HENSRULE

Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon

2012-02-28T11:25:00.000-08:00

Good Morning

Today I'm posting pictures that my son took in Saigon. He is an English teacher in Phnom Penh with the Language Corp and these are some photos he has sent home. I just thought they would be interesting to look at today. It's been so cloudy and gloomy in S. Alabama, everyone is about to go stir crazy! My cat doesn't even want to go outside.

This is a statue of the angel, Apsara, who distracts devils so other angels can get their work done. (I need one of these)!

A clock made on the grass.

And these are street scenes of Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon.

Can you see the little monkey in the grass?

As a person of the sixties, I never imagined I would have a child living in Cambodia or visiting Saigon. The world changes daily.

I have a son living in New York City, next time maybe I'll post some of his photos.

~~Walk in the sunshine, love from me and Wilma~~

Death of a Kingfisher

2012-02-23T08:37:00.001-08:00

Hello there,

This is my new read for today. New books arrived yesterday!

I ordered the book for the library, but I also downloaded it to my Kindle so I could go ahead and read it. Another visit with Hamish Macbeth, what a joy. I still wish I lived there in his town. Or maybe Port Isaac. That is my idea of a dream place to live. If you have never watched the Doc Martin series you can purchase or download instant videos from www.amazon.com. They are fun to watch and also the scenery is gorgeous.

I ordered a different author this time, Elly Griffiths, "The Crossing Places", and "The House at Sea's End". I haven't read them yet, but they look like they are going to be very good.

I also bought the book "Beginning Google Blogger", it has helped some. Simple instructions for beginners.

Today is Sherry Johnston's birthday. She's the genealogist for the library. One of the best in the state of Alabama, too. Happy Birthday to Sherry.

We are lucky enough to have a newly renovated library and this is the floor that I work on. All the fiction and nonfiction in regular print. This is the window in one end of the room. Large print, Genealogy, Children's library, Reference, and Books on CD and DVDs are downstairs. We have an elevator though, thank goodness for my knees! This photo was taken at Christmas, I had a wreath hanging on the window as you can see. I also have a very large attic up here, where I store old books. We have a reading area with a fake fireplace in it, two conference rooms and Skype computers. All this in one small town, we are very lucky.

Well, these are my pics for the week, enjoy the week-end and read a good book. Spring will be here before you know it, and we can go outside and dig in our flower beds!

~~Love, from me and Ms. Wilma~~

Rose Arbor w/ Rooster

2012-02-17T08:45:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday, everyone.

I want to share my new rose arbor that my husband made this past week. He transplanted my Zephirine Drouhin roses too, I hope they make it. They have such sweet-smelling pink roses in the Spring and Summer.

He put my old rooster weathervane I have had for years on top. And he put some hooks across the top so I can hang baskets of flowers this summer.

My son gave me an orchid last year and it bloomed beautifully, I have kept it alive and it put on a whole new leaf, but hasn't bloomed since. Does anyone know how to get it to bloom again?

For those of you like me, just starting out blogging and still learning, this is a wonderful book to get. Mine arrived from www.amazon.com yesterday and I am almost finished reading it, but will go back again and again to look at the gorgeous pictures! It's by Tara Frey, it's very informative and beautiful to look at.

I'm reading "The Vault" by Ruth Rendell this weekend, its supposed to storm all day tomorrow where we live. Hope your weekend is warm and dry.
Be happy,
~~from me and Wilma~~

Whitman Samplers

2012-02-14T08:11:00.004-08:00

Happy Valentines Day

My husband gave me Two! Whitman Samplers this morning for Valentines Day. Guess he thought I needed cheering up! So I took one down to my mother before I left for work. Ain't he sweet?

I hope your day is full of chocolate and flowers too.

It's been so cold this week, this is the prettiest picture I've seen lately.

Here are some Valentine postcards I bought recently. You can copy if you want.

And here are some of my new toys from eBay. One day I'll get a day off and finish arranging my sewing room and you can see everything on display!

They said she was a fixer upper, but she looks fine to me.

Another sweet Tiny Tears. She needs a bonnet on!

I sure hope one of my boys gets married (they're all in their 30's!) I don't know what they'll do with all my dolls one day!! :-)

I've wanted one of these lamb cake pans since I was little, my aunt made a cake like this for our Sunday School class. I was enchanted. Thought she could do anything, and she could, too!! Maybe she'll show me how to decorate it, when I make mine.

And this is the wall grouping pic I saw on Pinterest and am arranging in my living room.

This is a Valentine bulletin board I made for the Library.

I hope you have a blessed and happy day, today and every day.
Love, from me and Ms. Wilma

Big Linky Par-Tay!!

2012-02-10T09:00:00.000-08:00

There is a huge Linky party going on today, join in! I found it at http://www.northerncottage.blogspot.com/ but it started with Cheri at http://www.itssoverycheri.com/! As you know, Google Friend Connect is going away February 29 if you are not with blogspot. The good news is there will be Linky Followers to join.

Want to join in the fun?

