Drivin' 55

Last night, I watched Julie and Julia and was glad to have rented it. If you are a blogger, it really should be a must watch, just as if you ever wanted to tour the country in an RV, you really must watch the Robin Williams film, RV! I particularly loved how the writers melted the two story lines into one beautifully flowing ensemble. There was so much I learned about Julia Child. She married late in life. Worked in China in the '40's. Lived so much of her life over seas and it wasn't until her 40's that found her lot in life. Going to the Le Cordon Bleu against all odds, mastering her culinary skills to outshine even the most skilled male chef. Feel good movies make you, well, feel good. And what is wrong with that? Warm and fuzzys give us that nice feeling in our tummies. That and a nice martini! Happy New's Year to my family and friends! I wish you all the very best 2010 you could possible have. xoxo

Back from my trip from Fry's, the very kind, young, baby faced manager, gave me store credit. You sure can get more bees with honey than vinegar... or something like that! Now...anyone see a good deal on SanDisk CF cards?

One of my purchases was a new CF card for my camera. For those of you who didn't know what CF stood for, it is compact flash. I didn't know that until my series of mishaps with the CF card. Rather than go with the same SanDisk I had and in an effort to save $20 bucks, I purchased a Kingston 4GB CF card with the photo of a pretty little lilly on the front. How cute? Not so cute after taking photos of my daughter's birthday celebration and this awful error message appeared on the display of my Canon Rebel XTi "There is a problem with the CF card. Replace the CF card." These days, I save every receipt that is placed in my little chubby hands. With receipt in hand, off I go to Fry's to get my money back. me at Fry's: hi, i would like to return my CF card for a refund. Fry's person: Sure, do you have the original packaging? me: no, but here's my receipt. Fry's: I can only give you another CF card without the original packaging. me: well,...

Christmas is over. The goose that was once fat is now a small facsimile of itself. I am relieved. Presents once wrapped have left our home and only the wrinkled paper remains in the trash. The food that I stressed over, cooked with love and prepared with the utmost care, is now long gone. If I had it to do over again, I would not change one thing, except perhaps, to include my mom, sister and her family to be with us to celebrate the day. I've come to realize that a holiday will never meet the expectations one has in ones mind. I try to channel my Martha Stewart but I discovered that there are more important things in life. This year, I made a few Christmas presents. One present that I was particularly proud of was a scrapbook of my daughter for my son in law before he met her. When he opened the book, there was a slight smile upon his face as he read my inscription to him. Flipping through the scrapbook, he came upon a photo of my daughter in her senior year of high scho...

Roomba Driver @ Yahoo! Video May he rest in peace...

May your holiday be filled with special memories, love, family, friends, and peace!

As I decorated my mantel this year, Santa, his sleigh and Rudolph came out of the cabinet to be placed in a prominent location. I thought it was a grand idea at the time... until I had to fuss with the pine boughs and then... CRASH! Rudolph took a nose dive off the mantel and smashed into a million tiny pieces. Husband was not amused and returned everyone back to the cabinet. What a stupid idea I had!

...very serious business!

Santas and bells and Disney... make up our tree...

Happy Birthday, dear daughter! Your Father and I love you very much. Your family is amazing. You are amazing! Love, Mom and Dad

Pioneer Woman - I know you want more! So here goes...if there was a Q & A, we didn't stay for it. But really, we know so much about her and her family, at least the parts she chooses to share with us and in my opinion, if she doesn't share it, we shouldn't ask about it. I wasn't going to embarrass her by asking briefs or boxers...how rude! Quick...what sitcom did this statement come from? I have no idea, really. Back to Ree, my initial impression when she arrived and took the mic was that she was still, shy and overwhelmed. Since this wasn't her first rodeo, I thought she would be a little more at ease, but clearly, I don't think she was ready for the Atlanta gals to cheer, roar and applaud upon her arrival. Shortly after her arrival, she quickly manned her table and began signing away. Betsy was there, although I didn't see her because she had escaped to get a latte. Hyacinth was sitting at the table beside Ree, ready to give out the lovely tee s...

Yes, we did! My lovely daughter and I got up at the crack of darkness on December 7th to drive to Borders book store to get the very necessary arm band to see our very own Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond. We stood in line for about an hour at 7 am, chatting with the fun women from all over the South. No, I did not bring my camera for the morning event. Do you really want to see me with no makeup? I didn't think so! Lovely photo of my daughter and Ree, but as for me, well, I always manage to close my eyes for very important photos! Rats! Considering we only had a 10 minute drive with traffic, our commute was nothing compared to the Tampa Girls. They hit the road the day before and drove 8 hours. Tampa Girls are dedicated blog readers! With arm band in hand, I left my home at 4:30 to pick up my daughter from work. Tackling the Atlanta traffic, we arrived at our destination at 5:30. PW was to enter the premises at 6:00. We were ready!! With orange arm bands on our wrists, we wer...

