a Friday favorite on a Monday

I've been a tad lax on my Friday Favorites, but consider this little hose caddy high on the list.  I've heard about these little wonders that use the power of the water to rewind the hose, but didn't seriously look at them till this year.  Previously my hose might lay stretched out across the yard for several days because either it was too hot or I was too lazy to put it up.  I'll let you choose which excuse you prefer.  

Mine doesn't look exactly like this one, but very similar.  At this point I intended to insert a little video, but I'm having problems wrapping my brain around it.  Maybe later, sigh.  But how nice it is to just sit on the little ledge, flip the handle, and it starts winding itself up.  Who knew, right?

I find myself lacking a bit in the motivation department this summer.  This is the time of the year to be working on my Scraps to Treasure challenge quilt, and I'm having a time making any progress.  We've all exchanged our fabrics, and I've had mine a few months now.  Ah, we'll see. 

I have read a few books though.  I'd listened to Lee Childs, among other authors, when I was still working.  I've gone back and read a couple of his first books with the Reacher character, and really enjoyed having something that is hard to put down.  I'm on the library's waiting list for the next in line.  In the meantime, I've heard about Robyn Carr, and have just checked out the first 4 books (all in one book) for one of her series.  Think I just figured out what I'll be doing this afternoon.   ;)

That's it for now.  Take it easy, all.

they'll get you in

Nolene and I just returned from a little road trip to see our sister in Arkansas.  Always a nice little drive, and I enjoy the miles of trees on either side of the road.  As can be expected on a trip like this, I had to make some stops for gas along the way.

When we went into a town, a little off the highway, getting gas was no problem. Slip the card into the slot, and pay at the pump.  Then of course we might wander in and pick up a soda or snack.  However, coming home we stopped at one of the stations on the freeway.  I slipped my card into the little slot, and lo and behold, I got a message to see the cashier.  I was not given the option of a debit purchase, just credit.  I go in and she's only able to take my card for a set amount.  "I want to fill up."  I would have to prepay, and if I overpaid, she would refund.   I declined and left.

I headed down to another station, this time a truck stop.  Lo and behold, similar situation.  I slipped my card into the slot, and without even being given an option of credit or debit, got a message to go inside.  Same scenario.  This time, with a huff, I did tell her a dollar amount (which was paid by debit, not credit), filled up, and went back inside to get my change...which was just credited back to my account.

Did I make any inside purchases in either of these facilities?  You can bet your bottom dollar I did not.  I don't like being manipulated, and I feel like this was blatant manipulation.  Sadly, yes, some of these stores have probably seen fewer sales on their high profit items inside the store since pay-at-the-pump is now the norm.  However, with these actions, they won't be seeing repeat fuel service from me.  I'll make sure I stop in populated areas.

I understand there is a legitimate theft deterrent here.  A few months ago at a local station it would not process a credit payment at the pump, and I had to go inside and pay by debit.  I called my bank when I got back home, and yes, its not unusual to decline the credit transactions because of the possibility of someone using your card without your permission.  However, debit transactions would not be a problem because a password has to be entered.

So be aware.  If you're on the highway, and not even offered the debit transaction at the pump, they could just be wanting you to come in the door and spend additional dollars on inside sales.

its been a birthday week

Lily turned 10 this week, and Ashlynn is now 6!  Time is just rolling  by so fast, isn't it? 

it's summer, what can I say?

I've been pretty lax about posting lately.  However, it is summer, and I've got a case of those "lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer"...without the crazy part.

Things have been moving along.  I painted the hallway last week with paint leftover from painting my bedroom.  Still need to do the baseboards and trim, but progress comes one step at a time.  And I made some curtains for Elise and Lily's playhouse (no pictures).

And I've been working on some signature blocks for a swap on the HGTV message board.  The signups for this swap were about a year ago, and I thought, why not?  I'd have plenty of time.  Right.  We have to have 62 blocks turned in by the end of August, and I've finished sewing 25 of them.  And I still have to sign them.  Sigh.  But I'll get there.  At least they don't all have to be alike.  Here's a sampling of what I have so far.

Then the other day I was out with one of my quilting buddies, Linda, and we visited a couple of our LQSs in the area.  (That's local quilt shops for those of you not in the know.)  We each got a book called Kaleidoscope Symphony  by Marilyn Foreman.  As I was looking at it, I knew the concept was similar to a project I started from the HGTV message board several years ago, but alas had not finished.  Now with the book, I'm enthused to do something with the blocks I've already made. Basically you take a fabric that has about a 12" repeat, stack four of the repeats on top of each other, and cut out a square through all thicknesses.  You then have 4 identical squares that you turn and stitch together to form the kaleidoscope effect.

Here's the book:

Here's a picture of what I have on hand as a UFO.  At the bottom of the pic is the original fabric that these squares were cut from.  Oh, and you'll also notice my foot in in the picture so you know I'm really the one taking the picture.  The squares are sitting on some coordinating fabric that will be worked into the finished piece.

