FUN STUFF! Thankfully I had a very nice tech who made me feel as comfortable as one can feel considering another woman is touching "the girls" and squishing them into pancakes! But at least it's over for another year. :)

I didn't mention our TV is out! They've been cutting down trees next door and we think they've hit a wire or something. Verizon is supposed to be out this afternoon to fix it. It's been 3 days since I've seen a forensic show and I'm going into withdrawal. My stitching is suffering immensely as well! LOL

I'm off for more furniture shopping with Lynne this evening. Lord help me! ROFL

Spooky Spider

Is this cute or what? You can click to see it bigger, but it's a Spider Basket!

I found this little cutie at the thrift shop at work. I'm a sucker for Halloween stuff, and I had to have it. Guess how much it was. $2!!! *big goofy grin*

The sofa shopping on Monday night was a hoot! We went to two different places and spent hours looking at different models, colors, and styles. We liked the ones with the recliners on both ends, but Miss Lynne's legs are too long to put the footrest back down once it's up! She was stuck several times, and even though I thought about just leaving her and pretending I didn't know this crazy woman, I waited until she figured out how to put them down. LOL Personally, I liked the one with the built-in massage. Who needs a man with one of those around??? ROFL

Monday, Monday...

Well, it's Monday again. I had a great weekend but they're just never long enough!

Saturday I met Diana in Williamsburg for a little shopping. We went to the cross stitch shop first, and had a great time looking through fabrics and fibers. I picked out a pretty piece of linen for an upcoming project, and a few flosses for one I'm working on now.

After that, we headed to the Pottery. We were both VERY disappointed this trip because the prices have went up to retail! We did find some gorgeous ribbon in 10-yard spools for $1.49, so we both got some of that. And I bought Miss M a net storage bin for her Webkinz. But that's all! I have never gotten out of there that cheap! Even the shelled peanuts I buy every trip for the past 7 years at $3.99 a bag have gone up to $7.49! Things sure have changed.

We had a wonderful lunch at Cracker Barrel. I had the usual chicken & rice and D had breakfast! I found Miss M a crystal growing kit, and treated myself to a bag of maple nut goodies.

Yesterday I cleaned and lounged and helped Maddy with her crystal project. It was a great lazy Sunday.

Lynne and I are sofa shopping this evening, so I'm looking forward to spending time with her.

Hope to have some pictures to share tomorrow if I can kick them off the computer tonight! LOL

Almost Time!!!

We play our first Preseason Game on August 3rd against the Colts. I am SO EXCITED for the season to start! I've been in MAJOR withdrawal since the ProBowl. Happens every year. But it won't be long now. Nothing better than the cool Fall air, dinner in the crockpot, my stitching, and watching the Redskins play (watching them WIN is even better! LOL)

GO REDSKINS!!!

Hey, it rained last night! It looked for a while like a severe storm would hit at any moment, but of course it never happened. But we did get a good dousing which seems to have cooled things off at least a little. It's "only" supposed to get up to 86 today. *rolls eyes*

A Meme

I THINK -- This will be fun!

I KNOW -- My kids love me.

I HAVE -- A great house with tons of potential.

I WISH -- For peace. Peace in the world, peace in my life, peace at home. I just want peace.

I HATE -- Cancer.

I LIKE -- Coffee, storms, shabby chic, pizza, Fall, forensic shows, lilacs.

I MISS -- My Mom more than I can say.

I FEAR -- That Patrick has a skewed view of relationships.

I FEEL -- Tired.

I HEAR -- A fan.

I SMELL -- Coffee.

I CRAVE -- Affection from a lover.

I SEARCH -- For the pen I had a few minutes ago, my paring knife, my camera batteries, my cell phone charger, my sanity...

I WONDER -- If I'll ever be financially comfortable.

I REGRET -- How I left things with my Grandmother before she passed away.

I LOVE -- My kids, my kitties, my friends, my bed, my stash, my car.

I ACHE -- All too often.

I AM NOT -- 25.

I BELIEVE -- In Guardian Angels.

I DANCE -- Because I feel the music.

I SING -- With the radio.

I CRY -- Way too much.

I DON'T ALWAYS -- Stick to my guns.

I FIGHT -- When I have to.

I WRITE -- Budgets, lists, and other things I don't stick to.

I WIN -- Lots of money at Webkinz World!

I NEVER -- Have enough time at home.

