For Friday...Watermelon...And Creative Etsy Lovers!

 (Cape Cod Style Wooden Playhouse for Rabbits by Habifab)

      Hello Friday lovers! :-) I did a lot of talking around here yesterday...all southern girl and everything! :-)) ...but I'll spare you a lot of yapping today. Besides, it's 'Virtual Friday Date Day' and I have packing to do! ^_^

      So today I just wanted to share a couple of really cute 'finds' from my favorite handmade shopping place...Etsy!...starting with the wooden bunny playhouse in the header photo!! :-) Isn't that adorable?!!...

 (by Habifab)

       I know a few 'NON-bunny rabbits' that wouldn't mind living in a house as cute as that! ^_^

      And if you have a cute non-bunny rabbit house, wouldn't you love something as cute as this sitting on your kitchen mantle...or wherever?!...

 (Ceramic Pears by orlydesign)

      I think they'd make great office paper weights too!...that's just me talking. :-)

      Now, it's gonna be no surprise to anyone that reads this blog 'on a regular' that I love this case!!...

 (Wooden iPhone Case by WoWood)

      It has a beautiful flower design on it!! :-) And the fact that I don't really know what an iphone is...or what I would do with it if I had one...is no reason for me not to love it!! ^_^ But just imagine how much someone 'in the know' will love it!! :-)

      Last, but not least, watermelon candles!!!...

(Hand Painted Watermelon Candle by LessCandles)

      Ingenious!! :-) ... Why wouldn't you want your house to smell like watermelon...or look like it smells like watermelon!! :-] ... I admit it. This caught my eye because I spent part of my day yesterday eating 'real' watermelon!! YUM! It was so cold and good!!

      Hubby brought it home because he was tired of me talking about how much I wanted some! :-)) He's very observant, that one! :-) ... He told me he was in the store staring at the watermelon stems to see if they were old enough, and thumping...and thumping...and thumping!! LOL He didn't know exactly what he was suppose to be hearing, but he remembered that I used to do that! LOL

      It sometimes makes me sad to know that my hubby has to take up the slack because of my physical disabilities. But I'm so thankful to Jehovah God for him!! Another type of man would be whining and complaining. Well...he whines and complains sometimes!! LOL But he's still here! As loving and attentive as ever too! ^_^ I'm gonna be very nice to him for our date tonight!! ♥

      Have a good rest of the day and weekend, Everybody!! :-] Kiss someone you love...just because! ♥

Going Out With My Baby

Going out with my baby.
Or going nowhere, but it's alright.
Playing games and constant laughing.
I think it's gonna be a great 'Date Night'!

Going out with my baby.
Or staying in, and hugging tight.
Eating all the things we shouldn't.
But smiling through every single bite!

Going out with my baby.
And visiting 'virtually' every sight.
All dressed up or in our jammies,
We're having fun. You know that's right!!

'Virtual Date Day'...In High Speed!

 (8x10 Speeding Through The Forest Photograph by WendellFranksFineArt)

      Zoom!!!...That's how fast we're gonna get to the Caribbean tonight!...the Dominican Republic to be exact!! ^_^ We're in need of sun...sandy beaches...good music...and good food! Ahhhhhhh! :-) And now that our 'mode of transportation' is moving much faster...*my friend installed some more memory to my computer for me this morning....double!*...we're gonna get there 'lickity-split'! ^_^

      So, while we're digging out our water flippers and snorkel gear, let me give you something to look at...quick!! ^_^ ...

      Do you know what you're looking at?!...No?!...Well, I'll tell you! ^_^ You're looking at my husband's latest culinary creation...spice cake, with a coconut and sliced pecan glaze frosting. :-) ...

