My Surprise

Kelly informed me that I needed to be home last Tuesday between 9-11:00 A.M. for a delivery to arrive. OK, I knew it was going to be good because Kelly mentioned at Christmas time that I'd get something in 4-6 weeks (the magical time frame for furniture!) So, Tuesday morning I kept an eye out for a big truck and sure enough, I wasn't disappointed! I got a new dining table! FINALLY! I had been using some folding tables put together with table clothes over them for the past year and a half! Now I have the real deal! Kelly and I went shopping ages ago and saw this table so he knew I likes it! What a great surprise! It seats 12! Now we can have our holiday dinner parties with less worry! Thanks Kel! P.S. Here are the chairs I want. Maybe next year?

Do you ever have days where you can't eat enough bread? Today is that day. Great Harvest Cherry White Chocolate Bread! Try it!

Brown or White?

It's funny how people assume that brown is always better. I am one of those people. Brown bread, better. Brown paper bags, better. Brown hair, of course BETTER! Brown eggs? They HAVE to be better! Right? Wrong! I was cooking with brown eggs the other day and I had to ask the question. Are brown eggs more nutritious? Why are all the eggs in most supermarkets white? Why does Martha tend to use brown eggs when she cooks? Are they BETTER? Well, it turns out that they aren't better, they are the same! The pigment comes from the genetic makeup or type of chicken who lays it. There is a patch of feathers on it's ears or earlobes and that will determine white or brown. Typically people in the Northeast of US will prefer brown eggs because they have a lot of Rhode Island Reds (Martha must have these) there making brown eggs! Organic eggs are not necessarily more nutritious. Those chickens are fed better (making them more expensive). So next time you wonder white or brown, just go for white, although I do like the way the brown look, don't you?

amore!

...winged cherubs, St.Valentine, true love, poetry, decadent chocolates, kisses & hugs, red & pink, doilies and lace, cheeks that blush, hearts that flutter, knees that knock, heart shaped anything, roses by the dozen, romantic candlelight, fingers intertwined, be mine, words of deepest affection, love songs, shooting stars, fireworks, Paris...


"Love is a many splendid thing. Love lifts us up where we belong. All you need is love!"~Moulin Rouge


"My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep; the more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infine."~Romeo & Juliet

"Blood of my blood," he whispered, "and bone of my bone. You carry me within ye, Claire, and ye canna leave me now, no matter what happens. You are mine, always, if ye will it or no, if ye want me or nay. Mine, and I wilna let you go." ~Jamie (Dragonfly in Amber)

good, wholesome, family entertainment!?

I was just rummaging through old boxes of letters etc. (you'll hear more about this experience later) and I came across this and other lovely pictures drawn by 3 of my closest sisters. This was their way of cheering me up and making me feel "at home" when I was living in CT years ago! (At least 16 years ago) This was one of our favorite Sunday night activities along with "Weird Families." One person starts with the head then folds the paper so the next person can't see, then the next person draws the torso etc... until you get something like this scary creature! Weird families is just as fun! You basically draw out the weirdest possible culmination of characters grouped together as a "family" and have a good laugh over it! So Erika, Emily, and Holly, this is for you! It just goes to show that after all these years,I held onto something as priceless as this because it really did give me a good laugh then and today, when I found it! I'll keep it forever! I'm pretty impressed with your creativity and artistic abilities! WOW! Sorry Skeletor is a mirror image! Oops! In case you're wondering, it says "Hee Haw" on the overalls! And top hat man's apron says, "A spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down!" After showing these drawings to Bailey and her friend, they went right to work making their own! And I in turn, got the computer!

Space Derby

Noah recieving his first bead!

This is Noah's shirt beside Kelly's old shirt!

I'd never heard of a "Space Derby" before until a few weeks ago when we were handed the kit. But, now that I know what it is all about, I think it is really a great idea! You get a couple pieces of hollowed out wood and you have to sand it into a rocket, assemble a rubber band inside, paint it, add some fins and a propeller, and hope that it will fly! Noah and Kelly worked on it for a full afternoon. Noah really got involved with every step. They never tried it out but last night we found that it could indeed fly! In fact, it flew so good that it shot across the gym in record time and Noah won 1st place! He was so proud of himself! He got a little trophy (he absolutely LOVES trophy's and even has some of Kelly's on his shelf in his room.) Noah also got a bead last night to add to his scout shirt. He was one happy guy! Like father, like son!

Somewhere in time

Wasn't this a great movie and a favorite in it's day? Yes, depressing but oh so good! "Riiiicharrrrd!!!!!" Why did he have to pull out that darn penny?! I'm not going to write about Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour, I have just been thinking about all the books I've read that take place in another time and place and how much I LOVE historical fiction! In my life I have always been drawn to old things. Why is that? Some people like new but I like a story and I like to dream about where things have been. My dream is to have many antiques that are both beautiful and unique. That's the great thing about old-they are one of a kind! When I see antique cars, when I look at old art, or clothing, when I rummage through an antique store or consignment store, I am in love! Most especially, I enjoy old, historic homes. So, when I read my books, I really put myself into them and dream of the lifestyles of these characters. My favorite places in time would have to be between 1800-1940's. So much changed, but each change was good and exciting. Love the fashion differences within these times. Love the glamore of the horse and buggy and then the sleek, fast automobile! Yes, there are always unpleasant circumstances in every time and place and yes we have it really good in 2009, but, all of the unpleasant gives it a sort of struggle that is appealing in some strange way. The amazing thing about historical fiction is that the author can make you want to be in places you'd never dream of going! Or to live through things that you know you couldn't possibly have handled! (Memoirs of a Geisha, Outlander, The Historian) That is the magic of books! So, where would you like to travel through time to?