February Snow

"Every gardener knows that under the cloak of winter

lies a miracle ... a seed waiting to sprout, a bulb

opening to the light, a bud straining to unfurl.

And the anticipation nurtures our dream." ~Barbara Winkler

"Nature has undoubtedly mastered the art of

winter gardening and even the most experienced

gardener can learn from the unrestrained beauty around them." ~Vincent A. Simeone

It Is Almost Oscar Time!

Ah...Bliss...

...the snow is falling and now and then I hear icy pellets hitting the windowpanes. It is bitter cold tonight so what to do, what to do. Aha! Make a mug of hot tea, curl up on the sofa and look through a little of the sweet, warm breeze the mail carrier left me today! Inside was this recipe for Sweet William cupcakes. Now. Have you ever seen anything so dear and Spring-like?

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25-ounce) white cake mix
• 1 1/3 cups milk
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons clear almond extract
• 1/4 cup minced Sweet William flower petals (washed and patted dry)
• 1 recipe Italian-Meringue Buttercream Frosting
• 1 recipe Pink Sugar
• Candied Sweet Williams

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350º.
2. Line 24 muffin cups with foil liners; set pans aside.
3. In large mixing bowl, combine cake mix, milk, oil, eggs and almond extract.
4. Using electric mixer on low speed, mix for 30 seconds, scraping down sides with rubber spatula. Increase mixer speed to medium and beat 2 minutes, scraping down sides again if needed.
5. Fold in flower petals.
6. Spoon batter into muffin cups, filling about two-thirds full and bake 17 to 20 minutes or until golden. Remove from pans and cool on wire rack.
7. To decorate, cut off brown sides of each cupcake with round cutter slightly smaller than cake, exposing flower-filled cake. Top with Italian-Meringue Buttercream Frosting, sprinkle of Pink Sugar, and Candied Sweet Williams.

Frosting recipe:

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup egg whites (from approximately 4 large eggs)
• 1 cup butter
• 1/4 cup shortening
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. In medium saucepan, heat sugar and water until sugar dissolves and mixture boils. Boil until candy thermometer registers 243º.
2. In small mixing bowl, using electric mixer, beat egg whites to form soft peaks. With mixer running, very slowly beat in hot syrup. Continue beating until meringue is completely cool and forms soft peaks.
3. In separate bowl, cream butter, shortening, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until soft and light; add meringue slowly to butter mixture, blending well.

Pink Sugar Recipe:

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 6 to 8 drops red food coloring

Directions

1. In small mixing bowl, mix sugar and food coloring; stir briskly with a fork until well blended.

Candied Sweet Williams:

Ingredients

• 1 large egg white
• 1 teaspoon water
• 1 cup granulated sugar

Directions

1. Wash flowers carefully and let dry.
2. Line cookie sheet with waxed paper.
3. In small bowl, beat egg white and water until well blended.
4. Dip small pastry brush into egg mixture and spread over petals, covering completely. Sprinkle flower with sugar, shaking off excess.
5. Place on cookie sheet to dry.

A Quack Quack Here And A Quack Quack There...

Here a quack, there a quack, everywhere a quack quack...oh yeah. Dumb idea. I saw this little pond, frozen over it was...and there, asleep on the ice, were dozens of Mallard ducks. Such a pretty, colorful sight. It was then that I decided it would be a good idea to stop and snap a few pictures of the dozing feathered beauties. Uh huh. Good idea? Dumb idea. First the sentry, Gary, came to call...sensing no real danger from this odd, chubby lady, he called to his partner... ...Dolores and she in turn invited her sister and brother in law, brother and sister in law and their children...their next door neighbors, her cousins and his Uncle Earl. Then Uncle Earl brought his poker buddies and the guys from his lodge... ...who brought their wives and grandkids and their 4th cousins once removed. And what did the odd, chubby lady do? She rummaged through the car and found 10 packets of duck chow that her daughter had insisted they purchase for just such an occasion. And joy rang out amongst the ducks. The odd lady sighed and narrowly escaped with her shoestrings intact.

What's For Dinner?

How about a little traditional Irish fare...let's try...

Creamy Colcannon

Loaded with hearty cabbage, potatoes and leeks, this satisfying side dish is traditional St. Patrick's Day fare. If you like, you can substitute dark greens such as kale for the cabbage.

