How does it know!?

How?.....How does this laptop know that i have an addiction and that ice cream CONES are my drug of choice..........

Is this machine taunting me!!!???......FOODY .......is it calling me names??!!

Foody .......is that like being a Treky...but, different??!!

Look kids ...... it's a parade!!!

Small things entertain us up here in the high country.....

That's frost on the ground above the houses on the right side of the picture.......the entire 27 acres behind the tractor and truck was frosty when we first looked out this AM...but, i missed it!!

For my blogger friends hit by this last ice storm......NC is sending help and we're praying for you..

Have a great Friday......stay safe and warm................

Thankful Thursday

Check out the dirt on Max's face.....he loves to dig holes in this NC orange dirt.....i'm thankful the male child caught him and cleaned his feet before he made it upstairs.......

I'm thankful the rain has stopped...............

I'm thankful that the parental units will be moving into the"lodge" next week..............

I'm thankful the male child decided to return to college...............

I'm thankful for all the small blessing the Lord sends my way each day...........

I'm thankful my return to work has been delayed by the state.....and that the job did not get cut from the budget........

I'm thankful for my new life here in the Blue Ridge and that God had the steering wheel the day we found this property.......

I know that's only seven....but, City Boy's off today and it's time for the "Errands" to begin......he loves to shop!!!!

Stay safe and warm out there.....................

Another Quilt Day!

Weather is worst today than yesterday........YUCK!....but, dinner is in the crockpot, the bathrooms are clean.....and i can spend the rest of the day....Quilting!!!

I had a stash of 12x12inch blocks ...left over from years of BOM clubs at my home shop in Florida....my goal this year is to use them up.........

This is my latest project......they are Thimbleberry traditional fabrics and i'm using the Divide & Conquer.... quilt as you go method by Nancy Smith & Lynda Milligan....love this technique....takes me a little longer to finish....but, i don't have to fight the fabric and machine quilting a full-bed size or queen size.......haven't tackled that king size yet!!!

I'm naming this quilt "Mom's Traditions"...my mom is a down home traditional person and this is just right for her new Greatroom......

Stay safe and warm out there.........................................

Todays View

As you can see...Mother Nature is at it again!! Took this pix at about 9:15 am...... To the north and west of us there is ice storms.....the mountains seem to be a natural barrier with this system...

Today is going to be a quilting day.......

If you have to be out today....stay safe and warm.......................

What's with Mondays??

What is it with Mondays........it's soooo hard to get your eyes open......get the body moving......get out of bed......get that first cup of coffee....get out'a the PJ's and for some begin the process of going to work!

This Monday was no exception...and add in....gloomy, rainy weather.....ugh!!!! Another day in "Yuckville!"

But wait.........on the table.......another box of City Boy's bargains!!! Oh Joy!!!

Would you believe i've been to the grocery store and CVS already today.....made 3 quarts of salsa and a double batch of apple crisp......i think these bargain boxes are gonn'a kill me.......

I want'a go back to "Yuckville Monday!"

The Heat Is On!!!

It happened Thursday.......The parental units finally got a temporary CO on the Lodge......so the power company was here within hours to hook-up the house.......in south FL this would have been at least a 10 day wait!!!

And.........the heat is on.......temp in the house was 33* at hook up and within 4 hours it was up to 60*.........who invented insulation?........i'd like to give them a big hug!!!

There's City Boy (in the blue coat).....he went out to tell the power guys that our generator had " kicked on" when they cut the power.........first time in two years it's kicked-on for real.....that was $8000.00 well spent!! I can't complain about the cost....after 14 days without power when hurricane Frances barreled thru...11 days with Jeanne and 9 days with Wilma.....never again will we be without....i need to flush toilets!!! It's an OCD thing.........

Well....this next picture....it's a small cottage down the mountain from us......they have a small pond which over flows thru the pipe into a creek.......the first thought i had when i saw the frozen over flow was......."HOUSTON....WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM HERE!"

