6654.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646077985672431042" border="0" /></a>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6sCvc-Ni7345XkQGLU8wEOckM1nhJ00zsGrGo_SHME5l7_jmgZiuChBGTvBbI53FDhmOOyDDipVWJx1ddEDPWDNi9GBmTnJhSZUwj8HaPdD_6kH-TpKXRUoBkPvwjuOLIIQNx63u46NA/s1600/IMG_6640.JPG">
<br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8uXaRco2gIZT3sr-Yac156L2bqX10lS2sMmhRE_ykCnUz7KsP1PofjnjR2Va8i6wNQX6RJ3DkFa2nzGnGI1_7BHuN3xQAjPrunKViPlLA_Psb3KmkK-NRjE9wsl1c0M0hkKuZq2PK_U/s1600/IMG_6602.JPG">
<br /></a>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623916431810841003noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9220748648198602241.post-68001097140251905252011-08-23T20:47:00.004-05:002011-08-23T21:31:10.303-05:00School. Already?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXeaVeQfDXzmD91qJejsoWjdF6_n8N_CmwMeaImKeWnSqosoVqI_zahrbPczvdmFz_wnbanGMjwbiAKFFzg_ZEks48VYcxRJ3lN92unrgS-PXRm90O5SlJy7khJRjR8y46-RMRpHjRa4/s1600/2011-07-13_10-57-18_430.jpg">
<br /></a>So, my last post was 6 days in to summer. Yesterday was the first day of school. Where did you go summer? I love summer because I love blonde rascal being at home with me. End of story.
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<br />Let's review his unwillingness to be photographed on the first day of school, shall we?
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<br />The sleepy scowl.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdo5-YFjAKx0nDGCPaHC1_1NulDZ8GFt_jMqe6tRSB6Dm_N-NzMRf2v_zvmL9uRjWAP6fetUWTkIupJ9w9AqFYQ9vyvUTyUmTDxTJ1NDi-pWDAxyOCIAiUGWuyhS6Gb_TjXTPyy5uawmQ/s1600/IMG_6618.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdo5-YFjAKx0nDGCPaHC1_1NulDZ8GFt_jMqe6tRSB6Dm_N-NzMRf2v_zvmL9uRjWAP6fetUWTkIupJ9w9AqFYQ9vyvUTyUmTDxTJ1NDi-pWDAxyOCIAiUGWuyhS6Gb_TjXTPyy5uawmQ/s400/IMG_6618.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644224063819493394" border="0" /></a>Followed by complete disinterest.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaROH0N9cJ-q_ZKoD4iY1gvpbIK5O20qv98TaKgY6QBfbryf2wXYYjfc7Wu-MxNUk8bQnyhnVJHGq-TpWTSs39uK3CKvx3LPDGwZaKhox-70JiPdQvIogGJ0NTIHLqCZAHz_kpIZGLtk/s1600/IMG_6616.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaROH0N9cJ-q_ZKoD4iY1gvpbIK5O20qv98TaKgY6QBfbryf2wXYYjfc7Wu-MxNUk8bQnyhnVJHGq-TpWTSs39uK3CKvx3LPDGwZaKhox-70JiPdQvIogGJ0NTIHLqCZAHz_kpIZGLtk/s400/IMG_6616.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644224058946046034" border="0" /></a>Ending with a smirk as he makes his escape and runs for the car.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBye1af6_JSj8R6aWevNPtQb56Ybj-_6l70G37Jk62j2nTAshzTJTSNFAinR4zKNaquvW6I0wPHs2uHj821hTp4TGgk4tmXxM9lomeFbuWZ0Tc33YnGcTOeLVf1n8EogcZN_SdO22ofcw/s1600/IMG_6619.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBye1af6_JSj8R6aWevNPtQb56Ybj-_6l70G37Jk62j2nTAshzTJTSNFAinR4zKNaquvW6I0wPHs2uHj821hTp4TGgk4tmXxM9lomeFbuWZ0Tc33YnGcTOeLVf1n8EogcZN_SdO22ofcw/s400/IMG_6619.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644224071998549634" border="0" /></a>
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<br />On a side note, back to school time does give me hope that cold weather is scheduled to appear in the next few months. I am a winter girl. Bring on the cold and the dark at 6pm and the quilts to snuggle under and the fires in the fireplace and the hot chocolate and snow and rain and icy windshields and cold toes and....well all of it! West Texas has had a HECK of a summer. Over 100 degrees for some ridiculous record # of days. 50 or 60 days. Sweating is so unattractive. No rain....since almost going on a year now. Honestly. We have gotten a quick rain shower, 10 minutes at a time maybe twice this summer. It is bad. Brown, dead, ugly bad.
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<br />SO all you summer lovers (Mary) I have paid my dues to summer weather. It better snow, rain, sleet, hail whatever it has to do for a little precipitation in this parched country, this winter. And cold? Bring it. We have had extreme heat....so I feel like a little extreme cold is only fair. I'm just warning you. I have sweat like a stuck pig all summer, so conversely it is time to freeze the proverbial tushies off this winter. Mmmmhmmm that's right.
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<br />So let's talk about blonde rascal and how he is in the 6th grade now? Why does it go so fast? He is half way through his schooling....well K-12 that is, because he will be going to MIT or Harvard or Yale or wherever his little heart desires, except the University of Texas because we bleed Red Raider in this house.....but I digress. Thank goodness in this little bitty school that he attends, 6th grade is still elementary. My heart is not ready for jr. high. I have this one year left to make snacks for the class, gifts for the teacher, attend class parties....and I plan on fully embracing it!
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<br />Sunday at church, he went from Sunday School to Youth Group. Ack. My baby. The up side of that is that both hubs and I reminisce fondly about our experiences with our respective church "youth groups" growing up and how it holds some of the most fantastic memories. Oh the fun. In fact hubs is still very, very close to this day to the <del>band of thieves</del> friends from his youth group. We are excited for the good times in store for blonde rascal.
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<br />My Dad requested a showing of the first day of school pics so that they could see blonde rascal's new brace-free smile! Well as it turns out the first day of school pics were apparently too early in the morning to, well, smile.
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<br />Here is the brace-free smile from when we went to Schlitterbahn a few weeks ago...
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgipY7pSeQdpdSY4uJ53BpWAcpBOxGG4_gf0bkjMoI3vW5T2YaRJyFHMZrfniykZEfUJffEI06e7vGhouwKTrA8850hyuI6PrHByDrohEobSXD_bI8i-ZFjQUusclZP7SbNuHjBTn5KOTY/s1600/IMG_6581.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgipY7pSeQdpdSY4uJ53BpWAcpBOxGG4_gf0bkjMoI3vW5T2YaRJyFHMZrfniykZEfUJffEI06e7vGhouwKTrA8850hyuI6PrHByDrohEobSXD_bI8i-ZFjQUusclZP7SbNuHjBTn5KOTY/s400/IMG_6581.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644216995985943746" border="0" /></a>That would be me, hubs, the marine, darling-daughter-in-law and a brace free blonde rascal getting ready to brave the water park... which I am hoping is a good excuse for why I sort of look like a drowned something or other in clearly the most unflattering swimsuit cover-up known to man which will promptly be donated to Goodwill. Ahem. But isn't my new daughter-in-love cute??!!
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<br />And finally for your viewing pleasure, Dad, a full on mouth view whilst at the orthodontist immediately following the brace removal....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXeaVeQfDXzmD91qJejsoWjdF6_n8N_CmwMeaImKeWnSqosoVqI_zahrbPczvdmFz_wnbanGMjwbiAKFFzg_ZEks48VYcxRJ3lN92unrgS-PXRm90O5SlJy7khJRjR8y46-RMRpHjRa4/s1600/2011-07-13_10-57-18_430.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXeaVeQfDXzmD91qJejsoWjdF6_n8N_CmwMeaImKeWnSqosoVqI_zahrbPczvdmFz_wnbanGMjwbiAKFFzg_ZEks48VYcxRJ3lN92unrgS-PXRm90O5SlJy7khJRjR8y46-RMRpHjRa4/s400/2011-07-13_10-57-18_430.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644226784688718018" border="0" /></a>Charming, eh?
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<br />Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623916431810841003noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9220748648198602241.post-59611149145474276672011-06-06T08:00:00.002-05:002011-06-06T08:15:59.499-05:00Sweet, Sweet Summer TimeSchool has been out for one week. Bliss. This momma loves summer. I love not having a to stick to a stringent schedule and necessary bedtimes and homework. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5kizTD4M_k-NUzAMRurRm6KalneEyqrKqMuYuinExouiN-iaf5vs0JTUKuKeVhe93sWrhD186KBMmZ6wYaZC-iJ7rjItBWE8tvgQIHgp8S5odB9gAH9WaqCOjYvCSzIxjxHQi4S59WU/s1600/IMG_6198.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5kizTD4M_k-NUzAMRurRm6KalneEyqrKqMuYuinExouiN-iaf5vs0JTUKuKeVhe93sWrhD186KBMmZ6wYaZC-iJ7rjItBWE8tvgQIHgp8S5odB9gAH9WaqCOjYvCSzIxjxHQi4S59WU/s400/IMG_6198.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615085806077350082" border="0" /></a>Last day of school, blonde rascal getting his honor roll medal. That's right my boy has it all, brains and good looks.<br /><br />Now I must get you caught up on all the riveting occurrences that you really should know about...<br /><br />*I had to laugh because I got some comments on my last post from people who had considered putting in a pool, and I have caused them to ponder on that idea. Here is the standard that you must accept if you decide to put in a pool... you have to digest and know as the gospel truth that it IS expensive and the upkeep is time consuming... always, every summer, no breaks. If you think the payoff is worth sinking your money and time into.....then go for it. If not then join a country club, neighborhood pool or make friends with other poor schmucks who have pools. Come visit me and swim to your hearts desire!<br /><br />*Elmo is a baby daddy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7D11YySr5JgKcI0x7HhszuQSA5bLd0WqSxchuMo8mJ6eSdXS2eBu1kyPleJ5ZsnPZtSJYzotUcN-GsDE_nmqQnr64VKWKmvhej3faKhrhOiJTIzMWkES-GPARwpEZX7Cgl834TglM2o/s1600/IMG_5543.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7D11YySr5JgKcI0x7HhszuQSA5bLd0WqSxchuMo8mJ6eSdXS2eBu1kyPleJ5ZsnPZtSJYzotUcN-GsDE_nmqQnr64VKWKmvhej3faKhrhOiJTIzMWkES-GPARwpEZX7Cgl834TglM2o/s400/IMG_5543.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614775638942918098" border="0" /></a>Sassy is the baby mama.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2faK7bUyyEv0dFn_oZ0rSfSVGzEugEaApVGbZ6uXWzyvAPg-D0Dn9js1IhHwwnv-8wRrjQZj55M9qjPWDRKnCpnGHD4oV2zpvTMz_OBOgPiHQWVdo5hV6FdXlJJP7rVNUF0IXBvRE8fg/s1600/IMG_6161.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2faK7bUyyEv0dFn_oZ0rSfSVGzEugEaApVGbZ6uXWzyvAPg-D0Dn9js1IhHwwnv-8wRrjQZj55M9qjPWDRKnCpnGHD4oV2zpvTMz_OBOgPiHQWVdo5hV6FdXlJJP7rVNUF0IXBvRE8fg/s400/IMG_6161.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615085829065518130" border="0" /></a>A fine couple, yes? They had 4 pretty babies. More on that later. We still can't catch the little rascals in order to photograph their cute selves.<br /><br />*In April I went on a weekend quilt retreat with our local quilt store and it was dreamy.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVSZHCQTE6Gspr7WIV1tdDL-U2bSNGyxvkhy-gnorS7aVMYYdJnmwz7LPpkC6J4JLdhLxajMlRKwcKbfQgls3m6jDheCAvDR5io1_NcJ6LFftLQVfG22gYJlYb7qza7pG3eEJokip6tI/s1600/IMG_5850.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVSZHCQTE6Gspr7WIV1tdDL-U2bSNGyxvkhy-gnorS7aVMYYdJnmwz7LPpkC6J4JLdhLxajMlRKwcKbfQgls3m6jDheCAvDR5io1_NcJ6LFftLQVfG22gYJlYb7qza7pG3eEJokip6tI/s400/IMG_5850.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614775627291718690" border="0" /></a>Between LOTs of eating and laughing, I did get some work done. I'll show ya later.<br /><br /><br />*We took blonde rascal and his BFF to Great Wolf Lodge in Dallas for his 11th birthday.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHlKMWqZGi2v-iMpWVywfiZ4tscJhKymC5q8NLr_RsdYOPT7I1XVPc1s8n_xl0BphPrJvwV82XOAbKO1EwXM6YAs2xvuiHfld635m5IJDwrR7xAxEw7ie2UNVclNFUUuHd1eZIlxbUv8/s1600/IMG_6028.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHlKMWqZGi2v-iMpWVywfiZ4tscJhKymC5q8NLr_RsdYOPT7I1XVPc1s8n_xl0BphPrJvwV82XOAbKO1EwXM6YAs2xvuiHfld635m5IJDwrR7xAxEw7ie2UNVclNFUUuHd1eZIlxbUv8/s400/IMG_6028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614773395366504162" border="0" /></a>My baby boy is 11?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_XF4dxRxuK5JefQJ3E5BsmhHP8cnMoPsk9aCfLoHSmQjX5C9Bn5YAiWdPnWCjlflFTEkJOZTxN-U3dmNWAiuX50LLM5_Sz4OIBg31JFq7F6I6_R2JnKRNltxRJxxH7iF86aGyVLZFs0/s1600/IMG_6079.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_XF4dxRxuK5JefQJ3E5BsmhHP8cnMoPsk9aCfLoHSmQjX5C9Bn5YAiWdPnWCjlflFTEkJOZTxN-U3dmNWAiuX50LLM5_Sz4OIBg31JFq7F6I6_R2JnKRNltxRJxxH7iF86aGyVLZFs0/s400/IMG_6079.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615085796192030274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOacWID1mQ4Ohyphenhyphenf9J1NeLuhtrzc9AXzysH1plyMrqsHEqzrH0BeEx9SS6wgY7J1qlOBJtn3kBA9hcZFYfuu0LZ2nSPWUKTVTzQi9euLFSNGx81VZ-R52geYKAGK_uQQosM9_ozYKyEfZ0/s1600/IMG_5969.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOacWID1mQ4Ohyphenhyphenf9J1NeLuhtrzc9AXzysH1plyMrqsHEqzrH0BeEx9SS6wgY7J1qlOBJtn3kBA9hcZFYfuu0LZ2nSPWUKTVTzQi9euLFSNGx81VZ-R52geYKAGK_uQQosM9_ozYKyEfZ0/s400/IMG_5969.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605651498493530066" border="0" /></a>He is my greatest joy in life.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzcqAM4Dwe6JZGdL9RfEQqDQL0gxVeZ6xGh4_q9_WrVO3w-026JgUsPKfS_tTUQozPjBGRGSTfaRl2ccnTZidVrEp63LYOXyzrsDVwT6Pv4s8pGtjhh9UsxXZi_AM5j8SzGxuEsjcjHE/s1600/IMG_5841.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzcqAM4Dwe6JZGdL9RfEQqDQL0gxVeZ6xGh4_q9_WrVO3w-026JgUsPKfS_tTUQozPjBGRGSTfaRl2ccnTZidVrEp63LYOXyzrsDVwT6Pv4s8pGtjhh9UsxXZi_AM5j8SzGxuEsjcjHE/s400/IMG_5841.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605651491972537106" border="0" /></a>In a fit of laughter on the floor, above. He is regular character, that one.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsyNExIrBEgc5PP8QYU9pXtGAM9mWRQHQUaEF_7tq7lB9AeU8-y0zIdzBH8JJ5t_mIefli24FpXN_4Lq9FgzlzBQMqTsJRddTPEILuRqg9F1e_BsBFoOXKpwOu-IcBsvhHecPMM7qfrc/s1600/IMG_5976.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsyNExIrBEgc5PP8QYU9pXtGAM9mWRQHQUaEF_7tq7lB9AeU8-y0zIdzBH8JJ5t_mIefli24FpXN_4Lq9FgzlzBQMqTsJRddTPEILuRqg9F1e_BsBFoOXKpwOu-IcBsvhHecPMM7qfrc/s400/IMG_5976.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605651504873082770" border="0" /></a>How is he big enough to be shooting guns?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRA9P2mvh46O3PEsAYmuSDSvpYg9su46XZojgy8unkf5o6R_FPqyQfz08dBUkWJnEZW8XTzjAF3BwHvoDITShdPRp8_HC_0Nq4BWPvMVPj_rlfkrLBQKwyeoefG_W6x-0YHHABcRt99aI/s1600/P4210010_1.JPG"><br /></a>Blonde Rascal's birthday is May 9th, which always hits on or near Mom's Day.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7rwx804J8GMTpM645DHnqTXsOMsRpjwU76OqfxpYW3BvSRguUqMkO8Vg39ChgOjzSvdHFh5L3196qn7zozPz7S9nS3riL5mWkU-cUgm6Vm_USFltnndY6PyB2-Ycjh745Eo0lIogmHwg/s1600/IMG_6070.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7rwx804J8GMTpM645DHnqTXsOMsRpjwU76OqfxpYW3BvSRguUqMkO8Vg39ChgOjzSvdHFh5L3196qn7zozPz7S9nS3riL5mWkU-cUgm6Vm_USFltnndY6PyB2-Ycjh745Eo0lIogmHwg/s400/IMG_6070.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615081762359007778" border="0" /></a><br />Which is fine with me. I mean, what better way to celebrate Mother's Day than with the little man who made me a mom?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXHBwmCQ0YfSAEkGdIMB3MI-N6XuxnhhGCeB5NiVKuvm6KYDly0fEF3cr2JNRZTsOUfyxBVVS3N3jkSRVP_vheBa1dx-nXWIP0rTmrc8Iu0VqVJFA2nGrEmko7_eGDjiHIcZFpflU56k/s1600/IMG_6073.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXHBwmCQ0YfSAEkGdIMB3MI-N6XuxnhhGCeB5NiVKuvm6KYDly0fEF3cr2JNRZTsOUfyxBVVS3N3jkSRVP_vheBa1dx-nXWIP0rTmrc8Iu0VqVJFA2nGrEmko7_eGDjiHIcZFpflU56k/s400/IMG_6073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615081769830609234" border="0" /></a><br />Eleven? Yet in my mind, he will <span style="font-style: italic;">always</span> be like this....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRA9P2mvh46O3PEsAYmuSDSvpYg9su46XZojgy8unkf5o6R_FPqyQfz08dBUkWJnEZW8XTzjAF3BwHvoDITShdPRp8_HC_0Nq4BWPvMVPj_rlfkrLBQKwyeoefG_W6x-0YHHABcRt99aI/s1600/P4210010_1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 235px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRA9P2mvh46O3PEsAYmuSDSvpYg9su46XZojgy8unkf5o6R_FPqyQfz08dBUkWJnEZW8XTzjAF3BwHvoDITShdPRp8_HC_0Nq4BWPvMVPj_rlfkrLBQKwyeoefG_W6x-0YHHABcRt99aI/s400/P4210010_1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605611326302574098" border="0" /></a>So, we were in Dallas for b.r.'s birthday and Mother's Day. On Sunday, Mother's Day the boys took me to Bass Pro Shop.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjh9jl1BcWA0Bgm34eLYKhPGD-lFoekNrVe8quz-yC1bz8w7bXPpww49sMOit3yOxVuouIEQa0DGb2J0uaDYxwrkuTk93m8ywl6adihSRqs1udvrj73FUoLfzLIZvqt7IhKHSBc8567E0/s1600/IMG_6061.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjh9jl1BcWA0Bgm34eLYKhPGD-lFoekNrVe8quz-yC1bz8w7bXPpww49sMOit3yOxVuouIEQa0DGb2J0uaDYxwrkuTk93m8ywl6adihSRqs1udvrj73FUoLfzLIZvqt7IhKHSBc8567E0/s400/IMG_6061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615081753026895266" border="0" /></a>Just exactly how many fishing lures and varieties of bullets are there? Painful is what that was.<br /><br />That is all for now. I must go make elaborate plans our <span style="font-style: italic;">Father's Day</span> trip to Dallas where we will be shopping at the largest quilt store Dallas has to offer....<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVSZHCQTE6Gspr7WIV1tdDL-U2bSNGyxvkhy-gnorS7aVMYYdJnmwz7LPpkC6J4JLdhLxajMlRKwcKbfQgls3m6jDheCAvDR5io1_NcJ6LFftLQVfG22gYJlYb7qza7pG3eEJokip6tI/s1600/IMG_5850.JPG"><br /></a>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623916431810841003noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9220748648198602241.post-52048102207907061022011-05-28T08:03:00.014-05:002011-05-29T08:51:54.700-05:00Evolution of the swear word<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-vnzmMVwEJfV_U5ygTW50DHTVqTl2ZYYV7tuE5JMQ5AM2zc5oz9csqKIToLGNv7xU5vRenEVZCZv5fPOacWkULu1aYkwv5ZRYYWVSWCmkK7cqAxpHnzZGhDgmU4xZJ1vFl3GvL5HDpk/s1600/IMG_6242.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-vnzmMVwEJfV_U5ygTW50DHTVqTl2ZYYV7tuE5JMQ5AM2zc5oz9csqKIToLGNv7xU5vRenEVZCZv5fPOacWkULu1aYkwv5ZRYYWVSWCmkK7cqAxpHnzZGhDgmU4xZJ1vFl3GvL5HDpk/s400/IMG_6242.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611828303889179154" border="0" /></a><br />The alternate title to this post was...Swimming pool parts massacre.<br /><br />Back in the day, before in ground swimming pools, swearing was a gentler sport. When was the first in ground pool? I should have googled that since, you know, I am bent on having an accurate and truthful blog. I am guessing early 1900's?