Ingredients

• 1 pound cabbage
• 1 pound potatoes
• 2 leeks
• 1 cup milk
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 pinch ground mace
• 1/2 cup butter

Cooking Instructions

1. In a large saucepan, boil cabbage until tender; remove and chop or blend well. Set aside and keep warm. Boil potatoes until tender. Remove from heat and drain.
2. Chop leeks, green parts as well as white, and simmer them in just enough milk to cover, until they are soft.
3. Season and mash potatoes well. Stir in cooked leeks and milk, salt a pepper to taste, and mace. Blend in the kale or cabbage and heat until the whole is a pale green fluff. Make a well in the center a nd pour in the melted butter. Mix well.

How about a quick Irish Stew? A twist on the traditional stew with lamb...

This dish, full of tender chicken, potatoes, carrots, onion, mushrooms, mixed veggies and plenty of herbs and spices, makes a hearty home style stew in no time.

Ingredients

• 4 cups cooked, cubed chicken breast meat
• 2/3 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
• 1 cup chopped onion, sauteed in butter
• 1-1/2 cups chopped carrots
• 6 cups chicken stock
• 1 teaspoon dried sage
• 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
• 3 cups cooked, diced red potatoes
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1/8 cup all-purpose flour

Cooking Instructions

1. Combine chicken, mushrooms, onion, carrots and stock in a large saucepan over medium heat. Simmer until carrots are tender, about 10 minutes.
2. Stir in sage, basil, garlic salt, parsley, mixed vegetables, potatoes and celery and cook until heated through. Stir in flour to thicken sauce, then serve.

Ah...Romance

"I love that you get cold when it's seventy degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you're looking at me like I'm nuts. I love that after I spend a day with you I can still smell your perfume on my clothes, and I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night."

-When Harry Met Sally

Romantic comedy films are movies with light-hearted, sweetly humorous tales, perhaps tinged with a wee bit of drama. They are stories in which true love is able to surmount almost any obstacle thrown at the two lead character's as they travail down the path to couple-hood and happily ever after. Will they *meet cute*? Please. Will there be chaos? Probably. Will there be well written, witty dialogue? I sure hope so. Will there be a happy ending? Most assuredly. I don't know about you but I like a happy ending. I like cute, I like sweet, I like sappy. I like love. I don't watch Doris Day/Rock Hudson films hoping to see a tragic ending.

Modern classics like Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail, The Goodbye Girl, Notting Hill, Serendipity, Something's Gotta Give, Music and Lyrics, While You Were Sleeping, Tootsie, Pretty Woman, Moonstruck & The Holiday all follow this blissful, albeit, tricky road to love.

One bonus of a good romantic comedy is that they usually take place in fun & sophisticated cities like New York, San Fransisco, London or Chicago.

The movies become a mini travelogue if you will...great cities, so beautifully filmed. There are usually great sets, lovely homes and apartments filled with an eclectic mix of furniture, collections and art. A glossy, chock full of ideas, decorating book come to life. Oh and the music...the soundtracks are as beloved as the films themselves.

The set of Something's Gotta Give

But what about the classic films of yesteryear? Bringing Up Baby, Charade, Funny Face, Roman Holiday, Pillow Talk, It Happened One Night, Adam's Rib, Sabrina, Barefoot In The Park and The Philadelphia Story. All still delight our sense of true love prevails. Just look at the new film 27 Dresses to see how this genre continues and is still well loved. Will it become a classic like When Harry Met Sally? Maybe not but sometimes I just need a little *cute*. We all need a little *cute*. And a very happy ending. ***The following videos may take a moment to load but they are well worth waiting for...

One Of The Best Endings Ever...

You Have To Cry...

...I always do.

A Classic Romance

Another best of the best...

While You Were Sleeping

Another Favorite...

My Favorite Romantic Comedy

What A Girl Needs...

