Doggone it!!!!
It’s a bust on the boots. This was the last pair given away.
Old Gringo Women’s Sora boot
You can go to Country Outfitter to check these sweet babies out. I had no idea there were so many cool boots!
Guess I’ll mosey on over to see about the See candy since I sucked with Ree.
Corral Embroidery boots
If I stay up until midnight, I can be No. 1 in the line-up to win these boots. There are only two days left. This is Day 11, and Pioneer Woman has only Twelve Days of Boot Give-aways! So I will once again be putting my name in the please-gimme-pot.
Not just Ree’s pot. But See’s as well. My favorite candy of all time!!! They are giving away candy FOR LIFE!
See’s candy
I’m hyperventilating! Candy FOR LIFE! I love Mrs. See.
Which would I want? Boots? Candy?
Being the greedy person I am, I want both. If I had to choose?
I’ll take the candy, please.
Ava after her ballet program
She is just so stinkin’ cute!! And she was exceptionally cute during her dance routine. As were all the other little ballerinas that night.
Coming out for a bow!!
The after-party was fun too. Held in Gigi’s Highlander on the way home!
A good time was had by all.
“It’s the toe ring talkin’.”
That’s the excuse we gave all week as the Grannies Gone Wild laughed our behinys off over the silliest things.
Grannies
It all started our first day in Savannah as we traipsed around River Street shopping for the just-right item to commemorate our fifth year of going to Hilton Head together. A pretty awesome feat. My friends going with me those many years ago, lifting me up, on my first trip back to the time share that James and I had purchased the year before he died. A milestone step.
We have gone every year since; five in all. And each year we find something to remember the trip with: headbands, coasters, a new beach item like our beach stroller, and always pictures in the sand. Usually it’s our feet. One year we all dressed in black dresses. This year it was this:
toe rings all around
Mine is really a thumb ring but sticking my hand in the midst of all these toes proved to be a daunting task:
Try No. 1
Try No. 2
Try No. 3
defeat
… and laughter
We are never at a loss for laughter on this trip. Making fun of ourselves is usually the biggest laugh. I don’t think we took one picture of Terah sleeping on the beach or at the pool. We just couldn’t destroy her wild, hot granny image this year:
Terah and her pirate
Although it wasn’t just her that was wild and crazy.
my own sister getting in on the action
Geri didn’t want to let go
They all had to have a turn with the pirate.
Lisa wasn’t too sure of him although she was leaning…
They quipped and quoted and witted and wowed me.
Even though I was very skeptical about leaving Steve (after all we haven’t even been married a year!), I can’t wait to go back next year!
Hilton Head Hogbottoms or Grannies Gone Wild or…
(to be continued)
Popi and Gigi have been working hard on the castle for the grandgirls and grandboy when they all visit. Kate and Ava, of course, visit often. After all, they only live a couple of blocks away. Finally, the big day came: it was finished and ready for all sorts of characters to move into its welcoming sort-of walls.
trying out the castle
Rapunzel awaits a tour of the castle while her lady-in-waiting tries out the swing.
climbing the swinging bridge
The lady-in-waiting always goes first… unless Rapunzel throws a big, bawling fit. Then the Queen, Gigi, must step in and tone down the impulsive pushiness of the bigger half of this pretend scenario.
enjoying themselves in the “music room”
Kate loves to pretend to be asleep. Such a shame it’s always pretend.
Rapunzel is just so stinkin’ cute!!
hmmmmm
You know, I may have the lady-in-waiting confused with the court jester.
climbing, climbing
Aw, yes she is the lady-in-waiting. My only concern is waiting for what?!?!
Just as I suspected. Our lady-in-waiting has ulterior motives! And I’m fairly sure they involve knocking the fair Rapunzel off the bridge. Run, fair maiden, run!!
in hot pursuit
our sweet maiden has made it to the castle tower
Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!!
A very unusual way to survey the kingdom for any threats to the tower.
The secret escape route in case of danger… which would more than likely come from the lady-in-waiting.
There never is a very ladylike, princessly way to fall off the bottom of the slide. But coming to Rapunzel’s aid, proving that she is all her name sets forth that she is, is our valiant lady-in-waiting to help the poor little maiden to victory.
Or maybe she’s just showing off the dirty arm.
Anyway… on to Popi’s next project!! A roof for the deck!
