Something for Sunday

Today, I have some "odds 'n ends" for you--a bunch of random stuff.

1. This is my sister, Janice. She has recently gone to an assisted living facility called Delmar Gardens in St. Louis. She is in the memory care unit. As you are reading this, I am there visiting her! 

I'm happy to see a smile on her face!

2. I made this as a surprise for Connie's granddaughter, Analise.

We went to her beautiful wedding on Easter weekend. 

3. Speaking of weddings, I added Jordan and Robbie's portrait to our wall.

We're running out of wall space! And, we still have to address our Scrabble wall in the rec room. We need to add Robbie. Then we have the new baby--our first great grandchild due any day now. Next, Mitchell and Emily are getting married next year. Sooo, we're thinking about waiting until then as adding the new names will require taking everything down and re-configuring the entire wall.

We can easily add Robbie with Olly's "O"--but when it comes time to re-configure, we're going to have to figure out all of the new letters we'll need to add. That also means, that we may need to add or subtract some of the letters we already have. Years ago, when we first did this, I found a website where all I had to do was put the names in and it would generate several configurations. I cannot find that now. The thought of trying to figure it out on my own seems sort of impossible--even though Scrabble is my game!! I'll have to let you know how it goes.

4. When we went to the beach, Butch had to address the showers. Stephanie and Nicky were there the weekend before us and reported that there was little to no water pressure.

The shower heads were clogged. We ended up calling a plumber. He told us that there are actually 3 filters in each shower head. He recommended just replacing them--which is what we did. Luckily Butch is so handy--he can do just about anything.

5. Speaking of Butch, I thought I'd add this throwback picture of the early years--when he was a tv repairman.

Not great quality, but you get the idea! Also, I have to add--even though he is so handy, he cannot fix tv's now-a-days. Actually, it's a shame to say, that it's not even worth trying to repair them. TV's are cheap, so it's always replace rather than try to repair. Not great for the environment, but--as everyone says--"it is what it is!"

6. And last, but not least, I got a sweet text from Elizabeth. I love it when she shares the nice reviews and comments she gets from her clients. This one is so good that it makes me want to drive my fine, limp hair down to Atlanta to see what she can do with it!!

Scrapbook Saturday

So. On Monday, Nancy, Connie and I went to see Michael. It was soooo good! Of course, I have always been an MJ lover. When I got home, I decided to find a layout I did quite awhile ago.

I did this layout for an ABC album in 2011.

While I was searching for the layout above, I found a second layout that I completely forgot about! I did this one in 2008. The King of Pop!

I still agree with every word I've written!! I love Michael Jackson!

Friday Funnies

Ten Things Thursday

How about some pretty table settings for spring? I do love a beautiful table. 

I think this one is going to be in the new White House ball room.

Love this overlooking the pool.

Okay, this one is my favorite in its simplicity. I love the vintage hobnail butter dish and the pink depression glasses.

Blue and pink is a gorgeous combination. That's a lot of plates--4!! Love those pink goblets too.

Great napkin fold--especially for Valentine's Day.

Love the individual florals.

Adorable! 

My mother had these plates which now belong to Jordan--if we could only find them. Really, we don't know where they are!

Pretty teapot arrangement.

Love anything outdoors. Again, what's with 4 plates? Looks pretty for sure.

Which one is your favorite? Do you like to set a pretty table?

What I Buy Wednesday

About twice a year, I go to the liquor store to stock up on gin. I love a good gin & tonic! 

On our first book club trip to England--8 years ago--we went to Nottingham for book club at our member, Diane's house. Her husband, Gren took us on a tour. He introduced me to Sipsmith lemon gin. I loved it! I had never heard of flavored gins before--now I'm hooked.

Our local Total Wine has a huge selection. There are so many choices:

From left: elderflower rose gin, cucumber and lemon, rose flavored, indigo gin.

Gray Whale contains 6 California botanicals!

Another botanical, blood orange and grapefruit. I haven't had these brands, but I do like the blood orange and grapefruit.

There's even Irish gin made with potatoes, Sevilla orange and Rangpur lime (I've had the lime and liked it).

Italian fig and laurel, California orange, Sardinian citrus, Brazilian pineapple, and plain Irish gin. I have never had this brand nor, these flavors. They are kinda' pricey for me.

Both of these are just regular gin. 

I have no idea what St. Andrews love gin is, but it's pretty.

Now this cranberry and blood orange sounds interesting.