...what a girl wants. Accessories. To accessorize. To punch up an outfit using lots of colorful beads and baubles and hair thingees and scarves and shoes and purses. Maybe this is not how Mr. Webster would define it but it is definitely how our Gracie does. So, what does a diva do when she wins a gift certificate from a custom sewn purse boutique? Ah...um...scream? Oh, that too. Then pester Mom until we git 'er done. So, today we got 'er done. Grace had today off so a Grandma, Mom and daughter shopping extravaganza was long overdo. The scene of pure delight. A clothing boutique downstairs, a designer purse boutique up. Heaven must surely be like this... Now, you have to love any shop that decorates like this right? Okay, I'm climbing...don't push...I've been sick ya know... And then...we reached it...Grace gasped. I panted...hey. That was one long gosh durned flight of steps ya know and I have been sick! Ahem... There we were. Inside Jenna Claire. And it was glorious! You start by choosing the basic style you want...and there were many from which to choose. Then it is off to choose your fabrics and ribbon and, well, you get the picture. Grace was in LALA land the entire time we were there. We were assisted by the delightful Debby and she could not have been sweeter or more help. Grace adored her and looks forward to returning to see Debby again! How can you not love a shop that offers you chocolate covered strawberries? Grace and Debby choose the goodies... Grace showing off one of her choices. Debby introduced Grace to Mary in the workroom and they showed her around much to a certain *almost 10 year old's* delight! Everyone could not have been nicer. It was a fun and memorable experience. Grace is still in serious LALA land over it all and Mom, well, I had a blast watching my girl. Thank you to everyone at Jenna Claire... the shop is amazing!

Which Jane Austin Heroine Are You?

Take the Quiz here!

Big Blueberry Eyes

Sweet Michelle at Big Blueberry Eyes is my One World, One Heart giveaway winner! I used one of those spiffy random number generator thingees (How cool are those for a giveaway!) and up popped Number 10...Michelle's comment number! Michelle? Just email me with your address ( I also left you a comment on YOUR blog!) and I will see that your package is whisked away to you! I think a little something can be added to the box as a surprise for your precious Kayla too...hmm... Thank you SO much to all of you who participated in OWOH and to all who left a comment here. I have never seen this much blog traffic! It was amazing! Thank you also to our beloved Lisa for pulling together this entire event! It was a great success! I hope you all had a very sweet Valentine's Day, one that helped to put a smile on your faces. I felt like a human being for the first time in 7 days and had so much to do to pull a little holiday festivity out of my hat. So, in short, I am exhausted! Happy but tired. I will get back to a regular visiting schedule and blogging routine beginning this weekend. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of you for your words and thoughts and even prayers. I hate being sick but hated being away from all of you even more. I wish you all love, happiness, joy of spirit and lightness of heart. Happy Valentine's Day to all of my beloved blog friends....

Much love and Many hugs, Susie Q

Westminster

My Mom is sic so I m ritin er blog. I have jus 3 words for u. Westminster Dog Show Yup. It is on TV an my pirints ar wachin. Again. Oh they git all mushi an ooh an ahh. Uck. Now, is it jus me or is mi, Kipper, waaaay cutr thin they all is? Aferall, I is the onli Kiphound in the wurld. An I m rilly coot. Rilly. An humbel. Now, shud I be Bist In Sho, or shud sum ov thim othr dogs? Sum is coot, sum loks lik a mop. I m jus sain. Oh hir we go. I gus I bitr go wach. Byeee. Luv, Kip

Just me again...

Funky Winkerbean (c) I have been hearing from so many of you and I am beginning to think that Memorial Day might not work for the majority of my blog friends. What do some of you think about the Fall...late Summer...any ideas? I just so want to do this and be able to spend some wonderful time with all of you. I am all about ideas...and what is best for you all. Let's just keep this in our heads...and we can pass ideas around. What do you all think? Let's try hard to make this a reality in 2008...pretty please? Love and Hugs, Susie Q

Giveaways And Snow And Hellos And Thank Yous And Blogging Weekends....

This has been my entire diet for days now!