<br /><br />Before that date, whatever it was, swearing amounted to awwww shucks, durn, phooey, fiddlesticks, tarnation, crimeninny, cotton pickin'....<br /><br />Install the first in ground pool and hello $%*@, !*##, @&$^&#, %+?!, #$}=*!<br /><br />Have some mercy on the foul mouthed, potty talkers of the world. It ALL stemmed from the poor schmuck who had to maintain the first pool.<br /><br />This is our 3rd summer living in this house. When we were looking at the house I was mildly worried about becoming a pool owner knowing they required a <span style="font-style: italic;">tad bit</span> of maintenance. However, we really loved everything about the house and property so my pool apprehension got swept aside and we bought it.<br /><br />Summer #1. By the end of the summer, whilst digging in the couch cushions for spare change to buy pool chemicals & parts, we were scratching our heads wondering just exactly how much grief an in ground pool could cause? Well, look at <a href="http://quiltychick.blogspot.com/2009/06/apology-to-our-sons.html">this</a> and <a href="http://quiltychick.blogspot.com/2009/07/miracle.html">this</a> post, if you are brave<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GDPF2ZzbhyxX6FJfCcUbyWQqjpbrjCSGf_rxHi5HWDPCMkvDmyHgKWIUoLKA5_CosDcjl-d6WP8yqEFsYrfCHk1zxJouMl78aSufm1VhswnhsZnAb-ay1ICZxKeek0pCY1ppBnH3wpI/s1600/IMG_6245.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GDPF2ZzbhyxX6FJfCcUbyWQqjpbrjCSGf_rxHi5HWDPCMkvDmyHgKWIUoLKA5_CosDcjl-d6WP8yqEFsYrfCHk1zxJouMl78aSufm1VhswnhsZnAb-ay1ICZxKeek0pCY1ppBnH3wpI/s400/IMG_6245.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611830619715690594" border="0" /></a><br />Summer #2. Let's just say that hubs <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">did</span> have a really comfy retirement sum tucked away. Living in a box under a bridge in our golden years won't be so bad. We'll have such <del>torturous</del> happy memories of summers full of swimming!<br /><br />Summer #3...which is right now in case you are confused. Took the pool cover off on Friday the 13th. That's appropriate. Admittedly, May 13th is waaayyy too late to be removing the pool cover but we have had a windy, windy spring. If you know West Texas, then you know what I mean. 50 mph sustained winds is sort the norm for a bad spring. So had we removed the durn pool cover earlier we would have been digging patio furniture, dirt (and lots of it), tree limbs, leaves and whatever else could have blown in, out of the pool daily.<br /><br />On Friday the 13th I spent $ at the hardware store for chemical, salt, acid, etc... Understandable for the initial start up for the season.<br /><br />I failed to mention that when we took the cover off, it was very swampy and nasty and terrible.<br /><br />Not to worry. We diligently chemical-ed and vacuumed and back-washed and monitored that week and things slowly were looking up.<br /><br />The following Friday it was back to the hardware store, because you just can't have enough acid at a time like this. Both to snort or shoot up (whatever you do with acid) AND dump in the pool. (Who is funny this morning?) Oh and salt. Saltwater pools love them some salt. You can't just go buy 10 of Mortons blue cylinders of salt at the grocery store and call it good. Oh no, we need mineral fluffy, fancy, super dooper, $ salt. Anyway another $ was spent last Friday.<br /><br />However we had achieved a somewhat normal shade of blue and we were darn skippy proud of our progress. The water was cloudy but it was a blue you could find in a crayon box.<br /><br />Wednesday morning. The cloudiness in the water was gone! We did it. The sun broke through the clouds.....Haaaaaaaleeeeeluuyah!!!<br /><br />Wednesday afternoon a doozie of a wind storm popped up and the bottom of the pool was covered in dirt. Irritating but not the end of the world, just turn on the vac and all will be well again.<br /><br />We innocently turn on the pump and backwash. The start up the vac. Sand starts pouring out of the jets into the pool. (Which is what happened the first summer when we had to drain the pool) So we begrudgingly take apart the sand filter, which is no cake walk. A part had come loose, hubs reattached it. Put it all back together. Dig as much sand out of the pool as we can. Turn it back on. More @$*$^@ sand blowing out the jets.<br /><br />We savagely disassemble the filter again and same part had blown off.<br /><br />We live in a small town with certainly no pool companies nor parts available.<br /><br />Thursday I make the 180 mile round trip to San Angelo, home of our favorite family owned pool store. These folks are really nice and needless to say, have gotten to know us very well over the past three delightful years! I did not re-read the previous pool posts I linked to above, much too painful. So if you bravely read those and I am now repeating myself, I apologize...but the pool store keeps records in the computer of what you buy, your water readings, etc... My name in their computer is misspelled...Broke instead of Brooke. It, sadly, cracks me up every time I am in there. I won't let them change it.<br /><br />Additionally, to add insult to injury on that trip to the big city I had to go to Lowes to buy PVC pipe parts. Hubs had sent me with a precise little list. Have you seen the PVC section at Lowes? For the love of pete I wanted to scratch my eyeballs out in frustration. I was already in a hyper--foul mood by the time I got to Lowes after the pool store...and then I had to paw through 45,000 PVC pieces parts.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Schedule 40, male coupling</span>....what the tarnation is that? I was seething with anger when I left Lowes.<br /><br />We had hopes for our bright young blonde rascal to go to college one day. Perhaps an Ivy League? Those hopes are dashed now. He will be in the box under the bridge with us. I spent his college fund that day at the pool store. Ever bought a new sand filter for a pool? Oh and a new booster motor for the vac too. It seems that sand in the lines screws all the bearings and such in a motor straight to poop.<br /><br />Angry is what I am now. I am not a habitual cuss-er. I am nothing if not a genteel, refined, polished southern woman. Ahem. This pool makes my face turn red and steam blow from my ears. If there was ever a moment when I could just cuss like a sailor...it would purely pool related.<br /><br />As I was leaving the pool store $ lighter, a fellow customer was in the store and I over head him innocently say <span style="font-style: italic;">y'all put my pool in about a month ago and now the water isn't looking so good.</span> It took all I had not to drag him outside by his ear, violently shake him by the shoulders while yelling with tears in my eyes <span style="font-style: italic;">WHY, why would you do something so stupid as installing a #*%$& pool??</span><br /><br />Instead I stood silently while the owner, who I am sure has a tidy retirement & college funds for all his children, said <span style="font-style: italic;">oh no problem 6 bags of blah blah, a case of blah blah and 12 bottles of blah blah will fix you right up. That will be $16, 493. </span><br /><br />I get home from my 180 mile round trip at about 8:30pm and we commence to installing the new filter. At midnight after hubs worked like a champ at the installation, blonde rascal was a gem and a huge help to his Dad and I had entertained myself thoroughly with schemes of how we could get rid of the pool...dynamite, a heck of a storm shelter, giant flower garden... we slept like babies.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRVEZy6hOqByMUdpjNqIOZ-2UKK1_kLQAA4OfKpkP0F2Bnz-Mk-By09MF1uXVBhB07iqW4wbWDwxvzimXEZJTMAEWPE558ghz2OfjbWqb7copI9IPqkmA-TfrzE2Bd2Mxm8CZQBwC308/s1600/IMG_6237.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRVEZy6hOqByMUdpjNqIOZ-2UKK1_kLQAA4OfKpkP0F2Bnz-Mk-By09MF1uXVBhB07iqW4wbWDwxvzimXEZJTMAEWPE558ghz2OfjbWqb7copI9IPqkmA-TfrzE2Bd2Mxm8CZQBwC308/s400/IMG_6237.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611828302041724050" border="0" /></a>I like to call the above photo...the Clampets re-plumb the pool.<br /><br />And the money shot....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFhJBr7EqZ6F72I35sOaZwYoXhZ6QCsIWb1dC4TmCR0Yd8F8jrCiPzqr-EXKhPvhOU3Crg8fif3EdK32Tnnquthp_nMdYsf7aQg-wfs87urAoElVUSEhQR5PDx_vBpQmV-QBAukSBZL4o/s1600/IMG_6243.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFhJBr7EqZ6F72I35sOaZwYoXhZ6QCsIWb1dC4TmCR0Yd8F8jrCiPzqr-EXKhPvhOU3Crg8fif3EdK32Tnnquthp_nMdYsf7aQg-wfs87urAoElVUSEhQR5PDx_vBpQmV-QBAukSBZL4o/s400/IMG_6243.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611828320635700386" border="0" /></a>The million dollar pool part summer.<br /><br />Here we have trash, empty pool filter sand bags.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6V5ACbCYLyBJsujUwxsUSymWFCOw4JdghqLH35-CPFueV9H-rALApvvQcfXS8YNBT00yjwW2PkmxpSxbw4KOJ9sfun4xI9P1Lax3Yt5xL5ztV1ZdsLb9FxZ3XiVwxNLm8onB3kcxoVQc/s1600/IMG_6246.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6V5ACbCYLyBJsujUwxsUSymWFCOw4JdghqLH35-CPFueV9H-rALApvvQcfXS8YNBT00yjwW2PkmxpSxbw4KOJ9sfun4xI9P1Lax3Yt5xL5ztV1ZdsLb9FxZ3XiVwxNLm8onB3kcxoVQc/s400/IMG_6246.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611830627954820130" border="0" /></a>50lb bags and we needed 500 lbs. Ask me how my back feels.<br /><br /><br />Thankfully the pool gods were kind. Not running your pump for 4 days is generally a death sentence, the water will go green and that is not a good quality in this case. Luckily our water has stayed clear and now the filter is running.<br /><br />Uhhhh....the booster pump for the automatic vac is not working but hubs thinks it might be an error in his wiring. So he is still figuring that one out.<br /><br />(I paused at this point in my blogging and went to manually vac the pool.)<br /><br />Guess what? Now the $&%# control valve handle won't turn. Sounds like it has sand jamming it up. Hmmm sand? How odd! So I can't turn the pump to filter. Square one? Hubs is out of town. I am on the verge of l-o-s-i-n-g it. Good news is I did call the only known pool boy in this town. Left a message. If he calls back and says he does not have room for another client I will scream and cry and cuss...out loud this time.<br /><br />I am moments away from calling the realtor.<br /><br />Come back soon to read more of this painful saga.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Broke BrookeBrookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623916431810841003noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9220748648198602241.post-46521859127165024852011-05-06T18:49:00.005-05:002011-05-06T19:56:33.490-05:00Burning questionsFirst of all I am irritated with Blogger. I don't know what has gone on in the past 5 months or so.... but I can't change anything. Not my font, not color, nada. Am I missing something? Do I need to download something? It used to be relatively easy to change. Does anyone know the answer to this? My blog needs a serious update & cleanup. However, I am pooh pooh-ing the whole situation because I don't have 12 consecutive free hours to figure out why I have no creative freedom with Blogger anymore.<br /><br />Secondly, what does Queen Elizabeth carry in that purse of hers? For the record, I did get up at 4:45 am to watch the royal nuptials and was positively giddy about the whole situation. What can I say, but the entire thing was fabulous. I think Kate is stunning and a breath of fresh air. William is charming, Charles is a door knob, Camilla is a woofer, Harry looks like fun and Fergie's daughter's hats were just flat out bizarre.<br /><br />Anyway, it seems like whenever I see the Queen, she has her purse. Her cute grandmotherly purse hanging in the crook of her arm. What on earth is in that thing? Receipts from Target? A Starbucks card? Keys to the palace? Her Jitterbug? (Kleenex goes without saying, as you cannot be a grandmother without them, amen?) Hubs thinks there is a James Bond-ish little gun in there. I vote for a package of peanut butter crackers. What say you?<br /><br />Lastly, I have pictures of every minute detail from the last 100 years since I have not been blogging regularly. Bet you can't wait to see those! I perused through them just now...where to start? In an effort to stay on task with my burning questions theme....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqLGTyNdgUe3MTOWVm6brHioo7U0HmFno3Tx0HBTNxpOJU74q4JwohfjfDpdqQOaGMnR6rUzA1WDhQvYYUsgXOlhWo4TKezJmbzMD7yr1eotjKo2WgYeHGr4UNfVuK4uBSMFNsw0vQzQ/s1600/IMG_5691.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqLGTyNdgUe3MTOWVm6brHioo7U0HmFno3Tx0HBTNxpOJU74q4JwohfjfDpdqQOaGMnR6rUzA1WDhQvYYUsgXOlhWo4TKezJmbzMD7yr1eotjKo2WgYeHGr4UNfVuK4uBSMFNsw0vQzQ/s400/IMG_5691.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603760362979774610" border="0" /></a>Here is the marine on the Friday morning before his wedding. He is stationed in AZ, so he drove all night to get here. Understandably a nap was in order before the craziness of the weekend started.<br /><br />Let's take a closer look....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVNVKB2EwzOtgv13X24G-2lllqOmn_KChid618HxbwCvSrkR362mnoOcx0e_DA04V0XE5oSaWqPyY6nwHrz4gxtFZBbgFrwGtvVpRGUaMYWWEtgMKPhOFRFmYqPCqbn3E0viuWpXHfV8/s1600/IMG_5694.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVNVKB2EwzOtgv13X24G-2lllqOmn_KChid618HxbwCvSrkR362mnoOcx0e_DA04V0XE5oSaWqPyY6nwHrz4gxtFZBbgFrwGtvVpRGUaMYWWEtgMKPhOFRFmYqPCqbn3E0viuWpXHfV8/s400/IMG_5694.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603760372997032450" border="0" /></a><br />There is a weapon in his waistband? (Probably not unlike the one hubs imagines QE to have in her dainty handbag.) During his nap, the day before his wedding, on our living room couch. Was he expecting an attack? Pre-wedding jitters? Of course one would have to think, what kind of a damper would a nap time gunshot wound place on the honeymoon?<br /><br />Well, that is all. I declare with every quarterly post, as now seems to be my schedule, that I will post more often. I really like hearing myself talk, so I do hope to be posting more frequently....<br /><br />In the meantime please tell me why Blogger is a butt and how to resolve it, what you think is in QE's purse and for the love of Pete, do tell if you had a weapon on your being on your wedding day.Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623916431810841003noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9220748648198602241.post-18575462225249018682011-03-31T09:26:00.007-05:002011-03-31T11:51:17.892-05:00The big wedding day arrived<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpq9G3mbGqXJWf9rd4IKzmhttlUcpBovTmVKhhi0sC5uS1rHZiRihSvsv7hIFXvRgu-EX6-aalkzoGtNw-9CiiHcjpiKdQt-PcRXPdvs0E4hzLwwk9k6aMh0Io3aCy_NDxafX0uvqpOc/s1600/IMG6987.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpq9G3mbGqXJWf9rd4IKzmhttlUcpBovTmVKhhi0sC5uS1rHZiRihSvsv7hIFXvRgu-EX6-aalkzoGtNw-9CiiHcjpiKdQt-PcRXPdvs0E4hzLwwk9k6aMh0Io3aCy_NDxafX0uvqpOc/s400/IMG6987.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590258601674113890" border="0" /> </a>Here is my family, in the marine's last moments as a single man! He looks pretty calm, huh?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpq9G3mbGqXJWf9rd4IKzmhttlUcpBovTmVKhhi0sC5uS1rHZiRihSvsv7hIFXvRgu-EX6-aalkzoGtNw-9CiiHcjpiKdQt-PcRXPdvs0E4hzLwwk9k6aMh0Io3aCy_NDxafX0uvqpOc/s1600/IMG6987.jpg"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span><br /><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPowlGlpWUD3KIOfgFWTXrOPnbM_Ipvz_iiDThWK_1jDVx8TkkNBy2zZ_TAt71gm1pVDSptIni_vJFydvTQO8QQ4CyHsW-jgn1GfgE7jC1lF3SNwiu-oyat70ivzuTZv-APFLVnHdWLbA/s1600/IMG7043.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPowlGlpWUD3KIOfgFWTXrOPnbM_Ipvz_iiDThWK_1jDVx8TkkNBy2zZ_TAt71gm1pVDSptIni_vJFydvTQO8QQ4CyHsW-jgn1GfgE7jC1lF3SNwiu-oyat70ivzuTZv-APFLVnHdWLbA/s400/IMG7043.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590252532865505554" our="" border="0" /></a>Our darling d-i-l was calm too. Nerves of steel, those two.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXLS4KLOoFqZqFTeXw4AqAi5P6GXYdbaJLf0e3d1qvHl4dp4ppzyRxgaQeMIYTyPAe1TOzx2eQMaI3iOmhcypS3viIvzT-MN_N7sNug5Rc_LncvlNuMRbyCD2w5M5QIG-TKFjRqXT5h9I/s1600/IMG7076.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXLS4KLOoFqZqFTeXw4AqAi5P6GXYdbaJLf0e3d1qvHl4dp4ppzyRxgaQeMIYTyPAe1TOzx2eQMaI3iOmhcypS3viIvzT-MN_N7sNug5Rc_LncvlNuMRbyCD2w5M5QIG-TKFjRqXT5h9I/s400/IMG7076.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590252539978662098" border="0" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6lR-oMe_63JPn_IUlFJZJ3nLSiInDRzO200SXD2Q43iucf3_YLKkdU5GlPpWxtfoelXflkaAX1mUZnlT0NppLXb1-ZGVvZ92P9WSdNLnT2dnSYsYnM338LVHEuYMNXfLrslRj__ikZk/s1600/IMG7609.jpg"> </a><br />Then came the ceremony.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbs7O91sSPbWdGwK3KO2E30UbZmXmgLSVVYgUTD4ERgKQxsvc5Mo04FMweqDB4oCYJy1N_MXxx-3DWJraE-yfwE5g-JPQX4o5-yx90PIIBUqSLOd1Kp5RFgJcygzRFWnTthQL-TXT3U_I/s1600/IMG7609.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbs7O91sSPbWdGwK3KO2E30UbZmXmgLSVVYgUTD4ERgKQxsvc5Mo04FMweqDB4oCYJy1N_MXxx-3DWJraE-yfwE5g-JPQX4o5-yx90PIIBUqSLOd1Kp5RFgJcygzRFWnTthQL-TXT3U_I/s400/IMG7609.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590269987181501554" border="0" /></a>It is official!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyVF8krjMh0ojZViW6XHi8ln0q3A9QB4azX2UUJhArBBoRc7tiZ8nOG6H_M94TbysmIsHuO-LvxBVnyQXBIBGniDG5Nr1cXv4m66s246V9RcpzKygqipvx9Gffq6yY7n5mFPnGG5zNq4/s1600/IMG7655.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyVF8krjMh0ojZViW6XHi8ln0q3A9QB4azX2UUJhArBBoRc7tiZ8nOG6H_M94TbysmIsHuO-LvxBVnyQXBIBGniDG5Nr1cXv4m66s246V9RcpzKygqipvx9Gffq6yY7n5mFPnGG5zNq4/s400/IMG7655.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590255291080759346" border="0" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2oxI2yWP-iO3oXmtkOM28x2Kz1eXhyphenhyphenw_kzIVEHaL28Y9BnmQgvp-3qeOXGZWst4D0tDn6k_PafYQ_mukwN7MBqhdTxp5QwSbVXh157QzWv6CBLUIsHQBEsDf_XPq9zT1Q6IMRhMj08JU/s1600/IMG7850.