Blue Lagoon

Here are some of my underwater shots from Jamaica! Not very good, but it proves that I was there!

That's a big fish!!! My sweet husband!!

Easter on Parade!

I've been working on this, hand dyed, center section is hand painted, and machine quilted. It's not perfect, but I did do my corners better. I'm of the school, get it done, even if it isn't perfect. My seams are all 1/4 inch, and that part is done right. I'm honing my skills, I want to get on etsey pretty soon!!

Pics abound

Sounds like a lot of people had problems with pics on blogger. So I'll try today.

Lili and Brielle getting ready to ParaSail!!

The girls with one of their new found friends!

Bougainvillea - plants as tall as houses (our type of houses, not theirs)

A group of houses behind the craft market (which was imported from India and China t-shirts)

The tranquility of the island is fabulous - a sunset from our beach!!

Back to Reality

Well...... I'm back in the US, no more food prepared for us, no more lovely umbrella drinks, no more beautiful sandy beaches, no more reading in the middle of the day, no more looking at older, fatter sun burnt women with no tops!!
The Europeans are so much more freer (sp ?) with their bodies than us US citizens. Me, I had a one piece on, an athletic skirt over my big fat bottom, then when I left the beach I had a huge cover up on!! Ken said I needed to loosen up, me I feel a little left to the imagination is a good thing. Plus 46 year old skin that is starting to sag is just not pretty no matter what country you are from!!
We had a lovely time - the girls were delightful!! We giggled with them a lot, Brielle is adorable and so good for Lili, she loosens Lili up too!!
We stayed at Riu Negril. It was an all-inclusive resort. Apparently this is a big thing with the
Europeans, me I had never heard of such a thing. I was like being on a cruise, they feed you, they house you, they fulfill your liquid desires and you pay one price. The girls got massages, that was extra and Ken and I snorkeled one day, that was extra, otherwise all was paid for. Jamaica - no don't get mad at me if any of my "huge" fan base is Jamaican, but that island is dirty!! The people are so poor - granted I only saw from Montego Bay west to Negril (about an hour -and a half van ride each way but the trash 0n the side of the roads, was horrible. I would think for the sake of their economy which is based hugely on tourism, the government would make the citizens keep it clean. But whatever, we had a great time, but I would never venture out of a resort area if we go back. The people seemed to be so lovely, so happy and carefree, everything is "yea mon" Nobody is hurried about schedules or deadlines, maybe that has something to do with the readily available drug culture!! Ken was asked a few times if he needed any - he and I did venture into the Negril craft market. It rained so hard that the water in the street came up to my knees and let me just say this water was not CLEAN by any means!! Did I say we had a good time, we did - stay in a resort!! Maybe I am too uptight, naw, I'm perfect just like I am!!

Blogger is not taking my pictures, you just have to wait on those!!

Jamaica Baby!

Gone to Jamaica - back on Saturday 3/8/08
I'll be sipping umbrella drinks, toasting to all of you!!

A quick observation

It just dawned on me, all my fabrics look like the colors on those cute little umbrellas they put in drinks. Maybe.... it's cause I'm going to Jamaica in 4 days!! Hee, hee!!

To Dye For Part II

I've been playing with dyes again!! It is so windy here, my experiments dry in no time!!

Backin Out

I have completely become on old person. As I was playing with more dyes and just gabbing on the phone to CA at the same time, my back just completely started twisting (the muscles on the lower left side) I could honestly feel it just twist, as if I was a piece of wet laundry that needed wringing out!! I had to hang up the phone, and flayed on the hard floor trying to get some immediate relief. The floor part was great fun for Bogie who started slathering me with kisses. Anyhow, long story short I was a vegetable all day yesterday, watched cooking channel and pre Oscar stuff on tv all day. The Oscar dresses were all pretty, not a bad frock among them, hardly. Didn't like Daniel Day Lewis's wife's red tie straps or that horribly gaudy jewel thing on her dress. But, Daniel took away pretty George's Oscar so I could be a tad bias!! I am still on aleeve, the muscle is now sore like after a leg cramp, it's just amazing how the whole thing happened, wrench, twist and whamo, I'm down!! I must add, Tommy Lee Jones, Harrison Ford, nor Daniel Day Lewis are aging gracefully, but that George, he just gets prettier and prettier!! AAAAH what a man!!
Oh yeah, this is a quilt blog, well back permitting, maybe I will sew today a little!!