A small hobby of mine (meaning I’m not very good at it) is gathering information to fill out the big family tree. You know the kind: big, strong oak with huge branches all over, extending up to the heavens and as wide as the Mississippi River. The tree with branches starting low so a person can jump right into it and start climbing all the way to the top, looking out over the world below, seeing things from a different perspective.
That’s part of the pull toward genealogical searches, you know. That perspective thing, seeing family in a new way. Coming across the secrets of why such-and-such happened or becoming flabbergasted at a totally surprising turn of events that were lost in the story telling or deliberately kept under the rug. Appreciating the hardships of those who came before us, handing down their wealth of knowledge or monies or land or memories. Seeing in one face from decades ago the very face of a relative today.
brothers
These are four brothers, my dad and his siblings. Standing on the porch of the old home place, their farm. Dad is the tallest, the oldest. The last summer of his life the three of us — me, my sister and brother — took care of him spending days at a time. We looked through old photo albums, took rides down through the country where Dad grew up, talking to first one and then another, with Dad pointing out where this one lived and that one lived. Getting all sorts of information about his youth.
It was great until he pulled out the old army pictures one night. I think he went back in time, oblivious to the fact that his daughter was sitting there listening to him reminisce about the army days, commenting on the pretty pictures of the girls.
Just TMI (too much information)!!!
A few days ago Steve and I received an awesome wedding gift in the mail. My cousin out in Utah makes cards, and she sent us a whole batch of them… from Christmas and Easter cards to birthday cards. They are just so cool I had to share them with you.
We received several great gifts on the day we were married, some really neat stuff: wine from one of the local wineries; Christmas nativity along with sparkling grape juice; a personalized Christmas ornament to commemorate our wedding day; gift certificates; grilling set; a lovely rose bush; a neat plaque about remembering why we got married and love; small urns; cards with great sentiments;
And this:
If only it would have been Brenda Wood instead of Brenda Harlen!!
It’s from my cousin, Sandy. She knew it was the perfect gift for us. It’s so perfect because our romance was so trashy, just like a good Harlequin book. As a matter of fact, it’s the trashiest romance I have ever had. For several years Steve and I have been neighbors and have had this trashy connection; but only late last year did it turn into a trashy attraction.
The picture below will explain it better.
Several years ago I decided to clean up my portion of the alley a little bit and hired someone to make a concrete pad for a barrel and compost bin. It was supposed to have been on my property, but as you can see, my property ends at the fence and most of the pad sits on the property next to me. So in order to keep peace with my neighbor and not have a fight over the legality of the trash, I have always told anyone who moves into the house next door to use the barrel and compost; I’ll pay the bill.
Steve moved in a few years ago, so on occasion I would see him at the trash site or in his garage a bit to the east of the trash site. As time passed, he became caretaker of the trash site: burning when it needed to be burned or got too full. Worked great!
One rainy, summer, romantic evening as I was taking my trash out to the trash barrel, he asked me out… sort of… more like “You want to sit on your deck and shoot the shyte some night?” I must have had on make-up. Normally the conversation was “How’s it going? I’ll burn that.” Yes, appalled ecowatchers, we burn here in our rural area. Unless it’s dry as a bone. Or trash pickup is the next day.
As shocked as I was, I said sure. After all, he was really good about keeping the trash all tidy and I may as well be neighborly. We wound up getting hitched, and last week, when I got the trash bill for January… I handed it to him.
No need to worry about who owns the trash site anymore.
Ain’t she a beauty?!?! The HHH (Hilton Head Hogbottoms) brought this down to me last night for a little bridal shower my sister asked me to host for myself. I thought that was a little strange. Maybe something new they were doing nowadays. Those shower thingies are always changing in the way they’re done, so I said, sure, ya’ll come.
So I washed and even pressed the tablecloth; got out the cute girlie dishes I had purchased forever ago and had never used; got out my super dainty super fragile tea cups and dishes as well. Out came the Gooseberry Patch Tea Time Book for a great egg salad recipe. It has lots of good ideas, but I only had time for the egg salad (which was very tasty I might add). Next came the Savannah Bee Winter White honey. All I can say is order it now before it’s gone. We ate half a jar of the tallest they sell which is small but still quite a bit of honey for only four of the HHHes. I’m fairly certain it’s not a year-round item; that it’s only available certain times of the year.
waiting on the ladies
Since my paper napkins were just so darned cute, I opted to use them instead of the normal cloth ones. After all, the HHHes weren’t really going to care. It’s more about the dresses and the hats.
the gals in their finery
Every once in awhile the little girl in us just has a conniption fit to come out and play, so we drag out any of our old or new fancy dresses and shoes or go to the Goodwill and buy us a brand-spankin’ used new one. I have a variety of vintage hats, a couple of newer ones, and some gloves. We doody up with make-up and jewels and get together for some girl/woman talk and fun.
