Flickr Fun...

Hey...this was fun...give it a try! Thanks, Shell!



1. Smile on Fair, 2. Spaghetti in Tomato Cream Sauce, 3. Sumatran Tiger @ DC Zoo , 4. The Earth is God's Canvas., 5. patrick-dempsey-Versace, 6. Lazy Cow , 7. Borrowdale, Lake District , 8. Crème Brulée, 9. Excelsior, 10. i don't think there's any question here | day 363, 11. bookshelf, 12. doobie hat, var.

TIPS-N-TRENDS...

New feature to the blog...TIPS-N-TRENDS! A place to share new products and/or trends of interest around us...Today I would like to share a product that I found totally by accident. While I was at Walmart picking up a few items...I reached for what I thought was Bounce dryer sheets and picked up this product instead...

Shout color catcher...I was so mad when I got home and realized that I had NOT picked up what I needed...hence another trip to the store...but a few weeks later I thought...Oh, I will try one of these dumb things...threw it in the wash with some reds...I was amazed and thrilled that I had found a new help for accomplishing a most dreaded task...the laundry.

Have you ever bought a red and white strip shirt...tablecloth...placemat...or whatever...and once you have washed it...even on cold...it comes out of the washer and the white is slightly pink? I can't tell you how many times that or something similar has happened to me! Well...with the miracle color catcher cloths...that will never happen again. Even when you put a batch of multi-colored clothes in the wash...you have to know that a little dye bleeds from each item making the wash water a murky gray...over time making your clothes less vibrant and true to their original color.

Now I am going to use some very technical terms here to describe how these cloths work...and hope you non-scientific persons can understand. These cloths..."catch" the dyes that bleed out of your clothes as they are washing...and hold on to them...and when the wash is done you can just throw the cloth away. I sure hope you non-scientific persons could understand that! So...get a box today at your local Walmart!

Okay...so now it's your turn...What product or idea makes doing your laundry easier...more enjoyable...faster...more fun?

LOST...

JUST A WORD OF WARNING...DO NOT CALL ME TONIGHT...DO NOT COME TO MY DOOR...DO NOT TEXT...I AM DEEPLY INVOLVED IN A CRISIS HERE AT HOME AND CAN'T BE INTERRUPTED! I'VE JUST GOT TO CHECK UP ON MY PEOPLE...I'VE GOT A BAD FEELING THAT SOMEBODY IS GONNA DIE...I JUST FEEL IT IN MY BONES...BUT WHO...I AM ASKING YOU...WHO?

Mid-Week Inspiration...Blue is the New Beige...

My daughter Ashley recently told me that the color blue is making a comeback. This is all I have to say about that..."Good for you blue...personally I have always loved you...but got stuck in your country blue/mauve decorating scheme for far too long. But look at the new you...Botox really did wonders to your tired old face...now you look vibrant...fresh...young and exciting...who knew? Now I've just got to have you back in my life..."

I need this in the center of my dining room table filled with daisy's...

this tucked into some corner...

this for crafting and sewing...

this to brighten my breakfast...

and this for early morning rides through the country...
Look at you...blue! Oh...and by the way...
if you would like to win this bicycle go here!

Here it is...

Since this week's weather is suppose to be cold and wet...I think a treat is in order. I make Southwest Corn Dip for every wedding reception and Emily's was no exception. Tons of people asked for the recipe and since I got it from "Taste of Home" magazine I feel like I should share! This recipe is so versatile...as a dip with corn chips...or add some cooked chicken for a meal. I have done it both ways and it's a hit every time...

Southwest Corn Dip

1 can whole kernel corn, drained

1 4oz. can green chilies

1 Tbsp. minced jalapeño

2 Tbsp. sliced olives

½ cup diced red pepper

1 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese

½ cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese

1 cup mayonnaise

Mix corn , chilies, jalapeño, olives, pepper(and chicken if you are using it as a main course). Add mayonnaise and mix well.
Add cheeses and mix.

Bake in 350 degree oven until warm for dip
or hot for casserole. Serve with corn chips.

This is so yummy and just thinking about it makes my mouth water. Hope you like and enjoy!