Greetings and Salutations! Computer issue solved and now I'm back online once again. I have lots of things to say and photos to go with my blabbering. First, I must figure out how to download my photos. Aside from the stiff neck, shoulder and sore back, I am fine. A little tired and chilled, oh Lord, please don't let me be sick!!! Our weather is dreary, cold, windy and at least not snowy. Snow comes to the South in February. Since it is not February, there can be now snow yet. That is my rule and I'm stickin' to it! Tomorrow is my daughter's birthday celebration. I can hardly wait!!! Later, Gal Pals!

I'm almost back online!

Many of you know that I have created lovely little Christmas boxes.  I pride myself in the fact that these were of my creations. Imagine how honored I was when a friend of my sister’s asked me if I would create 4 Hanukkah boxes to give as presents. Well, I completed my project on Sunday and shipped the order to New Jersey promptly on Monday. I didn’t want to post these before my customer receives them because I want her to be surprised. I was very concerned not to create something that would be impropriate. Let me share with you that I am very nervous that she won’t  be totally delighted.  Keeping my fingers… toes, arms and legs all crossed.    What’s next?  Well, thoughts are racing through my head in designing something for Valentine’s Day. Got any suggestions for me???

  A mouth full of crackers his hand on his mother’s boob a typical Sunday afternoon at Grand Mom’s.

  After a second look at the photos, I decided they didn’t look all that bad.  Oh, could be because I am not in the photos. From across the table, my MIL, daughter and grandson, Jack. Brianna, Kay and Ron waiting for the feast to begin. My boys, Fred in the background, Aaron, my favorite SIL and my baby, Steven   My baby was the first to eat.  He loved my mashed potatoes and thought my homemade bread was good enough to eat with my mother’s silver! Some of the items served on Turkey Day… Jack, please pass the gravy! …and when you tell her to smile… she smiles!

One more successful Thanksgiving under my belt but just between you and I, I am so ready to pass the apron along to the next generation. Don't get me wrong, I'll be happy to claim Christmas Day forever, but Thanksgiving, well, let the next just say that I think I'm done with cooking turkeys. Every year for the past 37 years, my husband never thinks the turkey is done cooking. Doesn't matter if the internal temperature of the bird says 180 degrees or 1800 degrees, if he sees one minuscule dot of red, he wants it back in the oven. I prepared 13 pounds of mashed potatoes, 5 pounds of sweet potatoes souffle, 3 pounds of green bean casserole, an entire casserole dish of dressing plus a 25 pound bird for 9 people! "There's not enough food", he claims. In years past, I cooked for 25 and prepared the same amount of food. Man, I know you love Thanksgiving, but you cannot eat like you used to do! With that said, I am nursing a runny nose, very dry throat (whi...

If you're like me, you, no we, have many things to do this week. Wait, we don't have all week, we only have until Wednesday evening. First, it's the menu. I have written and rewritten my grocery list several times. Why do husbands have to make notes on the menu you've slaved over just to add "softener" right at the top of the page. I mean, who does that? Next, I must check out the local grocery ads. Do you know butter is 2 for $3 at Publix? Really! I plan on hitting the grocery stores on Tuesday. Maybe start my baking Tuesday evening. Wednesday, I pick up my 24 - 26 pound turkey at Whole Foods. My husband doesn't think it's a big enough turkey unless it weighs in over 20 pounds. Just sayin'. He lives for turkey left overs. The balance of Wednesday will be filled with cooking and trying to determine what things in my fridge really don't need to be cooled. I miss my second fridge. And since we will be eating at my daughter's in ...

When confronted with a minor catastrophe, what would you do? This morning, I found the label falling off my mayonnaise jar. What would you do? Rip it off like a band aid? Or? Would you wander through your house to find the tape... and adhere the label to where it belonged? Yeah, I taped the label on the jar... I need serious help!

When I'm wrong, I'm wrong. When I'm right, I'm right. And when something that I've complained about is now righted, I will blog about it. Through the wonderful use of message boards and the most experienced tech rep by the name of Mercy, all computer issues were resolved, the registration was completed and I am designing and cutting like a maniac. Yeah!!! Resolution is a wonderful word.

What is going on?  First, the news bombards us with the recent recommendations that women do not have to get their first mammogram until the age of 50.  Today, I read that we no longer need Pap smears as frequently as recommend just a few days ago.  Just who is making these decisions? Are the lobbyists for the insurance companies involved in some way?  Are these recommendations being enforced because we just may have a national health care plan and cost cutting is a mandate? Well, readers, I am very, very angry. Upset.     Provoked. Raged. And downright pissed. We better be reading in the days to come that insurance companies will cease to cover Viagra prescriptions. I am still appalled that insurance companies never paid for birth control pills but approved Viagra in a heart beat. Is this acceptable?  Women…we must bond together. 

