Popcorn and a Magazine

When I was a much younger Mom in Florida, my treat for myself was to have a big ole bowl of cheese popcorn, read a magazine, and maybe watch ER.
I remember my little girls (who are big now) would hear/smell the popcorn, and know my plan.
Next thing I know Kaitlin would be by my side, and Erin would figure out how to dive head first out of her crib bounce off a stuffed animal safely, and join us--

For starters here is my recipe for cheese popcorn:

Pop popcorn--it's better if popped in an old pan, but I have been known to use micro popcorn in my advanced age.

In the mean time, start shredding some cheddar cheese--we are partial to Kraft Extra Sharp Cheddar--but do what you want.

The kicker is our spice of choice--you can find it at most grocery stores--but nothing else will really do: http://www.cajunspice.com/index.cfm

Once popcorn is complete--grab a big bowl, and start layering--first some popcorn, then some cheese, then more popcorn, then more cheese--etc.

When all is complete--sprinkle with the spice--grab a dish towel, sneeze, try not to spill too much on the couch, and enjoy.

Which brings me to magazines--I love magazines, when it is all said and done--I subscribe to about 10--I read them with popcorn, save them, clip from them, reread them--and it saddens me four of my favorites, in the last month or so have gone under. I know everything is going web-based, but there is nothing like a bowl of popcorn--a magazine, a favorite TV show, and your kids--with you on the couch.
This mag will probably hang in there--and I have subscribed to it on and off over the years:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ux3-aand

Spring is in the air....

And that means a few things to me--buy some seeds and a new razor!


Below are pics of the beginnings of my veggie/herb garden--much to your delight, I will take pics every few days/weeks to show you the progress. We live in a much smaller home now, but we have a much bigger deck (please no cheap jokes)--so container gardeners we are going to be:

as always--sing or hum, and don't look at the hair: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_exY9ptMbA

ps: you can use egg cartons for this--but we just can't choke down enough eggs--so I bought this at Walmart for $4---64 little starters, including organic soil--and once they start you just cut them apart and put them right in the ground--or containers in our case. Here is another good place to start:

http://www.valueseeds.com/index.html?er=google;term=cheap+seeds&gclid=CM-m5JGrvJkCFRabnAodlk5uuw

ps: I also have a lamp on the young seedlings, and for the record it is warmer in Moline than Raleigh today--:)

a bill that you don't mind getting

yesterday was my moms birthday--and I try to post something for everyone---on their birthday--but I forgot someone--he was born on January 5th, 1936--good luck finding a better dad than him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aryGG1XnyxY&feature=related
his name is bill, lots of people call him "billy" if they are lucky, and know him well.
I on the other hand, am lucky to call him, my dad.

put the head phones on for this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-xzfwDAn1I

Before and after

allrighty...I have this table--it's in my kitchen, it is at least 90 years old, but maybe older--it belonged to my Grandpa, he kept it in the basement to toss tools on, until I rescued it a few years ago---

so here we go: my table:

and then the before and after I saw today:

I'm not sure what to say about the "after", but we are shy to paint ancient wood with lime green paint---but yet I like it for maybe a more inexpensive table--or one that isn't an heirloom.
before and after thanks to design sponge: http://www.designspongeonline.com/

and this to listen to, these guys that have a major table: and a dancing teapot!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov4tE7XRTUA

Happy Birthday Eve, Mom!

Everyone has one --a Mom--and some of us are more lucky than others in that department. Sometimes we just don't realize it.

My mom loves kids, animals, sports, cooking, gardening, playing bridge, anything electronic--and a guy named Billy.

My Mom doesn't like: having her picture taken, black olives, and sometimes, a guy named Billy (but they have gotten over it for 50+ years)

So, in celebration of my Mom's birthday--here is a picture of me, my Mom, my Mom's Mom--and my Mom's Mom's Mom--this picture has always been sitting close by, where ever I have lived.

ps: the fat kid in the tin bucket to the right--that is my husband (just last week), and i like how he is looking at these women thinking..."holy tin bucket, how will I ever survive".

He did. So did Billy.

Happy Birthday Mom,

love, Katherine Elizabeth (#3)

and Mom, I'm guessing this is your favorite song--but if not "the" favorite--it's up there: ps: hate to double dip on Andy (blog entry wise)--but he sings it so well.

to hum along to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flm4xcOyiCo

Why no Rye??

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all, especially my daughters with their Gaelic names, Kaitlin, Erin, and Quin--and a birthday wish to my friends Kara B. and John M.

Ok, went to the store to get the only kind of rye bread I know...Beefsteak Rye, http://www.beefsteakbreads.com/ to go with our corned beef ruebens tonight.

Alas, they don't sell it here--at least not at the local Kroger's--I had to settle for Arnold's Rye Bread...which, when I really think about it, is just about as silly a name as Beefsteak. Ok, I'm over the bread.

