I Forgot to Show You the Back of The Cow Glass

See what I mean?

Heehee

Blogs Of Substance

The nice Olde Bagg has kindly given me a shout out as a "Blog of Substance".  I was surprised, but happy all the same, that my friend thinks my lil' ol' blog amounts to something more than just my rambling stream of consciousness in an otherwise mundane world.

In turn I shall have to follow the rules:

1. Thank the person who gave me the award - Thank you again Linda!  Love and Hugs!
2. Write the reason why I blog in 5 words:  Family.Friendship.Laughter.Knowledge.Belonging.
3. Name 5 other Blogs of Substance and the reasons why you chose them: 

• Just Humor Me - Diane makes me laugh.  Hard. Everyday.  She has a keen eye on life and finds humor in everything - even babysitting! I want to be Diane when I grow up.
• Raising Redheads - Amy and her husband Tom are raising two of the sweetest kidlets you could ever hope to meet.  Amy's skill as a photographer is spectacular - I could look at her artwork all day long.  I keep telling her she needs to publish a book, but does she listen? No. :) I want my book Amy.  I need the book. heehee
• The Middle Side of Life - Teresa is my long lost sister and Ron [her husband] is the best "brother in law" anyone could hope to have.  Their life is a testament to faith, perseverance and strength.  I have no idea how they do it - but they do - with aplomb.  They are inspiring in so many ways.
• The Knitting Nurse - Rudee is my rock.  I can always count on a kind word or a sage piece of advice. In addition to being a great friend, she is an amazing artist with her knitting and her Leo?  Well  you just have to visit once to fall in love with Leo.
• Dance Like There is No Tomorrow and My Day - I cheated a little here but Tessa and Tina know why - I feel like we are the three Musketeers.  The are an inspiring pair and in turn they support me while I try to support them.  I couldn't have one without the other - and I admire them both.

Now I think it is entirely unfair that I could only pick six five - because my blogroll is filled with my friends and blogs of substance - and there are so many more I would like to have on this list - My favorite Christian Dad, Jeannie [who ALWAYS tells it like it is :)], Michaela who brings the Aussie sunshine into my home everyday, and mi who I have known forever [seems like] and quite the talented writer.  Oh and Terese! [Farm antics at it's best!] and how about the gang at Grub Grade or Yum?  The most talented Ellen Abbott? Quandle and kathy? And who can forget Phelan. My God!  Do you see?  You ALL bring something to my world and I want to include you all - you are the greatest [and probably most diverse!] group of friends a woman can hope to have.

And Marni - my longest and bestest friend - you deserve this award just as much anyone my lil' southern belle - but you need to blog more woman! :) I miss you.

Consider yourself picked as a blog of substance.  I love you all.

Why Else Would You Own A Cow Glass?

But to make milkshakes, of course.

I bought this beauty at the dollar store along with a sheep glass.  

It's the little things tadpoles.  I am telling ya'. 

The little things.

Keep smiling.

It's A Small World

We have been trying to square away everything Squirrel needs before she leaves for college next week.  Arduous task as you all probably know.  Thanks for all the ideas on things I know I am forgetting - I have added them to the list.

Squirrel turns 18 the day before she leaves for school and we wanted to get her something nice for her birthday and we decided on either a bicycle or a TV/DVD player.  She really needs the bicycle but since her roommate is bringing the refrigerator we agreed to provide the TV.  We were going to share a microwave but the girls can't have one in their room. With all the other expenses we have we didn't think we could afford both the bike and TV.

Enter Craigslist.  

I found two bikes for sale in our neighborhood that would be perfect for her and one is even her school colors which is no small feat considering what her school colors are. YAY Score one for Skippy.

Better yet I found a TV and DVD player for sale a few blocks from our home.  When I emailed the person [on Craigslist the first email is anonymous] I inquired if they were still available.  The owner promptly responded and said they were but what caught my eye was the man's name.  Not too common of a name and that is when I realized the guy was my locker buddy for 6 years in middle school and high school.  I was so excited - I hadn't realized we lived so close.

We are going over to look at it this evening.  

I am definitely asking for an alumni discount. :)

When You Know Your Child Has Awesome Friends

Remember when our 17 year old, Squirrel, met the cute, soon to be in the Air Force, guy at Dunkin Donuts?

Seems he gave her his phone number and since then they have been texting back and forth, but haven't met up to hang out or go on a date as Squirrel has been too busy and was in Rhode Island for a week.

This is the second year that Squirrel has gone to Rhode Island with Andi - her best friend from high school.  She has the best time and we love Andi - she is a sweetie and her parents are truly nice folks.

While in Rhode Island Squirrel received a text from Mr. DD at 3 am which woke her up, but she ignored.  It was a "HEY! How's it going?" type of text - but no one bothers Princess Squirrel when she is sleeping and he didn't get a response.  She simply fell back asleep.

The next morning she received another text from Mr. DD and it said:

"I am SO HUNGOVER.  When are we going to get together and hang out?"

Squirrel freaked out a little and asked Andi what, if anything, she should respond.  Andi, as best friends do, snatched Squirrel's phone out  of her hands and typed back:

"Have fun in the Air Force.  Try and stay sober."

I love that girl.

I'm Flipping You Off....

...inadvertently of course. heehee

All the swelling of ye' olde joints has subsided with the exception of the middle finger on each hand.  Nice, eh?  While chatting with Wallene this afternoon I was holding a pen correctly except my middle finger was sticking straight out [can't bend it] and she asked about it.  Being the dutiful Mother I raised both my hands, palms inward, and illustrated the stiffness by bending my eight other digits while the two in the middle stood proud. HA!  Wallene started laughing and said "Mom you do realize you just double, um....gave me the birdie?"  Why yes.  Yes I did. Ooops.  I don't think I have ever done that intentionally to any soul so I wasn't quite aware of what I was doing - but she thought it was hysterical.

And in other news:

Big THANKS - first for all the advice on the poison ivy.  You guys are amazing - it is getting much better.  YAY.  I have not itched once since that post.

And the suggestions for the luncheon tomorrow were awesome!  They voted in sloppy joes.  We made a garden fresh salad [Noni's tomatoes and RI cucumbers] with onion, herb and vinagrette, plus chips, pickles and cupcakes ala' Wallene.  Good?  I figure - free? Free is good. :)  They like free food.

Still awake at 3:30 - Netflix is entertaining me with some really good movies - I am trying to stay awake for "Life as a House" - so will see you in the afternoon!

Have the best Wednesday you can.

Pork-A-Palooza

I don't know what overtook me at the grocery store yesterday but somehow I bought four different kinds of pork products for dinner this week.

This is our menu for the week:

Monday:  Pan fried pork chops, wild rice with veggies and tomatoes marinated in Italian vinegar.
Tuesday:  Kielbasa, cabbage and white potatoes crockpot style
Wednesday:  Grilled Brats, fried taters and baked beans [I am saving ALL my sodium for this meal :)]
Thursday: Baked pork chops, cauliflower, carrots and broccoli, rice
Friday:  I have absolutely no idea. hee - but I don't think it will be pork

The kids made me promise not to buy chicken for a while. Gee - I wonder why?  That's fair tho' - as I have been making a lot of it lately.  Also, I think I needed a break from it too, hence all the pork.  Or it could be they were just having an awesome sale on it.

In other food related news - Wallene and I have been trying to come up with another luncheon idea for Pooldad's office.  The only restriction is no beans [so no bean soup, pot o' beans or chili] but I would like to put it in the crockpot since Pooldad has early shift and I don't want to have to cook at 3 am :).

Any thoughts?  What would you want me to make for your lunch?