The Truth About My Fishing

I started thinking about why I quit fishing. It was a pretty easy choice at the time. When my third baby came along, my life really changed. There were 8 years between her and my, then, youngest. I was used to having time to do anything I wanted. Plus, we owned a lake house in the Ozarks so fishing was on the priority list. When Mindy came along, all that changed. By the time she was old enough to stay home with her sisters so that Butch and I could go fishing---I chose NOT to. I remember thinking that I would rather have that time for uninterrupted reading on the boat. That was my plan. I had no idea that reading on the boat would be nearly impossible too. About the time I was in to my book, Butch was moving the boat!! I might as well have been fishing!

That was over 30 years ago. Life just kept getting busier and busier. Now-a-days---even though we're retired, there are still not enough hours in the day! How the heck many hobbies can you have? Mine include---probably in order of importance:

1. Reading

2. Scrapbooking

3. Needlepointing

4. Blog following

So this doesn't really look like very many hobbies, but when you add hanging with friends at least twice a week (many times more), traveling and family time---it all takes up a lot of time. Now I've added fishing back to the list. How could I not after the past few days and my fishing success!

 You've already seen this photo, but it was the first and biggest fish I caught.

 I love catching little blue gills---they are all so colorful. Notice the red on the tail!

 This little guy was my favorite---turquoise and yellow. This photo doesn't do it justice.

 This little distraction caused me to get tangled up. Can you see the red-headed woodpecker. Nature---what's not to love?

This was another crappie (as was the first one I caught). I had to ask Butch---I don't really remember the different fish anymore.

This was the best of all worlds---fishing, scrapbooking---a very little reading. Never enough time for everything.

In case you are wondering, Butch and I are "catch and release" fisher-people. I bait my own hooks with real worms and remove my own fish. Not to brag or anything, but I caught the most fish---six!

I forgot that I used to be a tomboy. I also forgot how smelly fish are! So maybe I'm not quite a tomboy anymore!

And that's my truth about my fishing!

I've Still Got It!!

My first time fishing in over 30 years!!

I caught a lunker on my third cast! Okay, not exactly a lunker---I just wanted to throw around my knowledge of fishing!! Still, it was the biggest fish caught---a crappie.

But, I must confess, I got myself all tangled up several times. Story of my life!

Off Again!

For those of you that checked on me last week---thanks!! But, I just wanted to let you know that I'm going to be gone the next week too. I leave today for my sister's crop at KY Lake.

I barely get home on Sunday when we turn around for a trip to the lake with Bruce and Karolyn. I'll be scrapbooking there too. I'm also going to be fishing. I'm really excited about that. I haven't fished for over 30 years---when I had my last baby. When I had that free time on the boat, I chose reading over fishing. It will be interesting to see if I still have it in me!!

Later....

Finally---A Proper Tea

Thanks to my thoughtful husband---I finally got my proper tea! In Tullamook, Oregon, we had the best tour of our trip. It was the cheese factory. We got to see the production line---so fascinating. Afterwards, we tasted the cheese and then visited the ice cream shop. I had the local berry every chance I got---starting with a marionberry crisp---hot with ice cream at a really good restaurant---Georgies. A marionberry is a cross between a loganberry and a blackberry. I had never heard of it When I travel, I really enjoy eating local foods. I had marionberry anything when it turned up on the menu. At the ice cream shop, I got the marionberry pie. It was delicious.

The next day, we went to the La-TEA-Da tea room in the same area.

 The tablecloths were so pretty. All of the china was beautiful---each piece was different and dainty.

 The first course (after our tea pots arrived---cream Earl grey for me---Vanilla hazelnut for Chris) was strawberry sorbet in those tiny tea cups. Just a bit to cleanse our pallets.

We each got our own tiered plate. We had "high tea" which included---from the top---assorted sandwiches, egg salad, tuna, ham and turkey on peach bread, water cress and cheese, mini quiche, chicken and cheese puff and a couple others I can't remember. I had two of the little sandwiches, then moved to the scones on the middle plate---one cheese and the other was berry with Devonshire cream (just like clotted cream---kind of a rich butter). Then we moved down to the dessert portion. I couldn't eat any of these---I was already so full. I texted Butch that I was bringing him lunch. He got 5 sandwiches and All of the desserts and fruit---creme de menthe brownie, marionberry muffin with cream and a blackberry on top, poppyseed muffin, lemon something and a shortbread cookie. I had the cookie later that night.

