Tea Time With Melody

Company Policy

2010-06-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder about how Company Policies got started? Let me give you some insight:

Start with a cage containing five apes.

In the cage, hang a banana on a string and put stairs under it. Before long, an ape will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all of the apes with cold water. After a while, another ape makes an attempt with the same result - all the apes are sprayed with cold water. This continues through several more attempts.

Pretty soon, when another apes tries to climb the stairs, the other apes all try to prevent it. Now, turn off the cold water. Remove one ape from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new ape sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs. To his horror, all of the other apes attack him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted.

Next, remover another of the original five apes and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm. Again, replace a third original ape with a new one. The new one makes it to the stairs and is attacked as well. Two of the four apes that beat him have no idea why they they were not permitted to climb the stairs, or why they are participating in the beating of the newest ape.

After replacing the fourth and fifth original apes, all the apes, which have been sprayed with cold water, have been replaced. Nevertheless, no ape ever again approaches the stairs. Why not? Because that's the way they've always done it and that's the way it's always been around here.

And that's how company policy begins.......

Job Search Key Phrases

2010-06-14T20:32:00.000-07:00

A lot of people today are out of jobs or looking to change careers so let me help you with some key phrases to look out for. I came upon these in a pamphlet today and the humor is that most of them are probably true!!
COMPETITIVE SALARY: We remain competitive by paying less than our competition.

JOIN OUR FAST-PACED COMPANY: We have no time to train you.

CASUAL WORK ATMOSPHERE: We don't pay enough to expect that you'll dress up.

MUST BE DEADLINE-ORIENTED: You'll be six months behind schedule on your first day.

SOME OVERTIME REQUIRED: Some time each night and some time each weekend.

DUTIES WILL VARY: Anyone in the office can boss you around.

MUST HAVE AN EYE FOR DETAIL: We have no quality control.

CAREER-MINDED: Female applicants must be childless ( and remain that way).

APPLY IN PERSON: If you're old, fat or ugly you'll be told the position has been filled.

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE: We've filled the job; our call for resumes is just a legal formality.

SEEKING CANDIDATES WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF EXPERIENCE: You'll need it to replace three people who just left.

and last........

PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS A MUST: You're walking into a company in perpetual chaos.

Here she is, the face of perfection!

2010-05-20T21:27:00.000-07:00

Although it might look like she has red hair here, she really has light blond. It is the most kissable face ever! At 9 months she is developing such a personality. She is still a pretty serious little thing, takes a lot to make her laugh.

She had the opportunity to spend the afternoon with me at work yesterday due to cancellation of babysitter. I work with ALL MEN and she had them all trying to get her to smile but she only gave a couple out lol. Everything was going smoothly until I noticed that her daddy forgot her formula, thought I was going to hyperventilate, two bottles of water and no formula, fortunately I found a couple of jars of solid food in there. Nothing like talking to NASA on the phone with one hand and spoon feeding her chicken vegetable with the other hand, multi-talented I am. She played very quietly in her high chair behind my desk. I would alternate holding her and sitting her in the highchair. I quickly found that you can't have a desk full of papers and be holding her at the same time cause she just took that left hand and did a full sweep and in the blink of an eye my papers went flying! Now why would I think that things on my desk would be any interest to her??

In the end it was a great afternoon that I will always remember. She was quiet, and funny and you would have never known she was there she was so good. What was the bestest part you ask? Well you didn't but I'll tell you anyway, I got to use the carpool lane on the way home!!!!!!! Two or more people and she is considered a "people" hahaha

True Test Answers!

2010-05-08T07:27:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd share some funnny test answers I came across while surfing the internet. Some had me laughing till my gut hurt, some I could swear were written by people I know. haha

Q: Name four seasons.
A: Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar.

Q: What happens to boys when they reach puberty?
A: He says good-bye to his boyhood and looks forward to his adultrey.

Q: Name a major disease associated with ciggaretts
A: Premature death.

Q: How can you delay milk turning sour?
A: Keep it in the cow

Q: What does "benign" mean?
A: Benign is what you be after you be eight.

Q: What does a Hindu
A: It lays eggs

Hard to believe isn't?? Hope you enjoyed a quick laugh.

Jackie and Audrina

2010-05-01T07:24:00.000-07:00

My daughger Jackie recently forwarded these pictures to me and I was caught at how they both seemed to be comtemplating something, deep in thought but very content to be holding each other. Aunt and Niece what were they thinking I wonder....... Actually, I am thinking I can't take my eyes off of these pictures, I think they are worthy of a photographic Nobel Prize! Now that I think about it, I took these pictures with Jackies iPhone haha

I guess the thinking got to be tiring for Audrina as she is fast asleep.

Fresh start in 2010

2010-04-25T08:01:00.000-07:00

Well, my friends I know it has been many months since I last blogged. Alot has happened in our lives that have kept me from having the time to blogg. First, my daughter and her husband have parted ways earlier this year. This was was very tough for everyone involved and as the wedding was basically my last big post it was kinda hard to get back into it cause quite frankly I didn't know what to post about. Sometimes you just need a break for a while to get motivated again. Plus, my brother getting on my case about not blogging (yes he reads my blogs) and how if Janeen can find the time to blog in her busy life so can I lol. Second, I began watching my beautiful eight month old granddaughter Audrina. YES, I said 8 months old, it has been THAT long, can you believe it? Anyway, I watch her on Friday nights and Saturday day, my bonding time and that in itself took me away from my free blogging time.

So today's post is dedicated to my brother Don so he will get off my case on blogging, lolol.

Don and I took Audrina and his son Bradley to Ocean Beach in San Francisco last Saturday. The weather was beautiful for a while but then it took a quick turn to the cold and windy side. Although I live only about 45 minutes from San Francisco, I rarely go as I hate driving the streets of it. As it was it took us FOREVER to get to the beach cause of the bumper to bumper traffic on a late Saturday afternoon which is unheard of!

I don't know what she was looking at but she is a very serious child. Takes a lot to make her laugh or smile. It's like she is just taking everything in that tiny brain and analysing it to see whether it is worth laughing at or not. Isn't this a cute hat, got it at the 99 cent store!

I bought her this tiny, I mean tiny bucket at the store the day before it was too cute and just her size.

She really loved the sand. This was the only smile caught on camera. I think she liked picking it up and watching it fall out of her hands and then she realized she could throw it, ya, that was fun.

Oh boy can she crawl in the sand. It was like she just glided over it like it was ICE. Very nerve wracking really.

She saw some pelicans and she was OFF to catch one. Oh how she loved to watch the waves too.

Her she is sitting with her Great Uncle Don when we first got there. So serious she is.....

Thank you for stopping by, I have a few more posts to do so stay tuned.

I got an award!

2009-11-28T20:33:00.000-08:00

My friend RoyalT Lady was kind enough to give me this "Gorgeous Blogger Award"! She has an awesome blog so please stop by and say hi. It took me a few days to get over and get it but I am glad I did. I am supposed to tell you six things about myself that you don't know and then ask six other lovely ladies to join me but since I have been out of the blogging world for a bit I will just leave this open to anyone who would like to join in the fun.

1. I will be married for 25 years next Tuesday, December 1st!

2. I am a grandmother at the age of 46 and I am really getting into the role and I just love it. I wasn't sure how I would feel about it at first but when she looks at me and smiles my heart just melts.

3. My husband and I commute to work together, each lunch together everyday. We enjoy each others company and now that the kids are gone we are rediscovering each other and enjoying being grandparents.

4. My favorite food is Italian, I'll do anything for a glass of wine and some garlic bread lol

5. I love to go motorcycle riding up in Gods country which to me is the mountains and country roads.

6. Last but not least....I love a good romance novel.

The baby girls...and other news

2009-09-20T07:23:00.000-07:00

A while back I told you about my husband bringing home a wiener dog named Harley. Well, Harley is still here and she has taken a fancy to Audrina. We found out that this dog is a cross between a Chihauhau and a wiener dog. The REAL official name of the breed is.......drum roll please.......Chaweinie! Yes, you heard me right.

Well when Audrina is in her favorite napping position, Harley decides it's time to nap too!

I have been doing alot of babysitting so to speak and I just love it. As a matter of fact Audrina is in my arms right now as I type this post! I have had a lot of relearning to do. Such as how to prepare formula, change a diaper, OMGosh the cost of these two items can send young parents into bankruptcy no doubt. Yesterday at Target I bought one can of 28oz powder formula and one box of 192 size 1 diapers to keep at my house and with out the $5 coupon I had it would have cost $55. Outrageous I tell you. Back then we used to tell our kids it was very expensive to raise kids, well NOW IT IS NO JOKE!

OH, OH, OH, BIG NEWS, Audrina spend the night last night and I fed her at 9pm and she slept until 7am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, that is right, she slept through the night and I got it first!!!! (I also got the poopiest diaper ever as a reward) hahahahaha. She is only about a month and a half too.

THE WEDDING is officially 4 weeks away and we have a few things to do: Buy the candy for the favors, stuff the favors, buy the toasting champagne and when we are all done....drink a glass of wine. We will do that next weekend. This weekend Jackie and the girls are in San Francisco doing the Bachelorette thing. I am getting excited. Yesterday, Jackie went to get her hair and makeup done for a trial before the wedding and she hated it. What a shame..Hope fully she can find someone who will be able to give her the look she wants although she does a pretty good job herself I might add. She is great with her own hair and makeup but I understand.

Well, I am off to finish my coffee before the rest of the world wakes up. Have a beautiful Sunday. :)

Glimpses of my busy life

2009-08-21T21:23:00.000-07:00

Hello friends. I have been quite busy these days and I would like to ask forgiveness from all that I am behind on visiting your interesting posts. I plan to get to that this weekend. I thought I would put together a small collage of sorts of the happenings of my life these days.

First, meet Harley, the wiener dog puppy. First let me mention that we already have a dog, Buster and a cat, Tigger. This is very important to the story. So, I am with our daughter Jackie last Saturday up in Elk Grove and she decides to check her emails on her iPhone. What does she get from Dad?? A "Meet Harley" photo. Now, I don't know how to make a long story short on this one so bare with me. My husband works on Saturday mornings at a small scale Mexican flea market as an Armed Patrol Guard. EVERY stinking Saturday he manages to bring something home. I told him he was not allowed to work this detail any more. He didn't listen. Anyway, I told her to reply "Harley better be visiting". Now, the reason I say this is because just the DAY BEFORE we had this long conversation about NOT bringing any more animals into the house. We would NOT replace our animals after they died etc...we are tired of dog and cat hair etc. Our animals are self sufficient, and can take care of themselves. Life is good right? WRONG. He tells our daughter that it is a gift for me and if I don't want it our son Nick will take it. So, what did I do? I got pissed, really, really pissed. I called Nick and told him he could have the dog as we don't need another animal. Life was good again.....

Until Sunday...., hubby and I go to visit the baby and since Nick was "dog" sitting too, Harley. Nick lives with Alicia and her mother. First thing her mother said to me was, "you ARE taking the dog back home with you right?" Sure thing I told her, arrrrrrrrgh. Not a problem, totally understand your not wanting TWO dogs. All this with a big bright smile on my face.

So I told Gerry that this would be a trial and that it was HIS dog and HE had to do EVERYTHING since he did not discuss this with me first. People don't bring animals into the home without talking about it first. I had explicitly said the day before that I did not want another animal . So for the week he has been cleaning up, feeding, you name it he does it and I only play with her. Forgive me if it sounds mean but puppies are like babies and they need lots of attention and care and he just thinks she is so cute. Well cute grows up and gets bigger! Like the chickens, ducks, mice and other things he has brought home for the kids because they were so small and cute. Jury is still out as to if we keep her or not.

This is baby Audrina, 1.5 weeks old, isn't she beautiful? She is wearing Jackie's favorite colors and sleeping on a quilt that Auntie Jackie made!

Nick and I having a "moment"

Nick giving Audrina her first bottle. Hal mark moment.

Jackie and her fiance Brian captured in a relaxing moment. The wedding is two months away! And, Jackie got word today she is going to Guam in September for a week for her job. What a lucky dog she is.

Nick, Alicia and their daughter Audrina. First family photo.

Thank you for stopping by and sharing in my busy life. :)

A New Baby is Born!

2009-08-05T19:51:00.000-07:00

Today at 7:30am we welcomed our new granddaughter Audrina Faith into the world. She was due this Saturday but she couldn't wait that long she wanted to join the family early. She weighed 6lb 13oz, 19 in long and has brown hair. Her mother Alicia was such a trooper. We made two trips to the hospital yesterday, 7am and 4pm dilated to 2cm before we came back at 10pm for good. Some of you may not know this but we have a pizza parlor in Antioch called Skipolinis Pizza. They have a "Prego" pizza and if you eat this pizza you may go into labor within 24 hours. It is very famous for this and even the nurses and doctors say to stop by there for dinner, lol. Well, we all went there yesterday at 6pm and she had 2-3 pieces and was admitted at 10pm and by 1am she was 5cm. This girl pushed this baby out in 20 minutes flat! and the rest is history.

I am soooooooooo tired. I am not used to being up for more than 24 hours so now I am going to sleep.

Please look at our beautiful granddaughter just moments old, they are not in any particular order.

Nicks room

2009-07-26T09:37:00.000-07:00

Hello ladies, well my youngest son moved out on Tuesday......He is now with Alicia awaiting the birth of their daughter due August 8th but I swear it can be any day. She went to the doctor on Wed of last week and he said she was 75% thinned and baby was about 6.5 to 7 pounds already. She is so tiny I hope that baby doesn't gain any more weight!