RULES:
1. You MUST have the LINKY FOLLOWERS tool on your site to participate.
{You can have both the LINKY FOLLOWERS & GFC on your site but you must have the LINKY FOLLOWERS to participate in this party hop.}

2. You MUST follow the person who has the party on their site as a thank you.
3. Just add your blog button to the LINKY PARTY below.
4. Then grab the BLOG HOP code
You will find the code right under the Linky Party where it says CLICK HERE TO ENTER–

just under that it says: WHAT IS A BLOG HOP? GET THE CODE HERE

Click on GET THE CODE HERE and enter it into a post on your site.

You can grab the party button code in the FOOTER at Its So Very Cheri

You can grab info from my post if it helps you with your post.

5. Then you follow other bloggers–(as many as you want)–leave each one of the blogs that you follow a comment letting them know you are following them and ask them to follow you back.
If you want to add the BLOG HOP to your own site you will get lots of new followers–(see rule #2)

I feel like I just opened my mailbox at home and found it full of brand new magazines!
Have fun,
from me and Wilma

Blog Hop at Northern Cottage!

2012-02-10T07:38:00.000-08:00

Good Morning Bloggers!

Northern Cottage is hosting a Blog Hop Linky Party! I'm new at this but here goes!

Check out the links to the right and visit their blogs. Have fun, I did!

It's FRIDAY!!

Egg Money Quilts

2012-02-08T12:38:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends,

I have been so busy today, you wouldn't believe!

I made up a new book order for the library.

DVD Set 19

This Karin Slaughter comes out in July and I can hardly wait to read it!! If you have not read her books, run, don't walk, to the library and get them all!! Or she would prefer that you even go to the bookstore and buy them!!

I finally finished this book on my Kindle. (This book had nothing to do with my mother moving in next door to me this week, y'all, I swear)

I decided what to cook for supper tonight.

I managed to keep my trigger finger off the BUY button on eBay! (Well almost)

Wished I was rich for the hundred millionth time.

Checked out a few books to patrons and reshelved books.

That about winds up my day.

We have a flea outbreak at my house, how one teeny, tiny, little mini dachshund could be home to this many fleas is beyond me, so we have a trip to the Vet planned in the very near future. She's gettin real tired of a bath every night! She's kin to my boys, I know. Well, when they were little! :)

Oh, and did I mention that I had to read EVERYONES blog this morning? Gorgeous. Adorable. Beautiful. Lovely!

Lots of love to you and yours, from me and Wilma~~

Tiny Tears, Fabrics, Old Recipes and paperbacks

2012-01-26T08:28:00.000-08:00

Good Morning!

Yesterday, I opened my mailbox and look who arrived from eBay! Sweet. Hubby said I needed this like a hole in my head. Men....

Tiny Tears is my favorite old doll from my childhood. Can I have too many? Yes, but as long as I'm working I don't feel guilty...Be happy while you can!

A sample of the pretty fabrics I bought on my afternoon off Saturday. There is a very nice Quilt and Fabric store nearby which I don't get to visit often enough to suit me! I don't know what I'll make with these but they are pretty.

This is a cookbook I made for the local Fire Department. We sold quite a few of these and raised a lot of money for things they needed. This was a fun project.

Peggy Joyce is a good cook at our church, as was her mother before her.

My grandmother Cora Lynch during the depression. She and my grandfather raised eight children who all turned out good and she always played her guitar in the evenings and sang. She and her brothers played and sang at barn dances during that time. You should have heard her sing the "Wildwood Flower".

She was the best cook around and loved to sew and make beautiful quilts. I wore many pretty dresses to school that she made for me. Pink and brown plaid.......I wish I could find a piece of fabric like that now.

And these are all the quilting ladies at our church way back when. My Great-grandmother and great-aunt is in this pic and Peggy Joyce is one of the little girls sitting up front. Some cousins of mine are also here.

We are having more stormy weather in Alabama today, if you are looking for a book to lift your spirits go to your nearest used bookstore or Amazon.com used books quick, fast and in a hurry and get this old paperback by Dorothy Cannell. It is Deliciously fun-ny!

I hope you enjoy the rest of your week and have a very blessed week-end. And for another laugh head over to http://www.northerncottage.net/ and read about her laundromat experience and look at her beautiful new quilt while you're there.

Bye now,

from me and Wilma

Deer Tracks Thru The Garden

2012-01-25T13:32:00.000-08:00

I went in the garden yesterday evening to pick greens for supper and look what I saw. Deer tracks playing all through it. Big ones and little ones. Glad they didn't feast on my greens!

This must have been the papa one!

I finally got Round Tuit yesterday for Sherry's blog party at http://www.ahappyvalentine.blogspot.com/.
I vacuumed my car out!

This was my Christmas present this year and I really want to keep it nice and clean!

And this is where the lettuce went last night that I picked from the garden. Too much cheese to be healthy but can you have too much cheese? My grandpa's nickname was cheese, he liked it so much!

Have you ever seen such a messy craft table? Somebody is going to have to clean this up before they can make anything for the Dotty Swap Party! Looks like its going to be me, the good cleaning fairy didn't come last night....Maybe I'll get Round Tuit by next Tuesday!

