Random Thoughts for Pink Saturday 3/14/09

I'm making a new dress and I love long dresses since I hate wearing pantihose anymore. BUT I didn't have enough fabric for a long dress. Well, I had enough but it wasn't in one piece but in two pieces and wouldn't work. Sooooo, I bought this fabric to add 6 inches to the bottom. We'll see how it turns out though. I have this "vision" and in reality it may not be what I'm envisioning. Hah.

This is the dress that gave me the inspiration—the soutache. I thought if it could be used on a bodice, it could be used around the bottom also. I have taken precautions to remove it if it doesn't turn out like I want. I don't want to destroy 2 yards of fabric that cost $13.00 a yard. This dress is in a couture sewing book that I've had for many years. I'll show you some of them in the next few months. Beautiful sewing by ordinary people, not fashion design houses!
~*~

Yes, indeed, there are days like this one. Not a big deal but last week when I looked out the window UPS was driving up. I went to the door and received the package and he asked me if my door bell really was not working. Puzzled at his question, I answered it was indeed not working. He said he has one lady on his route that "tole painted" a sign that said to not ring her door bell. He asked her why and she said I have a baby sleeping and don't want to wake him/her. I thought that was rather clever.

Our doorbell just this very moment was fixed by Love Bunny!! I hate it when things don't work properly..........uhhhhhh, doorbells, NOT Love Bunny. He works perfectly!!

~*~

If I thought I actually looked like the photo on my driver's license and the one they now take at the doctor's office my children would be orphans!!!
~*~

Have you ever been in a public bathroom stall and "things go awry"? Well, it has happened to me a few times. Once I can't even TELL you what went "awry" that time so don't even ask. But the other day Love Bunny decided (wanna guess who made the suggestion, hmmmm?) to take me to lunch at my favorite fish house. I went to the rest room and it was downhill from there. I thought I was stuck with no papier hygiénique (psssst, that's a nice way of saying toilet paper) and almost cried. No way could I have ..........well, you get the picture. Why don't they check it 3 times a day and leave extra rolls on the top of the contraption just in case it runs out or you can't get it to work?!?!?!?!?!!
~*~

One of the advantages of growing old is that your eyes start to "go" just about the time the wrinkles start to "appear"!
~*~

Remember, I mentioned this little hand held recorder I got at Best Buy for $30? Well, I am absolutely unequivocally thrilled with it. I carry it in my pocket and when a thought pops into my head I pull it out and record into it. I don't know how I survived without this little jewel. :-)
~*~

I recently made a stop at Subway to grab a quick sandwich before going off on another photoshoot. A young adult man and I approached the door at the same time as an elderly couple was coming out. Now, I would have held the door for them as the woman was walking with a cane and I'm a kind and gracious person. But 2 things happened here. One the young man held the door and the woman sort of pushed her way out very ungraciously as if we had to defer to her. Now, pleeeeeeeease, don't get on me here. I would have and absolutely DO defer to people coming OUT of the door, but this old lady was obnoxious. But after entering I sort of stepped off to the side to defer to this young adult man to get a sandwich because I figured he was on his lunch hour and I had plenty of time and am never rushed......okay, rarely rushed to go anywhere. But he didn't proceed. He let me go first! I was stunned and honored that a MAN ( a REAL man/gentleman) would do that. Most places they'd push ahead and run to be first in line. What a sweetheart he was - and a true gentleman.
~*~

Then another thing happened there. A group of people entered together maybe 7 or 8 of them. I noticed one short kind of plumpish young woman from the back. When she and another man had finished getting their sandwiches they walked to a table and sat down. He went back to the soda fountain to get their drinks and upon returning lost control of the 2 containers and soda went flying everywhere. They were both splattered and had to move one table closer to me. That's when I really noticed her hair. She had it back in a ponytail and she took it out and let it fall down. I have to tell you she had the most gorgeous glorious hair I've ever seen. Lovely frost job, magnificent cut and it was just shoulder length but thick and just lovely. I don't think I've ever seen hair so pretty. As I got up to leave I put my arm around her shoulder and whispered to her that she had the most gorgeous hair I've ever seen. To say I startled her at first is a bit understated but when I whispered in her ear she just smiled. She was very pretty also. I think I made that chick's day! Isn't it wonderful to know you made someone's day??? Oh, she was "plumpishly pregnant" when she turned around! I'm sure like all of us when we are pregnant she probably felt awkward and I think that lifted her spirits again.
~*~