Saturday to Dye for!

We've had beautiful weather today. Ken got some new furniture for our sitting area down by the lake and it came today. We christened it with a glass of wine!! Other than that I've been dyeing, painting and coloring fabric all day. I have one clean hand, one hand that has gone "green" and a sweatshirt that looks a little blotchy!! My kitchen counter has a little extra color but it will come clean!! Here are my works of art:

my blue and greens

Easter colors

Not sure, but I love!!!

Quail and pathways

Drew is supposed to be coming over to cook us lasagna for dinner. Unless he gets a better offer than "parental units" it should be good!! If he ditches us, I guess it's Bomb Island Grill. Need to eat salads until Jamaica!!!

Family Family, Family

Up to my elbows in family, or I was. Suzie & Austin came in last Thrusday (Valentine's Day) to surprise our parents, then Uncle Bill, Shari, Denise and Little Miss Addie came and spent the day with all of us yesterday (Sunday). So we had a wirlwind of meals, pets, shopping, family funny stories, shopping for Austin - the Lego trip - two Birthday celebrations and did I mention food?? I am ready for salads, down time with Bogie and Starbucks, Bible Study and messing with textiles, oh yeah husband too!!

Our Gang

Austin begrudingly sharing Legos with Addie

Don't know if I mentioned yet, but my best friend - still in Calif - is having twins!! Yeah! She's made it past the three month marker- more Yeahs!! We are a little nervous - did I mention she's 46 and this is her first pregnancy?? Yikes - they are brave!! She's in great physical shape to her credit!! But Micheline has wonderful support from Casey (the proud Daddy) and her Mom, plus there is a friend Elizabeth close by, that knows all the routines. Micheline is going to stay working and make her own baby food - kudos to her!! I've told her about my favorite tv show, Kate & John plus 8!! She needs to watch them for pointers!!

I'm off to go play with fabric!!

Spring Forward

I made a small table runner for my table, but Starbucks immediately confiscated it for a napping mat! I received a large box of fabric samples from a friend who decorates hotels – all types of silks! I’m going to make Starbucks a bed out of a couple of those, Starbucks will be in high style! But I know he will still want to nap on something that's mine!

Center Piece with spring Daffodils
Side One with my hand dyeds and Kaffe's lucious fabrics
Side 2 All my hand dyeds

Ken gave my beautiful Purple flowers for our anniversary (13 yrs). We are not heavy celebrators, so no huge gifts just cards!! Plus we are going to chaperone Lili and her roommate for Jamaica in March. That’s gift enough, a week on the beach, with an umbrella drink!! Yeah!!

I'm off to sew! Can't wait for all these caucuses (sp??) to be over!!

Conchetta's skills

My Conchetta is vacuuming while I blog. Only in America!! I love it, I pick her up at the bus stop (aka her charging station), then I turn her on (push start) and away she goes, under the beds, in the bathrooms, over area rugs, and she does amazingly great on the hardwood floors that we have in most of the house!! She doesn't complain, doesn't need a uniform nor does she belong to a union, yeah!! So she is vacuuming and I am playing!! Not really, I'm cleaning other parts of the house, she doesn't do windows or toilets or laundry, so there!! I have to act like a housewife some of the time. Ken took Bogie to work for an hour or so this morning, he had extra work this week, then they went over to the State house grounds and walked. While they were there they passed a parade for somthing downtown. Conchetta is almost done, and the dryer just stopped, got to go fold clothes!! I will be back!!

AZ in photos

The Carrel Substation at the base of Superstition Mountain. The unit is 1/4 of the way done, it will supply a huge amount of electricity to Phoenix and the surrounding area.

Grand Canyon -thru my eyes

I have more pictures of the dedication to come, and more trip pictures, this is a preview!

I'm Back from AZ

WOW - AZ was amazing!! If the Salt River Project Dedication to my cousin Greg wasn't amazing enough, the day trip to the Grand Canyon (with snow I might add!) was awesome, then the 5 day drive home was full of events including a new serpentine belt in Dad's car in Monroe, LA!!

I have pictures coming, I'm still cleaning them up. I was apparently impressed with the view of the Grand Canyon via a view of a tree with the red rock!! Don't know what I saw there, but almost every picture has a tree??? We had snow all the way from Flagstaff, AZ to beyond Albuquerque, NM. It was about three days old and still beautifully white. We saw mule deer right in front of our car in Grand Canyon and lots of ravens and hawks.

