LOOT!!! (a blog of photos)

Well, it's been a week since my bountiful baby shower, and I've got two things clogging up my Guilt Filter. (1) I have not yet written sent the Thank You cards, and (2) I have not yet written posted the blog that reveals why I should get those cards written!

So, here goes writing the procrastinating-the-writing blog!

First up, we have a shot of all the loot after we (it and I) returned home Friday night. (Confession: It's mostly all still down there since the baby's room isn't 100% ready for it all) (I'm working on it, I'm working on it!) (consider that #3 on the Guilt Filter. Thanks.)

Here is a shot of all the lovely food that my hostess, Angie, provided. She is a wonderful hostess, and loves to throw parties, and, based on how much folks seemed to enjoy themselves, she did a wonderful job!

Here's me and the cake. It's called a Dinner Cake. As I was gobbling mine down, I think I said something like "Sure, I could eat this for dinner..." But isn't it pretty? It tasted WAY prettier than it looks. Yum yum.

This is the "rowdy crowd" right before we started a rousing game of Baby Pictionary. There were some toughies! How does one draw colic, for instance? (One artist drew a cow, then it's tongue. Get it? Cow-lick? Yeah, well, her team didn't either.) There was diaper rash, midwife, mommy brain, doctor, ... um...there were others, but I can't remember them! We had fun, though, and that's what matters. This was really the only game we played. No "Guess How Big Melissa Is" or "Don't Say 'Baby'" games -- thank you, Angie!!!

And now, onto the loot! Here I am trying on some very cute clothes. I think they're a little big for the bump (for now) and a little small for me. STILL cute, though! Very cute.

Did you know that Gerber has copyrighted the term "Onesies®"?? Yeah, me neither. So, what does Carter's call their "snap-around-the-crotch-t-shirts"? They call them "Wiggle In Undies"... I guess that's cuz babies can't wiggle out of 'em? (note the smug look on my face as I'm trying to figure this out) (I mean, really...aren't mamas around the world confused enough? Why do they have to play the name game with us?) Sheesh. Nonetheless, far be it from me to look a gift bag in the mouth...I do most certainly appreciate the "can't wiggle out of 'em" bodysuits that the Yipper was given.

Here is a very special gift from Dave's mom -- she made the baby a quilt! Look at the fabric! I love bright colors for baby stuff! I should have folded the corner down so you could see the back, too. It's kinda cobalt blue with batik'ed (?) animals and stuff. I showed it to Dave when I got home, and quickly put it back in the box. Knowing him, he'd be snuggled under it on the couch at night while watching TV! :o) Well, okay, maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing. Then when the baby was born, she'd be able to associate the blanket with her papa, right? SO PRETTY!! Thank You, Grandma Burns!

Here we have Kendall (favorite model of the Kiwi variety) modelling the Bumbo Seat the Grandma Nancy sent to us. I love these Bumbo seats! They are (a) cool feeling, (b) cool colors, and (c) good for the baby to learn to sit up and stuff!

Oh, yes. A gift from Gymboree. Good stuff, Maynard. There was a reversible cardigan with a little white fluffy Pomeranian puppy on the front, and the inside was all number of different kinds of dogs. So this photo is of me naming all the dogs on the matching blanket for my friend Katy (she's so sweet to actually look interested, doncha think?). I love dogs, and I love this gift! What could be better?!


And here is another hand-made quilt. My Bible study buddy, Cindy, made this for the baby. She used some vintage fabrics, and made it to match the bedding we've chosen. She created the ladybugs out of her daughter's old corduroy jeans. How creative! And, the kicker, she hand-stitched the entire thing. (shaking head in disbelief). She is A-Mazing. It is beautiful, and soft, and perfect in every way.

And, finally, me, basking in the glow of a bunch of wonderful friends who have blessed us with oh, so many generous gifts.

Now, I must be off to work on Guilt Filter Items #1 and #3. Hope you have a great weekend!

Welcome Back

...old friend. Have I ever missed you!

(In the spirit of Grateful Fridays, I want to reiterate, as I have before, that I love my Swiffer Wet Jet. With a big ♥.)