      I was gonna add the word: 'YUM!" after that last sentence, but I figured a photograph of the cake on the plate showing that it's half gone already would suffice. LOL

      What in the Carribbean could be better than this?!! ^_^
 

      Well...I don't know!...but I'm gonna find out!!! ^_^ I'm in a hurry to get to a warm place...without snow! (it's snowing again right now!! Ugh!)...Listen to something that makes me wanna move my feet...and other parts! ^_^...and stick something non-good-for-me related in my mouth!! LOL...something ELSE I mean...because I already wolfed down...scarfed down...nibbled....ate my fair share of hubby's cake!!! LOL
      Because she was so sweet as to come by and give my computer a little boost...and me too! ^_^ (she brought me a cup of half coffee/half hot chocolate! YUM)...I shared some of hubby's creation with her! :-) Now, I think hubby is gonna have to make her a whole one for her alone...to hide from her family in her house!! ^_^
      Okay...away I go!! :-) Have a good weekend, Everybody!! ♥

(GO GIRL-Speeding Bicycle - Wood Mounted Rubber Stamp by MountainsideCrafts)

Going Out With My Baby

Going out with my baby.
Or going nowhere, but it's alright.
Playing games and constant laughing.
I think it's gonna be a great 'Date Night'!

Going out with my baby.
Or staying in, and hugging tight.
Eating all the things we shouldn't.
But smiling through every single bite!

Going out with my baby.
And visiting 'virtually' every sight.
All dressed up or in our jammies,
We're having fun. You know that's right!!

'Friday Date Night'...And Things My Parents Taught Me!

 (Felt Purse with Autumn Maple Leaves by Roltinica)

      With so much going on this week, hubby and I have been kinda slow about nailing down our plans for our 'virtual' date tonight. So, when we woke up to darkness this morning...Ugh!...we decided to have a little conversation, and try to figure out where we wanted to go!

      Well, as it turned out, the conversation was more about where we 'didn't' wanna go! O_O The world is so crazy right now that traveling is losing it's thrill!...And as the sun came up....Ahhhhhh! :-) The backyard is getting more and more full of color!!!...

      Not a bad sight for tired morning eyes, right?! ^_^...
 

      Anyway, we finally started talking about places we 'could' travel to, and have some fun!...
 

 (New York The Big Apple Fantasy Decorated Sunglasses by blitzknitz)

      That led to a hilarious conversation about things our parents taught us growing up, and how ridiculous it is that we still, in some ways, are following through on their advice! ^_^ Well...on 'some of it'!!! LOL I'll give you some 'for instances'!...

     For instance, our parents taught us to be respectful of other people, and to have good manners...

 (Good Manners Flash Cards, set of 15 in 4 x 6 by loopzart)

      Hubby's mom and dad taught him never to fight with a woman...and to hold doors for them. :-) They also told him never to 'bad mouth' (verbally be disrespectful of) anyone older than him...(My mom taught me that too!! ^_^)...I am happy to report that my hubby listened well! And he's still good like that! :-) 

      My mother taught me how to cook...how to cut potatoes with a knife...how to make cornbread stuffing from scratch...how to make the best peach cobbler in the world!...and how to make the best gravy in the world too...*browning the onions, adding a flour and water mixture, salt and pepper, (I also add a little hot pepper seeds now...YUM!) and a little bit of dry coffee grounds to it!* ^_^

     But....and thus the reason for me talking about this here on the blog... ^_^ ...my parents also taught me some silly things! And some of those things have me still scratching my head forty years later!! LOL

     For instance...my mom taught me to always have a threaded needle stuck in the back side of a hung curtain. :-)) I know...you're thinking: "WHAT?!!"...but 'back in the day', when people actually sewed everything by hand, a needle 'at-the-ready' in case something came a loose or needed a little hemming, was a big deal!...And I can't tell you how many times that actually came in handy, having that threaded needle in the curtain! :-)

      

 (Sewing Needle Book or Needle Case by JayHandmadeColorado)

      Another thing my mother taught me when I was young was to ALWAYS keep a dime in your shoe...in case you ended up somewhere and needed to call home...or call the police! :-)) Well, needless to say, this advice no longer would even make sense! LOL Phone booths don't take money anymore!...and if they did, it would certainly be more than a dime to call anyone! LOL

      Along those same lines was the advice my hubby was given, to always try to keep enough money on him to call a cab (taxi) if case he got stranded somewhere!...The suggestion was always a twenty ($20) dollar bill!...

