She's a witch!

Is it a Witch or Is it Wood?

As I was snapping pictures of Alex in the water this weekend he piped up in his best Monty Python voice "is it a witch or is it wood?" So I just had to go over to you tube and find the video.

We have watched a lot of Monty Python in our house. The boys can quote the lines.

Watch the video, it's hilarious.

Look Up

Look up past the proof of Alex's popcorn addiction and never mind the fact that I have a box of wine in my pantry, see that growing pickle collection? For the first time in a long time I can eat pickles whenever I want. I can have one alongside my sandwich. Or for a little snack. I can slice them up in tuna salad, I can feed one to the cat if I want.

We have lifted pickle rationing! Our friend Neil can come over for burgers and not risk getting his hand slapped for taking too many pickles. (Amy likes to remind me of this. Well, I didn't really have to slap his hand because he asked before hand how many he could have.)Maybe I'll send Neil a jar of pickles because I can!

OK, I'll stop gloating. I'll stop gloating and start digging that root cellar.

A Day in the Life of Kitty

A little snuggling


A little TV watching with the boys


A little sentry watch

and a lot of naps. This cat has got it made.

20 Years?

Can it be that 20 years has passed already? 20 years of marriage has flown by in an instant. It seems like only 100, no, just kidding! really!

Some highlights:

2 children

1 Masters Degree in Aerospace

2 homes

5 boats (ever increasing in size)

1 fledgling business

Some knowledge:

know when to compromise

don't fight over paint color

help your partner achieve their dreams

play nice

spend within the budget

and now, the best part, the future together.

Now What?

OK, I'm keeping the ticket, but how long do I have to keep the ticket?

Want to Win Some Goodies?

I donated a hat awhile back to Indie Fixx and it is included in the giveaway for August. So hop on over to the blog, check out the contest rules and win some cool stuff!

Pickle Purgatory

Ever since I ate the last homemade "Gram's Famous Pickle" from the pickle jar I have been gearing up that this year will be the year I take on the task of canning pickles. Mom and Dad gave me the canner last year for Christmas (a classic don't give a man a fish, give him a fishing pole move) but I just let the timing slip by and didn't get it done.

But this year with the help and support of my neighbor JoAnne (who has been growing cucumbers for this purpose) we did it! We put up our first batch of dill pickles! and they look promising! But alas, we are in pickle purgatory since we have to wait 3 weeks to see how they turned out.

We were so proud of ourselves we spent the rest of the afternoon celebrating with margaritas and cucumber sandwiches. What a perfect day. Of course it got really late and I had to order pizza for dinner so essentially, all I got done yesterday was make 10 jars of pickles. And have a good time.

I do love summer.

Real Life Still Life

I have walked past this pile of things in my living room at least a hundred times before it stopped me in my tracks this morning. I thought, "Why did it occur to the owner of these socks to put them on top of my hat which is on top of part of my booth display?"

This is why my blog will never have a section titled "corners of my home". Because all the corners of my home have a pile of junk with a pair of dirty socks on top. Oh well. I could tidy up but I think I'll make that tie cake I saw on Craftzine!

Happy Father's Day!

Thank You Notes

So you are wondering why I read the thank you notes that Jordi has ALMOST finished.

Well, when my computer is acting up, or someone else is using it I have to go into the Jordi-den and borrow his computer. They were sitting right there, and I read the first one and it made me laugh so I just read through all of them.

I'm sure I won't be laughing anymore when I have to remind him for the 31st time to finish them up AND you have to address the envelopes AND put a return address AND a stamp. Yeesh. the e-mail generation.

The Trail

Today was a great day to take a hike up Sawnee Mountain. A great day in that the heat was less than 90 degrees and Mom was in town for the day.

The kids were definitely the most photogenic of our crew, all the other pictures didn't make it past the digital chopping block. My computer recycling bin is bursting at the seams!

This is What Happens When

you have been swimming and playing and turtle-ing your boat upside down and towing your Mom around on her float and playing with a pack of dogs and roasting marshmallows and rowing your dingy and barely stopping to eat for 2 days straight. You just need to curl up under your SpongeBob blanket and have a nap.

Blooming

Things have really been blooming in the studio lately.
These new chokers will be at ICE this weekend. It should be a great show, I wish I could be there, but alas my Paella pan calls my name. For the third year in a row, I'll be cooking Paella for SSC at Island 42.

Still Shaking the Sand Out

Wow, what a fabulous weekend. We had such a great time camping, I wouldn't have changed a thing. Except for maybe being able to stay another day.

The weather was gorgeous, the mosquitoes were non-existent, the company was outstanding and the beer stayed cold. What more could you ask for? Eric said he had the best hot dog roasted on a stick he had ever had in his life. I think it was the first hot dog roasted on a stick he had ever had, but never mind.

This would have been my third time camping on the Island, but it took my breath away none the less when we stepped off the ferry. The pictures just don't even do it justice. Which by the way I've just posted a few here, but you can see the whole set by just clicking on the flickr flash on the side bar.

So you think camping with 10 adults and 10 kids might be a nightmare? Not with these 10 kids! You can take them anywhere. Even the youngest hiked with only a short time on Mom and Dad's shoulders. I was very impressed. And watching 10 kids have a great time at the beach and around a campfire is good for the soul.

Well, time for laundry and back to real life. More stories later.