Like a kid on Christmas morning...

That's how I felt when I arrived home from work yesterday because I had four Pampered Chef boxes waiting for me.  :)  Took some time to sort and bag all the orders placed by my friends.  I know I was excited, but I also felt like someone had cranked up my internal thermostat.  Man oh man...it was so hot in our house...had all the doors and windows open...there was a nice breeze blowing...but that brought no relief.  Sam kept telling me it's not hot in here.  Sure, that's easy for him to say!

Now comes the really fun part, delivering all the orders and watching my friend's faces light up when they see me bearing these bags printed with the chefs hat.  :)

Below: The orders, ready for delivery.

Below:  My stuff!  (with the exception of the machine in the rear, that's not part of my booty).

Pampered Chef products are the best!  The quality is top grade and the company stands firmly behind all their products.  I went to my first PC party in 2003 and I've been hooked ever since!

On to Another State

The going away party we attended last night was for Sam's boss and his wife.  They came here from Arkansas in 2001 and it's been one belly laugh ever since.  Don is quite a character, and Betty is a warm, wonderful lady...they both exemplify southern hospitality.  But Don...well now he's definitely his own person.  Over the years we have picked up on certain "Donism's."  Here's just a sampling.  Jeff Foxworthy ain't got nothin' on our ol' friend Don.

LIKE TO
"I like to pee my pants when that car hit me."

POOT
"All that chili made Don poot."

BOB WAR
"Boy, stay away from that bob war fence."

HEAVY DEW
"Kin I heavy dew me favor?"

BAWS
"If you don't stop reading these Southen wurds and git back to work, your baws is gonna far you."

BRATS
"Turn off yur brats Bubba.  You's blindin' me!"

CAUTERIZE
"Ju look at that lady?"  "Yep...I cauterize!"

DOOTCHER
"Dootcher momma tells ya to do.

REKON
"I rekon it is time for wurk."

RAT CHEER
"Ahma gonna sit rat cheer."

AH-ITE
"How ya doin', Bubba."
"Ah-ite."

ANAR
"I was drivin' my ol' Dodge pickup about a 100 maul anar."

ANAOMALY
"Anaomaly drink Dr. Pepper, but ah'll have a Pepsi few you mind."

AWDUH
"The Marshall brought law and awduh to the town."

BEGEL
"That's a begel bowl of grits you got there."

BALD
"Bring me some bald shrimp and another moon pah!"

Here's to you Don and Betty.  We're better for having known you, and none of us will ever be the same.

We're Goin' to the Fair

It's fair time here.  We usually go during the day, but we have a going away party tomorrow and we're spending Sunday at the cabin, so we decided to go tonight.  Lots to see, and it's always a good place to get a little people watching done.  Although, I can't deny that as I'm walking around I do hear bits and pieces of Bill Engvall's routine about going to the fair running in my mind.  LOL!

And I just remembered I didn't get my funnel cake this time.  Grrrr.

 

 

>

We grabbed a bite to eat outside and heard some people singing during a talent contest tonight; after that it's safe to say American Idol will not be making any stops in my town. Halfway through the first performer's song I lost my appetite and during the second person's song I heard the gal next to us comment, "Gawd, I'm gonna have nightmares after hearing that." Yeah, it was that bad. Kinda made me want to run to the stage and yank the mic away from them.  At least the quilter's in this area have talent to spare.

The Pampered Chef in Me :)

You can't see it, but I'm sitting here smiling from ear to ear.

Last week I had a Pampered Chef party and am I feeling the love!!!!  I was stressing about it beforehand...worried if anyone would come, would they have fun...stuff like that.  I've had these kind of parties before...Princess House lead crystal, Tupperware, Home Interiors...attendance was always minimal, sales were so-so,  but everyone had fun (or so they told me).  Yet I always felt a bit disappointed.

That was then...

Can I just say my party last week rockED!!!!  I just about dropped the phone when I learned I was walking away with $354 in Pampered Chef products for a mere $110!  :)  Oh yeah!!!  Doing the happy dance...that's me.  I got $115 in free products, 2 items @ 50% off, and 60% off any glazed stoneware piece.  :)  :)  :)

I love Pampered Chef.

Three friends booked parties as well, one is in two weeks, another is a couple's party in November (that should be interesting!), and the last will be in February.

Now that's my kind of fun!!!!!

Five Weird Things About Me...Plus One

I did this in January, but there were only five weird things and I didn't really follow the rules.  So this time it's six weird things in present tense.  :)

Rules:
Each player of this game starts with the "6 weird things/habits about you". People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird habits/things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says "you are tagged" in their comments and tell them to read your blog.


1. I read the dictionary on a regular basis.

2. I often sing while driving.  Always have. 

3. I sleep on my right side with my left knee drawn up to my stomach.

4. I can imitate Mae West and Marilyn Monroe...vocally, that is.

5. Sometimes I eat ketchup on my scrambled eggs.

6. I'd love to learn to play the banjo, but I think the saxophone is one sexy sounding instrument.

 

And now it's tagging time:

Karen

Cheryl

Nancy

Sandra

Robin

Mary

I am curious...but not George

Hmmm, I see by the ol' counter on the sidebar this journal is less than 30 ticks away from hitting 15,000.  Not too shabby.  Wonder who my 15,000th will be....

