Friendship Brunch

I WAS going to take pictures but had too much fun to remember it. My friend Doc came up on Wednesday and brought Roxy - her poodle. She lives in this beautiful High Rise in Buckhead (2 floors down from Elton John) and I love going to visit her there but when she comes to the "country" Roxy gets to run free in the yard. And THAT is a beautiful sight! She always has to go out on a leash in the doggie yard so at first she doesn't know what to do then she just takes off and runs and runs! All the girls enjoyed their "playdate" and we had NO ugly pants at all. I had such a good time planning this - just me and Doc and Kenny got to join us for lunch. I put the white table cloth on the deck table - used my Blue and White china, white napkins, and beautiful Hybisscus flowers I cut from my bush. And I had 3 blue and white china balls just lying on the table. A little side story about my Hybisscus Bush - my favorite Aunt Tady had these bushes when I was growing up (we called them snowball bushes) and I always loved them. Tady passed away in 1962 but my Uncle Terrill lived there until he was 91. After his death, his granddaughter and I went and dug up some cutting from the bush. I planted my at the back of the house not knowing if it would ever grow. It did and is sooo pretty. I have 2 more in the yard that I bought but of course this is my favorite. AND my mother tells that Tady got HER cutting of the bush from their Grandmother Forrest - my great-grandmother! So how about that for some family history. I have my favorite Aunt's bush from my great-grandmother! I love my Snowball Bush! Back to the Brunch I searched the internet and we have a Mexican Fiesta Brunch. Of course, I had homemade salsa, quamocole (sp) and tortilla roll up with cream cheese, roasted red peppers and onions, Avacodo Shrimp Boats with Pico and shrimp with lime juice. then I baked a Chilli Relleno dish and had a hot corn cheese melt salsa with chips. It was really good and fairly simple. Oh, I had to make my favorite cherry cream cheese pie for desert too. But the best part was just sitting on the deck with Doc and us talking and catching up and just being friends. There is nothing like this and I treasure all my friends so much. I don't have the time I would like to do this kind of thing so when it happens I just roll around in the happiness. Damn, I wish I had taken pictures - I will next time. Christy, you would have loved the table - I thought of you! Now, I'm packed and it's off to Columbus for the weekend. I've had this Yuk in my throat and chest this week - hope my voice will last but at least we have the big band this weekend - lots of vocal power - I love that. And our "Tower of Power" songs are coming along great and everyone loves "Stairway to Heaven"! I got my words and I'm going to sing "America the Beautiful" for the shows - Ray Charles version - love that one! It's to honor all the soldiers who have given their lives for us to be free - especiall two My Daddy, Richard Claiborne Hemphill, Army Air Corp and Bob Trinklein, Kenny's Daddy, Army. God Bless Them and God Bless America....

Baby Bunny

Well, he really fought a good battle and we tried so very hard but Baby Bunny didn't make it. At least he had two night of a warm bed and food and cuddles. He's probably crossing the Rainbow Bridge right now - Sleep little Baby Bunny......

I KNOW YOU ARE NOT SUPOSED TO.....

Try and raise a wild cottontail bunny. I did the research and all the sites say don't do it. Matilda found Baby Bunny in the side yard and after searching and searching we can not find the nest. We were going to put it back in the yard last night but at the last minute was afraid Mr. Hooty Owl would get it. Soooooo, Bunny drank a little milk from an eye dropper and cuddled in my neck. I fixed Matilda's baby dog carrier with a towel and shredded newspaper and put Bunny in that. I really did not think it would alive this morning but sure enough he was and was hungry! Then wanted to crawl under my chin and go to sleep. Oh shit, here we go. I could not find goat's milk so Bunny is still getting cow milk which they say is bad. Now, realize that Kenny has told me the story of how they raised a baby bunny and it would even beg from the table and use paper to pee and poop - sooooooo maybe just maybe we could....I'm not holding out a lot of hope and I have NOT named him except Baby Bunny. I just can not leave him in the yard not knowing if Mama will come back if there is not a nest. I would love to get him strong and release him back to my backyard so we will see. In the meantime - I have a whole new perspective on the word "Cuddle Bunny"!

Told You So

Matilda has CLAIMED the lap blanket I knitted - of course, she can have anything she wants!

Summer Lapghan

I finished my Spring Green Lapghan and I think Matilda will claim it! I love the color and I even made up the pattern. It's not that big - just enough to cover my lap on a cool night. I'm not sure I want to do a big one -(I get bored easy)! but this one was nice. I would love to pick up this color in my liing room with some other items - I guess that's means a thrift store search. speaking of thrift stores I finally found a fireplace set - missing a couple of things but had what I wanted - a poker to use in my chimnea on the deck and the little shovel in a brass stand - the best part - $1.50!!! And I had a great Art night tonight even though my legs hurt. My butt muscles were even sore from dancing inthe 5" platforms at Beluga this weeekend! I'm working on a VERY VERY special painting - no sneak peeks yet -I want to finish it first. I think I'm going back to some landscapes after this - at home in my studio. And I'm so proud of my nails - they are staying fine and look good. Yeah - no more nail salons! Kenny and I had such a nice day yesterday at home. We slept late - took our laptops on the deck and enjoyed a nice quiet afternoon. I knitted some then we grilled steaks and had salad (lettuce from my garden) and aparagus and Texas Toast. Then late night ice cream with magic chocolate on it. All my season finales were on so it was a good TV night and restful. Man, could use more of these. Gotta do some "stuff" around the house this week and yard work then it's back to Columbus on Thursday. Gonna rest my little feet now and get some sleep!