Sometimes......i think my brain is strange..................and i've got to stop thinking in song lyrics and movie phrases.......Have a Great Sunday!!!

Found The Snowman

As a rule i usually write one entry a day....but, had to share this one.....

As most of you know ..we have two dogs....Mia, the perfect mountain diva and Max, who can be summed-up in one word....he's a "BOY" .......

Well...Max is a pretty good little boy, until it comes to sharing new toys.........he steals from her...he hides....he chews up.....he destroys........

Several days ago....one of nice ladies that works with City Boy sent Max and Mia, snowmen toys ...as a belated Christmas gift........After about 15 minutes of chaos....you know ....throwing them up in the air...running thru the house, etc.......the stealing began!!!


I caught him this time.......and gave it back to Mia......all was well......

Here's Mia looking for her snowman again..........and the search began........

We looked in all the regular hiding spots.......we looked downstairs in the male child's abode......we looked in the garage.....we looked outside......no where could we find the snowman.....

Soooo......i gave Mia an extra treat (in her world allllll problems can be solved with treats) and once again ......all was well......

Then this morning , i was stripping the bed and guess what was hiding at the foot of the bed, between the bedspread and the blanket.....that's right ....the Snowman!!!

The little sneaky snake had burrowed between the spread and blanket to hide Mia's toy!!

Is there an IQ test for dogs?........i think this one maybe gifted......or maybe just a BRAT!!!!

Same View.......Different Day!

What's that old song........"What a difference a Day makes......24 little hours"......Oh .. how true up here in the mountains......This was yesterday at around 7:30 AM

Hello.......Sunshine!!!


This is today at 7:30 AM...........where's the sunshine?.....Are those rain clouds hanging on the horizon?

Quick flip to the Weather Bug.......yep!

Rain....maybe a "winter mix?" later in the day........whoa......yesterday was in the 50's .....today in the 30's!!!

Don't ya just love Mother Nature's sense of humor????

Only Because I Promised...............

City Boy is soooo proud of himself.......

First because he brought home "another bargain"....a box of tomatoes and cucumbers....
Second because he got pictures of me canning the bargains..................

Now....i don't consider myself as a photogenic person and prefer to be taking the pictures not "IN " the pictures.....but, he made me promise to put them on the blog......................

So ....... here's me.......little round face......granny-reading glasses....short straight hair.......stained t-shirt.....double chin......canning "stuff" all around me.......Thank the Good Lord....you can't really see the bottom half....it's not pleasant and seems to be spreading like a bad rash....so i just cover that portion with jeans and call it a day.........

Anywayyyyyyyyyyyyy.......this bargain yielded 7 quarts of tomatoes and 5 pints of pickles......maybe someday we'll actually eat them............

The Sound of Silence

Yesterday afternoon ...about 3:30 PM....as i was cleaning my sewing room....refolding fabric, moving and sorting things.....i literally heard a pin drop.....then it hit me "The Sound of Silence"

It was the kind of silence you feel when reading a Stephen King novel....the kind that you hear when you get up in the very early AM and head for the bathroom......The kind of silence that you hear in a museum ......the kind when you expect someone with a chain saw to be climbing your stairs....i could hear the refrigerator running!......What gives?......City Boy is at work and the male child is in class.......but, still there are other breathing creatures in the house...

Now....if you know my family ....you know this is ....maybe.....a twice in a life time thing.....sooooo ....i went in search of the source of the silence and found a true "Kodak Moment".......Miss Kitty, Max and Mia.....napping at the same time, on the same bed.........awwwwwwww!



At least the bed is made!!!!!

A Bright New Day?!

According to the morning news....."it's a bright new day"........is it a new day for you?

In our mountain cabin here are a few of the things we're hoping will brighten up a little......

1. Could we see just a small amount of sunshine on the current economy

2. Gas prices.......could we keep them under $2.00 a gallon.....please...

3. Could we shed some light on the wars.......maybe burn some midnight oil and get us out'a there......Bring our men and women home.

