baa baa black sheep

Such a wonderful family...my son's little family is!

   I had a moment Saturday as son and I along with the gran-girlie's in their car seats were headed out their driveway. The son is fooling with his MP3 player trying to get it to play - of course I'm anticipating some loud type of rock music when instead the children's song "Baa Baa Black Sheep" starts playing and all three of them begin singing along. He says "Yup, this is what we listen to every morning on our way to daycare."
   Well, this ol'grandma got to choked up to tell son that not that long ago I had a wonderful little boy in the backseat of our 1974 Nova singing children's songs as we headed down the highway of life.
   It seems that all I did was turn around once to see him driving his little girl's down the same highway...b
  

queen of goodies

Daughter knit and pearl sent me a goodie box back with Mr. b and these two knit dishrags were included. Such tropical colors, she must have been thinking Florida?

We love the knitted rags, making them and using them.

It's fun exchanging them with her.

There was lots more in my box, Turtle Mountain News, 2 large pieces of flannel, a beaded bracelet made by her, water bottles, a beach scene note pad...I am so spoiled don't you think?

And not to forget the garden goodies - green beans, zucchini and June berries! yum...b

Elmo go night night

Even Elmo and bears need naps and pacifiers.

The gran-girlie's love their Elmo dolls and pacifiers.

 And it's so fun to see them playing dolly.

Grandma's hoping it will soon be time to sew dolly clothes.

What a fun weekend we had together, always do...b

TGIF

   What a long week it has been for me without my Mr. It certainly gave my a lot of time to sympathize with all those that have lost a mate.
   Mr. B and I will be married for 38 years next month. We were both 19 when we said those "I do's". What are the chances of two 19-year-olds staying married for 38 years these days?
   We had a few financially tough years but they were definitely learning years.
   Never take anything for granted, it can be gone tomorrow.
   Life has been good to us and we have much to be thankful for. Count your blessings everyday.
   Have a great weekend with someone you love...b

mellow yellow

   Thinking mellow yellow today. Also thinking the weekend can't come fast enough. Mr. B returns home and I'll be spending a couple of days with the gran-girlies at their house.

   They look good in yellow don't you think? Aunt Tara embroidered their shirts, they are adorable on them.

   They should have lots to tell Grandma as tonight they are going to Sesame Street Live and they love Elmo.     


                               

    I'll be thinking about them all evening and smiling because I know they're having a great time.

  
Yellow is my favorite color today...    b

It's a beautiful day...

Wednesday observations... 
It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood. I can feel myself coming out of my summertime slump.
   Night time temperatures are cool enough to open the windows and finally smell the outdoors. Even the neighbors barking dog can't spoil my joy.
   Things are beginning to dry up - grass, my petunias, leaves. I can't wait to see leaves blowing down the street signaling a change in seasons.
   Kids are back in school. I can hear their happiness at recess time.
   Mr. B is still in North Dakota and I am so ready to have him back home...  b
  

Tune in to my insanity

Take a peek at my sewing room table...

(gosh, shouldn't be showing you this before I have tidied up a bit)

It's a great counter/table. When I closed up my little variety store I sold most everything but kept the check-out counter. It's the perfect cutting height with drawers and shelves to hold lots of my 'stuff' besides all the good memories it holds.

But look at the "save my sanity" project I started only to lose my sanity again in the process. Putting nine pieces together to make a star in a 3 by 5 inch square is not easy when the instructions are very vague. I made three stars and was not pleased with any of them. Finally I settled on the second star and made myself move on. This little "Americana" wall hanging has lots of fun squares to make yet. Stay tuned....b

centerpiece

WARNING: For those of you that don't like cats, EXIT NOW!

Table centerpieces aren't my thing and usually consist of an accumulation of my stuff, nope can't even blame the mister here. But yesterday for some reason the table was cleared off, the lighting was pretty and so was the quilted table runner so decided to snap a shot...

But wait...do you see what I see wanting in the picture?

For some reason Pearl thinks our dining room table is her napping spot? Don't worry, I wipe the table down good before company comes and if I see the cat up there, for company sake, I act shocked and tell poor Pearl she knows better than to be up on things!

Even cats need to take time to smell the flowers... b

fences

Mr. B is spending the week in North Dakota helping the daughter and her finance officer put up a fence. Then she calls and tells me to look at her new photos on facebook...I don't know, should I be worried?

That's quite the fence guys! Who's supervised that job?

 I'm on my way...  b

homemade

Ahh, Saturday morning means carbs for me

 and this is what I thought about all week...

A quick loaf of bread made in the bread machine

from my favorite recipe

 using honey from my sister's farm and oatmeal, mmm.

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Yup, cut off the bottom crust and eat warm with wild plum jelly

 from my brother and his wife. Thanks for sharing!  b

dog days

Summer's dog days are only good

 because autumn is not far behind...

Princess Leia thinks everyday is a dog day!

Had to dig out this cute 'dawgie' flannel to acknowledge the season. I'm glad it's Friday but not appreciating the weatherman's 100 degree forecast for the next couple of days. Keep cool...b

baby business...

"Only nine months left to go," I told Mr. B this morning. And did I ever get a look and then a chuckle. I was referring to the daughter's and her finance officer's wedding and being able to put a little extra money aside for it.

Isn't this baby gift just so sweet? More of Grandma Jessie's chenille bedspread. It took most of the day yesterday to complete the toy and bibs but it's always a labor of love when I'm working on baby things.   b

What a Croc!

I read the rags to riches story of 'crocs' on msn this morning and it got me to thinking how much we love ours.

