Weekend Wrap Up

I can't remember the last time I have had so much fun .... or did so much in such a short amount of time. But it was worth it. Because I'm an employee at Dixie Stampede and we have pass exchange programs for other tourist attractions, I was able to take the four of us to Dixie and the Aquarium for a grand total of ...... drum roll ..... $7.00! You know I am a bargain lover so this just thrilled me.

We went to the Ripley's Aquarium. I love the way this picture turned out. I should have saved it for Ms. Debbie's Friday Foto friends, but couldn't wait to share it.

When we were on the conveyor belt walkway that goes through the middle of the shark tank, this dude kept following me. I snapped about a zillion pics of him. I never knew they have FOUR rows of teeth. Trust me, we were very up-close and personal with the dude. He was huge and didn't even scare me. Oh the wonders of heavy plated glass.

We even found this little computer system where we could all built our own jelly fish. I loved the little anchor tattoo on her cheek. 

And they loved popping up inside the various fish tanks. It was hysterical when they all got into one together. Then they got the giggles and could barely get out because they were laughing so hard. We just couldn't get a good shop without fish in front of their face.

So they tried it one by one and it was much better. Here is Colby.

Here is Shelby.

And here is Alexis.

Then we went through the Pearl Harbor exhibit in the Aquarium. It was amazing. They had to post for the WWII poster. Check out their little faces. It worked out perfect.

We came home, had lunch and rested up. Then at 7:00 we were back out and at the Dixie Stampede for Dinner & The Show. We had a great time in the saloon show before the main event.

We loved listening to the live band playing before time to go in the main arena.

And of course what night is not complete without a selfie of all of us.

Then it was time for the main event and they were all impressed with the buffalo, which is my favorite part of the show. Well, one of my faves.

It's our 30th anniversary at Dixie Stampede so they brought back the longhorn steer. If you want a good view, sit on row two. This guy was right below us.

They are so huge. I've never seen one up that close before. 

After the show, they wanted to go down and meet one of the stars of the show, our very own Skeeter. This guy is so entertaining that people come back year after year just to see Skeeter.

And my all time favorite emcee, Jay Teeter. He has been there about 16 years and me and Allen saw him many, many times. We have some great emcee's at Dixie, but Jay will always be my favorite. The kids loved getting to meet him.

Sunday morning arrived bright and fair with us all being totally exhausted. But it never entered our mind to not got to Sunday School and church. Don't they look gorgeous?

At Children's Church the Puppet People of our church put on a puppet show about God creating the solar system. We had cosmic cinnamon rolls and made our own edible rocket ships. Colby was so happy to see we had strawberries.

I was taken some pictures and my other teacher, Ms. Charlene photo bombed the boys. 

The girls had a good time hanging out with some of the friends they have made at church.

As you can tell, it was an amazing weekend. In closing, I want to let you know about a wacky and bizarre holiday that we have today (and no it's not President's day). It is Hoodie-Hoo day. (pronounced who-dee who). We are all supposed to go outside at noon, wave our hands in the air and yell Hoodie-Hoo! This supposedly chases the winter blues away and brings on spring. 

It's worth a try, because I am so sick of winter. Even though it is unseasonably warm, it still isn't spring. I am tired of being cold.

Sunday Songs

This & That

It's early Saturday morning and all is quiet for the moment. With three grandchildren in the house for the weekend, it's going to be a busy exciting day. Last night involved a lot of looking at old videos of them dancing and singing and then they had to recreate some of their more favorite songs/dances. It was one of those nights where anything goes at Mamaw's place. I walked through the living room at one time and saw Colby like this. Not sure what in the world was up with the fire hat, but I just snapped a picture and went to make popcorn. 

After breakfast, we are heading out to Gatlinburg to Ripley's Aquarium, My first trip up to Gatlinburg since the fires in November. Then later this evening we have reservations for dinner and the show at Dixie Stampede. I'm supper excited for them to see the new longhorn steers in the show. It's going to be a great day.

Our weather was up in the mid 60's yesterday, going to be right around 60 today and up to 67 tomorrow. According to my memories on Facebook, last year on this day we had some snow and ice and cold. Glad things changed this year. This was a tree in my yard covered in icicles.

I want to thank everyone who voiced an opinion on my table centerpiece. The blue bowl with the eggs won out....until my cousin Carmen and several friends suggested I needed some height and flowers. So I pulled together what I had for now and think this is the way I am going to head for the decor. 

However, that pitcher goes somewhere in the dining room and I don't like the brown wicker basket. I am going to spray paint the basket and I want a French enamel/porcelain pitcher with red flowers. Something like this. 

I am going to look for a little enamel cabinet to put in the kitchen as well. I had one like this back in the late 70's/early 80's. I loved that little cabinet. So I'm going to look for one similar to this that is in pretty decent shape to keep all my storage containers and lids in. I am tired of digging around to find them.

For years, I have wanted this little Arcopal pitcher from France. (Their version of Pyrex). I found one on Etsy that is semi-affordable. If it wasn't for $15 in shipping charges, I would order it. I'm going to debate it. The pitcher is just $8.97. If I could get her to do $20 total for shipping and the pitcher, I would bite the bullet and get it. We'll see what she says.

I am also on the prowl for these Hazel Atlas cups and saucers. I just love this pattern. 

Really seriously thinking about looking for an old bike to make a planter to lean up against my porch. We'll see. 

