For your Friday...

So not last Friday since it was the day after Thanksgiving when all y'all brave and completely insane courageous warriors headed out to battle the shopping fields, but each of the two Fridays prior I constructed a little post of interesting things I'd found in and around the internets throughout the week because I'm a giver and a pass it on-er like that.  But there seemed to be some sort of confusion by a few about the fact that there were many clickable links throughout the posts which, without them, kind of made it seem as though I was hitting the bottle when I wrote them.  

I was not.  And if you do not see any red letters that take you to other (and much more exciting) places around cyberspace in this post today, please make an appointment to have your eyes checked because you may be color blind. Okay, that was a joke.  But do inform Houston (that would be me), either in the comments section (or on facebook if you arrived here via the fb train), that we (me again) have a problem so somebody (still just me) can stress out over it find a solution at once. 

Now kindly fasten your seat belts and prepare for takeoff...

*If you are a southern woman, live with a southern woman, or just know a few southern women, then you know that there is no denying the truth behind these words written by Allison Glock... It also means never leaving the house with wet hair... It shows you don’t care, and not caring is not something Southern women do, at least when it comes to our hair.  You can read the rest of what she had to say on redefining the Southern Belle by clicking here. Go ahead, I'll wait.  


*I made these Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie Bars for Thanksgiving and they were so out of this world delicious that I sent all that were left with the boys to take on their hunting trip Thursday evening because I just didn't trust myself to be in the same house with them.  They were that good.  

*This iPod Gramophone at Pottery Barn has to be the most attractive docking station speaker in existence. I've been drooling over it ever since I stumbled across it while trying to do some Christmas shopping.  Is it just me?

*Check out this quality-of-life index on the best country to be born in the year 2013.  According to this it's not the land of the free and the home of the brave, which did not even make the top fifteen.


*Who knew you could buy a cutting board in the shape of your state? Well you can...from this etsy shop.

*These holiday colors gift guides at Fossil will suck you right in. You can shop gold, red or green.  So hard to choose a favorite but here's a little look at the gold. I'll take one of everything.  Dreaming is still free, right?

 *I love this quote by Mark Twain who was born on this day in 1835... 

*Anyone and everyone who is on facebook (which is pretty much all of us, right?) needs to read THIS list of 10 Ways to Avoid Facebook Drama at Relevant Magazine. Seriously, this should be required reading! 


* I  recently received a catalog from a place called Soft Surroundings that I did not immediately chunk into the recycling bin because "soft surroundings" sounded like my kind of happy.  They have some really interesting stuff, everything from home decor to clothing and jewelry.  This bracelet is just one of the many things that caught my eye there. 

*The look on this dog's face in this Ultimate Dog Shaming Video is priceless.  And also one I see on a daily basis around here. 




Happy Friday! 

Wiener Wednesday...Gifts for the Dachshund Lover

I think I said once, a few months back, that I was going to dedicate my Wednesday posts to all things Dachshund. Remember me saying that?  Well, I dropped the wiener ball on that one it seems but today I'm picking it back up and will hopefully manage to keep it in the air for awhile.  

Today, since there are only something like 27 shopping days until Christmas, I thought I'd construct a list of things any Dachshund freak like me would love to receive as a gift...

The Dachshund Walking Stick Umbrella
I can't think of anything else I'd rather have keeping me dry while walking in the rain.  And best of all, it is for sale in the Doxie Store at DRNA (Dachshund Rescue of North America), the organization that brought me and the Darlings together, so the proceeds will help other little Dachsies like them find their forever homes.  

Hand-Hammered Iron Dachshund Dog Foot Stool
Is this not the cutest little whimsical thing?  I found it at Plow and Hearth a few months ago and would love to give it a home between our two Adirondack chairs.

Sweet Dachshund Dishtowel
I am convinced that this dishtowel from Anthropologie was made for me.  I mean, look at that, if even says "Darling Dachshunds" right there on the front.  

Blue Paisley Long Haired Dachshund Bag
This etsy seller offers several different Dachsie bags and I am in love with every single one of them.  OscarsCreations speaketh my love language. 