I love my new camera, if I can ever learn how to use everything on it! It's way smarter than me.

It is starting to cloud up outside, I'll be glad when all this rain passes through so these old bones of mine will stop screaming at me. Forget knee replacement, I need a whole new skeleton!! :-)

Enjoy the rest of the week, remember we only pass this way once so enjoy every minute of it while you can.

~~Love, from me and Wilma~~

Haunted Computer

2012-01-23T07:27:00.000-08:00

Just kidding. It's Monday, raining, and time to recommend some good books! This time I'm previewing some Kindle editions for your instant gratification. My friend and fellow librarian recommended this to me this morning. She says don't read it at night alone.

The author has written 13 novels and you can visit him at www.hauntedcomputer.com.

I'm always reading a Hamish Macbeth mystery by M.C. Beaton. Many of my patrons say they are in love with the character, Hamish. Are you kidding, I want to BE him! Living in the north of Scotland in the little cottage with his dog and wildcat, tending his sheep and chickens and solving the occasional crime. Whats not to love about this series? Got it on my Kindle for 6.99.

And I just finished this one.

This one kept me up reading into the wee hours of the morning. Disturbing, British crime fiction, serial killer. Val McDermid has written 25 novels. But I love the Tony Hill and Carol Jordan characters the best.

You must have a good tea while reading all this British fiction, right? This book was FREE on Kindle from Amazon. Check it out, there are so many titles you can download for free.

Enjoy your week,
~~Love, from me and Wilma~~

It's FRIDAY!

2012-01-20T07:42:00.000-08:00

And I still have to work tomorrow... at least I get off at 12:00! Plenty of time for a good rainy week-end. I'm planning to go to the Picket Fence antique and flea market shops Saturday. Joy. And I'm going to be on the look-out for things Polka-Dotty for the swap at Dotty Swap Party!!

I want to show off my new Steuben Glass my son in New York sent to me. He shopped at the Flagship store right before they closed their doors for good in December. He's a good son. :)

Isn't it gorgeous!

I had to put it up in the china cabinet right away because you-know-who was eyeballing it!

I hope everyone has a very blessed week-end. Live good and pray hard.

~~Lots of love, from me and Wilma~~

Chalk Girl

2012-01-18T08:58:00.000-08:00

This is the book I'm reading today, just released yesterday and I can't put it down. If you haven't tried her books yet, you don't know what you're missing.

Cottage Garden Party blooms

2012-01-17T09:02:00.000-08:00

Have a blessed day~~

Digging Thru An Old Trunk

2012-01-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

Good morning Tuesday! It's thundering outside the library today, and the weatherman predicts rain. I love a rainy day, makes reading better. We had a nice long week-end and I spent some time digging through my old trunk and some boxes and found some nice books to look at. An old childrens book, some valentines and I have some new books that might interest you, also.

Really cute Easter graphics.

Some cute little girls patterns.

Cute valentines.

We looked at seed catalogs. Joy!

Had a good breakfast.

If anyone is watching the PBS Series, Downton Abbey, this is the new companion book to the wonderful show. I'm in love with it.

I won the bid on ebay for this bride doll! Can't wait to see her.

Most of all, this little ton of fun didn't want to leave my lap all week-end!

Lot's of love from me and Wilma!!

~~Dorothy~~

Sweet Giveaway at Ruby Jeans and A Sort of Fairy Tale

2012-01-13T19:24:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone, there is a great Housewarming Party give-away at Ruby Jean's and A Sort of Fairy Tale going on. Two beautiful pillow covers and a lovely ruffled apron with a removable flower pin. Check it out!

http://shoprubyjean.blogspot.com/

http://asortoffairytalegirl.blogspot.com/

Fresh Lettuce and Old Baskets

2012-01-07T17:48:00.000-08:00

Hello, and welcome to the new year! I predict nothing but good things for 2012. We are starting the year off right by eating a little healthier around our house. Fresh lettuce from our garden picked in a basket I made about 30 years ago. Also a pretty turnip root, sweet as candy.

Turkey pizza with lowfat cheese. Not too bad for you!

I just bought this new jelly roll designed by Fig Tree and Co. at http://www.figtreequilts.typepad.com/
Lovely colors. I'm commited to sewing a quilt top in 2012.

And this wonderful book "Super- Cute Felt" by Laura Howard at http://www.bugsandfishes.blogspot.com/ And I bought some felt too, so I have to make some of her cute things!!

Our new cookbook for 2012.

If I can just keep my nose out of the Murder Mysteries long enough!!

Remember, if you want to have fun, you have to make it yourself. Stop waiting for someone else to make it happen.

Have a HAPPY HAPPY 2012!

~~Dorothy~~

Mini Pearl

2011-12-26T11:33:00.000-08:00

Wilma's just getting ready for New Years celebrations!!

Christmas Day in the Country

2011-12-25T17:59:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to you and yours. Isn't this a beautiful cross, made by an artist from New Orleans. A gift from my son.

Another artist made Mr. Rooster. He's perched in my living room right now.

We ate entirely too much. It was all good.

And had way too much fun!

Enjoyed the day with family and friends. I believe that next year will be a very good year.

