The Help

A book club book that I would recommend you read, The Help.

Everyone in my book club liked the book. If you are going to read the book, read the forward about Stockett first. It will make a difference in your thoughts while reading the book. Also, Stocktett needs to write a sequel. We all want to find out what the future had in store for the characters.

Enjoy the last weekend in February. Can't believe Monday will be the first day of March!

Volleyball Tournament - One More Time

Our family cheering section. Cheer family cheer!

This post is mostly Mickey serving.

This one is my favorite.

When they have an ace this is how they celebrate.

Thanks for the great weekend Mau & Mickey!

Wordless Wednesday

Noah & His Animals

When I went to LA back in September I shopped at a thrift store and bought the below crewel. It was professionally framed and I paid $15.00. I took the crewel out of the frame, it was in terrible shape. I then had the crewel professionally framed when I got home. I won't say what that cost me, Mick does read the blog.

The piece is in excellent condition. It was framed in 1974 so I assume that is when it was made.
The porcupine or maybe hedge hogs are my favorite.
The rams have wonderful character.
Like the lamas also.

I do feel bad that someone put so much work into a piece & then it was given away. At least it has found a good home!

Had dinner out on Saturday night at friends. I was told not to bring anything for the dinner so I made chocolate treats for each family invited. I filled jars, pickle jars to be exact, with the treats & decorated each jar with a tag. The "B" was for the host.

I used Martha Stewart glitter on the "m." If you ever buy glitter make sure it is Martha's glitter, it's wonderful!
I tried to have each tag representative of each family.
The chocolate treats were made with Puffed Kamut, cranberries, toasted pecans & sea salt. Not sure if I would make again.

Mickey wasn't the only one killing during the volleyball tournament. Mau killed time between matches.

She practiced her crocheting skills
Without a pattern, she made a cover for my water bottle. We called it a cosie.

I love the purple with the green.
She never did give it to me so I'm not sure if I will ever see it again. I think she is mad about her green cat for Valentine's Day. I'm not sure if it was the thrift-gifting or the cat.

Volleyball Tournament

Mickey's favorite volleyball position is on the front line even thou she is not that tall.

Waiting for the serve.
She had kills on all the below plays.
She is a good jumper. This was taken during the semi-final game.

This was on the first day of play.

I took all the pictures using the manual settings on my camera. They are the best action shots I could get with the camera & lens that I own. My camera goes up to 1800 ISO. There was a father from another team in Mickey's club that had a camera & lens that had 3400 ISO. If I still had kids in sports I would need to get new equipment and a part time job to pay for it.

Wordless Wednesday

I spent 19.5 hours in bleachers watching Mickey play volleyball over the weekend.

Her team won their division !!

Happy Valentine's Day

Regifting vs Thrift-Gifting

Everyone knows about regifting but, what about thrift-gifting?

I found the sleeping cat for 25 cents, it's in purrfect condition, the tag is still on the bottom. I added my own candle. I'm giving it as a Valentine's gift. My certain someone has a green living/dining room and although she denies it, she loves cats. Cats & me, well that's another story. In fact, the end of January I had a nightmare where I was attacked by a cat, a house cat. I woke up pretty quick. What are your feelings about thrift-gifting?

Over the Christmas holidays I had lots of willing photo subjects around.

Just a few that I've yet to get onto the blog.

Maggie & Emily gave this photo to their parents & brothers for Christmas.

The daughter of my number one blog stalker. Good morning Kay!
Although this is not a portrait, Amie wanted to get a photo to show all her Southern California friends the snow in NY. This was taken in a parking lot near the airport.
Taking two months to get photos onto the blog you would think I have a lot of blogging material. So NOT.

Wordless Wednesday

Gray Squirrel

Gray Squirrel, Gray Squirrel,
Swish your bushy tail.
Gray Squirrel, Gray Squirrel,
Swish your bushy tail.
Wrinkle up your funny nose,
Crack a nut between your toes.
Gray Squirrel, Gray Squirrel,
Swish your bushy tail.

Eric or/& Amie sang the above song when they were in nursery school. There are motions to go along with the song. I used to love when they would sing the song and "wrinkle up" their nose.

I really HATE the squirrels in our yard.

Super Bowl

Watched the Super Bowl at Mike & Bonnie's. Can't say it was a "Super Bowl Party" since the NY Giants were not in the game.

I brought dessert, football themed cupcakes. I piped on the chocolate frosting. They do not look like bakery cupcakes. My piping skills need a lot of work. I so enjoyed the game. I wanted the Saints just because I like always like the underdog. Again all the so called TV "experts" got their picks wrong. Just like when the Giants played New England. All that's left is now for sports is SU Basketball. Can't wait to see what their ranking will be today. I'm guessing TWO.

The 19th Wife

Everyone in book club liked this selection. Even thou religion is one of the three forbidden things you are not to discuss, everyone likes talking religion.

Here's a link to "About the book."

perigee Moon

I had the same idea as Donna when I heard we had a "perigee Moon" on Friday night. Except, it was 12 degrees below zero & I took my photo from inside the warm kitchen, right thru the window.

Not my best effort, I'm just to old to go out with below zero temperatures. Remember, Donna is much younger than me.

Wordless Wednesday

Tetley Tea

I've been out of Tetley, the Canadian version, since the beginning of October.

That first cup last Wednesday morning tasted so GOOD. The package arrived all the way from Manitoba.

I'll never understand why Tetley changed the brew they sell in the states.

I'm always begging my son not to text & drive.

It is illegal in about 13 states to text & drive. There is talk in the federal government to not allow cell phone use while driving.There are studies that cell phone use while driving is just as dangerous as drinking & driving. I wish everyone would not talk on their cell phone or text while driving. I've already applied no cell phone use when I'm driving.