Being an avid crafter, I was excited about the new product about to be released by Provo Craft. Yes, I was sucked in by all of the hype on HSN regarding the Gypsy.  After watching one  day in October, the premiere, I decided to order it and just my luck, I was placed on a waiting list. The voice inside me told me to cancel and just as I was about to do so, it arrived on my door step.  OK, I was genuinely excited and thought to myself, I have many projects in the coming months that this will really allow me to complete them with ease. Opening the box and much to my dismay, I discovered that Provo Craft decided to cut costs and not supply a manual nor DVD with this tool. What?  Really?  What were they thinking? Sure, you can go online and download the manual, but please. My next experience was my inability to register my Gypsy online. I like to think that I am a computer savvy and, yes I am, but after spending hours and hours of unnecessar...

Third Wheel

I do not have paraskevidekatriaphobia. Do YOU! Would you sit in the 13th row? Live on the 13th floor of a building? Do you pull the covers over your head on mornings like this??

One project to scratch off of the list! Jack’s Christmas stocking is complete. Yea! I haven’t used my embroidery skills for quite some time. By the time I got down to the lower stocking, all skills of stichery somehow came to the forefront of my brain and I was proud of my accomplishment. Here’s the baby bear saying “Grand Mom, you did an awesome job!”   I already ordered and received the next stocking for baby number 2…whenever he or she makes his or her appearance. 

My baby loves his Little Tykes car.  Especially when Grand Pop plays with him.  Grand Pops play rougher than Grand Moms.  Grand Moms walk around the cul-de-sac, waving to the neighbors and the security man. Grand Pop … where are you?  I’m waiting.  Grand Pop? Swish….Grand Pop pushes Little Jack and he zooms down the street.   Yep, that’s what I’m talking about! Zoommmmm!!!!

In life, there are certain things that separate us from one another. There are kind souls who truly feel compassion for others. I have been behind those racing through the toll booth to find out that my toll was paid by a kind person ahead of me. Often, we meet someone who is just unbelievably rude in life or someone that flips us the bird for  turning right.  It truly boggles my mind. However, civility would rush over all if we simply used place cards for dinner parties! Here’s the link I found, thanks to HGTV that I wanted to share you all of you! Thanksgiving Place Cards Although I own Christmas Place cards, I have lived a unruly life at Thanksgiving.  Thank you HGTV for bringing order to my life! Hope you enjoyed the light hearted post today!

Often when I'm asleep at night something ultimately wakes me up. Either it's our little Grace kitty complaining because she's out of water or can see the bottom of her food dish. Or perhaps it is my MIL wandering the hallways but last night, it was all together different. As my eyes opened, I was certain that some loved one or drunk sending me a text message. Buzz...buzz...buzz. My hand dabbled on my nightstand, I picked up the phone and brought it closer to my eyes. Nope. Not my phone. Buzz...buzz...buzz. OK, it has to be my sleeping husband's phone. I get out of bed, walk around the bed and stumble to his night stand. In the dark, I grab his phone. Nope, not his phone. Buzz...buzz...buzz. Back in bed, I manage to plump my pillow to surround my ears. It's quiet. Alas, I can try to go back to sleep. Buzz...buzz...buzz... Eyes open again. Buzz...buzz...buzz... Damn, what is this annoying noise? It can't be? But is it? Yes, the buzz...buzz...buzzing i...

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting some new Georgia bloggers. I don’t remember who exactly had the idea to meet for lunch, but Joyce, Sue and I agree, it was a great idea. We met at Red Salt Pub on Canton Street in the middle of Historic Roswell.  The food was great, as always.  I tried their 7 onion soup which is nothing like a French onion soup but more like a creamy bisque.  Many of the bloggers tried Red Salt’s Roasted Pear Salad with Chicken.  Yep, it was very good, sans the blue cheese of course.  Blue cheese does not like me one little bit, although, I love blue cheese.    Thanks to Yelp, I was able to grab this photo.  Somehow, I managed to forget my camera at home.  To top it off, I changed purses that morning and my handy little Kodak was left behind. Be sure to visit Sue's Blog, Rue Mouffetard for the full pictorial recap of the afternoon. A grand time was had by all! Hope to see all of you Georgi...

Bringing Down The Warehouse @ Yahoo! Video ...this was always my greatest fear.

Fun times.  Family.  Football.  Georgia lost, but that was expected.  Darn, I really was wishing for a miracle.  It was an official party because of the signage made by yours truly on my Cricut Expression. The official posters of the two collegiate teams.   Our host, Ron, shows off his brand new projection TV! Son in law and Father in law discuss pregame strategies and enjoy a beverage. You can’t have a party without food and we had plenty!  Here’s the beginning of it with the Halloween goodies. More delicious treats…        One cannot have a party without cocktail weenies… This is Kaye’s famous cherry crock pot cakes! These are my famous chafing dish meatballs.  Ok…a Gator came to the party… and laughed at us all day! The necessary Georgia and Florida cupcakes…    Home made salsa…yum! Spidery cheese balls Wormy candied apples… More treats for the kids….I m...