Anyway, hubby and I went to Kmart to get some dog and cat food and I just HAPPENED to go past the housewares section and what did I see??? Bed-in-a bag! Imagine that.. What a nifty idea. It comes with sheets, 2 pillow cases, 2 pillow shams, comforter and a bed skirt. What a deal! We picked one out and then I also picked out a mattress protector and two inexpensive wooden utility carts on wheels that can be used also as night stands. I was getting so excited that I just wanted to buy everything but that is bad shopping. I don't know what got over me!

So anyway, we pull up to the house and nobody is there. I am thinking great.... he didn't move out (he had been dragging his feet for a week already) or my house is going to be a mess because you should have seen his room. He would have had to drag half the stuff out into the hall and family room to even see what he had. You couldn't even see the floor and the whole room hadn't been painted but maybe once in the 20 years he and his brother shared it. Really, I was dreading coming in the door. But when we came in I saw three garbage bags full of garbage lined up in the front room, most of the items he had had out there were gone also. We ventured down the hall and opened the door and what did we find?? NOTHING, I mean absolutely NOTHING! We were dumb struck. He had stripped the room bare and he even vacuumed the carpet! First thing out of my mouth was, HE TOOK THE FRICKING BED??? First thing going through my mind was, I JUST BOUGHT A BED IN A BAG AND HE TOOK THE FRICKING BED!!! Gone was the bed, dresser, computer stand and TV and lamp stand. Since Alicia has a fully furnished room for two I couldn't imagine where he was going to put all this stuff. Then I got pissed off because that was MY TV, I bought and just let him borrow. I frantically ran to the patio and low and behold what do I see???? The bed and frame is propped up against the deck and the dresser is out on the cement patio. Upon further inspection, I found the computer stand and TV in the closet. Whew! I couldn't believe it. I poured myself a glass of wine.

After one ok maybe two glasses of wine, I called him and told him I was impressed with the way he cleared out the room and he said he knew I wanted to paint and shampoo the carpet so he thought he would help me out. I am thinking what alien took over my son as the OLD son would have left the garbage etc.. for us to clean out. lol

He asked me what I was going to do with the room and I told him I was going to make it a spare bedroom. He asked why, no one is going to sleep in it anymore. I said, sure they will, Jackie comes down once in a while etc...PLUS, in the back of my mind I have to think of his relationship not working out and him possibly coming back for a spell so I am not going to do anything major in the redecorating dept. just yet. But I am not going to tell him that.

I am going to put up some of the baby things in the room too so that when they come to visit things will already be set.

I have already painted the room as of last night and this morning so next weekend I will be shampooing the carpet. When I get the room all fixed up I will show you some before and after pics.

On a side note, I went to visit them last night and to bring a few items he had left. He had just got home from work and she had a hamburger prepared for him on the table. I thought, wow, okay..... Then she showed me the room. The bedroom is all fixed up with the baby items, as she has a master suite bedroom big enough for a portion to be used as a baby area. She was so excited to show me the closet/drawer set that is Nicks now. All the clothes were folded and even his underwear was folded, lololol I just looked at her with that mom look and she said, I am working on him to keep his clothes folded. I stifled a laugh because if I couldn't do it how the hell is she going to do it. lolol His shoes are in their own little cubby holes, the whole thing just cracked me up. Well, we can only hope for the best and pray.

Follow up blog will come with pictures of the transformed room!

Baby Shower

2009-07-18T17:25:00.001-07:00

Please meet Alicia, momma to be of Audrina Faith Carter, my first grandchild. Audrina is due August 8th but the doctors say she can come at any time now. The baby shower was last Sunday and here are some pictures I'd like to share with you all.....

This girl did not wear ONE piece of maternity clothing this whole pregnancy. Makes me sick. lol

My niece Isabella standing over the indoor pond, do you see the fish? You can't see but it goes underneath both sides of the walkway.

These are the cutest hand towels

Alicia's girlfriends mom made this cake. It was so delicious, look at the little onesie.

Just look at these "onesie" cookie favors, aren't they just adorable?

I made these pacifier candies from life savors and jelly bellies!

Portrait of Alicia

Picture of Nick (daddy to be) 6 months I believe

It was a VERY hot day, so most of us stayed indoors but the view from the deck was great.

Can you see the deck pool down below? Is that cool or what!

The colors of this display were so vibrant I loved it. She put the dips in the pepper shells!

Here are the Great Grandmas

Jackie left a comment on this photo that I seemed to be the only one who knew this picture was being taken. hahaha

Alicia's mom Carolyn on left and her cousin

This lovely bassinet belonged to Alicia when she was a baby and was restored and adorned with gifts from Alicia's grandmother and Aunt Audrey.

Gifts, gifts and more gifts.... The array of colors are wonderful aren't they?

Lovely blanket and pillow hand made by her grandma in Montana.

These are the prize gifts because they are "Carter's" bags, (our last name)lol

Jackie thought the baby needed a bear so she went to Build A Bear and made one! Isn't it just the cutest!

She was saying she need more lap because the gifts kept falling off. lol

This one of my favorites. It says, "Daddy's Bling Bling".

Another hand made quilt, just lovely colors.

Have you ever seen a baby spa and shower? What will they think of next?

There were four of these at the start of the party........Some one was having a good time and it wasn't me.....I had to drive. Bummer.

Thank you all for stopping by and visiting this post. My next post will be of Audrina herself so please stay tuned....and have a wonderful rest of the weekend.

Bridal Shower Part II

2009-07-15T20:49:00.000-07:00

Here is the long awaited part 2. Life has been so busy that I was literally afraid that I would not get these posted so I am doing to with minimal to no comments. In the last three weeks I have been to a bridal shower, family gathering, surprise birthday party for Jackie and a baby shower!!!!! Got a cup of tea anyone??

Janeens notes for the shower

All the wonderful favors Janeen made. They were totally awesome!

Jenifers great idea to put all the salads inside larger plastic bowls filled with ice! Kept everything fresh and cool with no worries.

Our signature two tierd personal wedding cakes! Orders anyone?

Jackie and Brian

You definitely can't have two cooks in my kitchen. Jenifer and I need more room for our animation.

Jan and I

Mom and Janeen

Mom and me

Erin and Janeen

Here I am in the camera war with Janeen

Jackie and Shelley

This is my family room where more guests were visiting

This weekend I will hopefully upload Alicia's baby shower pictures. She went to the doctor today, Wednesday, and she is 50% thinned and has lost her plug last Sunday so doctor said probably within the next two weeks! Goodness, I need a break.

Bridal Shower Part I

2009-07-03T08:41:00.000-07:00

Sunday the 28th was Jackie's first Bridal Shower. Put on by my long time friend Jenifer, my sister Janeen and myself. Please take a look at the party favors Janeen made aren't they just fabulous? Even has a picture of the wedding dress! I am sure she is for hire for the right price. All calls through me, I am her manager.....

Here we have a Tea Cup sugar cookie with vanilla frosting and green sprinkles.

It's hard to see here but this is a little paper bag with a wedding dress on the front and there is even a diamond in the ring! Inside are two breakfast tea bags. Hopefully Part II has a nice crisper picture of this favor.

My friend Jenifer had this fantastic idea of making mini 2-tierd wedding cakes instead of the traditional sheet cake. We had a blast making them. With the music blasting and Janeen running around decorating the house we should go into the catering business. lol. Sparky, don't know if you can see it very well my apron but it is a biker chick apron.....lolol See the girls riding the bikes. I'll have to take a picture just of that. I really only decorated like 3 cakes Janeen and Jenifer did the rest.

Can you see these cakes? Don't they look delicious?

Here is Janeen, always the photographer, taking a funny picture of us all. Jenifer, me and Janeen....

Sunday, the day of started out with family photos.... The bride to be and her proud parents... I bought her this bridal kit with a sash and crown with pink rinestones. She was so sweet she wore the crown even though she hates pink. lol The crown even has a veil in the back.

Jackie and her future Mother-in-Law, Jan. Fantastic lady. She picked good :)

Here we have a bridesmaid, Shelly a long time friend from Junior High School.

Isabella, the Junior Bridesmaid.....with her diamond tiara.

Janeen and I having a "camera" moment. lol See all the decorations in the background, courtesy of Janeen.....

Aunts and cousins. My mom is on the far right and her sister Nancy is second from left between her daughters Jenny and Kristen. Okay, Isabella and her mom have the same facial pose and expression!

Ever notice when there are multiple camera people are looking at different cameras? ha

Jackie between her Grandma Darlin and Great Aunt Nancy (grandma's older sister)

Here we are working on a word scramble, very intense!

Bride-to-be smiling because she finished first! AND got them all right! Yep! that's my girl!

Waiting for all to gather to open the gifts...

As I sit on this couch I remembered why it was a bad idea to buy a "sleeper" couch. After many years you SINK. haha First gift an "I DO" picture frame

A BLENDER!!! every young couple should have a few of those.....for parties of course......

Fine China, she picked out white with a plain silver rim. Very elegant.

Silver hearts and diamonds picture frame. Very beautiful.

Another neat frame of wood, I like this one.

Two lovely crystal candle sticks

Very beautiful deep burgundy satin table cloth and napkins, can you just picture the crystal candle sticks on this with lit candles and the china???? Romantic dinner for two. Maybe I should offer to cook.

A CROCK POT, just look at her face, she is saying, "Ah ya". I am laughing because now I can get mine back!

Here is a Panini bread press. She is in love......
One of the pots and pans she was hoping for...
Gifts of money and gift cards......ALWAYS accepted where ever you are......
The beginning of her ribbon bouquet .....

Please stay tuned for more great pics from Auntie Janeen in Part II

Baby things

2009-06-14T08:57:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, hubby and I went to "BabiesRus" because I had decided to by Nick and Alicia the stroller they wanted on their registry. OMG, the thing looks like a MONSTER! I had never paid that much attention to strollers other than the fact that they now have CUP HOLDERS!!! Anyway, I am moving it and looking at it on the platform and I asked Gerry to take it down so I could actually "work" it. OMG the thing weights less than a pound! I could pick it up with one hand. First thing Gerry said was, "It has cup holders". I laughed, and then he goes on...."and the storage, it even has double wheels in the front and take a look at the car seat". I know, I told him, it just pisses you off doesn't! I look at him and say, "Makes you want another baby just to use all these fancy things huh?" hehehehe. I got the flat out "NO" . It was too funny.

So, because we brought the Mustang as we were already out and about, he had to go home and get a bigger car while I stayed and wrapped it at their "free" wrapping paper station. I should have taken a picture of THAT. It had to be done in layers and I used a-l-o-t of paper and tape. It would have cost me $10 to do it myself so why not use theirs!! I threw the 10 pages of registry in the garbage can as I was not going to spend anymore money.

So while I was waiting for him to come back, just standing there, I dug the registry back out of the garbage and secured my large package in a cart behind the counter and began to look at other things they had picked out. It was truly a weird feeling to see what tastes your kids have. I was impressed with the 3-in-one crib that turns into a bed and that it was natural wood color and the accompanying items like the changing table etc....Ours were solid hardwood that took a Mac truck to move but then our kids crib belonged to my husband so it went though many kids and relatives after us. Then I went to the high chair area and I was like whaaaat? The slide in table had two attachments for gosh sakes!! Unreal!

Now here is the High Chair. If you can see it, in the tray it has a pop in tray with a CUP HOLDER, (it's over to the left), what they don't show is ANOTHER tray that is clear plastic that fits over the entire tray. Absolutely crazy. What is wrong with just the one tray that everyone has used for centuries. Am I just old fashioned?

It was very weird to be in this store buying and looking for items for my future granddaughter. I can't explain it, it just brought it to a whole other dimension. Tell me too if you know, but it feels different in that it is my son and not my daughter and therefore I feel I am one step removed. I think if it was my daughter it would be a whole different experience. Maybe it's the mother-daughter bonding thing etc.. that you don't necessarily have with your son as men don't get pregnant. LOL

Only 7 weeks left!

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone...:)

Log Cabins

2009-06-07T08:27:00.000-07:00

I started out with a post on Sunday morning peacefulness as I sit on my back deck drinking my morning coffee and listening to the birds. Then my thoughts drifted to drinking coffee on the deck of a nice log cabin and THEN to fireplaces in the log cabins and before you know it I had completely scrapped my first post and replaced it with log cabins and fireplaces. lol I dream of log cabins. I should have moved out of California years ago and moved to the mountains of Montana or a lake somewhere in Wyoming.

I have ALWAYS wanted to go to a real old working dude ranch and learn how to cook REAL home cooked meals from scratch like they did back when. I know once I got there I would probably scream for the Microwave and a Mr. Coffee because they are FASTER but I would persevere, for a few days at least. haha

Sit back and enjoy my log cabins.........

This is my ultimate favorite....isn't it just gorgeous??

Fun Filled Weekend

2009-05-28T19:35:00.000-07:00

Last weekend my hubby and I took 3 days and went up to Clearlake for a relaxing time of motorcycle riding, concerts and gambling. I don't which one I like more ha ha ha. We started out Saturday riding up to Konocti Harbor to check out the gift shop which I LOVE. While there we were comped tickets to the REO Speedwagon, Sticks and 38 Special concert later that night! What a surprise that was. Anyone in high school in the 80's remembers these guys.

So later that night we went back for the concert only to have it CANCELLED less than one minute into 38 Special (the first act) because the stage lights fell from the hoists! You never saw people clear a stage so fast in your life! The picture is kinda blurry but the lights should have been up by the blue tarp. SCAAAAARRRRY

But while we were hanging around waiting for the crazy drunks to exit the location and make the mountain roads safe for us motorcyclists, I took some pics.