Live well and pray hard.

~~Dorothy~~

Our Book Tree at the Library

2011-12-20T07:18:00.000-08:00

Have you read this many books this year?

WWI Photos and Christmas cards

2011-12-19T08:34:00.000-08:00

Good Monday morning everyone, hope you had a great week-end. Here are some vintage Christmas cards and postcards from my collection. Also, I promised more photos. Hope you enjoy them.

I like this one.

I have this envelope full of these vintage luggage labels from different countries, but some of them are stuck together, they've been in the envelope for so long. Does anyone have any ideas how I can get them unstuck??

Sweet old doggie print.

Pig on a leash?

Two well dressed ladies on a ship. These are so much fun to look at.

My very own library, a gift from my brother.

Hot tea and gingerbread men. What a great way to start my Monday morning. I hate to eat him. He better run as fast as he can!!

                                                                  ~~Dorothy~~

Christmas Carols and Gypsies Camping

2011-12-13T09:36:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone, I hope you are getting in the Christmas spirit. I know I am. I did all my shopping online, pj's on and Christmas carols on Pandora.com. Done, done, and done. Lovin it. I DO NOT care for Mall shopping, sorry, I'm just too old for that anymore!

I promised more old pictures, here they are. These are from the Library's collection, in Ms. Sherry Johnston's care in our Genealogy Department. We have one of the best known and comprehensive collections in the State of Alabama, so if anyone needs to research ancestors in this area be sure to come to the Evergreen-Conecuh County Public Library.

The photo above is of gypsies stopping at Mineral Springs in Conecuh County. Not sure of the date on this one.

This next pic is of the Farnham building, circa 1884, the first Brick building in "New Evergreen".

This photo is of the Martin and Ray Theatre, probably 1950's ?

These old photos are so much fun to look at. Notice the City Cafe on the right, and I think a shoe store was to the left of the theatre.

And this is my book of the day. My favorite, an old Hamish Macbeth Mystery. One of the pleasures of post-menopause is you forget what you have read by the time you finish the book, so you can always go back and read them again! :)

This is whats left on the new book shelf today, most all the bestsellers are checked out.

Debbie Macombers new Christmas book "1225 Christmas Tree Lane" has been popular but patrons have been a little disappointed with Sandra Browns latest effort. They said she should stick to romance writing, but I haven't read it so can't recommend it! "Killing Lincoln" is an interesting new book, and I read "After America" by Mark Steyn, it was a little chilling. "A Time For Outrage" is a good read, banned in many places! But we have it here. Visit your library, you'll be glad you did.

And don't forget to address those cards and get them in the mail!! Christmas times acomin!

I love snowmen.

~~Dorothy~~

Rainy Days and Ghosts In The Attic

2011-12-06T09:19:00.000-08:00

This is one of the pictures I found in the box of pre-WWII photos. I don't know what country these people are in or why they are in a queue. But I know I love looking at them and wondering about them. I have lots more of these and will post more later on.

Doesn't my little dachshund Wilma look sweet in her Sunday dress and Santa hat? And here's Dothan warming by the fireplace.

Lazy cat.

I had a little fright when I arrived for work at the Library this morning. Our ghost was acting up in the attic. When I stepped off the elevator upstairs where I work, I was walking across the room (in the dark) to get to the light switches and turn the lights on. I heard something in the attic that sounded like it was walking along right beside me, keeping up with me. Well, needless to say, I turned around and jumped right back in the elevator and went back downstairs! I got off and called my co-workers names and no-one answered! For a moment I thought I was in a horror movie. (Did I say I have a vivid imagination?) Finally, I found Sherry and she came back up and went through the attic with me, alas, we found nothing there... She thinks it may have been a squirrel or other critter, so now we have someone from the city coming to check it out. Did I also mention that its dark and rainy outside today?

Oh well, I think I'll settle down with a good mystery and keep one eye on the attic door for the rest of the day! Maybe I'll have lots of patrons to keep me company.

Hope your day goes well, remember, books are good friends to have around! Also, brave co-workers!
Dorothy

Home for cookies and coffee

2011-11-29T08:32:00.000-08:00

After all the Goodwill hunting we came home to homemade cookies and coffee made by my youngest son. Who says men can't cook? Yummy.

Now, to figure out what to do with this box full of pre-WWII photos and postcards my friend gave me months ago. I spend so much time reading them and daydreaming, I get lost in them. I have no idea who these people are and neither did she, she got them at a sale a few years ago. They are beautiful and haunting.

Finished the left-overs and back at work.

2011-11-29T08:23:00.000-08:00

Well, we finally finished off the last of the leftovers last night and I have to say, I don't mind cooking at all tonight, just to see something different on the table! We were blessed with a good Thanksgiving, and I am glad to be back at the library working. Almost time to order new books again, I need to check the best seller list and see whats new. Over the holidays this past week-end I did manage to go do a little flea-market and Goodwill shopping and found a cache of old British paperback mysteries. It made my heart sing. Robert Barnard, Dorothy Gilman, Dorothy Cannell, B.M. Gill. I'm in for some late nights staying up reading. Have you ever tried to read wearing a c-pap machine? I can't do it. My glasses won't go on my face : )!