And yes! This will be a rambling and scattered post! You figured out that from the headline right? You are all keen minds today! Hi to all my sweet friends and thank you for your prayers and dear wishes. I still feel awful so will not be on here much...I am a MAJOR big baby when it comes to stomach issues. YUCK! Thank you to Billy for being so good and yes. He has been really an angel to me of late. Not that he isn't MOST of the time...well...mostly anyway...well, there are SOME days ya know...ahem. I miss you all and miss blogging and my house is a mess and I have not held up my responsibility with my Church board duties (the minutes were due Sunday and I have yet to type them...I couldn't, I swear...and I worry about being a let down. See what a foo foo head I am?). You should hear the dreams I have been having...I doubt I could even begin to write down all the details suffice to say they are wild and weird and, hm. Maybe I should not really tell anyone this. Scratch that. My dreams have all been perfectly normal. Uh huh. N.O.R.M.A.L. But what IS normal anyway? Uh oh. I can now hear Mama Gump clearly in my head...is THAT normal? Please remember that you do NOT have to be a One Heart One World giveaway participant to enter the giveaway! I know there are a few of you, some I know very well, who have yet to enter mine. Now, perhaps you are thinking you have enough *stuff* or that Valentine's Day will be over when you get these things. There is always next year you silly head! And can we ever really have enough useless stuff? Nah...so add a comment, something like, "Okay Sue, Get off my back. I entered already!" and you just might win my superdeduper, um, snazzy, exciting...okay. Pretty mundane, bordering on not much, giveaway! Yippee! And it snowed last night, about 5 inches. Not enough to keep Bill home but Grace is here and happy as can be. She is making Valentine's Day gifts and writing her class party cards. Dan is here typing up his term paper too and the pets are all under various blankets and throws. Now, no one has mentioned it in awhile and it will be Memorial Day before we know it. It WILL! Do any of you still want to try for a Memorial Day Bloggy Babe Weekend? Was St. Louis still an option that would work for the most people? Center of the country an all... I would be happy to arrange a block of rooms in a hotel if I had a general idea how many would come. Keep in mind that a room can always be canceled later, but to get a block arranged, I have to give them a general #. And then you all would have to call in and make your reservations. Any ideas or input is VERY welcome and ever so wanted. I am easy as can be, I just so want to be able to see as many of you as possible! Let me know okay? You can email me or leave a message via comment here...let's DO this thing!! I wanted to post something we saw last week during Grace's teacher meetings. I had not seen this one and loved it...it seemed appropriate for a Wintry day like today. Thank you again for being so sweet (Not that this was a surprise to me!) Stay well and smile, a lot okay?

Love to you all. Susie Q

Just A Note From Bill

Hi all. Just me, Bill the husband, here to say howdy and to let you know that my girl is under the weather. She had not been feeling great for a week but kept going, all the time telling me she was fine. *Somehow I think she fibbed!* Friday evening it all hit her hard. This stomach virus has been brutal around here and it finally got to Susie. She had already written up the 50 question list and giveaway post so I got those online for her. She has been trying to work her way around blog land but it has been hard for her to do too much. I know how much she misses visiting you all and seeing what her friends have been up to. She will catch up when she has the chance. If you think about it, please say a little prayer that she kicks this quickly. Valentine's Day has always been important to her and I would hate for her to miss the day. Thank you for always being so good to my girl... Cheers! Bill

Happy Birthday To Sheila!

Sheila ....what can I say about our sweet Canadian friend Sheila? Her blessing of a daughter, Gillian, wrote the most wonderful tribute to her today. Stop by and read it and then send Sheila a little howdoyoudo on her special day. I am so sorry to be a day late with this wish but I promise I kept it nice and warm...Sheila? You have been an inspiration to me, a great support and a good friend. You have a sweet and gentle spirit and a lyrical way with words. May this year be a blessed one for you and your family. Happy, happy birthday!

Love and Hugs, Susie Q Don't forget my giveaway in the post below! Cake Photo: Violets Are Blue

A One World-One Heart Giveaway And A List!

Okay, no fair skimming through the list to get to the giveaway prize. Hmpf....A HA! I caught you, you naughty blogger...I am so keeping an eye on all of you... I found this list on our Valerie's blog and pilfered it. Well, I asked her if I could take it, she said yes indeedy so I guess it really was NOT pilfered but I just wanted to say that word. Pilfered. There. I said it again. Doesn't it sound like something you would do while making bread? "Now then, take the dough and *pilfer* it for 5 minutes until it is mixed well." What? Get back to the list? Oh, you just want it over so you can get to the giveaway part huh? You all know I love a good list...heck. I love a bad list too. Okay...let's play 50 questions.

