American Idol - Top 7

Tonight the contestants are singing "Songs from the Movies with mentor, Quentin Tarantino. Not my favorite director - don't know if I've seen more than one of his movies but we'll see what he does with them.

Since they ran out of time last week, only two judges are going to comment on each contestant. Doesn't make sense! We're down to only 7 contestants .... you'd think with an hour they could do it. Maybe if we cut out some commercials and didn't put one on after EACH singer!!

Here we go!

• Allison - Aerosmith's Don't Want to Close My Eyes - She didn't do it for me tonight. Paula says she is talented; Simon agrees and thinks she is the girl's only chance to win the competition.
• Anoop - Bryan Adams, Everything I do, I do for You - Pretty good! I was thinking he was on borrowed time, but Randy says he has found his "zone" in the last couple of weeks. I agree. Kara says it was one of his best performances.
• Adam - Born to Be Wild from Easy Rider - He definitely gives it 110% each week. Probably not my favorite of his performances. I thought he was a little screechy. Paula love it though - "he dares to dance in the path of greatness"????? Simon thought vocally it was incredible, but parts were like the Rocky Horror Show!! I agree - you either love it or hate it!
• Matt - Bryan Adams, To Really Love A Woman - Chris Daughtery sang this one too. Matt is giving it a bluesy flavor and I like it. Randy doesn't think it one of his best. Kara thinks he takes 2 steps forward and tonight took 2 steps back. He may be in trouble tonight.
• Danny - Endless Love - He got bored so he got a guitar .... how does he get bored doing all the rehearsals, filming commercials, etc.!! Wow! He's singing without his glasses tonight. He's definitely one of my favorites and I'm loving him tonight! Paula thinks he's unique and unforgettable - he wowed and slayed us. Simon says he is a brillant singer but is disappointed with the harp and the traditional singing of the song. But, Simon congratulated him because he realized that was an emotional song for Danny to do.
• Kris - from the movie, Once (never heard of it) and I didn't catch the name of the song - I've not ever heard it. Randy didn't like it - thought it was pitchy. Kara thought it was one of his best.
• Lil Rounds - The Rose - A good song choice for her, I think but she's got some rough patches. Paula only talked about the song - not how she performed. Simon keeps it real and tells her he is getting frustrated with her ... that she is not the singer they met at the beginning of the season. I have to agree. She put her "two cents" worth in too ... unfortunately, she got cut off before I could hear everything she had to say.

OK - my pick for bottom 3 .... it's tough tonight!! Lil, Kris .... Matt, Anoop???

To go home .... Lil

Yum .... Salt Water Taffy

Salt Water Taffy is a favorite treat of mine and my daughter's.  I have been known to make myself sick eating it!  When we were in Savannah, there was a neat candy store (Savannah's Candy Kitchen) that was making taffy while you watched (and giving away samples!!).  They also make pralines and give away samples of them.

Here is the machine that stretches and pulls the taffy.

Then it goes to this roller machine and rolls around and around until it gets long and skinny (with the help of this guy).  He then feeds it through this machine which cuts it into small pieces and wraps the paper on it and drops it onto the surveyor belt.

From the surveyor belt, it goes into these little Ferris Wheel containers which are on a type of pulley (like a Ferris Wheel!) and it goes up and around, dropping the contents at the top onto another surveyor belt.

Here is the surveyor belt with the taffy that runs from the candy making part into another room (like a little train.)

Then it drops out of this chute into the red bin.  See the piece in mid air?  Sonny was fascinated by the whole process!

The red bin opens up and the taffy goes into one of the sections.  We didn't figure out how they get the taffy into the bottom sections since they are pop-riveted together.  My guess is that they scoop it from the top bin to the ones below.

Pretty cool, huh?

Mrs Wilkes Boarding House

We had a great trip in Savannah this weekend.  Before we left today, our last stop was Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House. 

In 1943, a young Sema Wilkes took over a boardinghouse in historic downtown Savannah. Her goal was modest: to make a living by offering comfortable lodging and homestyle Southern cooking served family style in the downstairs dining room.  They don't take boarders any more, just serve wonderful Southern food.   Over the course of two-plus decades, the lines at Mrs. Wilkes' have grown longer, and the good press just keeps rolling in, even as other boardinghouses close up shop for the final time.

I had been told that it was better than Paula Deen's restaurant, Lady and Sons.  Since I didn't go to Paula's restaurant, I can't compare, but believe me .... it was FABULOUS!!  We arrived a little before 10:45 and got in line in the drizzling rain.  They started letting people in a little before 11:00.  They serve you family style and you just pass the bowls and fill your plates.

I took a picture but it doesn't do the table justice!  They served:  Fried Chicken (to die for), Beef Stew, Pork; Rice and Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Okra & Tomatoes, Cabbage, Snap Beans, Macaroni and Cheese, Butter Beans, Black Eyed Peas, Rutabaga, Squash, Potatoes au Gratin, Yams, Pickled Beets, Red Beans, Turnip Greens, Carrot Salad, Cucumber Salad, Sausage, Creamed Corn, Corn Bread and homemade rolls!  For dessert, Banana Pudding and Blueberry Cobbler.   Of course, I sampled almost everything!!  My Yankee husband was not quite as impressed as I was though.  He's lived down South now for almost 40 years, you would think he would be liking our Southern cuisine.  But, no, he won't even eat a grit!!

