Happy Memorial Day

For all of you 8-5'ers out there, isn't sleeping in on what is usually a workday fabulous!?! Happy Memorial Day to everyone. Did you know that Memorial Day was once called Decoration Day? It was called Decoration Day because people would decorate the graves of those who lost their lives defending their country with flowers of springtime. If you want to learn more....venture over here.

Speaking of springtime, I have a new mama bird! She has been such a good mama and has been sitting in her nest for about 2 weeks waiting for her babies to arrive! She is really calm and seems to like me and Jeff. I can't wait to see her babies! We had a bluebird nest that hatched about 3 weeks ago. They have since moved out of their nest. Birds really seem to like this live oak tree.

This morning after I woke up, I enjoyed my ritualistic morning coffee, french toast, and Regis and Kelly. It has been a while since I have made french toast for breakfast and since I have watched Regis and Kelly. Yes, yet another guilty pleasure.


After my mind was freshly awake, I cleaned a bit and then finished off some yarn that I have been spinning for the Etsy shop. It is hanging to dry now and should be ready to post in the next few days.

The color of this yarn reminds me of blue cotton candy so, that is what I am going to call it! I may fancify it just a bit and call it blueberry cotton candy. I love spinning and my yarn is getting better and better every time. I have been spinning for about a year now so, I think it it time to branch out and start practicing spinning more difficult yarns. It is rather disappointing because here in Funky Town, there really are not many yarn shops and the few that we have do not sell roving. I usually have to order it online but, I am a feeler. I like to touch and feel the roving before I purchase it so, ordering online makes it a little difficult for me. I'm super excited though, my trip to Santa Fe is just right around the corner and there are several places where I can get roving so, I plan to stock up! I can't wait!!! To me, it makes the hand spun yarn more special when I travel to get it!

I also worked in the back yard a bit. I am still in the process of getting my new kitchen garden ready and will post pictures soon! It is coming along rather nicely and I am very excited about it. Soon, I will be able to go outside and pick tomatoes, bell peppers, jalapenos, and strawberries!

So, I tried to work a bit more on the Taxi tote I talked about a few blogs ago. I made a horrible discovery. Seems I was not paying too much attention when I started cutting this fabric and cut right down the middle! So, I need to hop over to the Cabbage Rose one day after work this week and get more fabric. Duh!

Instead, I am going to start a new purse project because, you know, one can never have too many purses. I have had this Robert Kaufman fabric for some time now. I have had every intention of using it but I tend to hoard stacks of fabric. I am running out of room to stash all my hoarded fabric so it is about time I use it! I am also going to find a way to sew some of these vintage buttons that my sister gave me for my birthday on the purse.





I was searching for handbag ideas and came across this cute little blog. She has some great tutorials! She is coming out with a new book in 2010. It seems that many people are coming out with new crafty books and I always wonder to myself, why can't I do that? It would be fantastic to have a crafty book!! Alright sis, it is time to put our brains together. We have been talking about this for months now, lets get on the ball!


You know, off the fabric and sewing topic, there is nothing like grilling on a holiday!! Today, I have also been watching my secret boyfriend Bobby Flay grilling it up on the Food Network, which has given me some inspiration for this evenings meal. I plan to throw some corn and steaks on the Bar B tonight!


Cheers!!




***Update***

What better way to spend a holiday than sewing!! I finished the purse. I really like how it turned out and the big vintage buttons add a lot of charm! I use my own pattern, which I tend to do. I am nooooo good at following a pattern. I just have to make it up as I go along. I really wish though, that I could follow a pattern!






I have had these tortoise handbag handles for a while now and have been waiting for the perfect moment to use them. I actually think I purchased them to use with this fabric.







I sewed little vintage buttons on the inside to so the inside would not feel left out. I also added a pocket with 2 sides. One side is for my cell phone and the other is for my lip gloss.





Now I just need a snap wallet to match!



The grilled steaks and corn with red onions also turned out mighty fine!







Today has been a fantastic day off!!

Chalkboard Quote Of The Week

"The Secret to Creativity is Knowing to Hide Your Sources."
-Albert Einstein

Jury Duty....Need I Say More?

Ah...the dreaded jury duty. Yes, I had the recent opportunity to experience it. You know, someone at work about 3 months ago got summonsed and I was thinking " I have never been summonsed before." Well, if I can offer any advice at all, do not ever think about jury duty, ever! Sure enough, a few weeks ago, I got my official jury summons. I got home from work, got the mail, sifted through it, and there it was all official looking...almost as if there were police officers hiding in the bushes just to make sure I got it and opened it. I felt like I would be under arrest if I did not open it at that very moment. "Please arrive promptly at 8:00 am on May 18th, 2009 at the Tarrant County Justice Center." At that moment, I was not very happy.

