Saturday, November 27, 2010

Itchin' to get my hands on somethin'

I think I might have a problem.

We've been out of town for three days and I am itchin' to get my hands on a project! I am daydreaming about spray paint for one of our bedroom lamps and turning the white tablecloth that we use for a tree skirt into an actual tree skirt - maybe one that we can add to every year - by adding some trim and buttons and a few pieces of felt.

When did this happen?

We hope everyone had a very happy and cozy Happy Thanksgiving!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Last day!

Today is the LAST DAY to get $35 off the registration fee for the 2011 Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure.  To get the discount enter the code CURE2011 during the registration process.

When you register, you can join our DFW team, the Bold Soles.  We'd love for you to walk with us!

Monday, November 22, 2010

Top secret sharing

I am working on a fun project that I want to share but it's for Christmas presents so I can't -

because I have an inflated sense of self-importance and I assume that anyone who might be receiving a gift from me will read this this post. 

On the other hand, if you do not receive a handmade gift from yours truly, please do not be sad.

Since I made a "trial and error" project for myself before I started on the gift, I can share this one little detail.  I'm really proud of it so thank you for indulging me.


And Buddy has a favorite spot for colder weather.  In the summer he was underdog, in the fall he is camo-dog.  Can you find the Buddy in the picture?

MP3 savings at Amazon!

Amazon has a bunch of downloadable albums on super sale here


And you can enter the code GET3MP3S to get $3.00 in credit toward an MP3 purchase!

So I got the James Taylor Christmas album for $2.  Not bad, huh?

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

You know it's love..

When your husband comes home from a trip to Ace Hardware,
says "I got you a present!"
and presents you with this:

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Our mountain greenery home!

This weekend we took a somewhat impromptu trip to the north Georgia mountains.  I've been bugging S about requesting that we go up to the mountains while there are still pretty fall leaves on the trees and we decided to stay the night and then take all of Saturday to enjoy the area.

Buddy was ready!


While stopping for gas on the way, I couldn't help but marvel at how much more classy a tan & salon shop becomes when you put it next to a convenience store.


The lady at Misty Mountain Inn & Cottages in Blairsville told S we were in the "romantic" cottage.  We forgot that to an older woman in the mountains of Georgia, this means "covered in pink roses."



And, for some reason, elevating the bed to a height that requires a step stool. 


But it was cozy and comfortable and they had cable.  Buddy didn't care about cable, he spent most of the time ready to go.


We veered from our original plan and made a stop at Crane Creek Vineyards in Young Harris.  Excellent choice, if I do say so myself.  We got there in time for a wine tasting and bought two bottles, White Mountain Harvest and a really interesting red called Hellbender



The people were super nice and so were the vineyard dogs.  Buddy made some friends!


Isn't it lovely?






We planned on just hiking so we weren't really dressed in "wine tasting chic" but no one seemed to mind.  They were serving a yummy potato and leek soup with a glass of wine for lunch so we sat on the deck and ate while Buddy socialized.


Then we stupidly relied on our Garmin to get us to Brasstown Bald mountain.  Guess what, Garmin does NOT know how to get to Brasstown Bald Mountain from the middle of nowhere.  When you have left paved roads, are driving down a one-lane gravel road, and then see the "Leaving County Maintained Road", you know you might be going the wrong way.  So, blah, blah, blah, many u-turns and a steep hike later, we ended up at the highest point in Georgia, where it is also lovely (huge surprise).




And then we drove home.  Ta-da!

Friday, November 12, 2010

What's been on my mind

B is very good about sharing what's on her mind. She has an idea and then launches into a new and witty post. Somehow she always seems to find a picture that captures, illustrates, or personalizes her posts, too. She posts about her craft projects, decorating, our new niece, and whatever else may be on her mind. Somehow those thoughts bouncing around in her brain make for interesting blog posts.

But when I, S, think about what's on my mind, I inevitably think about grading homework from 2 weeks ago, whether or not I should go out and get some ice cream tonight, and if I do go get ice cream which credit card should I use so that B doesn't see the charge until several days later. What I'm trying to say is: the stuff that's typically on my mind does not provide fodder for public literary consumption.

But I want to write a post tonight because when I read the blog's tagline, I was reminded this is about the married life of Renee B and Mike S, and NOT just a blog about B. And I'm trying to convince myself that I have a meaningful place in this cyberspace.

So what's on my mind? Beer. More specifically, the dogfish head punkin ale. This beer is magnaminous. It's make with pumpkin, brown sugar, and all spice. At 7%, it's a relatively high gravity beer. But so Delicious!!! The only downside to this beer is that it goes on sale at the beginning of September and this year was totally sold out in our area by mid-October. I was only able to buy 1 four pack before they were all gone.

So what does good homebrewer do when his favorite season is sold out? He makes his own! My brewing buddy and I found what's called a "clone" recipe online (a recipe that produces a facsimile or close approximation of the original beer).

The beer will be ready by Thanksgiving (I think) so I'm thinking about packing some and taking it to Chicago. I've searched online for advice on how to pack beer in your checked baggage and I've heard conflicting reports.

.... so that's what's been on my mind ... and now I have to go to work... I'm running late in the morning as always...

-Mike

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

The new arrival

We have a niece!  She was born early Monday morning.  Now S and I are an aunt and an uncle.  We're still deciding who will be which, though I am trying to clinch "aunt" seeing as how you rarely hear the phrase "my creepy aunt."  Not that S (or I) would ever be a creepy uncle, it just seems that aunt is a safer title.

I didn't ask if I could post a picture but I'm sure it would be okay because her cuteness just deserves broadcasting.


Right?

Monday, November 1, 2010

It was the best of blogs...

What are your favorite blogs?
Which ones do you check everyday?
Which ones inform you, make you laugh, or give you a reason to live?

Please share.  And feel free to promote yourself. :-)
I get like 9 hits a day - this could be your big opportunity!

In addition to my real-life friends, I regularly check up on these folks:

I dream of mirrors

Not an existential statement, just a decorating wish.  I have a thing for giant mirrors leaning against the wall.

(source)


(source)

 (source)

Oh man, doesn't that just make you swoon?

Do you have a decorating concept that gets you weak in the knees?