This photo is of one of the tour buses that housed some of their equipment. Plus off to the left you can see two more buses kinda hidden

Here you can see four tour buses, check out all those air conditioner on top. You can see the semi trailer that was packed just with souvenirs.

Here is a close up of them. They all had Tennessee plates on them. Somehow I don't picture 80's rock bands from Tennessee lol.

Look at the beautiful lake.

Here is my hubby

Here is ME

Before we went to the concert, we went up Cobb Mountain which is a beautiful ride and stopped at our favorite watering hole. lol Come to think of it I don't even know what it is called. So we'll just call it the Cobb Watering Hole....

These are our friends Bruce and Cindy that we ride around with. They are a hoot!

Hubby posing for more pictures....

This is where we sit each morning and drink our coffee. There are two big beautiful trees and the breeze is just enough, it's like camping it's so relaxing.

OK, notice the white top I am wearing here?? Well there I was, sitting on the chair reading a magazine while my friend is loading her bike. My hubby is sitting next to me as we are already to go just waiting for my friends hubby to lock up the house. All the sudden I look up and notice my hubby looking at my friend and then looking at me. I am like, "What?" "You got something else you can wear?" he says, (Whaaat?!) "What do you mean, what's wrong with what I have on!!!!" My friend pipes up and says, "Mel, you'd wear that shirt to the store not on a bike! This is bike country" I was wearing a light weight pink T-shirt just so you know! I look at my hubby and he says, "Well, you got to look the part". lol So I get up and toss my magazine on the chair and march in the house letting the screen door slam and yelling, "Don't lock up yet I have to CHANGE." He laughs at me an asks why and I tell him that I am not showing enough boob! He cracks up. So I come out in my white spaghetti strapped shirt with the built in bra and hubby says, Hmmmm, so I turn around and march back in the house and the guy is laughing at me harder as I give him a dirty look. I whip out my black WONDER BRA put the white shirt back on and Viola! Boobs! I walked outside and went right up to hubby and put his head right THERE. "Is THAT enough boob for you!!!" lol I thought he would die of mortification and my friend about died as mis prim and proper Melody did this. They will talk about that day forever, how Melody morphed into BIKER CHICK (without the tattoos)

Can you believe the price of gas!!
More beautiful country roads.

Bruce and my hubby

Here are a few homes for sale on the water......$$$$$

Here is the right side of the road...

Here is the left. Amazing huh??
This is Lakeport, I love the store fronts, they have that old time look.

I think this is the courthouse but not sure.

This was such a nice break in our busy life that I had to share it you all of you. I hope you all had a fabulous holiday weekend and said hi to a Veteran somewhere.

Hectic Busy Life......

2009-05-18T21:02:00.000-07:00

Okay, life is so busy and hectic right now that I jut did an entire blog on it and I deleted it by accident. That is how crazy my brain is right now. I have been away but hopefully I will be back in full force soon. My company is working on a Nuclear Energy contract that is driving us all crazy and I am working to get ready for my daughters bridal shower and then a baby shower for my son. By the time I get home from work I am to tuckered out to do anything.

I shall be back.......soon......

Most Embarrassing Moment(s)

2009-05-01T21:43:00.000-07:00

My blogger friend Valerie at It's a Wonderful Life did an embarrassing moment blog and I decided to do it too. Only, I have two very distinct moments that just pop into my head that will be forever etched on my brain.

Moment #1.
My daughter Jackie needed to get her first training bra. I had been putting it off for quite some time because I just could not deal with it. So one day we finally went to K-mart and as we are looking for bras I am looking around and over my shoulder because I don't want anyone to see me doing this. We pick out a few and she goes to try them on. When she calls me in the dressing room I start to hyperventilate. I am actually sweating and getting faint at the site of my little baby girl in a BRA. I am trying be mature and mommy like, trying to see that they fit properly but come on, how can a training bra NOT FIT. Anyway, we get two bras and I toss them into the BIG HUGE EMPTY CART and I just can't bring my self to go to the counter plop down two bras. Sooooooo, I wander around the women's section and I pick out the first coat I see that is big enough to through in the cart and cover the entire bottom of it. Hide bras and no one knows I have them........clever, very clever. I continued to hide bras by the coat at the check out. It was one of the LONGEST days of my life..... UPDATE: Ladies, I still have that coat actually and recently put it out for the goodwill.....it's time to move on lol.

Moment #2.
I was standing in the checkout line at the supermarket and was rummaging through my purse for my brush. Just as I grab my brush and whip it out of my purse, out flies a UFO, is it a bird, plane, no its a thin Kotex maxi pad that had been caught on the teeth of the brush! It flew clear across to the next isle. Well, I was mortified as you can imagine. There is just no excuse to cover THAT one up. I did NOT want to go and retrieve it either. I did but I was secretly hoping that if I stayed where I was everyone would forget about the UFO they just saw.

What is your most embarrassing moment or moments?

Lips.....

2009-04-14T20:46:00.000-07:00

So, I go to Target to pick up a few gifts and while I am there I thought I would check out what they carried, if any, to "plump up" my aging lips. My lips are beginning...okay, they have been for quite some time.....oh alright, years if you want to get specific, starting to thin out and with that comes lines here and there and everywhere.

As I stroll down the various isles, I can hear a lady asking a customer, "can I help you find something?" Well, I take a wide detour as I don't want to ask anyone where the stuff is. Call me vain, but it's not like asking for a brand of lip stick or foundation etc. Who wants to call attention to their defects! So I am pushing my cart REAL slow and as I round the corner out pops the sales lady, scares the crap out of me.... she must be in her mid 60's. "Can I help you find something?" Shit, I say to myself, "ahhh, my DAUGHTER is looking for a lip plumper and she says they carry it here at Target so I am trying to find it. I have NO CLUE what I am looking for." "Oh", she says, "we have this kind here (some unknown brand) and down this isle here we have, Sexy Motherpucker." I thrust my head back, what the hell did she just say, did she say Sexy Mother*ucker! I said to myself. Then I look up at the package and was shocked out of my zone. I knew y'all wouldn't believe me so I included the package here......"This one is a few dollars more at $10. " the sales lady said, and I am like, "well, I don't know which one she wants so I will just have to call her. Thanks for your help". I was so entranced by this package that I stood there with both packages in my hands and I kept gravitating towards the Sexy one. I even got out my cell phone and made the fake call to my daughter.....lol, the woman wouldn't go AWAY! Well ladies, there was really no choice, I had to get the Sexy Motherpucker lip plumper, I mean I am 46 yeas old and it says it's Crucial for Sexual Attraction!

I know, you want to know if it works? YES it does! I put it on at work and I it was SO tingly I thought my lips were popping out of their skin. I must have looked at my compact mirror a dozen times. lol It is a very thick gloss. So ladies, if you are looking for a bit of plump in your pucker, hahahaha ya only need to try this.

Angels in Waiting

2009-04-12T09:51:00.000-07:00

The song you are listening too is Angels in Waiting from Tammy Cochran. She is one of my favorite country singers. Her life story is one of tragedy. She lost both of her older brothers to Cystic Fibrosis. This song is a tribute to them. Please read below a short bio on her from wikipedia.....

Tammy Cochran was a Country singer born and raised in a small rural town called Austinburg, Ohio, which according to Tammy was a perfect place to write a country song. There was also enough tragedy in Cochran's life to write a country song.

She was born in 1972 to Mabel and Delmar Cochran and was the third of three children. Tammy's two older brothers, Shawn and Alan were both born with the disease Cystic Fibrosis. Shawn died from the disease in 1980, at 14 and Alan died in 1991 at age 24. She soon became accustomed to listening to and singing the songs of Loretta Lynn and Barbara Mandrell. Encouraged and inspired by her brothers, Tammy realized that she preferred singing in front of an audience. For the next few years, Tammy sang at her family's local church, and then she entered a talent show contest and won. The next step for Tammy was to join a band. She joined a couple before making her own band called "TC Country" that played at fairs and weddings.

Hope you enjoyed this song as much as I did.

Award!

2009-04-09T19:47:00.000-07:00

My friend Valerie over at It's a Wonderful Life bestowed upon me this great award. Thank you Valerie for thinking I am "Kreativ".. Please visit Valeries blog because you will love it! I always race over to see what is happening. :)

I am supposed to pick 7 things that I love and actually my friend Lee Laurie at A Southern Rose a month or so ago tagged me to list I think 10 things I love and I had not gotten to that so I am doing a two for one here so to speak. It was funny because Lee Laurie's 10 things were mine too so here I go maybe I can come up with some new ones. lol

1. I love being the first to wake up early in the morning with a hot cup of coffee and my computer, enjoying the quite solitude.

2. I love cuddling with my cat Tigger even knowing she loves my husband more than me. I talk to her and she just looks at me, he talks to her and it's bla bla bla.

3. I love rainy days curled up on a sofa with a good romance novel and a cup of hot tea.

4. I LOVE TEA PARTIES.

5. I love to go motorcycle riding, or more accurately being the passenger on a motorcycle.

6. I love Costco's Polish Dog and Soda for a mere $1.50!!!!! Such a great deal.

7. I love log cabins in the mountains, would love to own one, would love for someone to invite me to stay in one....hehe

8. I love the Anne of Green Gables Series

9. I love my children.

10. I love my husband

I am supposed to pass this on but I am going to reserve that for a future date as my life is very busy right now....just trying to get on the computer is a task in itself.

I look like a WHAT??

2009-03-28T19:05:00.001-07:00

OK, so I went to RiteAid this afternoon and was in the make-up department looking for some deals. Their layout is kinda strange so I am zigzagging through the isles very slowly and the young man (about 17) at the register at the other end of the store keeps staring at me like I am going to steal something. I mean really, me? Give me a break.

So, now I am getting and paranoid and I just get my lipstick and foundation and want to get the heck out of there. I wait my turn at the register, did I mention that he is the only register open? Just my luck. Anyway....there are at least two men behind me buying beer and as I put my items on the counter he says.."This is so funny, you were over in the make up and I was looking at you and you weren't moving, your hair was perfect and you looked just like one of those mannequins at Macy's." Well, THAT was not what I expected to hear. I said, "What? you think I look like a mannequin?" Yes" he says, and I said, "You think I look like one of those wooden mannequins?" He said, " Well, some of those are HOT!, this is a complement to you." Well I just started laughing and I couldn't even bring myself to look at the guys behind me for fear they were already on the floor laughing. I thanked the young man and promply left.

Then I got in the car and I was contemplating...mannequins have flawless skin, great bodies, never get fat and can were ANYTHING and I was starting to feel pretty good by this time... LOL When I got home I told my hubby and he laughed with me.

Later, my hubby and I are on separate couches and I am on the computer and he is drinking a beer and I catch him looking at me. I asked him what he was looking at and he said, "I am looking at my mannequin" ! Then he came over and kissed me. AWWWWWW

The bad thing is....now everytime I go into a store that has mannequins I am going to remember this incident....LOL

This is the real me.

Here are some of my alter egos....

Breakfast At Tiffany's

2009-03-15T20:30:00.000-07:00

Hello Dahlings.......I thought I'd stop by Melody's place for a tea in my honor. Please join me won't you?

Don't you just love the cigarette holder? I had to bum a cigarette form a coworker lol

Pink champagne is a must for this classy afternoon...

I know, beautiful isn't it ...

I borrowed these great diamond ring napkin holders from my sis.

I was giving Janeen a sneek peak of my deserts in the fridge and she thought "photo op"

My favorite chocolate and coconut cookies..

My to die for chicken salad sandwiches...

Here is my dessert....

here is my dessert after Janeen got a hold of it. lol She should do photo staging...

These two lovely ladies are Alicia (little mama) and her mom Carolyn..

Janeen and our mother...

My good friend Jenifer and I

These two ladies seem to be playing with my jewelry I had adorned the table with....

are they wearing it?????Nooooo no so....

If they look any closer will they notice it's Avon? lol

Alicia won the first door prize...

Janeen won the second....

Last but not least my GREAT, GREAT Tiffany bags that I made all by my creative self, I am so proud I am..... each guest at my tea receives a little something for coming....(minus the champagne, that is MINE)

Inside I put a little purse size manicure set, a note tablet and a satin sachet of chocolate kisses.

In our small circle of friends who started this tea circle, we each give the hostest a gift. Look at all the fantastic things I got!!!!!

NOW....for those of you who don't know, I am going to be a grandmother in August. These next few pictures show my reaction......

WHAAAAAAT, I am going to be a WHAAAAAAT????

It's a girl?

Really?

I had no idea what prompted those funny faces of mine but I thought I'd have some fun with it and Alicia....

Now dahlings, the time is here where I had to just shove everyone out the door. The task at hand was so large.....

I just had to finish all the champagne before I did the dishes....

I really don't want to do the dishes.... I wish I had a maid....
Good night dahlings and thank you for coming. **UPDATE** There are more pics I couldn't load so hop on over to my sister Janeens blog at chachaneen to see even more! OH, OH and you can't see it because it is laying flat amonst my gifts but Janeen gave me a DVD of Sean Connery in "The Great Train Robbery" after my bit with him in our Oriental Express Train Adventure. What a Sister I have!! :) We had a great time.

My Celebrity Look-alikes

2009-03-13T01:00:00.000-07:00

What the heck?!! So I go to my sister Janeen blog and see this great post on Celebrity Look-alikes. She has some great photos. So I think, what the hell, I'm game, I'll try it. What do I get. MEN. Something is seriously WRONG here. Must be the whiskers on the corner of the post that sent me over to the other side........God, this is giving me a complex. I am going to do this again with a different photo.......