1. If your doctor told you TODAY that you were pregnant, what would you say? Doc honey? What do you guys put in your drinks around here? Have you lost your mind? I am 51, menopausal and do not take shocks well...then I would tell Bill that Brian's shirt on ebay makes a lovely maternity top. 2. Do you trust all of your friends? Yes, thank fully I do. I trust everyone...it is just me. I probably put too much trust in some folks but there you have it. Or am I just gullible. Wait! Don't answer that. I trust my friends, my mail carrier, my dog, the neighbors, the guy that broils chicken at our favorite Mom and Pop restaurant and that lady I see walking her dog in the park...the one over there by the swings...uh huh. Her. I trust all of them. These folks who keep emailing me about funds in bank accounts in Kenya and me winning the Irish sweepstakes? Not so much. 3. Would you move to another state or country to be with the one you love? Are you serious? I DID! I moved to Florida 3 times, California twice, Texas, Virginia, Illinois, upstate New York... 4. Do you believe that everything happens for a reason? I try...I really do. I so want to. But it is so hard...it is something I pray about. Really I do. So much seems pointless but perhaps someday we will all understand. But me losing that shirt on ebay..is there really a reason for THAT?? 5. Can you make a dollar in change right now? Not another MATH question!!! Um...okay. I have a quarter and I have a dime...if I add another quarter and, wait. That isn't right... 6. Which one of your friends do you think would make the best doctor? Hmm...they all have the smarts but wait. Are we talking brain surgery here or a PHD?? You see, you did not specify. Doctor of what is the operative question. What word goes in front of doctor...philosophy? Heart? Witch? Ah, now witch doctor I get... 7. Are you afraid of falling in love? Nah...I do it all the time. It's easy. Like falling off a log. As easy as A, B, C...1, 2, 3 and as easy as breathing, unless you have asthma. Like me. 8. Have you been overseas? Uh huh and I was even under a sea once. The waves knocked me down. It was not pretty. But I have also been to England, Holland, Germany and China. I had to fly over a sea to get to each one of them. Or an ocean. I was also over a lake or three. I am over weight too but we will not talk about that last one. 9. Is there someone who pops into your mind at random times? Yes. His name is Brian. Oh. Anyone else? Um...not counting my kids, nephew, Mom, husband and friends? And just how does one *POP*? I so want to pop into someone's mind. It sounds like fun. 10. What’s your most favorite scar? Well, this sounds positively creepy but don't get me wrong. I can do creepy. I can. Really. I have a thin, one inch long scar on the base of my chin. I tried to fly down the neighbor's basement steps when I was 5. You know what? 5 years olds can not fly. Unless they are birds. Or flies but flies do not live to be 5. Unless they are Jeff Goldblum. Would someone please help him?? What? I am rambling aren't I? Anyway, that scar kept me out of the Miss America pageant. Terrible isn't it? At least, this is what I tell myself. 11. When was the last time you flew in a plane? We flew to NYC last April. The flight was awful. They ran out of Diet Coke in food service. It was totally UN-American. However, NYC was amazing and totally American. 12. What did the last text message you sent say? Text what?? I am 51, slow witted and do not see small letters up close. Would you like to ask me another question? 13. What features do you find most attractive in the preferred sex? Eyes...first and foremost. Hands, strong hands. Great wit, a strong sense of self, intelligence and that they tolerate me. That last one is always a real turn on. 14. Fill in the blank. I love ________.