I am wanting a pretty glass sugar bowl. It doesn't have to be vintage, I just want it to be pretty. I was sitting at my desk and realized I had a piece of pretty glassware that I love sitting right there. It is normally used for Junior Mints but I have plenty of candy dishes so I swapped out and this is now my sugar bowl. I just have put sugar in it yet. On my to do list today. I'm not sure if it is a candy dish or a sugar bowl, but for me it is now my sugar bowl.

Tomorrow is chocolate mint day. You know how excited that makes me. And check it out...I'm already prepared. I didn't even know it was Chocolate Mint day tomorrow so it was a good thing my Girl Scout Cookies came in yesterday. Not going to open them until tomorrow. I make no guarantees on the Junior Mints staying closed until then.

Well, I hear stirrings from the grandbabies. Hope everybody has a blessed Saturday.

Friday Foto Friends

Last July at my Thirty-One conference, one of the amenities we got in our free kit was this red faux leather zipper pouch with a wristlet strap and personalized with our first initial. It is one of the favorite Thirty-One items that I own. I use it for so many different things.

Flash forward to Christmas when Santa left a new Samsung tablet under my tree. I had been wanting one this size for quite awhile.

I keep looking for a case to keep it in so if I take it with me anywhere, but can't find anything that I'm happy with. For some odd reason out of the blue this morning, I thought of the red pouch and wondered if it would fit. So I got it out slid the tablet into it and.....

.....WAH LAH it's a perfect fit! I was so excited.

But I use my red case all the time so I decided that for one of my hostess rewards on the party I am taking up right now, I would get a new one for just the tablet. My party isn't going in until the 24th, but it is already a large enough order that I have already earned some hostess credits which will be enough to get the pouch, the wristlet strap and have it personalized. Here is what I decided to get. Isn't that adorable. I do love my gadgets.

Thanks Ms. Debbie for letting me share on Friday Foto Friends.

I need your opinion....

I am turning to my trusted readers to get your opinion. You recall the $4.00 vintage tablecloth I bought a few weeks ago? I soaked it and treated a couple of stains on it and am happy to say all but one came completed out and the other is very faint so it is time for it to go on the table. The challenge I am facing is what to put as the centerpiece on it. 

I have "shopped" my house for the perfect centerpiece. I have found four solutions but not sure which one I like the best....or if I'd rather look for some other vintage option. But here is where I need your help. Please leave me a comment or send me an email to let me know which one jumps out at you as the best or advise me if I should scratch them all and go on a treasure hunt to local thrift/antique stores. Your honest opinion is appreciated.....

#1 - A Colonial Mist Pyrex mixing bowl with fake eggs.

#2 - A red wire basket with the eggs

#3 - A brown wicker basket with the eggs

#4 - Or totally scratch the eggs and use my rooster tray, S & P shakers and rooster glass with toothpicks. Forgot my flash on this one so the picture is a little darker. 

I look forward to your vote. I also wanted to show you this cute potholder I found yesterday at a Craft & Antique store. I thought it was so pretty and spring-y looking. For just a $1.50 it was a no brainer to buy it. I think I'm going to hang it to display it and not use it. 

Have a happy Thursday.

Going through some pictures....

I was cleaning some files on my computer last night and came across some pictures I wanted to share today. The first one is of my snowball bush in my old place. When I moved last May, I knew I would miss it this spring. I need to get me one.

I'm going to miss my roses as well. But the funny thing was that the rose bushes were there when we moved it. We lived there five or six years before I moved. They never did anything. Zilch. Zero. Zip, despite how much we tried to work with them. One week before I moved, while I was packing I happened to look off that end of the porch and they had bloomed like crazy.

If you don't believe me when I say I was a country girl, check out our hillside where I grew up. There is Daddy's building and yes, slightly to the left of his work building is our outhouse. We got a real bathroom when I was four or five so this picture is about 55 years old. That's my Mamaw Eden at the table.

I stumbled across a picture of the last two layer chocolate cake I made. I remember it was delicious. I get in the habit of 9 x 13 pans that I forget how much I love a layer cake.

You just gotta love going through your pictures. You never know what you are going to find to remember that you had forgotten about.

He called me sweetheart....

From as far back as I can remember, my hubby always called me sweetheart. Whenever he would say Brenda, it would take a minute to realize he was talking to me because he forever and always called me sweetheart. I loved it. Valentine's Day was his favorite day. He love surprising me with little presents, or a box of my favorite candy. 

It has always been a very special day to us. On February 14th, 1981 he bought me a beautiful planter because he knows I love house plants way more than real flowers. The little felt heart below was on my planter. He wanted to take me to the movies. I wanted to see 9-5 with Dolly Parton so that's where we went for our first Valentine's Day date. I thought that night was a special Valentine because it was our first one together. But it was even more special than I realized, because after the movie, he asked me to become his wife.

Flash forward to 2015, our last Valentine's Day together. He bought me a key with little rhinestone chips that I wanted desperately. When he gave it to me, he told me I would always hold the key to his heart and I would always be his sweetheart. 

Such wonderful memories. I hate when people call me a widow or say I'm single. I still wear my wedding band most of the time because it just feels right. I will never love another and he will always be my true love, my soul mate. So in my mind, in my heart and in the very depths of my soul I am still and will forever be a wife to this wonderful man who loved me so much.

I love you Allen Dale and I will always remain, your.........