Now THIS is more like it. But what is with the putting this Jay Adams dude in there. I do NOT look like him. Or Christian Slater for that matter. Do I? No don't answer that. I am too insecure to handle the truth. Oh do I need a drink, anything I don't care.

Go ahead and try this out. I forgot to connect the link so go to chachaneen and get it there.

Going Postal Sort Of...

2009-03-10T01:00:00.000-07:00

This time, the phrase "Gone Postal" doesn't apply to a postal employee....... on Saturday, March 7th.....

The caption under this picture in the Contra Costa Times read:

"In front of Ed's Mudville Grill, Concord police officer Don Lawson puts a man believed to be a stabbing suspect back into a Clayton police car following a morning stabbing at the nearby post office in Clayton, Calif., on Saturday March 7, 2009. Witnesses in the area said the man with blood on his hands fled the post office and was captured by citizens, postal workers and off duty law enforcement officers dining at the restaurant."

The officer in this photo is my older brother. My brother has been with the Concord Police Department for almost 30 years. This is just one of the many times he has been in the paper.

Police haven't investigated a killing since June 1995 in Clayton, a bedroom community of fewer than 11,000 residents. This is a very small, quaint town. When I saw the buildings surrounding this post office it looks to be right next to my insurance agent! According to the paper this man The male suspect, Shannon Bradley Moore, 37, of Concord, walked into the post office and stabbed a 73 year old man who innocently went in to pick up his mail. There was no known connection between the two men. Then the suspect walked out of the post office and ran down the street into a restaurant where he was subdued by patrons until the police got there.

I have been on occasion known to ride along with my brother while he is working and I must say, some times not much goes on and some times it is quite exciting.

Times are getting hard people and I fear that more of this kind of violence is to come in one form or another. A down economy always brings out frustration, not to say that this is the case here but we all must keep any eye on our surroundings. When ever I go anywhere, I am always looking over my shoulder aware because you just never know.

**UPDATE** I am sorry I didn't mention that this was a fatal stabbing. The victim died at the scene of his wounds.

Adventure on the Orient Express!

2009-03-09T01:00:00.000-07:00

After emerging from my secret garden, I was greeted with a post from my dear friend Muse Swings. She invited me on an adventure.....adventure on the Orient Express luxury train. She said all of our friends will be there. Oh how exciting! I simply must buy some new clothes!. The latest fashions no less.

I went shopping and bought all the latest, oh such fun it was.

Then, I secured my passage,

Packed my trunks, I know, I know, but I told you, I bought alot of clothes!

After meeting all the ladies at the train station, we were shown our rooms, OH MY GOSH, this room is beautiful, this simply can't be the room I booked. The steward assured me it was......hummmm, I'll deal with it later....

After setting things to right in my room, I decided to meet the ladies for some refreshments in the dining room. But no one had arrived yet so I slipped out and thought I'd go to the Card room for a minute, see what's happening.

Oh, my... I saw the most dashingly handsome man EVER! I heard someone call his name. I think it was.....James and oh the look he gave me. It was like he could see right through me. I flushed and quickly rejoined the ladies.

I just had to show you the gorgeous view of Prague from the train. After the ladies and I had lunch we had decided to take a stroll to see and be seen. We so enjoyed looking out over Prague. We quickly decided to go to our rooms and freshen up to meet up later for dinner.

As I entered my room I saw something sparkle from the corner of my eye. I turned and my dressing table was covered in JEWELS! THE most gorgeous jewels I have ever seen. I quickly turned and looked about but no one was there. I looked again at the jewels and I noticed a note tucked underneath the most gorgeous diamond necklace I ever saw.

It said, "This necklace does not compare to your beauty, but I would be most pleased if you would adorn it and meet me for dinner at 8:00pm, signed "J"" OMGosh! What is going on here. I rang the Steward and he had no idea how these got here. I could have sworn I saw him smile as he turned to leave.

I tried to locate my friends but they were not in their rooms, hump, where would they go and not invite me! I simply HAD to tell someone. After searching for a bit with no luck, I mean the train is NOT THAT BIG I decided to give up. I went back to my room and just stared and fingered the jewels, ok, so I tried them on too. I sat down in my chair and read over the note again. 8pm was less then an hour away. I decided I would take this adventure, since this trip WAS supposed to be an adventure.

I went to the dining car and was lead to a table for two.

I sat with my back to the wall so I could see anyone who entered the room. I was then presented with my dinner, ordered for me no less,

The waiter poured me a glass of champagne

I looked over to the next table, were they talking about me? Is this some kind of conspiracy? WHERE ARE MY FRIENDS?!!!

The mysterious "J" sent a note via the waiter that he was very sorry, something came up and he could not make it. He hoped I enjoyed the dinner and champagne and the waiter said as he turned to leave, "The gentleman said you looked ravishing in that necklace". WHAT! he has seen me? I said to myself.

As I stepped inside my door, I found an envelope. I opened it and there was a picture with a note. "If you need anything, these people are your private servants"

OMYGOSH, this was just too much. I layed down on my bed for a bit of a rest.

Knock, Knock. I was aroused by knocking at my door. I groggily got up and opened my door and there was Janeen standing there. "Ready for dinner?" she said. I said, "Dinner? I already had dinner, come in, look at......" I quickly looked around, where were the jewels? That's ok, there's the card, where was the envelope with the card! arrrg, where was the picture showing the servants! Gone, all of it. Janeen says impatiently, "What's wrong with you, didn't you get my note that dinner is at 8:00pm? Hurry up, it's almost time to go and we must meet the ladies for dinner."

That was when it hit me. I was DREAMING!!!! I had laid down for a bit of a nap after lunch and Oh my, what a trip this is going to be.....

FIRSTS!

2009-02-24T21:30:00.000-08:00

FIRSTS! I saw this over at Valerie's at It's a Wonderful Life. Check out her blog, she says it like it is and I love it. I always enjoy stopping by, never a dull moment. Sparky, I stole it first. LOL

So here are some Firsts about me, read on and enjoy and laugh or not, just don't fall asleep please. If you feel so inclined copy and do a post yourself.

1. Who was your FIRST prom date? Dave Lucido. I was a Sophomore and he was a Junior and it was his Junior Prom.

2. Do you still talk to your FIRST love? Heck NO, I hear he is still a little stuck on me still so it is better to stay in hiding.

3. What was your FIRST alcoholic drink? a California Cooler, I was 18.

4. What was your FIRST job? I worked at Hilson's Clothing store wrapping purchases at Christmas time.

5. What was your FIRST car? A red Toyota Corolla that was handed down from my brother. My first stick shift. I didn't know how to drive it so my brother took me to San Francisco and parked on a hill, told me to get in the driver's seat and said, "Let's go!" SCARY......But I did it and I was proud of myself.

6. Who was the FIRST person to text you today? Nobody texted me, I feel so unloved.

7. Who is the FIRST person you thought of this morning? Me...Lol I am selfish I know. But I did think of my hubby next. :)))))

8. Who was your FIRST grade teacher? Mrs. Crawford. She was very old as was all my teachers I think.

9. Where did you go on your FIRST ride on an airplane? I went to Minnesota in the winter with my husband to a funeral. I have a very big fear of flying but I do it anyway. Getting easier each time.

10. Who was your FIRST best friend and are you still friends with them? Donna, we met when we were 5 and not really anymore but not for a lack of trying on my part. Just part of growing apart as we grow up. But still in touch with her mom and rest of family. We have tea parties together. Her mom is in the pictures of my sister Janeen's tea of last Saturday actually.

11. What was your FIRST sport played? I ran Track my Freshman year and won Most Valuable thank you very much!

12. Where was your FIRST sleep over? My same friend Donna's house.

13. Who was the FIRST person you talked to today? Gerry my hubby.

14. Whose wedding were you in the FIRST time? My friend Robin. We went to Junior High together, worked together, married the same year and we each had a girl first and then a boy.

15. What was the FIRST thing you did this morning? Hugged my cat who has gone back to sleeping at the foot of my bed.

16. What was the FIRST concert you ever went to? Kenny Loggins! It was great.

17. FIRST tattoo or piercing? Got my ears pierced when I was 15. I have always wanted a tattoo but I am just to scared. I hear it hurts too damned much plus I would be afraid it would start sagging somewhere on me lol.

18. FIRST foreign country you went to? Mexico, drove in and drove out. I was to paranoid to get out of the car. lol

19. What was your FIRST run in with the law? I am taking way too much time on this one so it must mean I am squeaky clean.

20. When was your FIRST detention? I KNOW I had detention once in my life I just can't remember for what or when. ha ha It was probably for something really lame.

21. What was the FIRST state you lived in? California and only California

22. Who was the FIRST person to break your heart? Nathan Wallace. I had a mad crush on him in grade school and I could never get him to notice me. When I happened to go to a new church one day and he was in my Sunday school class I was in heaven but then one of us stopped going to that church. Go figure.

23. Who was your FIRST roommate? I didn't have a roommate. I lived at home until got married. So technically, my husband is my first roomate.

24. Where did you go on your FIRST limo ride? To the Church to get married!

25. Where did you go on your FIRST date with your husband? To the movies to see Al Pachino in Scarface. It was a great movie.

Newest family member

2009-02-22T08:59:00.000-08:00

Ladies, this lovely young lady to my left is Alicia. She is the newest addition to our family. By that, I mean she is carrying my grand child. Although you can't tell, she is four months along and has quite a little pouch. With her love to hate probably size 1 body (yes, I am jealous) you can only really tell when she stands sideways LOLOL. She hasn't had a stitch of morning sickness either. SOOOO not fair.

Anyway, Alicia is currently going to college getting her classes out of the way so she can become a nurse. She'd like to be a Neonatal, Delivery room, or Emergency room nurse. She hasn't quite made the choice yet but she has time. Isn't she a beautiful girl, she is so photogenic! Nick sure has good taste. This reminds me that I need to take a picture of the two of them together. You can see a picture of Nick in my post below. This picture was taken at my sister Janeen's Pink Champagne and Tea party yesterday, please stop over to her place chachaneen and check out all the pictures it was a great time!

I've been tagged!

2009-02-21T07:44:00.001-08:00

I have been tagged by Fern over at Ferns Lake! I stopped by her post last night and saw my name. When ever I see my name in someone else's post I get a moment of panic. LOL It's like, "Aaaah what did I do now". I got in trouble alot when I was a kid. hahaha

The instruction is to go into my photo collection, take the fourth folder and the fourth picture in that folder and explain it. Then tag four more bloggers to do the same. But since those instructions sent me to Tiggers folder and she has dominated my blog of late. SO I went to another folder and chose from that and here we are:

This photo is of my nephew John, my daughter Jackie and my youngest son Nick (soon to be a dad). This picture was taken at Jackie's UC Davis graduation party last June of 08. John is 21 I believe, Jackie is 22 and Nick is 20. They have all grown up together and have a great relationship. They might not see each other as often now but when they do they just pick up from where they left off. It's great to see. John is named after my father, Jackie is sort of named after my husbands mother, but I had already picked this name years before it just so happens to be my MIL too lol and Nick was my choice and when he was born and the doctor asked what his name was I yelled out Nicholas before my husband could say "Skip". The doctor said to my husband, Nicholas huh? and husband says, "I guess so". Can you honestly look into a baby's face and say "hiya there Skip"? It's not a bad name, it's just not going to be attached to anyone in MY family. LOL No offense to any blogger named Skip. Nick loves to tell this story.

My handsome nephew John is going to San Francisco State, not sure what he is studying, I am sure he told me but I have since forgot.... but he'll do great what ever it is, we are all very proud of him. He is the most loving and sweet young man. I kinda think he looks like Prince William with more hair ... lol .

Jackie now works for The Western Institute for Food Safety and Security, working on a plan to help make sure all the states have a food safety disaster plan ready and in place in case of any sort of attack on our food and animals. She is also getting married to Brian in October this year.

Last is my youngest son Nick. He is currently a Loss Prevention Agent for a large circle of Grocery stores that covers four cities so beware because he can KICK YOUR BUTT! He was a Varsity Wrestler for 5 years and can take down someone two to three times his size. He and Alicia are going to be parents in August of this year and are preparing for that big life changing step!

Whew, I didn't know I was going to come up with all that from this picture, lol . I am supposed to tag four people and so here they are:

Janeen over at chachaneen

Debbie at Debbies English Treasures

Cynthia at Cynthias Cottage Designs

Barbara at Ramblings From An English Garden

Stop by and visit this wonder blogs you will so enjoy yourself. :)

Tigger

2009-02-16T18:57:00.000-08:00

I have been away on a long weekend without Internet but I have been checking my email on my cell phone and I want to thank you for your thoughts and prayers on our girly girl cat Tigger. (Kids named her Tigger before we knew she was a girl, lol) My wonderful sister and her two children have been Tigger babysitting so to speak twice a day this weekend making sure she gets outside for some exercise and has food and water. For all accounts, Tigger girl has returned to her normal self. She is going in and out the dog door on her own, which is where she is right now, in the back yard. The pictures you will see here are the only ones I could get tonight because she kept running away from me. As my sister said, she is drinking buckets of water! Crazy, and she has gone back to eating her regular food. The only thing she has not figured out, is WHERE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM!!!!!!!! THAT is why I have had to have a cat sitter......So until she starts going outside on a regular basis she is on WATCH. Hubby put a fresh cat litter in the bathroom tonight and she balked at it.....she had that "try and make me" look to her, it was funny. Update alert!!!! While on the phone with sis a few moments ago I was looking for Tigger and found her on the counter eating her food! Meaning...she jumped up HIGH! YA.