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2oxI2yWP-iO3oXmtkOM28x2Kz1eXhyphenhyphenw_kzIVEHaL28Y9BnmQgvp-3qeOXGZWst4D0tDn6k_PafYQ_mukwN7MBqhdTxp5QwSbVXh157QzWv6CBLUIsHQBEsDf_XPq9zT1Q6IMRhMj08JU/s400/IMG7850.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590257603574737554" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8FspZd3XYVe2IfOEv2C98nh1hed8wxVdcO0vYpfV8ES6OuzXIODIuBWqead1yhwQkodOFRoT7WrpNTsbX6H2YgAB_c65_ue0Ts7IZA_qKEUGpDkS_dXh6r0NkHW2BYjkHa51iGgbjTSk/s1600/IMG7819.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8FspZd3XYVe2IfOEv2C98nh1hed8wxVdcO0vYpfV8ES6OuzXIODIuBWqead1yhwQkodOFRoT7WrpNTsbX6H2YgAB_c65_ue0Ts7IZA_qKEUGpDkS_dXh6r0NkHW2BYjkHa51iGgbjTSk/s400/IMG7819.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590255302748333890" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4Lu-Yi-QhExmW1whw29qhX6HnLsZs9xBqMczuKlV-060CHUMyITy9G8k7-Jc0QZYKKqXjKqH5bQcLcj2M7oYqE9yqgGfI9N013AFgtpRJUaeWBmkVX_42Ui0I8UxXUWPzx-aIds8nb0/s1600/IMG7770.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4Lu-Yi-QhExmW1whw29qhX6HnLsZs9xBqMczuKlV-060CHUMyITy9G8k7-Jc0QZYKKqXjKqH5bQcLcj2M7oYqE9yqgGfI9N013AFgtpRJUaeWBmkVX_42Ui0I8UxXUWPzx-aIds8nb0/s400/IMG7770.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590255297167274882" border="0" /></a><br />After 10,000 pictures, it was time to eat cake.....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMVnSr5I3q8ezlogxvC_xTMvzs17_xUzTVCC5uWh3bufvHdViUDa_Xto_pz9reQ3uCBNT051hjON-qL_jnbbgWJnbVn0EJSJviLvJ4D7aKqI_WyesYLPLd9waC2kvU7GjPbAvOFLoDF4/s1600/IMG7953.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMVnSr5I3q8ezlogxvC_xTMvzs17_xUzTVCC5uWh3bufvHdViUDa_Xto_pz9reQ3uCBNT051hjON-qL_jnbbgWJnbVn0EJSJviLvJ4D7aKqI_WyesYLPLd9waC2kvU7GjPbAvOFLoDF4/s400/IMG7953.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590257615761298290" border="0" /></a><br /><br />....and party like rock stars......<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUauu3FTOIbuwlgic3vOGvD1vhdzecThXvUYvJa9hblrJWNAWGLE5YcHmk-lGWXLdGqGoyinT8-BUAq-tsSjnICG6Ffj6hWrWu7jpHnJ3uS90vvpcQ2xXVdfEOJtQKaZjDgnPoF1T9AJQ/s1600/IMG8057.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUauu3FTOIbuwlgic3vOGvD1vhdzecThXvUYvJa9hblrJWNAWGLE5YcHmk-lGWXLdGqGoyinT8-BUAq-tsSjnICG6Ffj6hWrWu7jpHnJ3uS90vvpcQ2xXVdfEOJtQKaZjDgnPoF1T9AJQ/s400/IMG8057.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590257629197579634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjBzinEGSwXTV_AEKM1jOHznrh5nbQId_ImLbo9D9YfKbRJfLlXZMiQCpPhKNIJ8J2Yj83iTtr2hLUfEBvcWRlGzRHFiyuFiWHlQow5bJbejj3cjoJ7uFPM0GYZPVRbd9ZrSju_Rmw2O4/s1600/IMG8048.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjBzinEGSwXTV_AEKM1jOHznrh5nbQId_ImLbo9D9YfKbRJfLlXZMiQCpPhKNIJ8J2Yj83iTtr2hLUfEBvcWRlGzRHFiyuFiWHlQow5bJbejj3cjoJ7uFPM0GYZPVRbd9ZrSju_Rmw2O4/s400/IMG8048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590257622468371890" border="0" /></a><br />It was a fun, sweet, crazy day. However, I am glad it is a big happy memory now! Looking at pictures is fun....and no stress! Welcome to the family darling d-i-l!!Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623916431810841003noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9220748648198602241.post-26582333963560397942011-03-09T09:43:00.009-06:002011-03-09T11:38:24.165-06:00Goin' to the chapel....The Marine is getting married Saturday.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdmyphFKFuOeqSqSQkr83Pkcy8qhfJ9ftsMzk088wro9ubnZ-dHaEIjN7cIjqd481tHCSma-NLz8-E0cXd27T3XqzKDFPSh5fA7cCxl2BjBFj4W12W2IlcxUyJosAT1kN6iyL2X9Sq3E/s1600/IMG_4762.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdmyphFKFuOeqSqSQkr83Pkcy8qhfJ9ftsMzk088wro9ubnZ-dHaEIjN7cIjqd481tHCSma-NLz8-E0cXd27T3XqzKDFPSh5fA7cCxl2BjBFj4W12W2IlcxUyJosAT1kN6iyL2X9Sq3E/s400/IMG_4762.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582118544351536450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xhR9wVMJPZSe1QGbhojmSnfNUG2l7t329zwBl1zxtANqMVpDZ3XasOt4-lU2xBO34pOVS9096lj6I82OutgWCYhcmPCKnGvMPU_siyi-cNCUB3CnPTneoBLiI25WzbUCckqXSErzy4k/s1600/IMG_2946.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xhR9wVMJPZSe1QGbhojmSnfNUG2l7t329zwBl1zxtANqMVpDZ3XasOt4-lU2xBO34pOVS9096lj6I82OutgWCYhcmPCKnGvMPU_siyi-cNCUB3CnPTneoBLiI25WzbUCckqXSErzy4k/s400/IMG_2946.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582118535737775218" border="0" /></a>Hubs and the marine looking dapper.<br /><br />Can I just say I am thankful I have boys. This wedding stuff has worn me smooth out. And I was only worried with the responsibility of the rehearsal dinner. I. Can. Not. imagine being the mother of the bride.<br /><br />The shower was this past weekend.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsrR4BYi3aTX5uzKSAC7bQt9dYLsGXBHRP1zvB974MRVDdiPnDFrqo2GW4OoAEQrMQkxH7xx_Ga4gqShee0zp1xm5GMgtrX97czta3xKZSigdRrFUhYw9fPJ4cFAn4CZUlPIAvwwNDOQ/s1600/198393_1806342391068_1015142958_2112187_2290130_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsrR4BYi3aTX5uzKSAC7bQt9dYLsGXBHRP1zvB974MRVDdiPnDFrqo2GW4OoAEQrMQkxH7xx_Ga4gqShee0zp1xm5GMgtrX97czta3xKZSigdRrFUhYw9fPJ4cFAn4CZUlPIAvwwNDOQ/s400/198393_1806342391068_1015142958_2112187_2290130_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582115273640578482" border="0" /></a>Cute daughter-in-law to-be and me at the shower. (D-i-l needs a blog name...hmmmm.)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmc28eiH7EEb2ZJNEIWkdO2TiIs59RKVCatk-fVbPHJsg1DVSBNwbdJCaBsUxQ_Cu8OyaDUGtr7JdLlhBQez_NB0JTaTMN6LaMOXkNxJWIzGheEZv3NiPfw0QnGpoD-zSbdiMS5Pnn0rk/s1600/IMG_5478.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmc28eiH7EEb2ZJNEIWkdO2TiIs59RKVCatk-fVbPHJsg1DVSBNwbdJCaBsUxQ_Cu8OyaDUGtr7JdLlhBQez_NB0JTaTMN6LaMOXkNxJWIzGheEZv3NiPfw0QnGpoD-zSbdiMS5Pnn0rk/s400/IMG_5478.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582115270518805586" border="0" /></a>Whoa, the shower was a serious loot fest. They got everything they registered for at 4 different stores, and then some. Very blessed.<br /><br />(I need to have a 16th year of marriage shower. I'm just sayin')<br /><br />It is down to the wire now. I have lists on top of lists.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgj7GWiw6xiDsdgCSEklao9aH7faSYO0gOW1b-4N0qdxSbbkorXzy_UAD3DGnW9qk-ZEa9N7aHIrYl6-3BQn1rURVUu_5FV-SvAQPkY1doBiWPvvEUQ254D9cGtzlM37hIffQONbUKLo/s1600/IMG_5476.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgj7GWiw6xiDsdgCSEklao9aH7faSYO0gOW1b-4N0qdxSbbkorXzy_UAD3DGnW9qk-ZEa9N7aHIrYl6-3BQn1rURVUu_5FV-SvAQPkY1doBiWPvvEUQ254D9cGtzlM37hIffQONbUKLo/s400/IMG_5476.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582115261632719938" border="0" /></a>The guest bedroom looks like Hobby Lobby vomited all over it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYA12zl8Pc20gVWYiiuoRO5OrqlPRTajeXHqVbbZ_g2kGeGxiSvKocDr4scC7lJsd-_vVVnIpCs-KIDMLwIYrgruLFMc9V5RolKn-MGCmg2u-6bR8FxW0-Nmba0HOilxWKVKagvGU11U/s1600/IMG_5471.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYA12zl8Pc20gVWYiiuoRO5OrqlPRTajeXHqVbbZ_g2kGeGxiSvKocDr4scC7lJsd-_vVVnIpCs-KIDMLwIYrgruLFMc9V5RolKn-MGCmg2u-6bR8FxW0-Nmba0HOilxWKVKagvGU11U/s400/IMG_5471.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582108773921114674" border="0" /></a><br />Due to Uncle Sam owning the marine, the wedding that was going to be in May, was moved (in January) to March 12. So we had 3 quick months to prepare. Living in a small town has made the task a <span style="font-style: italic;">little</span> more challenging...having to drive 90 miles for anything other than what could be bought at W-Mart!<br /><br />It has been a frazzled 3 months. It hit me yesterday morning while I was ironing blonde rascal's clothes for the weekend....The Marine is getting married. It suddenly jumped from this <span style="font-style: italic;">event</span> that was running me ragged to my <span style="font-weight: bold;">son getting married</span>. A huge life event. Then the tears started rolling all over my ironing board.<br /><br />The marine is my stepson, but has lived solely with us since he was 9. When hubs and I married he (the marine, not hubs) was 7. He was the cutest little thing and he worshiped the ground I walked on. He became a teenager and I did not think he was so cute anymore....nor did he worship the ground I walked on any longer for that matter! But through it all we stayed tight and not once has he ever disrespected me with "you're not my mom" as can happen in so many blended families. For that, I love the kid even more. In my heart he is my son.<br /><br />Now he is approaching a milestone and I fear I will be a snifflin' blubbering fool at the wedding. I think I need to add a flask, matching my dress of course, to my list. Surely taking a snort from a flask is acceptable at a small town wedding, right? Think charming, like Steel Magnolias.<br /><br />I am gaining a darling daughter and I pray much happiness over their union.<br /><br />Should I mention that my washing machine went out a month ago? How is that for timing?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5dmtQ59rnuzQWcrdCicVLmhSPvQY2FN1NDx0Pw9adI9FzjhOcy5wTIEykeDxBZfB0y3Zx0srVsNTfkWohibxBULFIvOdLvjCqQcsz3gH3WlbEHk1I7bfqbQoLF5diSd4NBWd-BtqdNLo/s1600/IMG_5603.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5dmtQ59rnuzQWcrdCicVLmhSPvQY2FN1NDx0Pw9adI9FzjhOcy5wTIEykeDxBZfB0y3Zx0srVsNTfkWohibxBULFIvOdLvjCqQcsz3gH3WlbEHk1I7bfqbQoLF5diSd4NBWd-BtqdNLo/s400/IMG_5603.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582108768073562418" border="0" /></a>How about the fact that it went out the week before we were going to Mexico in September. (Read: this is the <span style="font-weight: bold;">second</span> time in 4 months that it has petered out.) Did I mention it is only approaching its 2nd birthday. We bought it new when we bought this house.<br /><br />In September it was the main computer board that went out. Same part again this time. The repair man came a month ago, determining that it is the same part. He ordered it and it took 3 weeks to get the part. When he came to install it, the part was bad. Re-ordered another one. Still waiting.<br /><br />Should I mention how terribly inconvenient it is to go to the bloody laund-ro-mat while trying to plan a yippy skippy wedding?<br /><br />Oh, and how there is family coming to stay with us this happy weekend? Hope they are understanding of the roll of paper towels I leave by the shower for them to dry off with.<br /><br />I will also say that one of the machines I was using at the laund-ro-mat yesterday malfunctioned mid-cycle. Completely true story. It seemed like a really good time to "go postal", if you will.<br /><br />It goes without saying that I now have a flask that matches both my washing machine AND machine #14 at the laund-ro-mat.<br /><br />Which leads me to my final point, very soon my name will be Brooke G. Whirlpool. Someone at Whirlpool is mere days away from me opening a can of you know what all over them. Won't be pretty.<br /><br />But don't worry about me, <span style="font-style: italic;">I'm not stressed</span>.Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623916431810841003noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9220748648198602241.post-41700775134772536852011-02-28T15:04:00.005-06:002011-02-28T21:47:29.148-06:00Finished Quilts of 2011: #1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh96a2gp0kTCLU9HLzCV2Lp_FZ_dS2-mx1WOokHTOtn7cA2q-rQp_4ORHa4j4hCG4RGSNFCHhL9V6l3bH9lsyZb2d7AWgh_Jcnxw_rYliuIdvB6TDsb-kfYh-SALS2Ys7a38m9g-FlxjcY/s1600/IMG_5505.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh96a2gp0kTCLU9HLzCV2Lp_FZ_dS2-mx1WOokHTOtn7cA2q-rQp_4ORHa4j4hCG4RGSNFCHhL9V6l3bH9lsyZb2d7AWgh_Jcnxw_rYliuIdvB6TDsb-kfYh-SALS2Ys7a38m9g-FlxjcY/s400/IMG_5505.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578856552340491810" border="0" /></a><br />Quilting really is kinda funny, huh? Buy lots of fabric, cut it up and then sew it back together.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDRljW3AKyT8B38M6qZZpK9rDekKG8ANc2uc8_o2fcYjxk9I4SNxpirsYlRaPwzWYu9-8G0dC-GbTbNA_ENLrRVYtKv88Ou7Nqh4AMUc2PNgZ-HuR13hmuvqo_3oB81Wa1U2Idb45ZUc/s1600/IMG_5180.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDRljW3AKyT8B38M6qZZpK9rDekKG8ANc2uc8_o2fcYjxk9I4SNxpirsYlRaPwzWYu9-8G0dC-GbTbNA_ENLrRVYtKv88Ou7Nqh4AMUc2PNgZ-HuR13hmuvqo_3oB81Wa1U2Idb45ZUc/s400/IMG_5180.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578851546234771362" border="0" /></a><br />I finished the quilt for my daughter-in-law to be. The shower is this Saturday.<br />It is a Kaffe Fassett pattern called Quilt Romance.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0YkDPFX_Pae_KFjKJR38o8KC3QmFwddNlHcNFwq5GbKi4QvGY6GxXp1QC_tVt5kTfsbr1SenPG08GctkMWB3ZTXaBkgkQ7Oe12PtivDK_mP5AjRuCgJUVm8arMDqp8UlUJV975XP2R4/s1600/IMG_5503.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0YkDPFX_Pae_KFjKJR38o8KC3QmFwddNlHcNFwq5GbKi4QvGY6GxXp1QC_tVt5kTfsbr1SenPG08GctkMWB3ZTXaBkgkQ7Oe12PtivDK_mP5AjRuCgJUVm8arMDqp8UlUJV975XP2R4/s400/IMG_5503.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578851550416290274" border="0" /></a>She wanted red and turquoise so that is what she got, baby. It was an easy pattern.<br /><br />Normally I quilt my quilts on my sewing machine. Which I am no good at, don't enjoy at all and downright dread. In fact it makes me <span style="font-style: italic;">want</span> to cuss like a sailor. I got the name of an older couple in town that have a long arm quilter and they quilt for the public. I hired them. Best thing that ever happened to me. I took it on a Wednesday and got it back the next day. Glory be.<br /><br />Is it too early to tell Santa I want a long arm quilter for Christmas this year?Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623916431810841003noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9220748648198602241.post-15600933790800865172011-02-27T19:00:00.003-06:002011-02-27T20:06:01.807-06:00Hello Beautiful!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8EAnxdvFAJ_Dzm9u1RpdQgbk0IGTLs1PGmZ_ppWPPSWEr77RIjtdiJJQgyCBkLquFY-kNxZzJTiuSr7nKeXSghCwJWNgJVsyHDdXufY-giX6u_JJC3PdyQZKmCCSRNBptKYmNP9ivkM/s1600/IMG_5587.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8EAnxdvFAJ_Dzm9u1RpdQgbk0IGTLs1PGmZ_ppWPPSWEr77RIjtdiJJQgyCBkLquFY-kNxZzJTiuSr7nKeXSghCwJWNgJVsyHDdXufY-giX6u_JJC3PdyQZKmCCSRNBptKYmNP9ivkM/s400/IMG_5587.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578541441255632530" border="0" /></a>This was my Christmas present from Hubs. Isn't she divine? Her name is Pinky Lee. She took her maiden voyage today. Chocolate chip cookies, a lovely way to break her in, yes?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdL75VauPGB7kPyxaIK3JE3W0b1xtm5iEqdVaSchBkhIapY0OjCZyFkUXAPrgS9zlNoh0odE3wP-2od3wGD_HqEBsTqWTBcwTsIW6-xHvrdmFtmt1JA_uP_mS6cC5dpDFZsePkHSb_KQ/s1600/IMG_5601.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdL75VauPGB7kPyxaIK3JE3W0b1xtm5iEqdVaSchBkhIapY0OjCZyFkUXAPrgS9zlNoh0odE3wP-2od3wGD_HqEBsTqWTBcwTsIW6-xHvrdmFtmt1JA_uP_mS6cC5dpDFZsePkHSb_KQ/s400/IMG_5601.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578541444012472770" border="0" /></a>Blonde Rascal was very happy to meet her.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2BNrUSAJLIVY4hbDF81EiJrLZbrr4TMGSOnnV7qLN0m0Km8e7HmlAltqXSCHABXGTqVKu1X_dOj7idaIMSdgMb2CC_tbbhYDu6S-LLcUB1smoH5E9PV3CCLkDf6gP-fLqGWUx4Nbvts/s1600/IMG_5600.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2BNrUSAJLIVY4hbDF81EiJrLZbrr4TMGSOnnV7qLN0m0Km8e7HmlAltqXSCHABXGTqVKu1X_dOj7idaIMSdgMb2CC_tbbhYDu6S-LLcUB1smoH5E9PV3CCLkDf6gP-fLqGWUx4Nbvts/s400/IMG_5600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578553574927899538" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyQXZYueA6Nkun2J-jfTtg7dzUEkb5JflO89feYrtNefXwtox_yVB2HPCuvfwU4SdbIeaF7fIRDuLDbz9C831qYZ_XRQ0EjCjkyxQHm7IcubEB5f99RRhbcZ81sBugDpuixO7-LhSGqI/s1600/IMG_5598.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyQXZYueA6Nkun2J-jfTtg7dzUEkb5JflO89feYrtNefXwtox_yVB2HPCuvfwU4SdbIeaF7fIRDuLDbz9C831qYZ_XRQ0EjCjkyxQHm7IcubEB5f99RRhbcZ81sBugDpuixO7-LhSGqI/s400/IMG_5598.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578553569658331202" border="0" /></a>I think she is stunning.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJlLCF_TeNlxcq4uL9mdUSGXHvK9c6rHCcr8Bd_BjdVYR3jcIaS45D68mj6Q4lcdlZqm3cnmgczLy39zX8k18UCY69Ya9W09EoP9n787tUTzNowETmYT_y4gBOTr50a-P0DiGvJk63iwo/s1600/IMG_5588.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJlLCF_TeNlxcq4uL9mdUSGXHvK9c6rHCcr8Bd_BjdVYR3jcIaS45D68mj6Q4lcdlZqm3cnmgczLy39zX8k18UCY69Ya9W09EoP9n787tUTzNowETmYT_y4gBOTr50a-P0DiGvJk63iwo/s400/IMG_5588.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578553560362316402" border="0" /></a>Pink. I would like for all of my appliances to be pink. Hubs, however, probably would not dig that.Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623916431810841003noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9220748648198602241.post-65562785743505736052011-02-22T19:04:00.012-06:002011-02-22T22:06:32.137-06:00A big week for birthdays!Today is my adorable twin niece's first birthday! Woo hoo! Happy Birthday Hadley and Isabelle!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbG6P798WwqEjj-uoKlKCDA0nXu9W4lIaqX4XD3miD1J0sD6OLM1L-LeKI2HqUCUE-5znJeTGMEq3s7JROFRwE35Ei8V5DhS9rBaxpFPIKBzZYTMWCl5lx5jL2e0mSmy8goo-AYT6CCj8/s1600/IMG_4932.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbG6P798WwqEjj-uoKlKCDA0nXu9W4lIaqX4XD3miD1J0sD6OLM1L-LeKI2HqUCUE-5znJeTGMEq3s7JROFRwE35Ei8V5DhS9rBaxpFPIKBzZYTMWCl5lx5jL2e0mSmy8goo-AYT6CCj8/s400/IMG_4932.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576693727465842146" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmN9Zeid7FU7GNgHSR2wo2hoNdbpBs3BZRToE5xNFzpNGPbwME1lsW66dL_gg34YlLqHCJsXQ4i0R-qi0jnIsesF95W8bPtOiT-BpesmJQW_OtRUmveMCeMi-rmntSDGBMzrqwbxfmhl8/s1600/IMG_4934.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmN9Zeid7FU7GNgHSR2wo2hoNdbpBs3BZRToE5xNFzpNGPbwME1lsW66dL_gg34YlLqHCJsXQ4i0R-qi0jnIsesF95W8bPtOiT-BpesmJQW_OtRUmveMCeMi-rmntSDGBMzrqwbxfmhl8/s400/IMG_4934.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576693720191289634" border="0" /></a>Big sugar lumps of sweetness, those two are!!<br /><br /><br />Tomorrow is my wonderful Mom's birthday! Happy Birthday Mom!! The following is a picture of my me and Mom circa early 1971. How precious is that?