If you're ever in Savannah, this is MUST for dining!!  Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room is located on one of the most elegant streets in Savannah. Jones Street runs through the center of the Historic District lined with moss laden trees and paved with cobblestone. It wasn't until 1987 that Mrs. Wilkes consented to a sign out front. She made this place somewhat of a legend, and her family is keeping it a family affair.  They don't take reservations and are only open Monday - Friday from 11 - 2.

 

Happy Easter

Hope the Easter bunny found your house!

These are a couple of Easter cards that I sent out.

This one is from a retired SU set and one I actually got in a swap a few years ago.

This one I made.  I just love this paper and find myself hoarding it!  The blue check and the flower are from Parisian Breeze DSP and it is cardstock weight.   I matched it with a piece of Baja Breeze, Sahara Sand and Whisper White.

Flowers for You

I won't be blogging for a few days (except for Easter Sunday - I have something set in advance for then). We are going to Savannah Friday a.m. for a long weekend to celebrate Easter as well as our anniversary. We have never been to Savannah. I am looking forward to it. We already have our Easter brunch booked on a ship so I hope the weather is nice.

I will leave you with a few pictures of some of the beautiful flowers Ashley and I saw at the Botantical Gardens in New York.

Easter Baskets

I received the cutest Easter basket today in the mail from my Monday Mailer pard, Betsy.  She made this basket using the Sizzix Scallop Envelope Die.  And .... she filled it with packages of M&M's, a pen she decorated, a magnet and the cutest little bunny that sandwiches a chocolate mint patty.

Well, after seeing this, I got busy.  I have a Board meeting tomorrow so decided to whip up a few of these baskets for my friends.  Won't they be surprised!  I didn't have time to do all the little accessories, but I did get the baskets made.  Now, I just have to leave the house a little early in the a.m. and stop by the store to get some candy to put in the baskets!

This one I used the new white Jumbo Grommets that are in the Occasions Mini catalog (p 19). 

American Idol Results

Bottom 3 - Scott, Lil & Anoop

Kelly Pickler sang The Best Days of Your Life. She is soooo cute. When she was on Idol, she was such a little Carolina hick! She was so funny when she'd wear high heels .... like she was on the back of a plow! Tonight she wore some pretty sparkly high, high heels like a pro!

Well, Scott "sang for his life" tonight. And .... it's a tie - 2 judges think he should stay & 2 think he should go. I think it's the girls wanting him to stay. Will they use the "save"? NO!! I'm surprised, but they let Simon make the decision for the group and that was to let him go.

In a way, I am not surprised it was Scott. His time was up. But what an inspiration he was! I figure the judges want to save their "save" for another contestant.

So, that's a wrap!

American Idol Final 8 Perform

Tonight they are singing songs from the year of their birth, and we get treated to baby pictures. They start with “baby” pictures of the judges. Really funny!

• Danny Gokey - 1980 - Stand By Me (Mickey Gilley version) - He is one talented kid! He sets the bar high for the rest to follow him.
• Kris Allen - 1985 - All She Wants to do is Dance - Not liking this song choice and neither do the judges. Ryan used his normal adjectives .... "indulgent, boring, forgettable." I truthfully don't know what he means when he tells them they are indulgent.
• Lil Rounds - 1984 -What's Love Got To Do With It - Not liking this tonight. Judges thought she was copying Tina Turner too much. I have to agree - she's lost her originality.
• Anoop - 1986 - True Colors - Anoop is singing Cyndi Lauper. I repeat. Cyndi Lauper. Well he did good -nice vocals. Judges liked it, even Simon! They thought he made it "his" song.
• Scott - 1985 - The Search Is Over - Just ok - didn't do much for me. At the beginning of the season, I thought he would be the one to beat - not any more though. I think he's a limited singer; he mostly does ballards. He got away from the piano tonight. Judges thought the song was too much for him. Simon thought the song was horrible and he should go back to the piano.
• Allison - 1992 - I Can't Make You Love Me - Funny story - Her mom said as a baby, she talked too much & she took her to the doctor. The dr. said she was going to be a singer - that was why she talked all the time. Good song choice for her. For a young kid, she is very talented! The judges like it! Simon doesn't think her personality is coming out. Randy said Allison reminds him of Kelly Clarkson. He agrees with Simon that she needs to engage the audience a little more.
• Matt - 1985 - Part Time Lovers - Vocally - great! Kara said he was incredible on all levels. Paula gave him 2 words - Standing Ovation!! Even Simon liked it!!
• Adam - 1982 - Mad World - best of the night!! Paula was up on her feet. He did a great performance.

Tonight's bottom 3 - in my opinion - Kris, Lil & Scott .... Going home? possible, Kris

Sonny & I think the final 2 will be Adam & Danny. Sonny predicts Adam will win.

36 years and going strong

Today is our 36th anniversary!  No big plans for celebrating today.  We will save that for this weekend when we go to Savannah.  Here we are 36 years ago in front of Myers Park Methodist Church in Charlotte where we got married on a very rainy April 7, 1973.

Easter Cards

Just wanted to share a few Easter cards made today.  These are all traveling to Tucson.  Only have a couple more to make!

This one uses a Hostess Set, Itty Bitty Buds.  I stamped it in Perfect Plum, More Mustard, Old Olive and Rose Red.

This one uses the egg from A Good Egg.  The little bunny is a Great Impressions stamp.  I used the Swiss Dot Cuttlebug folder for the Gable Green card.

This is the Sock Monkey .... gone Easter!  The Easter eggs on the bottom is a wheel from the Occasions Mini Catalog.  Isn't he cute?

GO CAROLINA!!  CHAMPIONS! Michigan was never ahead the whole game!