I have lived without you since September 26, 2007. That's 5 months of missing you. (And I'm pretty sure that pregnancy math does not apply to mops.)

That was the day, that sad, sad day, that the dumb movers broke your back. ::sniff::

I tried to operate on you, but you hurt too much to mop my new floors. I tried to give you a break by using the old-fashioned, on-my-hands-and-knees method of mopping, but seeing me in that state of disgrace just made you hurt even more.

Finally, you spoke to your people, and decided to make the ultimate sacrifice, and put the new model on super sale...two weeks after I found a hefty coupon. You knew I loved you more than a woman should love a cleaning product, and you made it possible for me to go on. Proudly mopping my floors to a sparkly state of gleamy clean.

I am not ashamed to show you how clean this new model gets my floors. I am not ashamed because it proves how clean the other methods didn't get my floors.

Oh, how I love the Swiffer Wet Jet.

(and maybe I'll even be brave enough to someday bake muffins like Secret Agent Josephine on my recently wet-jetted floor with The Yipper)

The Big Reveal (with photos)

Happy Black Friday! Anyone dropped from their shopping, yet? I opted to stay home today and sit on my kiester rather than brave the crowds! I decided that there isn't anyone on my Christmas list that needs a gift bought today. Call me "chicken" - I don't care!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and for those of you still celebrating, Enjoy! :o)

Dave and I are in Houston spending T-Day with my brother and aunt and uncle who live here. It's great because it's the first time in a year that Dave has seen most of my family, and my dad and his wife drove over from Mississippi to be here, too, and it's been 3 years since he's seen them!

We had a non-traditional Thanksgiving combination at the dinner table this year. Well, we've done it this way a few times before, but most families don't do it like this. Around the table were my dad, his wife, my mom, her partner, my uncle, my aunt (Mom's sister), my brother, Dave and I. Non-traditional is great, though, because you get to see everyone at once! :o)

And this year, that was extra important because we've been gone so long. It was such a blessing to hang out with everyone all mixed up together. I only wish my grandparents could have been there. But, good news, Grandpa is home from the hospital now, so it's more important for him to be home.

And (as some of you know), as we gathered around the dinner table, before anyone got up for seconds, I made the following announcement:

"Um, since there's a lull in conversation, Dave and I have an announcement to make. I am 3 months pregnant, and we're going to have a baby in May. And I have ultrasound pictures." (which I gracefully flung into the middle of the table because I was so scared!)

Everyone was VERY excited. There were squeals, and tears and hugs. (Hmmm...come to think of it, I think everyone forgot about seconds!) I wish I had my little camera set to video, though, because I don't remember anyone's facial expressions! I was very nervous!

I don't know about you guys, but for me, this was a BIGGIE!

Mom was happy about the news. But the last time my mom and I discussed pregnancy, I was 15, and Mom and I had "The Talk". I don't remember much, except that the beginning went something like "So-and-so's 15-year-old daughter that goes to Harrison, is pregnant. And I better not hear about you getting pregnant." :o) Yes, I'm a grown woman, and I've been married to a wonderful man for the last 8 years, but for that to be the last impression I had about me and pregnancy...I was a wee bit nervous to tell her.

And Dad was happy as well. Honestly, I don't think Dad and I have ever discussed pregnancy or having children. But I'm a card-carrying Daddy's Girl, and there's something about saying "I'm pregnant." to my dad that is just plain scary. Maybe it's the part where he knows, now, that I'm no longer a virgin? :o) Yes, I'm a grown woman, and I've been married to a wonderful man for the last 8 years, but dads aren't supposed to know that kind of thing about their little girls. :o) I know there are some of you out there that feel my pain! While I'm on the subject, later on, some of us were in the kitchen, and I said something like "Well, thankfully, we didn't have to 'try' too long." And Dave said "Yup, put me in, Coach. I'll make the goal. He shoots, he SCORES!" To which I said "Shh, honey, my dad is in the room. Let's not talk about how it happened." :o)

We won't know it's gender until after Christmas. I'm not sure here if it's picking it's nose, or if it's doing the "thumb-on-nose-waving-fingers" thing. :o) But the doctor said it was growing well, looked healthy, has a good heartbeat, and happy just playing around in it's little world. There are no real concerns about my age ('cuz I'm so old, ya know).

