Monday, June 30, 2014

Giving Blood

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TIME:  11:10 AM
PLACE:  Work
SUBJECT:  My left arm

It may help save someone’s life…and I get out of work for an hour.

A  win-win situation!

Sunday, June 29, 2014

A Fungus Amungus

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TIME:  6:51 PM
PLACE:  Backyard
SUBJECT:  Mushroom

That is a very large fungus.

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Big Night Out

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TIME:  8:39 PM
PLACE:  Bullpen Bar & Grill, New Athens, IL
SUBJECT:  Graphic on building

The HH and I attended a birthday party down in New Athens.  It was at the Bullpen Bar & Grill. 

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TIME: 8:22 PM

The HH humored me by posing with the table decorations. 
Thanks hon.

Friday, June 27, 2014

Freshly Picked Raspberries

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TIME:  8:21 AM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT:  Raspberries

The raspberry bush is loaded this year.  I picked a quick handful this morning.

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TIME:  8:48 PM
PLACE: Joey B’s on the Hill, St. Louis, MO
SUBJECT:  Stella and her spaghetti

The girls and I went shopping in St. Louis this evening. 
We then went out for supper.
That’s a whole lot of spaghetti – she didn’t make a dent.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Evening Visitor

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TIME: 8:22 PM
PLACE:  Yard
SUBJECT:  Rabbit

This guy was in the neighbor’s yard.

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Thick As A Brick

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TIME:  6:21 PM
PLACE:  Backyard
SUBJECT:  Chimney Bricks

Yet another household project.
HH took down the remaining chimney.
He almost slid off the roof.
I’d better make sure the insurance is paid up.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Cracked

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TIME:  8:02 PM
PLACE:  Home
SUBJECT:  MonkeyBoy’s cell phone

I received a phone call at work.
Son: ”Mom, I dropped my phone and the screen cracked.”
Me: ”Do you have $200?”
Son: ”No”
Me: ”Does it still work?”
Son: ”Yeah”
Me: ”Well then, I guess you are the proud owner of a cell phone with a cracked screen.”

Monday, June 23, 2014

The Elderberry

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TIME:  6:39 PM
PLACE: High School Walking Trail
SUBJECT: Common Elderberry - Sambucus canadensis

I took the dog for a walk after dinner.
It was overcast and muggy.
Pretty flowers though.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Sunday Funday

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TIME: 12:37 PM
PLACE:  Edison’s Entertainment Complex
SUBJECT:  TANK! TANK! TANK! Results

It was a work family event today – unlimited games, bowling and laser tag!  SD introduced me to “TANK! TANK! TANK!”  We teamed up to battle the Bee-bots and the Octo-roboty thingy.  I think I was a hindrance more than a help – but then, I’m an old woman, so I have a good excuse.

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TIME:  7:07 PM
PLACE:  Shichi Sushi Bar
SUBJECT: Dinner

The boat docked and we demolished it.

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Lights, Camera…I Want!

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TIME:  1:48 PM
PLACE:  Estate Sale
SUBJECT:  Movie Light fixture

I hit the 2nd day of an estate sale (50% off you know).
The home looked like an ordinary 50’s tract house from the outside.
But it was pretty sweet on the inside.
This light fixture was in the dining area (note the exposed beams).
It wasn’t for sale.
Bummer.

Friday, June 20, 2014

Iridescent Coils

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TIME:  7:29 PM
PLACE:  Home
SUBJECT: Collated Roofing Nails

We are replacing the roof on the garage.
Ourselves.
In 90 degree heat.
We are gluttons for punishment.
On the other hand…

Who would of thought that the nails we’re using could be so pretty?

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Jello Mold Toadstools

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TIME:  6:30 PM
PLACE: Front porch
SUBJECT:  Toadstools from Jello Molds

Oh Pinterest – you have such cute ideas.

This time?

I actually got off my duff and made what I pinned!

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Parking Lot


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TIME: 7:56 PM
PLACE:  High School
SUBJECT:  Parking Lot

MonkeyBoy had soccer practice from 6 until 8 this evening.
The middle of June has come and gone.
Soon, the year will be halfway over.
That’s not right.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

The Blade

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TIME:  8:53 PM
PLACE:  Home
SUBJECT:  Blade the Gecko

That Blade…he’s pretty cute for a reptile

Monday, June 16, 2014

Evel Knievel She’s Not

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TIME:  10:04 PM
PLACE:  StellaDella’s bedroom
SUBJECT:  Scab

She crashed and burned while riding her bicycle today.
She really needs to slow down on those right turns.

Sunday, June 15, 2014

Quit Teasing Your Sister!

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TIME:  1:14 PM
PLACE:  Westhaven Pool
SUBJECT:  DramaQueen

I had to be stealthy while taking this picture.
I sooo wanted to move the Styrofoam cup. 
But then DramaQueen would have known something was going on.
And I had to see her reaction.
I’m a horrible mother.