I ALWAYS -- Enjoy time with my friends.

I LISTEN -- To it rain.

I CAN USUALLY BE FOUND -- At work. I'm always at work. I was just at work, now I'm here again at work.

I AM SCARED -- Of a praying mantis (scares me to even TYPE the words!)

I NEED -- Security.

I AM HAPPY ABOUT -- Madison being so beautiful and smart.

I IMAGINE -- What it will be like at home once my kids are on their own.

I WANT -- To be a SAHM.

Lunch With Lynne

Lynne and I went to Max & Erma's for lunch. YUM! That mozarella chicken sandwich is just my most favorite EVER!

We also did some brainstorming for our TS County Fair coming up next month. I think it was good for her to get her mind off moving and unpacking for a while. That stuff can get so overwhelming.

I went after work to get my bloodwork done that the doc ordered last Thursday. The gal MISSED my vein and had to adjust the needle (ouch), so therefore I have a big bruise now. HATE it when that happens!

I got the back deck swept off in between running for cover from those little black fuzzy mosquitos. I need to look online to find something to spray on the bushes to get rid of those things, or at least keep them at bay. They bite as soon as they land on you, so before you realize they're there, they've given you a whelt! HATE those things!

It's supposed to be over 100 on Tuesday, then rain on Wednesday. I hope it does rain this time and actually cool things off instead of making it worse. LOVE this Richmond weather (said tongue in cheek).

TGIF!!!

It's Finally Friday! I'm so glad. It's been a very long and eventful week at Mays Manor.

Miss M and I did go visit Lynne's new house and it's is really nice. I think she's going to be very happy there. It's even farther away from me than her old house and I'm not too happy about that, but she finally has a place of her own after months of struggling to find her "place" after the divorce. She said Patrick was a big help to her, so they had a good day together. I do plan to go raid her stash once she gets everything in her sewing room organized. *evil grin*

Not sure what's on tap for me this weekend. It's totally up to Rob and what he wants to do with the ultimatum I gave him this morning. I'm either working on the house or packing! Either way I'll just be glad when the whole thing is over with.

Here's where I'd dearly love to be right now. This is Miss M on the beach last September...

I love her little footprints in the sand. Life is good!

Had The Oil Checked Yesterday

Yup, it was my annual appointment time with my GYN. Gotta love those! It's the first one since my surgery. She wrote orders also for bloodwork to check my thyroid and iron. Something is making me so very tired and I'm hoping a simple med adjustment will do the trick. Can you be anemic still after a hysterectomy?

Lynne closed on her new house yesterday, so she's busy moving in. She's so excited I can feel her glowing over the phone! Patrick is there with her now helping to install deadbolt locks and to move stuff in from the Pod. The movers will get there this evening, and Maddy and I are going over after work. I can't wait to see my new vacation home! Heehee

Lesson From Mother Nature

So earlier in the Spring Miss M notices that there is a cardinal who has fixed up and taken over an old nest right outside my bedroom window. She has 3 sweet little eggs that she is sitting on and eyes us intently each time we peek to make sure we don't intend to bother them.

Soon enough the eggs hatch and she and the proud papa are busily flying back and forth with yummies to feed their little tummies.



One morning I noticed that one of the three little birdies was teetering dangerously on the edge of the nest each time a parent came to feed them. I worried all day, and sure enough when I got home that evening there were only two in the nest. I looked all over for the third little fella but never did find him. :(

The other two were also getting very close to the edge of the nest. I told Rob that we needed to do something to prevent them from falling, so we decided to take the lid to a box and rest it on the branches below the nest to "catch" the little ones when they fell. We had good intentions!



As he was putting the lid into the tree, I saw something drop out and hit the ground. He knocked one of the little birds out of the nest! I acted quickly to pick it up and hand it to him to put back in the nest. As he did, the other one fell out! It was hopping away as fast as it could and I ran after it trying to put it back where it belonged. As all this was happening Mama and Daddy were dive-bombing us and fussing as loudly as they could to let us know they were pissed that we were messing with their babies! Every time Rob would put one of the babies back in, the other one would fall out. This continued for a long time until finally he got them both in and yelled, "RUN!"

I went straight to the bedroom window and watched as one of them flapped his little wings and plumetted to the ground. I went out and picked it up and put it in a box. I watched the other one until it decided to leap out, scooped him up, and put him in the box. Now what?

