Baby Shower Cake

Heather's baby shower cake.

What a beautiful party she had. The centerpiece was absolutely stunning & sweet at the same time.

OK, so Heather's cake was two-tiers... and it was supposed to be three! The bottom layer was a two-layer orange cake and the top tier was a three-layer strawberry cake. The icing was cream cheese frosting and the designs were fondant.

Everyone loved the cake, so much so that they all clapped when I came forward to "claim" my hostess gift from Heather. Some even asked for the secret to moister cakes.

Camper Kitty

Comcast

So this past Sunday morning we were working at the Mercer House. OK, actually Todd, Tom & John were working, I was picking out new house paint colors. Anyway, Tom's van and Todd's SUV were parked in the street, directly in front of the house. A few minutes after we arrived, a Comcast technician also arrived in the neighborhood. He was there to complete a service call at the home directly across the street from ours. He proceeded to park in front of that home, thereby leaving less than 5 feet between Tom's & Todd's vehicles and his own.

Upon him exiting his work van, I asked if if he would please move either a little bit up the street or a little bit down the street since he was blocking the street. No cars could have passed between the vehicles. Hell, I couldn't even lay down in the middle of the street IF I had wanted to, not that I would have, but this fact is just an illustration of how frickin' close the vehicles were to each other due to this (insert no-so-nice descriptive word here). So anyway, the guy says, "No, that's too far for me to carry my ladder." My response, "OK, I'll just call the police."

So the police show up a few moments later, and after a few more minutes (10 or 15), the cop winds up slamming the Comcast guy up against his work van and placing him under arrest. The Comcast guy was even arguing with the police officer and refusing to move the vehicle 15 feet up or down the street. What an (insert no-so-nice descriptive word here)!

So the guy is under arrest, his work truck is going to be towed, and he may just lose his job JUST BECAUSE HE WOULDN'T MOVE HIS WORK VAN.

So fast forward 35 minutes... the police officer lets the Comcast guy go (with or without a ticket, I don't know, it's not my business), the guy goes into the house where the service call is waiting (what a IDIOT... keep reading) and never once uses his ladder.

So about the IDIOT. All I can say about her is that thank GOD she is no longer my neighbor. I honestly would have to move if she were my neighbor in Happyville. Not a very happy person, or a smart one either. Here's just one reason why...

So while the Comcast guy is in the police car under arrest, she is talking with another neighbor (Ronnie, my hairdresser who also lives on Mercer) about the incident. I interject that I would be happy to tell them what happened since I was the one who called the police. She then says (and I quote), "I have no doubt that it was you who called the police." My response, "Is that good or bad?" She then proceeds to tell me that I should have asked him to move BEFORE I called the police. Yeah, thanks genius. I hadn't thought of that. What a great idea! When I informed her that I had and that he had refused, she then proceeds to tell everyone that the guy wasn't resisting arrest, she had seen the whole thing from her window. This is where I tell her, "I don't think the police officer would agree with you on that" and then I walk away all the while calling her A Complete F---ing Idiot. And she is, she really is.

My only hope now is that the Comcast guy never show up at our Happyville home for a service call.

Happy Days

Won't you join us for the annual Happy Days Festival? It's this coming Saturday, September 20, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Here's the website... http://hapeville.org/DocumentView.asp?DID=947

As stated in a previous post, I will have a booth where I will be peddling my pickles, jellies & jams.

Very Berry Blueberry Jam, 8 oz., $4.00
Yummy Plummy Jam, 8 oz., $4.00
I'm a Georgia Peach Jam. 8 oz., $4.00
Apple of My Eye Jelly, 8 oz., $4.00
Sugar & Spice Pickles, pint, $5.00

I'll post a photo of my homemade goodies later this week, so look for this posting again.

Harrison

While at our Mercer House this past weekend, we got to visit with an old friend. Harrison was our next door neighbor for a couple of years, hanging out at Matt & Molly's most of the time. Molly has a soft spot for stray kitties, and after having them spayed or neutered, she gives them a home on her front porch. Harrison is one such lucky kitty.

And what a love he is. He could spend hours just loving you and you loving him. Here he is basking in the warmth of a Saturday afternoon on the wall between our homes.

My Summer Garden

Sometime in the early Spring, I decided to grow a garden in three containers. I had three gardens: salad, salsa, and pizza. (Each "garden" contained the veggies and herbs for each type of cuisine.)

