Monday Mystery

This actually qualifies as "Throwback Thursday" too!

How is it that Mitchell is carrying this?

More importantly, how is it that an 18 year old boy is not EMBARRASSED to be carrying his mother's Vanilla Ice high school notebook? Where in the world did he find it?

And the mysteries continue...

This and That

It's looking like Christmas in Nashville. We kicked it off on Thursday night with Christmas Village. I've been going for nearly 30 years---I think I've only missed one. Actually, I'm kind of over it, but now Stephanie and Mindy want to go. What I used to think was so exciting---now is just crowded and expensive. Funny how your perspective changes as you get older! I've decided to look at it differently---something to do with the girls. So, as long as they want to go, I'll do it. I think they just like the wine and dinner after!

Have I ever mentioned how much I love the Apple Store? Well, I do! I knew better, but somehow, I downloaded some malware on to my computer. It took over my homepage and gave me a million pop-ups. I did everything I could think of and couldn't fix it. I booked an appointment at the Genius Bar. Those guys are truly geniuses. I guess that's where they got the name. He fixed it in less than 5 minutes.

I'm not the only one who loves the Apple store. It is always so crowded that now they line up outside. The Apple employees---make that iEmployees---try to assist you while you wait in line. Apple definitely knows how to do things quickly and efficiently.

I love Butch almost as much as I love the Apple Store. Okay, a little bit more----because he does stuff like this.

He noticed that the box I carry my printer in needed some repair. He took care of it for me. He does stuff like that. Hmmm. That's exactly what the Apple Store does---takes care of stuff for me. No wonder I love them both!!

So, I gave Butch a quiz titled: "How Anti Social Are You?" His test results were that he was a "Super Social Person." Just goes to show, you CANNOT rely on these tests!! You can say Butch is a lot of things---but social is NOT one of them! Don't get me wrong, he can hold his own when he needs to, but he doesn't like it. Let's just leave it at anti-social.

Today, it is frrreeezzzziiinnnggg! You might know that this would be the day that I picked for family and friends to rent the pedal tavern! It holds 16 people. You pedal around town. You can bring your own beverages or stop along the way. We're bringing. I'm thinking hot chocolate! The place cancels if it's below 40 degrees. I think it will be right at 40 when we are to begin, but will drop lower as the night progresses. We cannot cancel them without losing our money. We'll just have to go for it.

Sometimes I wonder how I get myself in to these things. Oh yeah, now I remember. That's because I'm a planner and I want to do EVERYTHING!! Mostly, my friends like that about me. I'll let you know how they feel after tonight!

That's about enough of this and that!

A Cautionary Tale

Morgan's new iPhone was stolen at work this week. They had insurance, so she got a new one. But, remember those tips about taking a picture of all the credit cards you carry in your wallet? Well, it sounds like a good idea but maybe isn't.

Morgan had the photo of one credit card on her phone to use in case of emergency. Well, the thief that stole her phone must have had an emergency too!! Steph has cancelled the card after some "unauthorized usage."

Apparently the thief must not understand the cloud! He/she has taken pictures that are coming through on Morgan's new phone due to her iCloud account. Seems like with the "find my phone" app and GPS capabilities, the thief could be tracked pretty easily. I'm sure it's a low priority for law enforcement.

I don't really understand phone thieves. Once you report the phone lost or stolen, it's shut down or locked down---or something like that. Maybe it's easy to get around that. Otherwise, why bother?

If you do take photos of what's in your wallet---use your regular camera. What's that you say? That other clickable hand held device we used to use before we all had iPhones!

Five Things Thursday

Here are 5 layouts I did at the farm last week:

Monday Mystery

Well, now we think there's something funny about this house. I was away scrapbooking this week. Butch was home alone. One day, after coming home from a meeting, he found this in the middle of the family room floor:

It's a tiny black raven---part of my Halloween decorations. But here's the thing. Between my pantry moths and our remodeling, I decided NOT to put out the Halloween decorations. So, I didn't. Where in the world did this little guy come from?

Now I'm beginning to think someone is either playing tricks on us, or trying to drive us mad. Hmmm, maybe that's it. If we're committed, then our kids get our money----right? But wait a minute. I don't think they need to stoop so low. They are sharing enough right now!!!

Golf Weekend

We girls are leaving today to get a head start on our "golf weekend." We'll be scrapbooking. The guys will join us later in the week.

Anyway, just so you know I'm okay---just without internet access! How will I survive? It gets harder and harder!!

Next week the demolition begins at home for the remodel!!

Monday Mystery

I don't have a new mystery for today, but we never did find out who left the "Bicycling in Tennessee" book. I'm adding it to the list!

Halloween Recap:
Butch was prepared for the trick-or-treaters early.

We have high hopes every year. This year we only had 3 trick-or-treaters. We usually have around 5 or 6. It was chilly---which probably put them off.

The Lapps family ready for parties. Elizabeth is the only one who actually trick-or-treats.

My sister, Jeanne made a sign for her daughter's candy bowl. Now-a-days, both parents go trick-or-treating with their kids. In our day, one stayed home to hand out the candy. Anyway, Jeanne made a sign that said "take one" for their candy bowl. I'm waiting to see how that worked out. Our news reporter did the same thing. When she got home, not only was all the candy gone, they stole her bowl too. 

Stephanie, Nicky and Mindy were at a Halloween party. The neighborhood gets a thousand kids going through---I am not exaggerating. She said they get a pallet of candy. Here's the problem---they are not all kids!! They said that many are adults---not dressed up, just holding a pillow case to collect the candy. Whatttt??? They said that the kids literally file through in a long line that never ends. It could be the same kids over and over!! I might have to witness that next year!!

Mindy made this cute Halloween wreath for an auction she's going to next week. Everyone brings something hand-made. Rather than using money to bid, they bring canned goods. All for charity. Sounds like fun!!

Mindy sent this picture of the gumbo she had cooking in the crock pot. She's starting to become quite the cook. Of course, it doesn't hurt that her boyfriend is a chef!! She's bound to learn by osmosis!

I've been working with Stephanie and Nicky on their landscaping. I went over at the end of the summer and planned it all out. Now, each weekend, I've given them a part to complete: amend the soil (the most important thing---and it's easy and cheap!), dig out dead stuff, trim back over-grown things, have stumps ground, then on to the planting. On Saturday, they planted English laurels (of course!) and two purple bushes---the name escapes me now. 

Yesterday, I met Stephanie to purchase the remaining plants. We got hollies, some other decorative bush in a light green and a dark green ornamental dwarf grass. We added some yellow pansies for color. It's all looking really good. These pictures are before the mulch. I left them with that job as I had my own work at home getting ready for our remodeling. 

 I didn't expect them to get quite so "pose-y." I was thinking more of a photo with them down in the dirt. Still, they look cute!

Butch and I spent the weekend moving stuff out of his office and the rec room. As a result, the rest of the house is a "wreck." I guess it will be like this until the job is done---a month at least. It's a good time to clean out and get rid of stuff. I asked Mindy if she wanted to keep her trophies that have been on the shelf for nearly  20 years now. Of course she wants them, but that doesn't mean she'll take them! In to the attic they go. We'll get rid of them the next time we clean out the attic because by then she'll have changed her mind. We know how that goes.

Actually, as it turns out, I do have another "Monday Mystery." While cleaning out the toy cabinets, I came across a tiny little---1/2"---red swastika. I have no idea where it came from or what toy would have had that. I threw it away---should have taken a picture. Strange. A mystery for sure.

So, it was a productive weekend for us. What about you??