Remembering - Not Spending All My Time In A Car!

About ten years ago, I lived in a great location.
I still had trees and grass...
But I was close to EVERYTHING.

I could get to downtown in 15 minutes, work in 17...
The doctors, dentist, hospital, grocery store and lots of other stuff was just minutes away.
Literally!
I could walk there if they had put in some sidewalks (it was a major road).

Then I moved to Kentucky... You know - where my job was...
And my drive to work grew to 45 - 60 minutes.
It was 20 minutes to a decent grocery store or restaurant.
45 minutes to keep my doctors in the great location.
45 to our pool hall and 75 minutes to the pool hall with tournaments and action.
We were constantly in the car and I felt like I didn't have much of a life.


Luckily, this remembering post is slightly different from the others.
See - I spent almost 9.5 years missing my old location and hating where I lived.
About five months ago - my memories became my reality again.


The one thing that I LOVE about our new home is how close we are to everything.
Yet, I feel like I live in the country.
We have five acres.
I see wild animals in my back yard all of the time.

And I can be to two different grocery stores in five minutes.
The doctors (and I love how great they are) are right next to one of the grocery stores.
There are a huge number of restaurants that we can get to quickly.
There are even TWO PIZZA PLACES who will deliver to our house (this is a little dangerous).

I think MBB loves the convenience as well.
When we move again - my #1 priority (okay - #2, room for the pool table is #1) is finding land close to stuff.

Namaste.

#CraftyTuesday - Still in 2015

Another nephew got his quilt in 2015 as well.
But, his team of choice was slightly different...

Namaste.

Michigan = Cold

Even Yeager-Bomb thinks so.

Here is his favorite place to sit (other than our laps)...

Yes, that is on top of the register vent... while the furnace is running.

I also caught him under my covers while my Bed Jet was running.

Usually, he completely buries himself under the covers until I kick him out.
But this time, he wanted to know what was going on, for some unknown reason...

Namaste.

Love and Hate Relationship...

I really love our new home...
All of the trees give it a feeling of privacy - way more than a normal five acre lot.
I absolutely love watching the squirrels play chase up and down the trees.

However the trees are not so nice in the fall!
We spent more time picking up leaves than we did mowing in August and September.
Though I have to admit that with all of the tree coverage, the grass doesn't grow very quickly.

I thought I would love the trees for 3/4 of the year and only dread/hate them in the fall.
Wrong...

This was the wonderful site that greeted us this morning:

Yep - in the chilly 30s, we had to pull out the quad/trailer and the chainsaw to clear our driveway...

Sometimes, you just have to laugh (and grab the camera).

And realize that this is a part of our reality now.

Namaste.

Happy Birthday!!

I can't believe he is TWO!!
Happy Birthday... Papaw and Nana love you!

Namaste.

#FridayFinds - Steak House in Indiana

My find this week was from a trip we took earlier in the year.
We were looking for a steak house that would let us in (we had on jeans and in my case - a t-shirt).

We found this place in New Albany, Indiana (just across the river from Louisville):
Brooklyn and the Butcher
The internet said that it was New Albany's best kept secret.
All I know - It was yummy!

The mac-n-cheese pictured above was MBB's.  He said it was too dry - not enough cheese.
But honestly, that was the only negative thing we experienced the entire meal.

Though, don't think that since they didn't care about our dress that they didn't care about their $$$$$s.
It was definitely steak house prices - but worth it for a treat with good friends.

Namaste.

Learning a New Sport...

Moving north has resulted in my learning a new sport: Pot Hole Dodging.

No lie - you may have just driven that same road five minutes ago and all was good...
But don't feel comfortable! 
There may be one there now.


It could be small...
It could be big...
It could be hidden by snow...
It could be just there - daring you to drive over it...
Heck, it could even have friends that it decided to hold hands with...


Yes, I went over a strip of about seven connected side to side - there was no where to dodge!
And to make matters worst - it was at the end of an entrance ramp onto a highway...

I have been told that this is a normal occurrence here...
And it could be awhile before they go away...

My reality:  I am starting to add about ten minutes to all of my drives because of the dodging.
And I am thankful that my car is still in one piece.


Namaste.

Remembering - Pepper Chicken

I know that some foods are regional in nature.