Huge grin.

And speaking of curious George, how exciting to see one of my favorite childhood books coming to life by way of animation. 

Super huge grin.

What is it about birds lately?

-OR-
The funny thing about doctors.
So, I just got back from my annual visit to the doc.  Lucky for me, annual exams include a trip downstairs to the torture chamber which has been cleverly renamed 'Radiology.'
First thing I notice as I'm following the fresh-faced technician is all the nature photographs lining the walls of the hallway leading to the chamber.  Florals, mainly, but every photo is stunning; the light, the colors, and the mood of the moment is beautifully captured.  And I think to myself, Wow, these are REALLY good!  One can't help but marvel at the subtle calmness portrayed on the walls, but the better part of me dutifully adds a note of what lies ahead.  As does the technician when she redirects my gaze to the chamber into which we are about to walk.  As I find myself face to face with my annual nemesis, the young, curly haired woman with the soft voice guides me to the dressing area enclosed behind a sliding curtain.  It is at that moment I notice another nature photograph, and the irony of the subject framed within is not lost on me.  I chuckle to myself as I go through the motions of undressing.  Then I draw back the curtain, spotting yet another photo of the same nature subject across the room. 
Someone has a real sense of humor, I think to myself.
I step up to the machine, this time noticing the beautifully captured rose photograph strategically placed on the wall behind the machine.  Something pretty to look at, perhaps to calm and distract the more nervous patients.  Ever the professional, the technician begins.  As a seasoned veteran of these exams, I can say it is a comfort to have the same person performing this type of work every year, and this tech has been my tech for...many...many years.  And I suppose it was that level of comfort with her that led me to comment on the photos.
"That rose is simply stunning, but who took the photos of the boobies?" I ask.
A quizzical look crossed her face as she glanced up at me...and I can see the word 'boobies' bouncing around in her mind looking desperately for a connecting thought on which to land.  I nod my head toward the framed photograph featuring a pair of masked boobies on a beach across the room.  She pauses momentarily, mouth agape, then replies, "The doctor took those.  Is that what those birds are called?" she asks.
Seriously?  She didn't know what those are?!?!
I smile.  "Yes.  Seems the doctor has an interesting sense of humor."
Without stopping her work, she continues, "I always wondered why he put those in here.  No one has ever commented about those birds before.  Okay, hold your breath," she announces as she breezes over behind the safety screen.
Right. 
Am I the only woman in this valley who knows what a booby looks like?
Problem is, I've been struck by the irony of this whole thing and at the moment I'm not exactly in the best position to be holding my breath.  The eruption of laughter is getting difficult to stifle, but fortunately this gal knows her job and I am soon released, free to wander back to the dressing area next to the photo of the pair of blue footed boobies.
Oh, this is too much.
The technician leaves the room momentarily leaving me to deal with the mounting pile of laughter that is now bubbling to the surface every time I look up at those birds.
Of course, there is another side to this.  I'm scarred for life.  Now, a certain relative of the pelican commonly known as booby has been forever linked in my mind to mammography.
Whoop-te-doo!  It's my lucky day.  Maybe I should go buy a lotto ticket.

Not so blue the skies these days...

Morning may have broken, but this evening is rockin'.

It's summer and nearby wildfires have the sky emblazened with color.  Sam and I have been getting up around 5 a.m. and going for a walk, and each morning the sun casts a deep red glow into the east rooms of our home.  I always stop and watch, amazed at the sight of the large red disc slowly rising behind the trees.

 

He's back!

A couple of days ago I came home early and when I got out of my car I heard some noise across the street.  Standing under a peach tree were three does and a spotted fawn having a little peach fest.  Two of the does spotted me and one dropped the peach she had in her mouth... "Busted!"  In the blink of an eye they slipped away between the trees.  Hopeful that my chance had not slipped away with them, I kept my camera and eyes ready.  Minutes later, the tomato eating buck appeared in search of food.  With no time to set up the shot, heart pounding, I brought the lens to my eye and pressed the shutter.  Seconds later he spotted me, bolted and then crow hopped away.  I love watching deer crow hop!!!  It always brings a smile to my face.

 

A delicate beauty from a time long ago.

I scanned a few of my old photos taken with my first SLR camera; it was a Ricoh KR5 and I had it eleven years.  Every now and then I regret making the decision to trade it in on our Yashika SLR.  I had that Ricoh mastered...as if I was in sync with it.

 

I've been learning about a Japanese photography technique called 'bokeh.'  It's added a whole new level to my photography, and I've decided to take a digital photography class at the college next month.  I'm real excited about that.  :)

 

I checked with the Bokeh group at Flickr and this picture got a bokeh nod.