Here she is trying to hide from me!

She thinks I am gone.....NOT!

I don't know if you can tell but she has totally gained weight!
Oh my, she was so NOT happy about posing for this picture. When I was done she took off running.
Tigger says thank you. :)

Stay tuned as I have won two giveaways and will be posting these lovely items this week. I'd write more but Tigger has decided she wants to bond right now and is not letting me type. lol

Additional Tigger Update

2009-02-10T19:18:00.000-08:00

Sorry to do another Tigger update but she has gone PSYCHO, LOL! I didn't think it was possible but yes. I think she has gotten some of not all of her sight back and it is freaking her out! Last night she was sitting on my lap and Nicks girlfriend Alicia tossed a pair of black socks across the room onto the couch and the cat watched the whole motion. Hubby and I were like Whaaaaaaat? Hurry, do it again we said. Alicia did it two more times and she followed each one. THEN here is the crazy part. She started getting spooked through out the night for no reason. It was like this invisible creature was after her or something. She would just start backing up really fast like something was after her. I picked her up to calm her down and after about 30 seconds she starts backing up in my arms so fast and FLYS like Superman up over me onto the bar counter top behind me and I am like. What the hell?! I go into the kitchen and she is on the counter. So again, I pick her up and sit on the other couch and try to calm her and then she does it again! This time she FLYS over me off the couch and races down the hall and around the corner up half a flight of stairs! Two days prior she was this little love muffin, limp biscuit, who would just cuddle and now she doesn't want to be picked up and is hiding under the dining room table. Maybe she is PMS....lol She has to be able to see to make moves like that.. Oh! and I have this garden statue in my dining room that I placed in her path and she would back up and go around it. Did that 4-5 times. This means something I am sure. I can't find anything about "temporary" blindness in cats anywhere so this is just so weird and now her Psycho behavior!

I have resorted to a glass of wine to calm my nerves. LOL I had one last night too! I may need to buy a few more bottles hahaha

Tigger update :)

2009-02-08T18:06:00.000-08:00

Tigger just jumped up on the couch!!! This is BIG news as she has not tried to jump since she went blind. YAY! I was sitting there on the end of the couch and saw her extending her body up the side of the couch and I got all excited. I picked her up and put her on the floor in front of the couch and helped her do it a few times by putting her paws on the couch and lifting her back legs. Then all by herself she did it! Of course she took my spot and as I write this she is STILL IN IT IN THIS SAME POSITION. I don't think she knows what to do now. lol Also, earlier today she stared giving me kisses and purring and snuggling with me. She is getting her "mojo" back. Look at these beautiful green eyes.

Friday I had to go to Jury Duty, and put her outside on the back enclosed patio and when I got home around noon she had found her way out into the yard and was soaking wet from the rain. I had to bring her in and give her a bath with Johnson's baby shampoo as that is all I had and then I dried her with the blow dryer all the while she was trying to get away. lol Thought she would hate me for sure on this one. But today she showed me otherwise.

This is Sunday and is a blessed day! :)

My Poor Cat

2009-02-04T21:05:00.000-08:00

This is our cat, Tigger, she is about 13 years old. Apparently, she went suddenly blind a couple of days before Christmas. I couldn't figure out why she was not jumping up on the ledge to eat and why she was suddenly just prowling the house. It was driving me crazy watching her walk every solid inch of this place for hours and hours. Then on Christmas Eve she ran smack into the bathtub and hubby said, "she's blind". We did all the tests, and she was not responding. So, on Christmas Eve at 7am, when I am to put a 25 pound turkey in the oven to feed people by 5pm, I was sitting in a Vet hospital. Hubby had to work and so four hours later I find she either has a brain tumor or some kind of disease that you can get after having a cold, (which she had, a cold) that can leave you blind, with out a cure. Well, not wanting to subject her to brain surgery, nor did I have any extra money after the $300 I already just spent to find out if she has the incurable disease. Since all the initial blood tests came back normal, I just brought her home.

She is an indoor/outdoor cat once she found out how to use the doggie door a few years ago. Because I was afraid to put her outside she has been cooped up indoors but that was bad because she wouldn't use the litter box and ya, enough said. I started out walking her at night and on weekends with a cat harness and leash, then last weekend I started putting her in the back yard during the morning and she is doing great. She loves the sun!

She has lost ALOT of weight and she is very bony. She refuses to eat her hard food or drink water so I have been buying canned food with gravy and adding water to it. I mash up the food like grits and she eats it right up. She still won't drink plain water but I make sure she gets it in her food. She pees alot so I know it is working.

The bell around her neck is so that we can find her. lol

She almost lost her balance here, I think I scared her with the camera.

Here we are, just the girls. lol Had a hard time getting her to sit still for this picture. She just wants to be free to roam in sun.

My hubby found this baby fold-n-go on Craig's list and so now she has a place to sleep when she is in the house. We took the padded bottom and put it in between two big garbage bags to protect it and keep it clean. Then we put a fluffy soft fleece blanket she likes over it and she is now "semi" happy. She used to sleep on the bed with us but then she started falling off the bed so we had to protect her from herself and the carpets!!! Stanley Steamer here we come, lol

She didn't like it at first and tried to push herself out but now she is resolved to it. I pick her up each morning at 5am and bring her upstairs to walk around our room while we get ready for work. Then put her back around 6am. My son then takes her outside around 10am when it gets warm and feeds her and she roams the yard or enclosed deck until we get home from work.

The best part, she is back to purring and meowing again!!!. This week actually. I missed that so much. Oh! and I tried to take a picture of her beautiful green eyes, and she blinked, both times. So she can see something if not shadows maybe.

Presents and Other Fine Things

2009-01-31T17:40:00.000-08:00

Well I wish I had my camera on me today because my parents took my husband and I out to lunch at a local Tea house for my birthday. It was quite a surprise because my lovely sister Janeen had me thinking she was going to have a tea party at her house. I kept saying, can I invite this person or that person and she'd say, well, I think it would be ok. All the while my parents were going to be footing a bill that was meant for just 4 people. LOL.. Then to top it off, my sister got that nasty cold passed down from her little ones and she couldn't go. My husband thinking he was going to visit with my dad at Janeen's house decided to come at the last minute. I ended up not inviting more people and it was just four of us after all. HAHA. I wanted to share with you the gift I received. Now, for those who don't know me, I totally love the Anne of Green Gables series. My middle name is Anne...(with an "e" hehe) so we are kindred spirits. Anyway, I had this set in VHS but I lent it out to someone YEARS ago and I can't remember who and I never got them back! So I have been wanting the set on DVD for EVER but didn't want to spend the money and guess what!!!!! My parents and sister got it for me! Aren't they just fabulous?!

Second, I stopped over at my friend Laura's, Our Scented Cottage as she has a new on-line Victorian store where I bought myself these lovely, lovely tea light lamps. I put some battery operated flickering tea lights I found at a craft store in them and they are just wonderful. Please check out her blog for some fantastic Victorian lovelies. But be careful because this one purchase put me to redecorating my WHOLE HOUSE, I even put up some new curtains........

I used to have a bunch of Old West photos up here, the kind wear you dress up in costume, but when I got these tea lamps I redecorated and the best part was I already had everything stashed here and there and my wonderful sister who has that decorating eye helped me stage this Victorian look. What do you think?

Here is a close up of the night version, it is so beautiful at night, really.

Can you make out the white and pink? Looks like white clouds in a pink background.

The lovely beade work is pink, white and clear. I just love it.

Here is a better picture of them. My camera doesn't like to focus close up but if you could see it you'd see that the wooden stands have some very detailed carving on them.

These are my Other Fine Things. This is my English Tea Clock as I have named it. It works but I just don't have a battery in it. When I have a tea party I just set the time to what ever time my party starts. Lol

My flash got in the way but it says on the bottom of the clock "By Special Appointment to THE QUEEN" very fitting for my dining room wall. Actually, the Queen is a personal friend of mine and she thought I would like this clock so she gave it to me. I mean she has so many of them anyway what is one less......(and if you believe that....)

This picture was on my dining room wall but I moved it to above my fireplace. Boy, did it change the room. I have very high ceilings and the picture before was just too small. They are not English dogs but the picture reminds me of an English hunting setting.

Last but not least, this is a personal favorite. This is an actual photo of Princess Caroline of Monaco. I was doing a fund raiser years ago and I wrote to her for an autographed photo and she responded and I am happy to say I won the bid!!! Again, because of my flash it's hard to see but the photo came in a beautiful beige matting that she signed in calligraphy pen. Not a reproduction. It also came with a nice card that I keep behind the photo.

Thank you for sharing my presents and other fine things. Have a wonderful weekend!

OH, one last thing....many of you asked when my daughter Jackie is getting married. It will be this October. She has enjoyed reading all the comments on her dress so thank you for making her feel special.

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY! :)

2009-01-28T01:00:00.000-08:00

Today I turn 46 years old and I thought I'd do something so spontaneous, so out of the realm of my norm, something so totally liberating. I went down and had a birthday cake made of my bust and torso. What do y'all think???

Yes, that's right ladies don't I rock? Ya, I thought so too. Actually the torso was me WAY back in my college days and the boobs are in my dreams. lol I says to my hubby, "hey come look at my birthday cake", and he comes over and says, "where did you get that" , I said, "google images, and I am going to post it on my blog!" he says, "Whaaaaaaat?" The look on his face was priceless, you had to be there. lol Ya just have to have a sense of humor I mean really...........So have a piece of cake and a cup of tea and celebrate with me!

FABULOUS PURSE ORGANIZER!!

2009-01-25T09:31:00.000-08:00

So get this, last night my brother Don calls me and says, "When are you going to update your blog?!" Apparently, he keeps tabs on me. lol I have been so busy with work, life etc...that I have not had time to go my blog other than to comment on a few of my blogger friends. I told him that I'd do a birthday blog for us as his birthday is Monday the 26th and mine is the 28th. Pictures and all and he liked that. lol

SOOOO, today dahlings my blog is on a fantastic purse organizer called the VIP or Very Important Pouch made by Tintamar in France. I received one for Christmas from a faaaabulous co-worker who went to France this past December. Oh, I was sooo excited when I opened it. I am one of those persons who buys their purse to accommodate my husband. All I ever here is where are the keys or where is the flashlight. In my purse I say. Then from out of nowhere, PLOP on my lap goes my purse along with hubby saying, "I am NOT going to fish through your purse, YOU find it". LOL It doesn't work to buy a small purse with the mind set that you are only going to carry what you need BECAUSE... in NO TIME and I do mean NO TIME you are stating...I have to get a bigger purse, this is just NOT working!! And....I hate those purse that have that zipper or center divider that gives you two pouches. I want one open center. I want to see what I have all at once NOT shove one side over while half the small stuff on the bottom gets hidden in the fold. So here is my purse. A fake Coach, I don't believe in spending hundreds of dollars on a name when it is going to wear out just as fast as a fake.......

This is one side of the VIP, the zipper holds my change, it has a pocket just above that and one on the side.

This is the other side with 4 pockets.

This is the inside

These are the items that I put in my pouch, pepper spray, glasses in case, pens, make-up pouch, cell phone, money and pads of paper.

Look at this lovely tea pot charm my daughters future MIL made for my cell phone. Isn't it just the cutest thing you ever saw?

The next few pictures show all that stuff put in this fabulous pouch.

Here are the other items in my purse. Wallet, brush, motorcycle wallet (cause I never know when I am going to go two wheeling), flashlight with compass, compact scissors, pocket knife and lovely Lavender soap sheets. I know, you are asking, pocket knife AND pepper spray? Well I work in Oakland, CA (20yrs now) and it is just not a safe place. One must be prepared!

Here is a close up of those Lavender soap sheets I got from The Victorian Trading Co. I haven't used them yet but I am sure they are lovely.

and last but not least....all that stuff in my purse, all organized.
I am telling you, this is THEEE best invention. My purse is so organized know and even my husband will get what he needs because he can see it at a glance. You know, that could be a bad thing, I am going to have to rethink that. LOL I know you can take it from purse to purse but they come in so many different colors that I want to get more but you can only buy them online in french stores. They cost about $35.00 and if you add international shipping on top of that well......is anyone going to France anytime soon?????

WE GOT THE WEDDING DRESS!!!!!!!

2009-01-12T20:08:00.000-08:00

Hello everybody. We got the dress!!!!!!!:):):):) If you will remember, last October my daughter Jackie and I went looking at wedding dresses. We had already bought one at a ridiculously low price at David's Bridal, but then she had really fell in love with this Oleg Cassini dress that was out of our price range. I asked all of my blogger friends to pray for a miracle and we hoped it would go on sale but it didn't. Sooooo, I thought I'd check ebay on Saturday morning while all were a sleep and what do I find???? THEEEE Dress!. But, there is more. Includes Champagne Gown with Chapel Train, Slip, Shoes, Blusher, Tiera, Necklace, Bracelet, Earrings (never worn), purse (never used), and garters (never used still in package). We got this incredible deal for what you ask??? The low price of $550.00. My daughter and I were on the phone with each other watching the count down while my dear husband was pressing the refresh button to where I thought it was going to break. lol You should have heard us or rather me, yelling WE WON, WE WON! I LOVE a deal and I LOVE that no one else outbid me.