I wish I had bought her, maybe she'll still be there next week. I hate when I do that!

Pretty rooster painting, but I had nowhere to hang him if I brought him home.

I saw lots of hand made items while shopping at the flea markets. I could have spent two days just looking at everything.

Crafting and Resting-The Day After Turkey Day

2011-11-25T09:06:00.000-08:00

Today is a good day for staying in the craft room and getting something done. I have Christmas houses to paint and sewing I could do. Or make a new memory box. Wilma seems to want to sit in my lap this morning, wonder how this is going to work out. Since I'm usually at work during the day, she is taking advantage of mama being home. Spoiled rotten little dachshund!

It's 70F outside and a beautiful day for a walk in the woods, also. I will put that on my list for today!
And NO cooking today, we have enough left-overs to feed an army, and no one left here but me and hubby to eat all of this food. Tomorrow we may go for a movie. I want to see Hugo. We'll go to the $5.00 matinee at two o'clock in the afternoon!

But for now, it's back to the girl cave for some serious painting. Maybe I'll finish these houses before Christmas this year!

Oh, and hubby says Bama and Auburn play at 1:30 tomorrow, so no movie day Saturday..

There's Nothing Better Than Pecan Pie

2011-11-25T08:51:00.000-08:00

There's nothing better than a pecan pie.

Unless it's two pecan pies!

I hope that everyone had as good a Thanksgiving Day as my family. We are all truly blessed.
We had a feast to rival the Pilgrims and Indians, and enjoyed each others company so much. It is a privilege
to be with people you love and care about.

Wishing everyone good cheer throughout the rest of the Holiday season.
Love, from me and Wilma

2011-11-15T10:48:00.000-08:00

ITS BEGINNING TO LOOK LIKE THANKSGIVING

2011-11-14T08:59:00.000-08:00

Beautiful Bay of St. Louis

2011-11-14T08:41:00.000-08:00

Pictures of the Mississippi Coast

"I Am Half-Sick of Shadows"

2011-11-10T13:22:00.000-08:00

That is the name of the new Flavia de Luce Novel by Alan Bradley and I am LOVING it. Can't put it down. If you are not familiar with these books, by all means go to the library and check out "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie" and read it first. "A bold, brilliant, and adorable eleven year-old sleuth with a passion for chemistry and two older sisters that like to torment her. But she always has her revenge using something she has whipped up in her laboratory, in the huge decaying English estate they all live in with their father.
Wonderful reading!

Also, I promised pics of more good reads so here they are. They are already cataloged and checked out!

Ms. Paula, Queen of Southern cooking.

Charles Frazier is the author of "Cold Mountain" and this book "Nightwoods" promises to be even better.Baldacci's "Zero Day" is good, and Kate Atkinson's "When Will There Be Good News?" is very good, I downloaded it to my Kindle and read it just about in one sitting. It's also a Masterpiece Theatre special called Case Histories about PI Jackson Brodie. Very good! M.C. Beatons new Agatha Raisin book is funny and entertaining but I still prefer the Hamish Macbeth series the best

This Quilt book by John Rice Irwin is a work of love and art. Quilters from the Appalachian Mountains and their quilts. Truly beautiful!

Biloxi Yacht Club on the Mississippi Coast.

I will post more pictures of our trip to New Orleans next time. Hope everyone is off for the week-end like I am, have a safe and happy one!

Bye, y'all

Fabulous Friday

2011-11-04T09:14:00.000-07:00

Its Friday, and I don't care if it is cool and rainy, it's still FRIDAY! And I am off every week-end this month! Tomorrow, Lord willing, we are making the trip to New Orleans to return the grand-dog. I'm sure going to miss him! But I am looking forward to the sight-seeing along the way and when we get there. So many things to see and do. And good Cajun food. Fried oyster poorboy. Yummy.

Yesterday I went back to the Sleep Center and while I was in Enterprise, Al., I had to stop in the local Thrift Store. And guess what I found hiding in an old box in the back of the store? A 1970's Effanbee Grande Dames Winter doll that I purchased for 50 cents! Her little red cape was dry rotted in the back and she had only one shoe, but the doll was in beautiful condition! Love a good find.

I also purchased a red plaid wool skirt for $3.00 that I plan to cut up and make a pillow to put by the fireplace for my miniature dachshund, Wilma, to sleep on. She will like this. I was planning to buy the fabric but this skirt looked practically new, and it was about a size 0, so it wouldn't be a waste. Who would it fit?And out of hundreds of books, I found ONE British mystery. They say that mystery readers hang on to their books, they do not like to part with them. It must be so.

I purchased a HUGE selection of fiction and non-fiction for the library this week. I'll keep you posted on the good reads. I know one of the fiction titles will be good, because I already bought it for my Kindle and read it. Its called "When Will There Be Good News" by Kate Atkinson and it is the basis for the Case History shows on Masterpiece Theatre PBS Sunday nights about PI Jackson Brodie. And it is VERY good! So I had to order it for the library patrons to read!