"High Tea" is an event! It's fun and relaxing. This one rated right up there at the top at $26.95 per person. My favorite "high tea" is at the Drake Hotel in Chicago. It's probably more expensive now, but the last time I had it---it was about $25.00. I used to love the tea at The Plaza hotel in New York City, but it got way too expensive. The last time I had it, the cost was $89.00 per person. They included caviar which I'm sure made the difference in the cost.

My favorite tea had to be in The Cotswolds while visiting the UK a few years ago. Butch was a good sport and had it with me. You can't beat the atmosphere---enjoying tea that goes back 100's of years!

But, I have to say, probably the BEST tea I've ever had was the one that Diane made. She's my British friend from book club. Since I'm a tea lover (snob), she made the biggest spread! It was fabulous! I hope she does it every time it's her turn to host!!

I'm one lucky girl!

A Few Things

I've just spent a little over a week in Oregon with no time for blogging. Here are just a few things.

I posted this picture on Facebook, but never got around to blogging it. We celebrated 44 years of marriage on August 21st. It's so hard to believe---the time has flown by. It was the best decision I ever made! We were babies!

Mitchell's car finally bit the dust. It gave our family 16 good years! First Butch, then Greg, then Mitchell. It still looks so good---no dents or rust. I think the place they donated it to are pretty happy to get it. And, by the way---10 yr. old Elizabeth was the one that found a place that would take it---via the internet. Kids these days know their way around anything electronic!

There's nothing like a surprise in the mail. My cousin, Chrissy made this wreath. In fact, she makes all kinds of fabulous wreaths. I admired this one and a week later it was in the mail to me!! She chauffeur me all around St. Louis---she's always been so generous to me. I love her!!

Upon arriving in Oregon, we went to a restaurant in Portland near the university. I've already forgotten the name of the place, but it came up on a list of the best sandwiches to have in all 50 states before you die. This one was called the Reggie Deluxe. Butch and I split it. It was a chicken biscuit with sausage gravy and a fried egg on top. Pretty much anything with a fried egg is a deal maker for me---like roasted red peppers or avocados! If those are in the description---I'm getting it.

Butch and his brother had not fly-fished in 30 years. They still had it in them. It was a very successful fishing trip---finally. They have the worst luck when it comes to fishing.

I liked to say we hiked the Oregon trail. But the truth is I have no idea where the Oregon trail is or if we even came near it. Instead, we hike a mile and a half to this waterfall in the Willamette State Forest.

 We arrived at our bed and breakfast and this is what greeted us---a big tom turkey with the gobble gobble thing.

The bed was so tall---thank goodness they had a step stool under the end table. I have a little step up in to my bed at home, but I could get in it without the step. Not this one.

This was the largest dog I've ever seen---even bigger than a Great Dane. I thought it was a giant poodle, but it was something else. I never heard of it before---thus I cannot remember it.

We saw so many deer everywhere in Oregon. We see a lot of deer here in Tennessee, but not this many---and not ALL day long. Our deer are more nocturnal. At the Powder Creek bed and breakfast, they were so tame that they would eat right out of your hand. I was happy just taking the picture. I would have had to wash my hands after.

And while we're talking about animals, I want to set the record straight. People accuse me of not liking animals. The truth is, I LOVE animals!!! To look at. I don't want to own them or have them in my house. I don't want them jumping on me or slobbering on me. I don't particularly want to touch them. And I don't like the smell. I just want to observe them and be amazed at unusual animals. I've always said that if someone put a gun to my head and said I had to have a pet, it would be a cat. They seem to be the least amount of work. We have fish---but when you travel as much as we do, even they are a pain!

Don't get me wrong, we've had many outside cats over the years. And, I get attached just like everybody. It's just not worth the heartbreak when they die. I learned that lesson at 10 years old. Our pet boxer disappeared. I cried for a couple weeks. I had the sense to tell myself that it was ridiculous to be so upset about an animal. That pretty much did it for me. I try not to get attached. But when one of our cats fell victim to that poison pet food about 10 years ago, I sobbed like a baby all the way home from the vets.

I get it---pets are family! They are just not my family!

Five on Friday

I thought I would share a few of my favorite websites with you.