We drink delicious hot tea with the grounds caught in a silver tea strainer as it goes into the cup and eat yummy tea sandwiches or other concoctions on fancy little crackers.
having tea with some of my best friendsthe
It’s fantastic!!
So when I saw who I thought was Matilda Hogbottom riding a bicycle down the road toward the house, I couldn’t imagine what in the world was going on. Darla had come to the door and said, “Come on out here, you’ve got to see the girls.” Were they lined up along the drive or what? I was expecting four of them. There was Terah and Darla in all their finery, but where was Geri (turns out she had an emergency) and Lisa? That’s when I saw Matilda riding her bike down the dark road. Perplexed does not even come close to what I was feeling… but I knew it was going to be good.
Matilda/Lisa
Turns out it wasn’t Matilda at all but her alter ego Lisa! And she was on one of those beach bikes I have been coveting ever since the Hilton Head trip last year when I rode all over the place on one of them. I forced all the gals (all but Geri; she stood firm) to rent one, and we rode on the beach, all over. It was great, so they’re all in (except for Geri) this summer to get one and ride again. On one of the bike excursions we ran into the guy who owns them and asked where to buy one because I was definitely going to get me one. Loaded with the information I got on the internet and drooled all over the computer looking at them before I came to the conclusion that I couldn’t justify buying it. After all, I have a good bike albeit skinny wheels, hand brakes, nothing like the one I was coveting.
And here was Lisa riding one!! To the fancy bridal shower!! I was so shocked and excited for her that it never dawned on me that it was rather odd her riding that bike to my house (of course they had let her out just a block up the street). “Lisa! You got one of those bikes!” Sometimes I wonder about myself.
Turns out that wonderful bike was for me! They had been planning it ever since last July while we were still on the island, while I was still going on and on about going to get me one of those, while I was riding all over the place on the rental. My bridal shower gift!!
getting ready to try the little baby out
As much as I love that bike, I love my Hilton Head gals so much more. They are the bomb… especially with a french roll!
elegant french rolls
I am a blessed woman! Thank you HHH gals!!
Halloween has come and gone once again, and I finally found my prince to set me free… at the end of about 300 guests or so.
Princess in Prison
The spooky spider web with the spooky spiders were all over the front of the house prison with the evil witch’s broom standing there ready for her to jump on and fly. The bones of the poor deceased knights who had previously tried to save me were strewn across the yard. And the wicked witch had changed herself into a broom! Whenever an unsuspecting person walked by or touched it, she would laugh hysterically and move all over the place! Just horrific!
My train is soooo long! And my ring is shining because of the witch’s spell!
All evening I looked and looked for my prince. Any suitor was not culled and told to ignore the bones of the previous knights; that surely the prospective suitor would be able to save me!
I just knew some of these superheros or ninjas or zombies could save me. When I asked them if they would save me from the evil witch’s prison, they would look torn as if they just weren’t quite sure what to do, but the weight of their candy-filled pumpkins and the knowledge that more treats were out there eventually won them over, and they left me in the clutches of the evil witch in the form of a broom. Alas.
Not all the names are known of these mighty warriors, but all did stop long enough in their trick-or-treat escapades to let me photograph them.
Finally!! One of the mighty warriors relented and said they would save me!
Whom shall I choose as my knight in shining armor?
Ava as a, um, uh, well, I’m not sure
In looking through some photos I’ve taken over the year, I have come to realize that we are a bit of an odd bunch.
This is Ava with her purse and glasses and crown and baby. She strolled Baby Baldy all over the house in that get-up.
Wes and Owen on beach
I can only say, “Please, God, do not let anyone be looking at the ghost on the beach.” “And even more important… do not let anyone realize it belongs to us!”
Cousin Sandy can play Twister all by herself
Cousin Sandy? Don’t even ask.
And the gypsy lady? I can’t imagine who that is, but I know she’s definitely odd. Ask anyone in town.
We have all kinds of personalities and all kinds of weirdness and all kinds of drama and all kinds of skeletons that refuse to stay in the closet.
But the really really odd thing is…
So does everyone else!!!
The gypsy lady
who is this big-nosed girl?
You talkin’ about MY nose?
apronsandappetites 