4. Could we open the curtains on education........let the sunshine in......start at Pre-K!!! Teach our kids that education will "light" the way.....and that education is a privilege to a burden....yesterday, a young man in Kenya , living in a mud hut, who wanted to be a lawyer brought me to tears.... when i realize that so many of our young think that the free education they can obtain in this country is not necessary........sorry that soapbox just slipped in..........

5. That the "light bulb of wisdom" is turned on for the leaders and the American people.....family values......love of God and country.....respect for each other.....helping each other becomes the "norm"...

Well......i didn't intend for this entry to become serious or political.......but....the Sun is shining brightly on our mountain top at the moment and i'm praying it continues.........

Another Use'ta

OH THE GUILT!!!!!

........in my former life if i had spent 2 whole days sitting on the couch doing nothing except flipping thru the satellite channels and knitting....the guilt would have eaten me up in one big bite.......

But, the new mountain me.......nawwwwwwwwwwwwww!!

This new me....... sat my slightly over sized rear section on the sofa and knitted stocking caps.......which i donate to the local women/children's shelter...........not one bit of guilt did i feel as i watched reruns of Law & Order or Two and A Half Men... or Oprah and Ellen.......I watched HGTV....I watched 10 minutes of some SOAP...(yikes)...those people have more than 24 hours in a day....and oh the shame!........about 30 minutes of Jerry Springer!!!!

Then today "The Inauguration"...whether you voted for the new president or not....it's hard not to watch history in the making! I even waited patiently for the first glimpse of the new First Ladies outfit.......

But....mostly i watched the birds at the feeder and the snow....it's been two days of peace and quite, plus 12 completed hats and i refuse to feel guilty!!

Deal with that ....little voice in my head!!!

Watch the Birdie!!!

Well......

We are under a "Winter Weather Watch" (snow and more snow) until sometime tomorrow.......could this be another "yuckville" day!?........City Boy and the dogs have already gone back to bed for their morning naps and i don't think the male child has cracked an eyelid yet........why am i up and functioning....good question?!

Could it be that someone (City Boy) called me at 6:50 this AM from Wal Mart and wanted to know what flavor Gatorade to buy the male child!!?? Since the GBP surgery City Boy has become an exercise nut....walking....he can't get enough walking!! And...of course...if you can't walk outside....you go to the local 24/7 Wal Mart!!

At 6:50 in the AM i don't care what flavor you buy for the male child......however, he did remember that we needed birdseed........the finches and sparrows....who were hungry ..... Thank Him!!!

Burrowing In

Hey!!!.........the weather dude just said .... Two days of rain....sleet....snow and temps in the mid-twentys...........!!!

I'm burrowing in.....maybe i'll have Mom call the groundhog in PA!!........

Warning.......Cold Dog!!!

Max........."break out the pee-pee pads.....

No way am i going out there again..........

it was below zero when daddy made us go out at 5:30am.......

I'm a spoiled, pampered chi-wiener....a one of a kind neighborhood terrier.......

i deserve better..................i'm not coming out until the temp is at least 32*.......

what's gonn'a happen if i lick the metal fence post or freeze with my leg up......

Wake me when it warms up.....until then.......

NoWay ..........Jose........

Nada!!!

Nope!!!!

You can make me.....!!!!!!!"

View From the Back Porch

I've done many...many blogs about "The View From The Front Porch"

Well......this is the view from the back........The new home (should be moving in soon) of my parental units.....We call it the Red Roof Lodge! It's hugh.......where was this when i was a kid?...............anyway.........................

When we were in the planning stage of moving to NC...we laughed and joked about creating a "family compound!"

Little did i know...........................!!!

City Boy and I came first......then this pass January - here come Mom and Dad.......then in April, up came the male child and hopefully some time this year...my brother will make the big move...that just leaves the female child and her family in Atlanta.....hey!! it's within a days driving distance....

OMG....i'm soooo glad we bought 12 acres....seems like we've got a compound underway.......

Why Not!?

