She's a beauty

First weekend in November we headed to the private airport to visit a WWII bomber plane, a B-17. It was really a pretty plane. I'm not into planes, but this era of planes interest me b/c of the vintage pin-up art that graced the sides of the planes. I really like the Americana story of pilots naming their airplanes after wives, sweethearts & mothers. Sure enough, there was a graceful lady perched on the side of the nose, she had lighting bolts on either side, like she was a force to be reckoned with. They called her the Aluminum Overcast.

Bear wanted to take the tour but wound up taking a flight on this B-17. He was beyond happy.

I took the tour and listed to the visitors, some of whom were veterans, tell stories and reminisce of the missions they had experienced.

Really glad that I went, it was a great piece of history to discover.

Exploring Collierville, TN

So my Bear and I had a pretty good weekend. We had a yard sale on Sat. morning b/c it was time for our subdivision's annual one. One year ago this weekend, I was coming from PS- our Jeep loaded down with doggies- looking for our little home here in OB. That night we would go to sleep super early since we both had been tired from the changes and our move.

After the yard sale we went to try the Best Mexican restaurant in Memphis. Our Sunday newspaper sent us a guide with the "Best of" in the area. It's been very helpful in letting us try and vote on the recommended places. And I was pleasantly surprised that it was very good and will be visited again, and often.

After dinner we headed to downtown Collierville, TN to see the historic area. It was very charming and I'm disappointed that we had not visited before. It seems to be a great place to shop and eat, and it has an old steam engine train that Bear was interested in.

We went so late that all the stores were closed and so I want to go back and do some shopping. There was also some nice looking places to eat and a super cute gas station that looked like the one in the movie Cars.

The weather was also right in the middle of changing as we were walking around the square. The wind was blowing and it was bringing in a cold front for the evening. It was perfect!

Pig Race'n

Highlight of my weekend was the swine 500 at the Delta Fair. No, really, that's what I requested to do on our fun day out. We cheered for the little pig in lane 3 but he wasn't encouraged enough to make it to the cookie reward first!

We did head to the Fair at the Agricenter and it was all a Fair could be. Lots of scary portable metal rides that play really loud metal music and lots of strange smells. That's all I'm saying. But I was there for the animals.

We went to the petting zoo, Bear bought me some oats to give to all the critters. It was so much fun. We also saw ostriches, emus & did I mention pigs?

Wrapping up the eveing, we ate some great mexican food in this hole in the wall place that made us say mmm, mmmm.

Muscadines & scuppernongs, oh my!

Thanks to some super sweet folks I got an invitation to come pick my favorite fruit right off the vine today. I love this time of the year because not only does my favorite fruit come in season, but it means the cooler weather is on its way.

They had some beautiful vines! And both kinds to pick.

A day with the nieces

Walking and talkin about this and that.
Then we went shopping!

Viva Mexico!

Mmmmm, mmm. The best chicken soup ever -

After church cookin

When we got home today, I was hungry. I got my new Country Living magazine this week and there was a new recipe that I wanted to try.

It was really good. The pear and balsamic was sweet an tangy.

Afternoon storms

It's been really hot here. Like "is the air working?" hot. It's been my task this week to keep the furry furries that live outside as cool as possible. I found intstrustions online in how to make these PVC dog beds that get the puppies off of the hot ground and give them a canvas bed that get the air circulating under them. Online they're quite pricey so back at the end of June with much help from the Bear and my niece, we made the first one. We also place a box fan right at the edge of the bed, and we make some shade, and the pups seem to be very happy. They've given up the cedar filled dog homes for the cool cabana life.

Today, I was able to cut the pipe and make the second one so they both have there own. No snuggling when it's this hot. Also, the beds do really well in the rain and a few days ago, I was able to video a small bit of the sweetness that is Bonnie and Clyde.

Clothes horse

My portion of or downstairs closet was out of hand. I had winter mixed with summer and I had lost enough space to actually hang a garment. So today was the day and the donation pile has potential of scaring a small child. Though now theres space...hmmm.