 (Leather Wallet and Money Clip with Personalized Engraving by kreativekeepsakes18)

       Ha!...You can't even get to the corner for twenty dollars in a cab now! ^_^

      And of course there's the 'tried and true' advice to always wear clean underwear! LOL I mean...suppose you get in an accident or something!! ^_^ That advice always tickled me, because by the time the police and firefighters get there to cut you out of the mangled car...your underwear will probably not be clean anymore anyway!!! LOL

      Of course, there's also some things I learned from my father!..."I love you, Daddy!" ♥ ... but they were the things that I'm still scratching my head about! ^_^ Things like 'never sweep anybody's feet with a broom...because that means they'll be going to jail!' O_O ...And if the palm of your hand starts itching that means you're gonna get some money from somewhere. O_O 
     Yes...my father was very superstitious. It was mind-numbing at times too!...On New Year's Day we were not allowed to leave our house until a man...any man...came through the front door. O_O And if a black cat crossed our path going to the right, it was suppose to be good luck. But if it crossed our path, going to the left...we were suppose to RUN!!!!...in the opposite direction...F-A-S-T!!! LOL 
      As an adult, and one of Jehovah's Witnesses, I don't believe in superstition, or luck. But I still remember the things my father believed. Some of them he STILL believes to this day!!...I'm working on him though. ^_^

      Ooooo! Look at the time!! O_O And I'm not outta bed...or packed for a trip...or nothing!! :-)) I don't even have any idea where we're going!!...Or what I'm going to wear!...

 (Vintage Style Inspired Cameo Necklace by HarmonyAndBliss)

(Rainbow Colorful Hoops Earrings by livjewellery)

      Considering the colorful backyard we're looking at...maybe we'll just stay in bed and stare out of the window at the leaves all day! :-) I'll keep you informed. ^_^ ...Have a good weekend, Everybody!...and be sure to listen to your parents....sorta, kinda. LOL

Going Out With My Baby

Going out with my baby.
Or going nowhere, but it's alright.
Playing games and constant laughing.
I think it's gonna be a great 'Date Night'!

Going out with my baby.
Or staying in, and hugging tight.
Eating all the things we shouldn't.
But smiling through every single bite!

Going out with my baby.
And visiting 'virtually' every sight.
All dressed up or in our jammies,
We're having fun. You know that's right!!

I'm Just Gonna 'Mentally' Get Dressed Today!

 (Black Vintage Inspired Shorts by Minxshop)

       What a beautiful Saturday!! The sun is shining. The hummingbirds are flitting and darting around the feeder. And hubby is off work and in the mood to get some things done!...Oh, if only I felt good enough to shine....flit and dart...and get something done! :-)) 

     But no. I'm not feeling so great again today. :-( What I feel like is just sitting around in my nightie, sipping on green tea, and blowing my nose every now and again. ^_^ It's nothing major though. Just allergy season, and the day after a 'boat-load' of rain...YUCKY!!...It's alright though. Fall is coming eventually!......It is, isn't it?! O_O

       As I say, it's not 'that' bad! My mind is still working! YAY!!! LOL And even if I don't feel up to 'physically' getting dressed, I do feel like 'mentally' getting dressed....and that is 'something'!! ^_^

      So, I'm gonna leave my clothes in the drawer...except for the nightie I'm wearing ^_^ and I'm gonna let Etsy help me get dressed up in the way that I would get dressed up, if I had any gumption to get dressed up!...which I don't!! LOL

      Because the sun is shining so pretty, I feel like a pair of cute shorts would be in order...like the ones in the header photo! :-) I love the little scalloped edge on them! :-) ... I would probably pair them with the same kind of top as in that photo too, but with a pair of filligree type earrings like these...

 (Matte Black Unique Ear wire Earrings by PinkChemistry)

      ...and a comfortable pair of flat, but interesting black sandals, like these...

 (Vintage 90s Prada Black Patent Leather Sandals by tigerbay)

       I love the little loops on the side, and the fact that these sandals go between your toes! ^_^ Yes! I'm a flip flop kinda girl...but with a more classic style than wanting to have rubber on my feet!!...So shoot me!! LOL

       If I felt like going over to someone's house for lunch, or just for a little visit...which I don't, except 'mentally'...I'd wear something like this little vintage cutie dress...

(Vintage Inspired Mini Dress by Amordress)

      ...with a similarly cute pair of vintage style earrings like these...

