My request - the town drunk!

Wanda - this is for you!!

My friend Wanda said she had not seen Otis, the Mayberry town drunk, when she visited Mt. Airy. So .... this is a picture of Otis and my mom! She had her cane ready to beat him away!! Too bad I didn't get a picture of Barney's patrol car that had just driven away. If you visit Mt Airy, you can take a tour of the town in the police car and just pretend that Barney is at the wheel!!

While I'm putting funny pictures that involve my mom. Here is a great one that was taken last summer at Myrtle Beach. This was at Broadway at the Beach in front of one of those stores that have all kind of gags. This guy was outside advertising some of the gags - a rubber butt; big teeth; something else that shot water at her, etc. It was a classic "Mom" moment!!

Cheers to You from Sock Monkey!

This is the Monday Mailer I sent to Kathy this week. I just love this little Sock Monkey! And I borrowed Ashley's Cheers to You set before she took it home this weekend. I paper-pieced the monkey with paper from Bella Rosa and Hawaii Papaya (brown strip). I used Liquid Applique for the beer foam and Crystal Effects on the mug. The ribbon is Red Riding Hood striped grosgrain with a ribbon slide from the Hodgepodge Hardware kit.

Hope your weekend was as good as mine

I had a great weekend .... hope you did too! We were supposed to meet our daughter, Ashley, in Nashville last week, but the trip fell through. So, on Thursday, we found a decent price on an airline ticket from DC to Charlotte and Ashley flew down to visit with us for the weekend. On Saturday, we surprised her grandmom and picked her up for a drive to Mt. Airy. If you don't know, Mt. Airy is the home of Andy Griffith and Mayberry was based on Mt Airy. We arrived in time for lunch and stopped at the Snappy Lunch. The Snappy Lunch is famous for it's fried pork chop sandwich (definately, NOT on my Weight Watchers!!). There were no frills about this place, believe me! We had to wait in line outside on the sidewalk to get a table and they close at 1:15!! We ordered our sandwich and a bag of chips and a drink. There is no overhead I can assure you! They finally found us a menu - they were out of them because they let people take them for souveneirs. Our sandwich came wrapped in paper - no plates! But, it was good! I have never eaten a pork chop sandwich before (it was breaded and fried!!) but it was yummy!! I would definately recommend it.

After lunch, we strolled around downtown, stopping in the local candy shop. (I tell you, my diet was not on my mine today!!) We bumped into the town drunk, Otis .... remember him on Andy Griffith Show?? My mom had her picture taken with him. After that encounter, we were ready for some wine tasting! The Old North State Winery is housed in the downtown area in a renovated 1890's building. They had some very nice wines. Mom and I just tasted the sweet wines while Ashley did the whole package of reds and whites. I really only like white wines and the sweeter, the better. I would recommend their Reisling and for a really sweet wine, 38 Vines Starlight White which has a muscadine grape flavor.

Saturday night, we went to Joker's Dueling Piano Bar on Lake Norman (not far from my house). It was really fun but terrible smokey inside. It really bothered Ashley. She is used to going to the bars and restaurants in the DC / Maryland area where they are smoke-free. Sure wish NC would do that but I'm sure we will be the last state standing!!

Sunday morning Ashley and I got up early to hit the sales at Kohl's! Every gal's gotta do a little shopping!! Plus, Ashley had gotten her scratch off from Kohl's for 30% off, so what a deal!! (At least that is what we told Sonny!!) After our shopping excursion, we went out on our boat. We had lunch and just "chilled" while listening to the Panthers football game. We were resting up for our big game Sunday night - Steelers vs Browns! Of course, our team won (STEELERS).

After breakfast at Stacy's Restaurant in Denver, we headed for the airport. Ashley had a noon flight. I am always sad to see her go. I will really miss her next year when the Army moves her again - possibly to Texas or Washington state. But, she will be back for my birthday next month!!

Multi-Purpose Coaster Caddy

I was blog hopping the other day and saw this neat coaster caddy on THIS blog.  Every year at Thanksgiving, I make calendars for my lady guests.  One year I did CD case calendars and last year I did a few CD's and a few coaster calendars.  This year .... this is what I am going to do!! 

This is the inside view - I wedged a coaster down the center to divide it for putting pens, etc. in.

One side has a post-it note pad on it -

One side has a transparency overlay so you can use it for a dry-erase board.  I used red-line tape to adhere it.

One side has another transparency on it but it is only adhered at the top so you can slip a picture under it.  This clip will hold the picture on it.

One side has a calendar on it.  You can tape it down and just tear one month off at a time or just use the clip to hold it on.

Isn't it neat?!!!  I think I will be doing this for a class at Stamper's Alley after the holidays.

Splitcoast Challenge

Another challenge - I've been working on them this week! This card is for Splitcoast's Sketch Challenge (posted every Wednesday). I used to do them pretty regularly but have not been doing them for a few months. I needed to make a card for my son's anniversary next week, so decided to incorporate it into the challenge. I also wanted to do the color challenge from Tuesday, but did not like the colors - I really tried (you should see the scraps on my table!). The color combo was Gray, Riding Hood Red and Gable Green .... the green just did not work!!

Stamps: Warm Words; Always; Love Matters (retired)
Paper: Bella Rose DSP; Pink Pirouette; Whisper White; Riding Hood Red
Ink: Riding Hood Red
Ribbon: 5/8" Striped Grosgrain
Accessories: Scallop Punch; dauber; Red Stickles (non-SU)

Challenge Card

I made this card for a color challenge that I saw on Julie's blog.  I like these colors together - Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss and Baja Breeze (one of the new in-colors).  And I love this stamp set ... Eastern Influences.  I dyed my white grosgrain ribbon by running it over my Baja Breeze stamp pad (holding it down with a popscicle stick!)  I added some micro beads to the center of the flowers.  The sentiment is from the Curly Label Bundle Set (you can purchase the punch and the stamp set together).  I used Boho Backgrounds on the white curved strip and sponged Mellow Moss on it.

 

9-11 Tribute

We all remember where we were .... what we were doing .... how we felt.

Don't forget.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-a0fsmF1rk

Inspire

I received this card yesterday from my Monday Mailer partner, Jana.  It uses the Alpha set - Defining Alphabet and the Define Your Life stamp set.  I really like it.  One of the days, I'm going to break down and buy this set!!  Jana also used one of SU's new buttons - I love them and should quit hoarding mine & use them!!  The paper is the Bella Rose DSP.

 

blog candy up for grabs

Great blog candy - check it out - http://starvingartistamps.blogspot.com/2008/09/delicious-candy-just-in-time-for.html

End of Summer Gardening

I did some work in my yard a few days ago. I pulled weeds - a job I hate, by the way, and cut back my dayliles - some of them - some are still blooming! Thought I'd share some pictures of a few things before they're all gone for winter.

This is my Ginger Lily plant finally blooming. I got a small cutting last year at a church garden club sale. It kept growing and getting taller but with no flowers. Someone told me a few weeks ago that it could take 7 years for it to bloom!! Finally last week we saw blooms, but it seems as soon as a bloom appears, it dies the next day. Don't know if that is typical or not, but it sure smells great!!

This is my chrysantheum - a little early I thought. It was so heavy that it split in the center and was laying on the ground. I had to tie it up with some twine. Hoping now, it will start growing upright!!

These are my favorite - probably because they are so easy to grow! I have had them in my garden in Texas, Washington and now NC. I also have them in pots too, When winter comes, I did up a little bit of it and bring it in the house - just in case!! This is a shamrock plant. I also have green ones.

And the ever popular, monkey grass! I just think it is pretty when it is blooming.