84 things

Since my last post I haven't been inspired to post anything. Until I read a couple of blogs that were a list of 84 insightful things about yourself. I really liked the posts. So here's mine.

1. I'm an extremist (meaning I'm all or nothing)

2. Love for my husband to tickle me so much that I can't breathe from laughing

3. My favorite color changes from day to day but it has never been yellow

4. I care what people think - way too much

5. Being persistent always shows up on any employment review I've ever had

6. I do not like to discuss politics - I find that people are way to forward with wanting to share they're opinion

7. Graduated from college almost 12 years ago, but I still get anxious on Sunday afternoons.

8. I miss Georgia

9. But I don't miss the traffic in #8

10. I could be a recluse

11. I think about losing weight many times a day

12. I like to make things beautiful, from a blank canvas to getting some one grouchy to smile

13. I get angry at rude people

14. My dog is so spoiled that he wakes me for his breakfast

15. If I don't sing, I feel like something is missing

16. Swinging should be a sport

17. Could eat chocolate for each meal

18. Children make me nervous

19. Dreamed of living in a house where I could snow ski right out my front door

20. I pray that I will not have to ever go through any kind of formal education again

21. Buggies at Walmart give me the willies

22. There's lots of things that I can't put on this list b/c I will be made fun of

23. Death doesn't scare me, but being separated from my family, even if its for a short while does

24. Every-time I pass a motorcycle cop, I have to see if it's Ponch or John

25. Glad that my husband reads more than enough for both of us

26. Think I could live on a farm/ranch

27. My spiritual gift is mercy

28. I'm way too judgmental

29. Love to smell irish spring

30. Going to contemporary worship is great - but I miss " Great is thy faithfulness"

31. Dream of building a house one day

32. Miss my grandparents

33. If I had more drive I think I could have been a Judge

34. Wish I had an on off switch for the perceptive portion of my brain

35. Ready for nights where the temp is 45º

36. Not sure I'll ever live in PS again

37. I like to stay up late

38. Worry like a crazy person

39. Like to be able to shoot paint balls at stupid drivers just so everyone could see them coming

40. Would love to be as brave as Amelia

41. Right now I'm trying to think if there's any chocolate in house

42. Ideas keep me awake at night

43. Ideas keep me alive

44. My Mom always warned me to not lift heavy objects - I wish I would have listened

45. Still haven't beaten the mine cart level in Donkey Kong Country

46. I love my nieces

47. I love my nephews 

48. I want to learn how to make my own beef jerky

49. Ready to go to Europe with my husband

50. God gives me courage

51. Mint shampoo rocks

52. I have very small nostrils

53. Thought about being a personal shopper

54. Never broken a bone

55. I'm shy

56. Like to watch "Billy the Exterminator"

57. Still say yes & no mam/sir

58. Would like to go fishing soon

59. Learning to never say never

60. Laughing heals a lot of things

61. Praying for my husband while I write this

62. Also listening to Satchel bark at his rawhide

63. Happy my Dad taught me how to be respectful

64. Curious as to what Iceland looks like

65. Thinking I'd like to have an art show one day

66. Remember the good old days of sharing a bedroom with my sister

67. Looking forward to seeing my family soon

68. I would like to learn how to upholster 

69. Being 34 feels like a blessing

70. I can't spell

71. Grateful I have sweet in-laws

72. I value authenticity

73. Despise hidden agendas

74. I'm a wimp for getting to scared to do the final tree jump in "Project Outdoor Adventure"

75. Pretty sure I would still not jump

76. Would love to read some of these list about my friends

78. Believe that the Bible is God's Word

79. Love my engagement ring

80. Tired of living in a society of blame

81. Love road trips without destinations

82. I would love to not be afraid of things

83. Glad that I have art supplies

84. Think there are too many personal injury lawyers in Memphis

May recap

Man, May came and went and left me somewhere back around the 15th. I can't believe June's almost over! 

