My Visit with the boys is winding down....

Today was spent taking over 300 photos with my grandchildren. I wanted just one, to frame for my home, so I could remember this special time. Gina planted us on the grass in her back yard and the shutter on her Canon just clicked away. I have them saved on a memory stick to sort through after I get home.

  The past three weeks has flown by as most vacations do. 

 I also spent a bit of time today trying to see if I could get all my stuff back in the one suitcase I came with and so far so good.. except the kids kept giving me their toys to remember them by.

I'm not going forever I tried to tell them and when they left the room to go study I had to take the toys out of the case and hide them as to not insult these sweet grandsons.  While I tried to make sense out of my packing my daughter was teaching "Ancient Babylonia" to the boys... when they finished the two hour session they all got to work making a food of the time,  "Hammurabi Flat Bread" with Falafel.  When Gina teaches World History she always ends each session with a food from that country.

I took a walk around the house looking for all the special things given to me.  The boys had signs hanging on my arrival and these will grace my fridge once home.  They even made a sign for my two cats,, "Rikki and Daisy".

I'll see this closet in my third eye for some time to come... after all, I spent quite a bit of time in there putting toys back at the end of the day.

This little plaque says it all.

I'll be flying back to Florida really early Saturday morning with the most wonderful smile on my face.  But I'll only be gone for the winter as I'll be back in March to help my kids welcome their newest production. 

The weather in OKC changed today, it's chilly and Fall is in the air. This woman wants no part of winter and snow so I keep on the go.

Just call me a Florida Snow Bird!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Just could not finish this Afgan quickly enough...

 It's taken me two weeks to get this Afgan finished.  I normally would have had it finished quicker but this one took so much longer.  Being here at my daughters with all the living that is done in this house,  well you can imagine how hard it would be to sit.  I've been having such a good time with my grandsons and sitting still has not been in the picture.  The spot for the Afgan when I must get up was on the carpet, near my seat on the sofa.  The words seemed to echo around the house, "Don't touch grandma's crochet" and when one child sees me coming they quickly run from the room.

 I found this (stitch) pattern on the PBS Show "Knitting Today".  It was so easy to do and made for a nice design.

 Once I completed the size needed I used a simple edging to go around and finish it off.

 I think I started something.  My daughter loves it and said, "Mom, there are 5 of us in this house and we will be fighting over it once the cold weather sets in"....hmmm?  guess I need to make a few more!  I told her she needed some color this time since her furniture is all greys and browns. "How bout Orange", I said.  

We will see after I get home?

ll

After the hot dry summer we all have been having I for one am looking forward to the chilly evenings and wrapping up in a cozy Afgan sounds heavenly, don't you think?

Well my visit here in OKC is winding down and I'll be flying early this weekend.  Time to think about packing all the stuff I've gathered here.  Wish I could put my kids in the suitcase along with me but I'll be back in the Spring for another wonderful visit. Hopefully one not as quick as this visit seems to have been. But then most trips come and go so fast!

I'm thinking of all the weeds in my garden and how tall they must be. I'll be busy next week....

I'm linking this post to

Create and Share 

Sew Much Ado 

Wow Us Wednesday 

Alphabet Thursday The Letter Q 

Air Your Laundry Friday 

Frugalicious Friday 

"Happy Birthday" to my Mom....

My mom left us on Mothers Day 1998 and my life has never been the same. 

Today September 11, I have to send out into the Heavens a very "Happy Birthday" wish to this woman who gave me life and how I miss her.

Mom at 16 yrs old

 

 How come years later
you still can't wait to
tell her something
before you remember
how long she has been gone?
How come every time
you see something beautiful
you think "Oh my Mom
would love this."
And every time
there is a hurt so big
your heart can't hold it
she is the first one you need.
Every joy that comes
could only be better
if you could
share it with her.
And every tragedy
makes you thank God
she doesn't have to
suffer through it.

 How come no matter how much
you miss your Mom
just thinking about her
somehow still comforts
and heals?

I'd bake a cake for you if I could.

I'd take you out for Shrimp Fried Rice

or to Arby's.  

Anything you want mom.

"I love you"

I wanna be a Cowgirl....

Yep, that's me with the Cowboy Hat on.. testing and having such fun trying on all the goodies in Shepplers Western Store.  I remember this store when I lived in San Antonio and they have the most wonderful Western Wear.  