When I think of Lobster - I think of Maine!
...Peaches... Georgia!
...Crab... San Francisco!
...Deep Dish Pizza... Chicago!

And now...
...Pepper Chicken... Northern Kentucky!

I didn't realize that Pepper Chicken was not everywhere.
And by Pepper, I mean Black Pepper...not Green Pepper...

But it seems to be a regional food and gives me something to look forward to when I head south!


Namaste.

#CraftyTuesday - 2015

It appears that I missed posting a few of my creations back in 2015...
So, the next three weeks with be going back in time...

This was for a nephew...
And it looks very similar to another quilt that I made a few years prior for another nephew.
Gotta love when you have a common sport team loved by many in the family.

Namaste.

It's February...

I always seem to forget...
Until it gets here...
And this year is not different...
I suddenly remember that I'm not a fan of February!

It's been cold way too long...
The holiday in the month usually involves a LOT of candy (diet, candy... not a good mix)...
I have deadlines at work that are tough to hit, need lots of approvals and generally mean stress...
Have I mentioned the cold?

The good news - we hit two of our work deadlines today (huge sigh of relief)!
And I got good news from my doctor - sounds like we may have this thyroid under control!

In the mean time, I am still holding my breath on getting the last repair done in Kentucky...
(Come on Mother Nature - please give us just a small break to get this done!)

We have one more big report to get out next week...
Then, I can start playing catch-up to get all of my other work done.

I finally get to take down my Christmas Trees (Christmas with the boys is tonight!)!
(You'd think by now I'd know better than to blog about something before it happens)
I never thought I would be tired of my Christmas Trees... but I am.
Christmas Music, yes, but Christmas Trees?

At any rate - February is more than half over...
And if we can get Mother Nature to like us just a little, then I may start liking February a bit more.

Namaste.

#Friday Finds: BDs Mongolian Grill

OK, I know this one is a chain - MBB went to it in Lexington (I think - it was before he met me).
But, this was the first time that I had it and it was a hit for me.

You get to pick whatever you can fit in your bowl from two or three bars of food (and man, I saw one guy with a HEAPING bowl - not sure how he kept it from spilling!)...
And there is even a sign on the bars that said something about not using tongs in other dishes.  I so wanted to take a picture of it!  That is something VERY important for someone, like me, who is allergic to something on the bar.

Full disclosure - I ate quite a bit of my food before I remembered to take a picture.

Namaste.

Remembering - Our Porch

I have grown up seeing all types of pictures of big porches...
Some were in the front with the swings...
Some were in the back by the pond...
Some were the wrap-around ones that let you have multiple doors into the house all the way around...

I never thought much about it.

Then, we added some cement and a roof the front of the house in Kentucky...
And I used it...
It was a dining room...
Or a place to sit and read...
Or a nap area...
Or a playroom...
Or a family room with lots of chats...
In the end - it was a memory maker.

And I now realize what I had...
And what is now on my wish list to have again...

Namaste.

#CraftyTuesday - 2nd to TX

Here is the second 2017 quilt that went to Texas.

After two baby quilts went that way in 2016, there was a "request" from a sibling for a bigger one in blue.  Took me a bit, but it arrived in time for Christmas.

Namaste.

Winter Olympics

I am not much of a TV person...
OK - let's not count my childhood when my brother had to hide the TV Guide from me so I couldn't watch Sixteen Candles AGAIN.

Every now and then a Music Program or the Olympics peaks my interest.
Though honestly, I couldn't tell you how to watch live TV in my house right now and if I did figure it out - I'd have to consult Google on the local TV channels.
Sigh...

Even though I didn't get to watch the Opening Ceremonies the other night, I did start looking for facts about the Winter Olympics (Have I introduced you to my best friend, Google?)...


About the Winter Olympics:
>In 1924, the first Winter Games were held in Chamonix.
>1994 was the first year that the Winter and Summer Olympics were held in different years.
>Norwegian biathlete, Ole Einar Bjomdalen, has won 13 medals.
>Norway has won the most medals that the Winter Olympics Games (329).
>Six people have won medals at both the Winter and Summer Olympics.