This is a picture of the shrimp boats in Long Beach, Ms. I took on the last trip to New Orleans.

If you want to see a cute blog, go to http://www.doodlecoop.blogspot.com/ and check out Henry and Henny cutting the rug to some old 40's music! It is the best thing, my hubby even watched it and said he liked it, and he is NOT a blogger!

I have my new C-Pap machine so I should get a sound nights sleep and be ready to go early in the morning.

I hope everyone has a safe and blessed week-end! And I hope Alabama tears up LSU! Roll Tide!

Until next time, y'all!
Dorothy

Sunny Tuesday

2011-11-01T08:25:00.000-07:00

Hello friends, its a sunny day in south Alabama and not too cold out. I am loving this kind of weather. We build a fire in the fireplace early in the morning and again late in the evening, and it is a joy to sit in my old rocker and read and warm by the flames. I'm too old to feel romantic about it, it just feels comfortable!

It's hard to leave this and get up and go to work in the mornings! Two more years till retirement. Can't wait.
Yesterday I received my package I won the bid on from e-bay. Cams and a ruffler for my old Singer Slant-a-Matic sewing machine from the late 50's. I love this machine, it will sew through anything! And it makes so many pretty stitches. It's a jewel. My mother-in-law was a professional seamstress in Mobile, she made Mardi Gras costumes as well as anything else you can imagine, and this is the only machine she liked to sew on.
I hope I can sew every day when I retire.

This coming week-end we are planning a trip to New Orleans to return our grand-dog, Huey P. Long to my son. He will be working close to home from now on, and be home every night so he can take care of Huey and he wants him home! We are going to miss him, he's such a good pet. Well behaved, unlike my little critters! Like my cat, Dothan, stealing Huey's squeaky toy! Just for meanness, like a cat will do!!
I plan to take lots of pictures of the trip, I'm really looking forward to it. So much to see in New Orleans and along the Mississippi gulf coast.

New reading from the library. Time to take out those recipe books and start thinking about Thanksgiving menus!

This is an older Leslie Meier mystery you may find on your library shelves. A fun Thanksgiving mystery.
Marie Bostwick has a new book titled "Threading the Needle" a Cobbled Court Novel about quilters, that is a good read. Sandra Brown has a good thriller called "Lethal". Anne Rivers Siddons has "Burnt Mountain", Fern Michael's has "Late Edition" and Guideposts series Stories from Hope Haven has "In This Together".
And I have a long list on new bestsellers I'm about to order today for the library. May even order some new craft books, will keep you posted on the best reads!

Jambalaya and cornbread made for a tasty and quick supper. Especially made with Conecuh sausage.

Hope your week-end was warm and restful.
Till next time, bye y'all!
Dorothy

Getting Ready for Ghosts and Goblins

2011-10-21T08:39:00.000-07:00

Oh, my, I'd best get prepared, just in case some of these friendly witches fly in for a visit this year! Lot's of treats are in order.

I wouldn't want them to drop a house on me!!

Cloudy Days and Books

2011-10-18T11:07:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone, it's clouding up outside and that means its time to reach for a new book. I have two to recommend today. This book has been enjoyed by everyone who has checked it out at the library, it's about a girl who grew up in foster care, her only connection to people and the world is through flowers and their meanings. It will break your heart but mend it again. I think you will enjoy it as much as we have.

This one is a delightful British mystery which you know I can't resist. I would have bought this one for the lovely cover, but I like all of Ann Purser's books. She is the author of the Lois Meade Mystery series also.
This books heroine is Ivy Beasley who has just moved into assisted living but she stays busy solving crime! Kinda reminds me of my own mother in her new assisted living home!

And here are some late blooms for you to enjoy today!

Slow Sunday Afternoon

2011-10-17T08:11:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a slow and peaceful Sunday afternoon like I did. I got just what I wanted, to be surrounded by my family. Even had fun with the animal children and took pictures! This is my sons dog, Huey P. Long. He will do anything for a piece of bacon, but I think he felt like this was a bit much!

Dothan the cat said "Don't even think about it!" He's not dressing up for anyone.

Boy, Huey looks ridiculous...

Will somebody pick me up, please?

I put out a few fall decorations in the house.

I love the ceramic pumpkin my friend gave me one year.

Need to find some pink fall decorations!!

Then we went for a walk down our dirt road in the evening.

And ended up at grandmothers old house.

The foundation was built on cypress stumps.
This may be the oldest house in the county, our genealogy department is not sure, we know it dates to before 1850.

The old cedar tree in front of the house is beginning to look spooky to me. Granddaddy bought the place in the early 1900's and he had to promise not to cut down this tree because the owners daughter had planted it. My sister and I could not put our arms around it and touch when we were kids, 50 years ago! I don't know which will fall first, the house or the tree.

And the old car shed was probably built in the 30's or 40's.

Have a good Monday, y'all.

I love all my friends very much, but family is everything to me!

2011-10-15T09:14:00.000-07:00

Hubby and Uncle Ray having supper at my house. A pleasure.

Jeremy, Pete and Marshall home for Christmas last year. Two Railroad men and one New Yorker!

