...another idiosyncrasy?

The more that you date someone, the more quirks that begin to surface.

I am finding out that Dave enjoys very strange combinations of food.

I have always sensed this about him, but lately it has become even more apparent. Here is an example of one of Dave's favorite sandwiches...I wouldn't have believed it until I actually saw him making it right before my very eyes.

1) Butter your bread.

2) Put copious amounts of mayonnaise on said bread covering the butter.

3) Spread peanut butter on one of the sides.

4) Spread strawberry jelly on the other side.

5) Cover the peanut butter with sliced sweet Vidalia onions.(!)

6) Sliced tomatoes and/or bananas are an option on either slice. (He didn't do either)

7) Put slices together.

8) Enjoy.

Of course I would add a final ingredient:

9) Pepto Bismol. : )

Dave's Smoothie?

It had been a long day for Dave.

After spending three days out of town on business, he attempted to get back to Birmingham as soon as he could....but, the airlines were not cooperating.

A delayed flight kept him from making one connection so they rushed him through and got him on another flight...and then he ended up sitting in the next airport for about 4 hours. I finally picked up this weary traveler around 7:30 p.m. last night and headed back to my house.

He didn't have much of an appetite at first and it was too late for me to start preparing something too intricate...so I just decided to make some quick stuffed mushrooms to nibble on...along with a glass of red wine for both of us.

After standing at the refrigerator looking for something appealing to eat.....I finally convinced Dave to use some of my (very) ripe (rotten?) fruit to make a smoothie--- thinking that this might be a light and refreshing drink for him to have at the end of his long day. So, he started with some peaches and then added a nectarine. It was looking pretty good and healthy so far. I had other fruit available, but he decided to put in some vanilla and strawberry ice cream for a creamy coolness.

I was okay with all of this until I saw him scraping a fudgesicle off of the stick and adding that to the mix. ugh. And, then for the final touch, he poured a bunch of milk on top of the whole thing. This was blended together and I have to tell you--it didn't look too appetizing....in fact, it looked like mud. He stuck the whole thing in the freezer for a bit and then later enjoyed every last bit of it...

So, there he was, happy as a clam....playing computer poker, sipping his smoothie, drinking his wine and munching on stuffed mushrooms.

Quite a combination, don't ya think?

Say it "ain't" so.....

When I occasionally escape from my "dungeon" (pottery studio) and get out in the real world, there is one thing that always gets to me: cell phone users.

We have become a world of zombie-like people walking around looking like we are talking to ourselves. No matter where one goes, there is no escaping from this popular modern day telephone.

I can't even tell you how many times I have said: "Pardon me?" to a person who seemingly was trying to talk to me...only to find out that they were conversing with someone at the other end of their cell phone.

I often wonder how we lived before? I mean, I am old enough to remember putting a dime (then a quarter years later) into a pay phone while breaking my fingernails trying to dial a number on the old phones. You know the ones....where you stick your finger tip into the appropriate cut out hole and pull it all the way around. And even then we would sometimes get a busy signal and our money would clink down into the change place. We would actually have to try again later. And, messages? No way! You actually had to reach the intended recipient of your call or keep attempting to reach them. (Young people everywhere are reading this and saying: "Huh?"....Of course, who am I kidding, I probably don't have any young readers?!)

Anyway, I have always gotten pretty aggravated with these cell phone robots....

that is

until....

I got my new phone....

...and it came with a blue tooth feature.

Before I knew it, the Verizon salesman had produced a whole "package" for me that included the dreaded blue tooth headset, phone holster and car charger. All I had to do was sign on the dotted line and renew my vows to stay a Verizon customer for at least two more years! You all know the drill...

It took me a while to get used to having this little blue tooth headset stuck in my ear...so I just used it sporadically around the house...especially while chatting and doing my pottery. It was great...but, I still wasn't about to go outside of the house with that "thing" stuck in my ear all of the time. That is, until today.

As I ran my errands it was actually very helpful to have the blue tooth capability without having to search crazily through my purse for the ringing cell phone. All I have to do now is press the little button on the headset and voila...the caller is in my ear.

OH NO!

As I glanced at my reflection in the clothing store today....

I realized that...I couldn't help myself...

I had now become one of THEM. : O

Confessions of a chocoholic...

Good news: I bought several types of candy that I knew Adam would enjoy during his short visit here.

Bad news: I ate all of the chocolate Raisinetts before he had a chance to have any. In fact, I began eating them before he even arrived.

I can't help myself.

You know I have realized at this ripe old age of 58 that as long as the chocolate is out of the house I can do fine. But, the minute that there is a bag, box, piece--whatever-- of that wonderfully rich, creamy, delectable milk chocolate around...it is not safe.

I must have gone to the pantry several times a day this week...taken a handful of the chocolate covered raisins....devoured them....and then returned for more. Each time I would admonish myself and make a deal that "this is going to be my last handful" as I close up the bag....and shut the pantry door. Sometimes I even count them out and promise myself that I will only eat 10 more....

It never works...

