Fabulous Since 1961

2009-11-16T05:21:00.007-05:00

Yes or No?

I impulsively bought new shoes while I was over visiting Jessica last week. I love them and they fit, ( and its hard to find a shoe that fits me,) but now I'm wondering, are they too young for me? Are they too trendy? Because it's not like I have a lot of places to wear them too often. I'm wearing them with my nightgown in the picture, but I don't wear dresses that short, and I'm thinking they might look funny with a knee length skirt.
So, for the 20 odd people that still read my blog, what do you think? Should I keep them or return them? (They were $50, more than I normally spend, but they are leather. I don't wear synthetics.)

2009-11-14T16:38:00.001-05:00

Saturday Morning Goodness.

Today was our neighborhood garage sale and instead having a much needed sale ourselves, Brewier and I canvassed the community looking for treasures. Our search was not in vain. Despite my constant mantra of, "I don't need anything!" we came home with all of this, including the buffet, which was the deal of the day. $25 for this beauty, delivered. The couple who sold it to us had people coming up to them after we had already bought it offering as much as $100 for it. I'd guess it to be about 50 years old.
Everything else on top of the buffet was $1 except the salad spinner which was $2.
Yes, it was a good day.

2009-11-12T19:09:00.000-05:00

Thank You Apartment Therapy,

For featuring my book page wreath.

2009-11-12T14:01:00.003-05:00

Don't You Wish He Was Your Brother?

Whenever he is off on his adventures, my baby brother Greg, calls me. He has pictures of himself from all over the world talking to me on a payphone. Now not only does he call, but he brings me gifts. I have opossum nipple warmers form New Zealand, Sterling silver ant earrings from Mexico, wine from everywhere, and whenever he is near a Trader Joes, he brings me all kinds of goodies. This is what he gave me this week, from his trip from....well, I can't remember. He goes so many places. Look at this frame! It is covered in vintage matchbooks! Greg said when he saw it he knew I would like it; I love it!

He also gave me this HUGE bar of chocolate, perfect for sharing.

Gifts aside, he's a pretty sweet brother who would do anything for me. I love you Greg.

2009-11-10T04:45:00.003-05:00

So....Tired.

I have no idea how Jessica manages to work, teach piano, take care of the kids and is still able to blog. Its 4:30am and Addison is asleep, that's the only reason I am able to be online. And I know I'll sooooo be regretting this when shes awake and I'm sleep deprived. Don't get me wrong.
Addison is a very well trained little girl. Polite, obedient, helpful, and Jessica did an awesome job of training her to go down for naps and bedtime without any fussing but...
the girl NEVER stops talking. Never. Ever. You know what I'm talking about here Sarah.
It's exhausting. And my ears hurt

But my heart melts for this sweet little girl.

2009-11-07T20:42:00.000-05:00

Today We Went to Tampa,

And I brought a little something home with me.

2009-11-06T15:12:00.002-05:00

Today I Broke My Own Rule.

I started watching Christmas movies. The windows are open, its a cool 78 degrees out, hence it feels like Christmas. I'm also wanting happy things to counteract the selfish craziness of the world. I'm so glad I picked Megan up this morning to spend the day with me because the shooting that happened is walking distance from her house.
Brewier should be home in couple of hours, YAY! Tomorrow we are spending the day in Tampa visiting Jessica and the girls :)

And these were the pics for my post today today which really aren't appropriate now, but this morning they were REALLY funny. I'm posting them anyway because I'll forget about the pictures if I don't, and like I said, this morning they were really funny.

My neighbors with the flamingos had this set up for Halloween:

And Megan and I both broke out in laughter at this pest control truck:

Come on people, its FUNNY.

2009-11-04T15:31:00.003-05:00

Random Fact Wednesday.

I don't like meals with the word, "surprise," in them. Seafood Surprise, Hamburger Surprise, Crockpot Surprise. No thank you, I want to know what I'm eating.

Sarah came over last night after work and spent the night. We hadn't talked since her birthday last month when I was sick and dying, so that's what we did for the first four hours she was here. Well, that and eat and drink wine. I forgot to take pictures because we were too busy catching up.
I did go out side a few minutes ago to photograph Florida's fall colors. I present bougainvillea and Meyer lemons.

2009-11-02T20:07:00.002-05:00

So Tired.

We arrived back in Orlando around 3am Sunday morning. We spent most of he day sleeping, resting and getting Brewier ready to head back to Daytona for the week. Today I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned and yet I still have more to do. I need to grocery shop too, as my cupboards are bare!

