Weekend Wrap Up

Took the boys to "Take a Brat to Work Day", that is, of course, brat as in bratwurst.
A great breakfast before heading to school on Friday

A visit from Levi. This was the best thing that happened all week.

And his parents thought I was doing them a favor!
He loved getting sprayed with the hose.

Saturday dinner: tenderloin, roasted onions, potatoes, and grilled veggies

Josie, her Mom and S after dinner

Sunday drive to New Glarus and lunch at Glarner Stube

The world's best cheese curds, in a beer batter.

Every bite was like this.

This was my lunch. A flank steak sandwich, perfectly cooked medium rare. The bun was great, and the roasted pepers were amazing. I would have this again in a heartbeat.

Brenda's Blumenladen

I wanted everything in the nursery and gift shop!

I have to go back (without my husband!)

Went to the cemetary to honor B's father, a veteran of the Korean War

Both boys added flags to his grave site. It joined the one placed by the VFW.

Farmer's Market

Reading in the hammock

We did a little antiquing this weekend, HUGE (and heavy) bowl $35

Silver platter, got for $1.50, yes, that is correct one dollar and fifty cents!

I know! I couldn't believe it either!

Lunch with Cat in the Hat

Lunch with Head of School, won in the Annual Auction
The table looked great, if I do say so myself!

Our Fabulous Head of School (AKA Cat in the Hat),

along with Thing One and Two

(the masterminds behind this lunch)

Cupcakes

Everyone had a great time!

School snack

Looks like ketchup and fries, but is pound cake and pureed strawberries. The boys thought it was really fun, and were envied by their friends. Score one for Mom!

Guess

Guess how fast a Lilly Pulitzer Jubilee scarf can get sucked up a vacuum... anyone, anyone, Bueller? Yes, pretty damn fast, about 2 seconds, and FYI my vacuum has such powerful suction that as the scarf slid off the table it just sucked it right up. Now guess how long it takes to get the scarf out of the vacuum. Thirty minutes, two screwdrivers and plenty of sweating and swearing! That pretty well sums up the day.

Judging a Book by the Cover

I picked this book up for ten cents at the library book sale this week. I didn't have the foggiest idea what it was about, but just loved the title, A Madras-Type Jacket. Written by Evelyn Hawes and published in 1967, the first lines on the book jacket are "Are there still college students who could be called nice, normal, and unspoiled? Who, without being smug, are reasonably happy, and without being naive, capable of falling in love the way their parents did?" Sounds promising... I'll let you know.

Mount Rushmore

We are planning a car trip to Mount Rushmore and then continuing to Wyoming and Yellowstone this summer. Has anyone been there? Where did you stay? Did you have reservations or did you wing it? Any suggestions of things we shouldn't miss, other than Wall Drug and Mitchell Corn Palace? Thanks for the help.

Lilac memories

Freshly cut lilacs are sending the most wonderful scent throughout my home today. It reminds me of time on my Grandparents farm, sleeping in an beautiful antique bed (which is now in my guest room) on off-the-clothesline sheets, covered with a chenille bedspread, surrounded by yellow flower wallpaper, and the fresh air coming through the window, bringing in the smell of lilacs. I would love to have that experience back for just one night. Laying there, without a care in the world, knowing that I am safe and loved.

Happy Mother's Day

My mom, when she was a teenager. Why didn't I get those legs?!

Four Generations in about 1971

Me, Mom, Grandma and Great-Grandma

Last summer with the best things I have ever done.

Me with J and S

I love them more than I can express.

Patricia Cornwell on Lifetime Movies

Lifetime Movies - At Risk

Daniel Sunjata wouldn't get kicked out for eating crackers in bed.

I have read most of Patricia Corwell's books, and just discovered two movies on Lifetime last night (On Demand is the best!). Check it out here. The stories were great and looking at that man for a few hours was highly satisfying! I now want him cast as Ranger in any movies based on the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich.

Paper Flowers

I have become addicted to making these sweet paper flowers. I bought tons of scrapbook paper and a heart punch, and began threading them into pipe cleaner. I took them to the Pre-K and Kindergarten rooms for a May Day craft project, and the kids really enjoyed making them. The boys gave bouquets to their teachers, and school staff, for Teacher Appreciation week. And last night I made them just because. I love all the different combinations of color.

Please Don't Eat the Daisies!

Levi, you blow the dandelion, not eat 'em!

Silver in Savannah

"Silver in Savannah" is an exhibit at the Telfair Museum, running until early August. I would love to go see this, and pine away at the amazing collection. I love my silver, and even enjoy polishing it. Such instant gratification! My first full time job, after high school, was at a beautiful store called Douglass China in the Hilldale Mall in Madison. I polished lots of silver, and came away with a deep appreciation for it. It also began my collection of china.

Aunt Rosemary

My Great Aunt Rosemary (Rosie), who was in her nineties, died on Sunday night. I was just talking about her on Sunday afternoon with the boys. They asked why we had a hammock, and I told them about the wonderful hammock at my Aunt Rosie's house. It was so fun, and it was right next to a koy pond. We would lay, swaying gently, and look at the fish. She had an interesting home, and I loved exploring it. An organ she let us play to our hearts content, lots of sea shells and a fainting couch, where my inner Greta Garbo came out. I now own a fainting couch, and think of her every time I demonstrate how to dramatically use it to little girls, just like she did for me. We spent time at their cottage on the Mississippi through out my childhood. Above are pictures of me in 1971, at age two. There was nothing better than a Mr. Freeze pop on that huge wooden deck. Her husband, my Uncle Joe, owned a sand and gravel company, and I remember him bringing a huge dump truck full of sand for me to play in. What joy! Aunt Rosie and I always had a special bond, because of a shared birthday. My due date was two weeks earlier than my actual birth date, and that's because my mom told the doctor I would be born on August 8, because that was her aunt's birthday, and I was. It will be hard when that date rolls around, and I don't have her to send a card to. God bless her soul.

Derby Party

Southern delicacies, including Bourbon balls and Kern's Derby Pie, shipped from Kentucky
Enjoying the Garden

Waiting for the Race to begin

Tanya, with Jay, made the winning bid with Super Saver!