Inevitably, I return for "just one more" little bit. And then there is always the issue, does a double Raisinett count as one or two? And do two small ones equal one larger one?

My craving got so bad one night last week that I scoured the house for any kind of chocolate that I could find. Finally I discovered a box of white chocolate baking squares! I took out one big chunk of this baking chocolate and cut away little slivers one by one until the entire piece was gone...ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.

I truly believe that I am addicted to the stuff. The more chocolate that I eat, the more that I crave. I am sure that there is some scientific reason for all of this...but, who cares? I admit it...I just love chocolate.

I may have to start a new group: CCA--Chocolate Cravers Anonymous...anyone care to join me?

Of course we would serve refreshments at our meetings....you know....M and M's and Raisinetts. : )

My grandson, "The Player"

As Owen approaches the cute little blonde, it looks like he is saying: "Hey baby, want to come up to my crib later?"

The precious girl in this picture is Vera, visiting in Minnesota from Sweden with her mom and dad. Monica, Vera's mom, and Jenny have been best of friends since they were around thirteen years old. Jenny's uncle is best friends with Monica's dad from many, many years ago and they introduced the girls to each other when they were young. The relationship bloomed and has stayed strong through the years...both of them being in each other's weddings, etc. While Monica and her husband still live in Sweden, the distance has not kept them from staying in contact and remaining in each other's lives.

Now that Vera and Owen have met....it seems as if this wonderful circle of friendship may continue to spread out to the next generation...How nice. : )

Owen, Andy (Vera's dad), and Vera

My 'boy' is home! : )

Mom's oatmeal cookies save the day!

A mother hen is always happiest when her "chicks" are around. : )

So, you can imagine my delight in having my oldest son, Adam here for a few days on business. It was so great waking up and seeing him downstairs having a bowl of cereal before he was off for the day. Of course I made sure to have some General Mills cereal on hand so that he would not think that I was slighting his company!

As part of the Pillsbury consumer insights section at work, he and his group are here doing some research into the South...our eating habits, way of life, etc. etc.

Wanting to show a little Southern Hospitality, I had baked a couple of batches of my "famous" oatmeal cookies for him to take to the whole crew that was here in Bham. So, as he headed out this morning to a remote area northwest of here, he had the bag of homemade cookies with him. He found himself on some real country dirt roads at one point on his journey...when he got to the end of the block, he tried to make a turn around so that he could head back up the street. Unfortunately, he found his car surrounded by a pack of dogs who were not allowing him to move any further. No matter what he did...he was held captive in that spot.

Fortunately his eyes went to the bag of oatmeal cookies sitting on the seat next to him. He grabbed a couple and threw them out the window away from his car. The dogs ran to get this "treat"....and he was off.

It does a mother proud to know that her cookies are enjoyed by all...including wild dogs. : )

weekend musings....

We had a pretty lazy weekend....you know the kind....no specific plans for Friday and Saturday night...just hanging out.

It was so lazy, in fact, that I totally missed making a "Happy Birthday" call to my daughter-in-law on Saturday! I made a belated call on Sunday but felt pretty badly about not speaking to her on "the day".

This weekend Dave picked up some fresh snapper and a few shrimp at the local fish market and we decided to make broiled Greek style snapper for dinner. I used olive oil, fresh lemon, oregano, pepper, garlic and Greek spices and it was so delicious. Sometimes I find myself snorfing (is that a word?) through my meals without really experiencing the pleasure of eating. So I am trying to slow down a bit in order to savor every bite-- making sure to take a sip of wine every once in a while as part of the total experience. : ) (I believe that is how the French keep from gaining weight? ooo la la)

My son is coming in later tonight with some co-workers for business. Even though he is staying here at the house, it sounds like my moments of visiting opportunity will be short as they are all going to be quite busy....but, you know how we mothers are....I will take what I can get. I can't wait to see him. I went out and bought him some of his favorite sweets, like red licorice sticks, to entice (bribe) him to hang around a little more.

On Sunday, Dave donned his team colors of gold and black (Pittsburgh) and headed to Atlanta to watch the Pirates play the Braves. Since it was televised he made signs to hold up...I watched the whole game but never spotted Dave nor the signs. Oh well. Fortunately the threatening rain held out...unfortunately, the Braves won 5-1.

I am determined to be productive and not let the day slip by me today...so I am going to get it started right now! Have a good one...Bye! : )

Please pass the butter....

I love this picture of Adam and Jenny's dog, Oscar, looking like he is enjoying this grilled corn on the cob and waiting for the butter to be passed!

one of those email "forwards" that I kept....

"As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will. You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken. You'll fight with your best friend. You'll blame a new love for things an old one did.

You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin."

Birthday Girl!!

My dear Jenny,

Happy Birthday to you....the wonderful wife of my son, the absolutely unbelievable mother of my grandson and the most incredible daughter-in-law!

You have been a part of our family and my heart for the past 11 years and I can truly say that there is no one like you, Jen. You are so special to me and I love you very much on this special day...and always...

Mom