(Onyx Crystal, Swarovski Cube, Sterling Silver Black Earrings by fineheart)

       ...and a little kitten heel sandal that says: "Yes, I dressed up for you!"...but in real life that's only for 'play, play' ^_^...like these... 

(PRADA Vintage Black Leather Kitten Heels Sandals by bOmode)

       No, I wouldn't just wear a pair of faded blue jeans and a t-shirt. I think it's a cultural thing maybe, but as an African American girl I don't understand the 'slumpy-dump dress down' style of dressing...And that's not a judgement thing, even though it may sound like it. It's just not the way I grew up. In fact, I've never owned more than two pair of jeans at one time in my whole life!...and the second pair would have been bought because there was something going wrong with the first pair!! LOL

      Although...frilly nighties?!....I have owned drawers full of them!! LOL Clearly, this is not my first time 'mentally' dressing up!! ^_^ But I digress!!...I still have one more outfit to go! :-)

      If I felt like going out to dinner with the hubby, and maybe to do a little dancing...which I seriously don't!...I would wear a skirt with a lot of movement, like this...

(1950s Artegreen Hand Painted Striped Sequin Circle Skirt by zwzzy)

       And to make it feel more feminine and girlie, I'd pair it with a simple black v-neck blouse, with a little ruffling on the sleeve, like this...

  (Black Ruffle Top V Neck Blouse by andwhatelseisthere)

      Then...because you have to 'glam it up' just a bit when you go out dancing with the hubby...I'd wear a fancy necklace like this...

 (Black Bridesmaid Necklace by dreamdaydesign)

      ...and a pair of 'sharp' pumps (no pun intended just because they're pointy either! ^_^) like these...

 (Vintage 1950's ROCKABILLY Leather and Patent Leather Pointy Toe Black Pumps by moonchildvintage)

      Ahhhhhh! It's like an extra 'Virtual' date night! :-) I'm all dressed...in my mind!....and I look G-O-O-D too!!! ^_^ ...

(Mint Green Polymer Clay Brooch Pin by madamaRobe)

       Now I'm gonna grab some tissue, blow my nose, smile, roll over, snuggle down and take another nap! :-] Enjoy the sunshine, Everybody!...And if you don't have any sunshine in your skies today...get dressed anyway! Even if you have to do it 'mentally'!! LOL

Going Out With My Baby

Going out with my baby.
Or going nowhere, but it's alright.
Playing games and constant laughing.
I think it's gonna be a great 'Date Night'!

Going out with my baby.
Or staying in, and hugging tight.
Eating all the things we shouldn't.
But smiling through every single bite!

Going out with my baby.
And visiting 'virtually' every sight.
All dressed up or in our jammies,
We're having fun. You know that's right!!

Here Is Proof....!

(Australia Paint Splashes Map Art Print by artPause)

       For our 'Virtual Date Night' last night we wanted to go somewhere colorful...and warm! And as we do every year around this time, we headed for...

 (Melbourne Australia Map Pendant Necklace by PAPERandPLACE)

     ...Australia! :-)

     Why Australia, you ask?!...Well, it could have been the fact that we heard that they were having really hot, hot weather, and our weather here in Holyoke Massachusetts is anything but hot!...Or it could have been because of the song that keeps playing over and over on every commercial...♫ "I wanna know....I wanna know what you knowwwwww....I wanna go....I wanna go where you go when you're gone!"

       ...Or it could have been because we wanted to be able to sit somewhere quiet that had lots of crowd noise, but we could still be focused on our crocheting! ^_^ With the really good matches finally playing at the Australian Open Tennis Tournament, Australia seemed the best choice for a date!! :-) 

      I won't bore you with the details because...because I've done that before... HERE. LOL But trust me....there was a good time had by both of us! :-) Maybe not as much fun as I had yesterday, watching my husband so intensely sitting and crocheting!! ^_^ ...I have proof too!....Shhhhhhh!...

