Monday Mystery Update

I've already reported about this mystery:

The animal droppings right outside the garage. Butch came up with a good idea that seems to be working. He moved the solar motion light from our pond (where the raccoons wrought so much havoc last year to the garage doors. That did the trick. Whatever it is has stopped. I have a strong suspicion that it's chipmunks! They have been tearing up my pots. But, the mystery still remains--what is it about this spot that attracts them? That we still don't know. There's just nothing there!

Oh well, I hope the light deters them. We'll find out when we get home tomorrow whether it worked or not. 

Something for Sunday

As you read this, we are still on our trip to South Dakota with friends. We are having so much fun! Here are a few pictures:

The Badlands are so beautiful! I had no idea. 

Between the sky and the mountains and the grass, it made for gorgeous pictures. We loved it so much, we are going back on Monday to hike a trail. We think that will be a great way to end the trip--at the most beautiful spot.

We went to two other states besides South Dakota--geo-caching and sightseeing. Here are Bruce, Butch and Hugh.

This is the Devil's Tower. We hiked all the way around it--about a mile and a half.

Deadwood was very touristy. The guys had a beer at Saloon #10 where Wild Bill Hickok was killed while holding the "deadman's hand" named after him--aces and eights. Pam and I took the tour--that no one else wanted to do. It was so interesting. Probably the most important thing I learned was that I totally confused Wild Bill with Wyatt Earp. As we were hearing the story, I kept thinking, "this isn't right!" And then it hit me---wrong person! Sometimes I worry about me! In this picture, it's Karolyn, Pam and me.

After the beers, we drove up to Mt. Mariah where Wild Bill and Calamity Jane are buried.

And here you have Mount Rushmore! The fog never cleared, but we went ahead and did the museum and short film. So when we finally came back on Saturday, we saw this:

We did the presidents walk for another mile and a half. We have done quite a bit of hiking! I'll have to let you know how many miles by the end of the week.

This was after lunch at the Firehouse Brewing Company. 

We've been having the best time. We hit it hard all day. We get back to the hotel and have about an hour to shower and get ready for dinner. Then we meet for happy hour--we found the perfect spot in the hotel. After dinner, we're all ready to just call it a day and relax. Then we start all over again the next day! I'll share a little more on Travel Tuesday!

Scrapbook Saturday

This is my AYM (A Year of Memories) layout for May. Pam chose this months title and put together the kits. Her "story starter" was: "I Still Remember..." I finished with "...how bad it is when Butch gets poison ivy!"

This is the layout I did for our monthly round robin. This one is for Susan and is about her mother's 90th birthday party. I love the colors and this paper combination.

When I was at the Memory Make Inn in February, I decided that I was going to change my scrapbooking process. I always laid out the background papers first. Then I'd end up covering it all up. I decided that I wasn't going to do that anymore. I lay it all out and then cut the paper to use only what I actually need. By doing it that way, I saved this much paper:

That's enough for another layout or two!! At this rate, I'll have enough paper for two lifetimes!!

Friday Funnies

Five Things Thursday

Our sisters trip--from left: Joyce (our baby), Sharon, Jeanne, me, Janet. It was a great trip and time together. It's been 2 and a half years. We missed the twins--Janice and Jennifer this time, but I'll see them soon in St. Louis.

Even at the beach, I cannot get any peace! It doesn't matter the time of day either. Whether it's very early morning (like here), walking in my neighborhood, floating in the pool or sitting on the porch during happy hour---there are blowers or weed eaters assaulting my mind and ears! Everywhere! Everyday! There oughtta' be a law...

Unbelievable to me that Florida does NOT recycle!Not even at the airport. Yet, they have the proper receptacles! What's up with that? It would be so easy. Don't get Butch started on "no recycling at the beach!" They certainly do not make it easy. Butch has to haul all our recycling either to a center some miles away or home--which he does. He takes it all very seriously! It's ridiculous that Florida doesn't!

Mindy and Stephanie spent part of last week in Chicago working and having fun. This photo is incredible! I would love to do this--walk out on to the ledge of the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) the tallest building in Chicago. What a view!

This pretty much sums up Butch and I--I'm the Earl Grey in the morning and he's the single-malt at night. Mindy gave me this candle. It smells amazing. I teased her that I  never knew I like guaiac wood. Actually, I've never even heard of it!

What I Buy Wednesdays

How about a couple little sneak peaks of my latest re-decorating project? We're starting with the family room. New furniture and drapes are on order. The painters are lined up and my friend, Christy---numero uno designer---is handling all the work. Our plan is to lighten up the room with paint and lighter furniture. Plus, we're just tired of it all and ready for a complete change.

Here are just a few of the details--keep in mind, these are not my rooms:

This is a mercury glass table lamp. 

We're replacing our existing side tables with these--in hopes to hide some of the "stuff" we like to have at our fingertips. That lamp will be on Butch's table. I am keeping my floor lamp.

I'm very excited about this ceiling fixture--replacing the fan and light we currently have. We rarely used the fan anyway. 
 

We have a chair that we plan to recover with this fabric.

When Butch and I were at the fabric store, I noticed this:

The very day I was getting ready to leave for the beach, this bag was on the cutting counter of the shop. Shunk Gulley is the restaurant right next to our condo complex. We walked up from the beach one day and had lunch there. Crazy coincidence.

Okay, that's it for now. I'll be sure to take some before pictures so I have them with the after. I always forget to do that. 