My aunt and mom are convinced it's a girl because in the picture below, they say "she" is reclining in her "I'm a goddess, come worship me" pose. But my brother and step-mom swear it's a boy because they think "he" is reclining in his "I'm watching football, bring me a beer" pose. :o)
They spent a good hour bantering about with name suggestions...mostly saying what we couldn't name the baby! At one point, based on my brother's list, I had to ask him if he was going through his date book! :o) I'm glad they had so much fun!

Dave also called his family, and everyone was very excited, and very pleased! Dave has a 15-year-old nephew, and then all the other grandkids are "steps"...so they were overjoyed at the thought of welcoming another new baby into the fold. Everyone (on both sides) said that our announcement "made their Thanksgiving." And we even heard a few "best Christmas present you could give"...which is super cool, because now I can cross them off the Christmas list! :o) Ha ha!

I promise not to make this strictly a "mommy blog" - I intend to have other interests and share other stories not related to the growth in my abdomen...but beware, I'm also going to want to keep the far-flung family and friends updated about my expansion, and this is going to be my way of doing it! So, just know, you're bound to get a little of all that's going on in our lives.

I also promise to share belly-expansion photos. I've been keeping a bit of a journal, so I'll electronify that for you all one of these days. :o) I've had some nausea, and lots of fatigue, but nothing extreme, and nothing out of the ordinary...and for that, I am very thankful!

I think that's it! Now the Bloggie World knows our news. Have a great weekend!

Grateful Fridays

Can you believe we're halfway through 2007!? Wow! The older I get the faster time flies!

We took Tabbs to her new home last night. She seemed very happy. When we took her out of her crate, she casually/curiously wandered around her new house. She looked longingly out the door to her new back garden, and then found her way upstairs and under a bed. She met her new Aunties, and seemed very comfortable in her new home. I am so glad that she's got a good home now. She was a wonderful foster kitty for us, and I think I would be a lot more sad if she didn't react so positively to her new home. Her new Mama sent me an email this morning to say they had a very good first night together, and that Tabbs would periodically come and tell her what she'd found. And many head-butts. Tabbs is a head-butter, and her new Mama likes that. Here's one of our final head-butts:

I really appreciate what the Cinnamon Trust does for elderly/terminally ill people, and the pets that care for them. It's a really good organization. We'll miss her, but she's in a much better home now!

We are going away soon! On vacation! (More vacational for me than for Dave -- he has to work). More chaise-lounge time for me! I'm wondering if 6 books is too many for a 7 day trip? I just can't decide! And what if I end up wanting to read the one I don't take and hate the ones I do take? Oh, and 9 dresses and 4 pairs of flip-flops. Think that's too many? Nah, me either.

Books. Check.
Camera. Check.
Dresses. Check.
Flip-flops. Check.
Sunscreen. Check.
Euros. Check.

I think that's about it! All I have to do now is clean the house for the house-sitters! Washing bedding, making beds, cleaning the bathrooms...it's all worth it! If it means getting to go away to somewhere wonderful and mediterranean, I'll do it!

I'll try to update from the road, but you'll know why if you don't hear from me for a week or so. Bye!

Grateful Fridays

Things are good here. We've been pretty busy lately, so that's why it's quiet, but nothing really noteworthy.

Here are things I'm thankful for this week:

~Healthy kitties (all 3) (yes, we've still got Tabbs. She's got a new home to go to, but it will be another week or two till she goes to her new home.)

~Tabbs getting a new home! I know she wants to go outside, but it's just not possible here...but it will be in her new house!

~Consumer Reports. I've got my peepers open for a new digital camera, and CR is gonna help me buy the best one!