Yesterday....around 5 AM as City Boy was getting ready for a trip to the VA Hospital in TN.....he very rudely awoke me ....... by pointing at my chicken and asking "Why?"

Why does the chicken have on the knitted cap?....................my answer...."Why Not!"

He went to TN and i went back for another 3 hours sleep..............

Too Bright?!

This is the view from the ridge above our house.....i tryed and tryed to get a clear picture...then realized the sun was "Too Bright"

When we first moved to the mountains i thought to myself that the sun, stars, moon, planets and even the sky was brighter........but, being from the "Sunshine" state, i kept telling myself it was just my imagination......

Then shortly after the male child moved to the mountains......at dusk one night....we were setting up the telescope , hoping to get a good look at a passing satellite.....i causally said to the kid....."does everything seem brighter up here?"

He looked at me with one of those cross-eyed, "Duh!"looks and said..........."Well of course they're brighter.....we're closer to'm!"

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh......the wisdom of youth!!!!!

Going to Town.......

Over the river and thru the woods to the big town of Boone we go.......

It literally is over the river....the New River......and thru the woods......hundreds of acres of Christmas tree farms.....that brings you to the 4-lane, super wide median -highway that takes us to the college/ski resort town of Boone.......We try to avoid this trip, if possible!!

We have become spoiled.......traffic is a non-issue up here in our little mountain hamlet and to experience the traffic of a "city" again is guaranteed to bring on a case of the nerve induced HIVES........I find it hard to believe that City Boy commuted to Miami on a daily basis and i fought the eight lane traffic blues coming and going.....plus, we both had a travel expense accounts!!!

However.......i was out of quilt batting and with three days of snow forecast....off to Boone we went...........Quilt shop was friendly......Big Lots was right next door.......Mall was deserted.......Lowes hardware had ...maybe twenty people in it...... Staples was just down the street...... and the food store had some great deals...................Now....if i can just stop scratching these Hives........i could call it a Good Day!!

Use'ta

Yesterday......as i was pulling myself out of "yuckville"...i noticed the male child giving me strange looks........i finally asked "what's up" and his reply was........"your not like you use'ta be....."

What!!!!.....i'm still me ......and then i looked in the mirror..........................Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

There i stood....... in a flowered (red and blue) t-shirt, legging jeans(a size too big), brown socks with black dogs on'm, green plaid flannel shirt(a size too small) and fleece lined clogs.....and the hair....let's not even go there!........This is not what i use'ta be........

I use'ta dress for success even at home......had a closet full of professional slacks, skirts, blouses, dresses and shoes.....................now i wear JEANS and t-shirts......long sleeve, short sleeves, no sleeves......and fleece is my friend!! Birkenstocks are wonderful..............

I use'ta wear make-up even going to the grocery store.......foundation, mascara and lip gloss were a MUST!!......................Now it's soap and water, with a little chap stick.........................

Use'ta be my hair was colored and cut at least once a month....sometimes more......always moused or gelled and sprayed with hurricane strength hair spray....it never moved.....now ....it's blow and go and a bottle of spray last about six months....

I use'ta have Boston Market and Meals to Go on speed dial........now it's fresh and healthy food.... sauteed, bake or grilled in olive oil, i grow my own tomatoes........now i make applesauce and pickles from scratch..

I used handled a multi-million dollar budget on a daily basis....i could tell you the balances on a ledger sheets in the blink of an eye........now i "might" balance the checkbook and i "might"not......

I use'ta rush around like the "chicken...you know the rest"...and live my life with a "Day-Timer" on my person at all times.....i rushed from meetings, to workships, to my office........i never seemed to have time for the things i wanted to do........now.....sometimes i have to think about what day it is.........

But........i realize this is the new "mountain" me................i like the new me..............i like working for the state parks, with nature all around me everyday....it's quite.......I like cooking and making good stuff for my family.......i like having the time to quilt.......i even like bad hair days and "Yuckville"..........