About the 2018 Winter PyeongChang Winter Olympics:
>There are 102 events in 15 disciplines:  Of which more are women and mixed events than any Olympics in history.
>92 nations will be competing in these games
>Six nations are also scheduled to compete in the Winter Olympics for the first time:

Ecuador, Eritrea, Kosovo, Malaysia, Nigeria and Singapore.

>Due to the doping scandal, Russia has been barred from this Olympics. 
>169 Russian athletes will compete as individuals.
>NHL players will not be competing in the hockey games.
>Four new events: Big Air Snowboarding, Big Air Freestyle Skiing, Mixed Doubles Curling and MassStart Speedskating Races.

About the USA Olympic team:
>244 athletes (the most from any country for any Winter Games) - 135 Men and 109 Women
>Erin Hamlin, a four-time Olympic luger, will carry the USA flag during the opening ceremonies.
>The average athlete age is 26.5 years.
>Ice Hockey Skater, Brian Gionta, is the oldest American athlete competing (39).
>Seven sets of siblings (include one set of twins) will compete.
>Figure skaters, Alexa Scimeca-Knierim and Chris Knierim will be the first married couple to represent USA since 2006.
>12 of the athletes are on Team Toyota:

J.R. Celski, Elena Hight, Lindsey Jacobellis, Gus Kenworthy, Chloe Kim, Hailey Langland, Ted Ligety, Steven Nyman, Sugar Todd, Louie Vito, Ashley Wagner and Torin Yater-Wallace

>The first two openly gay Olympians will be competing, including Team Toyota's Gus Kenworthy, who was considered the first action sports star in the US to represent the LGBTQ community (in 2015).

And I will also say that not everything you read on the internet is true - so I take no credit for the facts on this list or if they are incorrect (though if I find out something is wrong, I will edit this post to correct it). 
Just some tidbits that I found interesting...

Namaste.

Thoughts

Saw a saying today that kinda fits as my personal motto:

"The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do."

Now, don't get me wrong... 
If you say that I can't cure cancer. I'm probably going to agree with you.
I am not a fan of science (my only C in high school).

If you say that I can't be an independently successful woman...
If you say that I can't do something like data conversion...
If you say that I'll never find my prince charming...
Done, Done and Done.

Yes, all three of those things were said to me at one point in time or another and I buckled down and got it done.  OK, so the prince charming one - I can't really take credit for that one.  But hey, it sounded good as I typed it.  And yes - someone did once tell me that I would never find a man who would want to marry me (was supposedly someone who loved me too - go figure).

If I am in any way on the fence about whether I can do something or not...
All it takes is someone telling me that I can't to get me to set my mind to it.


Another saying that I saw today that struck home:

"H.O.P.E.   Hold On, Pain Ends"

I can only say that I HOPE that the weather in Kentucky clears up VERY SOON.
I have found that:

Stress is Pain

Financial Burden is Pain

Emotional Distress is Pain

Worry is Pain

I am holding onto HOPE as long as I can...
I'm hoping that spirit knows about the critical deadline connected to that HOPE that is out of my control.  I so wish this was something that I could set my mind too!


Namaste.

#FridayFinds - Bakery Unlimited

I went searching for some fresh Donuts around town (we already had a not so good experience in Sylvania)... My search found me down in the Central Avenue area of Toledo at Bakery Unlimited.

I was a fan of their Apple Fritters, Apple Filled and Bavarian Cream (yes, all the fattening ones!).
I believe that MBB liked their honey buns...But I am 100% relying on my memory for that one.

The ladies who were manning the Bancroft Street counter were super friendly and didn't mind helping this newbie pick out some donuts to surprise her hubby.

Namaste.

Remembering - Cajun

I love Spicy (taste - mind you, not heat) Cajun food.
In fact, if you ask what my favorite restaurant is - I'll tell you Knotty Pine on the Bayou in Northern Kentucky (off of AA, on the banks of the Licking River).

Great food!
Though, I will say that the old building had way more character than the new one does.

I did find a replacement Cajun restaurant in SE Michigan, but they serve Cajun Seafood.
Since MBB doesn't like seafood - so, it doesn't fill the void of Knotty Pine being four hours away.

Namaste.

#CraftyTuesday - 1st to TX

I made three quilts in 2017 - a majority of them went to Texas.

This one was for a new delivery within my work family...

I'll be honest - there is one color that I cannot stand.

