While Gabbie and I were out and about yesterday we stopped by Walmart and I picked up a cutting board, ruler, and a rotary cutter.
When I checked out at Walmart and realized how much I'd spent, plus the new machine, I thought maybe I had over-indulged a bit; but then I remembered it was a lot less expensive and more practical than the Mother's Day I bought myself a motor cycle!!
Maybe tomorrow evening I can put the machine together and see how he sews (yes, he; he is after all a Brother!)
I also picked up a little more fabric. I'll show you that when I get started on the new project.
But first, I have to show you the project I just finished.
After I take pictures of it.
Tomorrow. In the daylight.
Stay tuned!!
And ........ here's what I got from my kids.
An awning for my door from BoyChild (because I've only been asking for one for a couple of years)
BabyGurl and SIL did some yardwork for me ... and got me a bracelet/watch.
And of course dear sweet DIL is taking good care of our Sadie for us!!
And just for fun ...
My kiddos... a few years ago!
Comments from BoyChild after I posted this pic on facebook:
BC: Good looking carpet.
Me: Thank goodness the carpet is gone, but I still have the table!
BC: I'll crawl back in it one day and you can 'pic stitch' the two pics together.
I haven't completely unpacked it yet (in fact I haven't unpacked it at all - just opened the box and peeked in). I will have the Gabster most of this weekend so unpacking and using it will not happen til at least late Sunday - more likely Monday.
Though it did take most of the day, including an unreasonably long time on re-making the handle more than once.
Miss Sadie will be having shower in four weeks and I'm going to make her a bag and some burp cloths, so I made Gabbie a bag as well. I'm basically treating Gabbie like the 'big sister' and including her in everything. After all, she has been everybody's only baby for 4 1/2 years!!
This is her bag - and of course a burp cloth for her baby dolls.
Since she is all about shoes, I thought she would really like this fabric.
I'm still working on Sadie's bag. It's a bit bigger and is taking longer because I am doing a little more quilting on it. And I'm still deciding on how to do the handles. I now have a phobia about handles.
So last year after the frost killed my begonias and petunias, I dumped the pots at the edge of the yard, and repotted with pansies for the winter. Today I drove up in the yard and saw .... a petunia and a begonia, showing their pretty little faces. Now I'm anxious to see how many more will be stubborn enough to poke their little heads up!
Last week was my annual visit with friends in Nashville. This year we had our friend John visiting with us from Australia. Then there was Linda from NM, Angie from AR, David and Lisa from KY, and me from AL. There were lots more, including our local friends from Nashville, but the ones I mentioned are part of a 'core' group that started almost ten years ago. We missed seeing our friends Julie from MI, Bob from MD, Peg from SC, Sandy from MO, Sandie from VA, and assorted others who have been converging with us in Nashville on an annual (sometimes twice-annual) basis.
Local friends Susan and Iisha introduced us to some new eating places! Yum!
Along the way ......
I-65 North is the route I took (the high road?) It was a dreary day, and got worse the farther north I went, so the TN sign is a little hazy. But I got a good clear shot of the 'Batcave' for BabyGurl as I came into Nashville. The second shot is later in the week when we were shopping downtown.
Linda's plane was delayed (by over four hours!) so I had a quick lunch at the Tin Roof then settled into the room until time to go to the airport. We had planned to have lunch at Neely's, but we had supper there instead (her plane didnt land until 4:30)
The Food!
BBQ sandwich at Neely's. There was enough meat on this sandwich for three sandwiches (I'm not complaining!) and this was the 'regular' sandwich. I can't imagine how large the large one would be!
Later in the week we hit Burger Up, a place recommended by several of our local friends (thanks David and Kathi!). The fried dill pickles were about the best I've ever had, and the sweet potato fries were yummy! There was absolutely no grease to any of their foods, thanks to the fact that they fry with peanut oil.
And last but not least a picture of my Coffee Fudge shake and Linda's Vanilla Malt on our (ahem!) second trip of the week to Mike's Ice Cream.
Not pictured is lunch with Susan at 'Franklin Mercantile' on Wednesday, and lunch at Opry Mills Mall (TGI Friday's) on Thursday.
No food in this pic, but Friday night we had supper with Angie's niece Iisha and two of her friends at 'Past Perfect'.
Me, Linda, Angie.
Music!
Tuesday night after supper at Neely's we headed out to a songwriter's round at Douglas Corner. No pics from there because we got there a few minutes late and were standing in the back (or front as it were - if you've been to DC you'll understand; if you haven't been you should go!) We see these guys almost every year at the same venue; Allen Shamblin (The House That Built Me), Rob Crosby (Concrete Angel), Brett Jones (That's How Country Boys Roll), Angela Kaset (Something In Red).
All of those writers have multiple sucessful songs, but I don't have time or space to list them all here. One of my favorite's of Brett's hasnt' been recorded, and likely never will (but then again, who knows) - it's called Blue Tail Monkey. If you ever have occasion to see/hear Brett, be sure and request that one.
Wednesday night we went to see/hear old friends Lucy Angel. Mom and daughters, Kate, Lindsay and Emily Anderton. Amazing harmonies, wonderful people, and isn't Lindsay just radiant (and gorgeous!) after the birth of her daughter just two and a half months ago?
The second picture is from Saturday night at the Station Inn. Eddie Heinzleman, Billy Yates, Buddy Jewell, and Jimmy Fortune. Eddie hasn't had any hits yet, but he's had a few songs cut and will be a household name before long. Billy Yates has multiple hit songs, including two for George Jones (Choices, I Don't Need Your Rocking Chair). Buddy Jewel was the winner of the first season of Nashville Star and had radio hits with 'Help Pour Out The Rain' and 'Sweet Southern Comfort'. Jimmy Fortune was a member of the Statler Brothers until their retirement about ten years ago. 'Nuff said? ;-)
A quick little video clip of Jimmy singing "Elizabeth" that he wrote and the Statlers recorded.
And a little clip of Billy singing "Daddy Had A Heart Attack, Momma Got A Cadillac". A fun little ditty.
Then there was some shopping. I got a Vera Bradley purse at the outlet store at Opry Mills Mall. This particular day they were having a 50% off everything in the store, so I got the purse and wallet. I've wanted one for a while, but oh the prices! Eek!
Gabbie really racked up with a nightlight / lamp from the Farmer's Market, a t-shirt from downtown, and some books from the Goodwill store (yes, Linda and I go to the Goodwill store every year, it's great!) And Sadie (due in July) got her very first Nashville t-shirt!
Things we didn't buy.
Yes, you are seeing that right. We did not buy boots this year.
Didn't take a lot of pictures this year. Didn't do anything exciting. Just visited with friends, relaxed, and did a lot of walking and window shopping .... and eating.
Honestly, I think the best food I had all week was my ham, bacon, all the fixin's and honey mustard pita for Friday lunch. Definitely want to go here again!