I've noticed that when we eat at home, hubs starts right in. Me? I have to put everything on the plate, arrange it all and salt and pepper before I even start. He will put one thing on and start eating just that one thing before he puts all of the food/salad on the plate. Just seems weird to me to not put it all on and then start.
~*~

We were at Olive Garden last week eating and a couple was seated near us. Now, this is becoming the typical thing in restaurants but for you younger guys and gals, men used to remove their hats in restaurants and Love Bunny still does. He would never ever eat with a hat on or in his "underwear"! He removes a hat when going into a church also. But this young adult male was kind of a slob in his attire also. But when he asked if they had hash browns, eggs or waffles IN OLIVE GARDEN I thought I would break out laughing. Duh, you came to an Italian restaurant and they don't serve breakfast, kiddo!!
~*~

A couple dining in a restaurant should never clean up the plates and stack them. Bad etiquette. It's a nice thought but strictly out of line. Leave them for the waitpersons to do.
~*~

Hubs and I were shopping at WM recently and were trekking through the girls department on our way to another department. I noticed the little girls bras and shrieked at hubs to look at this: a pink bra with polka dots and lace and padded and very sexy for a KID?!?!?! Trust me if they're that small they don't need a bra, ladies! Sheeeesh...........
~*~

Towels? Yep, towels! Have you noticed how the kitchen dish towels get dirty in the "center" while the bathroom hand towels get dirty of the "ends"? True.
~*~

For me ambrosia is pineapple juice. I could drink it all the time if allowed. But water makes the body function best. When as a kid I lived in Hawaii we'd go to Del Monte's pineapple plant and they'd have pineapple juice coming out of the water spigots on the fountains. I loved that and it was so neat to drink it out of a water fountain.
~*~

For me, life is a potential blog. Or photoshoot, much to Love Bunny's dismay. *Chuckle*....
~*~

I read a LOT. I'm talking about at least 2 or 3 books a week depending on the length and things I need to do that week. But I've noticed something recently: it's very difficult to read numbers written out, such as seven delta four zero four (7D404). When reading them my brain wants to "convert" the written number into the actual number. It slows me down when reading a book with a lot of that in it. Brains are weird, aren't they? Hmmmmmm.......
~*~

I've been surfing and reading some blogs lately and wonder about some. I truly think some want to become famous and there is nothing in the world wrong with that. But it made me wonder what some people would do for fame. What is your limit and what would you do for millions of dollars?

Well, my honest answer is this. What would I do for millions of dollars: absolutely nothing! I have sufficient for our needs and am happy. What more could I possibly want?!
~*~

I feel sorry for all the people who have tattoos because what a waste of money it is. Also the "s*x changes" men and women go through because when the Lord comes we'll be as we were "originally" with the original gender restored and our bodies will be perfect. I'm hoping my perfect body is sorta in the shape of Sophia Loren! Hey, she's one of the most gorgeous women I've ever seen.
~*~

In this day and age of everyone having a cell phone it got pretty ugly around here recently when hubs and I both were on our cells in the same room. At least with our land lines (yes, I still have one and will always have one and use it 99.9% of the time) we have "extensions" and can be in separate rooms when chatting with kids, but with 2 people carrying on 2 different conversations in the same room it just doesn't work!
~*~

I think most of us have read the story of an old person going to do one thing which leads to another and then another and never gets the original task done. Well, I had one of those moments recently (I actually have them all the time but this is one that stayed fresh in my mind!) and decided to mention it. DUH!