So ...... i hung my Valentines quilt ...then sat in all my mismatched glory and watched football....

Get use'ta it kid..........................

Yuck!!!

Yuck.....Yuck....and double Yuck!!!

It's cold with icy rain.....again!!! Possible snow flurries tonight and tomorrow....yuck!

Panthers and Cardinals.....yuck!

Tennessee and Baltimore.......yuck!

Max and i are having bad hair days.....yuck!

It's Sunday.....i love Sundays ....it's the Lord's Day....but. i've got to do some laundry...yuck!

Maybe, I'll just go back to bed and start over........ever have one of these kind'a days?

Finished

It's done!........It's done!.....it's done!!!!

Started this quilt in August for my BFF....don't have any excuses as to why it took me so long to finish.......all i can say is "life closed in!"

Her bedroom colors are blue and white......i threw in the yellows 'cause i'm a person that likes lotssssssss of color.......of of course i had to show the backside.....sometimes it's as great as the front!......................there's that chick on the TV again! Who is she!!?????

Already got the next quilt underway.....seems i forgot to make one for my Mom(yikes!).....so a housewarming present is in the works...........................

Anyway it will be on it's way to Wisconsin soon..........enjoy Donna!!!

Check out my girl child and her adventures in quilting at "Standridgestation.blogspot.com.......seems to be a chip of the old block!?

PS...love this quilt as you go method!!!!

Much Better

Today's view from the front porch is MMMMUUUCCCHHH better than yesterday!!!However....the temp is only 21* out there with an expected high of around 39*
Beats FL's 80's....plus, with the asthma it's so much easier to breathe...another entry ...another day!

When you look at something this beautiful everyday ........how can you not believed in God.....then add in the locals who live by the "God, Family, Country" rule....... it's almost Heaven!!!

Have a good day......... I'm gonna finish the quilt for my BFF...almost done!!!

Good Morning!!!

Well.......this is the view from the front porch this morning.......started last night about 6:30......yikes!......just what i needed .....the male child was at his first night classes at the local community college......6 miles of mountain roads between him and home, plus he's a Fl boy and has never driven in the snow.......but, his prof let them out early and he made it home before the snow started to really come down.......

Should stop sometime late this afternoon and then we're safe until nest Tuesday......

I know this is nothing compared to the Pacific Northwest or the Great Lakes Region....but, it's enough for me to decide today is a great day to put a chicken in the crockpot and then work on my quilts.


Be safe out there...Mother Nature seems to be in a bad mood............................

Help!!

We're looking or writing for your help!!

My BFF since elementary school is 3 months post-op Gastric By-Pass surgery....she is doing great and is enjoying her new life and body.......here's the catch.....she can no longer drive due to other physical ailments............we won't go there.........OK:}

Soooooo........She looking for other post-op GBP people to compare notes and form a blog or e-mail support group...............if you are one or know of anyone....her blog site is not up and running yet....so please drop me a comment and i will forward them on to her........

My hubby is 3.5 years post-op and he had a super support group in FL that he could attend meetings with....support groups make a HUGH difference.....!!

Thanks to all of you out there in "Bloggerland"..........................LindaMay, brboomer


PS....that's Mia watching for your comments!!! Such a good watch dog....................

They're OK

Well....the "sun dried" tomato adventure is over.......they're OK and usable....but, to quote the male child......."they're not like those in the package." Thanks kid!!

Did some more checking on those web-sites and suggestions sent my way........and discovered where I went wrong (cut'm to thin).......so maybe the next batch will be more like the package variety!!

Max doing his "a tomato drying in the sun" act..........looks like he's starting to shrink....what'a think?

Newest Idea

Just a bit of history ....... since City Boy's GBP surgery......it has been 3.5 years of trail and error on what his tiny little new stomach could hold and would keep down.....exciting times!! Any way the newest item on the menu is this Greek/Italian salad made with the ingredients in the picture.Well....being me .....the brain took over after deciding that $6.99 a lb. at the deli was way tooooo much......"we can make this" the brain said........the roasted peppers i can do......the banana peppers i can do.....it's the sun dried tomatoes that threw me.......
Thos' started the big debate......are sun dried tomatoes, really sun dried?!