Mostly, we got to visit with family in Arizona and be part of a great event for Greg. The dedication was first class and highly participated by family and employees of SLP. Hello to all my new fans at SLP, they found my blog and knew who I was before I got there!!
Pictures on next listing.

I came home to my sweet husband and a very happy dog and cat!! Starbucks is laying in front of the keyboard at this very moment, and Bogie is sleeping off the stress of getting a bath!! Ken is making Lobster Bisque soup, so all is back to normal.

A great trip in all!!

Off to AZ

Mom, Dad & I are off to Arizona. 10 days in the car, (here and back). Needless to say the I-Pod is charged and loaded!! We are going for a memorial dedication for my cousin Greg. He worked for Salt River Project and they are dedicating a new substation in his honor. He did lots of great things, all anonymously. Lots of good people in my family!! I've got quilting, reading and i-pod, plus my Dad starts driving around 4-5:00 AM!!! I'll be asleep until 8:00, so yes I'm bringing sweats, lots of sweats!! Hopefully, the weather will cooperate!! I'm not up to speed on travel blogging, so I may not post til I get back, around the 17th. So to my huge fan base, see ya soon!!

Lili's pink Converses

After Christmas Cleaning has Commenced!

The tree has started to come down, Christmas dishes are going up, Concetta is cleaning for me. Concetta is amazing. She doesn't require money for the bus, she isn't unionized, she doesn't require smoke breaks, she doesn't sass back, she's wonderful!! Her English is minimal, so she keeps quite. Concetta may not have a green card, but what we don't know won't hurt us!! I don't have to worry about her flirting with my husband!! (he does have a taste for tan, tight bodies!) Concetta is my new Roomba!! I love it, I'm blogging and she's cleaning!! Yeah!! Bogie is not jealous of her any more and has stopped barking at her. Starbucks gets up on a piece of furniture but is able to stay in the same room now as Concetta!! We had a lovely Christmas, hope you all did too!! Lots of family and good times by all. Happy New Year!!!

Concetta at work!!

Poor Lili, worn out from all her work!!

Beautiful Blown Glass Dish from Suzie & Austin in Calif!!

Synthetic Medication and Puppies

Thank you for the reason for the season!!

My family thanks you for synthetic medications, I'm almost back to my usually self!! (sarcastic and I'm the biggest fan of my humor, one of those that laughs the loudest at my own statements and jokes!!) My sweet Bogie apologizes for barfing on our bed (a rare shade of green) this morning!! Like two days before Christmas I have nothing to do but wash comforters and sheets also!!

Post Barfing Pic!!! Too much goose do and red southern clay that might have Lake Murray Clams in it!! Such a gross little dog, but he's soooo darn cute!!

Reindeer Catering Organization Skills

Not only do they cook, are computer savvy to the point of genius, are very generous with gifts, time and care, they are organized!! They had the entire menu (ingredients, extra dishes, the works) planed out on a spreadsheet!

something to ponder:: why do I never type these entries as if I have a brain in my head. Sometimes, you have to decipher my codes!! Maybe in a previous life I was a code breaker!!! Yeah that explains the like of grammar check in my head!!

The Other Allens Christmas

We did the other half of the Allens Christmas yesterday. We enjoy this day so much, not just for the food, but the company and the great influences they try to instill on us!! They outdid themselves yesterday!! All of the food is provided by Reindeer Catering. We gave them this name as they cook for us on Christmas as their gift to us!! They relay their love of organic, free range, farmer's market products to us. Yesterday's turkey was perhaps the best turkey I've ever had, and my Mom and Grandmother do and did great turkeys!! It was just so moist with no effort from the cooks!! Or at least they didn't reveal it!! Carrot souffle, if you know me at all you no I hate most any orange veggies, yams (yuk, carrots, double yuk) will not even try them in any fashion. But, as a courtesy to Morgan and a show of my utmost gratitude for their cooking, I put a dime size spot of Eric's dads secret carrot souffle on my plate. Morgan caught me and had me increase my portion to QUARTER size!! I put it off to the last item on my plate was cleared, including the corn kernel ice cream (they have no fear) and put the carrots on my fork, secretly pinched my nose, and swallowed. WOW, you couldn't taste the carrots, I went back for a large second helping, they were great. Only thing is we can't get the recipe, so I don't have to eat carrots still, unless the carrot souffle shows up a family gatherings again. This year, Reindeer Catering not only provided suburb food, but they expanded the repertoire to include entertainment!! They are both unbelievably proficient in the computer gadget fields, Eric making a nice living at it infact. They brought their WiII (spelling ??) We all had a smashing good time with that!! Bowling, Tennis, right in the cozy atmosphere of the living room!! I majorly can't play tennis, but the bowling I could do!! Also found out the Reindeer Catering has competitive streaks!! They played tennis so fast, I never even could keep up with the ball!! Needless to say fun times were had by all!!