Wiener Catch-All Dish
I love Urban Outfitters for this.

  

Dachshund Dessert Trays
These can also be found at the DRNA Doxie Store.  They make me want to throw a party.

Dachshund Print Cosmetic Case
Also at DRNA. Love it.

Dachshund Cuff Bracelet
Another little treasure find from etsy...  

Longhaired Dachshund Weathervane 
This makes me smile.

Dachshund in Paris Art Print
Let's see...A Dachshund and Paris? At the same time?  Yes, please!

Dachshund iPhone Case
A little French wiener case?  Oui! (Get your mind out of the gutter, Beavis.)

Happy Tails,

32 Things...

1. Did you know that they do not make real snakeskin boots for kids? 

2. I checked.  They make "snake print" boots for kids but not the real thing and it is apparently my fault since Dracen got mad at me when I informed him of this yesterday afternoon.  

3. Now he doesn't want them at all.  

4. I told him I have a pair and I don't think he believed me until I broke them out of their dust covered box in my closet. 

5.  He then wanted to know why I have them and I told him the story of how, when I was 21 years old, I wanted them just about more than anything in the world and got them for Christmas that year.  

6. As it turned out, I didn't really want them as bad as I thought I did since I wore them precisely two times.  

7. They had a church price tag of $20 with Darin's name on it and I was puzzled at first but then I remembered we'd donated them to the church yard sale years ago but I guess nobody was in the market for a pair of barely worn women's size 8 snakeskin boots at the rock bottom price of twenty dollars that year so they gave them back.

8. Maybe I'll wear them around the retirement home with my red hat when I'm 95.  

9. Do you have your Christmas decorations up yet?

10. We're still looking at pumpkins and scarecrows over here because the boys went on a hunting trip with their popaw, uncle and cousin over the weekend and Dracen turns into an angry little elf if we put the tree up without him.  

11. I made that mistake once a couple of years ago.

12. I'm afraid the elves are going to stage an outbreak if I don't let them out soon.

13. Have you ever had the dishwasher loaded and realized you were out of Cascade or whatever kind of dishwasher detergent you use?  

14. Happened to me last night and unloading that thing and washing all those dishes by hand was just not an acceptable solution for me.  

15. After a quick Google search, I discovered that you can use a couple (I used three) drops of dish soap and a handful of baking soda.  

16. I started it before I went to bed and had sparkly clean dishes this morning.  

17. Also, I've been using paper towels in place of coffee filters for the past five days which also works like a charm.

18.  I may never go to the store again.  

19. Or at least until I run out of paper towels, baking soda and Dawn.

20. Who knew that there is a magazine all about the "soul of the south" called Garden and Gun? 

21.  How appropriate, right?

22. Somehow I did not until I came across their website yesterday. 

23. I was tempted to subscribe to the magazine but opted for the email updates instead.

24. I didn't think it wise to invite another magazine into my house since I cleaned like a fool over the weekend and currently have something like five hundred thousand magazines in the garage waiting to be recycled.

25.  I'm debating on whether or not to put them all at the road at one time or spread them out over a few weeks.

26.  I guess I should spread them out or risk getting on the recycle guy's bad side.

27.  He doesn't seem all that friendly to begin with and I'm afraid he may "accidentally" take out my mailbox or something if I spring all that mess on him at one time.

28. Did you know that married socks live longer than single socks?

29.  It's true.  Because in addition to tackling the magazine issue over the weekend, I also staged a sock intervention by washing every dirty sock I could find, dumping out the singles basket for one last shot at a mate, and kicking any leftover singles to the curb.

30. I'm hoping this will encourage the remaining socks in my house to stay faithful.  

31. Did you hear the good news that Twinkies may not be left to die after all?  

32.  Hail to the Twinkie!

Wikipedia

Is this a Christmas list or an illegal weapons list?