I purchased three large pots at Home Depot along with the soil, seeds, plant markers, and Miracle Grow. I also visited Office Depot and purchased packing peanuts. I had read that packing peanuts placed at the bottom of the pots makes them lighter and easier to move since the entire pot is not filled with soil. Makes sense, right?

One Sunday afternoon I loaded the pots with the peanuts, then soil, then seeds, then a little more soil. I then placed them where they would get the best sun and proceeded to water them. A few days later I went to take a look at my garden only to find that the contents had drastically settled to the bottom of the pots. Turns out that the peanuts were biodegradable and once they got wet, they almost instantly dissolved. Yeah, lesson learned.

Anyway, above are some photos of what was able to grow in such conditions. I had two cucumbers, one of which we ate (and it was very yummy) and a few dozen grape tomatoes (I had one and it was also very yummy). (The yellow flowers above are from the cucumber plants.)

Not sure what I'll plant next time, but I know it won't be packing peanuts. Perhaps I'll try Diet Coke cans. I have LOTS of those!

Guitar Hero

Jennifer, Jeff & Arden, my in-laws

Jeff & Jennifer, father and daughter rocking out to Guitar Hero

Me

Jeff & Todd (Jeff is Jennifer's boyfriend)

Last Saturday we celebrated Jennifer's 29th birthday. (See Mmm, Cake post below.) Following dinner, we all played a few rounds of Guitar Hero. I actually did pretty well (81% on one round) considering my method of "playing" is messed up.

As most of y'all know, I had two strokes 33 years ago. My left side is weaker than my right, and I do not have the dexterity with my left hand like I do with my right. So in order for me to play, I held the guitar backwards and had to read the screen from left to right and remember to reverse the keys on the guitar. I am very proud of myself despite the fact that I scored about 70,000 less than Jeff (Jennifer's boyfriend). Not bad for a first time either.

Before & After

Labor Day weekend we bought a six pack of tennis balls for Hershey & Maize. Before the weekend ended, Hershey had destroyed all of them.

Shoulda Woulda

I'm always thinking and saying, "I should blog about that" or "I'll write about that in my blog"... and then I forget to do just that. When I have a few moments to share our daily lives with y'all, I can never remember what it was that I wanted to share. So today I am making a list of some of the things that I want to share with friends and family.

Before I share that list, you may be wondering and saying to yourselves If you have enough time to blog about future blogging, then why aren't you blogging about your list? I have an awesome answer to that very profound question. PHOTOS. I have photos that help tell our story, and I want those photos to accompany my postings. See, that is an awesome answer.

Anyway, here's my list...

1. Guitar Hero
2. My homegrown tomatoes
3. Photos of the furry babies
4. Photos of our happy home
5. Todd building out our garage
6. Happy home construction photos
7. Happy Days Festival... September 20th
8. Photos of all my cakes
9. Gray's 50th birthday surprise party
10. Chris' 40th birthday weekend getaway... November 14-16

There's a lot more than this, but this is a good start. Maybe I'll start tomorrow.

Palm Readings by Tiffany

During my drive to the doctor's office today I passed by Palm Readings by Tiffany on Roswell Road and immediately thought of the following story.

Years ago, 2002 perhaps, I spent a few dollars having my palms read by a fortune teller in New Orleans' Jackson Square. This wasn't the first time I have had a gypsy tell me my future, and it won't be the last either. Anyway, this gypsy (what are male gypsies called?) tells me that I will marry a man by the name of Edward. Not knowing any Edwards at the time, I thought this thought maybe he misread my palms. I was dating a Ted, not an Ed. Not that I was serious about Ted, but you know how women think when they get to be a certain marrying age. So fast forward to October 2006, when I marry Todd Edward (insert last name here). Didn't think about that story or that fact until today.

I'll blog about having my tarot cards read some other time, so check back often.

Mmmmm, Cake

As most of y'all know, I bake cakes. I took all three Wilton cake decorating courses earlier this year, and now I bake cakes every chance I get. The cake above was for Jennifer's 29th birthday dinner. She loves yellow cake with chocolate frosting. Add a few fondant flowers and voilà... a beautiful Birthday Cake!

This weekend I am making my cousin's baby shower cake. I'll post photos, so check back!

The Most Fabulous Dinner Party

Last night Todd & I hosted The Most Fabulous Dinner Party... ever. The reason for the fabulousness? We had brunch in our pajamas!

I totally forgot to take pictures of us in our fabulousness (we were too busy enjoying the fabulous food), but I did take a picture of the fabulous dining room table.

