a year

It was a year ago this week that we lost Chichi and Tiny. We sure do miss them. We will remember things they would do every once in a while and laugh about it. We had them as puppies and it's fun to remember the mischief they caused over the years. The tears still spring up when I think about them and Baxterman. Cowboy and Big Casino went home last night. Their people called for them and missed them...boo. I really would keep them forever if they would let me. Things get a bit hairy while I'm fixing dinner for all four but that's the only time I have to threaten them. I'm sitting here with Over the Hedge playing on the TV. It's so cute. Leah had linked me to do one of the meme thingys that asked to see the refrigerator. It was so dirty...but yesterday it got cleaned out and cleaned. So here is a picture of the inside and outside once it was cleaned. Outside did not get cleaned up. Last Sunday there was a luncheon baby shower at the church. Good food and it was decorated so nice. There was even punch and it was so good. It has strawberries and ginger ale and some orange juice/banana type juice. That kind of mixture makes me have some kind of heartburn but I couldn't keep myself from drinking two big cups of it. Here are some pictures of the food. A friend of mine from Jacksonville is coming to town and we're going to go to dinner tonight. Thinking about it, she comes to town this time every year because I remember how hot it is while she's here and we're walking through the mall parking lot and I'm about to die of heat. Aunt Sue and I are going to get our haircut and have BBQ for lunch tomorrow. I hope to get to play with my stamps on Sunday after church. I am ready to make some cards but I've been busy with work so my stamping things are just sitting in this room with me and I just look at them once in a while. Next week on July 25, it's Christmas in July on QVC! Probably the same old/same old things but it's kind of fun to see it for a few minutes.

i'm still here

I have been absent here too long! I have not been doing anything much but working. This time of year I don't go out much at all, but this year it seems that I've been even worse about getting out. Aunt Sue and I did go over to Old Time Pottery in Foley, Alabama, to look for a container to make a centerpiece for the ladies day at church coming up in September. Lisa and Punchy would love this place because it has tons of things for vacation homes. I did go with my SIL to see the cake lady about ordering the wedding and grooms cake for Niece C in May next year. It will be a square four-tier cake with swiss dot design on the white buttercream icing, with fresh flowers on the top layer. I don't know if it will have the cut sides that I show in a picture that I took of a cake that the cake lady had in her portfolio. I love that cut side look. The flavor of the cake will be "butter" I think. I hope that Niece C will be able to get home and go to the cake lady and pick up more samples so that she can see what she likes. But SIL and I liked the butter flavor the best. Here are the cake samples that the cake lady sent home with SIL. We went straight to her house and tasted them. Oh so good. This is a picture of a cake the cake lady did with the cut corners on the square cake. Here is a picture of one of the Florida Gator cakes that the cake lady makes. I hope that Niece C picks this as the grooms cake. Niece and her fiance graduated from University of Florida. Here is a pug cake that the cake lady made! It's so cute. The husband and I went for a drive on the Fourth of July and went to my mama and daddy's for a little while. We left there and went to the shrimp basket in Foley and had a big fried shrimp dinner...yummy. As we rode home along a two lane road between Alabama and Florida, there were so many fireworks going off. It was so funny. Alabama has a huge fireworks store near this area. As we crossed the bridge across the bay to come home, the fireworks show was going on and it was so pretty to see it over the water and all the boats out in the water watching the show had their night lights on. I took a video, but it's not that great so I won't show it here. Magnolia Sun stopped by on Sunday on her way home from the beach and visited for a little bit. It was so good to see her. We have not had an opportunity to get together in a few weeks. Today and tomorrow are big days at the beach for the Blue Angels show. If you want to see some great pictures, go to Barrier Island Girl's blog to see her pictures. She has the best pictures of what's going on around this area. Her pictures are now for sale in a shop here in the new Publix shopping center. I need to go check it out. I did make the pimento cheese sandwiches for the church watermelon get-together on Sunday evening after services. I had some compliments on them. The recipe called for cream cheese, pepperjack cheese and sharp cheddar cheese. It was a bit spicy but I liked it, too. I put it on soft white bread and cut the crust off. Wish I had one right now. There's a baby shower at church on Sunday and so I'm making something for that because it's a luncheon, too. Our neighbors have their house for sale. I sure will miss them. We didn't do any socializing together but they are nice folks. They took that house and remodeled it and it is so pretty. Whoever buys it, will move into a very nice home. There is no for sale sign in the yard but it's on the multiple listings. I'll be working this weekend and going to church and maybe I'll go outside to see the Blue's fly over. Cowboy and Big Casino are still here! I don't know when they will go home yet. Their people had said we could keep them as long as we wanted to and I have not heard from them so I'm keeping them until I hear from them! I might need to go buy more food for them soon. They are so sweet.