        I took these photos while he was deeply concentrating. :-] He didn't even hear the camera clicking!!! LOL Later, when I showed him the photos, he was like: "Hey!! When did you take those?!!!" ^_^ ... He gave me permission to share them, even though he's in his relaxed muscle T-shirt and he hadn't shaved. Just imagine him as his handsome self in a suit and tie and cleanly shaven....that's what I'm gonna do!! ^_^

     Okay...I've got some phone calls and letter writing to do! Have a good day Everybody! And if I don't catch up with you...have a good weekend too! :-)

 Going Out With My Baby

Going out with my baby.
Or going nowhere, but it's alright.
Playing games and constant laughing.
I think it's gonna be a great 'Date Night'!

Going out with my baby.
Or staying in, and hugging tight.
Eating all the things we shouldn't.
But smiling through every single bite!

Going out with my baby.
And visiting 'virtually' every sight.
All dressed up or in our jammies,
We're having fun. You know that's right!!

'Virtual Date Night'...Void Of Travel, But Dramatic!

(Crochet Baby Hat by zolayka)

         I love this hat! It's so colorful with all of the wonderfully dramatic primary colors. And it's pretty clever too...with the whole traveling train theme. I don't have a baby to give it to...although it could make a great gift, so onto the list it goes! :-]

      It did make me think of traveling though. And since Friday is our usual travel day...for our 'virtual date night' trips I mean...it did remind me that we hadn't planned a trip away this week...especially what with everything going on this week, and sucking the brains right out of our heads! LOL

     So, on a last minute's notice, we decided to just go out for the evening...instead of going away on a long trip. Just to do something fun, and quick! ^_^ Where did we go? And what did we do?!...I'll tell you in a minute! ^_^ ...First I wanna show you the orangy treasury I was telling you about yesterday!... 

 ("Things That Make Me Happy" Treasury by Robin of jarmfarm)

       Robin very graciously included my orange rose, glass shell crochet necklace in it, from my Wuglyees Etsy shop...

       What is it about citrus and orange things that make us so happy anyway?!...I don't know, but I know it just does! Just take a close up look at these other items from this treasury!...

 (Crochet Cushion Pillow Cover Set by zolayka)

 (Tangerine Crystal Beaded Stretchy Bracelet by cooljewelrydesign)

 (Butterflies Cookies by LindasEdibleArt)

 (Handmade Copper Sheep Brooch by Copperista)

     The whole treasury is beautiful (you can click the treasury itself to go and check out the other items), but these four pieces were perfect for our quick 'virtual' night out.  :-)

         Hubby and I went out to a theater Play! :-) We went to see the Tony Award winning play...Memphis! :-) ...

 (Wikipedia)

               And we had a good time too!...Before I show you a little piece from the play, let me tell you what it's about.
         It's a musical. It's loosely based on Memphis disc jockey Dewey Phillips, one of the first white Disc Jockeys to play black music in the 1950s...

                ...The North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, Massachusetts was one of the places fortunate enough to feature it. It won the Tony Award for Best Musical, along with three other Tony Awards at the 2010 Tony Awards...If you haven't seen it, I think it's a play worth a little look-see...if you like musicals that is, cuz oh yeah! it's got great music!!...and dancing too y'all! :-]

       Other news...hubby went to a class at the unemployment office yesterday...they give specific information for those in different situations. Hubby found out a couple of things he didn't know, so we feel like we have a direction to head in now! :-) ... Also he has a meeting early next week...to find out whether the suspension is permanent or what. Because of the info he found out yesterday, we're not sweating it as much as we would have been. 
       We're just gonna enjoy the weekend, do some things that need doing, and stay positive about the whole situation. Worrying won't change the outcome anyway, so why waste time!...Speaking of not wasting time...here's the other finished boutonniere I didn't show you yesterday....

       I put a little silver nail button on this one....made it more MANLY !...(said in a deep voice! ^_^) 

        After I finish the other two I already started, I think I'll move on to something else for a while. Hmmmmm....what would that be?!!....I'm sure I'll think of something!! ^_^
      Have a good weekend everybody!! :-) ...What are you gonna be doing?!

 Going Out With My Baby

Going out with my baby.
Or going nowhere, but it's alright.
Playing games and constant laughing.
I think it's gonna be a great 'Date Night'!

Going out with my baby.
Or staying in, and hugging tight.
Eating all the things we shouldn't.
But smiling through every single bite!

Going out with my baby.
And visiting 'virtually' every sight.
All dressed up or in our jammies,
We're having fun. You know that's right!!