~Season Finales. This week I saw the finale to Desperate Housewives, and Ugly Betty. Both very good. I'm trying to convince Dave that we need to be back Stateside before the middle of September so that we can be there for the season premiers! :o)

~Silly Pictures. As always, I love silly pictures. Sometimes they are a result of a silly camera, but other times they are a result of silly people. Like this one you may have seen on Mike's blog:

Have a good weekend!

Random Ramblings and Stuff

This has sure been a quick week!

We had a big party last Saturday, and all my energies went into making sure people had enough food and drink and a place to sit (or stand, whatever!). It was a lot of fun, and it was actually in honor of James and Natalie, who are saying their good-byes to Guildford (photo deleted)

...so it was extra good for me because they did all the mingling and chatting, and I got to just do stuff! That's my favorite kind of party! :o) James had lots of surprises that day -- he got taken out of bed and whisked away to a gory game of paint-ball, and then about the time he got settled down, it was time to come over here for the party (about which he knew). (photo deleted)

He and Natalie charmed the masses, of course, and then at about 8:45, or so, and unsuspecting James was blinded with a filthy laundry bag, put into the back of the car and driven around in circles (literally!) for about 1/2 an hour...then brought back here for a surprising couple of hours of poker with the fellas. A couple of the ladies and I took Natalie away to chill out and chat and open a few lacey lingerie presents :o) She liked 'em! I'm sure James will, too! ;o)

It's been rainy, and ugly, and cccccccollllld here lately! Thankfully, the sun broke out for a few hours on Saturday for the party, but then it went away again. :( I am very tempted to break out the long johns again! Ew! Maybe next week...

I'm working on another couple of scrapbook pages for our two sponsored kids in Ecuador. This time it's Barcelona and France. Barcelona is done, France is very not done...and I have to mail it on Saturday! So I've got to get to gluing! I really do enjoy doing these pages. I know the kids really appreciate the little bit of effort I put into it, and it's a chance to share our lives with them.

All the kitties are doing well. Oh, but I have a new job from the Cinnamon Trust...his name is Jet, he's a 4-year old toy poodle, and his mama is Mrs Hitchcock, who is 89 years young, and just needs someone to walk Jet a couple of times a week. Jet doesn't really like walking, yet. He's used to being a lazy-bones, but I'm going to keep walking him till he likes it, dangit! Here's a photo from today. He's not very cooperative with the camera, but aren't the poppies pretty? :o)(photo deleted)

The Cinnamon Trust really is a cool thing. Has anyone heard of anything like it in America? Their motto is "helping the elderly and their pets" and they facilitate elderly people being able to keep their pets with them as long as possible. Great, huh? People walk dogs, or take pets to the vet, or foster them when the owner is in the hospital or taken to a permanent care facility. Seriously, if you know of anything like it over yonder, I want to know!

And, finally, my kitties gave me a new goofy camera this week, but I haven't had any film developed yet. I promise to post some photos when I get some, but it's an "oktomat", and basically, the little camera has 8 little lenses, and when you push the shutter down, over a period of 2 seconds, it takes 8 sequential shots! And all 8 are printed on the same photo! Cool, huh? I can't find very many good photos on the web to share with you, but here's a link to one of a guy named Pedro: (click here) Otherwise, you'll just have to wait like patient bunnies to see the fruits of my new photo-labors!

That's about all I know for now. Hope you have a great weekend!

Grateful Fridays

...First Time 29...(Happy Burple Day Ju!)
...snuggly kitties...

...zoomy scooting...

...Gibbs, Ziva, Tony, Abbs, and McGeek...

...snot-free boys...

...good sniffs at Kew...

...other people's words...
...clotheslines...

It's almost Friday!

I'll be gone most of the day tomorrow, so I thought I'd take a minute to put up a few things I'm thankful for this week. I know I haven't done it in a couple of weeks, and this time, I have no excuse.

1. Tabbs is settling in fine. She likes her food, and her litter-box. She has played with me a teensy bit. She seems pretty relaxed around me and will let me pet her and brush her till my arms fall off! I tried to flip her over to prep her for her manicure, but she was not so keen! And until those razors are removed from her paws, she doesn't get to come out of her room!