What was the fabulous menu you ask? Mimosas, bagels with cream cheese & homemade Yummy Plummy Jam, bacon, french toast bake (Paula Deen recipe, y'all), eggs Benedict, fabulous fruit salad (compliments of Chris & Patrick) , and of course coffee and few other adult beverages (and OJ for the Momma-to-be).

Who were our fabulous guests? Chris & Patrick, Joan & Joe, Jenny & Jordan, and Keith & April Faith. Maize, Hershey & Camper were in attendance too. My brother even stopped by for a few minutes, which is why I am TOTALLY kicking myself that I don't have a picture of all of us in our fabulous pajamas!

The last guests left at 1:15, a late night for Todd & me... but we loved every fabulous minute of it. I hope everyone else had a fabulous time as well and are sleeping in this morning.

Baby Dreams

Apparently I have special dream abilities. If I dream you are pregnant, chances are pretty good that you are. 100% in fact! So here are the details:

Last September (I think... may have been late August), I dreamt that my co-worker was pregnant. I woke up that morning and immediately told Todd about the dream. I then came to the office and told her about my dream. Turns out that she had just told one of her bosses that she was pregnant.

This past February, I dreamt that my cousin Heather was pregnant. Again, I woke up and told Todd about my dream. I also called Heather the following day, and after playing phone tag for a day or so, she confirmed that I was right! The doctor had confirmed it for her a week earlier. (I also dreamt that it was a girl, and again, I am right!)

Then on July 9th, I had a dream that my friend Jenny was pregnant with a boy, a boy they would name Benjamin. And again, I told Todd about my dream that morning. I also told Jenny a few days later. Upon hearing my "good news", Jenny told me that she wasn't... or so she thought. She just e-mailed me today to tell me that she is in fact pregnant! She was pregnant when I told her, she just didn't know it yet!

Todd has already told me "no more baby dreams," and that was before my dream about Jenny. Wait until she tells him tonight at dinner!

And hopefully soon I'll be having baby dreams about me.

Pickles, Jellies & Jams

Happy Days in Happyville

I am making pickles, jellies & jams for the Happy Days Festival that our town is hosting in a few short weeks. My friend Dawn & I will have our own booth featuring her awesome gift baskets and my homemade goodies.

My best friend Toni & I made various jellies & jams YEARS ago as Christmas gifts, but I have never made pickles before. Using my grandmother's recipe, I hope my Sugar & Spice Pickles are a crowd pleaser. Garlic, spices, and lots of sugar... what's not to love?

The jams are my favorite to make, especially blueberry jam. I have come up with the cutest names for my treats... tell me what you think.

Very Berry Blueberry Jam, Yummy Plummy Jam, I'm a Georgia Peach Jam, & Apple of My Eye Jelly. (I'm not 100% sold on the apple jelly name, but Nikki tells me it's catchy.)

Mercer House

For almost six years, this was Home Sweet Home. These days it is "Home Sweet Home" to Keith & April Faith.

We took this picture mid-July 2008, and it will serve as a Before photo. In less than 10 days, it will begin a make-over with a new roof and siding (& paint color).

As soon as the During photos are available, I will update... along with the After photos. Keep checking back for progress!

Tupperware

Tupperware- (OK, so maybe not the name brand stuff, but you know what everyone means when they say "Tupperware.") Anyway, we pack our lunches 4 to 5 days a week. (OK, I pack our lunches, but it doesn't matter. This post is not about me getting the credit. It's about Tupperware.) Like I was saying, we pack our lunches for the work week. I go downstairs before Todd in the mornings and lovingly make something for breakfast (PB&J or PB&H) along with a serving of applesauce AND lunch (leftovers from dinner the night before, a sandwich, some fruit, nuts maybe, a granola bar, etc.) and pack our lunch bags. I remind him that his bag is on the counter so he doesn't forget it (again) and we are off to work. After all my efforts, all I ask is that he bring his lunch bag home with the Tupperware containers so I have something to pack tomorrow's lunch in. I cannot tell you how many days he leaves his lunch bag and Tupperware at the office; too many that's for sure. And then when he brings is stockpile home, oh dear God, it stinks to high heaven!

At first I would rinse the containers out and place them in the dishwasher to be washed and sanitized, me being the good wife. However, fearful that I would either pass out from the foul stench of leftover rotting food or catch some kind of disease from whatever bacteria may have been introduced two weeks earlier, I now make/ask him to take care of his lunch box and Tupperware.

Baby, if you are reading this, PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR LUNCH BAG AND TUPPERWARE HOME TONIGHT. Thank you.