So, I arrive promptly, and very stressed out mind you, at 8am on May 18th at the Tarrant County Justice Center. I got in a very, very, very, long line outside of the Center. Then, one by one we were allowed to enter the building but we had to pass through metal detectors first. It was like going to the airport. We put all of our belongings in a plastic bin, even our shoes! I had to take my shoes off and walk barefoot across what could possibly be a germ farm infested public building floor! Now, after working at a hospital for the past year and a half, you will not catch me with my shoes off anywhere. I even wear flip flops in my own home! Ugh, I was disgusted. So, I get through all of that and then they herd us into the "jury room". They scan your jury summons, which is what checks you in (basically that puts you in the system so they don't come arrest you for not showing). Then there is strange and awkward hunt to find an empty seat in a room full of about 400 people.

I sat in the very back, right next to the restroom, I could not have planned that better. There is a flat screen T.V. in the room where you can watch what the jury bailiff is doing. They also play this video about how jury duty is an honor, blah, blah, blah. I sat there for an hour, but it felt like 3. Then the bailiff started explaining the process. After that, we waited another hour before she started calling names and making assignments. At about 10:15 she finally called my name, after calling at least 200 others. I was assigned into a group that was to return to the jury room at 10:45 as the judge was not certain he would need us. I thought "score!!!" But then hte bailiff said "oh, never mind, I just was informed that the judge needs you and is waiting for you now. Please go to the criminal court room on the 8th floor." Ugh, criminal court!!! Really!! Great.

So, we get up there, wait for an hour and then another bailiff comes out and tells us to fill out a survey. We all fill out the survey and turn it in. Then the bailiff says, come back at 2:30. Really?? 2:30?? Ugh! Great. So I go meander and dilly dally around downtown for about 3 hours and then return to the court room. The prosecuting attorney questions us for about an hour. Then we are sent to the hall for 20 minutes. We return to the court room and the defense attorney questions us for an hour. We go wait in the hall for another half hour. We are brought back in and the judge says "When I call your number please come sit on the jury stand." I waited in severe anticipation and at this time I am so stressed and exhausted all I can think about is stress eating and mini sirloin burgers from Jack in the Box are calling my name! So they call about 6 numbers and then stop a number before mine. Then the judge calls 6 more numbers and skips right over me by only 2 numbers!!! Whew. The fella next to me looked at me in rejoice! I have never been so happy in my life!!!

So, on the way home, I stopped to get some mini sirloin burgers. Ah, it hit the spot! I still have their little catchy commercial jingle stuck in my head.

Also, for the record, I have never been so happy to be back at work. I could have kissed the hospital floor on Tuesday, germs and all!

Cheers!

Oh....Update!!! Cheers to Kris Allen!!!

Puffy Tacos And Herbs

It has been a rather nice weekend so far, despite all this rain today! Yesterday evening Jeff and I went to Caro's. It is a little hole in the wall Mexican food restaurant which claims to be the home of the puffy taco. I have never had a puffy taco but let me tell you they are delish! I scarfed it down and Jeff and I vowed to go back. Everything there is puffy, including the chips and nachos! I was even puffy myself after I left since I pigged out. The service is friendly and fast! They also have huge frozen margaritas, bonus!

After dinner we went to see Wolverine. It was gooooooooood. Here is a little gift for all you Hugh Jackman fans: ;-)

Then, today, I was up bright and early to go with my mother to the Botanic Garden Herb Festival. We have gone for several years in a row. It really is so much fun but the rain kinda put a damper on things (no pun intended). The festival is mainly outside so we were soaked!

This year for lunch we had the garden Tuscan veggie sandwich. Oh it was good, made with wheat berry bread, roasted bell peppers, herbed cream cheese, provolone, mushrooms, cucumbers, and spinach. There was also a nice fudgie brownie!

After lunch we went to the 12:45 presentation with one of our favorite ladies from Our Thyme Garden. She presented a fantastic cooking demonstration. She even gave everyone copies of the recipes! I can't wait to cook them!

I brought home Lemon Verbena

Dill

Tiny Tomatoes

Mexican Oregano

And Gomphrena

Then when I came home and dried off, I started working on cutting fabric

for Anna Maria's Taxi Tote

I hope to have this little bag finished for my trip to Santa Fe, which is just right around the corner!!!

Cheers!

Bird Wars: A View From The Kitchen Window

Ah, the sweet smell of fresh bird seed...

You can see them stalking, waiting for just the right moment....

There are the big guys...

And there are little guys that are always having to fend for themselves ...

Then, the big guys swoop down...

and knock the little guys off...

It must be rough being the little guy!

Chalkboard Quote Of The Week

"Not All Who Wander Are Lost"

- J. R. R. Tolkien

Speaking Of Stinky Dogs Drooling On New Couch Pillows...

...this is exactly what I was talking about.

Chalkboard Quote Of The Week

"To Invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk."
-Thomas A. Edison