2. The lilacs are blooming! The lilacs are blooming! I want to marry one and have its babies! Me loves the lilacs. I even wrote An Ode To The Lilacs. (photo deleted)


Me loves me loves the lilacs.
I want to lie on my back,
In a bed of fragrant lilacs.
It would be great to try that.

So happy and colorful lilacs.
If they climbed up my nose I would hide that.
I want to decorate my house with lilacs.
With candles and lotions and a bath mat.

I'm going to Kew,
and sniff till I'm blue,
and wallow in fields of lilacs.

(So, maybe not so much an "ode", but I think you know my true feelings!)

3. It's been a little warmer this week, definitely promising spring-time. I was even tempted to put clothes out on the line! But realized they would probably freeze before they dried, so I abstained. But soon!

So, there you have it. I'm a weirdo! :o) Have a great weekend!

Grateful Fridays

Just a few more days till we leave for Italy, and we've got a lot to do before we go! It's going to be a busy, laundry-filled, house-cleaning, bag-packing weekend. But we're both looking forward to, and needing, a vacation. It will be a busy one, from here to there to the next place, but that's life in the fast lane! :o)

Here's what I'm thankful for this week:
1. H&M: there's a new H&M in Guildford. It's fashion that I can buy! (well, most of it!) Like: (a) I can afford it, (b) they've got some cute things, and (c) their clothes actually fit me! And, bonus, Madonna is now designing for H&M, so if I really really wanted, I could buy something to wear that she designed! It's not Madonna's, but I bought a yummy wrap dress today...never mind that I had to try it on over my long johns...

2. Jobs Done: I've been working on a new scrapbook project, and got Stage 1 mailed off this week. I'll explain it more some other time, but the short version is this: Dave and I sponsor 2 kids in Ecuador through Compassion International, and rather than sending them random letters and pictures, I decided to send them scrapbook pages. Once I finish, I put the pages in plastic page protectors for safe-keeping. I got the first 2 pages (1 protector) done this week, and sent them off. I plan to send 2 pages a month. It's not a scrapbook in the sense that most of us think, but for them, it will be a wonderful thing, and by sending it page-by-page, it will pass through the Customs inspections, which a proper scrapbook would not. I've still got a lot of work to do, but it feels good that Stage 1 is on the way. (photos of one page below)

3. Nice People: Like Enriqué, for translating the English to Spanish for the Ecuador book.

4. Friday Night Lights: I know I've said it before, but we like this TV show. Dave really gets into it!

5. Fancy Plans: I've got a date set for a chance to wear the lovely dress I found in January. I've got a weekend planned with the Girlies in August. Now I just need to find the right pair of "peep-toes".

Well, have a good weekend!

This Is A Real Friday

Hey everyone,

For this Friday's account of what I am grateful for, I'm going to deviate just a smidge. Well, okay, 180° is more than a smidge, but who's measuring?

It's been a dreary, cold, snow-threatened, multiple-layers week here and I think the weather has permeated my mood! So, my deviation is going to be a list of all the things I miss about living in the US. (basically...I'm not doing a very good job being "content" with what I've been given!)

So, what do I miss? (in no particular order, barring No. 1, of course!)

1. Target

2. Being warm (deep in the core of my being...not just my face or my feet)

3. Sweet Daisy Doo (the sweetest, most joy-giving, goofy-loving fluffer-nutter of all time!)

4. Being able to crochet or knit without it hurting

5. Retail Therapy at any time of day or night (because most stores (except grocery stores) close at 5:30 here). (Refer back to No. 1 if you are confused)

6. Blending in

7. Being able to buy what I want when I want where I want instead of not having a clue. You'd think that after 2.5 years I'd have a better understanding of where to buy things (see No. 1)

8. Christian radio in the car

9. My automatic transmission car (traffic is often long and drawn-out and stupid here!)

10. Garbage disposals

This is my favorite Daisy photo...well, till I see the next one, of course!

As Queen Ant said in Bug's Life "...that's our lot in life, it's not a lot, but it's our life." That's what I'm gonna work on this next week. Contentment. I got a whole lot of dis- and not enough of the rest.