The heat's here too. I'm blogging in the middle of the day b/c any bit of effort I exude I begin to sweat like I've been running a marathon. Ceiling, oscillating, & box fans are assisting the AC to keep us and the furry ones from overheating. Can't wait to see the power bill. =)

So here are some pictures from the month that flew by:

This was Mayfest in downtown OB. They had a car show and this was a pretty creative hot rod. It was a rolling outhouse- but it was loaded with great design and wit - I'm not really into car shows but this was great to look every detail.

Memphis International BBQ fest was a treat b/c a dear friend came into town to go with us. Lots of free treats but it was hot and muggy. So the best treat in my opinion was the fruit popsicle!

Next was a trip back to GA to do some free-lance work and hang out with the family. Here's a couple of noteworthy images. My oldest niece is dating a cute young fellow and he's brave enough to come to family gatherings. Bless his heart, they're picture on the sofa there at my parents house. So after we ate, they went down by the creek to sit on a swing for a while. Well we hear the 2 younger nieces, one is a sister and one a cousin, being stealthy and spying on them down on the swing. We asked them what they expected to see and they both smiled really big.

When home, I also did some ancestry research. My Dad took me to Sandy Springs & Alpharetta to visit some family graves and to speak with my great Aunt. It was a very informative trip and I documented the visit and learned a lot.

Was able to scan this photo of my Great-grandmother that passed away in 1979. She was so young in this photo, I had only seen pictures of her when she was elderly.

Let's see the next was when I went back to GA, Bear went to a crawfish boil. I had been to one when I was about 9yrs old when visiting my Aunt's home in Baton Rouge. But I don't think I tried the crawfish. All I can remember was catching the clayfish down in the my creek back home and I don't think I could stomach eating these things after those memories. However, Bear enjoyed them very much.

Ewwe.

On to Memorial day and Birthday cake! 

Sista P, Jim & EC came through OB on their way back from vacay out in TX. I was so excited for EC to visit us b/c I'm trying to entice her to come out and stay a week and hang out!

All of the furry ones where happy to have guests. I thought EC and Satchel were going to implode after seeing each other.

We celebrated Sista P's birthday with an OB bakery strawberry cake. I think it was a hit. It was very moist and sweet. Glad we have a great bakery so close by. 

See that smile - that's a happy sister =).

And on Memorial day we went downtown to catch a minor league baseball game. We had some good seats and found some shade. 

So it was a good month - and lots of good times. Maybe that's why I'm still back in May- who would want to leave?

It's the leg lamp all over again

Lots of excitement on this first day of May!

Storms are coming through and the tornado sirens have been serenading us all morning. In the midst of us preparing to take cover, Bear steps out the front to take a look at the sky. A large box was sitting at the front door, and packages are always exciting. I remember that I had won a prize from an online contest. And it was here. An email had alerted me that I had won a sauce pan a while back and I totally forgot. (I know - a sauce pan.) But upon opening the box I had a flash from the classic movie,  A Christmas Story, when the father gets his precious "fishnet leg lamp". I'm a bit excited to get something new, but a sauce pan? Exciting.



















As I opened the box I see the nice packaging with a guy that I recognize from the Food Network. I'm impressed. Instead of the worn and well loved sauce pans that we have, it was a very heavy, art like pan with a glass lid and it was very pretty! Take a look-

Good weekend

We decided to head east to see family/friends before Bear starts his next formal training class at work. For the next few months his focus will be on this, so no 3-day weekends to travel on.

Headed out Thursday morning and he was going to his folks house and he dropped me off in P-town. I met up with my good friends that I haven't hung with since last summer.

We went down to Thomasville, GA to a cheese dairy called Sweetgrass.

Come to find out, this is the dairy that my Grandmother mentioned several times, saying that the owners were distant relatives of ours. My Mom did some research and gave me the background and sure enough, I looked up the owners on their site and confirmed that they were cousins of ours. My Mom gave me 2 photos of my Great-grandfather and his brother, to give to our relatives at the dairy.




