I called a rehabber and left a message and waited patiently for her to call me back. Maddy was fascinated by the babies and wanted to keep them. Mama and Daddy were outside flying around like mad trying to figure out what just happened. She finally called me back and I explained the situation to her thinking she would be very sympathetic and want me to deliver the babies to her immediately before I killed them. But, instead she remained very calm and asked me, "Do they have all their feathers?" "Yes" I answered. "Then take them back out there and leave them be. They're SUPPOSED to fall out of the nest like that!" OMG, I felt SO stupid! Apparently when baby birds leave the nest, Mama still feeds them as they hop around on the ground for a couple of days before they learn to fly. Who knew!!!

So, I can just about bet that Mama won't be building a nest in my yard next Spring. Too much DRAMA! LOL

I Have An Island!

WooHoo! The boys carried up the other kitchen cabinet this weekend. When we put the countertop on it stuck WAY out in front of the cabinets and it dawned on me that it's a bar! So, we moved the cabinet to the middle of the kitchen and it became the neatest island with all kinds of counterspace. I'm going to get 3 stools to set on one side, and drop some pendant lights over it. I really love it.

The room is really starting to come together. Once I get the countertops tiled and the two upper cabinets hung it's going to actually look like a kitchen again. I wish I didn't have to depend on anyone to help me because it would already have been done by now otherwise. For some reason the rest of my family just isn't as motivated as I am. Hhhhmmm...wonder why? *rolls eyes*

As usual, the weekend wasn't nearly long enough. Oh, how I wish I could be a SAHM and be taken care of by someone else for a change. Not in this lifetime!

My Birthday Cards

Just look at all the cards I received from my TS friends this year...



Each one of them had a little surprise tucked inside, from magnets to flosses to notepads. I also received Rosewood Manor's "Something Old Something New" from Carol, which was on my Wish List. I had such a wonderful birthday this year!

I took MIL to meet a friend at the bus stop last night for a layover she had in Richmond. We picked her up and we went to DBIL Brian's club, Infuzion. We had a nice visit and I stitched while they caught up on old times. The food was awesome, and they have an ice bar where everything inside is made of ice! It's kept at 23 degrees. Even the walls and glasses are made of ice. Awesome experience. We didn't get home until 12:30, so I slept like a rock last night/this morning. LOL

I'm so glad it's FRIDAY! I hope to get a lot done around the house this weekend, especially another cabinet in the kitchen.

Pocketful of Sunshine

Even though it's dreary here today, I've got a Pocketful of Sunshine! This is my new theme song...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2XcqKaXDIY

It's just one of those "feel good" songs that inspires you to change your mood. At least it does me.

I've been reading about The Compact and I've been wondering if I could actually go a year without buying anything new (other than necessities like food & medicine). I know I could go a year without buying any new cross stitch stash for myself. I've got an enitre LNS in my stash closet. But it's made me wonder what I actually waste money on that I could do without. We definitely eat out too much, so the elimination of that alone would save a lot of money.

And saving money isn't the only positive thing that could come of deciding to limit retail therapy. With all the talk about "going green" and recycling these days, you have to step back and wonder how you can help the effort. Gotta leave something for the Grandbabies!!!

Today Is My Hysterversary!

One year ago today I went under the knife. Best decision I've ever made in my life. Man, what a difference that surgery has made! Now if I could only figure out how to lose the weight I've gained since being "fixed!" LOL

Christmas in July has had me thinking over the last few days. Miss M and I have decided that we're going to try our best to have an old-fashioned Christmas this year. We're going to make some salt dough ornaments, string popcorn & cranberries, drive around to look at the lights, watch Christmas shows & movies together, and bake lots of goodies. And of course get a live tree. It's time to get our holidays back to what they're supposed to be and not concentrate so much on money. Surprisingly she's on board with the idea and I'm very excited about it!

I'm going to try to get the boys to carry up another cabinet to the kitchen and get the countertop on. I'm anxious to get everything that belongs in the kitchen actually "IN" the kitchen. This whole remodeling thing is too much like WORK! LOL

Hendrix Lives...For Now

This is Hendrix. The bane of my existence. He's DS Randy's new puppy, and it's a good thing he's so cute because otherwise I'd have a husky skin hanging on my den wall. You know how the whole puppy thing goes with the training, the chewing, the jumping. You name it, he does it. But just look at that face!!!