… Paris in the Springtime. I love Paris in the Fall. I love Paris in the Winter, when it drizzles, I love Paris in the Summer, when it sizzles. And I love pasta. I really, really love pasta. And the color blue. And puppies...and kittens...and... 15. What is a goal you would like to accomplish in the near future? You mean like a Bucket List? Oh wow. It has changed so much over the years. I was able to check some of them off...and have removed some and added others. I doubt I will become the toast of Broadway. Or master Physics. Or win an Oscar. But who knows. They are always looking for character actresses and I am a huge character. I still want to see Paris, in the Summer when it sizzles...or in the Fall. Cooler then. I want to go to Italy. I really want to visit the koalas in Australia. I want to be in Punxsutawney, PA for Groundhog's Day. DO. NOT. LAUGH. This was on my list long before the film. I want to finish putting my laundry away. That is one goal I might actually have a shot at. Or not. 16. If you were to wake up from being in a coma for an extended time who would you call? Pizza Hut. I would be awfully hungry. 17. How many kids do you want to have? You mean in addition to the two I have? Are you crazy? Ah ha! You are in cahoots with that doctor from question one aren't you? Oh...maybe you were referring to goats. I love baby goats. 2 please. 18. Would you make a good parent? Probably am not but I try awfully hard! Do I get points for that? 19. Where was your favorite picture taken? I have taken approximately 2987 billion pictures in my life and you want me to choose one? I will pick 3 because I never follow rules. The picture of Danny with us greeting him in Philadelphia...he had just walked off the plane from Korea. The picture of Grace in China when she first broke into a real smile... Our wedding picture, taken in Dayton, Ohio...the one we did not know was being taken. Dang I look young. Oh. I WAS young. 20. What’s your middle name? Ellen...oh yeah. Like in "Hey there Sue Ellen...how is old JR?" 21. Honestly, what’s on your mind right now? I am only on question 21? Sheesh! 22. If you could go back in time and change something, what would it be? The idea I had that hot pants and go go boots on me would be a good idea. 23. Who was or will be the maid of honor/ best man in your wedding? My buddy *T*, then, as punishment, she had me be her Matron of Honor the next year. Neither of us still has the dress. Or could fit into it if we did. 24. What are you wearing right now? A lovely Lily Pulitzer print dress, coordinating heels with the cutest bow and a string of pearls. You can trust me. Really. I swear. 25. Righty or Lefty? While doing what?? Do you have to be so vague?? 26. Best place to eat? Where there is food. This is difficult? 27. Favorite jeans? Any pair I can fit in to. See? I am so easy. 28. Favorite Animal? Kipper thinks it is a dog. Lucy and Henry think it is a cat. Ah, the three of them know me so well. 29. Favorite juice? Grape or Cranberry and always mixed with a little Diet Ginger Ale or 7 UP. 30. Have you had the chicken pox? I did and then, 3 years ago, I had the shingles because of those pesky chicken pox. The shingles hurt like heck and were the worst thing I have ever experienced. Why oh why did those nasty chickens give me a pox? Oh, wait. I changed my mind about question 28. The answer is a chicken!! I LOVE chickens. Really...I DO!! I LOVE them. 31. Have you had a sore throat? Once again, I AM old. I have had just about everything. Sore throats, hang nails, split ends... 32. Ever had a bar fight? ....but NO Bar fights! What do I look like anyway? Clint Eastwood in Any Which Way But Loose? Oh. The Orangetan? Clint will be happy to hear that. 33. Who knows you the best? My Mom, my girl friends and, on a good day, my husband. But he still does not get why I wanted a $300 dollar shirt. 34. Shoe size? 9 1/2 and yes, my feet are large and not dainty. There is nothing dainty about me...wait. Nope, not that either. 35. Do you wear contact lenses or glasses? I wear tri focals. Yes...I AM Old. Reeeeally old. 36. Ever been in a fight with your pet? Yes, Kipper and I fight over chicken legs and bed covers and Bill's lap all the time. IT gets ugly. REALLY ugly. 37. Been to Mexico? Yup...several times. Why do you ask? Is there a warrant out for me or something? 38. Did you buy something today? A small Diet Coke at a McDonald's drive thru. They don't call me Big Spender for nuthin'. 39. Did you get sick today? Uh huh..I have a touch of what my nephew, sis in law had and what my brother now has. I am fighting it off with all I have. Maybe I should call in Clint Eastwood and that orangetan. 40. Are you angry with anyone today? Are you just trying to stir up trouble? Anger and bar fights...what is your problem? 41. Did you get in a fight with someone today? I Think YOU need an attitude re-adjustment buddy. Take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Let all that anger and resentment go...see? Feel better? 