I'm going with my SIL to talk to the cake lady about the niece's wedding cake today. I hope she lets us taste some cake..we'll see. The niece can't be here because she's working but her mom knows what look she wants. The picture here is not a picture of what she wants. She wants white on white with the monogram initials. I might take a picture if we get to taste something. Thanks for the opinions on the sandwiches. I think I will do the pimento cheese and I'll make the recipe by Paula Deen. It has pepper jack cheese in it, so that will make it a bit hot to the taste. I'll try to take a picture of how much is left. I'm afraid no one will want to eat them but, hey, at least it's not going to cost a lot like the other options. Y'all have a good Fourth of July wherever you are. You lucky folks up there in the Northeast and out West where the humidity or heat is not so bad...wish I was there with y'all. I'll be in the house in the air conditioning trying to get my deadlines caught up. If I get caught up, I want to make some cards. Punchy, I have not forgotten that you wanted to see some of my stamps...I'll be e-mailing you those images soon. I hope there is BBQ in my weekend somewhere.

Big Casino

Sugar, Big Casino, Emma and Cowboy I have been missing in action this past week. My sickness went away but my work picked up and I've been tired, too. This time of year, I tend to stay in the house A LOT. I don't like to go out much at all. Yesterday the temperature was better with less humidity so we did take all four pugs for a stroll. Emma and Sugar in the stroller and Cowboy and Big Casino on the leash. The husband has named Herbie "Big Casino." I asked him where he came up with that name. He said it was from an old John Wayne movie. Herbie is a big boy and the name Herbie doesn't fit him. Big Casino doesn't roll off my tongue like I'd like so I'd rather call him "Indian."...especially since Pugsley is "Cowboy." Their family comes back from vacation on Friday but I don't know when we will let them go back home. They sure are sweet. Church is having a get-together after services on Sunday evening. I signed up for bringing sandwiches. I need y'all's help in deciding what to do. Should I make a pimento cheese sandwiches or should I buy the deli tray of meat and bring bread or should I get a tray of already-made sandwiches at Subway? Here's how it adds up... Deli tray from Publix Large $50.00 No bread or anything else included Subway tray of sandwiches 18 pieces $33.00 My own pimento cheese and bread $not that much If you did Subway, what would you tell them to put on the sandwich? I need help because I'm not picky and I think a lot of people are and won't eat mayo or mustard or onion or tomatoes...so what do you think?

not a clue

The other day, the husband left out of here to go hit golf balls and make a trip to Lowe's. These two sat by the door he left out of and waited and waited. I asked him when he came home if he had told them that he was going to bring them a Subway sandwich (because he was bringing me one) but he said he didn't tell them anything. I really think they thought he was going to be right back with a Subway for them. They don't know it yet, but Cowboy (aka Pugsley) and Herbie are coming for an extended stay visit today. I asked their mom when I should bring them back home and she said whenever you want to...keep them as long as you'd like. I told her that she might want to call some day if they want them back!

hurry up...you're gonna miss this

I was watching the CMT this morning as I was getting ready for church and I saw this video. It was so true to me and I bet it is for a few of my friends out there! Take a a few minutes to listen to it if you have not heard it before. Our parents are so smart and tell us this when we're young but we're in a hurry to get on our way. Now that many of my friends are parents and probably tell their kids this and even though I'm not a parent, I look at the young kids and think this and wish they understood how they will miss this time in their lives. 27 years have gone by for me since I was 18...I'm afraid I missed some things while I was in a hurry.

two videos