I can't remember exactly what was on my Christmas wish list the year I turned nine years old but I'm guessing it was something like a new pair of roller skates,  maybe some Jordache jeans, whatever doll was popular in 1980 and maybe one of those amazing little Rubik's Cube things everyone was talking about that year.  One thing I am certain about, however, is that there was absolutely nothing on my list that could have been considered inappropriate, unattainable or dangerous.  I guess I was what you'd call a realist.  Even way back then.  

My nine year old boy child? Is not.

He has made three wish lists this year, the first one as soon as he took off his Morphsuit on Halloween.  It got misplaced so he made another one but I came across it over the weekend so now I have both of them, plus one that was supposed to be a revised list.

This is list number one...

You can't see all of number six in the photo but that last part says "exploding bullets".  I don't even want to know what those are used for.  

After he lost that list he set out to make another one, after I had encouraged him to be realistic and tone it down a bit.  

This is what he came up with...

In case you can't make it out...

1. Single Shot 22 rifle
2. Custom balanced throwing axe 
3. Full sized throwing knives
4. Shinwa Samiri Sword sharp on each side
5. 30 F.P.s. 14 inch dart gun not blow dart 
6. rattlesnake boots

My reply went something like this...

"Umm...Hmm......Nuh uh... Whut tha?...I don't even know what this is!  Or THIS! ... Not!...Definitely NOT!....Oh HECK NO!!  Child, have you lost your mind?  Because THIS list will NOT be happening! Not this year or any other year.  If I ordered this stuff, which I most definitely am not, I would be placed on the terrorist watch list!  And  Santa Claus would be handcuffed and locked away for all eternity for delivering it to you! You need to make another list or you will just get what you get this year."  

So last night he sat down and came up with yet a third list...

When I questioned him about number 4, Zipline, he explained to me that we could have it in the backyard, coming off from the top of the roof.  Oh, of course.  What was I thinking?

As you can see, there are still weapons on the list but it appears as though he now can't decide whether he wants to go to war or open a concession stand.  Or maybe he's planning to serve refreshments at his knife throwing act.  That could explain why he wants the rattlesnake boots (part of his costume)...

Source

I think I'll just get him a Rubik's Cube.  

A Poem of Thanks

I am thankful for all the tears my eyes have shed for they show I have compassion

I am thankful for my scars as they simply remind me I've lived

I am thankful for the ability to laugh at myself because it reminds me how much I've grown

I am thankful for the fine lines beginning to form on my face for they represent experience and wisdom gained

I am thankful for having known great sorrow for it only made my faith grow stronger

I am thankful for an imperfect, mended soul for it represents my courage to love 

I am thankful for all the times I've tried and failed as they have taught me resilience 

I am thankful for my fears, insecurities and worries for they remind me to turn to God

I am thankful for a grateful heart, the one that reminds me to turn to that same God each and every day and to finish each prayer with this...

Thank you so very much 

for all that I have...
for all that you have given me

 and for all that I am..

 Amen.

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. ~Thornton Wilder

Wishing you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving,

Gone Dog

Last Thursday evening Dracen went over to Momaw Pat's after school and she brought him home a little after five.  She came in and we were standing in the living room conversing when I realized Charlie was trying desperately to get our attention...

"The door is open.  Where is Brisco?  Has anybody seen Brisco?  The door is OPEN!"  

I stopped in mid-sentence and began the frantic search for Brisco Darling.  If you've been reading this blog for very long then you know that he is a bolter.  Why?  Only God knows.  But we have all each chased his wiener tail over the water and through the woods on at least one occasion.  

It has been quite a long while since he pulled a fast one on us and I was really hopeful that he'd wised up about the whole bolting thing. I mean let's be honest, that pampered wiener is not exactly what you'd call street smart.  Once I realized he was indeed not in the house and began reaching for a jacket and some shoes, I noticed that Lucky the Lemon Beagle was also missing. 

And that's when I really panicked because if he was in the lead, they could have been halfway to Timbuktu already.  

We all set out searching the neighborhood which is pretty secluded, very wooded and about to be very dark.  Soon.  I was getting nowhere so came back to the house, hopped in my car and made my way out of the neighborhood to drive the roads, thinking maybe they'd gone through the woods behind the house and come out on the other side.  