And here's Buck just getting home from Cambodia last summer. He only got to stay for a week but we sure enjoyed him while he was home. He teaches English at the University in Cambodia.

2011-10-15T08:54:00.000-07:00

My sweet Dad who's been gone for two years now. We all miss him.

My Aunt Elayne, the quilter, who makes a quilt and donates it to the fire department every year to raffle off.

Family

2011-10-15T08:22:00.000-07:00

We all know our family is precious to us, so what better time than the week-end to get together and just enjoy one another. Since my boys are all grown into men and moved away it is awfully hard to get us all together at one time! One lives in New York City, one in New Orleans, one in Daphne, Al and the other is teaching overseas in Cambodia! I have lots of family in Mobile, about 100 miles away. So today I am going to post a few family pics and just pretend they are all here at home with me!

If your children are small, believe me when I say they will be grown in the blink of an eye, and you WILL miss them!

The Last of the Zinnias

2011-10-14T08:50:00.000-07:00

Well, we made it to Friday again, friends and aren't we blessed. This has been a long week for me, as I had to spend one night at the Southern Sleep Clinic and was diagnosed with OSA. I have to go back next week and get fitted for the breathing machine, I just hope I will adjust to sleeping with it. I complained a little about having to take another pill (sleeping pill) but the doctor said to be glad we live in the USA so we can get the help we need. I didn't realize that sleep apnea could be so dangerous to your health.

Anyway, glad that's done, I want to show you some decorations I put up in the library. And some more pumpkins! Love this cool weather so much. Hubby has been gone all week to the fish camp on the Alabama River in Stockton so I got a lot of things done at home this week, too.

These are some of the last of my Zinnias I brought to the library. Aren't they colorful?

I decorated the top of the old oak card catalog. Of course we use computers today for the card catalog, but I kept this one in the library because what would a library be without it? Love the old Ideals, so many nostalgic pics inside. I made the little pumpkins on sticks from a pattern in "Create and Decorate" a few years back.

Some little boxes I painted. I think I stamped the witch and then filled in with paint.

I painted this little scarecrow on the gourd in Ms. Margaret's art class.

Mrs. Pilgrim on the fireplace mantle in the reading room. Note, the turkey is almost as big as she!

Mr. Pilgrim and his ship.

Fruit Stand pumpkins! Wish I could make a dozen pies!

This is a beautiful heirloom pie pumpkin. He's supposed to be this ugly, I grew only ONE last year from Baker Creek Heirloom seeds! A great seed catalog by the way if you haven't seen one, order it, by all means!!

AND, last but not at all least, I found this book in my craft room closet this morning while looking for something else! "Embroidery Companion" by Alicia Paulson of Posie Gets Cozy blog. What a great surprise for me. So I think this will be my BOOK OF THE WEEK for this week.

Hope you all have a WONDERFUL week-end. Remember you can't have fun if you don't MAKE fun and happy memories yourself! So get out in this gorgeous weather and make good memories while you still have time!
Have a blessed week-end y'all.
Dorothy

Fall Decorations Everywhere I Look

2011-10-10T10:08:00.000-07:00

It's really official where I live in the south. Fall has arrived! Everywhere I go I see fall decorations up and there is a cool breeze blowing too. I am loving this, it's been hot way too long.
I took a look at http://www.apinchofprim.blogspot.com/ this morning and enjoyed Michelles Lil' Peek a Boo Owl! Too cute! So many blogs, so little time.

I am sticking with the new eating plan, and so far, I haven't even gotten hungry! You eat too often on this plan to get hungry.

Dothan is enjoying this cooler weather too!

And the last of the summer flowers!

I am reading an oldie but very goodie this week. I downloaded two Hamish MacBeth Scottish mysteries by M.C. Beaton on my Kindle from amazon.com. One is Death of a Dentist and the other is Death of a Scriptwriter. You can never go wrong reading about Hamish MacBeth, he's my hero!

Keep reading and VISIT YOUR LIBRARY!
By for now, y'all.

SuperSnooks13: Shabby Thanks

2011-10-10T08:29:00.000-07:00

SuperSnooks13: Shabby Thanks

Saturday Morning Yea!!

2011-10-08T10:34:00.000-07:00

Today is a beautiful sunny, cool football kind of Saturday! I am loving this cool weather in south Alabama, glad it's finally here!

I am getting ready to start a new life-style program. My oldest son is going to be my sponsor. The book is called "Body By Design" by Kris Gethin and Jamie Eason. It is a radical weight loss and exercise program. My son has lost 50 pounds in the last 12 weeks. And he travels around a lot with his job, but still manages to go to the gym and eat right!

The first thing I did after downloading the book on my Kindle, was throw out that brand new box of Double-Decker MoonPies that only a southerner could appreciate! Now I must go cook lots of chicken breast on the George Foreman and lots of broccoli and brown rice. Lord help me, I really do want to fit into my good clothes again! I have to learn to let that be my reward instead of using food as a reward! So, I may not be posting many food pictures for a while, maybe only healthy food pics! Cross your fingers for me, and hope that I can stick it out!