But, when a nursery is being done in that particular color... Well, that color suddenly enters my sewing room!

Namaste.

Family

fam·i·ly

[ˈfam(ə)lē]

NOUN

families (plural noun)

1. a group consisting of parents and children living together in a household.

   • a group of people related to one another by blood or marriage:
     "friends and family can provide support"
     synonyms: relatives · relations · kin · next of kin · kinsfolk · kindred ·

     [more]
2. all the descendants of a common ancestor:

   "the house has been owned by the same family for 300 years"

I know that the definition above is what is normally know for "family".

I've also heard the saying "Blood is thicker than water".

I disagree.

Most (not all) of my blood relatives are not my family.

They don't care a lick about me and over the years, I have evolved into not caring about them.

I may see them at funerals, but that is about it.

Don't get me wrong - I do family trees and I can tell you all of my blood relations for generations and generations.  But that is genealogy, not my family.

I have about a dozen blood relatives (including distant cousins) who are my family.

Who would do anything for me and I would do anything for them.

Then, I have my other family.  I have people who were brought into my life and we chose to be connected, to be family, to be there for each other.  Some I call "family" and some I call "friends", but I guarantee if I called them or they called me - we would be there.

Everyone else can keep that definition above, if they want.

I don't.

My definition (yes, it needs work - but is closer to my reality than that one above):

fam·i·ly

[ˈfam(ə)lē]

NOUN

families (plural noun)

1. a group who loves, cares, supports and assists each other throughout their lives
2. a group of people can be related to one another by blood, adoption, marriage or simply by circumstance 
• Titles of parent, children, siblings, cousins, etc. may be used

Namaste.

Great Finds!

I admit that I am big into diversity and equality of opportunity for all.
It is my job and it is my passion.

So, when I saw a few things with the "Women Owned" logo, I wanted to give them a shot.
If they were good in cost and quality, then I would stick with them.
If they didn't, then I would move on...
But, I wanted to give them the opportunity.

Up first:
MBB tells everyone that I moved him to "the artic"...
And I guess that he is somewhat right as I have been buying base layers (aka long underwear) and blankets like crazy to get through this winter.

Roaming the aisles at Wally-world found: The Blanket

The results?

I bought a second one (MBB and I kept fighting over the first one).

The cost was reasonable (under $20) and they are very warm and cuddly!

I haven't wash it yet - so I'm not sure how they will fare through the washer and dryer, but so far, so good.

The second:

A find on Amazon:

The results?
Jambalaya Girl's Gumbo is absolutely yummy!  We have made it about once a week (it comes in a pack of five).
It is supper easy to make and doesn't completely kill my calorie counting.

There is also a Jambalaya mix, but we are staying true to the Gumbo...


So, here are two women owned business products that were successes for us.
If you have any diverse company successes, please let me know so that I can try them too!

Namaste.

#FridayFinds (Not Really) - Ciao!

We tried a new Italian place - Ciao! 

(the exclamation point is part of their name - not because I was excited about it)

Honestly, the best part of the meal was the appetizer dip (I don't remember the name, but I did get a picture of it).

 I also enjoyed my salad...

The rest of the meal was pretty bland - especially for the price.
So bland, that I deleted the pictures (I usually take pictures of things that we want to remember).
I may try to figure out how to buy the appetizers to go to bring home, but other than that - if we want Italian food, I'd rather pay less down the road at Olive Garden.

Namaste.

Feels Like Home

Our house would not be our home if we didn't change it in some way.
Michigan is no different...
Granted, we deliberately didn't buy a "fixer-upper", but we had to do something!

We did have the entire place painted before we moved in...
And we painted the two brick walls (not sure what the purpose of them is - no chimney/fireplace)...
And we had to bring the railing up to code so that the grandbabies didn't fall...
But, I don't really call that remodeling.

So, we tore out a wall (it was the only way to get the pool table into the room!)...
Replace the shower hardware (yes, we put in the same shower panel that we had down south)...
And move some things around in the half bath so that MBB would stop hitting his knees and head (the holes in the bottom of the wall was were the toilet paper used to be and the towel bar is now next to the sink where it should be)...

I don't know how much more we will do - if anything else.
But at least we fixed the things that were bothering us the most.

Now, I just need to get the drywall patches painted!

Namaste.