Christmas gifts were amazing, I have a speaker system for my I-pod, watch people Bon Jovi is available for everybody's listening pleasure now!!!! Marty painted the most amazing ornaments for each of us!! All of our kids were present, which doesn't happen for often for us!! Fun, superb family memories. Thanks to everyone!!

Julie with her new man-friend, Jamie Oliver (her naked chef)

Reindeer Catering, getting very vicious with WiII game (again spelling ???)

The star of the show, the best - moist turkey I've ever had!!

My needs!

I need a full night of sleep in my own bed!!! (Without the orchestra noises from my husband)!) (His snoring, yawning while sleeping (?), his soft scratching of his left shoulder and the burping can drive a woman to drink!) Bless his heart, he's been overly stressed, due to previous wife and the things she thinks she deserves. Then his middle child had a ruptured gall bladder, after infection was down far enough, the dr got that mess out, removed another stone that had lodged into her Pancreas, just a mess!! She's ok now, trying to do better with food choices and less soft drinks. Then with our Christmas Party invitation list is growing by the minute, we have to keep getting out the good clothes and the fancy undergarments that keep everything tucked in. Some of the stuff just doesn't stay tucked on it's own anymore!! (some doesn't stay up where it used to be either!) The makeup session takes longer also, darker colors, to cover the darker bags, don't ja just wish we could airbrush in real life too (not just on photos!)
I'm half way done with Christmas decorating and may start the cards tomorrow!! The box that goes to Calif is ready for tomorrow, plus I have to renew my Driver's license this week!! Yuk!
Yesterday, did go to Asheville to the Grove Park Inn for their Annual Gingerbread Contest. Unbelievable what people think of to use as cake supplies!! The kids this year, amazing!!! We had a great pre show drink on the back porch in rockers looking at the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Then was saw the show, then we had lunch, after a bottle of Chardonnay from the Russian River (ooooh, the childhood memories there!!) we finally decided to head back down the mountain to Chapin. We went to the best party ever on Friday! Wealthy Gay People that have friends in the Ballet companies can throw the best parties. The house was amazing (amazing pronounced with lots of jazz fingers during the zzzz part) This is a link to the Charleston house which is bigger and grander, Wow! check the link out! http://www.charlottestcarriagehouse.com/index.html !!!! We hope we are on the invitation list to the 2008 Halloween party, the stories and pictures from 2007, are again wow with lots of Jazz fingers!! I'll have some pics tomorrow!!

Blogging for dummies!

I hit the wrong button and my post went on my blog, before I grammar checked, spell checked and "made sense" checked. Here are my corrections:

Ken rigged the drain pipe with a wire coat hanger. That's better!

I think the wish bone segment is ok, except for grammar! But it wouldn't be mine if wasn't incorrect grammar!!

Tommy's pillow is incredibly cute!! I can't imagine how long those took, does the woman ever sleep??

More

Sometimes I have nothing to blog about for days, then other days, it's like wow, I could put that, that, and that on my blog. Today is one of those days.
Item #1, Genius for a Husband. We have one shower that drips, we've pulled the shower (all tile) apart, we've changed washers, we've done everything but replace the thing and it still drips. It's not the shower head, it's down in the pipes. Our house is on a hill and that bathroom is way far way from the ground, thus the longer than normal pipes. So, this morning Ken is pacing the house, in, out up and down the wall. He finally tells me I've solved the shower drip. This from out of the blue. I rigged (and I do mean rigged) that he cut and made one long piece of wire down the drain, now that water trickle runs down the hanger and doesn't fall so far down the pipe, thus the echoing drip noise is gone. Genius!!

Item #2, My parents are all a twiddle - no wish bone in this years turkey. Mom is pulling the tiny pieces off the carcus to make one more sandwich, no wish bone, what to do!!