Hope you all have a safe and very happy week-end! Till next time, y'all.

Fall Pumpkins

2011-10-08T10:26:00.000-07:00

These are pictures from the Picketfence in Andalusia, Al. Lots and lots of booths brimming over with goodies from the past!

And here's some pumpkin pics from last week!

A lot of them had been sold since last week-end when I was there.

Visit the Library

2011-10-04T08:08:00.000-07:00

Fall magazines to read.

Cookbooks to check out.

New books to catalog today.

VISIT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY TODAY!

SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR FREE!

Beautiful Week-End

2011-10-03T08:43:00.000-07:00

The start of my thrifting Saturday. Always eat dessert first.

Hubby is looking for old Railroad pocket watches, his favorite collectable. And they are scarce as hens teeth to find!

Love this painting of the college girls. Ms Alabama is rather cute. The old Plunder Parlor in Andalusia has reopened and it's better than ever. Full to the brim of fun collectables and vintage finds.

Pete liked this print of some lovely Jazz musicians!

Booth after booth of stuff!

We had a picnic in the park later after looking to our hearts content. And we still haven't looked at all the shops in Andalusia yet!

a cool breeze was blowing

We agreed, this has been the most beautiful day of the year.

On our way home, we passed fields full of cotton ready to be picked. My husband said it made his back hurt just to look at it. He picked cotton by hand when he was a boy, before his granddaddy bought a cotton picker!

And we saw piles of huge white pumpkins, and blue heirloom squash and all sorts of fall fruits and gourds, and I FORGOT TO TAKE A PICTURE!

I guess we'll just have to go back next week-end!!!

Hope you had a good week-end like we did, have a blessed week.

Bye, y'all

Jamie Oliver - Videos - Home-made pizza, Jamie's pizza podcast, Part 3

2011-09-30T11:06:00.000-07:00

Jamie Oliver - Videos - Home-made pizza, Jamie's pizza podcast, Part 3

2011-09-30T06:59:00.000-07:00

Here's the new book I'm reading this week and I highly recommend it. Especially if you love British mysteries. It has everything in it, from the vicar in the village to the quirky characters who live there. Delightful, full of dry humor, a really good murder mystery.

Tomorrow is thrift shopping, maybe all day. As long as hubby can stand it, anyway! I'm thinking of opening a booth here in town at our favorite thrift shop. I need to part with some of my goodies. And it would be fun to set it up, and I don't even have to be there to run it, I can still work my day job! Will see.

I found this camera in the barn the other day. It belonged to one of my uncles. He was the town photographer, took all the school pictures and pics for the newspaper. If this camera could talk! I'm sure he had a much larger camera for his school portraits, I think this may be an old brownie. I ordered a new camera this week, can't wait for it to get here.

Lake Jackson in Florala is calling my name. And the town is full of antique shops. Love to go there. Maybe even buy a Florida lottery ticket while I'm there. One day my ship will come in.

This is some artwork in a shop there, all made from driftwood. They had some beautiful pieces in this shop.

Real dogs....

and toy dogs, aren't they cute!

BYE Y'ALL, HAVE A GOOD WEEK-END!

2011-09-29T10:05:00.000-07:00

SWEET COUSINS

AND HAPPY BROTHERS!

Pictures from this years family reunion.

2011-09-29T09:37:00.000-07:00

October is already rushing in. Soon we will smell wood fires from chimneys and fall leaves burning in piles. I love fall weather, it just doesn't last long enough in Alabama.

Sunny Skies after the Storm

2011-09-29T09:33:00.000-07:00

I am looking forward to cold weather, we have had too many days of three digit heat in the South. But we will miss the summer veggies and herbs and flowers. Until next year! Roses will bloom again.

A few new pics. Check out my niece's Auburn Univ. toenails!

2011-09-28T09:08:00.000-07:00

She's a big Auburn fan!

Thrift store finds.

one of my late blooming daylillies.

And some hot peppers in the garden!

What a stormy Wednesday!

2011-09-28T09:02:00.000-07:00

Good morning, friends. I drove VERY slowly to work this morning, it was raining so hard! I love to read on a rainy day, and what better place than the library to spend the day! Our library is so cozy up here on the top floor, we even have a sitting area with a loveseat and chairs and lamps and fake fireplace, it looks like a cozy room in an old home. I love coming to work every day.

Good Monday Morning

2011-09-26T08:17:00.000-07:00

I hope you had a nice week-end, mine started out very well. We enjoyed celebrating mom's birthday with her Saturday.

My beautiful niece, Ashley, made a delicious carrot cake and decorated it nicely, too.

Then we took mom to her favorite family diner, where she and her lady friends from the retirement center are regulars!

Sunday morning, I got up early and cooked breakfast and went to church. Our church is a little country church in the woods built by my grandfather and uncles. I'm kin to everyone there!

Sunday afternoon, my loving hubby decides we needed to work off lunch, so off I go down the dirt road on my trusty Huffy bicycle. BIG mistake! After several hours in the emergency room and several contusions and bruised ribs later, I decided that the sedentary life-style is for me. After all, reading is mental exercise, right?

Have a blessed week, everyone!