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGleRzt233IUGB_WB7OoCu850zQ2Nts9wZHjFu7sBdDLBrfjjMUiuXQmQfpAr1revT0UWovbieC2cvrXdnHMyW77twiQ3RREm1_7nECB9-7VQ0dn-2eYKYPNdfiTsASo2tDlC1Xkbync/s1600/154377_477425584538_845704538_5602430_8242069_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGleRzt233IUGB_WB7OoCu850zQ2Nts9wZHjFu7sBdDLBrfjjMUiuXQmQfpAr1revT0UWovbieC2cvrXdnHMyW77twiQ3RREm1_7nECB9-7VQ0dn-2eYKYPNdfiTsASo2tDlC1Xkbync/s400/154377_477425584538_845704538_5602430_8242069_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576684958288409426" border="0" /></a>Truly visible depiction of the love of a mother. I have a picture of myself and blonde rascal in a very similar pose, when he is exactly the same age, circa 2000. That was in the stone age before digital, or at least before we had a digital camera. I was going to scan it and show it here....but said picture is in a frame and it is stuck! I will shred the picture if I try to remove it. Hmmmph. Anyway just trust me it is cute. And would have been super dooper cute to compare with the one of me and Mom. Hmmmph.<br /><br /><br />Finally today, in addition to my nieces, is another noteworthy family member's birthday...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2Flfs1z6__TxoLPfWQ_CZXk5-PR7dXCBmA0t2NkmVnO9Ij0MGCmmKsatR0ajFKV-6m4UlXN0dF6NGYr2ukIeL87VuLOW_mGyq2JBkZXdSY2g0pMLFEKTmyB-pEiBCeF9YH5fAu_PTwM/s1600/IMG_5492.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2Flfs1z6__TxoLPfWQ_CZXk5-PR7dXCBmA0t2NkmVnO9Ij0MGCmmKsatR0ajFKV-6m4UlXN0dF6NGYr2ukIeL87VuLOW_mGyq2JBkZXdSY2g0pMLFEKTmyB-pEiBCeF9YH5fAu_PTwM/s400/IMG_5492.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576700840925693890" border="0" /></a>Yep, it is true. Missy the wonder weenie dog turned 4 today.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfnGSO3F4VjUOaeN3QTwywR5E5H_mwdEiw5lN3lPlKi8cw_0GmiONXpRJlaZejrPZc9WwXvQgjoBBvQ8PeKmg-TS9ckJrlRwOrlN06OC2LEYIIVD1BasC5XfWSActyb6vB-e_DlsipJ4/s1600/IMG_5493.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfnGSO3F4VjUOaeN3QTwywR5E5H_mwdEiw5lN3lPlKi8cw_0GmiONXpRJlaZejrPZc9WwXvQgjoBBvQ8PeKmg-TS9ckJrlRwOrlN06OC2LEYIIVD1BasC5XfWSActyb6vB-e_DlsipJ4/s400/IMG_5493.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576700872955111890" border="0" /></a>Yes it is also true, we made a big deal and bought her gifts. Won't you please notice my dusty floor in the picture above?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXVayQYOlNZJp6-sQXh235WAoJkBHZzGpP4yw0KSJPtWBPoo23LMASM49x1GJNJ97Vp_WpFo1r30cyGEOfPufk1CoQhDv6JUFFIO6ImAujijja883YLbLAbCuA7rvtbNwFP2q2SyUqYYc/s1600/IMG_5496.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXVayQYOlNZJp6-sQXh235WAoJkBHZzGpP4yw0KSJPtWBPoo23LMASM49x1GJNJ97Vp_WpFo1r30cyGEOfPufk1CoQhDv6JUFFIO6ImAujijja883YLbLAbCuA7rvtbNwFP2q2SyUqYYc/s400/IMG_5496.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576700887616804322" border="0" /></a>She waddled around this morning trying to decide if she should tear up her new "baby" or chew on her new bone. She had no idea what she did to deserve the sudden bestowal of gifts. She is a brat, but we are ridiculously in love with her anyway.<br /><br />There you have it, 2 days and 4 amazing women celebrating birthdays! Admittedly I use the terms "amazing" and "women" loosely when describing one of the birthday girls today...but would hate for her to feel left out. Brat.Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623916431810841003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9220748648198602241.post-32748534105660200342011-01-30T16:25:00.017-06:002011-01-30T21:59:44.619-06:002010 The year of the quilts: A ReviewIn 2010 I was determined to get a lot of quilting projects finished. Gee, I bet every quilter in America makes <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span> statement every year.<br /><br />In the first 3 months of 2010, I finished one quilt project that had been lingering for way too long, made 2 baby quilts and a wall hanging..... as shown in this<br /><a href="http://quiltychick.blogspot.com/2010/03/month-3-of-2010-year-of-quilts.html"> 2010 The Year of the Quilts</a> post.<br /><br />Then I finished a quilt for our bedroom. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvspONbsU1WZMKnV6csCWXSuoTtXMETrEXUUIl3YR0Vrey0MUWY7ok0mx96gyjml-AdLVbNwOTr903BENysKQf6JoEZziDLEbDjyrm4leTKIQlD77zkqZKtpdzdL77n1MD6K-O1XnkOU/s1600/IMG_5175.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvspONbsU1WZMKnV6csCWXSuoTtXMETrEXUUIl3YR0Vrey0MUWY7ok0mx96gyjml-AdLVbNwOTr903BENysKQf6JoEZziDLEbDjyrm4leTKIQlD77zkqZKtpdzdL77n1MD6K-O1XnkOU/s400/IMG_5175.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568135780374421922" border="0" /></a>When we bought this house, I decorated the master bedroom around my favorite Ralph Lauren sheets. I wanted the room to be calm and serene.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH6oBOqH62wat4MupGqf-aCP9JP232W-ayUaNJ2t-bu-sahx33HZyQq2p9eyqDSfOSo86liEHBq9isRoI6jXqAS95iDi6DIvyariet3Oqa4ZyLcJOpnSDi9PdkHBpEdyXHpCmgL1CcXz8/s1600/IMG_5174.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH6oBOqH62wat4MupGqf-aCP9JP232W-ayUaNJ2t-bu-sahx33HZyQq2p9eyqDSfOSo86liEHBq9isRoI6jXqAS95iDi6DIvyariet3Oqa4ZyLcJOpnSDi9PdkHBpEdyXHpCmgL1CcXz8/s400/IMG_5174.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568135770345224002" border="0" /></a><br /><br />By then it was summer time and my quilting mojo slowed way down.<br /><br />I did manage to re-vamp and clean up the quilty shack though. Here it was at the <a href="http://quiltychick.blogspot.com/2010/03/quilty-shack.html">last <span style="font-style: italic;">quilty shack viewing</span></a><br /><br />I pretty much decided there was NO room for needless decor. If I could not use it for storage or function, it was out.<br /><br />One of the biggest "duh why didn't I do this sooner" moment was to butt up another table to my existing sewing table. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GqunVPVjh1jbq8iQVkQRLhaLlENENi04gdf5vBhpHtypDwDbfs7qBLgonCgXWCRNUSJ7WZbypflJESmtskFVCo6GYDnxvHwNOwRIJ-G9_49Kwp4nBSpboNkycEwXV-Xn-sgWMmFCkxE/s1600/IMG_4738.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GqunVPVjh1jbq8iQVkQRLhaLlENENi04gdf5vBhpHtypDwDbfs7qBLgonCgXWCRNUSJ7WZbypflJESmtskFVCo6GYDnxvHwNOwRIJ-G9_49Kwp4nBSpboNkycEwXV-Xn-sgWMmFCkxE/s400/IMG_4738.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568161249618808162" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-x3tqEvodQ3PiYRvAktKX4704tYKBAIRWXrp4pcnzjkE82sTbKItykKj6-rDzZC9uFhh-d6x1W-2-OLr-txAbvRn5FUL2G1kxzisUp0PUKRsy2RlIOYD7OOyz5n1xIISNtg8xMwBnYo/s1600/IMG_4741.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-x3tqEvodQ3PiYRvAktKX4704tYKBAIRWXrp4pcnzjkE82sTbKItykKj6-rDzZC9uFhh-d6x1W-2-OLr-txAbvRn5FUL2G1kxzisUp0PUKRsy2RlIOYD7OOyz5n1xIISNtg8xMwBnYo/s400/IMG_4741.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568179037107902306" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDzpacr9DXmGiIQ0OMphwUh32cVkAX12Wss7JBFPsWwCtbn_AeaptLPgu9kndyv1Ki3d3Fkb4hNxpL3mCRI8FASSJoKpdaK6aGgcJBPwAvGJMEYfsmy4HgqZUi-xulPW4YJiSlrc4uys/s1600/IMG_4742.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDzpacr9DXmGiIQ0OMphwUh32cVkAX12Wss7JBFPsWwCtbn_AeaptLPgu9kndyv1Ki3d3Fkb4hNxpL3mCRI8FASSJoKpdaK6aGgcJBPwAvGJMEYfsmy4HgqZUi-xulPW4YJiSlrc4uys/s400/IMG_4742.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568179043959447698" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlpqVmkZaAhofXuz1fLkz40Jzlowp7WD8vAR7CBAhumsN-ek8Nm6NPsiGU9wR0H8Gx-YLU0BjjilC8CbCsMagBXH_JEJbk-uSZumYtcl_-gnC54o3QUAaLntomAthdNJUK1zhyphenhyphenHT_2M8/s1600/IMG_4743.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlpqVmkZaAhofXuz1fLkz40Jzlowp7WD8vAR7CBAhumsN-ek8Nm6NPsiGU9wR0H8Gx-YLU0BjjilC8CbCsMagBXH_JEJbk-uSZumYtcl_-gnC54o3QUAaLntomAthdNJUK1zhyphenhyphenHT_2M8/s400/IMG_4743.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568179050316630594" border="0" /></a>Pretty sure if I could squeeze a little bed and a fridge in here, I might never leave!<br /><br /><br />November rolled around I finished this Christmas flannel quilt.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrDrY-0G3412laN6WbFMtjkI_JdfLK66kwGMHqTvQugnm-FXvKyPDV043pAoqaYgphETFA2bmgz21-Q-exsa5lvpsPa_LofsMCCmMRwcZRxxEDz8dmLmon9VfZo6Vfh7XzgxxmVUYfZQ/s1600/IMG_5177.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrDrY-0G3412laN6WbFMtjkI_JdfLK66kwGMHqTvQugnm-FXvKyPDV043pAoqaYgphETFA2bmgz21-Q-exsa5lvpsPa_LofsMCCmMRwcZRxxEDz8dmLmon9VfZo6Vfh7XzgxxmVUYfZQ/s400/IMG_5177.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568137199046113858" border="0" /></a>The backing was a panel with cute vintage looking Christmas pictures. I think the line is called Kiddie Christmas and it is a Moda fabric.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dlH2dXPcN8846VrvwJEB7RZVu0jKMoYMSlD2Cxsq_KxtPxPtZ_ysVabRRDYeg09DLMRkx6OwX02W1JSC0VaBOJ__4pXRjhZfLCOw6AFrsNoghRBNAzbemIACHcrjby-rTtLgJ4q4rmI/s1600/IMG_5178.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dlH2dXPcN8846VrvwJEB7RZVu0jKMoYMSlD2Cxsq_KxtPxPtZ_ysVabRRDYeg09DLMRkx6OwX02W1JSC0VaBOJ__4pXRjhZfLCOw6AFrsNoghRBNAzbemIACHcrjby-rTtLgJ4q4rmI/s400/IMG_5178.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568137206773767090" border="0" /></a>We all fought for this one over the holidays. It is warm, warm, warm!<br /><br />Forward to like 20 days before Christmas and I am sewing like a crazy, nutty, crack head woman trying to finish 2 quilts.<br /><br />One for my sweet mother-in-law. I forgot to take pictures of it, so I had to take these at her house.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWiLc3RgG1VqBS2Ogn7AUepiPVwD0QJXgtPoMxYl-P1CpA8RpYwDdBqRLVnQI3mSDx94VMiPMIEh76XiNRuLALvkOq_pla4jRT1RAgXKY8OH9ft-cjtxfzeoKkDtZcItC8ElNdTj5yOL4/s1600/IMG00049-20110107-1306.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWiLc3RgG1VqBS2Ogn7AUepiPVwD0QJXgtPoMxYl-P1CpA8RpYwDdBqRLVnQI3mSDx94VMiPMIEh76XiNRuLALvkOq_pla4jRT1RAgXKY8OH9ft-cjtxfzeoKkDtZcItC8ElNdTj5yOL4/s400/IMG00049-20110107-1306.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568133577048255458" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYjBvIBzIhAkT3Xi8dou8h88aq7NH67sjJWP8pGH4juWD0kvMCzsgK_-Xyk1BEUzxyMh2JUkOmg_2x8DV6v1Y1DWGoWgsm2lGuGBiUgQ0zP-8UruWgQ00iZPM8LYrRSWhn_Kt4P_NuWA/s1600/IMG00048-20110107-1306.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYjBvIBzIhAkT3Xi8dou8h88aq7NH67sjJWP8pGH4juWD0kvMCzsgK_-Xyk1BEUzxyMh2JUkOmg_2x8DV6v1Y1DWGoWgsm2lGuGBiUgQ0zP-8UruWgQ00iZPM8LYrRSWhn_Kt4P_NuWA/s400/IMG00048-20110107-1306.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568133566716803682" border="0" /></a>(Good grief, those pictures were taken with my clearly inadequate camera phone. You were thinking I needed to repeat my photography classes, huh?)<br /><br />It was a turning 20 pattern. Easy peasy.<br /><br />And I also made hubs a quilt. It was made with the Marines and blonde rascal's old jeans and cami's that the Marine wore in Iraq and Afghanistan.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZt_VRlQSxbapv_cFqpXmeth9O1EQfdQqTrvPt_y3v57XfxYCm2giwlfk_zd1yYVNhwhON-dI1w8WrB6gya2V7oPvNiEnpaJu9bXu0m6SmIgpIbqkwQAaj9udwoMClp3MpIRTbfk5uq3g/s1600/IMG_5166.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZt_VRlQSxbapv_cFqpXmeth9O1EQfdQqTrvPt_y3v57XfxYCm2giwlfk_zd1yYVNhwhON-dI1w8WrB6gya2V7oPvNiEnpaJu9bXu0m6SmIgpIbqkwQAaj9udwoMClp3MpIRTbfk5uq3g/s400/IMG_5166.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568132426899192690" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqCmxpLF2ba18pBFED_3fFm64eq8JWPPirJWu36KPp7m8KJtw80zk_z8lZc0FMyadDnIdonzIRSZgEhPJgsauuBcD1rOoHnzxB5L3jF0KEWhMZmul4o6mo6P8kHI67HGYszKFjuZr-yo/s1600/IMG_5171.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqCmxpLF2ba18pBFED_3fFm64eq8JWPPirJWu36KPp7m8KJtw80zk_z8lZc0FMyadDnIdonzIRSZgEhPJgsauuBcD1rOoHnzxB5L3jF0KEWhMZmul4o6mo6P8kHI67HGYszKFjuZr-yo/s400/IMG_5171.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568132448525282914" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe75v4GbHl8_rN2C5QBEmnHUAefOcRNTC30ogwOrFspXlibMMOMJYtMJMRPtOzbJqw35FliwH0_qPrhaEeDOI2vWrmX7bnj92iU88ptpj-pX7LtOmJ8oFMq61kUVsZ1FXdSdpSwNkII5I/s1600/IMG_5168.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe75v4GbHl8_rN2C5QBEmnHUAefOcRNTC30ogwOrFspXlibMMOMJYtMJMRPtOzbJqw35FliwH0_qPrhaEeDOI2vWrmX7bnj92iU88ptpj-pX7LtOmJ8oFMq61kUVsZ1FXdSdpSwNkII5I/s400/IMG_5168.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568132432509007362" border="0" /></a>He thinks I am the coolest wife ever. Naturally. Frankly, I had an ulterior motive....he is always cold and I am hot. I hate the heater being on and breathing in warm air. Now I just mummy wrap him in his quilt and turn down the heater. Mwwhahaaaaaa....<br /><br /><br />In the middle of all that I decided to make blonde rascal's 3 teachers, mug rugs. Like I had nothing else to be doing? That was a bizarre thought, but thankfully since they were so tiny they went together really fast. And I got brownie points for the semester!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJv1JXYb2hyphenhyphenVwowB4xFg4bgsnkiw4lCKuCnZTwGtLPFg-1WJ2o1SRMWJsdv4aQCLbMyE6zF-IkqM9R0GAvf8td4gPItrslh2ZXVE2uGm21DXbc67um1kfSNrQKelilP6r3gVHvVtqlKq8/s1600/IMG_4816.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJv1JXYb2hyphenhyphenVwowB4xFg4bgsnkiw4lCKuCnZTwGtLPFg-1WJ2o1SRMWJsdv4aQCLbMyE6zF-IkqM9R0GAvf8td4gPItrslh2ZXVE2uGm21DXbc67um1kfSNrQKelilP6r3gVHvVtqlKq8/s400/IMG_4816.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568109745871840658" border="0" /></a><br />That has me closing out 2010 with 7 quilts completed, one wall hanging and 3 mug rugs. Hmmmm wonder what 2011 will hold?<br /><br />So many quilts to make, so little time....Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623916431810841003noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9220748648198602241.post-91364811167059094252011-01-29T18:30:00.002-06:002011-01-29T19:21:45.154-06:00Aperture, metering and histograms...oh my!Now that I am 40 (as I discussed in length, probably too much length, in my previous post), it surely won't be too long and my hair will start having a lovely blue cast to it, I'll start driving 25 mph under the posted limit, my pants will begin having a higher polyester content than natural fibers and my shoes will become more practical than attractive. I can accept that as my plight. However, I am not fond of the idea of my brain turning to mush. The brain is a muscle, yes? So it must be exercised!<br /><br /><br />We had a local photographer come to our house and take some family pictures before Thanksgiving. Very local in fact, she lives in the small town where blonde rascal goes to school, her twin daughters are in his class, etc.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xrNvIOoyXUW-5vxQPeb3h-Nv59XusSXNX1fZa1ffA8KqCP2I6de8E7bzhVFpz3hnNTvOFOojKemzNzbZvOv0NXp0J7ePkg5h6qp-J5T3RzQkwdFXZL2bNvjO6hhbIiMXkFMTAKG70qM/s1600/IMG_2792.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xrNvIOoyXUW-5vxQPeb3h-Nv59XusSXNX1fZa1ffA8KqCP2I6de8E7bzhVFpz3hnNTvOFOojKemzNzbZvOv0NXp0J7ePkg5h6qp-J5T3RzQkwdFXZL2bNvjO6hhbIiMXkFMTAKG70qM/s400/IMG_2792.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567764854080024018" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCcM05XehX04znkaF_euxJQgJ_T2DL8-TsY7tZvF_TyQ8KURPynEfbOK4fa-Ehc5zdJUzIrmX5Q-Q1FQ1iszKlcay83KdWUmmwod2yC8pzFLiiWi-dsU6kxgBVHlgri6LbnyVejB836Q/s1600/IMG_2096.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCcM05XehX04znkaF_euxJQgJ_T2DL8-TsY7tZvF_TyQ8KURPynEfbOK4fa-Ehc5zdJUzIrmX5Q-Q1FQ1iszKlcay83KdWUmmwod2yC8pzFLiiWi-dsU6kxgBVHlgri6LbnyVejB836Q/s400/IMG_2096.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567775397513847074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZHd8QpqYihmN0sFFisryZs7pw4lzvlKby0Ql4VKbcu1FUk2fBfZiC1TgUxGmJfGPqjSXRb-GjzYQmi_PYIibL7uqZtipfThRfI7uNtDxxF4-UK64Olc4kVJqLb8aOx7JNy3vWb1MlQJQ/s1600/IMG_2971.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZHd8QpqYihmN0sFFisryZs7pw4lzvlKby0Ql4VKbcu1FUk2fBfZiC1TgUxGmJfGPqjSXRb-GjzYQmi_PYIibL7uqZtipfThRfI7uNtDxxF4-UK64Olc4kVJqLb8aOx7JNy3vWb1MlQJQ/s400/IMG_2971.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567616491213652162" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAb1ZxyEhd0pnKyE2kDIczO1_vCAxkYli3cvVSql2hIVMMhclKRs57fFPyeys1fWfzXQa4woF3uoJGdZpzm768rH7_Nr5O9eSINABYiZVga_keUZYTrv2MRRod0iWR9tTKjmcP-4_bqYc/s1600/IMG_2955.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAb1ZxyEhd0pnKyE2kDIczO1_vCAxkYli3cvVSql2hIVMMhclKRs57fFPyeys1fWfzXQa4woF3uoJGdZpzm768rH7_Nr5O9eSINABYiZVga_keUZYTrv2MRRod0iWR9tTKjmcP-4_bqYc/s400/IMG_2955.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567778792736308578" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX13cWfWOH4JpeD40yrEI7qVF80-l3VBKoBRv5Jzrj2ywQC-kdrvsSP3MAJyjTRHfHJMdjgt_v64ADYXG8xVzu7oHwpayGwSg7vnx8M-OsNxkaf2aJviDBBN7ngy3tEuGsi2aF4LgCzjM/s1600/IMG_2927.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX13cWfWOH4JpeD40yrEI7qVF80-l3VBKoBRv5Jzrj2ywQC-kdrvsSP3MAJyjTRHfHJMdjgt_v64ADYXG8xVzu7oHwpayGwSg7vnx8M-OsNxkaf2aJviDBBN7ngy3tEuGsi2aF4LgCzjM/s400/IMG_2927.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567460678651314786" border="0" /></a>I know, I know, family pictures...yawn. I'll stop now.<br /><br />Thank goodness for cool options in photography now days, amen? We aren't stuck with getting our pictures taken in a cheesy J.C. Penney studio. Not to sound harsh JCP, but it is true. Your studio shots are severely goofy.<br /><br />She was fun to work with and we were super pleased with the results. <a href="http://carolmccowenphotography.com/">Carol McCowan photography</a>, if you really wanna know.<br /><br />It is a fact that I am deeply in love with my Canon Rebel. It is...my precious. It is smarter than I am, and I am not ashamed to admit that. It takes super pictures all by itself but I know that I am not using it to even half its full potential. The reason for that, is... well... even the Canon Rebel for Dummies book is over my head. It is some complicated stuff.<br /><br />Much to my delight, my girl Carol teaches a digital photography class at our College on the Square. Which takes place...wait for it...on our little town square. Squeal!<br /><br />One of my Canon camera loving friends and I signed up for Carol's class. We are now in week 3 of the 5 week course.