Satisfying Saturday

Today was interesting. I got up early and drank a lot of coffee. Then I got the garbage out just in time for collection. I worked on a quilt and it turned out cute, except for the binding...which I cut too narrow. I haven't done that in a long time...don't know where my head was...but it wasn't in Florida. I had to make a JoAnn's run at 8:00PM for more material, which thankfully they had, so no harm done.

I had Rylee for a few hours while Jon, Shannon, Laurie (Jon's sister) and Maddie (her daughter) went to the ocean to mingle with Spring Breakers! Big mistake-huge. But at least Miss Rylee and I had fun! Although I got her an hour off her schedule (God forbid) and got a rep-remand from Shannon for it! Oh well, at least I didn't give her snus or whiskey!

Something funny: When Rylee was sleeping Angel layed by her door. Every sound Rylee made she ran in to tell me to check on her! Who needs a baby monitor with Angel around? Maybe I should pimp her out as a baby alert!

Tonight Angel and I watched an Jennifer Garner movie, Rose Hill...anyone seen it? I liked it. Then I watched a Underdog to Wonderdog on Animal Planet. I balled my eyes our for and hour even though I knew it would end well. I am such a sucker for sad stories!

Now...it's Iron Chef and good night!

Alaska or Bust

A joke from the 1970’s-when $50.00 was still a lot of money-that became a legend in our household: (This is for you, Mom.)

One day a man came home from work only to find his wife in the bedroom. There were open suitcases on the bed and she was packing.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“I am going to Alaska. I hear Ladies of the Evening are getting $50.00 a screw up there! And don’t try to talk me out of it.” She walked into the bathroom to pack her toiletries. When she came out she saw her husband packing a suitcase as well.
“Now where in the world are you going?” she demanded.
“I thought I’d go along, I’d like to see how you are going to live on $50 bucks a month!”

Here's why cheers to the fish?

As Carol asked about Shannon's blog...why cheers to the fish...here is why:

Cheer's to the fish-comes from the fact that in the old days when fishing was the main livelyhood in the villages in Sweden. The story goes, when the men went out to fish, the families would gather and wish the fisherman good luck on their catch by raising a glass of cheer.
Hence the skol pu fiskan...Grandma always said it with an n-sound on the end. Over the years she said the toast had come to mean just good luck.
But whatever it started out as it is the only toast our family needs!

Snus, Whiskey & Me

When I was about 4-5 my mom had a meeting and dropped me off at my grandpa Larson's for a couple of hours. He wasn't used to taking care of little kids so mom gave him a long lecture about watching me and what not to let me do...play in the yard alone (too close to the highway); go down the basement (stairs too steep) etc. It appears, looking back, that she forgot to mention a few things.

After she left we had fun in the garden, feeding the chipmunks and picking crab apples. I decided I should eat one so Grandpa was peeling it. I took the paring knife when his back was turned to help. Of course I cut myself, it was bleeding which meant I needed a band aid. He didn't have one. So he ripped a piece of cloth and wrapped it round and round my finger and tied it around my wrist. Wow, now it looked like a bad injury!

Later we were having coffee. I was slurping mostly cream and sugar from a saucer. He liked to chase his coffee with a jigger or two of whiskey. He also like to chew snuff snus as it was called back in Sweden. The can was sitting open by his chair. I asked for a pinch. You won't like it, he told me. But as I always have to learn things the hard way, I kept begging, until he gave me the tiniest bit. Ugh! Horrible, instead of spitting it out, I swallowed it...then needed something quick to drink...yep I grapped the whiskey and downed it! Ugh Horrible! Not much was left in the jigger, but it was awful just the same. Still, I thought the adventure was fun. (Apparently, I liked a devilish adventure even back then.)

Grandpa told me it should be our little secret...the snus and the whiskey. "Oh sure" I promptly said, "I won't tell."
Apparently, Grandpa's don't know that little girls can't keep secrets!

The moment my mom appeared at the door I went running up with my bandaged hand in the air, "I had fun. I cut off my finger, chewed snus and drank whiskey! Can I come back tomorrow?"

Needless to say my mother wasn't as happy with the days events as I was, I think grandpa was in trouble! But I never forgot the fun!

The moral of the story is...When Rylee gets a little older-beware-Grandparents don't always do what they are told!

pure pleasure

You know when you read those stories, I survived the flood of 1949, or I survived the fires in LA...well I survived the over-night with Rylee! All medicines-check; food-check; entertainment-check; clean up-check; nap times-check; bed time-check!!! She went down at 7:30 and woke up at 4:30. I feed a big bottle and low and behold she wanted to sleep again. Now it's about 7:20. We are playing, well technically, she is. I am using this time for a quick finish.
Bottom line...she was sooo good! Nothing to survive...it was just fun. Pure pleasure in fact. Hope S & J are having fun.

What is your favorite

A shout out to Rylee who is going to bed like such a good girl. Just snuggling in with her blanket.

Which brings me to my question for you. Did you have a favorite blanket or stuffed animal you slept with? If so what did you call it? And do you have a favorite story about it?

Mine was a blue blanket with a silky blue binding. I called it my "silky bankie" and waved a ripped corner of the binding on my check while sucking my thumb. One day when my mom washed it and hung it on the line to dry, I needed a nap. She told me I couldn't sleep with it because it was wet and hanging on the line. Later she found me sitting on the ground and holding a corner of it, saying, "but I like it wet."

I will let Shannon tell her own story.
My nephew Drue called his a "lovey".
My nephew Ian draged his around until it looked liked swiss cheese with no cheese left.

UNCLE UNCLE

I give up! This weekend has been frustrating! I am working on two quilts and for the life of me I can't find the right f---ing fabrics to finish either one! I hate the fabric stores around here. I can't believe the difference between MN fabric stores and FL. It's unreal. Florida buyers have no taste! Online stores don't have much to offer either. I am going to call the owner of my favorite shop in MN on Tuesday and beg, yes beg, her to put her fabric online! It won't help with these quilts but maybe in the future. I need a trip home!

I went to the Fresh Market (while I was fabric shopping) and found the most delicious coffee,almond amaretto. I came home and drank four cups. I am sure I will be up all night. Oh joy. Also the best apples, Jazzy apples. If you have never tried them, go get them. They are hard and crisp and sweet. The produce at Fresh Market will make you cry. As will their meat, fish and bakery. If you haven't gone to one...DO!

What is with this hot weather? I was loving the cool breezes that were floating over us.