Wine Bags (Christmas Spoiler Alert)

ooooh I love these and they will make great Christmas gifts - everyone likes a nice bottle of wine and they are perfect to give them in. I really like the felted one because it can be used as a container but boy it's boring! I'm not sure how many of thoses I'll make - I like doing the pattern one - I never thought I'd get to that point but I don't like the just knit knit knit! Maybe I'll make one up that is more interesting. I'm still working on my lapghan and it's very pretty - I just do it when I need to not pay attention! I was knitting on it last Sunday on the drive back from Columbus and I laid it down and Matilda promptly curled up on it so I guess we know who will claim this one! It's off to Beluga tonight and the "sequin" bra worn on the outside - watch out Madonna. I've got to get a picture of this! I've watered my garden and it's growing great right now. I have rested more this week that I have in MONTHS. I just made myself do it. I cleanned the deck and cooked and did laundry and stuff like that but nothing heavy. I need more it AWAY from home and Kenny is so exhausted he can hardly think straight. I sure hope we get a real vacation this year. Love ya all our family but that's NOT a vacation....Kenny and I and the babies need one all by ourself...Well, at least maybe for my 60th birthday! I'll be counting the days....

Sleep1

Sometimes your body says That's it - That's enough - I quit!!!! I have been so tired for at least a month but kept on pushing and pushing. That is just who I am and I used could do it for a long long time. I knew I was very exhausted but I did go to art class last night and did have a good night. I came home and went to bed as normal and slept good. At 10 the girls woke me up and I knew I was not ready to get up. Kenny took them out and 5 minutes later they were jumping back on the bed saying get up mommy get up! So I did and had some tea, read the news, email - did my morning thing. I could have gotten up then but decided not to. By this time it was around 1 pm. So I ate a bowl of oatmeal -I never do that - and went back to bed - no tv - no computer - nothing. At 5:15 I woke up. I slept soooo hard all afternoon and although I'm a little droggy I do feel better. I need sleep to re-juvinate my body. I think a lot of stress lately has contributed to it too. My mother bless her heart is crying a lot - I mean a lot lately. I think she's getter better and then she will call crying and it breaks my heart. I can't cry because I'm trying so hard to be strong for her. She told me she would go back on the anti-depressants that the Dr gave her when Daddy was sick but I don't think she did. And if I push that too hard she'll get mad - so I'm not sure what to do. I miss my Daddy everyday and yes, I cry but I'm sure that losing your partner after 65 years is something I can't comprehend. She's working like a mad woman cleaning out the house and fixing things up. I think it's too soon but on the other hand that's my mother and I hope this will help her. It's a very hard process but she thinks she HAS to get it done. I pray for her all the time and I'm very proud of her - I just want her to be OK. I know that the sleep had something to do with that too I think. So now, I'm back in bed and it may be a very long night for me! Oh well, i have 1072 page Stephen King novel I'm reading now. Tomorrow I hope to get some things done - not too much - I'm trying to take this week a little "down". I cleaned last week and did all the stuff so this week just a little cooking, gardening and knitting. And at least we're home - we work Beluga this weekend so I've unpacked my bags and put everything away. No packing until next week! Actually, I think I'll sleep pretty good tonight.

Red Hat and Nails!!!

Wow - I recieved the red knitted hat that Christy made for me - what a special treat. I looked at it so close and said how the hell did she do this on such small needles????? Mine look a little shabby beside hers but Idid start one tonight - on size 6 NOT size 4 needles. My hands are already hurting and my eyes are blurred! I may have to stick to messier hats on size 8's! Thank you dear Christy and thanks so much for trying to teach on Nana to knit. I'm really loving it a lot - and someday I'll get better! I have made a wine bottle cozy - forgot to take a picture and I'm also working on my "Lapghan" - it's almost half finished. And if you're going to wear a great red hat you HAVE to have the nails! It hasn't been in my budget the last couple of years to pay the $40 nail job then given the "evil eye" if you don't tip enough so I said I'll let my own nails grow. When I was a lot younger I had beautiful nails - long and RED! As I got older (the change dear ladies) they just won't grow. Now, granted I work a lot in oil paints, turpentine, dirt and just plain messy and the acrylic nails did great with all that stuff. Plus, you don't have to polish so ofter it doesn't chip off . I've spent a lot on "guarateened" to grow - that's BS. so last week my sweet Mother bought me a starter kit and I took my time today and did my first set of nails. They are NOT perfect but hey, it was the first time. And I don't have the little drill they all use either. Hopefully I'll get better because I love the way they look. I made them pretty short - not "Ho" length! And they will surely look better on stage than my little ragged nails. So there, a Red Hat and New Nails. Now, I figure since I cleaned house yesterday (saved $100 for housekeepter, did Nails (saved $40) I think Kenny should buy me a new pair of shoes!!!!!!

Yuk Yuk Yuk

I hate cleaning house and that's what I did all day long! I did manage to get my makeup drawer cleaned out too - I try to do this at least twice a year to throw away all the old makeup. Then the Dust Pan was lying in the floor and stepped on the handle and went down HARD on my bad knee. Just what I needed. I did ice it for about 15 minutes but it's really swollen -I'm STILL wearing my 4 inch heels this weekend damnit. So the house is clean and I'm taking tomorrow OFF........