Have a great weekend!

Fab Friday

What's been great this week? Loads!

1. I got a proper iPod. I had a generic MP3 player, but I didn't like the features it had. Last weekend I saw an iPod that I liked, I had a $30 off coupon, and I pounced! Carpe iPod! I mean, $30 off AND music and pictures? Wanna know the best part? That little collar thingy that I can scootch up to the top of the earbuds so they don't get tangled! Suwheet!

2. Thai Pork Patties. Young (of Young's Chinese on campus) makes the absolute best Thai Pork Patties I've ever had. She gives me lots of salad, and a ladle of ginger-lime sauce and one or two of the patties. Them's good stuff, Maynard!

3. Giving Gifts. I ate lunch on Thursday (Young's) with Melaine. She's wacky! I got to give her 2 birthday presents. One from last year, and one for this year. For last year's gift, I gave her a hand-knit pink fluffy scarf. I knew she'd like it 'cuz it's pink, but she's a nice person, too, so she liked it 'cuz I made it for her. She was happy. Then I gave her this year's gift, and she loved it!! I knew she would! She loves a cleanly mopped floor. She liked the hand-knit scarf that I slaved over, but she really loved the Swiffer WetJet! I've got cool friends!

Have a great weekend!

Fridays Fridays

Here we are again, huh? At the end of this first full week in March, here are the things for which I am grateful:

~The Feel of Relaxing: I love my yoga pants. Am I wierd because I love my yoga pants? Are you wierd because you don't love your yoga pants? Hmmm?

~The Smell of Spring: I smelled it Wednesday. You just can't bottle that! It's just a lovely mix of fresh, and damp, and life, and green, and yellow, and pink, and new...all stirred up, it smells like spring!

~The Taste of Home: Taco Bell. Considering the Mexican food I have at my fingertips in Guildford (none!), Taco Bell is pretty good stuff! Not as good as Chipotle, no. Definitely not as good as Mission Bell. No way! Mmm...guacamole...ah...happy thoughts. Anyhoo...so today I am where there is a Taco Bell. I prefer Mission Bell's chalupas and guacamole, but since I'm 5000 miles away, I just have to close my eyes and pretend...

~The Sound of Freedom: Today we are where I have heard it. The rumble before the visual. Feeling the power, the awesome power of The Sound. And then every cell in your body, and every hair on your head is responding and expanding and getting excited and the adrenaline starts to rush, and the tears start to well. And you see the jet. Quickly. Very quickly. And you can't help but watch. And before you know it, you can't see it anymore. But you can still hear it, and feel it. Long after the visual is gone, you still hear it. The Sound of Freedom. There is nothing like it on Earth. In a simplistic way that's kinda what being a Christian is about -- resting in God's assurance even when we can't see it. Even when we don't deserve it. Believing His promises.

Freedom. Freedom to choose - right or wrong. Freedom to screw up and be loved unconditionally regardless of whether I've fixed it or not. Freedom to know beyond a shadow of a doubt where I will spend eternity...and it's not because I'm a good person...

We take it all for granted. I guess we are free to do that, too...

Grateful Fridays

Once again, we're on the other side of a week! And this time we got to flip over to a new page on the calendar, too!

I kinda went overboard this year with the calendars. I have 9. 2 page-a-days, 1 mouse-pad, 4 hang-on-the-walls, 1 planner-on-the-wall, and 1 engagement calendar. And then there's my PDA (but that doesn't count 'cuz I already had that).

I usually make a calendar for the family filled with photos of places we've been the previous year. It helps the fam feel like they're a part of what it's like to live on the other side of the planet. Next year's calendar will be the best ever! Italy, Greece, Moving vans. Best ever.

So, what's been great this week?

~Dave got me a fun camera ("fish-eye"). It's 35 mm, so it's not as instant as digital, but it's got a 170° lens, so all the photos look like you're on the inside of a bubble (kinda like a fish's eye). I took a fun shot of my neighbor's dog, Millie. She's a hoot!

