Off To A Couple Of T States

I have not forgotten about sharing the award---- It will get done--sharing is one of my favorite things to do in life, anyway.

Here are a couple to get you started. The favorite of my life is of course---. http://www.sweetsagevintage.blogspot.com/

We signed up for the blog class at Mystic Paper and took the class with four other awesome bloggers, all of which are linked on Mystic Paper's blog site.

The next one is one I doubt any of you have found and it tickles me to give you one that might be new to you. I found this site the very first time I was looking at blogs and I was as excited as finding the sugar sticks, maybe more so. I was blown away by this person's creativity in the sewing field and was loving looking at all her creations. Then low and behold where is she located? Belgrade, Serbia-----exactly where my brother and my sister-in-law are living. Amazing world, amazing technology, amazing love for this thing called blogging---visit her at http://likeflowersandbutterflies.blogspot.com/

Off to Texas tomorrow to check on Randy's 90 year old aunt for whom we are responsible.

Off to Tennessee from Texas to check on my dear friend Suzanne and attend her youngest son's wedding. The youngest son, Jared, with me a couple of year's ago. His bride is much younger and much prettier. Will be showing you some of the wedding pictures later. This wedding is scheduled for outside in their beautiful yard--I should say grounds--not like the yards here in our AZ sunshine. The event is next Saturday evening so we are hoping the approaching hurricane does not wreak havoc on the festivities. Anyway, I am taking my computer but not sure about posting. I will be checking up on all of you when I am able and I do hope to say hello every now and then.

BUT here is the exciting news. I finally ordered the Nikon D80 and bought a package deal with case and lenses, etc. I paid extra money to have it air shipped to TN. Don't know if my hubby or I will figure out how to take a single shot while there but he and I both decided it worth the money to have it there just in case. I don't know if I am more excited about getting the camera or that I finally stopped researching and looking for the best deal! From my recent posts you all know this technical stuff gives me the weebie jeebies so don't hold your breath waiting for the first pictures. However, thanks again, Mike Puttman, of http://www.jackandcatcurio.blogspot.com/ for the pat on the back. Maybe it will help me cough a few better posts up sometime in the future.

Once more off to bed to dream.

By the way, did anybody notice I figured out how to link? This was learned last night when I was looking for my lost post. Wish it was actually harder than just looking at the choices across the top of the board. But hey, for me it is something learned! Even the small learnings are to be celebrated.

Now I Know I Know Not Enough As If I Did Not Already Know It

Sorry, Folks, especially Mike, who gave me the award. I did it again. I wrote an entire script to go with the last post. Seems to be Gone into Blogger Space. Looked and looked for it for over 30 minutes. Ahhhhhhhh-------- have run into some things while searching that should help me improve skills, in other areas someday, but not in retrieving my script. I sort of thought it was cute, too. Grrrrrrrrr---------- I just don't get where they go. I thought they were supposed to be saved. The only thing saved was the title and picture. I found it and then I totally lost it. I am losing it right now just thinking about it. Maybe I will lose my sadness over losing it by going to bed and dreaming about finding it again. Good Night.

Award I Don't Think I Deserve But Then I Didn't Give It To Myself

Sugar Sticks

Back to the Sugar Sticks Story!

In Pinetop, the weekend after Kim, Marija, and I had been served coffee with the darling sugar sticks, Marija, my sister-in-law and Randy, my husband, were in line at Eddies' grocery store in Pinetop. We were just purchasing a can of coffee ( believe it or not ) when right in front of us was a young man and his mother checking out. The young man was holding none other than a colored sugar stick. Looking back, and those of you who know me know this to be true, I went berserk. I probably scared the young man half to death. "Where did you get that?" I screamed. At first he just looked at me but then he caught on it was the sugar stick that had me in a frenzy. He pointed to a jar close by. The jar was filled with sugar sticks in beautiful colors. As it turns out I recognized the young man. His name is Alex and he lives in the neighborhood where my grandson lives. Alex is quite the character, most likely gifted. To my delight he launched into a description of how to create sugar sticks! One places sugar in a container with water. Either a string or a stick is suspended in the water. Leave it for about three weeks or until the water has evaporated. The sugar then attaches itself to the string or stick. It then must dry for a couple of weeks. I hope to experiment with this with Chandler. I need to find a place to buy the sticks with the ball on the end. I can get excited about the least little delight in life. I am now even liking the saying," WELL, SUGAR STICKS!" Sounds much nicer than some of the other exclamations than occasionally pop out of my mouth.

Here's the Sugar Scoop Almost

Grrrrrr!!!!!! ----, ----,----!!!!!!!!!

Those of you who know me well can fill in the above blanks. Those of you who do not know me well, fill in the blanks with nice, kind, and amen !! Don't know what just happened. I had half of my post written and it just disappeared. I can not find it saved anywhere. Sorry, Kim, of Sweet Sage. You will have to wait.I will try to make it sugar coated, for you, when I finally tell the story. Must say goodnight. Hope all have sweet dreams.

Twenty Pictures at Last Count

A stop in Globe to break up the trip from the valley to Pinetop!

Can you see the peanuts on the ground? What fun to watch the critters eat. My neighbor has squirrels eating out of her hand!
Marija, my sister-in-law in front of our favorite Mexican food restaurant. Want to know why it is a favorite? Well, the food is great but those $2.50 happy hour margaritas are the real draw.

Walking in Woodland Park with my sweetheart.
Are we having fun, or what? Scratch, homemade pizza by Marija and Chandler and fresh peach pie by yours truly.
The moon ,Joy, of Garden Gate, mentioned on her blog. It was just beautiful.
Randy, my sweetheart, and Miaja, my sister-in-law playing pool at Charlie Clark's. Kim, of Mystic Paper, you will like this-Randy calls it Cowboy Charlies. The first time we visited Pinetop he could not remember the name Charlie Clark's and Cowboy Charlies was born. From then on it became Cowboy Charlies to us. Marija had not played pool in 2and1/2 years. May I just say shark?
My Cosmopolitan Martini served in a wine glass. They were out of martini glasses. Huuummmm-wonder if cowboy bars even have martini glasses. Regardless, it was just delicious.

Fishing trip. The only thing caught was a crawdad by our grandson, Chandler.Crawdad Proof
Me deleting many pictures from my camera. The little orange things you see on the quilt are the beginning of stitched paper jack-0-lanterns. Had to do work while others fished. Poor me.
Marija fishing to no avail but still smiling.
Hawley Lake
Cute little chipmunk at Hawley lake

Family at none other than that Mexican food restaurant, El Rancho, again. And yes, margaritas!
My husband is not a cowboy but he smokes a mean brisket. Yes, they tastes as good as they look. He learned to do this a few years ago when I was antiquing in TN. He and some young Texas golfers wanted to have smoked brisket while watching the Texas/Oklahoma game. He decided to learn to cook. This could well be the first thing he had ever cooked in his life. He plans to do much more cooking ( not sure he knows this yet ) since he is retired.
Newly hung hammock we bought while in Mexico. I wish we had taken a picture of the sides. They are crocheted lace and it is darling, if I do say so myself.
Hummingbirds abound. This one has a red chest and Randy has named him Petey.

And last, but certainly not least, for Kim , of Sweet Sage Vintage, a taste of what is yet to come.

I Am Here You Just Can't See Me

I think I have been hanging around Mike Putman's classes too much. I really am here, but seems of late, I have turned into a ghost. I am whirling here and there so much I seem to be invisible. I hope to get control of myself. Being a ghost can be very tiring!