Miss M has been asking for one of my DSis's kittens. Nevermind that the critters are taking over my house. Never mind that everybody wants them and promises to take care of them. Never mind that we already have two gerbils, a hamster, a snake, two cats, and two dogs. It's not enough. We NEED a new kitten! I'm looking for a suitable outhouse to move my belongings into. I hear Lowe's has them on sale...

Storms, Shores, & Snores

Sunday was such a lazy day. I woke up with a headache thanks to the birthday drink of rum & Sierra Mist that Rob made me. I should know better than to drink liquor with all that sugar! I snored most of the day away trying to shake the headache.
Lynne came over around 4ish and brought my birthday present. She got me Shores of Hawk Run Hollow which I've wanted since it came out. It'll be a while before I start it because I want to do the Village companion piece next, but I've got it now and it'll wait patiently until I'm ready for it. I'm so tickled!



We stitched for hours and munched on pizza and cookies. It's so great to get together with her and enjoy our favorite hobby. I got a lot done on House #10, and she worked on a bookmark for an exchange at TS. Around 9:00 it started to storm really heavily. I actually got to listen to the rain and drift off to sleep. There's nothing better in this world than a storm lullaby!

It's Official...I'm OLD

42. I'm 42. I remember when I thought 30 was old. I'm not sure where my life has gone, but one thing's for sure...I can't remember most of it!

I had an absolutely wonderful day. I spent it stitching and napping. LOL The boys bought me a FABULOUS Cracker Barrel rocking chair that I dearly love. I've wanted one for so long. They bought it assembled and somehow got it in Randy's little car to bring it home. I love my boys!





Later on in the evening Dana took me out to dinner. We went to Hops and had a wonderful steak. After dinner, we went to Michael's where I found some cute little things for the upcoming Advent Exchange at TS. We then headed to Bed, Bath and Beyond, and she bought me a PedEgg. I had been wanting to try one for a while, and it works really well! I had a great birthday this year.

Happy Birthday Angel Sue!

Today would have been my Mom's 63rd birthday. I can't believe she's been gone 5 years. But those fireworks in the sky are her birthday celebration, and I thank God for this day in 1945 when she was brought into the world.

Mom! I love you!!!

Last night MJ and I went to Penney's and I got my hair cut. Garyn really took his time with the shampooing and it felt so nice! He took about 4 inches off of my hair and I really love how it looks and feels. And it's much cooler. I bought myself a new bathing suit and a couple shirts and pairs of slacks. I even got myself a pair of jeans that were on sale! I haven't worn jeans in a long time.

Tonight we're going to grill steaks. I'm doing a pasta salad and MJ is doing the rest. She's been such a help to me lately and I really appreciate her. She has her moments, but for the most part she's not a bad mother-in-law at all.

22 Years Ago Today...

My sweet Granny became an Angel. She was so special to me throughout my childhood. I remember coming home from school every day and stopping by her house for a Little Debbie Swiss Roll that she always kept for me. She bought all my school clothes, my first car, and absolutely spoiled me rotten. I still miss her so much, but I know she's still watching over me as my sweet Guardian Angel.

It's a HOT one today! Supposed to be 95 degrees. There's a chance of thunderstorms this weekend, but in Richmond that usually means more humidity as opposed to it cooling things off. Lovely weather we have here!

Last night I absolutely crashed when I went home. I didn't even feel like stitching. Do you ever feel guilty when you have prime stitching time and don't use it?

I'm going with MIL this evening to Penney's to try and find a new bathing suit. I got a $15 birthday coupon from them, so hopefully I can find one that I like that isn't hugely expensive.

And I just called and my stylist has an opening for this evening, so I'm getting a haircut! Woohoo!

Welcome July!

I can't believe it's July already! The year is half over and I'm a year older. Where does the time go?

Sunday was Miss M's surprise birthday party at the pool. She had NO idea and the look on her face was priceless when we yelled, "Surprise!" She came right to me and hugged me and said thank you. That's worth all the gold in the world. We had a great time swimming and cooking out. Zen & Zora enjoyed the pool, and Zora went from being afraid to let go of the side of the pool to jumping off the board! Little stinker!

I spent last night with Lynne at Joanne's place and we had a nice dinner and stitched the evening away. I got the border to house #10 on HOHRH done, and she worked on her Christmas in July tuck. Gotta love those girly sleepovers!

Tonight I hope to get some laundry done and stitch some more. After I get tons of Maddy hugs, that is!