Campers: Nature's way of feeding the mosquitos. - Unknown..or was that me??

Guess what we're doing this week-end??

Go on...

Yes..you're right..camping!

"I got into an argument with a girlfriend inside of a tent. That's a bad place for an argument, because then I tried to walk out and slammed the flap. How are you supposed to express your anger in this situation? Zipper it up really quick?"

~Mitch Hedberg

We haven't been camping-camping in a l.o.n.g. time...

Yeah..like in a tent..with camping food..low-fat, low-calorie, healthy food...

Guess we won't have to worry about the bears getting into my food...they get to eat whatever they want AND sleep all winter..what's up with that??

The whole bunch of us are going..Jeff & Rachael, April & Chris & Emily..

April sometimes has hard times actually getting away from her job..

But we always manage to have a wonderful time...

Plus, this year we have our GPS...that'll help, right?

OK, picture this...

Hot hot Texas camping 20-some years ago...

No "facilities" 

Mr. B was thoughtful enough to bring a sweat-box-torture device porta-potty for us..it wasn't nearly this high-tech..looking more like a TV tray holding a bag and a small tent with a tall pole in the center to hold it up..

Placed it over and away from the campsite..where no one can hear you scream..

I go in, zip-shut, notice a breeze coming up the ridge..notice it's like 152 degrees in the potty-tent..

and cautiously take my seat..

About then I notice the bag that holds the..uh..um..stuff..is slipping off the ring-thingy holding it on.

With one hand I grab the edge of the bag..and continue what I was doing.

The wind picks up to a howling speed and knocks the center pole of the potty-tent down.

So now I'm holding the bag with one hand, pants around my ankles..potty-tent is being blown into my face as my head is now the only thing holding up the tent at all..

Sweating, holding, pooping, the tent now reveals to the world the silhouette of me.....my un-busy hand straight up as it is now the tent pole..

Ah..gotta love the great outdoors...

Some national parks have long waiting lists for camping reservations. When you have to wait a year to sleep next to a tree, and  sh** poop in the woods.. something is wrong. ~George Carlin

Have a great Labor Day holiday and I'll be back on Tuesday..with pictures..and probably a story or two..

-me

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery..

..and if they are right.

....then I am soo flattering a new artist I have discovered..

..well, that sounds a little lofty, huh?  I mean I didn't "discover" her as in she was un-discovered before well...I ....discovered her..

{Is this not the cutest thing???}

I mean..I just discovered, to my delight, that she is living and creating and is kind and friendly.  And she lives in England {!}

And she has a beautiful drool-inducing blog..

And I want you all to go meeter her..she's at http://hensteethart.blogspot.com/

...her name is Viv and she creates the most adorable creations, birdies, and  mouse-es and flowers and pin keeps and purses and and and....

Her work is sooo pretty..

I l.o.v.e. her coin purses....

..and, being the A.D.D. ridden-attention-span-of-a-gnat {nat, knat???}-flitting-from-craft-to-craft-faster-than-a- nervous- hummingbird-gal that I am..well..I created stole copied what she has so beautiful and fun-ly done and made some cards.

Now, I was at work away from my sewing machine on a slow Friday afternoon and happened to have some fabric pieces and a needle black ink pen..

..and practically Xerox-copied (or tried to) her darling creations..so here are mine..paper, fabric, ink and inspiration from Viv..

Now, these are in no way as sweet, on-cloth, hand-sewn thoughtfully beautiful as Viv's..but I thank her sooo very much for her inspiration, her graciousness of allowing me to share these with you, and she just may appreciate a visit from you all as well..

Thank you Viv, for your art, your generous spirit and for sharing your world with all of us..

xxoo
-me

Turn signals....

....find them.

...embrace them.

...use them.

{please}

AUTOMOBILE DRIVERS Flash Your Turns

    New Model SIMPLEX DIRECTION SIGNAL KIT fits most cars. Gives new safety and comfort when making turns. Eliminates arm signals. Flashing parking and tail lights show other cars which way you’re going to turn. Flashes 60 to 80 times a minute. Works like factory installed models on expensive cars. Does not interfere with operation of present lights. Install it yourself. All parts furnished. For most 1942 to 1949 cars. SPECIFY MAKE AND YEAR. Adaptable to earlier cars at extra cost. MONEY BACK GUARANTEE.