42. When is the last time you had a massage? Like I have ever had one? Are you offering? Yippee! 43. Last person to lie in your bed? Me...I told Bill I felt great when I actually felt really nauseous. It was only a little white lie...really! Okay. I am so sorry and yes. I DID know what you really meant. 44. Last person to see you cry? Bill. And no, it was not his fault. And NO. It was not about the $300 shirt. Or waaaassss it? Hmmmm.... 45. Who made you cry? That little boy on that commercial...you know...the really cute kid that says the sweet things... 46. What was the last TV show you watched? A re-run of Law and Order SVU. And no, it was NOT the one Brian starred in this year. Gee whiz. 47. What are your plans for the weekend? To get over this stomach thing and be a volunteer at the base Valentine Party for families of deployed service members. 48. Who do you think will repost this? I doubt if anyone has actually read it enough to want to re-post it. You all went straight to the giveaway section didn't you? I KNEW it! 49. Who was the last person you hung out with? My nephew and I hung out while I drove him from school to his baby sitters. We laughed, we sang...okay, he put his hands over his ears while *I* sang... 50. If your significant other asked you to marry them TODAY, what would you say? Today? Let me think...hm..aw..okay. I'd give the guy a break and say yes. He is kinda cute after all. Now, about the gift from groom to bride...there is this shirt I want. It is ONLY $300. Bill? Bill? BILL?? Ta dah...you have finally reached the giveaway portion of our post. You peeked didn't you? Aw, come one...who would read all that list drivel when a gift is up for grabs! Just click on this link and you will be able to visit other wonderful people who are also participating: ~One World-One Heart~ Thanks to dear Lisa Oceandreamer for once again creating this amazing giveaway event. I will let Lisa's own words explain: "I created this event in 2007. The original idea behind this giveaway event was to bring bloggers together from around the world who may never ordinarily meet. It closes the gap of the blog community and enables us to interact, discover new and wonderful people, and in the process possibly win a prize or many prizes along the way. Last years event had roughly 85-90 participants and many connections were made because of it......friendships that are still going strong a year later. We had a strong showing the first year for sure, and now this year(2008) we have just about tripled. This is more than wanting to win something.......that is only the means.......in the end it's about finding kindred spirits. Someone may be fairly new to blogging, not sure how to navigate, find others and have others find them....Some are long time bloggers and in some cases well known in the art community. Whatever the case it brings all of them together. This is an INTERNATIONAL event that has and had participants from the US, Canada, France, Sweden, Germany, Finland, Malaysia, Brazil, The Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, Ireland, England,Wales and more. It transcends geographical location, socio economics, political affiliation, religious beliefs......it's a coming together like the giant community we are on this planet. If only it took a simple giveaway to create PEACE everywhere, in the mean time here we give from our hearts. What more could I ask for, my little idea has surpassed my wildest dreams of what it could become. " Amazing right? Well, I just had to do something and a great artist I am not. But hey. A great shopper I CAN be. So I picked up a few Valentine items, one of them a Bethany Lowe heart, and a box of chocolates that will be winging their way to the winner on February 16th. What do you have to do? Oh but it is so easy! Just leave a comment on this post...tell me how positively inane my list was or how absolutely ridiculous it is to crave a $300 shirt that was once worn by some dashing character actor. See? Easy peazy. And if you are REALLY lucky, the package just might contain some other surprises as well...I can almost guarantee a little cat and dog hair in it. Now I KNOW you want to win! I will choose a winner on Valentine's Day, February 14th, 2008. So, leave a comment, say howdedoo and good luck! Love and Hugs, Susie Q

