Monday Mystery

Okay, this is a bit of a lame Monday Mystery. 

While I was out on my walk in the neighborhood I noticed this:

It's pretty obvious that this is a mailbox--it is embossed "US Mail". I don't really think you need anything else--especially since ALL of our boxes in the neighborhood are the same--obviously mailboxes. But this neighbor must have decided that the fact that it is, indeed a mailbox isn't enough. I guess they want to make sure the mailman doesn't put the mail in the newspaper slot below the actual box. 

Or, maybe they just liked the little pop of red as a decor accent. Okay, I can get on board with that. But then, why couldn't they at least put it on straight? Or for that matter, why would you want to call attention to your crappy, rusty mailbox. How about getting a new one?

I have many questions--a mystery for sure!

Something for Sunday

So, I'm on my way home today from St. Louis. Now I have to get myself started on the next thing. That would be leaving on Wednesday morning for our fall scrapbook retreat. I have so much to do! 

Unpack

Do my garden chores

Grocery shop

Get my scrapbook stuff together (pictures, a title and some journaling need to be printed yet) and pack it all up

Play bridge on Monday

Book club Monday night

Lunch with a friend on Tuesday (this will be my day to do all the scrapbook stuff)

Cook for the retreat

Gather all food items

Pack my clothes

Load it all up!

Since I'm such a pre-planner, I'll get all of this done. I've already grocery shopped for the non-perishables. I've printed pictures and done journaling for many of the layouts I plan to do. Actually, the planning is half the fun of the actual trip. I love every bit of it!

So, today, I'm just going to share a selfie that we took during happy hour prior to my trip through Missouri last week. Our friends, Pete and Susan gave us a gift bag of "goodies" as a thank you for their trip to our condo at the beach. 

We snapped this pictures to show them that we were enjoying the Tanqueray with our gin and tonics. G&T's are our favorite drinks.

Later...

Scrapbook Saturday

These are the title and end pages that I designed for our current AYM (A Year of Memories) album. We're going on our fall retreat on Wednesday. That's when the 

girls will do them.

The corner flowers are made with a hexagon punch and assorted papers. Each hexagon is cut into thirds and then re-assembled to form the boxes--stacked to make the flowers. Super simple. I punched all of the hexagons and cut them for everybody so there wouldn't be any mistakes! Now if I can keep them from obsessing about how to piece them together....

This one is the title page. Super simple. Susan cut the date strip on the left for me from an old Quickutz die. I cut the "memories" and  camera with my Cricut. Everything else was done on the computer and then just printed. Add a little washi tape and a few brads--done! 

Friday Funnies

Ten Things Thursday

How about some beautiful kitchens?

Supposedly, white kitchens are outdated. That doesn't matter to me, It's the while ones that appeal to me most!

This one is my favorite--pure white. I love the decorative accents on the cabinets. And the blue and white porcelain is perfect. 

What I Buy Wednesday

Okay, I cannot help myself. I know you are sick of it, so I'll keep it brief! Plus, I'm still on my trip. I'm in the middle of Missouri visiting the twins in Salem. More on that later. 

So, last week, I had the neighbor girl over--she's 13. While we were in Hawaii, she did all of the watering. 

After we got home, I invited Abigail for tea and to discuss Taylor Swift's wedding plans! I figured she would dread hanging with an old lady so assured her that I wouldn't keep her long--really, just long enough for a brief "get to know her" conversation and to pay her. Instead, she was delightful and stayed an hour until I basically pushed her out--literally standing up with envelope in hand! I really only planned to keep her a half hour, but she stayed and stayed--even when I gave her "easy outs"! We were having a good time! When she left, she asked if she could take some scones home!! And, during our visit, she helped herself to 3 cups of tea. Her mother had told me that she was very shy. She loves tea, Taylor, books and theater. We never even had time to discuss books and barely touched on theater!! Prior to this, I don't think she said two words to me! Such a sweetheart!

She recommended this book and offered to run next door to get hers to "loan" me. Instead, I bought it for myself and sent her a text to let her know.

Basically, it's a beautiful book of all of TS's costumes from the Era's Tour. 

So fun! She really does put on a show for her fans!

Thanks Abigail! Really, we have so much in common--we could have been "besties" if we weren't 60 years apart! 

So the watering cost me a bit more than just the watering! But it was worth it. I have a new friend in a new generation! That's just plain cool!

Travel Tuesday

So today, I am just finishing the first leg of my trip. I flew to St. Louis on Saturday morning. I Lyfted to my sister-in-law, Janet's. She offered to pick me up, but she's about 45 minutes (or more) away from the airport. Plus, since we're heading to Springfield, MO, we'd be going right back in her direction to head south. 

My next stop was my favorite, cousin Chrissy's. She just moved from St. Louis to Springfield in April. Her husband passed away in December so she decided to move where both of her daughters live. I get it, but it makes it much harder for me to see her. 

Anyway, she moved into a 55+ community where she is renting a really nice house. It's fairly new. If I could find something like this in Nashville, I think I could downsize.

She has everything decked out for Fall--her favorite season.

This is her guest room. I had already removed the throw pillows. I don't put my own decorative pillows on every day, so I'm certainly not going to do it on vacation.

I made this layout for Chrissy and framed it for her 70th birthday. 

This pretty much say it all. We have danced through life together!

And now...the closet!!! OMGosh--so incredible!

When I commented on her two sweaters (upper right), she said she has them in another closet! What! This closet is HUGE! Actually I would be surprised if she couldn't fit everything in here. But, maybe she still changes out her clothes per season.  What you can't see are the shoe boxes on the very top shelf. I didn't realize that I missed that in this shot. The little rack is ALL tennis shoes! I thought I had a lot of tennis shoes--probably 6 pairs--which I don't wear often.

And then there's the flip flops! I only have two pairs myself and they are only for walking up to the pool or when I'm getting a pedicure! Not taking any chances there since they are the cause of 95% of all ankle and foot injuries. I'm still trying to be cognizant of my age--or rather the number (and my fused toes) as I certainly don't feel old. Chrissy is a year younger than me, so there's that.

This is the most unusual way I've ever seen pants hung up. 

It's so nice--tons of great storage. I love it. Really, if I could find something this nice, I would definitely be tempted.

We had a fun visit doing what we do best--just sitting around and talking. We did watch a few shows and definitely had some good food! 

Thanks, Chrissy!