Oh the weather outside is frightful...

"Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful. And since we've no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow."

There now. Are your cooled off a bit?

Not really having much of anything worthy of a posting today, I thought for about the 50th time in 24 hours, "Mercy, it's hot!" So, here's an icy blast from the not so long ago past!

Remember, December 2007? All those snow days from school. Which in reality should have been called ICE days. And the fact that it was so darn cold and you were stuck in the house for many days because the ice covered EVERYTHING! And you had no electricity for several days or was it a week for you?

Well, now. Maybe 102 doesn't seem so bad... I'm feeling cooler already.

Vacation

Ahhhh vacation. What a great word. This lovely shot is the sunrise over Fort Lauderdale beach last week. Ain't it grand?

I had the opportunity to attend a conference there and was able to add a couple of extra days for a little personal time. How fortunate for me and my hubby.

I love, love, love the beach. The sand, the sun, the trees, and the wonderful sound of the waves crashing into the shore. I think I could just sit there for hours and hours just watching and listening. But alas, my nose gets too red - even with sunscreen. So I had the chance to love the beach and ocean in small doses.

The hotel we stayed at was literally across the street from the beach. We stayed at the BahiaMar. A great resort hotel. The conference was held there so that made it even better! We would attend sessions from 8:00 to 3:30 or 4:00 every day - then we had evenings free. I think I swam in the ocean every day we were there (except one - I had to rest my poor sunburned back!). My idea of a great time.

David and I took a little bit of time on Saturday and drove to the closest part of the Everglades and did something EXTREMELY fun. We rode on one of those airboats. I always think of Flipper when I think about airboats... Seems like I remember the dad on that show being a ranger or something and riding around on one. Hmm...

We also accomplished something else I wanted to do. See alligators in their natural environment. Our guide took us out in the swampy glades and sure enough there they were. So cool. Personally I could have just riden around on that airboat all day long. It rode so smooth and the landscape was just so different from everything in Oklahoma! THEN as you can see by the photo I got to hold an alligator! It was a small one. And yes, they had taped it's little mouth shut so it wouldn't bite. (Do you think I would be holding it any other way?) It was amazing. Just like the first time I held a big snake, I was amazed at how soft and smooth it was. The guide said stroke up under it's neck and feel how soft it was there. Simply amazing. And I just realized I have used the word amazing or some form of that word way too many times in this last paragraph. But it was.

It was time to come home all too soon. But then we turned right around and went to Branson for 4 days. Ahhh vacation. This time we didn't try to jam a lot of stuff in and we were staying with our daughter and her husband in his bosses' condo that is right on the golf course. Very relaxing and such a beautiful place. Dave loves to go out on the patio and watch the golfers.

Jamie and I shopped a lot and the guys played golf. We found a cute set of kiddy golf clubs at the Disney store there and Alyssa had a blast playing around with them. She thought she was really something rolling her little bag around with the pink and purple plastic clubs and yellow golf balls.

And then back home we came. I must admit I was ready to get back home. We really only had a pit stop between trips - long enough to wash the necessary laundry and then pack it back for round 2!

It's back to work for both of us this week. Tonight I am taking a quiet rest - no one here - Dave at work - Dan gone on vacation with Ryan. So it's just me and my buddy Joe. I think I may get to bed before midnight tonight! Sweet dreams everyone.

Ch-ch-ch Changes!

Am I dating myself by this title? Anyone remember that song? David Bowie??? "Time may change me, but I can't trace time"? Well anyway, here is our latest project. Our poor entryway was sooooo stuck in the 80's! Blue and Mauve - mercy what possessed me? Well, when I chose that wallpaper it was very much "in style". The tile has always been there - not bad - but I just wanted some warmth to this small space.

So now through the magic of television. Oh wait, this isn't tv it's the internet. So now through the magic of digital photography here is the entry way as of today. Not finished by any means, but looking a bit more "with it". (Oh no - there I go again with the dated terminology - ok well you all KNOW how old I am.)

Here's the run down: New flooring, wallpaper removed, texture added, new paint, touched up baseboard and door trim, and new light fixture.
I also had Dave take off the mirror from the cabinet. It was very "Early American". (How's that for a blast from the past?) Here's what I still need to do: New wall mirror over the cabinet. New rug. Something? to go on the opposite wall. I am thinking something metal. So what do you think? Do you like it?

Jamie and I looked around today for some new touches. Saw a couple of things I liked, but didn't purchase anything yet. Whatever I get will probably be there a while. I have been wanting to update this space for a long, long, time! In fact, once upon a time I bought some beautiful wallpaper to go there. But now it is lost. Yes, lost. Where it has gone no one knows. I have a strange feeling it may be shoved in a corner of the attic or in a hidden spot in the garage.

So to quote another song, "the times they are a changing". And hopefully the house is a changing too!

Whoopee - Bunco Night!

Last night was Bunco night! That means a night with good friends, great conversation, wonderful food, and yes, even some Bunco. Sometimes it seems as though that is not our main focus. We generally start at 6:30. I believe last night we didn't start rolling the dice until 8:00! Hmmm... could it be that we love to talk?

Lately my bunco luck has been down. You can receive a prize for: Most Wins, Most Buncos, Most Whoopees, and Most Losses. I can't even win the biggest loser prize! It's been several months since I have come home with a lovely little envelope.

The group I belong to is one I have been in for several years. The cast has changed over time. We are now a group of all ages. We have 20 somethings up to 50 somethings and it's a good mix. We have new moms and we have grandmoms. We have sisters, mother and daughter, friends, in-laws, and maybe a few out-laws. We laugh together, cry together, play together, and support each other. During my recent surgery they brought dinner over several nights to help out. It was wonderful and such a blessing.

We take turns hosting and my turn comes up in October. I am already thinking about what I will serve these lovely ladies for dinner and if I can come up with something to surprise them!

For the Love of Fireworks

I love fireworks. I guess you could say I am a fireworks "aficionada". We have a great party every July. We usually serve hamburgers, hot dogs, lots of sides, desserts, and all the soft drinks you can drink. We also blow up probably about $1,000 or more in fireworks. Don't you love it?

To support our fireworks habit, we have been selling fireworks for about 12 years (maybe more, I have lost track!). That lets us pay for the fireworks we set off and usually do something fun with the rest of the money. This year we are going to use the $$ towards our little jaunt to Florida in a couple of weeks.

The party this year was awesome as usual. Although this year, we did not serve dinner to our guests, only desserts. I was not quite up to handling the dinner this year (as a result of my surgery) so we changed things up just a bit. Sure hope no one minded...

I think everyone had a good time. Here are a couple of shots of part of the crowd that was there. I think there were around 80. Everyone brings their lawn chairs. They sit, they eat, they drink, they visit with each other. All of the kids runs and around and play.

David and I mingle the best we can while getting the food and drinks ready, handing out goodies to the kids, setting up the fireworks display, etc.

Then the show starts and WOW what a show. We keep track of the best fireworks we have seen and those are the ones that make into our show. We are just a little picky and won't just blow up any old thing. It's fun to hear all the comments about the fireworks and watch everyones reactions. Alyssa thinks this is "old hat" as they say. I guess she has been around fireworks her whole life and she thinks this is normal. Well who's to say what is normal ?