~I worked out every day this week (except today, but we just ate Italian, so I'm gonna pass for tonight!)

~Dave got his PhD thingy to work backwards! Yay!

~Dave got a couple of conference papers submitted. Yay!

Have a great weekend!

Grateful Fridays

Fridays seem to come around so darn quickly!

Here's what I'm thankful for this week:

1. Spring Flowers: I wanted to open with a photo. :o) I know you all know that my crocuses are blooming (still! like 3 weeks later!). Earlier this week, I snapped this shot of a row of them.

2. TV/Movie Bloopers: these just crack me up! Especially when there is physical comedy involved...like people accidentally falling over. I think the world would be a better place if more of these were available.

3. TV/Movie Voice-overs: (I prefer the not-so-obvious ones)...like when a commercial was originally made in Germany, but they have done a v.o. with English words, but they don't match the mouth! :o) There's one for a sucker that is completely off! It makes me giggle.

4. New TV shows: Like Friday Night Lights, which is apparently a fairly popular show in the US, but just had it's UK premier last night. We enjoyed it, and since we've both lived in The South, and since I taught high school in The South, we could both totally understand the emotions and the stress of the scenes! We plan to watch again. Unfortunately, the time (right now) conflicts with ER. That's a shame because if I have to pick between FNL and ER, my loyalties are going North to Chicago. And, seriously, the last thing I need to add to my calendar right now is another TV show! Thank goodness NCIS and Grey's Anatomy are on hiatus right now!

5. Friday cleaning: Last Friday I cleaned. Today I cleaned. I like having a clean house -- but don't especially enjoy being the one to do it. :o) But by 12:30 I had most of it done! Yay Me!!

(I had to put another photo in!)

Well, have a great weekend!

Grateful Fridays

Another one bites the dust! Wow! For being "unemployed" for almost 2 months now, I'm sure busy and sure working (for cash money) more than I expected to be! (which is a good thing, don't get me wrong)

So, late on a Friday night, here are some things for which I am thankful this week:

1. Miele Vacuum: We were given this wonderful vacuum when some friends of ours moved back to America, and I just love it! Is it wrong to love your vacuum cleaner? Are there proverbs relating to loving your vacuum cleaner?
2. Victorian Airer: This little gem is a dream! When we first found the house, I thought it was one of those racks that fancy cooks use to hang their pots and pans on, but I was respectfully enlightened to its real use! There are 4 rails held together by an iron rack suspended from the kitchen ceiling by pulleys, and it is in front of the stove/oven so that when you hang your wet clothes or linens on it, the heat from the cooker will dry them! I love it!
3. Squidgy: this is a British word that I like. It very aptly describes Alley Phat's belly...well, it aptly describes most of her, not just her belly!
4. Café Melacino: Okay, I admit it...I've crossed over the line. The line that separates the Can's from the Cannot's. Those who can resist Starbucks from those who cannot. Of late, I have become one of the Cannot's. They have a lovely drink called a Café Mocha, and it costs about £2.75 ($5.50) for a tall. I think they taste dreamy...especially on dreary British days. However, I just hate the fact that I'm spending a lot of money on hot milk and a shot of coffee!! So, one day, after about 3 months of thinking about it (never one to jump in!), I decided to try to make my own! And it turned out very dreamy! Especially considering it's nearly free! (It's definitely better than non-Starbuck's imitations, and almost as good as Starbucks!) And since it's so dreamy, I wanted to share it's dreaminess with all of you!! Here's the recipe for Café Melacino: One packet hot chocolate mix + one spoonful of instant coffee + hot water + 3 large marshmallows (or lots and lots of whipped cream). Mix together and enjoy!! If you don't do instant coffee, you can put the hot chocolate powder in the bottom of your cup before you pour your brewed coffee in, and then add the marshmallows or whipped cream. Stir and enjoy!

Have a great weekend!

Grateful Fridays

Here we are again, weeks just fly by!

Things I'm grateful for this week...

1. Sky (satellite): magically gives me an important link home. Like
Ugly Betty, CSI, My Name is Earl, Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, ER, and more. I've been here 2+years, and I have yet to find a British TV show that I like. I still prefer US TV shows.