<br /><br />My <span style="font-style: italic;">aging</span> brain has been thoroughly taxed. I mean, I thought a <span style="font-style: italic;">histogram</span> was a medical procedure. Oh no...no it is a wacked out graph that tells you if your picture has lost detail in any of its light or dark areas. Or some such craziness as that.<br /><br />I am so in awe of the capabilities of the camera, combined with the fact that with a little additional knowledge on my behalf could produce even better pictures. The technical information has become a little easier to process, in small bites. There is a lot of thought to be put into each shooting situation, but that will become a little more like second nature with time. Lots and lots...and lots of practice. And then, more practice. Thank goodness for digital. Learning photography with film would be SO inconvenient!<br /><br />I tried to get my <span style="font-style: italic;">model</span> to cooperate with my need to practice yesterday morning. Alas she was too tired. Her mornings are incredibly taxing. Her largest order of business each morning is building a nap nest in the couch.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncIrJ-KX_i9a-GPEo_h11xTiVXFa3lZ0RtGk78zyB517nITbeACJI42IJ_eQh7fEqsYvJ0BUrAPE33QzCQCi43xrkdWxHvRx4a-I2MAcdF4B3wVDJgy9mIEClotMIHBoU4Hkv-FX5N3U/s1600/IMG_5148.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncIrJ-KX_i9a-GPEo_h11xTiVXFa3lZ0RtGk78zyB517nITbeACJI42IJ_eQh7fEqsYvJ0BUrAPE33QzCQCi43xrkdWxHvRx4a-I2MAcdF4B3wVDJgy9mIEClotMIHBoU4Hkv-FX5N3U/s400/IMG_5148.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567460664662117330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"></span>Worthless wiener dog.<br /><br />Photography class sums up my Thursday evenings. It fills my brain and gets the rusty neutrons firing again.<br /><br /><br />Then, every other Saturday morning, this morning in fact, I fill my heart.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CIN7rDxwK7nmWYWCWfpMnKYEHGRv-Ne5iJw6v4sU7Deu-6iDePHp1XzioIcwz3DwBGUh_t6bqb8IwekFWwFxP7SrXlKiIZVY5S_tfOOE4V1_Zlwo-hIj68ejSJjNc5M8-Rx5leZE_T0/s1600/IMG_5130.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CIN7rDxwK7nmWYWCWfpMnKYEHGRv-Ne5iJw6v4sU7Deu-6iDePHp1XzioIcwz3DwBGUh_t6bqb8IwekFWwFxP7SrXlKiIZVY5S_tfOOE4V1_Zlwo-hIj68ejSJjNc5M8-Rx5leZE_T0/s400/IMG_5130.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567745623597981186" border="0" /></a>With fabric and sewing and a room full of fits of laughter and wonderful women! We formed a little group at the local quilt shop, also on the square (squeal!), and we are each making a log cabin quilt. Mine is stripes and polka dots, in wacky colors. So fun.<br /><br />My head is full and my heart is happy, I call that a good week.Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623916431810841003noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9220748648198602241.post-11660744803313934832011-01-17T10:08:00.000-06:002011-01-17T11:26:37.026-06:00Holy Mackerel!As a few of my <span style="font-style: italic;">kind</span> friends pointed out in my previous post, my time line of events was missing one event. Yes, as it turns out I forgot to mention that between Thanksgiving and Christmas I had a birthday. I am pretty sure that had it been just another run of the mill birthday, my <span style="font-style: italic;">kind</span> friends would have not even brought it up. However, since I turned 40, yes 40, 40, 40, 40...they felt compelled to not let it slide. Yes, kind friends indeed. Like <a href="http://mary-eaton.blogspot.com/">Mary</a>, my dear friend who is like 24 and to add insult to injury looks like she is 17. Yah, just wait Mary, if I can still see to type by the time you turn 40 I'll be ratting you out too! And then there was Linda, my faithful lifelong friend since jr. high. She ratted me out, well because she has lots she could blackmail me with, and also she shares in my pain as her 40th birthday was 3 weeks after mine.<br /><br />40. There it is all out in the open now.<br /><br />I am sure if you had asked me 20 years ago, my opinion of 40 was practically one foot in the grave.<br /><br />Now, I would honestly not want to go back to 20 for all the money in the world. OK maybe better said this way, I would not mind having my 20 year old hottie tottie body combined with my 40 year old brain and heart.<br /><br />I feel like I am the real me now. Real experiences to learn and grow from, 40 years of beloved friendships, always the possibilities of new friendships along the way, cherished memories and my heart full of the people I love.<br /><br />Life is great at 40.<br /><br />The best perk of growing older as I see it, is that you can speak your mind. I plan on losing more and more of my filter as each year passes. Life is too short. By the time I am 90, they will then be chalking it up to senility and that is fine with me.<br /><br />My other thought on growing old is that you MUST maintain a cool haircut. Once the style goes, it's all over people. Again, at 90 while I am spouting off my crazy opinion, I may only have 20 hairs on my head but they will have a sassy cut. Imperative.<br /><br />My good (over 40) friend Lori<span style="font-style: italic;">usedtohaveablog</span>Eaton and I often discuss hair via random text messages. It is a highly intellectual friendship we share, don't waste your time trying to understand it. Anyhoo, here is a run down of our worthy opinions....Kathie Lee Gifford clearly needs to cut that nonsense off. Every female on any and every version of "The Real Housewives" need to cut off their over processed manes. And finally Lori threw Sandra Bullock's long do at the Golden Globes last night under the bus. Just so you know.<br /><br />So, back to me and my 40 year old self. I have a good haircut, a quickly diminishing filter and I am healthy (thank God for that). I had my yearly physical last week and chose to see the nurse practitioner as it is SO much easier to get in and see her, rather than wait 3 months for an appt. with my dr. and then wait in the exam room for an hour.<br /><br />She made me get lab work done. I am a needle phobe and my veins roll. Blood draws are never a barrel of monkeys for me. I'll save the story for another day about how they had to stick me twice to get a vein and I was on the verge of passing out, sweating like Lindsey Lohan in church. The little lab tech was screaming out for someone to get me some orange juice. While I was screaming just find a vein you dimwit! I inherited this needle weakness from my father. Thanks Dad! Well, I guess I just told you the story that I was going to tell you another day. Nevermind.<br /><br />Anyway, my lab results came back with a vitamin D deficiency and bad cholesterol at 108. So I am now taking vit. D and Omega 3, for my cholesterol. I do feel the nurse practitioner is being a little over zealous with the high cholesterol thing, I mean the American Heart Association hardly sneezes at 108. Better safe than sorry I guess. Do you know what Omega 3 consists of? Mackerel, anchovy and sardine. Blech. The 2 soft gels I have to choke down daily are the size, and coincidentally smell similar to that, of a small rodent.<br /><br />I believe the cholesterol thing is also hereditary, thanks for another one Dad! I mean I honestly do eat low fat and exercise. OK so, I <span style="font-style: italic;">was</span> running 3 miles a day for the first 9 months of 2010, until the day we boarded our plane to Mexico in September. You know, to eliminate as much beach jiggle as possible. Have not run another step since then. Well, unless you count the occasional spontaneous footrace I challenge blonde rascal to. Gotta show that punk who is boss every now and again.<br /><br />Then after Mexico hubs and I did sort of a clean eating program for 3 weeks and I lost 12 lbs. All of this to say come on cholesterol, cut me some slack! I feel confident I will beat it though, what with my mackerel/anchovy/sardine breath and all.<br /><br />Now that you have wasted 3 minutes of your life, that you can never get back, by reading all of this complete nonsense, I will stop.<br /><br />Do come back though. I am taking a photography class AND joined up with a quilting group that I am sure you are dying to hear about! Hopefully for your sake this will be the last time I speak of Mackerel and good haircuts, in the same blog post anyway.<br /><br />Now leave me a comment and tell me how you feel about getting blood drawn.<br /><br />Cheers to 40!Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623916431810841003noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9220748648198602241.post-49972799222029360032011-01-12T09:55:00.007-06:002011-01-12T12:09:02.088-06:00Merry Christmas!! Oh wait...it's January.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRHFro5Y9eprlLo2L7LFZQf17bmFZmLrEYsgKsZ1FSCr4bI7IsyFCq9mVWWXHHlhhAPYGOXwlXukX6Wxd1uYeipXL31sNh2RSCo_Jn90EW2iDRFwaq-hxxPsOWbLDppr-BtzzQXS8wNo/s1600/IMG_4869.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRHFro5Y9eprlLo2L7LFZQf17bmFZmLrEYsgKsZ1FSCr4bI7IsyFCq9mVWWXHHlhhAPYGOXwlXukX6Wxd1uYeipXL31sNh2RSCo_Jn90EW2iDRFwaq-hxxPsOWbLDppr-BtzzQXS8wNo/s400/IMG_4869.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561335618024978210" border="0" /></a>Christmas Eve, blurry photo, but at that point I was feeling rather blurry myself. As in tired, weary, worn out.<br /><br />Well, no rest for the weary, as they say and as always the entire Christmas season was wonderful despite the lack of sleep. Full of family and fun and cherished memories!<br /><br />Since one of my most recent blog posts was chocked full of Halloween festivities, I must recap for the sake of keeping the blog chronologically in check.<br /><br />November brought our 15th anniversary. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4jpOiPGtCB37wF4JrVPnNRcNDLXxPEvg-J7hOt0a1lt1b2MNXOU9XQP7xy4QR_PKZSAjjEAE4Ki4SJkJBn6EMzQfGvi8Ag1wQZqdeL3_v-L2Ar1Rlgp6Nb4D7acfyynBsYP9OA26yCw/s1600/IMG_4765.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4jpOiPGtCB37wF4JrVPnNRcNDLXxPEvg-J7hOt0a1lt1b2MNXOU9XQP7xy4QR_PKZSAjjEAE4Ki4SJkJBn6EMzQfGvi8Ag1wQZqdeL3_v-L2Ar1Rlgp6Nb4D7acfyynBsYP9OA26yCw/s400/IMG_4765.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561333842500365938" border="0" /></a>I had an adorably talented local chic (thanks Ashley!!) make a mini-wedding cake for us. It was so fun!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeaRVa3-DabJG8RiARD5k5bUJNJ01c-86Jluedh-Tv8o-t7ipmE7orbgJit3A1ND1iw9Mr9pk0ZdAFFkd4EsdoSMm31n5JFLOLH_hshpUBrc8yayGih6qFZWMJo18z7LFCqZPmSIN3J7k/s1600/IMG_4764.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeaRVa3-DabJG8RiARD5k5bUJNJ01c-86Jluedh-Tv8o-t7ipmE7orbgJit3A1ND1iw9Mr9pk0ZdAFFkd4EsdoSMm31n5JFLOLH_hshpUBrc8yayGih6qFZWMJo18z7LFCqZPmSIN3J7k/s400/IMG_4764.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561333834921869538" border="0" /></a>That's some cake baking, decorating fabulous-ness right there! Almost too pretty to eat....almost.<br /><br />That weekend we took a trip to San Antonio for a little celebration get away.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewCNUhAl8xxpiBvGGrRkAX445d9Qd83lioyhcC8rGVrT7cv_N4yIPChucfwFXxgvG6_eX3frKeUKueqaamf6-dplqYbTRfW7dFx3QzgkNPkNnj-WnAgfLHt9nltbdk2Cpj6rt94KD14o/s1600/DSC00513.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewCNUhAl8xxpiBvGGrRkAX445d9Qd83lioyhcC8rGVrT7cv_N4yIPChucfwFXxgvG6_eX3frKeUKueqaamf6-dplqYbTRfW7dFx3QzgkNPkNnj-WnAgfLHt9nltbdk2Cpj6rt94KD14o/s400/DSC00513.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561331652902902786" border="0" /></a>We remembered The Alamo.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCHlKOh2FcthnpWEjeuvUSLLa_0x91BSkOPeZEIIN1reu2vTKwi1ep1beBnYgBpyRdfjs3KHJHte_21TVMq-k-d3x-cG04kyaX8Qo1ZC6QjaivEljoAFxYTXg731u-8zHovv8RhLBqsc/s1600/DSC00515.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCHlKOh2FcthnpWEjeuvUSLLa_0x91BSkOPeZEIIN1reu2vTKwi1ep1beBnYgBpyRdfjs3KHJHte_21TVMq-k-d3x-cG04kyaX8Qo1ZC6QjaivEljoAFxYTXg731u-8zHovv8RhLBqsc/s400/DSC00515.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561331665825187058" border="0" /></a>Had an all around great time, just the two of us. I love this man. He is my rock, my bff and he holds the key to my heart! I am blessed by having him and honored to be called his wife for the past 15 years!<br /><br />Next up on the time line....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzyymTKOplQ76GKz7U3nrTkNt_F6yKMO29txqhOxGEU2biBoLC97xSI67kOuyGdrXMj9GAQLDcIBMoR4rN3N_4GQTAUWG6DLQCW2ZbLdVjeyiGD6jQz5cPhh9eUJYVeV8D9fYVj74T60/s1600/IMG_4896.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzyymTKOplQ76GKz7U3nrTkNt_F6yKMO29txqhOxGEU2biBoLC97xSI67kOuyGdrXMj9GAQLDcIBMoR4rN3N_4GQTAUWG6DLQCW2ZbLdVjeyiGD6jQz5cPhh9eUJYVeV8D9fYVj74T60/s400/IMG_4896.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561335611550709426" border="0" /></a>The Marine got engaged! Wedding March 12, 2011. Jeepers, right around the corner. Darling girl and we are thrilled to be welcoming her into the family!<br /><br />Followed of course by Thanksgiving<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOmi_zIwxBJaaPWzIuCotCs1GdWP9HJBDceF2DO9CjPMfNjhaa4ZY4G_MHOgM1IOnAtAGvduNidlBOZb0alqTp7Om-kwERP3NHY4NhCvj4kF8qD43-QtM7lni380ukQXQhbvK6ANtYI8/s1600/IMG_4769.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOmi_zIwxBJaaPWzIuCotCs1GdWP9HJBDceF2DO9CjPMfNjhaa4ZY4G_MHOgM1IOnAtAGvduNidlBOZb0alqTp7Om-kwERP3NHY4NhCvj4kF8qD43-QtM7lni380ukQXQhbvK6ANtYI8/s400/IMG_4769.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561333857140647410" border="0" /></a>Yes, I decorated for Christmas BEEEFORE Thanksgiving and it was the best thing I have ever done. Loved it. Yes, blonde rascal was in his pj's for turkey day dinner. Yes, despite how it looks we did have more to eat than pink jello salad. It was a nice, easy going T-day since it was just the 4 of us.<br /><br />After Christmas blonde rascal and I drove to Houston to spend a week with my family. The best part of that was getting to be with my ridiculously cute and fun twin nieces!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkfWMFAZYMSkVrLPjhXu9ANT9WIG-gn-J-LuFlLRTWwdW9xttOgrZiaCYsY7hrPp3XZhQT0jLQhtM4nStnF6l5-EptNK0teF_6XcQPXsBbXzpATfvP03ibdPCqgn0HByyUxBkW-K5mbc/s1600/IMG_4980.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkfWMFAZYMSkVrLPjhXu9ANT9WIG-gn-J-LuFlLRTWwdW9xttOgrZiaCYsY7hrPp3XZhQT0jLQhtM4nStnF6l5-EptNK0teF_6XcQPXsBbXzpATfvP03ibdPCqgn0HByyUxBkW-K5mbc/s400/IMG_4980.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561335622502482194" border="0" /></a>Seriously folks, not much more adorable could they get!<br /><br /><br />The year ended by B.R. and I driving back from Houston on NYE. Hubby left home that morning to go to a roping in San Antonio, so it was just me and blonde rascal.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJgx_HFOggvUZ7c_5MsbenRAKluz30TmE-bhgIr_PLZ1qTmKtBrBrJJfO8m-Znu4pfXKP5TgBoDl9Q5vOXvejH3Es8lzZXQyHV0Mtm3h7BVqo9MTTr43FaLqnVXd72nAytf0UXl8sOEA/s1600/IMG_4988.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJgx_HFOggvUZ7c_5MsbenRAKluz30TmE-bhgIr_PLZ1qTmKtBrBrJJfO8m-Znu4pfXKP5TgBoDl9Q5vOXvejH3Es8lzZXQyHV0Mtm3h7BVqo9MTTr43FaLqnVXd72nAytf0UXl8sOEA/s400/IMG_4988.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561336209680357522" border="0" /></a>This is how an 8.5 hour drive from Houston to Snyder treats me. It is not pretty, my road hag look. Anyway we partied like rock stars that night and made ice cream sundaes. Blonde rascal clearly got hopped up on whipped cream. We were asleep in bed by 9:45. Glamorous life.<br /><br />OK so that catches me up. I'll be back around Easter time for another re-cap. Kidding (I hope) as I do miss blogging and am aiming at being a more regular blogger!Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623916431810841003noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9220748648198602241.post-89496860004119472232011-01-04T17:00:00.012-06:002011-01-04T20:58:17.316-06:00Life in GraceFunny thing about blogging is that once you start reading someones blog you feel like you know them, even if you have never personally met. I have fallen in love with Edie at <a href="http://www.lifeingraceblog.com/2010/12/the-god-who-promises.html">Life in Grace</a>! She is completely hilarious, a dedicated mother and wife, a talented decorator, an all around smart and spunky girl...and that is just the tip of the iceberg! My favorite of her posts is <a href="http://www.lifeingraceblog.com/2009/02/10-minutes-to-a-room-you-love-or-5-hours-to-5-rooms-you-kinda-like.html">this</a> one. Mainly because her decorating style is so amazing...funky and outside the box. Also because that is soooo something I would do, take a ten minute plan and turn it in to an all day house re-arranging! Anyway today is her birthday! She is in need of an extra special "blog hug" this birthday as her home burnt to the ground the Tuesday before Christmas. I pray for her family the peace that only God can provide.<br /><br />The gamut of emotions that must follow that experience are unimaginable. However as Edie said in her post, the only thing that mattered was that her entire beautiful family, dog included, got out completely unharmed. Thank God.<br /><br />My heart broke for her as I read her post and at the same time made me think of my family's safety in the event of a fire. I went through the house and replaced all smoke detector batteries. I decided I would do that every New Years and 4th of July. Ordinarily we only replace them when they start chirping and you want to hit them with a baseball bat!<br /><br />Then Blonde Rascal and I did an emergency drill in his room. I reiterated that should he ever hear the smoke detectors go off in the night, he is to immediately climb out the window. Not ever try to come through the house looking for us. We set an outdoor meeting area by the pool. Then I went outside and coached him through climbing out his window.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJT9oV9x4bMkZZEHVKw6vNQBRowHaDJTU5PAOMKx6MoIylh_NJZGYTCaNsNz4n3Z6fpD5kd1vjDCkR0qKFo2RPZlmB-6tR-IGpmDNu0nF82cq6XesOKbfrtMJfx2A4MM9w_vW4UpinM7I/s1600/IMG_4995.