Everything Tea

2009-01-03T19:35:00.000-08:00

First, I'd like to start off with a prize I won from The Vintage Rose! I was the lucky Runner Up to her China Giveaway! I was so excited to win you just have no idea. Really, you don't. LOL I received this lovely tin of Madura Tea, three heart boxes, a very cute Koala Bear, a handmade ornament and a few selected individual teas. Thank you The Vintage Rose. :)

I figured since my blog is "Tea Time With Melody" I'd better get back to Tea. So this is the plaque that is on my tea box. My tea box holds all my favorite teas. This box is very elegant looking and comes in handy when I have my tea parties. I just love tea. Sometimes I just like to sit back with a cup and some cookies or anything tea worthy and pretend I am in England. Somewhere. Anywhere. Does anyone want to invite me for tea over there??? Pleeeeeeease? (Invitation must include a plane ticket....)

I am not a camera expert so some of my photos are a bit blurry. I originally bought two generic tea cup and saucers in a tea store and then went home and scoured the Internet to find the name of the pattern. My tea set is Lady Carlyle. I was very, very, very lucky a few years ago to come across a steal and I do mean a steal of a deal on eBay. I have a complete set for 10 including a variety of glassware. This here is my Tea pot and yes that is right two creamers and sugars. I just need one more teapot to complete this set.

Here are two of the four types of matching glasses that came with my set. They have a beautiful gold rim.

Here are the other two, water goblet and wine glass.

Here is my dinner, salad and bread plate. What would you do if you sat down at a table with all these beverage glasses! lol

When I was newly married everyone had china but I didn't want it because it was only used for the holidays or special occasions. I thought why bother. I still felt that way until I got the Tea Party bug. Even though I could NEVER get my husband or male relatives to sit and eat from these pink china plates my comfort comes from knowing my girly girl friends will! :) So ladys, set your table and invite a few girlfriends over for tea and cakes and enjoy some good times and conversation.

Blessings and Awards

2009-01-01T21:18:00.000-08:00

A few days ago I published a post on something I was struggling with and quite frankly I was blown away by all the wonderful heart felt comments I received. I thought I'd get a few here and there but I never DREAMED I'd get so many. A few of them were from new blogger friends that stopped by, thank you for visiting! Funny thing....my husband and I decided to take a much needed few days off over this New Years Holiday and I had just gotten a new cell phone with Internet access shortly before. During our trip with friends up in Clearlake, I checked my email about 4 times each day and I got to read new comments. Thinking, I like this this is great! It was so great in fact that my battery went dead. lol My husband would ask me, "Whatcha doing?" and I'd say, "getting advice". I just want everyone who was kind enough to leave a comment, my husband and I greatly appreciated them all. I had initially struggled with putting this subject out there on "blogger land" but I am so glad I did, it has given me such insight, who knew!

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Now for some Awards. My friend Laura over at Our Scented Cottage has blessed with the "Reward of Merit"

These Reward of Merit cards in summary were handed out to students of the Victorian era for achievement and performance at school. They were so coveted, they were even pasted in Victorian scrapbooks. So cherished were these cards, they were saved for over 100 years! Laura thought it was time to bring back this tradition in relation to blogging! I thank you Laura for choosing me as a recipient! Please stop by and visit her log and her new on-line store. This lady's blog is full of recipes for everyday things from cleaners to her latest, lip balm!

My second award is from my sister Janeen, from ChaChaneen.

Thank you Janeen for this great award. I have only been blogging since October so it is an honor to be included in the Best Blog of 2008! If you have not visited my sisters blog, please do so you will enjoy her whit and humor along with her funny stories about her kids. I am supposed to pass this onto 15 people and that is alot! But I can't truly pick just 15 because there are so many that I feel that this award should go to. So, for those blogger friends of mine that would like to have this award, please feel free to accept this gift from me to you. :)

I am going to be a Grandmother

2008-12-28T09:08:00.000-08:00

Well, I am going to be a Grandmother. My youngest son (20) is going to be a Father. As I sit and write this I am having writers block. This is all backwards as they are not married, still live at home and don't have jobs with medical. Me, I like the order of things as God laid it out.

His girlfriend will be moving into our home in a few months as there is no room at the Inn so to speak. I should mention that she will be 18 in April. More writers block...... She comes from a broken home, "twice", father not in the picture. She is a very lovely girl and we do like her. It could be worse I keep telling myself. We don't get to pick our children's mates and it is always a plus when you like their choice.

I had joked to my son the day before the big news that if he was ever going to get married I'd prefer it be her. HA, joke on me.....:) Anyway....as you might not imagine her Catholic mother was strongly pushing abortion which shocked me because I thought Catholics were strongly against that. I must say that in my younger years I was pro-abortion but over my years in growing as a Christian I have changed my views thanks to Dr. Dobson and Focus on the Family. As much as I feel this is the wrong time in their lives for a baby I am glad they have decided to keep it. I can probably say that because he is already an adult.... But, then again it is not my choice to make. The girlfriends mom loves her daughter and wants what is best for her, is having a hard time thinking that her daughters future is going down the drain. Mother wants us to be on her side but we had to tell her that we were powerless in her daughters choice to keep or not keep this baby and we would support both children in the choice they made. They have to live with the consequences of their choice either way. Both kids have graduated highschool already and are still going through with their life plans, he in law enforcement and she a Nurse, she actually starts college in January, they are very determined. So we shall see how they persevere.

So......giving up what we thought was going to be our empty-nester years soon and honestly I was really looking forward to it, we will be preparing to bring another life into our home until they can get a place of their own. I am still in shock mode and probably will be for some time as I am not mentally ready for this. Any advise and or prayers are welcome!!!!!!

Christmas Spirit Award

2008-12-26T18:34:00.000-08:00

Christmas Spirit Award for 5 Reasons I Like Christmas!

The Vintage Rose gave me this super award! The Christmas Spirit Award. Thank you, thank you! If you have not stopped by her blog please do you will not be disappointed. She always has interesting things going on.

I like Christmas because it is a time when people really come together for the good of other people. I like Christmas because Jesus was born! I like Christmas because I enjoy singing Christmas songs and it's the only time I can blast Mariah Carey's Christmas CD in my car. lol
I like Christmas because of all the wonderful homemade goodies my sister makes that I enjoy eating. :) and last, I like Christmas because it just puts me in a happy mood. :)

I'd like to pass this award on to:
1. ChaChaNeen
2. Meadowsweet Days
3. Sentimental Journey
4. Charm and Grace Cottage
5. Romantic Home

I hope ya'll had a spetacular Christmas with your family and friends. As Tiny Tim said, " God Bless Every One."

Marie Antoinette Award

2008-12-19T21:39:00.000-08:00

Grandma K from A Bit of the Blarney was so nice to give me the Marie Antoinette Award. I have not heard of this one but then I am still new to the blogging world. Grandma K did some research because she thought this was an "odd" award and found that this award is for people who are deemed "real" in who they are. I am honored to be chosen as a recipient! Thank you Grandma K. For those who have not been to A bit of the Blarney, please stop by for a visit and say hi.

I am to pass this on to 7 bloggers who exhibit this quality in their blog so here I go:

1. The Duchess

2. A Yankee-in-Belgrade

3. My Thoughts

4. Steph's Cup of Tea

5. It's A Wonderful Life

6. A Cup of Jo

7. Cynthia's Cottage Design

Each one of these lovely people exhibit the "real" quality. Please stop by #3 My Thoughts and say hi to my daughter Jackie who is now blogging...so exciting! lol

Dreamy Christmas

2008-12-13T08:53:00.000-08:00

I have been trying to figure out how to download this particular picture for weeks now and once I figured it out is was such a DUH! moment.....Anyway, I just love this picture. I can and will imagine myself sitting in a large over sized chair right in front of the fire with a hot cup of tea and, and, oh I just covet this!!!! Thou shalt not covet but what the heck, someones got to do it and it might as well be me. lol Christmas is a time when people really put their personalities into decorating their home and I for one love to look at all the beautiful ideas......

If I had a porch this long it WOULD be lined with all these beautifully decorated trees. Just looking at this makes me wonder what the electric bill would be, Yikes!

OK, I made a stop in the middle of my Christmas surfing when I saw THIS, can you believe it? What an absolutely F A B U L O U S idea, beautiful. Can you just picture the cake trimmed in christmasy colors too? Love it, love it, love it....

OK, back to my Christmas surfing.....I could really get used to this house in this beautiful setting. Don't the colors just capture you?
If I could be anywhere at Christmas I think I'd like to be in a log cabin in the snow. A big warm fire like the one in the first picture, snow falling outside the window......Somehow, sunny California just doesn't give that picture. hahahaha I mean just about every picture or even the little villages you can put together yourself, you know, the houses with lights etc. are all about snow. Some day I am just going to have to make it happen. Anybody out there have a log cabin for rent????? :)

Have a wonderful weekend everybody and for those on the east coast I wish you warmth and electricity! My daughter just came back from Boston just before the ice storm. I am very glad she came home safe and sound from her business trip.

Proxi Award

2008-12-12T21:08:00.000-08:00

This award was bestowed upon me by Janeen (sis). Thank you so much for thinking of me! Please stop by and visit Janeens blog you will be glad you did! This is the special "Proximidade" award. This award is a fine one because it focuses not on the glory and fanfare of blogging, but in the PROXIMITY to one another through this on-line world (kind of a Six Degrees of Separation sort of thing).

"Blogs who receive this award are 'exceedingly charming' say its authors. This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement.

Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers!

I am supposed to give this award to 8 bloggers but I am sick and feelling generous tonight. So all who stop by and read this, consider yourself the recepient of this gracious award. Please enjoy! :)

Favorite Christmas Movie

2008-12-06T08:13:00.000-08:00

Do you have a favorite Christmas Movie? Sure you do. Everyone has that ONE movie that they have to watch and if they miss the night it is on TV they get pissed off! Well, at least I do, unless I have the DVD......hehehe. Well, my all time favorite Christmas movie is A Christmas Carol and it has to star Alastair Sim or it's just not Scrooge! AND it has to be in Black and White, this new color version is just so fake.

Second is Mickey's Christmas Carol. My kids watched this even when it wasn't Christmas. It is such a cute movie really. I still have here somewhere in my batch of VHS and my daughter and I were just talking something about this movie recently.

My next favorite is a childhood favorite, Frosty! I cried and cried each time I watched this. I don't think it was Frosty I liked but it was the girl! I wanted to be just like her. She had the best clothes, her hair was perfect and she had those "ear muffs". I wanted them soooo bad. Okay, I was jealous I admit it. I never noticed until just now....looking at this picture that the kids are all the same person just different hair! hahahaha
Rudolpoh is the one movie that I would actually get mad about if I missed it on TV. Even after my kids had grown up and didn't watch it anymore. I don't know, it was just a movie that grabs your heart. A rooting for the underdog kind of movie. The message behind the movie stands true still today.

And last.........While you were sleeping is my favorite "modern" movie. I still watch it every year and I always enjoy it. It's such a ball up on the couch, grab your throw and a cup of tea or hot chocolate and some snacks and feel good movie. I am going to go look for it now and put it on before my husband wakes up and decides it football time..........OMGosh he's stiring I can hear him. Have to work fast!!!!!

Go grab your favorite movie and enjoy~!

OUR ANNIVERSARY

2008-12-01T01:00:00.000-08:00

Today my dear husband and I celebrate our 24th Wedding Anniversary. We met two weeks before Christmas in Dec 1983 and were engaged by Feb 12, 1984! Yep, you read that right two months. We married Dec 1,1984. Three kids and 24 years later we are still going strong. Our eldest son is 27 (from hubbys prior marriage) and our daughter is 22 and our youngest son is two months shy of 20. We are now entering the empty nester stage and it's about dang time I tell you.

When we first got married we had one day off a month together for the first 5 years because of our different work schedules. It was a pain yes, but I knew it would not be like that forever and I was right. Always looking into the future I was. Then came the kids, sports, homework and trying to fit time in for the two of you just seems to get put on the back burner. But we always tried to find some time alone and keep in tune with each other and it has paid off because when some marriages fail after the kids grow up, ours is entering the next stage. We enjoy spending our time together. I say we are making up for lost time. If you remember in an older post, I stated that we commute to work together and have lunch together each day. Then we'll come home for dinner and a movie usually, actually, only sometimes, since I took up blogging......hahaha. A few years ago we bought a Harley and are having a blast riding the country roads and taking trips with our friends. Well, here's to another 24 years!

Our wedding song was "Just You and I" by Eddie Rabbitt and Crystal Gayle. We wanted a song that would last through the ages and it has worked for us! (takes a minute to load up so be patient)

7 Random Facts About Me

2008-11-22T18:19:00.000-08:00

I am taking up Chocolate and Marmalade Tea’s open Tag invitation. Here are seven random facts about myself. This was actually harder then I thought it would be, I mean, trying to think of things that are interesting and not stuff that people wouldn't give to figs about but here goes:

1. I used to tell my sister she was adopted when in fact she and my older brother had blonde hair and I had brown. It was really mean of me. She was only about 5 or 6 and I was about 12 and knew better but I didn‘t like being different. God decided to pay me back for my wickedness as my children are Blonde, Redhead and Brunette. One time I went shopping with the blonde and the redhead kept reaching out to men and saying “ daddy”? I had to say, “yes, they have the same dad.”

2. I am 12 years younger than my husband. I met my husband in Dec of 83, was engaged by Feb 84 and married Dec 84. In a few weeks we will be married 24 years! We are entering the empty nester stage and totally enjoying it!

3. I absolutely hate most vegetables. Especially Brussels Sprouts. I saw Invasion of the Body Snatchers as a child and ever since I compare the pods to Brussels Sprouts!

4. My favorite all time movie is Night of the Living Dead. There is a scene in the movie that looks like the Evening News and I thought it was sooo real, I freaked out, I was only about 7 but ever since I have been a lover of Horror Movies. I used to turn down dates if a good movie was on Creature Feature!