Something to hum to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujr8dQJgQUU

ps: as a young girl, I sent away for this guys autograph--and he sent it to me--on an 8 1/2 by 11 glossy---

Joe Marie George

If you know us, you know that we got a golden retriever mix in April of 98. Everyone said it was a bad idea, except for me, Mike, Kaitlin, Erin and Chewy. (god bless chewy:)

Then we found out that we were going to have our third child--later that year--most everyone thought it was also a bad idea...except for me, Mike, Kaitlin, Erin, Chewy and Joe. (and Quin)

This dog, is a good dog--and he could tell alot of stories..if given the chance....but he doesn't talk much, he just sits by us (especially me) and quietly protects. New dog in the hood, Joe needs to check it out...new mailman, same thing--UPS guy...your are toast.

Tomorrow, instead of Oscar going to school--it is going to be Joe--wish me luck!

and as always..you know the drill: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMPNoD52bsg
(be sure to hang in there for "Uncle Joe"--he's a moving kinda slow... at the junction)

Sweet tea and pi....

As everyone is well aware, today is pi day--you know the thing about the circumference of the thing that equals 3.14--plus a whole lot of numbers behind the decimal. Should you want to send a pi greeting, this looks as good as anywhere:
http://www.123greetings.com/events/pi_day/

Should you want to purchase a pi tee shirt--and I am the owner of one--simply go here:
http://www.mentalfloss.com/store/product.php?productid=16235&cat=254&page=1

Which leads naturally into to the theme of sweet tea. Just this week I went to a chicken place and got the "family tailgate for 4"...and we will be eating it for the rest of the week--there was so much food. And drink. It came with a 1/2 gallon jug of "sweet tea" as they call it in the south. It might just as well be called liquid sugar cane in a 1/2 gallon jug.
Where I come from, my Mom made "sun tea", and you drank it, if you needed it, you added sugar--or--lemon--and if you were lucky (or unlucky as we turned into teenagers) you didn't take a swig of "Mom's special tea" that was in the fridge.
For the life of me, I cannot figure out how these people drink this stuff, and still move at the pace that they do. The sugar they put in is enough to make a preschool self implode--yet they swagger along, trying not to hustle whatsoever, not even with their speech. Did you know that Quin is a three syllable word down here?
What I have learned is this--don't go kidding the South about their sweet tea, just drink it--don't ask for "up north" tea...and make your own kind of tea at home, for two.
something to hum along to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJQBVRnbFCQ

March Madness part 2

While everyone was watching the big game last night--yep, the one that lasted about as long as the"Today Show"--me and Mike were watching "ER" and then turned out the lights.

It was a great show (ER), but we had some questions right out of the gate:

a: why has not transport of organs upgraded from a Coleman cooler??

b: I am an person who has donated my organs--my beloved brother in law, Tim, signed for me as it had to be a relative, but not a member of your household. (Thanks TG! :) Mike forgot about this, and I'm sure that Tim did too.

c: Mike wondered why they would want our organs anyway, I said "for educational/study reasons"--his back alone, would be a study in itself.

d: Mike concluded that the only thing they could do with his bag of bones is to take his one really long toe (you know the one that is a sign of royalty, and is excellent at digging up sand dollars) and make an actual finger for a person. (bonus: he has two of these toes)

what better to hum to than organ music:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G-Tqy9rr44

New Neighbors

there have been crews of workers at the house next door--and they have been working, and working and working.
Quin always goes out to talk to them--and today they seemed to be smiling...alot more than usual...and looking towards our kitchen where I was keeping the ever watchful eye...but they kept smiling.
I thought geez--I am the hot chick in the neighborhood--as a girl would think--but no--Quin had told them all--that I tripped up the slide--(when I was seven!!) and required a few stitches to my tongue--Grandpa Bill, you are not off the hook either, because she told them that you fainted..which is fact.
In the spirit of neighbors..just the Jim variety...something to hum along to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5KeGccP9Jk

ps: don't forget to salute to Sgnt. Carter!

March Madness!

As many of you are well aware, I was captain of my basketball team. (and if you were not aware, please, become so very aware of this fact:) My days of hoops are now down to watching Quinny play, which I love.


But every once in a while I "shoot and score" in another way---like scoring this bucket chair in perfect condition for $20. (pay no attention to the blinds all messed up by our dogs in the background)

Sometimes you shoot and score at a game you never thought you would play--

http://www.youtube.com/adidasoriginals2009?v=ylF9ySdw2aU&feature=pyv

ps: the chair is on wheels

Give me a "M"!

Quinny has had her first two softball practices here lately. The team and all of the parents at first blush seem just great.

After the first practice, she had "team homework"--they were to come up with a team name--after many seasons of being the "Land O Frost Sliced Meat" team--this was something we were up for.

(the idea Quin came up with over the weekend was "The Speedo's", and I kinda like it!--speedeo fast softball girls)

So...after practice on Tuesday--the coach gathered the girls around and asked for their suggestions--and Quin waved her hand wildly to announce the super fantabulous name that she thought of. "The Speedos"..it was met with a weak response, to say the least.

Then here come "the hurricanes", "the mudcats", the blah blah that is in Raleigh--as other very nice girls chimed in.

All of a sudden my little girl--you know, the new one on the block--who has never met any of these people before--nor had I--raised her hand again--

And said, "How about the Maroon's"?