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJT9oV9x4bMkZZEHVKw6vNQBRowHaDJTU5PAOMKx6MoIylh_NJZGYTCaNsNz4n3Z6fpD5kd1vjDCkR0qKFo2RPZlmB-6tR-IGpmDNu0nF82cq6XesOKbfrtMJfx2A4MM9w_vW4UpinM7I/s400/IMG_4995.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558501668966327810" border="0" /></a> Of course that turned humorous as he struggled, wiggled and fell to the ground!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChHrxq69Th8LTWgV95rGZ0pAIG4vtW3wq05D8fhrIl1e9znV4-938xuVON3V_AWqrovoHR6N_sb818-IuPpT_O0B57LZ6GIbT27FSy4elcbJ2zbCY8eWaX9A3fVLw_5XdGVUaiVe1kDY/s1600/IMG_4992.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChHrxq69Th8LTWgV95rGZ0pAIG4vtW3wq05D8fhrIl1e9znV4-938xuVON3V_AWqrovoHR6N_sb818-IuPpT_O0B57LZ6GIbT27FSy4elcbJ2zbCY8eWaX9A3fVLw_5XdGVUaiVe1kDY/s400/IMG_4992.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558501661821643970" border="0" /> </a>But I slept better that night. While our "drill" was light hearted and silly, I feel certain that in an emergency the details of how to get out of the house safely would come to his mind.<br /><br />Then in a dreadful flash of some sort of teenage foreshadowing he decided to try to climb <span style="font-style: italic;">back in</span> the window!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcw89qTy0biMbOs5hKgrCoOz4YPj9AjDMaRLjfunLiOHBufvaheHQH_L84m2frpQ-I7WDTB_ntNaUjyNjLKO7cAH0qn7XyI-7LZZYx2-b2oSbhGnSVvMJCbTIZUwyQ8TGHORHFZvloaU/s1600/IMG_4996.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcw89qTy0biMbOs5hKgrCoOz4YPj9AjDMaRLjfunLiOHBufvaheHQH_L84m2frpQ-I7WDTB_ntNaUjyNjLKO7cAH0qn7XyI-7LZZYx2-b2oSbhGnSVvMJCbTIZUwyQ8TGHORHFZvloaU/s400/IMG_4996.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558502747430588434" border="0" /></a>I told him in no shape, form or fashion did he need to master THAT skill. That had us giggling again as climbing back in was far more cumbersome than climbing in!<br /><br />As it turns out Jake wanted to climb in the window too...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49-aclCfK0fo7BnbzOehpRXRC0D8winppUAE5U_QN9nWHM-NFWn-Q8JTS5cnzfCn8Q0AGQCReow6JPOgkMg3xb22TE9aQ9t7pTJ_ho6zNrOavKpZ1Lpo8aCPhapRozxDCfQtK-ulbsnQ/s1600/IMG_4998.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49-aclCfK0fo7BnbzOehpRXRC0D8winppUAE5U_QN9nWHM-NFWn-Q8JTS5cnzfCn8Q0AGQCReow6JPOgkMg3xb22TE9aQ9t7pTJ_ho6zNrOavKpZ1Lpo8aCPhapRozxDCfQtK-ulbsnQ/s400/IMG_4998.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558502754891694146" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Pray for Edie and her sweet, sweet family as they travel the emotional road of re-establishing their home. Then, go change your smoke detector batteries and make an escape plan. I say thank you Edie for sharing this journey with us, as your story may end up saving another family.Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623916431810841003noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9220748648198602241.post-73965375140703135682010-10-31T18:46:00.008-05:002010-10-31T20:07:53.876-05:00I was in the quilty shack today!I wasn't sewing though.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJ32XBIJjb4lKL5Z7o3McdcNVXJqbHPTl9TnCNj3d6loIWPwsDNAxzjJVvE1peYmD2ZKr9B9PqQrEbntesA8wU_tFk6LONJyiO5mwt_C1JE31rof40egd_mgdO4F3uxOHuR74hk2d65g/s1600/IMG_4731.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJ32XBIJjb4lKL5Z7o3McdcNVXJqbHPTl9TnCNj3d6loIWPwsDNAxzjJVvE1peYmD2ZKr9B9PqQrEbntesA8wU_tFk6LONJyiO5mwt_C1JE31rof40egd_mgdO4F3uxOHuR74hk2d65g/s400/IMG_4731.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534366407221799074" border="0" /></a>I was using these. Don't worry, all of my digits are still attached.<br /><br />I SHOULD have been sewing, but alas I was rearranging. I need to go to furniture re-arrangers anonymous. Seriously. Last week in Sunday School I suggested we rearrange the furniture. So we did. It is like if I feel the furniture would work better a different way, it will just eat away at me until it is done. Freak show, I know.<br /><br />So some ideas had been lurking around in my head about the optimal layout in the quilty shack and they had to be acted upon...post haste.<br /><br />I'll try to take pics tomorrow for a little reveal.<br /><br />Here is Alvin on the quilty shack porch...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKTkbFbXeumflw9-JqdEN7zVpsERfUkZiM_DVlqsNhNSrUn06pxNEnZm2kpJ1ZLyFQ7rTm4JZnItHnA4zcMHXxlH6sd8d0HMeD5sGWsc_KeSmi78bQZm6grtDn-m7tXsqohT5fBDF52w/s1600/IMG_4733.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKTkbFbXeumflw9-JqdEN7zVpsERfUkZiM_DVlqsNhNSrUn06pxNEnZm2kpJ1ZLyFQ7rTm4JZnItHnA4zcMHXxlH6sd8d0HMeD5sGWsc_KeSmi78bQZm6grtDn-m7tXsqohT5fBDF52w/s400/IMG_4733.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534366401639533746" border="0" /></a>Nothing says sewing room more than a napping cat on a quilt right?<br /><br /><br />There was a bake sale at blonde rascal's school last week. I made chocolate chip cookie dough cupcakes. Oh my.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbjuvw4wlb4-QvI9hwctNfCjI27naH4tMtvASAoSDTH0c_rnltWDdaU8MLDTxsRzgZV0IIxnxcllMt56UY5N_1RnUPER-PzC5F2Y-vr1cY1w1C7pBML_vDW3MemEpLgGuypnW6GwksIo/s1600/IMG_4720.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbjuvw4wlb4-QvI9hwctNfCjI27naH4tMtvASAoSDTH0c_rnltWDdaU8MLDTxsRzgZV0IIxnxcllMt56UY5N_1RnUPER-PzC5F2Y-vr1cY1w1C7pBML_vDW3MemEpLgGuypnW6GwksIo/s400/IMG_4720.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534367286246917410" border="0" /></a>The cookie dough inside ends up not raw but not cooked either....sort of in between the two. Delightful I tell you. Kids go nuts for them. I got the recipe <a href="http://www.kevinandamanda.com/whatsnew/new-recipes/chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-cupcakes.html">here</a>. Only difference being I used a cake mix, canned frosting and that Pillsbury break apart cookie dough.<br /><br />Last night was the rowdy, sugar crazed, exhausting fall festival at blonde rascal's school. Is it just me? I can't wait for that thing to be OVER every year.<br /><br />Here is B.R. and his buddy the grim reaper. B.R. was an FBI agent. See his little secret agent ear piece? Seriously, we go all out around here.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3xH1BvKl81HAqAOV1T_EjwiCRzJ3VHbUREKaZOqPwVmcLFjRJswwJ7sWhbgqnVsN32QT-jBsJ2l_Z6pmpwu8zOxES71X_F6FtJBoLMlVIS80rDIZejwbfXDFXXC9sVrb5JfiPswR4UQ/s1600/IMG_4722.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3xH1BvKl81HAqAOV1T_EjwiCRzJ3VHbUREKaZOqPwVmcLFjRJswwJ7sWhbgqnVsN32QT-jBsJ2l_Z6pmpwu8zOxES71X_F6FtJBoLMlVIS80rDIZejwbfXDFXXC9sVrb5JfiPswR4UQ/s400/IMG_4722.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534367279095647042" border="0" /></a><br />Gosh, looks like our brave agent is taking out a sniper in the school gym rafters or something.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHHZowNHkiD-9etBuM5VkrdIqy58mIVLMPj0K7e4YGS4tNjS-ND5wFA0odFEjWpk1TmgQ8C4etE_PPgFM2dmZKpZf8vvSGS2RXdGOYGhCV7IpFfzU8Q0Es825Kx_-yazt7X9J3tIACkw/s1600/IMG_4721.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHHZowNHkiD-9etBuM5VkrdIqy58mIVLMPj0K7e4YGS4tNjS-ND5wFA0odFEjWpk1TmgQ8C4etE_PPgFM2dmZKpZf8vvSGS2RXdGOYGhCV7IpFfzU8Q0Es825Kx_-yazt7X9J3tIACkw/s400/IMG_4721.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534366415432224658" border="0" /></a><br />By the way all you people with daughters, check out this costume....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZToChH_eYHxfiGaSXb_ab1Z0MOB5fQxM0n-nY_LUU4ImHPF3VmMM8pXXJd9dqvQHKDbsKv0dqNtG1fU7LjWbt8_GxNdIIvkAOdByMLmzNHBc5c18jdolHUeclIU3KzryOhssGz-Ijj4/s1600/IMG_4725.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZToChH_eYHxfiGaSXb_ab1Z0MOB5fQxM0n-nY_LUU4ImHPF3VmMM8pXXJd9dqvQHKDbsKv0dqNtG1fU7LjWbt8_GxNdIIvkAOdByMLmzNHBc5c18jdolHUeclIU3KzryOhssGz-Ijj4/s400/IMG_4725.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534371190729434850" border="0" /></a><br />It was Volleyball Barbie. So cute. The shower thing was fun too.<br /><br /><br />In other news, we adopted another stray kitten.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yHDhmI2OlLRUOl9l40tvZi5axRLLzhH1pAntM1wgw7qU6oPbMzj5jDjB_t26JLCYMSZ0PsbSN46y89ssJ8h9Lh_-khiCvEStWunQVRL_ekFPgAb0EJWhpDU_7i8rB6JytKgapCCCrbc/s1600/IMG_4680.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yHDhmI2OlLRUOl9l40tvZi5axRLLzhH1pAntM1wgw7qU6oPbMzj5jDjB_t26JLCYMSZ0PsbSN46y89ssJ8h9Lh_-khiCvEStWunQVRL_ekFPgAb0EJWhpDU_7i8rB6JytKgapCCCrbc/s400/IMG_4680.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534362346446516562" border="0" /></a>Scrappy. Look at that cute little booger. We take all the barn cats we can get. Barn cats= less snakes. Amen.<br /><br /><br />Look who is driving the tractor?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNaiU_8NrTDm3rYwyHrP6D4L5_Bvpu_n1-BwU6VXF6XaR9goBlLOQFAEgDSEK1AyvCYNg90qCKSlDU_pwZvm0Wx2_sSqjAtOrX4jfOwoQPYju-HcNlXzoKZdMITVkXmEQ_OeMFfeXYjuE/s1600/IMG_4707.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNaiU_8NrTDm3rYwyHrP6D4L5_Bvpu_n1-BwU6VXF6XaR9goBlLOQFAEgDSEK1AyvCYNg90qCKSlDU_pwZvm0Wx2_sSqjAtOrX4jfOwoQPYju-HcNlXzoKZdMITVkXmEQ_OeMFfeXYjuE/s400/IMG_4707.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534362341495067746" border="0" /></a>Yes, he is 10. Yes, that would be his father who let him do that. His mother was in the house and unaware that her baby was driving a large farm implement.<br /><br />And here he is driving cattle!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiz8S1kEaFgJ4koB24mGHNJnZ2qA789S0Mq0J90f1G947l7uHJyWMurWCBqowkRpOytUzq_LzbgN4OlD76tSUz0nzb2cMEDprLNcBJQYrKrmMZr8v3Bmkr4Mlb30xS5gz6v3lUN2UMrk0/s1600/IMG_4716.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiz8S1kEaFgJ4koB24mGHNJnZ2qA789S0Mq0J90f1G947l7uHJyWMurWCBqowkRpOytUzq_LzbgN4OlD76tSUz0nzb2cMEDprLNcBJQYrKrmMZr8v3Bmkr4Mlb30xS5gz6v3lUN2UMrk0/s400/IMG_4716.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534362336848843954" border="0" /></a>Or pushing them or moving them or whatever it is called.<br /><br />My goodness I love that boy.Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623916431810841003noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9220748648198602241.post-3166857519225300542010-10-18T09:04:00.010-05:002010-10-18T10:52:37.137-05:00Brain Drain.I have nothing to say really, but I miss blogging so when I have nothing specific to say I think I will just ramble. Flush the brain, if you will.<br /><br />Blogging is time consuming. Amen? Especially with pictures, that whole uploading thing is for the birds. So no pictures today.<br /><br />I love this time of year. SO much. The cooler weather just makes my heart go pitter patter. Pumpkin scented candles are the best thing ever. The "fall back" time change? BRING IT! Although it seems like it is happening so much later in the year, did they change it? Dark at 6:00, love it. Candle burning, little lamps on all over the house, snug as a bug in our cozy home. Makes me happy!!<br /><br />In wildlife news this week....I killed a snake with a hoe, got stung by a wasp on my finger (which incidentally in case you are wondering, a <a href="http://quiltychick.blogspot.com/2010/08/news-worthy.html">scorpion sting </a>hurts worse than a wasp) and we were woken up in the ungodly wee hours Sunday morning by the outside dogs incessantly barking at something that was growling.<br /><br />When we were leaving for church, the silly doggies greeted us with porcupine quills in their muzzles.<br /><br />Sunday afternoon was spent wrestling dogs to the ground and yanking quills out with pliers. Well, hubs and blonde rascal did that. I have a weak stomach and cannot partake in activities like that.<br /><br />I am going to decorate for Christmas BEFORE Thanksgiving!!! Although I'll probably not put up the tree until the day after T-day. I love Christmas decor and it just really sucks to put it up after T-day and then take it down 3 weeks later. Last Christmas was our first in this house but we went to TN for Christmas so I pretty much only put up the tree last year. Christmas decor in a new house, that's exciting! So that's that.<br /><br />I bought a Spanish nativity while we were in Mexico. Love it, a lot.<br /><br />Equally riveting, I bought panty hose this weekend. I think it has been 10 years, if not more, since I bought/wore panty hose.<br /><br />**We lived in Cleveland for a few years during my teen years(Dad's job transfer, and then back to Houston) where panty hose are referred to as nylons. Likewise in the south carbonated beverages are all lumped together and called "Coke" and in the north "pop".... you guys vs. y'all. Yankee/southern folk language barriers, that's a good topic for another day, yes?**<br /><br />I did not buy them to wear. Does anyone still wear them? Obviously someone does, because CVS had a stellar selection, I must say. I bought them to cover the cracked pool strainer basket which allows leaves and crap to go through the basket and then into the strainer in the pool pump which then slows down the filtering process thereby making the pool green and the vacuum not work and generally pissing me off in a big way AND pool strainer baskets cannot be bought in this small town they have to be ordered, meaning at this point in the game I will just buy panty hose(nylons) and get a new basket next summer.<br /><br />How do you feel about run on sentences?<br /><br />Pinky swear to me that you will never lose your mind and have a pool put in your yard? Or in our case, buy a house with a pool already there. Please save yourself. However, it does feel reeaally good to jump in the pool after mowing the grass in July. Fully clothed right from the mower to the pool. I think honestly the best option would be to have a pool boy. A pool boy AND a yard boy. I'll work on that, and a new strainer basket, for next summer.<br /><br />I am going to make 2 quilts as Christmas gifts this year. However I am going to make a wall hanging and finish another quilt BEFORE I start the gifts. I said it out loud so I am now accountable.<br /><br />OK just one picture. Because well, that dang weenie dog is so cute.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cc0gzstCSRBRY5RFY9vyxi7ufgLMqJIY_bQxHHEWNaJ0qZKXONzbhwu4jM89s9SzNMe4Dg6IGKSqn2lyQat27lFgUcfvs91DxVriUfnzytqlBke8-IORAaCmBUnhBQLajbE6Gn5mazY/s1600/IMG_4648.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cc0gzstCSRBRY5RFY9vyxi7ufgLMqJIY_bQxHHEWNaJ0qZKXONzbhwu4jM89s9SzNMe4Dg6IGKSqn2lyQat27lFgUcfvs91DxVriUfnzytqlBke8-IORAaCmBUnhBQLajbE6Gn5mazY/s400/IMG_4648.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529389691592750146" border="0" /></a>The men folk were roping yesterday afternoon and Missy was doing what she does best....bossing. Bossing the steers, horses, humans, other dogs, cats.... the world is hers. She rules it in no uncertain terms. Thank the heavens above that she sleeps inside because had she been outside with that porcupine? Her crazy vicious little sassy weenie self would have fought to the death and she would have been covered head to toe with quills.<br /><br />All righty then, I feel lighter now letting all that worthless information out! Off to turn on the pool vacuum. Praying to the pool gods that we can put the cover that S.O.B. this week. Sorry, but I'm keeping it real this morning. Stream of consciousness thing.<br /><br />Now please leave a comment, if anyone has really stayed with me this far in this ridiculous post. Leave a comment telling me when the last time you wore panty hose was OR if you have an extra pool strainer basket you could send me OR if you have ever been stabbed by a porcupine quill OR admitting that my weenie dog is cuter than your dog.Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623916431810841003noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9220748648198602241.post-82016511168553018462010-10-04T09:17:00.010-05:002010-10-18T10:43:38.127-05:00Best week evah.A year and a half ago hubs and I pulled up roots and opened a new chapter in life in a small town. A small town 90 miles away from the city where hubs was born and raised, where I have lived since 1989 when I started college and where blonde rascal was born.<br /><br />We started a new business, working our fingers to the bone to make it work. Blonde rascal started in a new school, a tiny, tiny school much different from the huge school he had attended.<br /><br />We sought God's direction in this new chapter and really have felt His hand on it the whole time. Our business has been even more successful than we could have imagined. Blonde rascal adores his tiny school and friends. We found a great church, the kindest people and some priceless friends.<br /><br />This group of friends, 3 couples, wholeheartedly adopted us and welcomed us into their motley crew!!! They have befriended us and loved on us like we were old friends. We have been so blessed by having them as we started out new in town.<br /><br />The best news is that they have gone on tropical vacations together the past 2 years. Since we got voted into the gang, they invited us to go along this year!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyiGd6qQgMxYpc0Z-q6P1w0r7uTUgeh12zAiU5TG5Z55VUBl1pvo40O_TNgqHumYMP2P3oPmuf-kAXIXmPc7tnZwYo_wrhTbUpcqc0srVPJ9a7sWga6S8fOv5wYPl-aYf_T09-w3GbKFk/s1600/DSC00435.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyiGd6qQgMxYpc0Z-q6P1w0r7uTUgeh12zAiU5TG5Z55VUBl1pvo40O_TNgqHumYMP2P3oPmuf-kAXIXmPc7tnZwYo_wrhTbUpcqc0srVPJ9a7sWga6S8fOv5wYPl-aYf_T09-w3GbKFk/s400/DSC00435.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524213747814462082" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Last week we spent 7 nights and 8 days in Mexico. The Mayan Riviera.... Playa del Carmen, right on the Caribbean.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpjJAE4BwLDjs4LdOetAySRTv9g-IJh6EDI6hjpdILvfpAI8yvCjdI-2GIuIMD_x40gSydb9aIeOiXM80g4aaucepC-ucpTYcK46j9h3bjf9s1DERs9RvVoMxEtG10iJJt4RM_daIkSc/s1600/DSC00358.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpjJAE4BwLDjs4LdOetAySRTv9g-IJh6EDI6hjpdILvfpAI8yvCjdI-2GIuIMD_x40gSydb9aIeOiXM80g4aaucepC-ucpTYcK46j9h3bjf9s1DERs9RvVoMxEtG10iJJt4RM_daIkSc/s400/DSC00358.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524213735356989154" border="0" /></a><br />Boy we know how to pick friends right!