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Testing at the DMV

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TIME: 10:16 AM
PLACE:  DMV
SUBJECT:  MonkeyBoy

MB took the written test for his driver’s permit today.

He passed. 

May the Lord have mercy on our souls.

Friday, June 13, 2014

Star Shadow

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TIME:  7:07 PM
PLACE: Hicks Bar-B-Que Company
SUBJECT: Metal star and its shadow

Seen while waiting in line at the drive-thru for my Bar-B-Que Chicken Nachos and HandsomeHusband’s brisket.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Magic Beans

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TIME: 6:24 AM
PLACE:  Work
SUBJECT:  Coffee Beans

These are very important this early in the morning.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Fifteen

IMG_2050Year 2014

24713_1310623538389_3758222_nYear 2006

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SUBJECT:  MonkeyBoy

My favorite son is 15 this year. 
He is taller than I am.
He continues to eat me out of house and home.
He’s lucky he’s so damn handsome.

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Why You REALLY Need to Wash Your Lettuce

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TIME:  5:34PM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT:  Unwanted dinner guest in DramaQueen’s salad

The HandsomeHusband picked fresh greens from our garden for dinner tonight.

It looks like quality control was severely lacking in his lettuce cleaning department this evening.

It also looks like Caesar dressing and roly-poly bugs are a bad combo.

Monday, June 9, 2014

Puzzled

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TIME:  8:44PM
PLACE: Dining room
SUBJECT:  Puzzle

StellaDella and I began putting this puzzle together about 2 weeks ago.

We are soooo close to being finished.

The moon section has many, many similar pieces.

It’s taking longer than I thought.
 
Stupid puzzle.

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Sweet, Serious and Silly

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TIME:  5:34PM
PLACE:  My brother’s
SUBJECT:  The Cousins

We had a rare occasion this weekend.  The entire clan of 1st cousins were in the same place at the same time.  And, as always, it was commemorated with a “Stair Picture”…

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20140608 IMG_2027…and giant Jenga.

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…and a rousing game of Pit.

Saturday, June 7, 2014

A Calf and Some Gas

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TIME: 11:58 AM
SUBJECT:  Meatball, a 6-week old calf

Our local historical society had a street fair and historic district house tour today.  My dad, sister-in-law and I met up to take the tour.
Meatball, aka "Belle" is an 8-week-old, black angus calf.  Her role at the street fair was to walk down a street which was once known as "Cow Street,"  In our town’s early days, this was how people used to take their cows to pasture.  She performed at 10:35am, 12:00pm and 2:00pm.

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TIME:  10:38 AM
PLACE:  Downtown
SUBJECT:  Gas Meters

While waiting for my dad and sister-in-law to arrive, I took this photo of gas meters for my husband (he works in the gas department of the local utility company).
That’s the kind of thoughtful wife I am. Winking smile

Friday, June 6, 2014

How I Personalize a Tote

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TIME:  5:39 PM
PLACE:  Westhaven Pool
SUBJECT:  Pool tote

Because it’s not “Your Crap” or “Their Crap.” 
It’s “Our Crap” – keep your hands off!

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Not The Masters

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TIME:  8:56 PM
PLACE:  Centerfield Park
SUBJECT:  Grandpa – putting

DramaQueen was at work, MonkeyBoy at a friends and StellaDella was itching to do something.  We called Grandpa on the way to the mini-golf course to see if he was up for a friendly challenge.

I made a hole-in-one on the first hole…woot-woot!  Unfortunately for me, that was my peak and it was all downhill from there.

He ended up winning…that’s the last time I invite him along.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

The Long Arm of The Mannequin

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TIME:  9:44 PM
PLACE:  Sports Authority
SUBJECT:  Mannequin

When you are told by your son at 8:50pm that his soccer shoes don’t fit (and the first summer soccer practice is at 9:00am the next morning), you rejoice when you find out that Sports Authority is open until 10:00pm. 

You also take photos of the deformed mannequins while you are there.

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Triplets

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TIME:  12:55 PM
PLACE:  Effinger’s Garden Center
SUBJECT:  Baby robins

A robin built a nest smack dab in the middle of the annuals of our local garden center.

I was dive-bombed by Mama Robin while taking this photo.

Monday, June 2, 2014

Quick…Lock the Door!

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TIME: 8:02 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT: Door and DramaQueen

I have been slowly removing, stripping, staining and reinstalling the woodwork in the kitchen.  The back door with its transom window are the latest sections I’ve completed. 

see, this is how far it’s come…
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Originally how it looked (I can’t believe I’m posting this)
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Slightly better with a coat of white paint (in 2008)

It’s a process.