Fun Friday....Can You Say "SALE"??!!!!!

I have a mere 3 Fridays left in my summer vacation. I have decided to make each of these a FUN FRIDAY...doing whatever I want to do, not want I need to do...that is for Monday through Thursday! I wanted to have a part of my sewing machine updated so I took it to the Bernina Center in Rockwall only to find it was their annual summer SALE!!! It was 25% off of everything in the store! Oh my goodness, I do believe fate took me that way today. I managed to keep my expenditures down to a paltry amount but was able to buy a few things I would have otherwise passed up! Only someone with a fabric fettish could love the colors and textures in a quilt store!!!

Then it was back over the bridge to Garland...yes, I photographed this beautiful water as I drove 55 MPH over the bridge but that is my little secret. It has been weeks since I have been to the lake and OH MY how I love water. I just wanted to remember how good it makes me feel!

Next stop downtown Garland where there is another of my favorite quilt stores. I needed some extra fabric for a quilt I am finishing up so I ran in for a couple of yards....again in fabric heaven. It is situated next to a cute little antique store. What a great downtown area. Beats the mall any day as far as I am concerned! I am so glad that the city has maintained the appeal of this area.

Last but not least, headed home. Did I mention that it is 88 degrees out today (July 31st)? That just never happens in Texas. We have had abudant rainfall this past week so everything is a beautiful green..not the normal fried yellow grass that we usually see this time of the year. I love it. I actually sat outside with a magazine this morning. Normally I only go outside to check the mail and run back in before my feet cook on the pavement!

Oh what a great Friday it has been!

It's Finally Here!!!!

Navy Midshipmen

Texas Tech Red Raiders

Dallas Cowboys

and

NG Raider Football!!!!

Yes, sports fans, training camp for the Cowboys begins today, which means that the whole football season thing cannot be far behind. I am by virtue of raising a house full of male children an avid football fan. I cannot help it. It is high school football on Friday night, college sports on Saturday, and a Sunday full of Pro football. I LOVE it!!!! It makes me think of fall, cooler weather, opening the windows at home, great food to eat while watching the games and so on. It precedes Thanksgiving and Christmas and all of the other special times of the year. What could be better??

It also means that going back to work is only two weeks away. In a strange way I am very ready. I love pulling into the parking lot and hearing the band practicing, seeing the guys out on the field going through two a day drills, and opening the door to my classroom...my home for the next nine months. It means many new faces and personalities and students whose lives will be entrusted to me. I love what I do. Yes, there are days when I know there are easier ways to earn a living...but more than likely there is not the sense of satisfaction I get at the end of every day. So, today I am going to dust my house, straighten up some of the closets that I have been avoiding and get ready to start a new school year. I am SO ready.

Guy Trip....

The guys just got home from a great trip to California to visit Tim and Mandy. It was their last chance to see their home and all of the improvements they have made before the kids move into their temporary residence (one of the many they will reside in this coming year). It will be a crazy next couple of months for them. They sold their house in Lemoore, will move into an apartment this next weekend and reside there for three months while waiting for the birth of their first baby in October. Mandy and baby will move to Dallas temporarily while Tim attends school in Virginia, and then Tim, Mandy, and baby will settle in Tampa Bay, Florida...Tim's new duty post. Crazy, right???

Everyone had a great time, visiting with friends, relaxing in Mandy and Tim's amazing back yard, seeing the sights and making the last trip to Paso Robles to admire the amazing vineyards. Now it is back to the reality of jobs and yardwork...sometimes it is hard to come home!!!

Here I am Gramma!!!!

Here is my precious grandbaby...sex not yet determined. This picture was done at 28 weeks and was the only good one available because "Little Buddy" was hiding his/her face with their hands the whole time. So what do you think....boy or girl??????

It Runs in the Family....

The Bobby Flay of the smoker is now the official "Smoke Off" Champion. In a throwdown between "Lo Roller" and "Scooby" the winner with the hands down best of the bunch ribs was "Scooby"!!! The news on the street is that all of his culinary skills came from his father who just happened to be on hand for the big event, held in the thriving metropolis of Visalia, California. When handed his prize Tim simply pumped his fist in the air and grinned.

Congrats Tim...and thanks to Brent for the ultimate seasoning mix that was responsible for the unique flavor of the winning ribs.

Birthdays and Tomato Plants...

Today brought a BIG 1st birthday party for some great friends twin girls. I cannot believe they are one. I also cannot believe that this time next year my own granbaby will be about ten months old. It is funny to see my friends kids who all played in the backyard with my children having babies of their own. I really do not feel that old but I guess I am!

One of the most impressive parts of the visit was the tomato plant in their backyard. You have to know that we have labored over home grown tomatoes and peppers since early spring to appreciate how I envied this huge plant. All of the tomatoes that went with our lunch came from this very vine. Our poor plants were put out for the trash man last week and we had very few tomatoes before we disposed of them. But we will try again next year...maybe with some advice from the Cummins on how to produce a plant of this size.

Fat Quarter Friday, Food and a Movie....

What an absolutly perfect day. Fat quarters were buy three get one free at the quilt store today. You have to really love the feel of 100% cotton to get a high from handling fabric. It is right up there with the highs you get from laying on the beach or floating in the lake. Naturally I found a wonderful assortment of colors that will work perfectly for the new grandbaby one of my best friends is expecting in December.

Next it was off to Central Market. I do not make this trip often but what a joy it was to wonder the aisles of fresh produce, spices and cheese. There were enough things to sample that there was no need to stop for lunch afterwards which had been part of my original plan. The big reward of the day was the great freezer bag that was FREE!!!! Can you believe it? Yes, it was free. I thought I won the lottery.

After the excitement of all of this, it was off to the movie with Sara. I am not a big movie fan at all but with dad and Drew in California I figured we would do something out of the ordinary. We saw "The Proposal" and I laughed so hard that at one point I spit my chocolate covered raisins all over. Ryan Reynolds is really easy on the eyes and even if the movie has been awful it was a treat to look at him for two hours.

Now we are going to dine on frozen pizza and fresh fruit from Central Market. What a perfect day!!!

My First Post.....

I guess it is official. I am now joing the community of bloggers. I may not have any visitors but it makes me feel technically proficient to be able to blog!