<br /><br />Fellow bloggers please know that before you die, you must go to this resort... <a href="http://www.secretsresorts.com/maroma/index.asp?gclid=CLSt3ou3uaQCFYXV5wodKxPOzw">Secrets Maroma Beach.</a><br /><br />(All inclusive resort and airfare at a very VERY reasonable price, booked through www.cheap caribbean (dot)com. By reasonable I mean when you divide out meals (LOTS of eating!), drinks, airfare, lodging for 7 nights...it is amazing, I don't know how the resort comes out ahead)<br /><br />We got off the shuttle from the airport and walked into this exquisite lobby<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHrCRBFpd-7x5RrBnbnRjUguHiKSiFfZA6prU-TGPzbVmy3qDT_PKI0ZqL5P_loxUAXbC23BiFvc8wq6PLEEas0ySWhxpVF47nl7jxiW2pGEYtD_YRK88hXo39zqNl9cZ1urZqAjwfJI/s1600/DSC00422.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHrCRBFpd-7x5RrBnbnRjUguHiKSiFfZA6prU-TGPzbVmy3qDT_PKI0ZqL5P_loxUAXbC23BiFvc8wq6PLEEas0ySWhxpVF47nl7jxiW2pGEYtD_YRK88hXo39zqNl9cZ1urZqAjwfJI/s400/DSC00422.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524204117043786082" border="0" /></a><br />Where we are immediately greeted with a glass of champagne and a cold towel lightly scented with lavender. I'm not gonna lie, it's hot in Mexico so that towel felt super good.<br /><br /><br />We checked in and walked further, passing by and partaking of the freshly baked chocolate chip cookies sitting out, entering into this <span style="font-style: italic;">gaawgeous</span> main lobby area.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie5pUgvbAmGmtWh1bzBDN0KQNQpDXQ_7aCQmSZgBcStlDEd6J0e1ERuKwIYVNlDRJsRaGzC04ft7K5l0iS6mHtcI8x33au1_ncKb6HMxnSc04F2ubyFmKGbODKXrt2VsoBARjjGrXhtgQ/s1600/DSC00421.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie5pUgvbAmGmtWh1bzBDN0KQNQpDXQ_7aCQmSZgBcStlDEd6J0e1ERuKwIYVNlDRJsRaGzC04ft7K5l0iS6mHtcI8x33au1_ncKb6HMxnSc04F2ubyFmKGbODKXrt2VsoBARjjGrXhtgQ/s400/DSC00421.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524204115920937698" border="0" /></a><br />It sucked to be us, right?<br /><br /><br />Then it was off to our room. It was beautiful.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLphhu8tU42zEGUNoZro8lrhT37k4eoZZpJN79gfg-J7-kuHUcBKDVxd8RefCYbPTMq_FLNOJ2RJlqMKEWJL8odKBO-YGFS984CkrEBIrPVZClreBsYBrl-QPKzTC0OBb4FK8q9b9EtoM/s1600/DSC00263.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLphhu8tU42zEGUNoZro8lrhT37k4eoZZpJN79gfg-J7-kuHUcBKDVxd8RefCYbPTMq_FLNOJ2RJlqMKEWJL8odKBO-YGFS984CkrEBIrPVZClreBsYBrl-QPKzTC0OBb4FK8q9b9EtoM/s400/DSC00263.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524209843855587074" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Hard to decipher in this picture,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTlEPCduk6AvVFzGh10wrlqzdFk0xlDp75HXM9WLZN3qwthGEk9MwqlLYgoyNYL2Xyb23rjN6dA0wE-mA85xkhIBw06IOM2WmwA4OI0U52rkpwyTS7EFpAvvbKedyDTTalawgErCwUhw/s1600/DSC00264.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTlEPCduk6AvVFzGh10wrlqzdFk0xlDp75HXM9WLZN3qwthGEk9MwqlLYgoyNYL2Xyb23rjN6dA0wE-mA85xkhIBw06IOM2WmwA4OI0U52rkpwyTS7EFpAvvbKedyDTTalawgErCwUhw/s400/DSC00264.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524209848086235874" border="0" /></a>but this is the spa tub in our room, partitioned off from the main part of the room by that little curtain. Curtain that was gently blowing in the Caribbean breeze. The breeze was blowing in from our open patio door.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Wn0TMZtvDkYVuozf2LcHX7EudPfC_TBajQIqQ7ioDGwalDChn32E8WQWM0xWQ5Oq4O4Aq9yQf26Stw5_L0EVcPTI40NEA_jh1BPdNTjE7Kbn42EUGcE4xRdHhJhRcYxmT7xjLBeNJSA/s1600/DSC00434.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Wn0TMZtvDkYVuozf2LcHX7EudPfC_TBajQIqQ7ioDGwalDChn32E8WQWM0xWQ5Oq4O4Aq9yQf26Stw5_L0EVcPTI40NEA_jh1BPdNTjE7Kbn42EUGcE4xRdHhJhRcYxmT7xjLBeNJSA/s400/DSC00434.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524213743583072770" border="0" /></a>Which led out into our private swim up pool. This little pool connected all four of our groups rooms, which I have to say was undeniably the highlight of the trip. Our gang had the most ridiculous fun in this pool. The hysterical laughter echoing out of that little pool was no doubt heard across the resort!<br /><br />It was dreamy. Worth every relaxing, soothing, gorgeous penny (or peso as the case may be) that it cost!Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623916431810841003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9220748648198602241.post-71703245446542657242010-08-27T20:56:00.010-05:002010-08-28T18:33:53.855-05:00The last hoorah of summer...or The Griswold's take New Braunfels!We snuck in a quick end of summer trip last weekend, getting home literally the day before school started.<br /><br />We loaded up the family truckster and hitched on the (new to us) travel trailer. It was our maiden voyage for our little travel trailer.<br /><br />There she is our home away from home! Let me tell you, it was $90 total for 3 nights in the RV park. Sheesh, where have you been all my life trailer?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOak9eHzkIgYXzSRIfWn5ZEP_W2ZrWzXJla4Hj3V_FJ47AhEW5Hkz_IrLmM9B5IrFoKsIhpvfznwnlHpIbjrPxfEj3jUZFkQ6gubiuepxEoPWNZRh8UeJA8HE2x3Ioghn0qfz6DnQGho/s1600/DSC00066.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOak9eHzkIgYXzSRIfWn5ZEP_W2ZrWzXJla4Hj3V_FJ47AhEW5Hkz_IrLmM9B5IrFoKsIhpvfznwnlHpIbjrPxfEj3jUZFkQ6gubiuepxEoPWNZRh8UeJA8HE2x3Ioghn0qfz6DnQGho/s400/DSC00066.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510285181831062754" border="0" /></a><br />We of course brought Missy the wonder doxie, no family trip is complete without her.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPXZIonBOB7rZR_WD8hhAdOJ0D4neLdmUgslzf5WGNewrw55-7DLueAn_ucHwqUfpqLnY6KxiIn7Bf7DcyPH9uqRjMZhD5sFplPQFMz3iCq4WYkoeP4zEHy_4NsG-bUqlhdOT_nNmEFE/s1600/DSC00065.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 338px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPXZIonBOB7rZR_WD8hhAdOJ0D4neLdmUgslzf5WGNewrw55-7DLueAn_ucHwqUfpqLnY6KxiIn7Bf7DcyPH9uqRjMZhD5sFplPQFMz3iCq4WYkoeP4zEHy_4NsG-bUqlhdOT_nNmEFE/s400/DSC00065.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510291983593566930" border="0" /></a>She was the trailer park queen, a coveted title no doubt, with her cute self. She got comments everywhere we went..."She is beautiful"/"What a pretty little dog" / "Is that a Dachshund?"<br /><br />Some fellow campers at the park had a Dachshund and as they walked by our spot with their short haired doxie one of them said "Look there is a hairy weenie!" To which, of course, blonde rascal and I giggled and snorted. Guess who has a new name added to the long list of endearing things we call her?<br /><br />(She did get knocked down from her trailer park beauty queen, big head status today when the lady who cleans our house asked if Missy was pregnant! Wha...???? Why no, she is just fluffy, and big boned and she has a great personality and she makes her own clothes...)<br /><br />Also along with Missy in our humble trailer was ZZ. You have not met ZZ yet, he is a new addition to the family...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxxvdMgUcANiOuyYjy4mIKHSyvSyM7mrZfutsPTnAdNj8_KhPpNy8A-G7FE_oI8fve5njp-ksqc7FB1Ng4UIIZlQJiw_TQIJNS7duaj3g8L5AXunkGQdpthEnCp_YJKkLN2wYUOQIhc4s/s1600/IMG_4556.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxxvdMgUcANiOuyYjy4mIKHSyvSyM7mrZfutsPTnAdNj8_KhPpNy8A-G7FE_oI8fve5njp-ksqc7FB1Ng4UIIZlQJiw_TQIJNS7duaj3g8L5AXunkGQdpthEnCp_YJKkLN2wYUOQIhc4s/s400/IMG_4556.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510285163323956242" border="0" /></a><br />Apparently no trip is complete without him either.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXYbdk0I1x72shH7QtOiMZYxWH46Q2lz_-cQGW3MJUg-45vKMv1iaikZvTMS9qK0-hkRLcKoAsXuRJr1BYeR0_QkNO0p0KTCnHSQyLK3BpDJoyW_hqKkgmVHh-ksBvoZn-i5A7PLRFaE/s1600/DSC00049.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXYbdk0I1x72shH7QtOiMZYxWH46Q2lz_-cQGW3MJUg-45vKMv1iaikZvTMS9qK0-hkRLcKoAsXuRJr1BYeR0_QkNO0p0KTCnHSQyLK3BpDJoyW_hqKkgmVHh-ksBvoZn-i5A7PLRFaE/s400/DSC00049.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510285171158463682" border="0" /></a>Nobody asked if he was pregnant.<br /><br />(ZZ is short for ZZ Top. Don't ask me.)<br /><br />Friday morning we headed out to Schlitterbahn. First the fellas checked out the park map online so we could make our plan of attack.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsE9zVhCmc_rFk4CSq757wEZ5KRKYri3S5iCyVciwlvHGUicdbStHlTrufHHOhI6Eh7hP4WgGjOpEG2xf-exGS9lZjFkhGW7FbyiFiy79MevjJtSidkl0qYFesgfHMUVl_iMhTtHz3e4g/s1600/DSC00067.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsE9zVhCmc_rFk4CSq757wEZ5KRKYri3S5iCyVciwlvHGUicdbStHlTrufHHOhI6Eh7hP4WgGjOpEG2xf-exGS9lZjFkhGW7FbyiFiy79MevjJtSidkl0qYFesgfHMUVl_iMhTtHz3e4g/s400/DSC00067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510287713506538514" border="0" /></a>RV parks have wi-fi. Sheesh. $90, who knew?<br /><br />Schlitterbahn admission was significantly more than $90, but who's counting?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MQX4GmUf_mGq0Q9aT2eKWxILN3kKzcAkHkELJKqJyoPvt4YTzoIE_rV3djpgBxUcdtJtpLzcmZ4PIExaJ1juvV1UedCyYjmnFagKvP7XxYHWoX3ysvl3wAP07QKcTNsPCPU7qdlcbYM/s1600/DSC00068.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MQX4GmUf_mGq0Q9aT2eKWxILN3kKzcAkHkELJKqJyoPvt4YTzoIE_rV3djpgBxUcdtJtpLzcmZ4PIExaJ1juvV1UedCyYjmnFagKvP7XxYHWoX3ysvl3wAP07QKcTNsPCPU7qdlcbYM/s400/DSC00068.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510287722802105922" border="0" /></a>Hubs and blonde rascal in the lazy river. The only picture I got...camera and water park don't really go well together you know.<br /><br />It was fun, fun, fun. We had such a great time and were completely exhausted when we left that evening.<br /><br />The next morning we floated the Comal River. By the by, our swanky RV park was right on the river.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOImxyWj1PkwykmsVKHmRd6uGz5KWNwsWDTt8PHvGkVDpbgoR_FvoulgEIjrIKuSAjQh5yOrTrTWc_DBfSbFbeHSKSdV5__0KoLscYOywyX_wx-fqO5rzx71Eii9N6A5I3tqf7fseTKVs/s1600/ZF-4813-14733-1-001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOImxyWj1PkwykmsVKHmRd6uGz5KWNwsWDTt8PHvGkVDpbgoR_FvoulgEIjrIKuSAjQh5yOrTrTWc_DBfSbFbeHSKSdV5__0KoLscYOywyX_wx-fqO5rzx71Eii9N6A5I3tqf7fseTKVs/s400/ZF-4813-14733-1-001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510298027064224882" border="0" /></a>That was ridiculously fun. Good times, great memories.<br /><br />My sunglasses are on the bottom of that river.<br /><br />Based on the adventures of those 2 days I feel I should give pause and discuss the importance of females getting a swim suit that appropriately covers and holds in all fat, jiggly parts, stomach, buttocks, bulges...that no one wants to see. Really ladies, have some respect. None of us are perfect but if you are pushing 350 lbs., I feel like it is obvious that a bikini is not the most flattering choice. Yes? I digress again...<br /><br />Anyway RV park life was fun, relaxing and a great family getaway.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdO-GjR8sUDYPrPRDrNjuBTOXbkS0AvDRQ6EzZQnlE-nm3zPQVlU_wppIeKrVljovQ89cQ1Tc5vrdl9vTzZpIq0a5KQP90ZjQ4QhGMYko2FtjAjSwwTa1YdOTVug_HR3XLKzL2BfmFE9A/s1600/DSC00073.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdO-GjR8sUDYPrPRDrNjuBTOXbkS0AvDRQ6EzZQnlE-nm3zPQVlU_wppIeKrVljovQ89cQ1Tc5vrdl9vTzZpIq0a5KQP90ZjQ4QhGMYko2FtjAjSwwTa1YdOTVug_HR3XLKzL2BfmFE9A/s400/DSC00073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510289272384787794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKk5IFzDobfH6dKLCDdyjd2T-F3jUCU4T5T7w9CMjHeuiq6Z0AyMqkHGQSmSr3OMIRbOrHzTvzNnHaN7AYfJJgGosWxJ44MY27uT6CtgLIkGFMKlAOf5hzlo148usE0g00lBJvFGTaPeg/s1600/DSC00083.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKk5IFzDobfH6dKLCDdyjd2T-F3jUCU4T5T7w9CMjHeuiq6Z0AyMqkHGQSmSr3OMIRbOrHzTvzNnHaN7AYfJJgGosWxJ44MY27uT6CtgLIkGFMKlAOf5hzlo148usE0g00lBJvFGTaPeg/s400/DSC00083.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510289268022468754" border="0" /></a>Toasting marshmallows....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizeOioLP9iPS8bVcaXQ_DcZkNyaxusp3zqUBFDKE-R1afok-TvBVN3QZLljSvrCILMwzDl5T56pIjQ8NBDvB4uxnSDz-OwQ7D_BH2OXYW44uq-zHT5RkCIN8wrVfzujYNhF7-BtEi7gN0/s1600/DSC00074.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizeOioLP9iPS8bVcaXQ_DcZkNyaxusp3zqUBFDKE-R1afok-TvBVN3QZLljSvrCILMwzDl5T56pIjQ8NBDvB4uxnSDz-OwQ7D_BH2OXYW44uq-zHT5RkCIN8wrVfzujYNhF7-BtEi7gN0/s400/DSC00074.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510289259171299602" border="0" /></a>Grilling burgers right next to the neighboring trailer and their sewer poop chute hose hookup. Dinner's ready!! Yum!<br /><br />It was incredibly fantastic to be with 2 of my favorite guys (and the dog...and the hamster) for a fun weekend before the craziness of school started up again.Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623916431810841003noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9220748648198602241.post-87326812996418502602010-08-23T10:01:00.005-05:002010-08-23T10:52:57.583-05:00New school year, same emotions....I walked into blonde rascal's room this morning at, after a lazy summer, a shockingly early 6:45 and said <span style="font-style: italic;">Good morning, wake up for your first day of 5th grade!</span>...... I swallowed the lump in my throat as I thought <span style="font-weight: bold;">5th grade</span>, how can that be when I could so vividly see in my mind walking into his room and seeing a happy, chubby baby smiling back at me from his crib like it was yesterday?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXUn97HXZbxmkxb8p02OUYgOAx5ZiFPsAP0Xeo9YVFfx1eF_qeyS38UgoCHmhIaJ_ibdPNwSSiQpjnXLVp30oa1TE7Kf3LiTUZ-JXWkWjmg61YSaQE4mW8eu_P6GUKswdJv3ia5K0gsI/s1600/DSC00085.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXUn97HXZbxmkxb8p02OUYgOAx5ZiFPsAP0Xeo9YVFfx1eF_qeyS38UgoCHmhIaJ_ibdPNwSSiQpjnXLVp30oa1TE7Kf3LiTUZ-JXWkWjmg61YSaQE4mW8eu_P6GUKswdJv3ia5K0gsI/s400/DSC00085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508629370997930322" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I am always sad when school starts, not only because I have to realize my "baby" gets older and older, but also I so enjoy summer just hanging out with the little man and hate to see it come to an end. He is for sure a bright spot in my every day!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMHDKXSUx932o9WF-W3lYpJrEpewDl1jkFsAtcdXaOYm_fOJlbqLhdxrk4JpDxDB23MjJu_j3NZKqd8ji5OjGHxDDYJNPSC-Hy418-sb-41r1FYzxVc_gL402WgnNsusYjCwkBSA1MtU/s1600/DSC00086.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMHDKXSUx932o9WF-W3lYpJrEpewDl1jkFsAtcdXaOYm_fOJlbqLhdxrk4JpDxDB23MjJu_j3NZKqd8ji5OjGHxDDYJNPSC-Hy418-sb-41r1FYzxVc_gL402WgnNsusYjCwkBSA1MtU/s400/DSC00086.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508629383226746770" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiFysBS5qgfHcr-Fks8kr-Jj48Zg4pbdm1SPTPxQnepvuq3H4EwbwQOpsfTl79_pMEDcU1_-n7WKpE26XvJ-dYI1pzuDeS6uIjBXOb7rtCYM1f-MAtP2m25U1Ftkvz9qI8Ruj_PQm4mgg/s1600/DSC00087.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiFysBS5qgfHcr-Fks8kr-Jj48Zg4pbdm1SPTPxQnepvuq3H4EwbwQOpsfTl79_pMEDcU1_-n7WKpE26XvJ-dYI1pzuDeS6uIjBXOb7rtCYM1f-MAtP2m25U1Ftkvz9qI8Ruj_PQm4mgg/s400/DSC00087.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508629388090343154" border="0" /></a>Enough pictures Mom!! He took the camera and decided Jake would make a good subject....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92Xzr01X36XjfIyJbGD9cXqVS3oppQSQ5sRnpiNp_diz7j6MOA1_JG86lSS5pfkERx3szz21wrdnOVBQAosG4JUQsyeqWFhIX8hMlstU0hiRAOHuqAf5E6CLoXmr_arccxbUjQI5SDfs/s1600/DSC00088.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92Xzr01X36XjfIyJbGD9cXqVS3oppQSQ5sRnpiNp_diz7j6MOA1_JG86lSS5pfkERx3szz21wrdnOVBQAosG4JUQsyeqWFhIX8hMlstU0hiRAOHuqAf5E6CLoXmr_arccxbUjQI5SDfs/s400/DSC00088.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508628086551398226" border="0" /></a>I guess I can hang out with Jake today, but that's just not the same....even though he is pretty cute!<br /><br />Blonde rascal was excited. His teacher this year is super kind and nurturing, a real sweetheart.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bpNyudV9WzmD2V9Zc_uIsm9Yd6aGiKE5sqpf9BnN_abbp3V0dQ6F1_ZFijN3vB5cjWnrDgXrK8gMURIWSCiyzUzdWCNafWCCwk2HhEyz22oR-uYgteXH4wP20zNx2LULtph3BBOBqH8/s1600/DSC00092.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bpNyudV9WzmD2V9Zc_uIsm9Yd6aGiKE5sqpf9BnN_abbp3V0dQ6F1_ZFijN3vB5cjWnrDgXrK8gMURIWSCiyzUzdWCNafWCCwk2HhEyz22oR-uYgteXH4wP20zNx2LULtph3BBOBqH8/s400/DSC00092.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508628098320615234" border="0" /></a><br />I left his classroom without hugs and kisses, like I used to get in his early school years. That would be SO uncool now. He was happy to be there. That makes me happy too.<br /><br />I think I will go kiss Jake. He is very free with giving kisses!Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623916431810841003noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9220748648198602241.post-13800754428034507882010-08-16T16:45:00.004-05:002010-08-16T21:42:48.082-05:00News worthySo I have been MIA all summer. It has been a great summer, a busy summer, but sooo fun nonetheless. School starts a week from today and I am dreading it! I like having the little man with me all the time.<br /><br />There is so much to say about our summer.... I may never have to time divulge all that information. However there are those instances where something happens and it MUST be blogged about A.S.A.P. You know, like a to die for recipe that must be shared, a monumental family event, a super cute new haircut, a fantastic find at the junk store.....<br /><br />OR.....<br /><br />How about a scorpion in my shorts this morning that stung the everlovinghell out of my tender inner thigh/lower buttocks area?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">That</span> is a blog worthy event if I have ever heard one.<br /><br />Yes sir, in my shorts. That's what I said. While I was in my shorts too, mind you. Me and a scorpion.... sharing my khaki shorts. Cozy, huh?<br /><br />How in the name of Pete did that happen you ask? You know I am going to tell you.