When rearranging my office (yessssssss, again!!!) I noticed my eyeglasses were dirty and got out the windex to clean them and then noticed it was the last towel on the roll and we all know how that glue on the last paper towel will leave glue on the glasses, right? Ooooookay, so it was off to the garage to pick up a fresh roll to FINISH cleaning the glasses again and then I saw something out there that needed tending so did that and then wanted to make a note on my shopping list to pick up more paper towels and toilet tissue. Then I decided to make a bathroom call before I did that and did my business in there and then decided the toilet needed cleaning. Did that and then forgot that the mail was calling my name from the post box outside so went out and did that. Then came back in and placed the mail on the table and then noticed I never did the original thing I wanted to do. *Sigh*............
~*~

And last, but not least as they say, is this magnificent stuff here. I learned about this several years ago and this is the original tin I bought. It's for dry skin and contains lanolin. And yessssssss, that's cow b**bs on the picture. Hubs tells me they used to use this on the farm for cows when their udders got chapped. So yesssssssss, it can be used for chapped lips also. It is so dry out here in the western U.S. deserts. And yessssssss, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, southern Idaho, and of course, Nevada and eastern Calif are all desert. HOT and DRY, chicks. I had tried everything on my lips - all kinds of chapsticks, Burts Bees and a creamy nice one from pink rose pastries but they didn't do the job this stuff does. It has a pleasant fragrance but I think it's the lanolin that makes it so good. I put a small amount on during the day and a bit more on at night and my lips don't dry out the way they used to. I found this in the local WM but I'm guessing just about any drug store would have it. It's actually fantastic for any dry body part. I recommend it highly.

~*~


7 years old Sirloin!

As I've told you before when extolling the virtues of my vacuum sealer it is the best invention ever! Here is another case of it being the best money ever spent. (Okay, it was a gift from my son so I didn't pay for it, but I buy the bags for it!)

During our move 3 1/2 years ago (long story of moving 3x in 6 months) into this house our freezer meat got tossed around so much we weren't sure what we had. Hence, some of it got pushed to the back when we put it back into the freezer. We recently did an inventory to eat the oldest meat first and found this package of meat dated March 2002 had fallen down behind the shelf. Yes, that's the correct date. We ate this tonight and there was absolutely nothing wrong with it. NO freezer burn from 7 years ago. Tasted great. So you'd better get one of those before long, chicks, or you're wasting money wrapping it in freezer wrap or plastic bags. Here's tonight's meal. And that little bottle of steak seasoning??? It's fantastic to put on any meat. We love it and don't cook any beef without adding this to it. Yummmmmm........

My Grandma and Grandpa

My cousin in W.V. is the genealogist in this family. Actually, she's my cousin's daughter but I never knew my cousin and have more of a connection with Vicki than her mother. But I'm very grateful and appreciative of the genealogy work she has and is so diligently working on.

She has it back to the 11th century I believe. She's found that one of our ancestors is William Wallace of Braveheart fame, but I've never seen the movie so I really don't know much about him. But recently we've had a few more "spirit of Elijah" happenings in this family.

My brother is getting the genealogy bug and his son has been doing quite a bit of it. My brother has sent me some back to the 15th century. But that's not what I'm going to talk about today.

We all have special memories of grandparents and I'm no different. But the "spirit" has been so close for several weeks now that I want to introduce you to my grandmother.

Since my father's mother died when he was 2 from the flu epidemic in the early 20s I never knew her but I've certainly felt her spirit. The grandmother I did know is Ruth and is my mother's mother.

The picture below is her and her father - my great grandfather. I don't remember if I ever met him though. I got my bosom from that side of the family! Grandma took me on train trips since my grandfather worked for the railroad as a conductor. She also told me I was her favorite granddaughter and I truly doubted that and supposed that she said it to all her granddaughters until just recently when my brother told me that she told him also that I was, indeed, her favorite granddaughter. None of my cousins will read this so I feel safe is stating that here. ;-)

That is her second from left and her husband, my grandfather, in the middle. He was tall and regal bearing and never put anyone before his kids or grandkids. Last biscuit on the table was mine if I wanted it. Kind and generous man.

This is my grandma 2nd from left and her sisters and a brother I think. I don't remember him so not sure.

My grandpa, Walter. Isn't he handsome? I think so.

We think this is them - grandma and grandpa on the left. Looks like him, but my grandma looks kinda coquettish and I've never seen her look like that. This had to be in the 1890s.