5. My Step-Father is a descendant of one of Jessie James’s Gang members, who’s real last name was Shepherd but was changed to Willis when he “retired” the gang and became legit you’d say. Lol. My Father-in-Law’s Aunt was the cousin of Ma Barker and her famous boys. My Father is buried in the plot right next to Myrna Lee Opsahl, the victim of the Symbionese Liberation Army and Patty Hearst bank robbery.

6. I recently donated my long hair I had for many years to Locks of Love. Gosh, the money I am saving on hair dye and shampoo is amazing! With all the gray hair my kids gave me I should have bought stock in Clairol, I’d probably be rich right now.

7. My book collection consists of two kinds of books, romance novels or true crime. It’s either or nothing in between. Well, I do have a small pile of Tea Time books in the middle. :)

Well here you go, a few facts about me! Hope I didn't bore you too much. Like Michelle, I am leaving this Tag open for any and all who wish to list 7 interesting fact about themselves.

Butterfly Award

2008-11-18T20:46:00.000-08:00

Therese from the Aussie Coffee Shop was kind enough to stop by and give me this award! Thank you Therese.

The rules of this award are:

Pick ten people to pass this on to.
Contact them and let them know you have chosen them for this award.
Also, link back to the person who gave you the award.

I bestow this award to the following:

Ramblings from an English Garden

Chocolate and Marmalade Tea

Just a Little Bit Shabby

Sweet Repose

RoyalTlady

Nostalgia at the Stone House

Fern's Lakeland

Autumn Award

2008-11-14T20:28:00.000-08:00

I just received this lovely Autumn Award from The Voice of Melody, no, I didn't give myself this award, I just have a kindred spirit with the same name...... Please stop by and visit this wonderful blog. She is a fellow tea party lover!!

I am to pass on this wonderful award to three deserving people. Stop by and give them a visit.

Paris Atelier

Tea with Friends

Corners of My Mind

Thanksgiving

2008-11-14T07:06:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but I truly enjoy
Thanksgiving and I absolutely hate going to the store and seeing the holiday practically passed over by Christmas. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas, but it seems that Thanksgiving gets little to no real attention.

Thanksgiving is the only holiday in my oh so humble opinion that has NOT been commercialized, meaning it is celebrated for what it is. Every year people get together with family and friends, serve the traditional turkey and potatoes and pumpkin pie to give thanks.

Little kids dress up as pilgrims in costumes they make at school. I think kids really like this holiday because ALL kids can participate if you get my meaning. Don't you remember your kids coming home from school in their pilgrim or Indian hat?

I am not blessed with the Betty Crocker skills like my two other sisters, don't get me wrong, I CAN cook I just not a turkey. So for years I bought my turkey dinner, just reheat and serve. It was quite good if I do say so myself. I mean for $40 where can you feed a family a 15lb turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetable, cranberry jelly mold, stuffing, rolls, and a 9" pumpkin pie. Really, Seriously. I did this for years until my trusted friendly store decided to play a cruel joke on me and stop selling this prepared meal.

I practically hyperventilated right there in the store. Hey lady....are you okay?...they were saying to me as I walked in the shadow of death to the meat department to do battle with the turkeys. Those darn turkeys just taunted me. So there I was, thrust into the kitchen having to cook a complete turkey dinner! I am on the phone calling my mother and my sister for help. I mean, how do you make gravy from drippings??????!!! I had absolutely no idea. Thank GOD for packaged gravy, just add water. The lame cookers best friend. I was glad that people showed up early so I could say YES to their " do you need any help?"

Well, you will be proud to know that I have really come into my own in the kitchen as far as Turkey dinner. My turkeys could be seen in the top chef magazines, that is if someone was willing to send in a picture......which they aren't. Probably jealous if you ask me. AND, AND, I was in my trusted grocery store yesterday and saw they were once again offering Turkey dinner and all the trimmings and for what price you ask, well you didn't but I'll tell you anyway, $99.00 Yes, that's right, $99.00 I just smiled at the sign and thought to myself, I am soooo glad Janeen is cooking the turkey this year. I can cook a ham, no problem.

Your Smile for Today

2008-11-12T21:05:00.000-08:00

Many smiles begin because of another smile.......these pics were sent to me in an email by my cousin and I thought they were so darn cute I had to share. :) They have been around for a while but I never tire of seeing them. I hope you enjoy them.

Premio Dardos Award from Thursday Nov 6th

2008-11-10T20:20:00.000-08:00

I received the Premio Dardos award from A Bit of Blarney on Thursday last week. I was to give it to 15 people but as a new blogger I chose to take a few days to think about my recipients. I am going to have to narrow it down to five and not fifteen as I just have not been blogging long enough I am sorry.... Winners, please go down to my November 6th post and pick up your award. :)

My five recipients are:

1. Birdbath Chronicles
2. My thoughts Exactly
3. Take a Sentimental Journey
4. The Gingerbread Shed
5. The Voice of Melody

The rules to follow are :
1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person that has granted the award and his or her blog link.
2) Pass the award to other 15 blogs that are worthy of this acknowledgment. Remember to contact each of them to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Another Blog Award!

2008-11-10T19:18:00.000-08:00

Oh my goodness, Chocolate and Marmalade Tea was kind enough to bestow this award on me. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I get to choose five people to pass this lovely award too. Here are the rules:

1. Post the award on your blog.
2. Link me for giving it to you.
3. Link the originating post here (All Moved in and Decorating. Oh! I received an Award on Chocolate and Marmalade Tea)
4. Pass the award on to five more deserving people.
5. Post these rules for your recipients.

My five lucky recipients are:

1. My Scented Cottage
2. The House of Roses
3. Chachaneen
4. The Dutchess
5. That British Woman

Congrats and enjoy!! :)

BEAR HUGS!

2008-11-08T07:57:00.000-08:00

WISHING YOU - IN YOUR BUSY LIFESTYLE SOME TIME FOR..

Relaxation and Reflection

Good Sleep

Good Health with Exercise

Someone to Dance With

A Bit of Adventure

Good Looks, But Most of All

I Wish You Lots of Bear Hugs

and The Bliss of Real Love
Many blessings come your way today:
May you always have love to share
health to spare and friends that care.BUT WATCH OUT FOR THOSE BLOODY PENGUINS!

Do you ever feel like doing this to someone? HAHAHAHA

Blog Awards

2008-11-06T20:15:00.001-08:00

Blog Awards!

Lavinia at Birdbath Chronicles created this fall themed award in honour of this beautiful season and bestowed it upon me today. Thank you Lavinia. I encourage you to take a visit to her blog to see how creative, funny and witty this beautiful gal is.

Another award I received today is from A Bit of Blarney.

This award acknowledges the values that every blogger shows in his/her effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary and personal values every day.

Grandma K is a new blog friend and I encourage you to visit her blog. I am supposed to give this to 15 people. But since I am fairly new to blogging I am going to have to take some time to figure out who the recipients will be.

Effective January 1, 2009

2008-11-05T12:59:00.000-08:00

NEW OFFICE POLICY

Dress Code:
1) You are advised to come to work dressed according to your salary.

2) If we see you wearing Prada shoes and carrying a Gucci bag, we will assume you are doing well financiallyand therefore do not need a raise.

3) If you dress poorly, you need to learn to manage your money better, so that you may buy nicer clothes, and therefore you do not need a raise.

4) If you dress just right, you are right where you need to be and therefore you do not need a raise.

Sick Days:
We will no longer accept a doctor's statement as proof of sickness. If you are able to go to the doctor, you are able to come to work.

Personal Days:
Each employee will receive 104 personal days a year. They are called Saturdays & Sundays.

Bereavement Leave:
This is no excuse for missing work. There is nothing you can do for dead friends, relatives or co-workers. Every effort should be made to have non-employees attend the funeral arrangements in your place. In rare cases where employee involvement is necessary, the funeral should be scheduled in the late afternoon. We will be glad toallow you to work through your lunch hour and subsequently leave one hour early.

Bathroom Breaks:
Entirely too much time is being spent in the toilet. There is now a strict three-minute time limit in the stalls. At the end of three minutes, an alarm will sound, the toilet paper roll will retract, the stall door will open, and a picture will be taken. After your second offense, your picture will be posted on the company bulletin board under the 'Chronic Offenders' category. Anyone caught smiling in the picture will be sectioned under the company's mental health policy.

Lunch Break: (Love this one)
* Skinny people get 30 minutes for lunch, as they need to eat more, so that they can look healthy.
* Normal size people get 15 minutes for lunch to get a balanced meal to maintain their average figure.
* Chubby people get 5 minutes for lunch, because that's all the time needed to drink a Slim-Fast.

Thank you for your loyalty to our company. We are here to provide a positive employment experience. Therefore,all questions, comments, concerns, complaints, frustrations, irritations, aggravations, insinuations, allegations, accusations, contemplations, consternation and input should be directed elsewhere.

The Management
Pass this on to all who are employed!

Investment Tips For 2008

2008-10-31T20:38:00.000-07:00

Okay, my daughter sent me this and I got a good laugh so enjoy......

With all the turmoil in the market today and the collapse of Lehman Bros and Acquisition of Merrill Lynch by Bank of America this might be some good advice. For all of you with any money left, be aware of the next expected mergers so that you can get in on the ground floor and make some BIG bucks. Watch for these consolidations in later this year:

1.) Hale Business Systems, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Fuller Brush, and W R. Grace Co. will merge and become:
Hale, Mary, Fuller, Grace.

2.) Polygram Records, Warner Bros., and Zesta Crackers join forces and become:
Poly, Warner Cracker.

3.) 3M will merge with Goodyear and become:
MMMGood.

4.) Zippo Manufacturing, Audi Motors, Dofasco, and Dakota Mining will merge and become:
ZipAudiDoDa .

5.) FedEx is expected to join its competitor, UPS, and become:
FedUP.

6.) Fairchild Electronic s and Honeywell Computers will become:
Fairwell Honeychild.

7.) Grey Poupon and Docker Pants are expected to become:
PouponPants.

8.) Knotts Berry Farm and the National Organization of Women will become:
Knott NOW!

And finally...

9 Victoria 's Secret and Smith & Wesson will merge under the new name:
TittyTittyBangBang

7 Reasons Not To Mess With Children

2008-10-29T07:13:00.000-07:00

I am sure some of you have read these before but I thought it was time for some humor......

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales. The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small. The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale. Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible. The little girl said, 'When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah'. The teacher asked, 'What if Jonah went to hell?' The little girl replied, 'Then you ask him'.

A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work. As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was. The girl replied, 'I'm drawing God.' The teacher paused and said, 'But no one knows what God looks like.' Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, 'They will in a minute..'

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to 'honor' thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, 'Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?' Without missing a beat one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, 'Thou shall not kill.'

One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head. She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, 'Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?' Her mother replied, 'Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white.' The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, 'Momma, how come ALL of grandma's hairs are white?'

The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture. 'Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, 'There's Jennifer, she's a lawyer,' or 'That's Michael, He's a doctor.' A small voice at the back of the room rang out, 'And there's the teacher, she's dead.'

A teacher was giving a lesson on the circulation of the blood. Trying to make the matter clearer, she said, 'Now, class, if I stood on my head, the blood, as you know, would run into it, and I would turn red in the face.' 'Yes,' the class said. 'Then why is it that while I am standing upright in the ordinary position the blood doesn't run into my feet?' A little fellow shouted, 'Cause your feet ain't empty.'

The children were lined up in the cafeteria of an elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The teacher made a note, and posted on the apple tray: 'Take only ONE . God is watching.' Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written a note, 'Take all you want. God is watching the apples.'

Blessings

2008-10-26T08:42:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I was blog hopping, stopping by and visiting new friends when I happened upon a blog post where a friend of a friend who was only 30, a junior pastors wife if I read correctly and had two children and was 35 weeks along with her third child, was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. It happend upon her in about two months time and is so agressive the prognosis is bad. Her baby was delivered by C-section. I was just devistated, my question, why do bad things happen to good people, mostly Godly people. One of my questions to God when I meet him. I prayed for this young lady immedately on the spot. To be so young and not see your babies grow up is just unimaginable. I must go back and read the book, "When God Doesn't Make Sense."

From that blog I went to another who was offering a "Blessings" book as a prize. THAT blog got me thinking about all my blessings. I must say I have had heartache but I been blessed beyond means too. Sometimes I complain about stuff that doesn't even matter in the big picture and then I go, "Why me, me. me, me." THEN I read a blog like above and it slaps me in the face of reality. There are people far worse off then myself. I have my home, job, fantastic husband and children, food on my table, the good health of my family, WHY then do I complain? I have no good answer

My sis gave me the idea to make a prayer book a while back. She makes these fantastic journals from just a composition book and so I decided to make one with my scrapbooking stuff. I have begun to write down my prayers and when they are answered I write it down also so I can see what is happening in my life.

Today is Sunday, let's pray and count our blessings and for those less fortunate.

Blog Of The Day Award!

2008-10-23T01:00:00.000-07:00

Oh My Gosh! I received a Blog of the Day Award, how exciting. Kindred spirit Laura, nonimated me. This like an Oscar so I have written a short "story" speech:

I was stealing glances at my blog Tuesday afternoon, as I sit right next to the CEO (retired 2 star Navy Admiral), separated only by a thin wall. Looking over my shoulder, listening for the slightest sound that he is moving about, cause I must be working at all times!! I new my daughter was tracking the comments because she really, really, wants that Champagne dress and I know she is just sitting there at her work going, "YES! I knew there were people on my side". Not that I am not just so you know....Anyway, all of the sudden my feedjit live numbers started shooting through the roof, people from all over the country, I am like, "What the heck?" Stealing a closer look, I notice that people were viewing my blog via blogofthedayawards.com. I thought, hummm wonder what that is. I had to wait patiently for the right moment.