<br /><br />It all goes back to my mom telling me to pick up my clothes when I was a kid. Should of listened. You see there was a lovely pair of khaki shorts, on the floor of my closet and I chose to wear them today. Yes they should have been put back in the drawer after I wore them last, hindsight is 20/20.<br /><br />I put on said khaki shorts after getting out of the shower. Wore them for a good 15 minutes before there was a devilish horrible stinging in my britches! That is the part that makes my skin crawl...that dang vile creature was hitching a ride in my drawers whilst I was putting on makeup and such. Nightmarish honestly.<br /><br />I went to pull the trash bag out of the kitchen trash and obviously bent in such a manner that was not pleasing to Mr. Hitcharideinmydrawers.<br /><br />Instantly there was this fire burning trauma going on in my shorts and I was momentarily dumbfounded by just what exactly was going on. I commenced to yelling and stomping. It was a very painful intense burning, so I pretty quickly had a horrified good idea at what the culprit was and shucked my shorts in a mighty fast manner. In the kitchen no less, all the while both blonde rascal and Missy the wonder mini-doxie stood mouth agape staring at the spectacle I was <span style="font-style: italic;">obviously</span> making of myself.<br /><br />As I flung my shorts, the dastardly scorpion fell to the ground where in a blind searing pain filled kung fu moment I stomped on it with my full body weight. I did have flip flops on thank goodness.<br /><br />Then I grabbed an ice pack out of the fridge and waddled over to the ottoman, in my underwear, in front of blonde rascal.... and sat my left cheek on the ice pack.<br /><br />It still burns 6 hours later, thank you very much.<br /><br />I told blonde rascal I'd pay for his therapy later in life. I can see him laying on a therapist's couch in his young adult years mumbling...<span style="font-style: italic;">"my Mom..... hollering....underwear...... ice packs...."</span> Poor kid.Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623916431810841003noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9220748648198602241.post-27226389172003185922010-06-13T18:28:00.003-05:002010-06-14T09:00:35.975-05:00MogObviously I am on some sort of monthly blogging thing now. So, I give you my monthly log...Mog if you will.<br /><br />I have so much more to say but apparently not enough time. You know, important things...like how much money we have spent on pool chemicals, rattlesnake sightings, cool patio furniture from the junk store, how much I <span style="font-style: italic;">adore</span> summer with no schedules. The list of totally irrelevant information I could be forcing on you on a daily basis is limitless. Unfortunately I am not organized enough to blog daily.<br /><br />Today all I have the energy for is a story from Sunday School. Don't worry I won't be getting all theological on you. When blonde rascal came out of his SS class this morning he was totally fired up because two girls, sisters no less, completely lost their cool and starting fighting over a sticky note in their Bible during class. He said it was off the hook....screaming, crying, slapping. He stated, for the record, it was the best SS class ever.<br /><br />Does this mean he will be amused by mud wrestling when he is older? Whatever. If unruly girls keep him looking forward to church, then so be it.Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623916431810841003noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9220748648198602241.post-33068504705561822702010-05-08T19:15:00.008-05:002010-05-09T09:00:36.548-05:00The return of the phantom bloggerMy Dad keeps reminding me that it has been over a month since I have blogged. (It is so nice to have a fan!)<br /><br />A month? Does time always fly this fast or am I getting old?<br /><br />At the end of my last riveting post, we had just returned from NC. Let's take it from the top since then....<br /><br />1. Easter. Jesus lives! And obviously less important but somewhat noteworthy for the sake of killing time....<br /><br />A giant chocolate rabbit to keep blonde rascal whacked out for days...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUk9bfu2KH4MSoE7kkdF3RIrFQTrB2DShmlZuIw9nr40lUb79JEg746iOa22FvWTNpfyhxAR9Hzxk417HrjJ5NqHGy2ZTfCqcA_733sDWngmjg9Y25lSTsQWeHzW_QvESgqJOGf1BmvPU/s1600/IMG_4087.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUk9bfu2KH4MSoE7kkdF3RIrFQTrB2DShmlZuIw9nr40lUb79JEg746iOa22FvWTNpfyhxAR9Hzxk417HrjJ5NqHGy2ZTfCqcA_733sDWngmjg9Y25lSTsQWeHzW_QvESgqJOGf1BmvPU/s400/IMG_4087.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469061266250603554" border="0" /></a><br />Coloring of the eggs. You should know that this one says "Mom rocks"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiavZRFMPFMsGINQnGffMFBL2U1wzam2t4ZfAK872TfHh4EZKFK2YyqAYN9zIiGn1mRfoHMr58smR36MTClOuXDJp3CX0AMmKBi59eLOwZF2DJPJgFPyl6pM_dnp3YvmFyeA9rdt9HVt4s/s1600/IMG_4075.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiavZRFMPFMsGINQnGffMFBL2U1wzam2t4ZfAK872TfHh4EZKFK2YyqAYN9zIiGn1mRfoHMr58smR36MTClOuXDJp3CX0AMmKBi59eLOwZF2DJPJgFPyl6pM_dnp3YvmFyeA9rdt9HVt4s/s400/IMG_4075.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469061253754571426" border="0" /></a><br />The holiday would not be complete without the jelly bean pooping bunny. I'm not gonna lie, it's funny every time.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpwTMhncv6sjkOrSjld48BWFdkXkzCFWBKv4pllMKNqEAwuOw4P6CUhOJ_Za6c1JOpVrjRJ5DQQgSR1VU51aLzQhVav1wnvm46OSNmx0r8m3-9M2LsIjBdYM9ZP1iK14wvV9JFT-oj9M/s1600/IMG_4095.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpwTMhncv6sjkOrSjld48BWFdkXkzCFWBKv4pllMKNqEAwuOw4P6CUhOJ_Za6c1JOpVrjRJ5DQQgSR1VU51aLzQhVav1wnvm46OSNmx0r8m3-9M2LsIjBdYM9ZP1iK14wvV9JFT-oj9M/s400/IMG_4095.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469061272714590178" border="0" /></a><br />2. I did a re-decorating re-vamp on blonde rascal's room. I don't have any "after" pictures yet, so it is pointless to continue that conversation. Other than of course to further justify why I have been absent from blog land.<br /><br />3. In case you just stumbled across my blog (lucky you) I'll give a quick precursor to #3. We moved to a small town a year ago and hubs started a used car business. We are equally blessed and thankful that the community has embraced us and the business has taken off. Unfortunately that took my willy nilly part time involvement in the business to a full time status. (Cutting out way too much of my goof off time!) Now, hubs got a taste of this entrepreneur stuff and got all crazy, bidding on an auction of 150 FEMA trailers. Now we all work 900 hours a week. Again, we have been blessed and the customers are coming out of the woodwork to get these travel trailers. That is the main reason I am MIA. I will have to devote a post to the trailers... fun times! (P.S. if you are in the West TX vicinity and need a TT give me a shout.)<br /><br />4. I like Vanilla Ice. That has nothing to do with why I have been absent, but I felt like getting it out there. Word to your mother.<br /><br />5. Another issue, again nothing to do with my absence but just go with the stream of consciousness right now please, is my oven. More specifically the timer on the oven. When we moved here a year ago and did a little kitchen remodel on our new house, we got a new oven. Maytag. They are generally known for quality products yes? Well the stupid timer on said Maytag beeps 3 times in a row when it is done...and that is all. Done, will not beep again ever. Is it just me or is that wrong? Granted continuous beeping is somewhat annoying, but how about beeps at intervals until turned off? I NEED more beeps in order to not burn dinner.<br /><br />Back to my original purpose....<br /><br />6. The Marine got to come home on leave for about 2 weeks.<br /><br />He was glad to get to drive a horse instead of an armored bulldozer! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpWcZtKMWfO54tN8SZj0O9HBqLT1n6lm6mtw8WHd7NjwXTs3t1PlFdo1vE3P5KlhZ9CL6bJ4vIFAT7F48nUHUFUunhehFcqP4He_ZC5oyD0dqFQDwnJJoSJYztQlnNrVBrzn1TFRdeDc/s1600/IMG_4108.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpWcZtKMWfO54tN8SZj0O9HBqLT1n6lm6mtw8WHd7NjwXTs3t1PlFdo1vE3P5KlhZ9CL6bJ4vIFAT7F48nUHUFUunhehFcqP4He_ZC5oyD0dqFQDwnJJoSJYztQlnNrVBrzn1TFRdeDc/s400/IMG_4108.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469066649254770866" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyLiYkkX079NCVcvEw-y8KkeG4m1dNnKHNcugrGLA1OXnFzO9RTxYn_bEbgBUtBtH2AhX8-iBJANzCu7h5snnJMNonNo6u5zADGQM8wsOT4CBUkAmtmRq2ZALodFT4omO3gLhCt1OJQg/s1600/IMG_4113.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyLiYkkX079NCVcvEw-y8KkeG4m1dNnKHNcugrGLA1OXnFzO9RTxYn_bEbgBUtBtH2AhX8-iBJANzCu7h5snnJMNonNo6u5zADGQM8wsOT4CBUkAmtmRq2ZALodFT4omO3gLhCt1OJQg/s400/IMG_4113.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469066659438755362" border="0" /></a><br />Did you ever wonder where the term slinging snot came from?....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzi3BIV_3Dt4chE2OiwB3RRTvFdGG-2mjr61Ft_Hh0d2w-2qZr4UPSQ039h1RAvh3BO3NvcSpck116xrmmEKsHpHRBZE-Qgr1zkQq5OMnvBTAYh4kCemo_nhZWLEJ_fo2Ff5qR0dsaBk/s1600/IMG_4114.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzi3BIV_3Dt4chE2OiwB3RRTvFdGG-2mjr61Ft_Hh0d2w-2qZr4UPSQ039h1RAvh3BO3NvcSpck116xrmmEKsHpHRBZE-Qgr1zkQq5OMnvBTAYh4kCemo_nhZWLEJ_fo2Ff5qR0dsaBk/s400/IMG_4114.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469066663896639746" border="0" /></a>Now you know. That steer needs a kleenex.<br /><br />Or what a modern day woolly mammoth looks like?....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rFZ6XDt122MbirCo1r6sV3FoBAlqnC9kjBPyrOeXjA1aUxYqdgM3A9AYVvOAGA6PcLnSYQIQlXY_-8EjBwGCbDZ08QFuPCwsQoXrqrCSU2b1-5fYOOllS-N7SfPvvd9IaEcnuHk03jM/s1600/IMG_4123.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rFZ6XDt122MbirCo1r6sV3FoBAlqnC9kjBPyrOeXjA1aUxYqdgM3A9AYVvOAGA6PcLnSYQIQlXY_-8EjBwGCbDZ08QFuPCwsQoXrqrCSU2b1-5fYOOllS-N7SfPvvd9IaEcnuHk03jM/s400/IMG_4123.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469066680242435794" border="0" /></a><br />I digress.<br /><br />We were so glad to have him home, he deserved some time off after fighting in Afghanistan.<br /><br />#7 I have been working on the porches and trying to get flowers planted, in my spare time. Again, no "after" pictures so that post will come later.<br /><br />Incidentally while sprucing up the porches/yard, I droped an extremely heavy bottom to a bird bath on my big toe. I have had the bird bath for like 7 years. The bolts rusted and fell apart. We re-bolted the top to the bottom, and then it got hit by the lawn mower & fell apart again. It has been in the garage for like 2 years because I am cheap and bird baths are not, I refuse to get rid of it. So I glued it together last week with some E6000 wonder glue that bonds anything. Or at least that had been my experience with that glue until I picked up the bird bath and the bottom smashed my big toe right in the joint. Ouch. I got a big gnarly bruise. I thought I was beginning to see the likeness of the Virgin Mary in the bruise. In which case I could have sold pictures of it on E-bay, making some big moolah. Unfortunately, it ended up looking more like Papa Smurf.<br /><br />The bruised toe has caused me to run all gimpy on the treadmill, which in turn has cause all kinds of weird blisters/callouses, skin peeling. I am in dreadful need of an intervention by way of a pedicure. No time for that......<br /><br />#8 We went to the car show in our little small town. Blonde rascal took a friend from school.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKtAubtMZjF6HUorbkyviJ5hi52ROtlzApq3Z0ZeuB5bYMw21mtwqUi3xBJpvt8lRHE0F2xkUg5LtPC3JUhQUKNhAzPBnghplcGElmvF3Y34bYcH0ILNvTFFK5mdLG1oCNRoLP2qDppw/s1600/IMG_4160.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKtAubtMZjF6HUorbkyviJ5hi52ROtlzApq3Z0ZeuB5bYMw21mtwqUi3xBJpvt8lRHE0F2xkUg5LtPC3JUhQUKNhAzPBnghplcGElmvF3Y34bYcH0ILNvTFFK5mdLG1oCNRoLP2qDppw/s400/IMG_4160.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469088201870483458" border="0" /></a>Beautiful cars...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhtGPo2lMtNO_HR5hFEqDS8YGh-BFjRIeVf9pmdOJCMlCdmn0ervwiKYhn98Gy3j6vM80-8Nq6rw_sysraLurXt30OaVVksqV9JHhwvC0tCfIHICEfPawjqs_NnTCOlOJhxVfQkKOzmA/s1600/IMG_4170.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhtGPo2lMtNO_HR5hFEqDS8YGh-BFjRIeVf9pmdOJCMlCdmn0ervwiKYhn98Gy3j6vM80-8Nq6rw_sysraLurXt30OaVVksqV9JHhwvC0tCfIHICEfPawjqs_NnTCOlOJhxVfQkKOzmA/s400/IMG_4170.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469088206633577986" border="0" /></a>Hot Wheels races....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxUkRkRHe_5Ii_GlGHbYTzt5yko9W53EngisP6kLmO8eCsAQmbc_l_M4QSQljZZylEHnPsVpORGncASwxc3aIxyNkD-JHeiG_YOtWoTnbJP6GNLY8p7vHklDwi0UwoAEgtKIZyxsnzFQ/s1600/IMG_4222.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxUkRkRHe_5Ii_GlGHbYTzt5yko9W53EngisP6kLmO8eCsAQmbc_l_M4QSQljZZylEHnPsVpORGncASwxc3aIxyNkD-JHeiG_YOtWoTnbJP6GNLY8p7vHklDwi0UwoAEgtKIZyxsnzFQ/s400/IMG_4222.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469097262531169186" border="0" /></a>Trophy for winning a coloring contest....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8XELkITQfrtX6q-7HVaIgmIG14fzm5gZhI1YgYgtfVtjexwlOq4UtFUBauaga426LA4xHw9Xg2XwPd9T0ttDxChUvSHEdqn8m75i8EJEQaoGKx_W0pa9cEJoqwG1BZZP21twow2Tu6c/s1600/IMG_4174.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8XELkITQfrtX6q-7HVaIgmIG14fzm5gZhI1YgYgtfVtjexwlOq4UtFUBauaga426LA4xHw9Xg2XwPd9T0ttDxChUvSHEdqn8m75i8EJEQaoGKx_W0pa9cEJoqwG1BZZP21twow2Tu6c/s400/IMG_4174.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469088216984334850" border="0" /></a><br />And the real crowd pleaser....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVgmqgd9b7O-GBhzMPtX0WM8yqjq0rtZ_fIu9C6qOSD2ZkYlKVmYrHV6oVPzh6ydqTKI9XQa4HF15y7DGjC6LvWsERv5XnrKLuA_oR-1SlnE1kLnh-53l8mlmTE84FpML2Aq-KT2Opbg/s1600/IMG_4203.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVgmqgd9b7O-GBhzMPtX0WM8yqjq0rtZ_fIu9C6qOSD2ZkYlKVmYrHV6oVPzh6ydqTKI9XQa4HF15y7DGjC6LvWsERv5XnrKLuA_oR-1SlnE1kLnh-53l8mlmTE84FpML2Aq-KT2Opbg/s400/IMG_4203.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469097243646323730" border="0" /></a>The tire burn out competition.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yJ4Adt3tKxPR9ZCmJH5tNr-hMOD-_fe72LVD59KSuK8fWV16ZrG_qZfLNgDXPdZr1zaFa4bWg_R0tB4HVf4T-cP6ciW-CUYjwpIq9yn_plnqIqnErL6YHMPW9qf_JB9fvGo0SyupJrA/s1600/IMG_4175.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yJ4Adt3tKxPR9ZCmJH5tNr-hMOD-_fe72LVD59KSuK8fWV16ZrG_qZfLNgDXPdZr1zaFa4bWg_R0tB4HVf4T-cP6ciW-CUYjwpIq9yn_plnqIqnErL6YHMPW9qf_JB9fvGo0SyupJrA/s400/IMG_4175.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469088224776321586" border="0" /></a><br />For your viewing pleasure, I give you the burn out competition...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPJPIwzFvHjKGiE7vxOgNLvTeudcc28_hD2ofwtDNpJHJiwR4IUkb8465G1nPz-CP0mj4Hgp7lpT5gm2ImrN_RLWHvkPnm5fatElw9Now_86NohkasCydeSmJ3r7nlJKmdJmeEkK6rSA/s1600/IMG_4176.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPJPIwzFvHjKGiE7vxOgNLvTeudcc28_hD2ofwtDNpJHJiwR4IUkb8465G1nPz-CP0mj4Hgp7lpT5gm2ImrN_RLWHvkPnm5fatElw9Now_86NohkasCydeSmJ3r7nlJKmdJmeEkK6rSA/s400/IMG_4176.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469094155054703986" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjs_zab7-85k9bQ2ur051d7W656NXRpuHpEk6xpH63D2pOSC1ixu-ZZei76xWBnU9z1tclBeJzw9f5S6wGJnE5DXc1g2o9twLagzjG6rGyWwHvZTUxEo8V4yk0pZ65Z0t_lSuuYBfELA/s1600/IMG_4177.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjs_zab7-85k9bQ2ur051d7W656NXRpuHpEk6xpH63D2pOSC1ixu-ZZei76xWBnU9z1tclBeJzw9f5S6wGJnE5DXc1g2o9twLagzjG6rGyWwHvZTUxEo8V4yk0pZ65Z0t_lSuuYBfELA/s400/IMG_4177.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469094162906353474" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZ0aCfHkHcLBTtRZUHLXK-_4ZoD3nPD7VRYcUF-iPifpc6dPf7Wg5dScvifcRR9GlM0Mll2TFm9GNtubppqAtM3cGpsv1G7yIY282Ls8uDBlIhTsclivdoMsSwwudsvUN4UScb8DDQl0/s1600/IMG_4178.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZ0aCfHkHcLBTtRZUHLXK-_4ZoD3nPD7VRYcUF-iPifpc6dPf7Wg5dScvifcRR9GlM0Mll2TFm9GNtubppqAtM3cGpsv1G7yIY282Ls8uDBlIhTsclivdoMsSwwudsvUN4UScb8DDQl0/s400/IMG_4178.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469094177353800114" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_Y_jkuNcvqMDnNEGbaVYaqMlQo9pYZ_MXEB85NjZr50X66_aeDuRVNBeTGHhB4Oq41FIzlJ6uQYf6sPO134xBpPWPIzbxYt1DgZIK4q9Crhn9j0_6VrZLCxnSkKtt3Qpcch49dljjQ4/s1600/IMG_4179.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_Y_jkuNcvqMDnNEGbaVYaqMlQo9pYZ_MXEB85NjZr50X66_aeDuRVNBeTGHhB4Oq41FIzlJ6uQYf6sPO134xBpPWPIzbxYt1DgZIK4q9Crhn9j0_6VrZLCxnSkKtt3Qpcch49dljjQ4/s400/IMG_4179.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469094184184568434" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXoH8LMlsaMzJbwxGcQ00vY7FkJCUU_AW0Xieb45cbrxGuyWhoQLll2DNwjJHfpE84P5kp-xXIJc7pSkyxfi_aPyHQkUifvUfkHS6UD9pmMIQAXWtsiCrso-HM323LjOhwEEIRNuIe6Y/s1600/IMG_4180.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXoH8LMlsaMzJbwxGcQ00vY7FkJCUU_AW0Xieb45cbrxGuyWhoQLll2DNwjJHfpE84P5kp-xXIJc7pSkyxfi_aPyHQkUifvUfkHS6UD9pmMIQAXWtsiCrso-HM323LjOhwEEIRNuIe6Y/s400/IMG_4180.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469097221077022866" border="0" /></a><br />Nice.<br /><br />The next competitor had a bumper sticker on his tailgate that summed up the whole event....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9Yl_QpKhWQwszljKUe7tqxv5zJUh3kfvlc6U9lumXHfOE-uK00cijyGWyZ8WwWKcq0rPBf4-ZEMuf7sFSVYziGKSjDbRj_tX5AgnzkGQVPSlvqVNnc7rtHMrAveYBVtByIiAxfyMYrc/s1600/IMG_4182.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9Yl_QpKhWQwszljKUe7tqxv5zJUh3kfvlc6U9lumXHfOE-uK00cijyGWyZ8WwWKcq0rPBf4-ZEMuf7sFSVYziGKSjDbRj_tX5AgnzkGQVPSlvqVNnc7rtHMrAveYBVtByIiAxfyMYrc/s400/IMG_4182.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469097231515013826" border="0" /></a><br />Nice.<br /><br />Man, I am tired just reading all of this nonsense. I hope to be back soon. Maybe tomorrow? It IS Mother's Day tomorrow after all, so I will exercise my right to do nothing, but blog if I so choose. How else am I going to get all this useless information out of my head, huh?Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623916431810841003noreply@blogger.com6