..GRRRR...  I'm just sayin'...

-me, otherwise known as another frustrated I-15 commuter..

Oh, and PS....

....get off your phone and drive...

OK, I feel better. 

As some of you know..

...the "girls" are gone..

...ppffftttt..

Astala bye-bye..

..gone but not forgotten..

..double mastectomy... years ago..and yes, I'm still here. { I have a gift for stating the obvious, don't you think??}

Figured if I had to say good bye to the "girls" as well as their distant cousin, Ms. Uterus..thanks to the Big C..I needed to find the UP side.

{have you seen the Big C on Showtime?? I love it!}
And  there really is an up-side.

No costly bras....

No visiting from Mother Nature at odd times..

..none of that feeling that as soon as you get home you're gunna take off your bra an b.r.e.a.t.h.e...

..no wishing you could just unscrew them and put the on the dresser at night..(be careful of what you wish for..)

But every once in a while..I do dream..

 Ah well...

..uh...no..have you not been paying attention?

Anyway..seems if I was born in the 20's {so I could wear these in the 40's...)  I'd be right in style..

So, the next time you have a mammogram..

..just remember...

{doncha think it's weird for this model to be a guy??? Eekkk..}

Have a great day and be thankful for the little things..or in some cases..the biggie-sized-double-D's..

-me

...so, does this make me a "born-again-pre-pubescent" ?

so, wanna know why I love being home in the evenings soooo much??

...Lulu guarding our home & hearth...

..and Georgie & Gracie have returned to us...

I am one lucky girl..

-me

..the party's over...

..but it was waaaay fun.

We had such a relaxing time! This was the first time in a long time that we all enjoyed the whole night..no one was stuck in  the kitchen - I had prepared the 2 lasagnas the night before..one made with meat (3 kinds) and 3 kinds of cheese.. and one vegetarian..with mushrooms, zucchini and reduced-fat cheese..{it was wonderful}..and of course, garlic bread..crispy and crunchy!..{and buttery..}

I asked everyone to bring a dish to share...and boy oh boy did they...

Rachael & Jeff brought the famous FooFoo Salad - a great concoction of pudding {made with buttermilk}, cool whip, pecan sandies, mandarin oranges and bananas..yum-oh..

Brooks & Jenny brought Caprice salad - made with basil from her garden..

Sacha & Chris brought a wonderful fresh salad with blueberries, apples, nuts, feta cheese and greens - topped with a maple vinaigrette....

And Grandma Evelyn made her famous Coke-a-Cola cake..and I have the recipe - in her handwriting - and I'm willing to share...you'rewlecomeverymuch!!

..It's one of those "saved" favorites from the 40's or 50's {note the "oleo" and Crisco..}

It is one of the BEST cakes I have ever tasted..and I've gotten cake-faced on many occasions...this is by far the best chocolate cake..

Here's what we all did today..

Have a good week and remember - it's a fresh start to a new week..make it a good one :-)

Psssstt..today was Mr. B's birthday..but we're getting cake-faced tomorrow..

I remember one of my kids asking once how their birthdays all landed on Saturdays?  Every year??

I think I said something brilliant and motherly like "Huuuh.."

Truth be told..Saturday was the best day to have a birthday on..(is that a dangling preposition??)

Saturday was the best day in which to have a birthday.....{on} hahaha..

..especially since I have always worked, Saturday was the optimum choice. 

No different now..the kids are grown and I was 'found out'..but I'm still working and birthdays are still celebrated on Saturday..

If you're in the neighborhood..I'm making home made lasagna and garlic bread.  Grandma Evelyn made a Coke-a-Cola cake..and Mr. B would love to meet you all..

In the meantime, here are a couple of photos from the art room..cloth transfers for upcoming projects..

Have a good Saturday..and just go and have a wonderful Sunday, too..

-me