If my sister was there, I'm sure she would have spelled out "Moline" across the field in acrobatics at that very moment--I on the other hand took the easy (over forty route) and gave her a wink and a thumbs up!!

Sadly, everyone else at the field looked blankly at her, as if they had no earthy idea what she was talking about--and I'm pretty sure we are going to be the "Wildcats", which is fine.

The funny part is, they have been looking blankly at Quin during these two practices--and asking me, where did she play softball before? They are not sure if she should pitch, catch, umpire, or chalk the field.

I said, "we are from Moline, IL originally--and we are Maroons".

Oscar M. George

We (me, grandma and Quin all chipped in and) bought this dog as a companion, a friend, a buddy--for Quin when we made the big move to Raleigh. He has been everything we thought he would be--until today--when he graduated to SUPER OSCAR!!

today, at Quin's school--there was a boy sitting out on the sidelines of fun...I asked him some questions--and bottom line he got into trouble today, has homework, and had a good lunch.

His teachers agreed that he got into trouble.

When I explained to him that our dog (the dog that Quinny insists I bring to schoool at pick up time) had also gotten in trouble--because, he barfed in my car, once again..blah blah, he seemed engaged (the boy)--he started to pet our dog...and then, finally, I asked the kid--so what is your name...guess what, I'll be damned--and I cannot make this up.....

His name is Oscar...the boy.

I let Oscar the boy, and Oscar the dog take a trot into the third grade classroom...and Oscar the boy was all of a sudden a "big dog", and explained everything to his class--and I cannot stop thinking about the moment--someone please remind me when Oscar (the dog) pee's on something, but for now--and the rest of the weekend, Oscar (the dog) is getting treats, walks, baths, and the sheer joy of sleeping upstairs with us tonight....he has earned it.

sigh...

and something to hum along to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNddW2xmZp8

Sisters

At the George house we know all about them....there are plenty of giggle girls.



My girls are lucky, they both have two (math problem there) --not me, but maybe it's better that way.



I've got one, and her name is Kris (at least I think her name is Kris)...small family joke going on here.



Anyway, I could go on, and on about how she makes me laugh like no other...how she knows me like no one else, and how she loves this song
the reason for the post:
my christmas gift from my sister could not have been better, a slice of the Wharton Field House for me. Ha! I carry it around, the Flea Market,Target, etc. And plan to take it to all the home games of Mike's baseball team!!

dance or hum to Kris' favorite song with me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K740wD2LZ5Y

Hats and me....

have never gotten along--they always seem to fall off, or goof up my already goofed up hair.

But, since Mike has a ragtop--and we like to go for drives with the top down, like old people--I've been in the market for one.

something to hum along to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7Wfw7nk3Rs

I give you the top three pics--the first one I will have to check out of the Smithsonian--they do accept a Wake County Library Card--right... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psp06SBFIzQ


The second is a straw hat that I bought at a tag sale last weekend, and so far, I have only been brave enough to hang it on my front door--it sports a chin strap, which is a nice feature.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGGcBR_MBvM

And this one, landed in my mailbox yesterday as a gift from my mother in law--(thanks Rose).

Please feel free to vote---it you are bored silly! :)

ps: happy square root day!!

Coach George

I'm talking about the old one, not the old one's Dad.

Today was supposed to be the first game for the high school team that Mike coaches--it you can see, in the picture--their name is "Green Hope" but actually their colors are maroon and white.

I find that very nice, for some reason.

But instead of the big opening game...we have had our third (yes third) snow day of the year here in Wake County--so below is what Coach George found himself doing today:

Don't get me wrong, they did pitch snowballs, but I don't think that is what mg had in mind for today.

as always...something to hum along to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNwigoEfDjo

ps: I was captain of my basketball team

the fins went south

Our two beautiful bug eyed fish...um, that we bought yesterday at 5, bit the dust....or gulped the water, however you like to break the news.
The good news is, at Petco--you take the remains (or "cremains:" as my mom likes to call them), and a sample of water to see where you went wrong.
The bad news is--
aa: I don't like to retrieve dead fish from a bowl.
a: I don't like to drive a car with dead fish in it
b: I did it tho
c: bottom line, it was a bad batch of bug eyed fish--we were standing in line behind others in the same sorry state.
d: my mom could have made a fine soup out of them.
e: they recommended coming back when the new fish shipment comes in on Tuesday.
On the up shot, we took Oscar with us--because Petco is pet friendly--and being as friendly as anyone in Raleigh, he "took a whiz" on something--but--no one seemed to mind--and they have something similar to a salad bar for dogs there--big bowls of yummy liver treats, etc.
We stuffed a few treats in our pockets, paid for our new "beta" fish, smiled sweetly, and left the building--back into the pouring rain that we have had for the last 48 hours.
Something to hum along to, as always--
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=rainy+days+and+mondays&aq=1&oq=rainy

ps: don't read too much into the first song choice, I'm fine--I just couldn't think of any other rainy day songs. Me and my big girls generally love this rain, it makes for good sleeping weather--but seriously, after 2 days you are thinking more in terms of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJZnIHwzvzM