Ponder on this.....

We all truly understand that the economy is pretty bad at the moment. Businesses are cutting back on their spending and are doing what is necessary to keep the financial records in check. I agree with doing what needs to be done but really.......does giving me more than one packet of ketchup for a super size fry the answer?!!! Even when you ask for "extra ketchup" you only get another packet. It's a little crazy, in my opinion. So, I am now being very specific with my order. I want a super size fry with eight packets of ketchup! I really don't think that my extra ketchup packets are going to cause hamburger joints to go out of business. Now, to make the story even more crazy.....I go to the same hamburger joint drive thru every Friday morning for hotcakes. A little treat - I deserve it. Anywho, guess how many TUBS of syrup I get? TWO!! That's enough syrup to put me in sugar overdrive! I don't even need 1/2 of one tub! And surely, it cost more to manufacture TUBS of syrup vs. PACKETS of ketchup. It just has to!


Just a little something to ponder on the next time you are in that favorite fast food drive thru.....
Happy Friday!

Remember Me?

Yes, I'm still here. It's been awhile, hasn't it? Work has had me tied up where I couldn't see up from down but.....I did manage to get away for a little vacation to Myrtle Beach. The weather was a bit weird. One day it was sunny and warm and the next, freezing cold with winds blowing around 30mph. We had a great time. Probably one of the best vacations we've had since we went to Colorado last year. We didn't have any plans - just do what feels right when the moment strikes!

Here's a couple of photos:

A girl could get use to this view!


And this view isn't all that bad either!


When you get cold weather, deal with it! LOL!


I'm ready to go back - now!!

Frippin' Fun 2009

I am alive and finally able to see daylight from up under this pile of paperwork. The place? My Job! You see, I was out of the office three days last week and the other two days are a blur. I had the head cold cooties! You know, the kind that makes you want to curl up and forget the world exists. And, they couldn't have come at a worst time because this was the weekend of my trip to Fripp Island with all my stitch buddies. Thank goodness for cold medicine because I went and had a blast. Here's some of the highlights.......

This is the house where we stayed. It is huge and wonderful! Lots of stitching room, bathrooms - very important when you have 8-10 ladies living together, large open kitchen and close enough to hear the ocean waves.

The weather was beautiful so it was only fitting to get out and walk on the beach Saturday morning.

Some of the ladies, later that day, found sand dollars. Something I have never been able to find. So, next year, I need a lesson.

Fripp Island is located right off of the coast of Beaufort, SC. Before crossing over to the island, the coastal area has lots of marsh lands. These areas are swampy but home to crabs, mussels and an occassional, heron.


And, the rarest creature of all - a Karen!

My bestest buddies - Lorrie and Karen - along with me!

One of my most EXCITING highlights of the weekend was not only seeing lots of beautiful deer, but I actually got to feed one! Now, this is pretty amazing in its own right but you see, I called the deer and he came right up to me. My house cat won't even come when called! I never knew I could speak deer! Maybe I was Snow White in my former life! LOL!

"I'm Still Hungry!"

"Meet My Friends"

Now, this trip does actually involve some stitching. The sitting area is all off by itself so round-the-clock stitching is not out of the question.

Here's Theresa and a new-comer, Zee

Kathy - the hostess with the mostest! She's our vacation and game coordinator. Beading extraordinaire. Rib cooker and quick stitcher.

Mom and Karen. Mom belongs to Kathy and makes sure all of the "children" stay within the law. Karen is my jiggle buddy!

This is proof that stitching can actually wear you out! I have always said, Lorrie and I were separated at birth. She's as country as a butter bean with a heart of gold. I guess you could say she's the "good child".

And last but not least is Ann (aka Home Skillet), straight from Tennessee

Unfortunately, we were missing two friends this year from Florida. Best wishes and hope to see them in 2010.
It was a great trip and can't wait to do it all again!

Happy Birthday Lisa!

Today is one of my bestest friends birthday! We had a fabulous time yesterday helping her celebrate. She's past middle age but young enough to enjoy the torture that is given by the staff at the mexican restaurant. Little did she (and us!) know that wearing your dessert is just as much fun as eating it. Happy Birthday Lisa

Here's some pictures of the day-long celebration:


L to R: Sandy, Lisa, Jody, Polly and Me
This picture was taken at one of the local Sandwich Shops - also called The Sandwich Shop - in Lisa's home town. Fabulous food! I highly recommend and would love to go back. The restaurant is renovated inside an old bank building. We are pictured here outside of the bank vault.


Ruebens, Philly Cheese Steaks, BLTs, Oh My!


Yes, we do try and get in a couple of stitches during our visit! We were joined by another friend of Lisa's, Amy.


Even I have my stitching moments!

I had a great time visiting with these great friends. The day went by entirely too quickly. We do need to try and get together more often. Hugs to everyone and remember - Taco Mama is always here for ya!!


UPDATE: Just so you know - I now have bangs again. Nothing like taking a pair of scissors and whacking away. No lil' girl hair bows for me!

I saw Woody!

Some of you may know, I work in the woods. It's so quite and comforting out here in the forest and I get to see many different type of wildlife. I've seen deer, owls, hawks, lizards, snakes and even a fox. But, the hardest creature to capture on photo has been Woody. Woody is my woodpecker and she is a big one! I think she's a she because today I also got to see two babies in the trees near her. Anywho, here she is pecking away. She's got a beautiful bright red head. Can't wait to see her babies grow up.

Updated to add information about Woody:
Pileated Woodpecker

The largest variety of woodpecker is the Pileated Woodpecker ranging from 16-19 inches long. Male adults are identified by a red Mohawk; both male and female have a red Mohawk (crest) on the top of their heads, but the male is distinguished by a red cheek pad. The female does not have red coloring in this area. The Pileated woodpecker can also be identified by their black body, black and white stripes on the facial area, a white strip from their bill to the their neck and beady yellow eyes. Pileated woodpeckers make their habitat in coniferous forests with large trees found in southern Canada, the Midwestern and eastern parts of the United States, the pacific coast and the northern Rockies. They eat carpenter ants, wood boring beetle larvae, fruit and nuts. Pileated woodpeckers produce 4-6 eggs in nests found in dead tree with a cavity lined with wood chips. An interesting fact about these woodpeckers is that they dig rectangular holes in trees so deep that it might cause small trees to break in half. Male and female Pileated woodpeckers stay together as a pair in their territory all year long.

Thread Organization

A friend was asking me last week on how I organize my overdyed threads. So, here's a picture. I use a card file box from the office supply store that has one of those metal sliders in it. I also have plastic tabbed cards that have the alphabet pre-printed on them. I just take each color of thread and put it in a plastic jewelry bag (about 4x6) and attach a label with the color name on it. I don't worry about distinguishing on the labels Weeks Dye Works, Gentle Arts, Crescent, etc. because I can easily see the thread tags inside the bags. I have been using this system for a couple of years now and it works for me. The threads don't get tangled, they stay clean and I can tell instantly if I have enough or need to order more.

How do you spell fun?............

C-R-O-P! Last weekend I had so much fun hanging out with my scrappin' buddies in Columbia. We try our best to get together through out the year to laugh, shop, eat and oh yeah - scrapbook. This time was no exception! I worked on my Ali Edwards inspired Christmas album. I got a lot done - maybe I'm 1/2 way finished. I'll have to share some photos with you when I'm finished. Hope to work on it this weekend while I still have my croppin' groove! LOL! Until then......Enjoy Life!!