There's also a few knock-offs in our collection. But these are definitely our go-to shoes when we run outdoors, there's always a pair sitting by the back door for a quick run.

My daughter picked these up for me in Disney World. Recognize the mouse cut-outs? I claimed these crocs to wear inside as in slippers. No one gets by "Atila" the hun with their shoes on in our house and that includes me. But after years of stomping around with no shoes on, my feet are paying the price. And these are so comfortable and easy to clean, just run them under the faucet and wipe off! Just one of the things I'm lovin' today... b

nature's bounty

Look what the daughter and her finance officer

shared with us this weekend?

Some home grown North Dakota produce! (Dang I used up the onions before I could shoot my picture.) Are you thinking what I'm thinking about that zucchini? Homemade zucchini bread using mother's recipe with its secret ingredient? Sorry can't tell - an artist never shares their methods do they? And my mother was an artist in the kitchen. When you were at her table you got fed! While us girls were learning the trade from her there were no fancy gadgets in her kitchen to make cooking faster and easier, nope, not even a microwave. Although since then she has turned into "Queen Gadget" - you name it, she has bought and tried it out. She'll deny this of course...but come to think of it she won't be reading my accusation as she doesn't have Internet access or read blogs and why would she? They're not cooking gadgets!   b

Peachy Keen

Peaches are one of the things that make August perfect!

I bought a crate of fresh peaches this weekend to share with knit and pearl daughter. These won't last long enough to go into pies or jelly, so another crate will be called for. Just cut them up and enjoy. Mr. B loves his with sugar and cream over the top. When I do decide to make pies I will be using mother's peach cream recipe, heavenly describes it. Ain't life grand? b

Board Meeting

Today's board meeting was led by these two...

The subject of the meeting was:
How to have more control over your own life...
Avoiding naps 
Potty Training 101

And after doing visual inspection

of the premises the two ceo's ordered higher chairs and lower desks, juicy juice and smarties in the break room and replacing space in the garage with a swing set and sand pile...  b

ice scream

Oh ya, what could be better than an ice cream cone on a hot summer night?  Remembering all those years ago when we stayed at our grandparents and they always took us for an ice cream in the evening. Good memories!  b

hot

Really, all I can think about is this heat! So it only seemed appropriate to get out a new project and work on these hot pads.

And what's hotter than chili peppers on a hot pad?

Or how about Tabasco sauce and Mexican food?

If it seems like I'm obsessed, you're right!

Summers are just not meant for a person born in Alaska.

Is this picture a little wuzzy or is hust the jeat?    b

silliness

This heat must be making me silly because this is what I'm showing you today...

I'm not much of a yard statue person but for some reason I like garden gnomes?

This little gnome lives in the backyard at our gran-girlie's house. Saturday our son decided to dig up flower beds and put in perennial bushes and plants. When he gets a project in his head there is no stopping him! And the finished beds look great. Oh, back to the gnome. For some reason or another we bought them this little gnome and presented it to them at their wedding rehearsal supper  that we hosted. Maybe I thought it would bring them good luck? It did for us because we got twin granddaughters a year later.

Hmmm, maybe we'll buy another one for our daughter's wedding next April...    b

Open the barn door

I found a few extra minutes this weekend to run into a fabric store to check out fabrics for our upcoming 2011 wedding. I was thrilled to find 6 different pieces for the fun project the bride/daughter cooked up for us. More on that much later...

When I spotted this cute farm animal print I just had to sneak in a yard of it for a pillowcase. Now I wish I would have bought more of it, don't all little tots like farm animals? But to late, I have this reserved for a special little city girl that loves her grandma and grandpa's farm in South Dakota...b

Just too hot to handle

My gosh it was hot and humid this weekend. Any day now I expect to see moss hanging from our trees here in South Dakota.

I rarely noticed the heat as us three girls kept plenty busy. With the swimming pool filled and the hose nearby we stayed wet and cooled off.

They discovered  grandma doesn't mind being wet and took great pleasure in keeping me that way

These girls aren't afraid of the water and I'm sure, like their dad, they will be jumping off the diving board way before they are old enough to...b

Let's just pretend...

Let's pretend I just took a big trip...

and that this was the Pacific Ocean...

                                       And this was the Golden Gate Bridge...

And this was Pier 39 where we just a had a delicious seafood meal...and I bought this pretty seashell!  

Guess we're lucky we live as close as we do to the Missouri River to enjoy the water, but it's time for an ocean visit...b

Party Time

I don't usually go to party's...

         Never liked party's!

 Always too many hens at parties, blab blab blab

                 Is it come as you are?

Maybe even wear my pj's?               

                           

      

      A party of one you say?

Without leaving the comfort of my own home...

No hair? No Makeup!

Yes, I'll be here!

And thanks for the invitation...b

In the corners...

What's hanging out in your kitchen corners?

Come on over! I'll whip us up a quick batch of brownies to be topped with ice cream and caramel. Why waste time making them from scratch when box mixes taste so good.

I love using the old bowls and pans from Grandma Jessie...  b

Mr. Lincoln

Sharing today...

  A Mr. Lincoln hybrid tea rose that I cut early this morning, my favorite! Can you smell it? It's the most fragrant of the red hybrid tea roses.

   And I couldn't help pairing it with my favorite book, "A Lantern In Her Hand" by Bess Streeter Aldrich. If you haven't read it, please do. Written in 1956, it's a wonderful read. You'll want your own copy to read again and again.

   A friend gave me the other book, "The Magnificent Barb" after she found it on the give-away pile at our local library, well you know why...

   And the beautiful quilted table runner is from my Mother, she was raffling off some of her pieces at the family picnic Sunday and I was so lucky to win this. I love it.   b