2009-10-31T09:57:00.003-04:00

Wahoo! My daughter Megan is featured on the front page of Saveur magazine today!

2009-10-31T07:00:00.000-04:00

The Halloween Post.

As you read this I'm probably on my way home to Orlando. Brewier had an early morning flight into Cincinnati, I picked him up and we hit the road. All because I can't really travel anywhere by myself. I can't pump gas with out getting really really sick. So yeah, Brewier flew here to drive me home. Thats love.

There is a picturesque farm just a couple of miles down the road from Almas house and while approaching it one day I saw all this clutter along side of the road.

As we got closer I saw that it wasn't clutter but Halloween decorations! The woman who lives here goes all out and each day saw the arrival of more vignettes. My favorite had to be Children of the Corn.

The creepy cow was just...creepy.

Here are a few more of the many decorations.

2009-10-30T12:17:00.002-04:00

Goodbye Autumn.

Yesterday Monica and I spent the day together and part of the day was spent hiking around Clifty Falls. So many of the leaves had fallen the night before, that we couldn't see the road, which can be kind of dangerous because an invisible road makes it very easy to drive into a ditch. Fortunately the park has a special truck that drives and blows the leaves away though.

See how happy we are to be at the park. If I lived in Madison I'd be there a couple of times a week.

My happy, happy feet. (Even if I can't paint my toenails anymore.)

This tree is across from Monicas house. I love how the leaves had carpeted the yard in gold.

And here is Mawmaws tree. Almost all the leaves are gone!

2009-10-29T19:45:00.002-04:00

You Know You Are in a Rural Area When...

The speed limit for the school zone is 45 mph.

Yes, I took this while driving through the school zone.

2009-10-28T09:34:00.003-04:00

Random Stuff, Because its Wednesday and Wednesday is a Random Kind of Day.

How cool is this wine cellar? I've never gotten my childhood dream of having a trap door and a secret passage way in my house. Seriously, I think I need this, though I'd have to move out of Florida to have it. Dig a hole in the kitchen floor here and you'd have an indoor swimming pool.

Why didn't I think of this? I need one of these, just think, no more stopping and lowering the bowl of my Kitchen Aid, to scrape the sides.

Oh how I wish I had a photo to go along with this bit of randomness. Sunday while Monica and I were at Lumber Mill Antiques, she wandered into a section of the store where larger items such as vintage sinks, pink toilets and large pieces of furniture are on display, and what did she come across but a man standing in front of one of the mirrors, Bic razor in hand, shaving. I would have gone a taken a picture, but that part of the store is to aromatic for me.

2009-10-26T09:21:00.004-04:00

Monica from Madison.

But first this exciting news....JESSICA IS PREGNANT!!!! I'm just a wee bit excited.

Yesterday I drove over to Madison IN, to visit with Monica. Our afternoon started out with a visit to Lumber Mill Antiques where she found this awesome feather hat. I tried to talk her into buying it, after all she rocks the look and it matches her jacket. She passed.

She didn't buy this either, but I could totally see her wearing it at Halloween.

After the antique store we stopped at Madison Coffee and Tea, where Monica got a latte that smelled like I know heaven is going to smell, and I had a cup of tea because I'm trying to be good. We walked around Madison sipping our drinks and gasping over all the beautiful leaves.

We started picking up the prettiest leaves gathering them into a bouquet in my empty tea cup. People stared at us just like I stare at tourists who go crazy excited over picking up broken pieces of shells at the beach.
As we were strolling the streets, we kept seeing this brilliantly painted home peeking at us from a block away. We had to go investigate. It's really really bright and you can't look at it too long our you will burn your retinas.

After awhile it started getting too cold to walk so we went back to Monicas house and crashed. I ended up staying until 7:30 because I could breathe in her home! (and because she is very hospitable and entertaining.)

Megan, here is the daily tree update. This was taken on Saturday while Mawmaw was getting the mail.

2009-10-24T21:28:00.003-04:00

Its Mostly About Nature.

I kidnapped my great niece Carmen, and took her to Clifty Falls with me. It was beautiful, everything was washed in golden light and the trees were stunning.

And here is an update of the gorgeous tree across the street.

2009-10-23T10:45:00.002-04:00

I Forgot About Mud.

We don't have it in Florida; we live on a sandbar.

AAA is on their way to pull me out.

2009-10-21T22:00:00.001-04:00

And THIS is why I need to move away from Orlando. Stuff like this happens to me on a daily basis there.

2009-10-20T14:43:00.004-04:00

They Are NOT Very Lady Like.