But this is where I remember staying with them once when we visited. They built this home in Ohio near Huntington, W.V. and it was in a peach orchard. My mother was so embarrassed to tell anyone they lived in a peach orchard! They loved it and the house was truly a lovely one for the early 50s. I never could figure out why it embarrassed my mother to say they built in an orchard.

That is my brother and little sister in the picture below. Maybe I was taking the picture, don't remember. But my grandpa would pluck a peach off a tree and cut it into little sections for us with his pocket knife. (Remember the days when just about every little boy or man had a pocket knife? Not anymore though.) But the juice would run down our lips and chins and we'd just love it.

Then that road off to the left side was a dirt road and we'd walk down there and think we were in a secret place. We really had good times in that home.

This is a family reunion in 1894 from my grandma's side of the family. Looks like a bunch of horse thieves to me but I doubt it. Just the way they dressed back then. But that's my "family" there. Hard to imagine I'll see them one day, huh?

And these are my grandparents pretty near the end of their lives. My grandma had diabetes in the latter part of her life and had to have her legs amputated. This is a picture of them in the hospital just before grandpa's passing away. My aunt told me many years ago that just before he died my grandmother was near him and he told her "Ruth, you're the most gorgeous woman I've ever seen." There's no doubt in my mind whatsoever that's a true story because it's so like him. My only wish is that hubs sees me that way with his eyes also when it gets near the ending of our mortal lives.

Stained Glass Window and Some Happenings

For those of you who have emailed me and asked about the tissue paper flower pom poms, the tissue paper was 20" x 30" long and about 12 sheets per flower. I accordion pleated them, tied them with yarn in the middle and then just carefully—VERY CAREFULLY—pulled the sheets of tissue paper apart. You can cut scallops, points or just leave them plain because they'll be beautiful even plain. Here are all seven I made yesterday. In that middle one I put in one sheet of the darker pink with the lighter pink.
~*~

Yesterday was quite a day. My son, my son-in-law and grandson-in-law all had surgery the same day. What a day!

Son had surgery on his knee that has been operated on about 5 times already on his meniscus. It was supposed to be arthroscopy but got in there and decided me needed more extensive work on his knee.

My son-in-law is on dialysis and had to have his right shoulder replaced. The surgeon said he gets the award for "Most uncomplaining patient ever" because his shoulder was shot and they can't believe he never complained. Nothing was there and one tiny bump would have destroyed it. So that has been replaced and he's at this minute tonight taking morphine every 6 minutes. They will replace his fistula on his left arm this year sometime with a cow vein. (I asked daughter if this means he'll be able to "MOOOOO" then. She said no.) LOL Anyway, then when that heals on his left arm they will replace that shoulder also. Here's his picture from last Thanksgiving.
*

Then while all this was happening my granddaughter's hubby had some bad pressure in his tummy area last night so this morning when the pain got real bad they rushed him to hospital and did an emergency appendectomy! Then when granddaughter went home to get his cell phone and laptop and came out of the house in Washington state it was snowing a "whiteout"! She narrowly avoided crashing into 2 cars coming down the hill from their house. She then turned right around and went home, gunning her car all the way up the hill to get it GOING up the hill, called her hubby and said I'm staying home. Being from California she is not used to driving in snow.

It's been an extremely busy day around this household trying to get information from all 3 people in 3 different places: northern Calif., southern Calif., and Washington state. We do things in a big way in this family!! *Wink*......... We are truly blessed in this family because everyone is well today! I told you we're an optimistic family and I wasn't kidding. No big deal tonight on any of this. Everyone has been truly blessed to come through this day fine.
~*~

I was blessed to have been given this window by a sweet lady. I don't know what I did to deserve this leaded glass window but it must have been something good. Could it be my sunny personality??? Hmmmmm?!?!?! Anyway, if one of you chicks lived nearby you could have it. But it is monstrously heavy! So I'm not shipping it anywhere. I simply do not have room for it anymore so I'll probably put it on Craigs List and sell it for a few dollars. Breaks my heart.

Do Ya Wanna See My Pink Pompoms

I'm sure I just alerted the p***erts on the web with my title to this. Sigh..........