No such luck.  I was sick with worry when I came back in the neighborhood that was just about all the way dark by this point.  I turned at the loop (our neighborhood is one long winding road but has a little loop in it).  We are right in the middle so it's about the same distance either way.   I turned left there and slowed because I thought I saw something and sure enough, it was Brisco Darling wandering around with that pitiful Are you my mother? look on his face and going in the wrong direction.   

That wiener was LOST.

I scooped him up into the car, squeezed him silly, exhaled, and headed back to the house hoping Lucky had shown back up...  

He had not.  

Dracen was frantic and the tears were just about to start.  I thought maybe Lucky had gone back to wherever he had come from before he showed up here shot and that we were in for a long, rough night.  

Momaw Pat had just gotten in her car to leave when I heard excited voices.  She had seen him lying in the front yard by the bushes, exhausted and Dracen, all of 60 pounds, had scooped up that 30 pound Beagle and carried him into the house with the biggest grin I'd ever seen spread wide across his face.  

Momaw Pat said, "I guess God does answer prayers about animals."  


I never doubted it for a second.  

  

A Cornucopia and a Bad Apple

Friday night my four month old iPhone died. It started acted crazy a few weeks ago...turning off randomly, not allowing me to click on icons...just all kinds of wonky.  I kept telling myself I was going to take it back to AT&T but seems it would straighten up and fly right for awhile each time I was about at my wit's end.  Until Friday night, that is.  

I went to take a photo of my glass of red wine and pack of unopened Peanut M&M's sitting side by side on the coffee table because those are the things Instagram worthiness is made of right there.  And just like that it went black, then gave me this screen...

   
I tried plugging it in and attempting a restore only to have it tell me it timed out after two hours.  Twice.  Mama was not happy.  And you know what that means...

Saturday is my one day to sleep in and make up for the sleep I didn't get through the week so it was early afternoon before I got my act together and headed for town, to the AT&T store.  I walked in the front door, phone in hand, and all but pounced at the man who asked how he could help me..."I've got a PROBLEM", I announced as I pushed my screen of death out toward him. 

He crinkled up his nose a bit, made his mouth all crooked and said, "Hmm...I don't know if I can help you but I'll try."  He took the phone from me, plugged it in and said, "Nope.  It's not doing a thing. You're going to have to call Apple."  I then inquired about the insurance to which he replied, "Oh yes..well, then I can give you a new phone for a hundred and ninety nine dollars then."  

Like that was going to happen. NOT.

He then informed me that I could go to the nearest Apple store which is in a mall in Charlotte and nearly an hour away.  Well, what choice did I have?  So he set me up a 6:30 appointment for the "Genius Bar".  Who knew such a thing even existed?  

I  left there with my appointment card in hand and set out to complete my cornucopia mission I was asked to do for the altar table at church and was now working under pressure since I needed to get that finished before continuing my journey to see the wizard at the genius bar.  

The sanctuary was like a meat locker when I arrived and although I have been going to the same church for eighteen years, it occurred to me that I had no idea where the light switch for the sanctuary  was. How did I not know this?  After about a ten minute search, I finally located the lights but knew that there was no need to bother with the heat because I'd be done before it warmed up anyway.  

I placed my items on the table, didn't like them, moved them, rearranged them, took them all back off, put them back on again and over and over until I finally forced myself to walk away, remembering what it was like to be a florist.  When I start creating something that lots of other people will see, I turn into this whole other perfectionist type A person with OCD issues that is the total opposite of who I normally am.  

Happens every time.

Here's the end result...

All I could think while sitting in church yesterday was, Are those MY fingerprints on that cross and how did I not notice them yesterday?!

I finally returned home from the cornucopia mission Saturday evening and informed Charlie that we had to go to Charlotte to see a genius about a phone. Devin was at a friend's house so it was just the three of us and Dracen immediately wanted to know what was in this for him.  "Food, my child.  We will buy you food."  He was actually pleasant for most of the trip.  Funny how that happens when his brother isn't around.  Works just the same way on Devin.  