Then when the CEO stepped away, WAY WAY away, I punched it up again and checked that I had lots of comments so I opened it quickly and saw that one comment stated I had received a Blog of the Day Award. I was so excited I called my sister Janeen on my cell phone and said, "Janeen, I just got a Blog of the Day Award, this is so exciting,....... what is it?" Being a new blogger of just short of two weeks I am not up on all the blogger lingo. She was all excited and started explaining but all of the sudden the call gets all choppy and I hear about every 4th word. Sooooo frustrating. I had to wait painstakingly until 7pm to call her and have her walk me through it. What are sisters for huh? That being done and the award proudly displayed on my blog page, I'd like to end with a huge thank you to all of you that stop and visit. Whether you just read or leave a comment, it is appreciated. Don't by shy, leave a comment and I will happily visit you too.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

Wedding Dress Shopping

2008-10-20T16:39:00.000-07:00

My daughter Jackie is going to be married next October, 09. During her last year of college we did all the planning etc. This past weekend we went shopping for bridesmaids dress and a re-visit for wedding dresses. We actually bought the one you see below for a steal of a deal earlier this year with a promise of leaving the door open if another "affordable" one caught her eye. Here is just a sample of what we liked:

This is the one we actually bought previously, above and below:

This Champagne dress is her favorite and it is great with her red hair and skin color. We are praying the price goes lower then the $1,000.00 now $800.00 so pray with us the more people who pray the lower the price will go.......right? Doesn't she just look absolutely beautiful? My little girl is all grown up.

I do think her father is going to have a hard time giving his little girl away.

This is the last one she tried on that was in the running.

This is the front view of the Arden Hills Country Club where she will be married. It is a beautiful and very affordable place believe it or not.

This is the villa on the property were they will spend their wedding night

Stay tuned for wedding dress/wedding updates!! This is such an exciting time for us.

An Evening Dinner Tea

2008-10-19T09:08:00.001-07:00

I have been wanting to do an evening dinner tea for a couple of years now but never carved out an evening from my busy schedule. The day time High Teas I give are always so much fun that I thought, hey why not do one by candle light. . My sis and her amazing photography skills took these photos of my dinner tea so take a scroll and enjoy.

This is actually a card my sister Janeen gave me. We have a tradition of getting the hostest of any tea party a tea gift of some sort and over the years I have received some beautiful items but this card is just so darn cute.

Those are frozen raspberries dropped into champagne fluets and topped off with Sparkling Apple Cider. Great taste!

My wonderful mother Darlin (yes that's her name) and sister Janeen

My good friend of 20 years, Jenifer, and Janeen,

Can't see it too good but this was my menu I created. So proud of myself I am.

Leafy greens with cranberries, walnuts and a raspberry vinaigrette

Cottage Pie and cornbread,

Friends and myself enjoying our ladies time,

My dessert didn't hit the plate like it should but this is a Lemon and Raspberry layered pie. Served partly frozen.

I must have been talking, they look so thrilled don't they? lol

I don't know what the heck was so funny. Below, time for Tea Gifts!!!!!!

Lovely autoum candle set from my mother,

Some Cranberry Green Tea and lovely tea post-its from Jenifer,

Wonderful, designer tooth pics like you saw earlier with the fruit in the bowl from my sis Janeen

Well the evening was a smashing success and I just might do it again! Hope you all enjoyed. :)

2008-10-18T22:48:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged by the Dutchess! I had to pick the sixth picture file and then the sixth picture. Well, since I have only one picture file on my new computer this my sixth picture. This picture is of myself and Janice. Janice is my daughter Jackie's, future Mother-in-law. She is a wonderful person. My daughter is truly lucky to be marrying into this family. She and I get along famously. Here we are toasting Jackie's graduation from University of California, Davis this past June.

Janice and her husband are high school sweethearts and have been married for 30 years. They have four boys and Brian their eldest is Jackie's fiance. Jackie told me one day that Janice and I had alot in common. Some of the commonalities if that is even a word are: we decorate our Christmas trees the exact same way, we even semi dress the same way, we each have the same family room layout with the same basic furniture and layout. That I couldn't believe until I saw it. Sure enough she was right! Last, we both wear the same type glasses. I am ecstatic that she and my daughter get along wonderfully because you always hear the horror stories and no one wants that for their daughter. We are very blessed.

My Long Hair No More

2008-10-15T20:50:00.000-07:00

I have had long hair FOREVER! Twice. The first time I cut it was when I was mesmorized by Princess Diana's doo and just had to have it. Now, we all know that men like long hair and my husband is no exception that is why the first time I had to do it in secret. You know, wake up with long hair and meet your husband at the door after his long hard day at work with WALA new short doo. He was definately NOT smiling. It took me only four years to go from Princess Di short to current long. I have sported this long hair for about 12 years or more now. It is thick, straight and holds no curl. I wore it straight or up in a french twist that I put up wet at 4:30am only to have it still wet at 10pm truely. I am 45 years old, yes, I thought it was time for a change. It was hard though because everywhere I went I had people commenting on my hair. Mid-life crisis probably happening here.So....THIS time I decided to work up to it. I told him I wanted to cut it. All of the sudden he was on the internet picking out pictures of hairstyles. He fancied the new Katie Holmes look but I was not too sure about that. I kinda was leaning towards a few Sandra Bullock pics. He printed out pics for days and days. It was funny. Of course when I went and actually got it cut, I arrived early and looked at some of their picture books and found something totally different. In the end, I absolutely loved it and he hated it. Oh well, I said, get used to it. lol

Here are the most recent before: My husband Gerry, our daughter Jacqueline(graduating from University of California, Davis) and me. Jacqueline has long red hair too.

This is the back view, because it is so thick, it took minimum of 30minutes to blow dry. No air dry for me I'd look like a frizz ball.

WALA here is the new me! And the funny thing is this is all just blow dry and I have NOT been able to duplicate it since. Isn't that how it always works, go figure.... I have done all sorts of other styles but not this one. It was supposed to be easy. Another funny thing was that some natural curl cropped in there. But all in all, I love it and I can let the wind take it every which way and all I have to do is run a brush through it and I am done. I feel so liberated really. I feel more my age too. AND THE BEST PART........ONE OF MY SONS COWORKERS ASKED IF I WAS HIS OLDER SISTER OR MOTHER!!!!! HA. FAMOUS!

ALSO, I DONATED MY HAIR TO LOCKS OF LOVE. APPARENTLY LITTLE GIRLS WANT LONG HAIR AND LOVE THE LONG HAIR WIGS. GLAD I COULD HELP. :)

Sick Day Traveling

2008-10-14T20:30:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I have this nasty cold and nothing good is on TV so I decided to surf the internet for places I'd like to go. Since I don't have a passport and therefore can't travel abroad as of yet, I decided to do some -window shop traveling- so to speak. England is my first stop, I typed in Hyde Park and what pops up? This absolutely gorgeous 5 star hotel. The Mandarin Oriental. I am afraid to check out the cost so I will just pretend that it is within my peanut shell budget and that I arrive in a Bentley, (rented but no one need know). I won't be able to afford breakfast at this hotel so I have prepared and brought Pop-Tarts from America.

After breakfast, I hired a carriage for a ride in Hyde Park and stopped to see the Albert Memorial. Fabulous structure.

Because I was always fascinated with Princess Diana, I just had to stop by Kensington Palace. Look, the gates were open, they must have anticipated my arrival, how kind.... although that is not the receiption I received when I strolled through the gates like I lived there.

Then off to St. Pauls Cathedral..

By this time I was pretty much famished as I had to walk everywhere. The American dollar is tanked right now so it doesn't get me much abroad. Now it was time to find a nice place for High Tea English style. Before I left, I searched through my book "The Great T ea Rooms of Britian" and I had chose The Waldorf Palm Court. Had to hitch a ride.

OK, the food was famous, I decided to stay and have tea until they kicked me out. Which I think was pretty much after the fifth pot of tea. I guess they didn't like my English accent. Can I help it if I kept slipping in there the famous "flat" American tone? I mean really. I was just trying to savor the moment, make a memory you know? I wonder how many times they say, "those damn Americans" haha

Well Big Ben said it was time to go home.
I wish I could have visited longer, maybe on my next visit, ya, when the american dollar gets me dollar for dollar or double or triple my value, right. hahahahaha. THANK GOD for the internet, as window shop traveling is free! Hope you enjoyed my travels. :)

English Heritage

2008-10-12T09:15:00.001-07:00

My mother mentioned to me years ago that her two great aunts were from England. Needless to say I was thrilled with this tidbit of information, I just knew I had some English blood running through my veins, but then she went on to say that they grew up in an orphanage, very sad. When the oldest aunt turned of age she was essentially kicked out of the orphanage so she got a job and waited for her younger sister to turn of age. Then they took off on a grand adventure to America to start anew! Well upon hearing that part I was a little peaved because I have always loved England and I figured they should have stayed there, found the filthy rich Duke that should have taken them in and raised them (I am making this up) and then somewhere down the line I would have been born to a life of privelage. Instead I am American Middle Class, I was so robbed. So, I decided to rewrite history as it should have been for me, born to English Nobility:

This is the home I was born to:

Here I am Lady Melody enjoying dress up and having a tea party with my sister Lady Janeen, she's the blonde I am the brunette:

This is just one of the fabulous parties given by my father the Duke of Something. I so enjoy playing the pianoforte. We all enjoyed keeping with the victorian style dress of bygone days.

Here I am looking out upon the gardens, probably reflecting why I am "on the shelf". Surley my luck would change....

These are just a few of my closest friends, we called ourselves the "gossip circle". Again, it was more fun to dress in the big hoop dresses and do our hair up all vintage.

This is one of the elegant balls I attended as a wallflower. Oh but wait, there I am in the lower left corner in the blue dress. It looks like maybe my own Duke has arrived! Wait, it looks like he has gray hair. I might have to keep looking....

I found him! My betrothed and I.

I searched and searched to find the right wedding photo since I always bucked tradition, I let my hair down and bared my shoulders.

My young daughter, Lady Jacqueline and I.

Well, there you have it a glimpse in to my world as it could have been, sigh.......The jewels, riding in Hyde Park, the jewels, SHOPPING, the jewels and more shopping! These are the images I must keep tucked away in my thoughts of "what could have been". Someday, I will get to England and look up their linage with a fine tooth comb and hopefully trace it back to some Grand Duke and Duchess! But, in all likely hood my aunts were probably the decedents of an upstairs maid and a Valet......Maybe I should leave well enough alone. lol

My Lunch Hour Views

2008-10-11T20:11:00.000-07:00

Each day I have lunch with my wonderful husband as we work only a few blocks from each other. We try to find different spots to spend our one hour of mid day down time. Our favorite spot is down at the Emeryville Cove. Take a look and enjoy!

Yes, that is San Francisco, through there, seems far away but it's not.

You can't see him but my husband IS in the car, really....

A nice grassy area where you can picnic your lunch if you'd like. Or after lunch you can take a walk around the Cove via these walking paths.

On the left is the Bank of America building with the square top and on the right is the TransAmerica building with the pointed top. 22 years ago I work on the 25th floor of the 50 floors of the Bank of America building and if you stood real still you could feel the building sway. Freaked me out! The island infront of the city is called Treasure Island, yes, that's right we have our very own Treasure Island.

A little of that famous San Francisco fog coming in but you can see the Golden Gate Bridge and the famous Alcatraz prison in front. Below is the peaceful Emery Cove Yacht Harbor.

So, ask yourself if you could eat your lunch each day looking out at these images would YOU want to go back to work? Na, I didn't think so. Well, neither do we. :) It feels like Saturday everyday here.

Trying something new

2008-10-11T10:39:00.000-07:00

I have had the pleasure of viewing various blog spots and it seems like a delightful way to share the fun times, lazy moments, interests and travel with friends from all over the world. What a wonderful way to share with friends so I thought I'd give it a try. I started this process at about 8:30am this morning and it is now 10:30am! So much to choose from and so much to confuse you. I am sure it is the fact that I am drinking Decaf coffee that I had some pretty frustrating moments and lets not forget the fact that I have not eaten breakfast yet either! Surely a combination for disaster. Oh well, I persevered and got through it, along with one call to my sister to ask a "how to" question. We all need a little help sometimes......

Right now it is 60 degrees and extremely windy, 20mph, in Sunny California. This is the beginning of Autum for me. Forget the fact that it will be in the 80's tomorrow and throughout the week, today is the day. I have lots to do today but in no way do I want to venture outside as I am sure the wind will whip me up and throw me into the next city. But as I write this, I remember only a month ago I had very long straight hair past my waist and it was a nightmare to go out into the wind because all I had to show for it was a mass of tangled hair that whipped around my head. You wouldn't even know I had a face! Or I'd stuff it inside my sweater or coat just to pull it out full of STATIC. I am sure anyone with long hair can relate. But after 12 or so years of long hair I have short hair! Yes, I cut it off to just above the shoulders and totally love it. I discovered I have some natural curl you don't see with heavy long hair. I curl it a bit with a curling iron and I am off. So easy and the curl stays :). I can actually say that yesterday I took a walk at lunch -in the wind- no less and just let it fly every which way and then I just ran a brush though it. It was so liberating!!!!!!

Well my hunger is getting the best of me so I must leave now. I fully enjoyed my first attempt at blogging.