Travel Tuesday

By the time you are reading this, we are on our way to South Dakota with friends. Yes, we are traveling a lot. Making up for lost time. With Covid, we've lost what we like to call "a year of eligibility!" We're trying to cram it all in. Who knows how many traveling years we have left. Not morbid, just realistic.

Anyway, here are a couple things seen at the beach last week:

My sister says this is a skink. I believe her because she has a book! This is exactly what we say last year that was living in our wall planter at home. We haven't seen it this year, yet.

I saw these pots on my walk. Oh my gosh! They are gigantic! 

It's kind of hard to tell, but that one in the middle is as tall as I am. Now those really make a statement.

One day, we did an escape room. I'm not good at that sort of thing. My mind operates very methodically. I need to go from step 1 to step 2. I don't do well with just running around looking for what I have no idea! It just seems so chaotic and unorganized. I did not add a single bit of help to our team. We solved it, but we used all of our clues. Then the guy actually just about laid it out for us. Still, we had a good time.

When we're together, there is always a lot of poker playing. At around the age of 5 years old---or when you knew your numbers, our grandma Preli introduced us to a simple game called Fan Tan. It was our first "gambling" game. Yes, we started gambling at the age of FIVE!! Grandma gave us each 25 pennies. It started from there. 

Now-a-days, we play "dealer's choice" with a wide variety of poker games. In honor of your basic beginnings, I called Fan Tan--only instead of pennies, you had to pay twenty cents if you couldn't make a play. That made it a little more interesting. By that time, I was on a roll and won!

Sharon's game of choice was Five Card Draw. This is the closest thing Janet has ever gotten to a Royal Flush! Of course she won with this hand. 

One night, I left the table with $29.50. It was a good night! Now that sounds like a lot, but I started with $15.00. Then, but the time you count the $5.50 I lost the night before, my winnings are actually $9.50. We always have the best time. No one loses much. We play enough that it all comes around. Now that's not the case when we were younger. We played pretty crazy back then! We no longer play the games that make you lose really big bucks: In-Between or Guts. Those games just always ended up causing hard feelings. It's supposed to be fun---and it is!

That's it. I'll have a real travel post next week---if I have the time to write it!

Monday Mystery

As you might recall, I was at the beach last week with my sisters. Well, I noticed this:

See this placemat? Well, I had two of them. 

If you blow up this photo and look at the dining table, you can see that I was using the two of them as a sort of table runner under the candles. One is gone. I searched everywhere. I cannot imagine what happened to it. 

It's not a big deal. I only paid a buck for it--found on clearance at Bed Bath and Beyond. But still, a mystery. 

Something For Sunday

On Mother's Day, Stephanie and Nicky gave me a gift card to Dillard's. Since I posted the pics about all the clothes I'd discarded, they thought I might need something new. 

I went to the mall for the first time in--probably--a couple years. I hadn't been since long before the pandemic. I think this new Dillards has been open for at least 2 or 3 years! I needed a swimsuit cover-up, so thought that would be a perfect thing to shop for. I took this selfie and sent it to Stephanie and Nicky. Then I waited for the store to open. I'm an early bird. I waited about 10 minutes and thought, "Hmm, I wonder why they haven't opened. They always opened at 10 a.m. That's when I walked up to the window and saw this:

Are you kidding me! I guess I'm not used to Covid hours. I do know that most businesses are having a real hard time getting employees to come back. And, it has nothing to do with Covid! That's all I'm going to say about that!

Anyway, so now my Dillard's plan was dashed. I headed on down the mall to the next store I'd planned to go to. That's when I noticed this:

I love Auntie Ann's! I can't have them right now, but one of these days! This is a whole new wing of the mall that I had never been in before. Then there was this:

It's killing me! I do love sweets---anything with cinnamon, sugar and frosting is right up my alley!

I continued on to Soma--I needed a couple of brassieres. Now I don't really call them that, but thought it sounded nicer than "over the shoulder boulder holders!" Anyway, that store doesn't open until 11 either. I went on to Macy's which WAS open. I checked their swim suit department, but didn't find anything. I ended up leaving and arriving 30 minutes early for my lunch date. I sat in mycar and read for a bit. I am never bored. Plus, with the Kindle app on my phone, I always have my book with me.

Okay, that's if for today. I hope you are having a great weekend! I know I am!

Something for Saturday

You know how I love to decorate? Well, I also love seeing what other people do. My favorite cousin, Chrissy, sent me a before and then after pictures of the bathroom she just remodeled.

This is the before. Of course it's perfectly lovely. That floor tile is very similar to what we have at the beach. I get that after so many years, you get tired of something and are just ready for a change. Hence the makeover. 

Don't be fooled---it's not a black and white picture. It all looks so new and fresh. But now, as I'm looking at the pictures again, I'm intrigued by the floor. Chrissy, did you some how have your existing floor stained gray? I don't know if that's a "thing" but it sure looks good. Also, notice those wall vases. She found them at the At Home store. She said she just added some rocks to the bottom, a few philodendron cuttings and water. I love that! Something different besides a picture.

I really like the towel holder too. As you know, I am not a big fan of rings or racks. I'll bet she got her tissue holder At Home too. Speaking of which, have you priced tissue holders these days? OMGosh! They are crazy expensive! Well, at least I think $30.00 or more is expensive.

Thanks, Chrissy for sharing your pictures. If anyone else has done anything they'd like to share, I would be happy to give you a "shout out" on my blog. Just send me some pictures. That's what it's all about. Fun and sharing!!

Friday Funnies