But anyway, remember when we were young and took kleenex tissues and made roses out of them by folding them like an accordion and using our bobby-pins to hook them in our hair?? Well, look what I made today from pink tissue paper. These are really large and I'm going to hang them in my office—from the ceiling. I sure hope Love Bunny doesn't crash into them. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know you can see the scotch tape and yeah, I did tear them a bit but the tape will be lost in the flower. It looks like a dahlia. Truly it does. I'm making several of these. They are so easy!

I asked hubs to take a picture of my "pompoms" and he agreed. See how big they are!

I aimed the camera at the very top looking down so you can see how it really does look like a flower.

Only gotta make 4 more. :-)

Cottages and Roses Paintings #4 for Pink Saturday

This is the 4th time I've edited this post!! I keep thinking of things I want to tell ya chicks or tips I want to share.
~*~

I've been thinking on what I wanted to do with a corner behind me to the left of the desk in my office. I just couldn't come up with anything, but actually I hadn't given it too much thought as I've been super busy trying to find space for my sheets and towels.........here I go—getting off track!

Anyway, I was reading a blog the other day and she had a corner and "BOOOOOING", it hit me like a ton of bricks!! I don't know why because I've done this in my house in other places, but it just didn't hit me until I saw her picture. Donna "snapped a rubber band" at my head with the picture over on her blog today.......hmmmm, seems like yesterday though. Oh well............ I simply put a little lamp that has been sitting on the floor until I could find out what to do with it. This is the corner where my cable modem and wireless router sit and it looks just "blah" there. I've been thinking but it didn't sink in until her blog picture. I am going to cover the little tv tray it is sitting on. My office can't be configured many ways because of all the electronics I have hooked up to my computer so this is IT, chicks. It fills that corner AND gives me some light. But it was so short that I added the books to it for a bit of elevation. Works very well. DUH!!!

~*~

I've had these millinery roses for years and years and they've kind of "settled or flattened" from being in a drawer for so many years.

Then I came across a tip from Heather several days ago—can't really remember when— and tonight I decided to test it out as I had nothing to do. Riiiiiight!!!! Hah. Anyway, I thought I'd share this tip/trick with all of you. It actually worked well as you can see in the pictures below of the before and after. They're actually very perky and pretty now.

The tip is to hold them upside down over a steaming kettle or pot. I used a pot with boiling water and held it over for a minute or so and voilà! They are back in shape.

~*~

Okay, I got to thinkin' today, chicks. I wanna do a swap with only one person! Just me and someone else. I want to do a crown swap. Anyone wanna accept the challenge to do it with me??? Hmmmm??? Just email me today and let me know. I'm only going to do one person. I want to get to know one of you very well. By 5 pm tonight. I'll pick the name out of a hat and announce it after 5 pm TONIGHT. This is gonna be fun!!!

~*~

I saw this darling prom gown and had to share. While certainly more modest than some I've seen, most of the teenagers I know wouldn't wear something without a sleeve. However, this dress is adorable with its net ruffles and being pink so I had to share.

I love hand bags like these below—all pink, satin and froufrou-y.

I guess men design these shoes. Women who actually wear them wouldn't design something so high you look like an elephant walking down the street. Just watch the women in these HIGH heels walking. They CAN'T! Why can't they design these in a shorter heel style so we don't ruin out feet later in life. Trust me on this ONE!!!! They are adorable though.

This looks like something designed by a man who hated women! Like maybe the Marquis de S*de!

You certainly won't break a heel in this one; you'll break your FOOT! Silly.

Seriously, chicks, can you REALLY see someone actually buying, wearing and walking in such a shoe??? This designer must REEEEALLLLY hate women! Idiot!
~*~

How I love this magnificent huge rose bouquet!

Spending a summer afternoon watching sail boats drifting by while reading your favorite book and having a picnic lunch with someone special.

Spending some time at the sea shore watching the ocean ebb and flow in your solitude with the birds drifting overhead and a blue bouquet at your window. Feel the sand on your toes as you dig them into the sand.

A bouquet of roses freshly picked from the garden and tossed onto a side table until they can be arranged into a vase. She reminds me of Paul de Longpre and his luscious painting of roses in this one.

Another exuberant bouquet of picks from the garden on a summer morn with fresh berries and other fruit for a tête-a-tête.

Last of these paintings by Barbara Mock.
~*~