They bite, smell horrid when you smash them, and there are thousands of them flying around and making their way into the house. I went outside to wash my mother in laws windows, and in a matter of seconds I was covered in them. Gross. Alma told me the government brought them in years ago for the soybean crops, and when the soybeans are cut, the lady bugs fly. Swarm is more like it. I want to research them and see if this is some genetically altered government experiment bug, because they are nothing like I'm used to.

I found a link about them HERE. They are Asian ladybugs.

You know what else we have a lot of? Black walnuts. It was a bumper crop this year and the yard is covered. I'm dying to make some black walnut fudge with them.

I wish this picture wasn't so fuzzy. Brewier found this hat in the antique store and wanted to buy it but it wasn't for sale :(

This is my grandson Duncan. Isn't he pretty? I know I'll have to start saying handsome soon, but for now...he's so pretty.

He and his mommy Meghan were carving a pumpkin last week. He kept his distance from the gooey stuff though.

2009-10-17T17:09:00.004-04:00

Guess What I Did!

I answered comments in my last post. I've always said I'd leave a comment replying to people, but always forgot. My brain works SO much better when I can breathe!

This morning Brewier and I went over to Lumber Mill Antiques, in Madison IN. It is my favorite antique store of all time, (and I've been to lots of them!)
This is just a tiny part of the basement; there are two more floors to the store.

Brewier's favorite thing to look at is the old toys and photographs.

I never look for anything in particular, but I do have a few favorite sellers. I never know what will catch my eye and beg me to buy it. This is what came home with me today.

I think its old, but it really doesn't matter to me. I just love it. (There are more pics on my thrift blog.)

An for Megan, here is a picture of the tree today.

2009-10-16T15:02:00.003-04:00

This is Not a Black and White Photo.

Its what Ky looks like in the winter..or fall, though its really more winter like here. Isn't this a perfectly creepy Haloween tree? There had been three big buzzards sitting in it, but I guess they're camera shy.

Brewier is on his way back to Ky so that I will have a car; then he flies home Monday and starts his job on Tuesday. Whenever Brewier visits his mother, she makes a jam cake, sometimes two.
(If you look close you can see the Maxwell House instant coffee jar on the counter.)

There is blackberry jam in the recipe so both the batter and finished cake are purple.

I think Alma kind of liked me taking pictures of her baking, though she kept telling me she wasn't Betty Crocker. Do you see all the icing on the cake?

No, really. Do you see ALL THAT ICING? Its the only reason she and Brewier eat the cake. I think she could just make him a big bowl of icing and he'd be happy.

2009-10-15T17:54:00.002-04:00

Prayer

The Lord hath heard my supplication, the Lord will receive my prayer.
(Psalm 6:9)
That's the verse on my blog today; I also came across the same verse in my scrapbook today. Both times I read it I asked God, "Really? Because I don't feel like you're hearing me. Brewier really needs to get this job he is interviewing for today, and I would like my health back. Do you hear me?" And then both times I cried.
Brewier called about an hour ago to tell me he got the job. It is a 2 month stint of employment, but I'm ~~hoping~~ praying, it will lead to more employment. And now Lord, about my health....

2009-10-15T14:10:00.003-04:00

My New Motto.

If only it were true. Oh for the days when ignorance was bliss.
That's why I had this for lunch. Spinach, roasted butternut squash and goat cheese, (that I brought form home.)

I'm hoping it will balance out the potato chip and Chips Ahoy appetizer that proceeded it.
That's what we do here, eat ....watch tv....and watch for the mailman.
I'd be out doing stuff, but I'm without a car. The worst part of it is that I've had to resort to drinking my mother in laws instant coffee. Maxwell House instant coffee. Whoever said it was good to the last drop LIED.

2009-10-14T14:36:00.003-04:00

La-zy.

How lazy you ask? My bum hurts from sitting all day long. Seriously! It really hurts! I guess I could get up and do something, but....I've caught up on all my blog reading. I've watched endless hours of HGTV. Its been kind of nice. (Not that my life at home is much different.)
This is where we spend our day. Alma works crossword puzzles and naps. I've already told you what I do.

This is the view from the window next to my chair. See that house in the distance? It's their wifi I'm mooching. Thank you dear neighbors for preserving my sanity.

Here are the trees on this rainy day. Their leaves are starting to fall already!

2009-10-13T18:57:00.002-04:00

NieNie

Are you familiar with her blog? I started reading it shortly before she and her husband were in a devastating airplane crash. She has continued to blog throughout her recovery and last week she was on Oprah. I missed seeing the show, but here is a clip. Watch with a tissue in hand.