This is an assortment of regular gins--ther are so many! I would never pick Mr. Pickles.

More regular gin. 

More flavors. But now, let's talk about the bottles. 

I am just as likely to be attracted to a beautiful bottle as I am to what's inside!! So many choices. 

So, without further ado, here's what I actually came home with:

I went ahead and bought the Malfy grapefruit and lemon. I love both of those, although I still prefer the lemon Sipsmith, but that's hard to get here. I've also had blood orange gin and like it too--this is a new brand that I haven't tried before. And finally, the Wild Roots is grapefruit and cucumber. That sounds really interesting. Plus, how cool is that label? I'm a sucker for it all!!

I had planned to take one of these bottles with us to the beach. Instead, as I was putting these away, I saw this one:

I'd forgotten all about it. I don't even remember if I was the one who bought it. Persian lime and orange blossom. This is the bottle we took with us to the beach. It's delicious--even Butch agreed--very refreshing. It's very likely I bought it just because of the brand: Bathtub Gin. Sounds like something right out of the "bootleg" era!

So, what are your thoughts on gin? Do you have a favorite? 

Travel Tuesday

Today, my travel post is for anyone coming to Nashville. These are some really good tips to remember to help save some money on Broadway.

Me on Monday

As I begin this, the memories are coming fast and furious. This most likely will be a long post. So, if you are not interested in a 74 yr. old woman who has fallen in love with a man who is not her husband—just skip it. You’ve been warned!! 

I started paying attention to music in the 5th grade. I fell in love with the Beatles and their big hit, “I wanna’ hold your hand!” After seeing them on the Ed Sullivan show in 1964, I was hooked! Bad! Really bad! Three of my friends and I started our own Beatles group. I was George. We were 12 years old and stretchy headbands were in style. We’d flip our hair over the top of the band to get the appearance of those long-haired boys. We strummed tennis rackets and sang our little hearts out 3 or 4 four times a week after school!

Next came Peter Noone from Herman’s Hermits. I was so in love with him that I smooched the back of the record album which had a full-size face of him. I remember being so in love with him that I thought I might die! Dramatic, I know, but that’s how I learned how to kiss!

There were others that I loved through the years, David Cassidy, Michael Jackson and so many more. I surely could easily have been a groupie—except, I had no money, no records and no transportation. So, there was no going to concerts or following them around. 

Fast forward to NKOTB. For those of you who are not “blockheads,” that stands for New Kids on the Block. I have Stephanie to thank for that. She fell hard for them when she was in 6th grade. She and her best friend, Malinda were consumed with everything NKOTB. They had it all: bedding, dolls, records, t-shirts—anything and everything. Since I totally related to her and her adolescent, all encompassing LOVE, I was all “in” helping her to get as close to them as she could. I convinced Malinda’s mom, Connie to camp out with us to be the first in line at Turtles Records to get the best seats at their concert when they first came to Nashville. 

As we were sitting on the sidewalk outside the store, Channel 2 News showed up and were interviewing Connie. She was so nervous, she told the reporter that I watched them every afternoon! What? What did that even mean! They turned their cameras to me and, I don’t know, I probably said some stupid stuff. Add to the fact that it was cold out and I had the hood of my coat tied tightly around my head and looked completely ridiculous! When the cameras were turned off, Connie turned to me and said, “I am so sorry!!” Yeah, she made me look like an idiot on local tv!! We were joined by other friends, Pam and Bruce—about 11 of us—and ordered pizza delivery on the sidewalk. We turned it in to a party! I was always about creating memories—and this was a good one for me too!

So all of that music history brings us up to now—62 years later. I have fallen in love with another musician! His name is Patrick Murphy. He is a vocalist at our church. There was no sneaking around. Right in front of Butch, one Sunday I said, “I have to go and talk to him!” I darted off and introduced myself. I told him how much I loved his voice and music. I just knew he had to be in the music business. I asked about that. He told me he was and that he appreciated me letting him know how I felt. Okay, I did use the “L” word, but only related to his voice! He is in the music business, so I went to his website and signed up to find out where he was appearing around town. Occasionally, I get an email when he cuts a new record. 

Just goes to show that you are never too old to fall in love! Even though, this love of another musician will remain unrequited, I can at least listen to his music and see him at church every Sunday! Luckily, Butch isn't the jealous type!

Enjoy! Just click on his name and then the link that appears.

Patrick Murphy