The trip was fun and the food was great. Had good laughs and got to play with goats - big & small. Ate cheese, country Mennonite cooking & baked goods. Hugged a huge 329 year old oak tree, made fun of each other and did I mention laugh?

Got home later on Sat. hung with the PS family

and made it to SSchool to see all of our missed church friends.

It was a good weekend.

Happy Anniversary my Bear!

It's been 3 years today! Looking back it seems shorter than that, it really feels like its been a year? Some things have changed, jobs, house & location. But not the important stuff. The stuff that anchors us together like God's love, our love and the fun we have helping each other. These are the things I look forward to each day and if God gives it - many years to come!

I love you.

Update: Sewing the seeds of love

So here's the finished project:

I worked on it Friday and I probably put 5-6 hrs into it and I finished everything but the coordinating fabric hem. The pattern was pretty easy the fabric is 100% cotton so it took a lot of pressing. I think the next one I might try a cotton blend so as to get more ease in the fabric.

My favorite isle

I'm a day late. I kept thinking that for a St. Patty's day post I'd show some pics of my trip to Ireland.

My mom and I went in 2005 and had a great time. We went in May and we saw tons of green pastures and the most rock walls, buildings and basically anything one can build with rock.

I want to go back soon, I'd like to see the northern country.

Old photo of the week

I'm working on backing up all of my photos and archiving them. Labeling CDs and copying them to an external hard drive. This process would move a lot more efficiently if I didn't have to look at every single photo. It's been so much fun.

This has been my favorite find:


This is summer 1976 or 1977 - at the horse stables in Powder Springs, GA. My dad boarded our horse there - either Grey Boy or August Fog. My sisters would know. So that's Dad, Paige & myself in the bed of his truck. Guessing Paige is around 9. Love my Dads hair. (ha!)
This one is a classic.

EC's bedding

So while Paige was here we had an agenda to find or make EC a new duvet and items for her bed. Paige said that she wanted to change out her room for her B-day gift this year. We made some successful trips to some higher end outlet shops and JoAnns for fabric and trimmings.

Paige worked on the window treatment panels that she added pink ric-rac to. Then she made some buttons and placed those at the bottom.

I made a small pillow with green fuzzy ball trim. And we monogramed her pillow cases.

Here's the pics she sent:

Paigies visit

So last week Sista P arrived on Sunday and boy was I excited! She had been to our house before but it was when we came out to look for a place to live. I was anxious to see her.

We had a great week. We talked, laughed, cooked, ate, shopped & sewed! What was great was that we both kinda took our time in the mornings getting up and started. She had her coffee and elliptical and I had my cream of wheat & diet coke. We had an over all agenda of shopping for EC a new bedding ensemble. We headed to Pottery Barn outlet & found exactly what she was looking for. We found accessories and then made some custom items like monogramming pillow cases & pillow with the little ball fringe.

I think I may have overwhelmed her with all the creative burst at night - did I mention we used the Cricut cutting machine my Mom gave me for Christmas for B-day invitation's for EC? Yeah - I got that thing out late at night a couple of times. Like I said - ideas = crack for me.

We did make it to the Art museum and we took her to eat at Commissary BBQ to get ribs. But my favorite memory was just giggling with her on the sofa and seeing her in my kitchen.

Bonnie girl vs the snow

Early yesterday morning we awoke to a nice thick blanket of snow. I love snow. I was so excited I grabbed the camera an ran out to play with the doggies in the back yard. The snow was so powdery and made the back yard look pristine. Well, you know what new pristine snow needs...3 dogs and their owner to go tromping through it of course.

While running a muck in the backyard like a school kid, I found a frisky snow lover in our furry pack. Our Bonnie girl loved the snow. She pranced and pounced and my favorite part - she aggravated the snot out of Satchel and Clyde. She'd run up on them - tag them - then just encourage then to come after her. I had no idea she could run that fast. (She's a bit heavy in the backside - not gravities best friend) This activity went on for most of morning and was a hoot to watch.

Going in for the tag - Clyde looks scared