The Apple store was a happening place and our genius (can't remember his name because I'm horrible with names) was extremely helpful.  He first restored my phone but as soon as he handed it back to me, the screen went black with the white apple.  He wasted no time taking it back from me and hooking me up with a brand new phone. Free of charge.  

Now that is what I call customer service.  

I wonder if they have a genius bar for middle school math homework? 

Hmm...

For your Friday...

Some news to be sad about...
Did you hear? Hostess is going out of business.   No more Twinkies? No more Ding Dongs? No more Snowballs?  Say it ain't so!  


A drink to enjoy...
I met three of my oldest (not that they are old because that would make me old) friends from high school for a long overdue shopping and lunch visit last Sunday afternoon, and although I had already eaten and I rarely drink cocktails anymore, I tried a Winter White Martini (On Sunday afternoon? I know, so naughty of me) at Bonefish Grill. I highly recommend it.  And...they have the recipe for it right on their website.  How very thoughtful of them.

A sale... 
Pottery Barn Kids is having a 20% off sale right now on several of their quilts.  Both my boys have PB quilts on their beds and they are excellent quality.  I have washed Dracen's several times and it just looks and feels better with each wash.  

An article to read...
From Relevant Magazine: What Makes Jesus Angry?


To keep you stylishly warm...
New Bedford Plaid Coat from Ruche.

Something yummy to bake...
Old fashioned gingerbread. 

A smart manifesto from Jeff Goins...

A brilliant quote by Brian Andreas... 
"Time stands still best in moments that look suspiciously like ordinary life."  So right. And so  true.

For your fancy or to give as a gift...
Vera Bradley Bangles in nine different prints. I like this one best,

To watch (but cover little ears first)...
Americans- A Public Service Film by Kid Rock and Sean Penn. 



Happy weekend,

Five Things That Bring Me Comfort

1. Quilts and Throws 

There is just something about them that never fails to evoke a sense of warmth and comfort in me...The sight of them draped over a chair is enough...the knowing it's there should I need it.  I have a hard time turning down a good deal on yet another fuzzy throw or quilt.  

There is a large thrift/antique mall in my area that I love to frequent.  I have found many an unbelievable deal in that place.  Yesterday as I was in there strolling the aisles for items to use in my Thanksgiving cornucopia display for church I spotted a small quilt for thirteen dollars!  I immediately picked it up, hugged it to my chest and sniffed it.  It smelled clean...fresh.  I actually said to myself aloud, "Thirteen dollars?  They only want thirteen dollars for this?! SOLD!" It is now draped across the loveseat in our living room.  

And several months back I found a full-sized quilt in the same place for the bargain price of twenty dollars.  It lives on the guest bed upstairs...

2. Southern Soul Food 

I grew up on fried chicken and okra, pinto beans, cornbread, sweet tea, chicken and dumplings, and the list goes on...  I am a little more health conscious now but with moderation, I still savor all those fattening, stick to your ribs foods I grew up eating and I always feel at home, no matter where I am, when I eat them.  

Proof that food was one of my first loves lies in this old photo of my little baby self caught in the act of stealing my mother's pork chop right out from under her nose...

3. Books

I just love having them around me.  They have much the same effect on me as the quilts and I always flock to them in antique stores and thrift shops.  Just as I do the quilts, when I'm drawn to an old book, I always pick it up and smell it (call me weird) before checking for an inscription and I can almost never turn one down if it has one...

4. My Front Porch Swing

It has been in my life for eighteen years, moving with me two years ago.  I gave it a paint job and we finally got around to hanging it here back in the spring.  I can't even look at it, much less sit in it, without a flood of memories blanketing my soul.  

5. The Cross

You will find them here and there throughout my home and each one of them, no matter how I came to possess it or how long it has been in my life, brings me the greatest comfort I know. 

The cross is a reminder of how to live, how to be, how to love ...a reminder that our homes here on this earth are so very temporary and that our souls will one day experience a joy and a comfort that we cannot even begin to imagine...And all because He first loved us.

What brings you comfort?