It's Good To Be Me?

...hmmm...yes. I still have to do my "Why It's Good To Be Me" tag. Sweet Sandi will expect it and I know I have missed doing others about which I feel so ashamed. So, that said, let me try this.... I KNOW I am lucky in so many ways. I KNOW I have wonderful things in my life. I did so want to do this list differently, and yes, knowing me, you would expect something rawther silly as well. The differently part escaped me but it is hard for me to turn off the silly meter for too long. Now, the picture alone is silly enough right? Why it is good to be me. Hmmm....okay. I am overweight, 51, be-speckled, have 2 flaky hands and 2 very bad knees due to injuries in my 40s. And these are good? Well, I can walk and, on a very good day, I can even dance. You should see me. Or not. I can chase my dog when I need to. Like today. These legs ache all too often and their beauty is definitely not insured for $1,000,000,000, or $1.98 even, but they work. Most of the time. My arms are on the old flabby side but they can give a hug, lug laundry downstairs, carry groceries into the house and flip a mattress. I am a champion mattress flipper baby. These hands are starting to show their age but they can still offer a mean foot rub, pet the cats, write a letter, make a sandwich, create a drawing or scrapbook page, plant Spring flowers and braid my daughter's hair, albeit, not well. Ask her. Oh will she tell you. The be-speckled eyes have never seen distances well and are now finding it harder to see up close but heck. They can still gaze upon my loved one's faces, revel in a beautiful sunset, delight in seeing Brian Dennehy in a few stage productions and read a spellbinding novel. Yep, I am overweight but, if I can put the best spin on it, it means I have never wanted for food and am able to delight in many delicious dining out experiences. Leave it to silly old me to try and make something good out of being tubby! It is good to be me because I have never fully left my childhood behind. Huh? You see, I may be 51 chronologically but, in my heart and spirit, I am 8. 6 on a bad day. I still believe in Santa Claus, fairies, angels, good triumphing over evil, Disney movies and tea parties. I still have that bit of childhood whimsy that loves teddy bears, blowing fluffy milkweed seeds into the wind, naming every living creature that I see (Just query old Clancy the Spider who currently resides just below one of our garage lanterns) and thinks that cartoons are sometimes the best thing on television. I doubt that any childhood is ever *perfect* but I sure had a great one. I had parents that loved me, kept me safe and gave me everything they could. I took a few vacations every year, some that included Disneyland and Disney World, New York City & many of our country's large cities and every National Park in the USA. I spent Summers on the family farm in Tennessee playing with my cousins and knew every single family in our Ohio neighborhood. I rode my bicycle till dark, caught lightening bugs and fed every mosquito within a 40 mile radius. I had very doting Grandparents, pets, a sweet bedroom filled with things I loved and joy filled holidays to remember. I went to the same school from Kindergarten through 8th grade and am still close to many of the kids with whom I shared those years. In fact, several of them are my life long bosom buddies, the ones I know would offer up a kidney if I needed it. I was 10 when my brother was born and I was tickled to death by his arrival. He sometimes drove me crazy, still does, but I adore him. Heck, I drive him crazy too, right Jim? We have have yelled and fumed and fussed. But I would do ANYTHING for him and I know he is there for me. I am not at all delusional. Well, about this subject at least. We will not talk about those OTHER subjects about which I *AM* delusional...ahem. The *picture perfect childhood* it was not. President Kennedy was shot and killed, as was Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy. My Dad was injured in the line of duty as a fire fighter. Both of my Grandfathers passed away during my later childhood years. I suffered from the same childish angst that most kids do. My parents were not perfect. They argued and lost their patience with us occasionally. Not that I did not deserve that don'tcha know. But the bottom line is this: they loved each other and loved their children. I had everything I needed and most of what I wanted. In other words, I was a happy kid. A Captain Kangaroo watching, Bobby Sherman loving, Barbie Dream House playing, Pixy Sticks and wax lips eating, white cotton KEDs wearing, Mickey Mouse Club watching happy kid. I never intended to marry at 21. I planned to graduate from college, spend the Summer in England and then find a job in New York City. Well, what is it they say about God and life and plans? I also never thought I would fall so deeply in love with a long haired Anthropology major in torn blue jeans. But fall I did. It is good to be me because, after almost 30 years together, I still keep falling. I never did work in NYC or spend a whole Summer in England but I have been to both places and it was better because I was with HIM. I have lived all over the US, loved the military, hated the military & moved 10 more times after it quit being exciting. I have cried myself to sleep after he deployed for months on end, after a major argument and with joy when he returned from the Gulf War. There were days I thought I hated him, days I loved him so much I ached. Our life together has been filled with the wonderful, the horrible and the crazy. In other words, it has been quite normal! Over all, it has been a sweet life, a happy marriage and a true friendship. I would not trade any of the good, or the bad, or even the crazy for 100 Summers in England or that perfect job in New York City... It is good to be me because I have two wonderful children. Nope, we did not have biological kids but I would not love my *family through adoption* any more if they had been. I can not swap tales of labor and delivery and the precious new born baby snuggled in my arms but I do have sweet stories about how our children came into our lives. I have no doubt that these 2 human beings were supposed to be MY children. And they ARE my children in every sense of the word.

They can be silly, obstinate, loud, messy, self absorbed, giving, cute, fun, annoying and doting. In short, they are just like any child born into a family. They just arrived via airplane rather than on the back of a stork....and I have!

It is also good to be me because I have been blessed time and time again by my treasured blogging friends. Just today I received a precious award from Penny, one of the loveliest ladies in the world, which humbled me. All of you mean so very much to me and you have given me far more joy and love than I deserve. With you I have laughed and cried, from you I have found inspiration and enlightenment. God Bless You All.

And it is good to be YOU because this list has finally come to an end! Yippee! Love and Hugs, Susie Q