2. Brach's Conversation Hearts: these are yummy, and have words that make me giggle.

3. Basement Bargains: Like the one at Woolworth's last week where I got 6 CDs for cheap cheap! Like The Carpenters Gold for £3, and A Tribute to Abba (2CDs!) for £2, Duran Duran Greatest Hits for £4...good fun!

4. Digital Cameras: How did we live without these gems?? I'm all about instant, and my Olympus does me proud. Here are a couple of photos taken during yesterday's snow-storm (yes, another one in Guildford!)

Crocuses in the snow

Waverley Lane, Farnham
Waverley Abbey Ruins

Have a great weekend!!

Grateful Fridays

This week has been quick-like!

Here's what I'm grateful for this week:

• Millimeters: can you see the welling knot to the right of my eye? (actually to the left of the real thing, but it's camera-magic) Thursday I head-butted the corner of a shelf at work, and had it not been for a millimeter or two, I would likely have been visiting a British eye doctor that night! Instead I just get to post a pic of my unruly eyebrows and a lump on my brow!
• Bananas: normally, I'm not a big fan -- it goes back to junior high when on an all-night church "lock in" I had to eat a large quantity of bananas in order to win a competition...and, well, champions often pay a price for victory! But, today, I am grateful for bananas because I read this week that they are good to eat if you have trouble sleeping (which I have since quitting work)...and this week I've eaten a banana every night right before bed, and have slept like a sweet baby! Yay!
• Spring-time: My snowdrops have already bloomed, and the crocuses are coming up now! Pictures to come soon. I love spring! LOVE spring!
• Safe travels: Dave has safely returned to my side of the planet. He had fun excursions...including 2 presentations on Tuesday when he thought he was presenting on Thursday (shock!), and an up-and-back trip to the Grand Canyon (but it was cloudy). He spent some good time with my mom in Phoenix (she lets him eat whatever he wants!) And he had a good time and great conversations with idols and contemporaries. I think the thing he loves most about conferences is that you never have to "close the hanger doors" -- everyone is talking shop all. night. long. zzzzzz. :o)
• Fat Kitties: with The Papa gone, the Kitties have to get all their human affection from me! They keep me warm at night, and wake me up in the morning with the incessant "I'm staaaaarrrrvinggggg" meows. :o)

Well, have a great weekend! ~M.

Grateful Fridays

I know it's Saturday... :o)

Things I'm grateful for this week:

• Tumble Dryers ~ most people in England don't have them, and they dry their clothes, and blankets and sheets, etc. on drying racks (aka "clothes horses"), and draped over the radiators. I like soft sheets and towels and underoos.
• Safe Travel ~ Dave arrived safely in AZ for his conference.
• Being alone ~ I have a raging head-cold going on right now, and I'm seriously glad to be alone because I really annoy myself when I'm sick, and even though Dave never seems to be bothered when I'm extra snotty, I still feel bad for feeling bad, so now it's just me and the kitties feeling snotty. (I miss you, Honey!)
• Puffs Plus ~ very nice on the schnotty schnoz (now, where did I put them?)
• Mobility, Courage, and Time ~ to take adventures (or not) - like driving to a new city (Reading) 75 minutes away, for the first time, with Marion, to a craft store. :o)

That's me.

Have a great week ahead!

Grateful Fridays

I know it's Saturday, but after the venom from yesterday, I thought I should try to post something positive! :o)

So, what am I grateful for this week?

1. The pure cashmere sweater I found at the charity shop for £3.99;
2. The free VCR I found on Freecycle so I can tape DH, GA, and NCIS and not be up past my bedtime;
3. Fun friends to go to the movies with;
4. My full spectrum (natural light) lamp -- gives me pretend sunshine during the Winter Drearies living this far north;
5. An international calling plan that is dirt cheap! 5p for the first minute, then 3p every minute after! Love it!
6. Kitties with fat bellies (especially when they snuggle under the covers at night because they're cold!)

Have a great weekend!