On the Go

I am going to an Oscar party tonight, so I had to get a project ready to bring with. Lots of projects aren't portable...binding is!

Take a Break

I took one from technology during vacation and it was great. Well, ok, I didn't go cold turkey...of course there was an IPhone and some WiFi at the condo and maybe some cable tv, but I definitely enjoyed NOT checking my work email, or looking in for blog updates, or spying on my facebook friends multiple times a day. I think I may take a break more often - the internet can get exhausting.

gross

I'm ready to leave this for the slopes! Can't wait for Colorado in two days!

Chukkers and Divet stomping

I went to a polo match sunday. It was awesome! The field is 10 times bigger than a football field. The quarters or periods are called chukkers and we all went out on the field during halftime and stomped down the divets, it's a polo tradition.

Not the Easter Basket

In recent years there has been a "children's collection" at church. The little kids bring up a dollar or the family envelope and put it in a basket.

Today, after all the other kids had returned to their seats, a little two year old walked up front with Mom close behind. She had an envelope in hand but when she got to the basket instead of depositing the envelope she took out a dollar.

I've got some bananas

Do you have this problem? A freezer full of bananas waiting for a new life. I just cleaned out a few of 8 frozen bananas that are starting to take over the freezer. Now I can smell the wonderful banana bread in the oven. It is Elaine's recipe I think (great-aunt) - yum. I usually make muffins with the recipe, and the first time I made bread...oh it was all wrong. I took the bread out of the oven after a half hour, thinking it looked a bit pale, but that was my usually baking time, so I turned it over on a cooling rack and lifted the pan. Unfortunately the middle was the only part that came out - still raw, laying in a pile on the counter, oozing between the rack. It was late, so I impatiently put what was left in the pan back in the oven and waited...10 minutes, 15 minutes...checking too often...Finally, I had to resolve that my attempt was a failure and go to bed. Lessons learned - bread pan takes longer than muffins and don't start baking at 10:30 pm.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to my favorite sister.

It looks like I'd like to go somewhere else
but no, my big sister is taking care of that

As always a good influence on my life.

Thanks for many years of good times together

Do I look fat in this bathing suit?

"I'm only going in up to my knees. Ok, but I'm not getting my hair wet"

BRRRRR!

Just a reminder of home to the southern tier blogger!

You can call us yuppies or yappies or yupsters...whatever you call it, some weeks it translates as busy! After 3 evenings in a row of meetings, sister dates, working late I am home and catching up on some tasks.
1. Worked out
2. Ate (partial) dinner with husband
3. Unloaded the dishwasher
4. SHATTERED a wine glass in the process on my ceramic tile floor
5. Swept and vacuumed that floor and surrounding areas
3.2 Washed dishes and reloaded dishwasher
6. Showered
7. Enjoyed a glass of wine
8. Worked. Finish schedules are fun (playing with colors and materials) but challenging...just imagine selecting all the paint, carpet, countertops, woodwork throughout a distant neighbors house and make it all work. Oh - and that neighbor has to love it. It stresses me out a bit.

So, there is still time...maybe some laundry will get folded, but I think I'm pretty topped out.

More Pillows

This is my latest project. It started a year ago but I never got too excited about it. The best thing that happened is loaning Marie my book so I don't have the color picture of the pattern. I'm going to make three pillows - they all will turn out a little different.

I'm the new president of my quilt group. Why I said yes, I am not sure. What the president really does not sure of that either.

I could just scream!!!!

While i am waiting for this stupid server to connect, I may as well write out my frustrations. Since getting to Florida this winter, I have been taking my lap top to the library. The past few days, it has taken forever to connect. I am so spoiled, we have had high speed internet in Bemidji, (where the Hell is that, and do they even have electricity up there?) for years!
(I tried to reply to Maries traffic ticket, only to say that now I know why she doesnt own a car!)
Be patient with me, I am trying to communicate with everyone. Stay warm, "keep your stick on the ice". ca

A Marley Moment

Butch has been throwing a "dummy" for Willys in our back yard. The other day, Butch said to Willys, as we were sitting in the screen porch, "Do you want to play some fetch?". Willys jumped right through the screen, while both of us just gasped! It was just like he was taking a running jump off the dock, landing in the back yard.

Now we are looking for someone to do some screen repair. "Shit Happens"

I'm back- and inspired

I have just discovered the Sebastian Library, so now I can stay up to speed with my snowmobiling sister, my finding herself niece and the other one with all the good advise! Thanks, I will put on my running shoes. I bought new shoes and resolved to use then, not just wear them.
I see by my computer that it is 22 below at home, well it is only 48 here this morning and there are warnings in the paper about protecting your pets from the "cold".
I will start again taking pictures and publishing posts and eamils, so dont give up on me.
Stay warm!

Distraction

This is quite possibly the best present I've ever received. The Christmas before I made the scary jump back down to live and work in the city...I knew I was quiting my job soon, but I didn't know how hard it would be to get one that I really loved. SO, between working at a temp job, a coffee shop and a bar, I would post resumes, send out resumes and ski!

It was the best distraction I could have asked for and fufilled two pieces of advice I recieved during that time: keep doing things you love and get outside everyday. I guess now I'm passing along this advice to Kelly - stay positive and creative. You will find something perfect - until then, find your distraction.

Debuet ride

Old dogs can learn new tricks. It was a great snowmobile ride today. After a few adjustments loading the machines everything went great. The snow conditions and the trail were in great shape, not a lot of traffic, and decent weather. Thankfully Bill stopped and waited at "most" of the trail intersections and I guessed right at the one he didn't (of course he knows the trail well do didn't question that I wouldn't have known that curve). We road to Devil's Track Landing and back.

Interesting Fact

A few weeks ago at work we were talking about what you find if you Google your name. Two and Half Men, one of my favorite re-run shows reminded me of that tonight so I gave it a try.

There were about 8,280,000 matches.

Most read something like this:

Holy Trinity Parish
The annual meeting for the parish will be held Saturday, Jan. 30th beginning at 9:00am. All parish members should plan to attend as several important topics

For the Love of Dogs

I just got done reading Marley and Me. A dozen tear and snot soaked kleenex later...
The resemblance between Marley and Teeka is blatant, what with Teeka's love for eating socks and rocks and other bad behavior, but I couldn't help but think about Cocoa, Sofie, Willis, Harley, Miles and all the other dogs that we have loved. Its hard to read, but totally worth it.

This is a quote from a book on quilting, that I just recieved as an early birthday present. Since I am heading south on Tuesday, I think it is fitting.
"I've had a heap o' comfort all my life makin' quilts, and now in my old age I wouldn't take a fortune for 'em... You see, some folks has albums to put folks' pictures in to remember 'em by, and some folks has a book and writes down things that happen every day so they won't forgit 'em, but, honey, these quilts is my albums and my di'ries, and whenever the weather's bad and I can't git out to see folks, I jest spread out my quilts and look at 'em and study over 'em, and it's jest like goin' back fifty or sixty years and livin' life over agin."
Eliza Calvert Hall

Early or Late?

I just finished two Christmas pillows?

So am I getting this project done late?

or early for next Christmas?

Either way it means more stuff to store!