Now to make the day complete, I must say Happy Anniversary to my sister Karen and her husband Troy.  53 years today!  Woo hoo!

Have a good week.  : )

back from the beach

As I did last summer, I went to the beach with Elizabeth and her family.  We were on Padre Island, and enjoyed some splashing in the water, playing in the sand, and seeing the sights in Corpus Christi.

Elise did really well on the trip.  She handled the long drive in the car by keeping entertained with technology.  She has her apps, and knows what to do with them.  Sorry if its a bit blurry, I used my phone and it may not enlarge the best.   Notice her bandaids?  She's reached the age that I don't think there will be a day without at least one bandaid...needed or not.  :)

Surf was up at the beach.  We saw a surfcamp class at one end of the area, and noticed that they walked on down by the pier to go in the water.  It didn't take long to figure out that the waves cause you to drift down to their starting point.

Lily and David got out with their boogie boards and played quite a bit.  Elise wasn't thrilled with the water coming in to cover her feet, so Elise, Elizabeth, and I stayed out to build sand castles.

Elise is somewhat like her mother at that age, and not always wanting to cooperate or automatically smile at the camera.  Here's a family photo.  :)

One day David surprised Lily with letting her get her ears pierced.  He thought it would be fun for her to be able to tie the memory in with her beach vacation.   Here's the before, during, and after shots.

And Elizabeth told me that she's heard of a new trend to take pictures of your feet when you travel if you're not thrilled to have your picture taken.  I've actually done this before, but here's this year's beach picture of yours truly.

Yep, that's me.  I've been to the beach!

happenings

Things seem to stay busy these days.  I just finished watching Elise for the school year.  I'm available to give David a break here and there, but basically its now the "lazy days" of summer.  Lazy?  More on that in a bit.

I went to Las Vegas over Memorial Day weekend, and contributed a small amount to their local economy.  I do remember now why it's been 7 years since my last visit.  Las Vegas really is a town that requires some walking to see it right, and I don't have the stamina for that.  But, we did have a good time (I went with niece Tammy, and met up with Nolene and Joe who were vacationing there).  We went to a chocolate factory, made the hike from the Excalibur over to the M&M store via New York, New York, enjoyed the dinner/show presentation of Tournament of Kings, and remembered that Wheel of Fortune is my favorite slot machine.  I enjoyed some relaxation at the hotel when the others made the trek up and down the Strip.  Nice little get-away weekend.

This week my cousin Mary made it into town.  She's been on a cross country adventure from New Mexico to Florida and back, and managed to come through our area for an overnight stop.  As we visited, along with John, Nolene, and Joe, we figure its been well over 40 years since I'd last seen her.  Its ironic that as I was going through some papers this morning, a couple of years ago I had commented on one of my writing exercises that Mary would be a relative I'd like to get to know better.  She had polio as a child, and as would be expected has faced a lot throughout her lifetime.  Encouraged by her doctors to get an education because as she got older her limitations would increase, she not only got her Bachelors degree, but also her Masters and PhD.  She is semi retired, working part time teaching at  a college to give her "play money" for adventures.  Just a couple of weeks ago she posted pictures in Facebook of her para-sailing!  An interesting woman, and a strong advocate for the disabled.  This world could use more Mary's. 

Now about that comment of "lazy days".  Ha!   I decided to paint my bedroom, so Friday night I started the cutting in process.  Saturday I was up at the crack of dawn, and went to work.  It was a lot of trips up and down the tall ladder, but by early afternoon it was done.  I'm planning on putting in tile flooring, both in my bedroom and bathroom, so getting this done was the first step. Well let me clarify that....I'll have someone put in the tile flooring!  I do know my limitations.   Knowing that job will be coming up, and hopefully soon, I'm tossing some things out, and taking others to the Salvation Army drop-off point. 

This silk flower arrangement survived the cut and is still in the room. When I transferred from one department to another at work, either in 1998 or 1999, my co-workers gave it to me.  Surviving several moves, a few of the flowers have started to shift, but I just couldn't part with it.  I dusted it off,  moved it to another wall, and there she'll stay.  By the way, the wall color is Cup of Cocoa, a Behr color at Home Depot.

Guess that's all for now.  Makes me tired looking at what I've done, so I think I'll take a nap.  ;)

she did it!

My sister has e-published her book, Confessions of a Redneck Romeo!   Check out her blog about availability from Amazon, including a special offer.  I admit I'm partial, but I do think you'll enjoy it.

Been a bit busy this week, but found time to make a little dress for Elise.  I was given the fabric over a year ago from one of my quilting buddies, Linda, but just now got to it.  Good thing I didn't wait any longer, she's growing so fast.  Maybe she'll get a few weeks wear out of it!  ;)   She was so sweet when she told me "it's beautiful".  Awwww.  (she's sitting down in the picture, it's not as short as it looks)

I know I usually get a post out on Friday, but it's coming out a day early this week.  Have a good holiday weekend everyone...and thank a vet.