Cheers to Mary Ann & Earl

Have I told you about the Liquor Barn? You may have one where you live, but shopping there was a new experience for me. The best way that I can describe the Liquor Barn is to say it's like the Ikea for all things alcohol. It's huge, and they have every kind of drink you could ever imagine.

Anyway, my husband, who doesn't really drink, stopped there Friday night on his way home from work. It must have been a tough week at the office. Who knows? He had seen some wine there the last time we ventured in that got him to reminiscing about his childhood. The way his memory works is a mystery to me. He has a knack for recalling even the smallest of details.

The way that this particular story goes (and I might not get it exactly right) is that when his dad was first stationed in England, before they moved into their house, they stayed in a hotel in London and ate dinner every night at the Columbia Club. The only thing on the menu that Alan liked was fried chicken, so he ate fried chicken for dinner every single night (except Sunday, when they had the buffet). But he also remembers that his parents shared a bottle of Mateus every single night. So, when he saw those thousands of bottles of Mateus at the Liquor Barn all of those happy living in England memories came back. Very sweet, don't you think?

Saturday night we shared (half) a bottle and drank a toast to Mary Ann and Earl. Thanks for the memories.

Sally

The "Cutest" Dairy Ingedients EVER!

I worked at the yarn shop on Friday. It was a slow day. Probably because it was raining and yucky outside and everyone just wanted to stay home. I would usually agree and choose to be home myself, except for the fact that the yarn shop is next door to the Fresh Market and no amount of rain could keep me from making a quick stop at my most favorite grocery store.

I couldn't wait until 4:00 finally rolled around. What can I say? The Fresh Market just makes me happy. I always find something "new", something "fun" and Friday that "fun" came in the dairy aile.

If you think that that is just ridiculous, than I'm sorry. Cute little cows and bottled milk speak to me in a way that plain old plastic milk jugs never could. And, just for the record, we really did need milk, half & half, butter and cream cheese. REALLY!

Sally

More signs of Spring

It's not even my Birthday, and yet, I got a present in the mail yesterday.

A wonderful "springy" package full of the brightest kitchen towels you have ever seen.

I'm not kidding.

My friend Angela, who knows my heart so well, says that she saw them and thought of me.

Is that not the sweetest thing ever?

They are adding that little punch of color to my kitchen that I was desperately in need of.

Now if the temperature would cooperate....

Thanks Ang.

Sally

Tea of the Week

One of my Iowa quilting buddies heard through the grapevine (Barb) that I was reinstating "tea time" back into my life. She sent me the most wonderful little package last week.

The best part is that her name is Kandy with a "K" and her husbands name is Steve Smith.

Can you believe it? I'm not sure where she found it or how, but everything about it is perfect.

The name, the box, the pretty little tea bags and best of all the taste. It's delicious.

Thanks Kandy.

Sally

Flower Power

Well, we had a whole lot of rain and then the sun came out. I'm not saying that it feels anything like spring just yet, but look what is popping up all over our yard.

Daffodils to the rescue.

It shouldn't be long now.

I'm hoping they are all bright yellow.

Just like these.

Sally

Short and Sassy

It's been 6 weeks. You know what that means.

Spa day for the Mags.

She is always so excited to go for a ride in the car.

I'm sure she thinks we are off to the park.

As soon as the Groom Room comes in to view it's a whole different story.

She knows what's going to happen. She knows that she will have to pose for pictures.

Most of all she knows that we are all going to laugh (with her).

Doesn't she look happy?

(She's already pulled out one of her bows)

I guess I wasn't fast enough with the camera.

Sally

Happy March!

Sorry that you haven't heard from me in a while. My girl was home this past weekend, and now that we know for sure that she will be leaving us in August to live for her entire sophomore year of college with a host family in SPAIN, I'm trying to spend every possible minute that I can with her. You did hear me right? Right? One whole entire school year. She keeps telling me that that is only really 9 months. REALLY? Only 9 months. Gee, won't that time just fly by.... We are all excited for her and know that it's an opportunity of a lifetime...HELP!

I worked at the yarn shop on Sunday and Grace was kind enough to volunteer to keep me company. You just never know what kind of a crowd you will get on a Sunday afternoon. The first hour was kind of slow which gave us time to chat a bit, but things picked up and the poor girl was left to sit on the sofa and knit for 3 hours. Good thing she likes to knit as much as her mama does.

Hope your weekend was full of fun and good times too.

Sally