 

 When I found out Oklahoma City had this store I told my daughter Gina that I had to go there.  My oldest daughter living in Jupiter, Florida would die for something from this store and the search was on for the perfect gift to bring home for Cyndi. (I'd tell you all what I got for her but she reads my blog)
Gina and I tried on boots and the brown pair below were wonderful and would be great looking with jeans for the winter,,,, haha,,, I live in Florida where winter is still shorts and flip flops!

 We walked through isle after isle with the huge selection that would make any Cowgirl (or boys)  mouth water.

 I could not get over the workmanship put into these boots.

 Now, this was my favorite... hmmm, where would I wear them?  I know, on my horse while roping? Or out on my boat while fishing?

Or just looking really sexy.

 Amazing Roses  cut out of leather.

 I want a huge belt buckle to wear with my jeans.

"Yep, I wanna be a Cowgirl" 

Then I remembered I live in Clearwater now.

(((Sigh)))

Motivated Monday 

Mondays Market Place 

Cowgirl Up Link Party 

Sofa repairs, from it's venture across the Pacific Ocean...

 My daughters household goods and furniture made a 4 thousand mile trip in a crate, on a huge flat bed vessel across the Pacific Ocean and for some reason the packers and movers did not water proof anything! In fact they must have dropped both her crates because when they arrived in the states some two months later both crates were damaged, broken and totally wet.  She lost many pieces of her household goods.

The Sofa was soaked with both rain and sea water. The kids did have the fabric cleaned but it still looks horrible.

 The insurance company will replace all that can not be repaired but their taking so long to get the checks cut so my daughter let the furniture dry and knowing it was not smelly set it all up in the living room.  The tears needed to be fixed because it looked horrible... and mom volunteered to sew the rips the best I could.

 Although the fabric looks as good as Suede it is Micro Fiber on Leather and was not as easy as I thought to repair. The sofa will be replaced by the insurance but as I said, their taking so long to finalize their findings and my kids must keep the damaged items for them to come look at it all one more time.  (don't ask why because I don't have the answer?)

 We picked up some heavy duty sewing thread and a good needle and I tried to to sew the fabric as best I could. Every so often I had to run the needle through a dry piece of soap and that let the needle slide through a bit easier.

 As for the back of the attached pillows, that was another story. They were sewn right into the leather and it was not easy but somehow I did manage to do it but let me tell you I was not happy with the looks of it because I can see the stitching. But.....

 It's sewn and looks so much better than the tear with stuffing sticking out!  Besides, the children in this house kept putting their
feet in the stuffing and the tears kept getting bigger. 

 no, not my grandkids, they would never do that... :)

 Now to figure out how to eliminate all or most of the water stains.  Sea water might just be a chore?  If anyone has any suggestions I'd sure appreciate any and all thoughts you might have!

Thanks!

I'm linking this post up to

Inspiration Friday

Overflowing with Creativity 

Tuesdays To Do List 

From one who does not like Candy Apples, these are the best!

It makes no difference what you may call these apples, I've never been a fan of Caramel or Candy Apples until my daughter brought 3 of the most wonderful apples home from a sweet Cafe called Bouchons in Vegas.  
My teeth always hated being stuck in the gooey chewy toppings put on the treats that always comes to the stores in the fall of each year. But these delights were spectacular.  Really....... Gina brought out the cutting board and a large knife while the family gathered around the kitchen table and she cut a slice of each for all to taste. The gooey covered apples were so rich I don't think anyone could have eaten a whole one.

The candy shoppe in the Cafe gave their customers so many flavors to choose from.  The one I loved the best was covered with a creamy caramel and fresh crunchy pecans.  If only I could share the taste with you all.

If your a gourmet chocolate lover the one with the dark and white chocolate was a dream come true. But it only took two bites for me to be satisfied, it was that rich.

The family, 6 of us ate until we all said, enough!  The three gourmet covered Candy Apples were gone! For me, it's a good thing the candy shoppe is much too far from Florida or I would be there regularly because I love dark chocolate and caramel, especially covered with pecans.

I think this may be a project for the Fall, making some of these wonderful caramel apples.  I'm going to try to make fresh caramel and cover the sweet organic apples, then with the pecans.  I read somewhere if you use evaporated milk the caramel will be smooth and not get hard and chewy?  It will be fun to recreate.

If anyone knows of a good caramel recipe please leave me a comment and I'll give it a try.

I've been reading on many blogs Fall is in the air up north. Here in OKC it was still hot, 104' today. Send some of that air down here will ya!

Thanks to all.

I'm linking this yummy post up to

Wow Us Wednesday

Alphabet Thursday

Tickled Pink