Dancing with the Stars

They are sooooooo good and both have great chemistry!! They deserve to win. She is amazingly talented and he's just too cute (even for a race car driver!) I'm painting on fabric and loving it, some of it belongs to Santa, so can't show it!!

Bogie just reminded it's Pet Wednesday, ok I guess he can send you all a message.

Hope you all had a good Thanksgiving, who knew smoked turkey was soooo good. I've managed to get my fair share and yes people it so makes you sleepy, I've taken extra naps. Speaking of naps, Starbucks stole my chair. He rotates around the house for his nap places, these places he so carefully chooses, last about a week, then he selects another spot. Well, right now he's in my chair, I can't very easily say "move", as he weighs more than me and he could sit on me, plus he's pretty handy with that right paw!! Mom's putting up and all these red and green things all over the house, hope it means presents for me!!?? Oh, yeah, Starbucks too!! Mom read us an article in the newspaper that the coffee company Starbucks is opening some kind of production plant in SC!!! Maybe Mom could take Starbucks to Starbucks, I kill myself!! heee, heee

Gamecock Blues

Our Gamecocks lost our state rivalry! Clemson won, they have bragging rights for one year, and one year only!! Right now my throat has bragging rights over my body!! Didn't feel good yesterday, and that thing in the back of my throat got swollen again, now I have a frog in my throat!! Lived off of NyQuil yesterday, maybe today I can quilt and watch old Simply Quilts (I have my favorites in dvd format, from tivo!) I love Liz's quilt, an autumn wedding ring, maybe I could try that!! If I finish half of what I've started in my very short quilting career, I will never have to paint my house again, just hang quilts!! Hey, what an idea!! I guess now, the countdown to Christmas begins, shopping, decorating, cards, cleaning (ickky poo!) and eating. I've got the eating part down!! I'm going to take some my NyQuil. Bye, as I walk off in my foggy state!

Turkey Day

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone from Bogie and Starbucks!

A little grey hair (hare)

One day your hair is the color you pay for the next it has 4 inch grey roots. How does that happen??

I'm working on some painted cloth stuff. Love this!!

Veterans

Happy Veterans Day to all those who fought for a REAL cause. Sorry for all those that are currently fighting for an egomaniac! (with way too much power)

photo from Beachbungalow8

Good Things

Ok, the best thing I've bought in a LONG time - something like $5.99 at Toys R US, it fits into my I-Pod and is moderate sound quality. This is a mini speaker that allows you to listen to your i-pod like a stereo, no ear phones. AMAZING!

Second, I must be channeling my inner Kaffe:

Bad Days Night

The animals in our house are in deep trouble!! Somehow Starbucks got into Bogie's room last night, therefore Bogie sees fit to scratch on his door until somebody opens it and gets the cat out. I (being the smartest one here) knew there was no way the cat was in there, so I kept on ignoring Bogie, hoping he'd give up and go to sleep. Every hour, scratch, scratch, then scratch scratch, bark. Finally, around 3:30, I let him out, brought him to our room and on to our bed, of course he has to go through the routine of kissing both of us, and his 27 spots he has to lick on himself before he settles down to sleep. Then the cat is crying in the hallway and knocking things over, he sounded like a grizzly bear bumping around in the house. THEN I kid you not, my cell phone starts in on the "battery low" chirp it makes. I had to get back up and turn the darn thing off. Needless to say, it's a two coffee morning around here. Oh, and then we get up and get in the living room, and Starbucks has decided to help me decorate for Halloween by bringing in a dead vole and leaving right in the middle of the floor!! How did that cat get into Bogie's room?? Of course, now both animals are napping, Bogie for an hour or so, Starbucks for his usual 9+ hours!!! ANIMALS ugh!!!

I'm back!!

Cemetary in Front Flower Bed
Laboratory, scary stuff!!
My helper, which we couldn't had done without!! aka Julie my sister!
Lili's room, were non essentials were stuffed!!
It took me forever to recover from the Halloween Party!! We had a great time and I think Ken was really surprised. I did a toast, roast type and then we went on with just a drop in type party. Food was very good! and we had just enough, too much roast beef and cheese. The deli really oversold themselves!! My decorations were appreciated too! A fun time for all. Now I'm working on sewing projects (all those I was dying to do while I was in the party mode!!)