1. I just found this one while looking for a photographer for Mindy's wedding.
Thumbtack is really unique. Think of it as a bulletin board that you've "thumbtacked" a bunch of business cards! Whatever you need---painter, landscaper, help with technology, interior designer, tutor, or in my case photographer---you put in that information. Then you will fill out a brief questionnaire that includes your zipcode and how much YOU want to pay. Then you just wait for offers to come in via email. I put in a rather low bid for a photographer and got 2 bids. Both show excellent work, but I chose the one that had 22---5 star reviews. It was also the less expensive of the two bids. The other looked equally as good, but only had 3---5 star reviews. The whole process was very easy. In fact, I'm trying to think of something else I need just so I can use it again! Connie, find us a window washer!

2. Next up is Etsy. Most of you have probably heard of Easy but I'm posting this for those of you that don't know about it. Basically, it's a marketplace for individuals to sell things. Most of the items for sale are handmade things. But you can find other things there too. Just put whatever you are looking for in the search box and see what pops up. That's how I found my scrabble tiles for my newly remodeled rec room.

3. I always talk about the nearly 200 blogs I follow. There's no way I could list them all, but here are a few of my favorites:
For scrapbooking, storytelling and clever titles:
From High in the Sky
For great recipes and weekly menu plans:
Six Sisters Stuff
For great home interiors and decorating ideas:
Between Naps on the Porch
For a good lifestyle blog on fashion, home decor, recipes and fun---these sisters are out of Springfield, MO---although Elsie has just moved to Nashville:
A Beautiful Mess
For a little of everything---and just because the blog itself is beautiful---you wouldn't expect anything less from this designer:
Susan Branch (I have no idea why this one comes up blue)

4. I could never follow over 200 blogs without a blog reader. I recommend it for anyone---even if you only follow a few. The best thing about Bloglovin' is that it lists all of the blogs you follow that have a new post. That way, you do not have to go to each individual blog to see if there is a new post. It doesn't cost anything---you just need to sign up. If you are on Facebook, you can sign in that way. Then you just put the blogs you follow in the search box and you can add them to your feed.

5. This list would not be complete without Ted Talks. You can find talks from 10-30 minutes on just about any topic under the sun! I like to listen to them while on the treadmill.

So there you go---great places to while away your time (as if you needed more ways!). You might notice that I did not list Facebook. As far as I'm concerned, Facebook is a huge time waster! There's a lot of crap on there. Don't get me wrong---I do check it out a few times a week, but I don't love it. I like family pictures and clever comments, but for the most part, it's just a whole lot of crap. In fact, I prefer to refer to it as Facebook!

If you have any questions, or need any help just let me know.

By the time you are reading this post, I will be off again. Butch and I are meeting Walter and Chris in Oregon for 9 days. We've never been there. Butch has spent hours finding out the best things to do and see. I'm really looking forward to having "high tea" since I didn't have it in London!!

Have a great week!!

I Never Knew

That my Starbucks card could be hacked!

In the airport on my way to St. Louis, I reloaded my Starbucks "card" with $50.00. I paid for my "venti iced black tea shaken with three equals please" using the new balance. $50.00 usually lasts me 3 or 4 months. I didn't get another Starbucks until this past Saturday when Steph and I went to Knoxville. My balance showed zero, so I reloaded it again with $50.00. I checked my credit card account when I got home and discovered that I WAS charged the first $50.00. I checked my Starbucks account online, but couldn't figure out what happened to it. I contacted customer service and got this response:

Hello Barbara,

Thank you for contacting Starbucks.

On 8/16 there was only one reload of 50.00 on to account . Have sent your reload and purchase history for you to 
review. 8/16 reload of 50.00,  8/16 purchase 6.77 balance 43.24 : 8/16 purchase 13.90 balance 29.34 : 8/16 purchase 
10.40 balance 18.94  8/16 purchase 6.90 balance 12.04 : 8/16 purchase 12.04 balance 0.00 : reload on 8/22 for 50.00 
: purchase of 15.68 balance 34.32 : Current balance on card is 34.32. If you wish to discuss this further please call 
1-800-starbucks.

If you ever have any questions or concerns in the future, please visit us at customerservice.starbucks.com.

Sincerely,

customer service

Aside from the very first purchase, none of those charges were mine!! I called Starbucks and 

found that all of those charges were made from a Starbucks in California. I have no idea how 

that happened, but the customer service agent was very nice. She is sending me a new card 

and crediting me the original $50.00. I have no idea how something like that can happen! It's 

amazing what crooks can do!
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I never knew that I would love my new toilets so much!

They are taller, so they meet you half way! That will definitely come in handy when I have my s

econd foot surgery in September!!
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However, I DID know this:

What things have you learned this week?