P.S. I apologize that this recipe is so blah looking...hoping to spend some time this summer learning all about digital. In the meantime a great big "thank you" to my daughter's...Shelly for designing my blog banner for me and for Ashley for getting my computer working once again!

Mid-Week Inspiration...Mellow Yellow...

"They call me 'Mellow Yellow'...that's right...yeah! They call me 'Mellow Yellow'...that's right...yeah!" If you haven't heard those words before...ask your parents. They are words of old song from the 70's and introduces our mid-week inspiration topic...the color Yellow!

Yellow always has been and always will be one of my favorite colors. I love what yellow does to a room...making it instantly...happy...light-filled... youthful...fun...cozy. And even though I have loved the color yellow...like forever...I have never used it much in decorating...until this new home. Now I have yellow in nearly every room...I love it! During our long...dark...cold...winter I would walk into our home and feel instantly uplifted. Even today it is dark...overcast...and drizzling...and I am home feeling cozy and warm.

Over the years...I have torn out a gazillion pages from decorating magazines and have saved a huge pile of them for inspiration. I was amazed when I went to choose colors for this house and browsed through my pictures how many of them had yellow walls...and they all spoke to me and filled me with a sense of comfort...and coziness. So here is some inspiration in case you are needing a change at your house or just some eye-candy to brighten your day!

I love that this kitchen seems to have no windows...

but that the yellow on the walls makes the room so light filled and bright!

Even though this is a really strong yellow...I think it works because of all the white trim...woodwork...fireplace...and furniture...also it mixes so well with the bright blue upholstery!

The golden yellow used in this dining room fits perfectly with the more traditional furnishings and bling bling! I love the chandelier and can't wait to show you pictures
of the vintage chandelier I used in one of my bedrooms!

Even though the "fussiness" of this room is not my style...I love that the yellow walls just add to the room's coziness. Love the roses...the farmhouse table...that you can see bits and pieces of yellow in the built-in display shelves! This seems like the perfect place to eat a breakfast of pancakes...huckleberry syrup...and freshly squeezed orange juice!

A Sigh of Relief and a whole lot of fun...

Saturday was a terrific day! Every minute of the day was perfect. The weather...the temple...the pictures...the reception...the people...the bride and groom...perfect...perfect...perfect.

I have never seen Emily so radiant and beautiful...
(I "borrowed" this picture from Ashley's blog.)

Emily and Nate are just meant for each other...2 peas in a pod.
We are just thrilled for them both.
(I "borrowed" this picture from Shelly's blog.)

We can't help but breath a sigh of relief...the wedding is over and went so well...all 4 of our daughters are married to great guys. Life is good!

News Flash...Front page Headline...Top Story at 10...

Mother of the Bride gone crazy! Possible threat to herself and others! If you see her coming...lock the door and close the blinds! If you meet her in any store...look the other way...hide behind a display...mannequin...or watermelon. Do not engage in conversation... she is armed and dangerous!

I will be back next week with... pictures...recipes...mid-week inspiration...and a new addition to the blog...introducing "Tips and Trends". See you in a week...if I am still sane!

Thank you!

I want to thank you for the Maddie-love. We miss her... but know that this is best for both her and us. We appreciate your thoughtful comments.

Take May for a change...and a little Mid-Week Inspiration...

This just happens to be a picture of my youngest daughter Emily and our dog, Maddie taken many years ago when they were both really just starting out in life. They were pals for a lot of years. As a puppy Maddie wiggled her way onto Emily's bed and slept there nearly every night for a number of years. They would spend hours together...playing in the back yard...or the front yard where Maddie could be seen pulling Emily on her rollerblades or Emily taking Maddie for walks over to the Elementary School. When Emily was having a bad day...Maddie was great listener and good friend. They really grew up together...girl and dog...buddies. As Emily grew older and more mature and so did Maddie. Just not at the same rate.

Emily will be turning 21 in a few weeks...and in about 10 days she is getting married to the man of her dreams and moving on to new experiences and a new life with Nate. We are so happy for her. She is so happy for herself. She's in love...excited about the future...anticipating all the new adventures coming her way.

