Saturday, August 26, 2017

This Week...Two Birthdays and a Baby...One Beastly Muscle Car and More...



Always amazing and resourceful...this is the cake Nicole created when we gathered to celebrate her brother, Brandon's, 32nd birthday...Emma's11th birthday...and her daughter, Brittany's, baby shower...all in the same night! So good, and the inside was a swirl of baby pink and blue.

And what a night it was!

A house full of love. Both Nancy and I, Brandon and his wife Nicci and their kids, Brittany and Amelia Rose and The Baby Bump, Emma and Aiden and Brenden, James and Nicole...it was happy chaos. 

                                             Brantley...coming soon!









Nicki...you know how to fill a house with love...and make a house a HOME!

Gleaned new recipes from James for both Blackberry and Peach Whiskey. I tried the Peach and it was smooth and delicious. Would like to try my hand at this.

So proud of both he and Nicole who have BOTH managed to completely quit smoking!!!!!   For good.

Way to go, guys!

Brought these home to try, too...



 Watching and waiting to hear word from our Texas friends as Harvey roared in and made landfall at a Cat. 4 Hurricane.

 Now threatening to stall over the area for several days increasing the chance for devastating flooding. Many area being only 15 feet or less above sea level and criss-crossed with rivers.

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Anticipating an EARLY arrival to Fall. You can already see it in the already changing trees and deep blue skies, and feel it is in 75 degree days  and the chill of early morning and late night!

Excited...only

more days until "Rose and Idgy's Early Fall Artist Adventure".  Planning to explore Gold-Leafing together and Cheese-Making, Painting and Photography...and a lot of relaxing, wine and chat as we celebrate our Combined Birthdays and another year!

We are not the only ones who have been creating this year.  Jill (Lennon's Bio-Mom...Bill's Ex-Wife) and I who have finally, after years, became friends...which Lennon still proclaims to me

 "It is just WEIRD, Mom" 

(...and I remind him that life is way too short to hold onto past grievances...)

Anyway...Jill has taken up acrylic painting this year, too...enjoying it a lot...and quite talented!



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Earlier in the week enjoyed the company of my Seasonal Friend for our Late Summer Visit...where we brunched and enjoyed catching up from Spring.   Both discussing the latest in the Trump Circus  (more on this in a moment) and parted with

"I shall see you in the Fall"

Later in the week, John (of The Shelburn Bank Scheme Days), drove down. Used several of the varieties of home-made cheeses I have been practising and made us a Traditional Sicilian Brunch.

Complete with Petoni sans the anchovies






and Chocolate Cannoli

He brought me several surprises from The State Fair...a 100th Anniversary Mug
(...now we can have coffee every day together...lol!), some Maple Syrup...and a jar of Maple Cream that is destine to become Maple Walnut Cream Hand-
Dipped Dark Chocolate candy to share soon!

But this was hands-down the best surprise.



After Brunch and chat he said

"Let's take a ride in the country"

When we went out to his Mazda......well...it wasn't there...it had been traded for THIS BEAST!  

2014 "Godfather" Charger

OMG!

I suppose I should add that back-in-the-day he had a GTX.

Yeah, I'm impressed.

And it goes from Zero to Hold-Onto-Your-Ass in seconds!

We lit up a few short straightaways at 100+ during the afternoon...felt so good to be sucked back into a seat again...lol!  Last time was with Carol in the Chally in Pennsylvania.

It's been awhile.

Also enjoyed a beautiful scenic drive through a lot of the twisting backroads between here, Raccoon Lake, and Bridgeton, saw three deer...yes...and one frog...lol...and checked out the  Bridgeton Covered Bridge and The Falls.



A Perfect Afternoon...made even better by the fact we didn't have to call any of our grown kids for BAIL.

 When they pull you over at 100+...they will ask you to

"Step out of the car, please." 

That is law enforcement-ese for

"You are not sleeping at home tonight."

and

"You will need bail money."

So...Anticipating tomorrow's Game of Thrones Season 7 Finale


 Where the Night King now has this:



Yes...a re-antimated Ice Dragon. Upping the stakes a bit,I should think. Can't wait to see how this goes.

By the looks between Dany and Jon...it would appear The Mother of Dragons is expecting 6-8 inches of Snow.

Just think...it could even make her title a little longer...

Daenerys Targaryen: First of her Name-The Unburnt-Queen of Meereen-Queen of the Andal and the First Men-Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea-Breaker of Chains-Mother of Dragons-Blower of Snow.


Just saying.

Also started the Mr. Mercedes Televised Series.


Only three episodes, thusfar, and enjoyable...but already there are wide deviations from the book. If you are a purist you'll probably want to give it a pass...for the rest of us...forget an absolute storyline and enjoy the show.  Well cast and great opening.

This week's book:


This might possibly be the quintessential Summer Read. A nice light throw-back to growing up in the 70's.  Not War and Peace,by any stretch of the imagination...but guaranteed to make you smile and nostalgic.  A great way to enjoy an afternoon.


Now for a quick look at Trump World this Week...

Another one bites the dust.


As Sebastian Gorka resigns...after John Kelly offered him the now popular resign or get fired package.

Don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out, Gorky.

So THAT was good news.

Time will tell...but it looks as though Trump and FEMA are on top of the Texas Harvey Situation...and I am pleasantly surprised.

But, not so surprised that Donnie pardoned this guy

Yes,  Sheriff Joe "I'm A Rascist" Arpiao...from Arizona.

(...just shaking my head...)

As well as attempting to issue that EO regarding banning Transsexuals from serving in the military.

Waiting to see the ACLU reaction.

So to paraphrase Bill Murray from Stripes

"We've STILL got that Texas/Harvey/Gorky thing going for us...so that's nice."



More Anon...