Friday, August 27, 2010

Friday. Phew- we made it.

I seriously thought this week would n-e-v-e-r come to an end. Let me tell you how thankful I am that it finally did! In this household we're all tired of the heat, humidity and general crazy afternoon thunderstorm weather pattern of August. We  (and by "we" I mean ME) are ready for some cooler temperatures and football! This weekend my daughter is cheering at her first football game and I'm headed to a concert at our local amphatheater. Busy but fun weekend ahead!!
So today I'd like to share some of the things we'll be using this weekned. Maybe you can try them and let me know what you think.
The yummiest smelling cleaner ever. It cleans everything, but I wouldn't use it on windows or mirrors.
I found this at our local Ace Hardware. That is the best store. They have superb customer service. I walk in and at least 2 people ask if they can help me. I tell them what I need and *poof!* they run off and bring it to me. How cool is that?
This is a new-to-me math game I read about on another blog. It looked like so much fun with the added bonus of getting in a little extra math practice!  I'm breaking this out this weekend. Stay tuned for updates on this one!
Unwrapped mini peanut butter cups. A favorite here. Plus the pizza boxes...this is the aftermath of a Friday night at our house!
Have a great weekend...and to quote from "Pulp Fiction"- How's Fonzie? He's cool. Stay cool, Honey Bunny, stay cool.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

I'm feeling so grown up!

I bought my first piece of silver today.
It started out like any other errand day- I was headed to the big tall city to look for fabric for my oldest daughter's room (a whole other post on how I'm the wrong person for that task) and I decided to finally stop in the silver store my mom and our friend had talked about for a while. My mom and our friend had been to this store multiple times to get silver for her daughter, who was getting married.  Let me say here that I didn't really think about getting silver when I got married. I registered for the normal stuff- towels, china, everyday dishes, sheets and other stuff that I thought was neat at the time but never really used once I was actually married- but silver didn't really enter into my to-do list. Maybe I'm not a true southerner...I'll have to think on that one.
Anyway, so my mom gives me directions to the store, which was on the way to the fabric store IF I made a detour to the mall, which of course I did.  Great! I can look for some silver for myself. Maybe I'll even find a pattern I love!
So I get to the store. It's called Beverly Bremer Silver Shop. It is completely inocouous. If you're not looking, you'll miss it completely and turning around to go back is almost impossible. So in this little ordinary shop are some of the neatest pieces of silver I've ever seen and I walked out having purchased  my own piece!
It's called a Revere bowl (like Paul Revere). There are lots of different sizes, but this one looked perfect for nuts, candies or dips. Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa, uses silver bowls all the time and I just love that look....so this will make me like her. Well sort of like her in that  I can put my jar of Lay's French Onion Dip in my silver bowl and eat on chips like I'm all that. (Insert head bob here)

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Moving Day

My neighbors are moving today.
Do you like your neighbors? I absolutely love my neighbors. L-O-V-E them. The girls get together and have coffee once a month to catch up on everything and the kids play outside in the square most days.  I live in a neighborhood where we all know each other, like each other and watch out for each other. Did I say I love my neighbors?

So when that truck pulled up this morning and the army of moving men proceeded to pack up all of my neighbor's stuff, it made me want to pack up and move too. I have no idea where I'd like to move, but somewhere new would be nice. I've lived in this city for over 30 years and I have to admit that sometimes I'm just plain sick and tired of being here. It's a great place to raise a family- close to a major airport, close to a big city with shopping and dining, good schools, safe...but, you  know what I mean if you've been somewhere for a long time, I'd love to go somewhere and be the new person. My best friend has moved a lot- 5 times in the last few years at least- and she tells me all the time that being the new person isn't always all it's cracked up to be. I get it, but I'd still like to try it.

No offers yet on my neighbor's house so we'll have to see who our new neighbors will be. Hopefully they will be nice and have kids who will want to join in the soccer games in the square.  Right now we can only cross our fingers since the realtor won't let us interview prospective buyers!

In honor of my sweet neighbor, I'll post a set of recipes she shared with me a little while ago. But not today. I've already started dinner and seeing recipes with no pictures would be pretty boring.

Till then I'll leave you all with what I saw outside my house today....

Monday, August 23, 2010

Dancing In The Street




This is what we see any given day. Our sweet 14 year old golden retriever, Cameron, wating patiently for us to open the door to let her in after she's done her private business (ahem).  She's a champ when it comes to going out- she waits by the door and heads out to her spot and comes right back. No digging, no leaving the yard for a quick turn around the neighborhood. Nope, she's an indoor girl through and through. Or so we thought...
In the past year her age has started to catch up with her. It's becoming more difficult for her to get up those pesky steps and her hearing has started failing as well.  While this isn't too big a deal, I mean, she's in good health otherwise, it does prove interesting when trying to impose our will upon her.
In her old age she's become quite brazen- jumping up to surf the coffee table for any reamining Doritos or bits of PBnJ, laying around and barking at whomever enters our house or just barking to get someone over to scratch her belly. And she's decided she likes hanging outside after she "goes".  No biggie except when I have somewhere to be and sweet Cam has decided that lounging in the sun is preferable to coming inside.  Since I'm not a dog trainer and have no experience with deaf dogs, I've resorted to some crazy stuff in trying to impose my will upon my 110 lb dog. I've looked her in the eyes (you have to get them to focus) and begged for her to COME ON! I've tried picking up her back end, only to have the front end stay somehow rooted to the ground.  I've rolled her over and over. That only succeeded in getting her all grassy. The only thing that seems to get her attention is jumping around, waving my hands at her while saying "Come on sweetie, come on".  I realize the dog is deaf and the talking does her no good, but I figured I'd look less like an idiot if I was at least talking to her.
My neighbors are in the process of moving. The moving company people have been in and out all day. They've seen me outside at least twice. I hope they can see the dog too...
Cam's at the door right now. Better get my dancing shoes on.


Sunday, August 22, 2010

Welcome!

I've thought about doing a blog for the longest time. I'd think about it, forget it and remember to think about it a few weeks or months later. And now today I'm taking the plunge. Welcome to my world!
I'd like to use this blog as a place to muse on  parenthood in the 21st century, cooking, middle school and how my family is navigating this crazy world while trying to maintain some sort of Southern charm. If you know  how to do the charm thing, let me know.  I'll be over to take notes!