Maddie on the other hand is 84 years old in dog years. She has slowed down considerably in the last little while and has experienced a few health problems. Well, not really a few...but a lot of health problems. The latest being a pituitary tumor. We tried some medication...gave it about 5 months to be exact...but her problems just couldn't be resolved and then the problems from the tumor became more than we could deal with{As in very little bladder control}.

I was thinking today that it was really my husband who wanted to get a dog for the girls. I did NOT want an animal. When he brought home this adorable beagle puppy I just melted. I actually got out a baby blanket and wrapped her in it and held her. She was Em's buddy for a lot of years but as Emily got older she really became my buddy. We had an understanding. She was in charge and I was there to satisfy her ever whim. I did my job well.

This morning I did one of the hardest things I have ever done. I put our beloved Maddie in the back of my Explorer and took her to the vet's office. She did not come home with me.

My Comfort Zone...

Well...if anybody is still reading my blog after my last post...here's a little inside shot of the great room in our new home.

After 2o years in the same house...we were ready for a change. The old house was a dream in many ways...but we love our new place so much more! In our last home we had a formal living room and formal dining room...we rarely used them. What we did use was the kitchen and it was so small we were always bumping into each other. When we were all together it became a disaster...similar to that game teens played in the 60's where they would see how many people they could cram into a Volkswagen Beetle! I would be cooking dinner...in would come my daughters...shortly after them came their children...and then the dog! Oh...and usually my husband looking for some grandkids to tease. The only people smart enough to stay out of the kitchen were my sons-in-law...they were just sitting in the other room (out of sight) wondering when the food was going to be ready!

In our new home we just have one big great room...appropriately named because it is so great! We can cook...eat...sit...talk...and the grand kids have plenty of room to run and play. They don't have to be in the kitchen with their moms because they can see them from the table or the couch!

This home only has 2 bedrooms on the main floor...a beautiful master with fabulous bathroom and huge closet...and a smaller bedroom just for the grandkids when they come to stay. Also on the main floor is an office and laundry room. In the basement we have 2 guest bedrooms...a large bath...a craft, sewing, tv watching room...a huge family room (now used for preschool)...and 2 large storage rooms.

It's a dream home for us and we are so grateful to be here.

Money, Money, Money...

From what I have seen lately...voicing political opinions on a blog can be a tricky business. You just never know when your readership is going to turn on you like a mad dog! But...I figure that my readership is so small and those who are going to read the following are my husband, daughters and a few friends so it won't matter to them if I spout off somewhat.

Recently I was talking to one of our tenants (as in she rents a condo from us) and she let me know in no uncertain terms that she was voting for Barack Obama...that Hillary Clinton is a liar...and that George Bush has ruined the American economy. I respect her right to vote for whomever she chooses...I agree with her on the second point with utmost zeal...but the third point I had to challenge.

While I will agree the President Bush has been the biggest spender of the American taxpayer dollars since Ronald Ragean, I do not believe he has ruined the American economy. I believe Americans have ruined the American economy. Americans, for the most part, have been living the good life for far too long...taking for granted the prosperity we enjoy. We have indulged ourselves...we have and are living beyond our means...paying with credit for perishable goods and self indulgent purchases...buying homes and cars and boats and vacations we can't afford.

Then when we lose our homes and our self indulgent lifestyle...when it all goes to hell in a hand basket (as my father would say)...we have to blame someone. We don't want to take responsibility for our poor spending habits...our lack of financial planning...our inability to live a modest lifestyle. Yes, I do believe the President of this country has a responsibility to be prudent and frugal with our tax dollars...and no, I do not believe President Bush has been a fiscally responsible president. But...I think the bulk of the economic problems in this country lie with the taxpayers themselves.

In the next few months all Americans who filed a income tax return will receive a modest "economic stimulus" refund from the government. What are your plans for your refund? Recently I saw a reporter on a news show talking to people about their plans for their refund...almost all of them had already decided what they were going to spend it on. Here's a thought...how about saving it for a rainy day...because from where I sit it looks to be pouring out there!