After reading the package from top-to- bottom....there was not a clue......these suckers are $3.99 for 4 oz. ....i gott'a know!!

OK....i've got a dehydrator hiding in the pantry ?.......worth a shot!......Male Child suggested ..."just put'm out on the front porch in the sun for a few days".......Ugh!.....There are birds here in the mountains bigger than my cat!....but, he insisted that the tomaotes are "SUN DRIED!"

Sooooo....we compromised....i put the dehydrator on the front porch in the sun.......

OK....let's see if i can use this on Frugal Friday......'

Dehydrator...................................$49.99

Sealing bags.......................................8.00

Tomaotes(from bargain bin)...........2.00

Total $60.00

So far about ........$15.00 a bag.......nope!...... don't think this will make Frugal Friday!!!!

Thanks BFF!!!

Good Luck, Mr. Gorsky..... On July 20, 1969, as commander of the Apollo 11 lunar module, Neil Armstrong was the first person to set foot on the moon. His first words after stepping on the moon,"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," were televised to earth and heard by millions. But just before he reentered the lander, he made the enigmatic remark "Good luck, Mr. Gorsky."Many people at NASA though it was a casual remark concerning some rival soviet cosmonaut however, upon checking, there was no Gorsky in either the Russian or American space programs. Over the years many people questioned Armstrong as to what the "Good luck, Mr. Gorsky" statement meant, but Armstrong always just smiled. On July 5, 1995, in Tampa Bay, Florida, while answering questions following a speech, a reporter brought up the 26-year-old question to Armstrong. This time he finally responded.Mr. Gorsky had died, so Neil Armstrong felt he could answer the question. In 1938 when he was a kid in a small midwest town, he was playing baseball with a friend in the backyard. His friend hit the ball, which landed in his neighbor's yard by the bedroom windows. His neighbors were Mr. and Mrs. Gorsky. As he leaned down to pick up the ball, young Armstrong heard Mrs. Gorsky shouting at Mr. Gorsky."Sex! You want sex?! You'll get sex when the kid next door walks on the moon!"

Today is a gray, dismal, rainy day up here in the mountains....it's 11am and i'm still in the PJ's.....ventured down to the basement ...to the office, where the "main" computer is housed and decided to check the e-mails........found the above story, from my BFF since elementary school........thanks Donna it brought a smile and giggle to a whoa-with-me kind'a day!!

Every Year!!??

Every year i systematically search the house for any left-over Christmas decorations that i miss in the "big Clean-Up!!".......this year i thought i was save in packing and sealing the boxes and rubber tubs.........Then this morning as i stumbled into the bathroom ....still sleepy ...with a horrible case of "bed head"....there he was.........Ohhhhhh, Sorry Santa!

First for putting you in the master bathroom...on the potty tank......and Second for overlooking you!!!

How 'bout if i just let you stay until next Christmas.?......you look like you are enjoying yourself! Besides in this male and animal dominated household no one ..but me...will notice!!

Contract Renewal

It's been a long standing jokes in our household that once a year the City Boys contract with me and the family is up for renewal........you see......the life insurance premium for City Boy is due on Jan. 1 of each year.....well....once again I've had to considered the options.......

Well....he does like to work at the food store and he does bring home all those "bargins?" that no one else wants.....but, keeps us in fresh produce and ground chicken.......

He does do the yard work......and when you live on 6 acreas......that can be a hand full......and even in the snow he goes out to feed the deer.........

He's becoming very helpful in the kitchen......and since the gastric-by-pass ...he's become an authority on nutrition....he can tell you alllllllll you will ever need to know about protiens, carbs or sugars.......and this year he's coached several GBP patients via phone and e-mail

Plus......the cat likes him!!!!

You guessed it.....once again this year............. I paid the bill............................... :)