Gettin ready for the Bowling Bash

The curlers are in place....trying to make this wig look a little like it's supposed to...hahha
The decorations are going up
The outfits are almost ready...have to decide what shoes to wear....leopard print slippers perhaps?
don't forget the manicure.......aka press-on nails
animal prints are in!
Nice shorts!
a good party always includes snacks....like these.... cheese sort of and crackers
a dessert platter is always tasty. :) ! I couldn't bring myself to buy the mini corn dogs...so I settled for these........
We got the Wii set out to make sure we know what we're doing...and now we just have to wait until Saturday night for the big bash! hahaha

Next...my wedding photos...but first....about my boyfriend..hahha

The Olympic Opening Show is on as I type this. My daughter Megan is watching and sending me messages via TXT...mostly about my "boyfriend" Bob Costas. I love listening to him when he is a commentator...for two reasons...
1)He's well-spoken

2)He has a GREAT sense of humor...all these off-the-wall comments that are hilarious
He just slips them in.... so Listen Closely!hahaha

Anniversary time

Next Saturday is our 28th Anniversary...and so I thought....why not share some photos of the wedding day. This blog has been a test of my very limited skills on the computer... I have been learning as I go...some things work better than others. Well...for the first time ever...believe it or not...I scanned a picture and downloaded it to the computer. As you can see...I didn't quite master the task...but I did get the pictures on the blog. You will have to click on them to see them full size...since I couldn't figure out how to get the full size in the first place.... maybe next time!
Here is an assortment of photos..... the wedding party...John, Charlie McGee my sister Martha and I. My simple cotton dress....the slip I bought cost more than the dress itself! I had seen this dress in a favorite catalog (J.Jill...I had many dresses from that catalog back in the day) and knew this would be what I wore for my wedding...I never even looked in a Bridal Shop...except for the slip.(I did have some fancy shoes too...pretty ivory with embroidered flowers in soft pinks and greens) Martha's dress also came from the catalog. My parents with John and I,our delicious cake from where else...Publix Danish Bakery...I LOVE their cakes! A snapshot of my Mom with some good friends...John Griffin, Maureen Hogg and Father Jack Maloney.
The second group of shots includes us with John's brother and sisters and their families, My father and I coming into to the church (with Mr. Griffin looking on!),
three of my favorite people...my father, my Godfather, Ray Brennan and my Uncle Dave (Monsignor David P. Welch) who married us. and John and I.
When we decided to get married...I knew it would have to be early in the year...winter or Spring...because as far as I am concerned,it is just TOO DARN HOT to get married any time after mid April in Florida. We couldn't get married during Lent...so spring became February...actually a great month when it comes to weather. I had looked it up in the almanac...(at the Library of course) and saw that February had the lowest amount of rainfall...and since I wanted to have the reception at my parents house...my mother was a little nervous .....she NEVER complained to me...but I know she was worried about what to do if it rained.....I just told her "It won't!" and luckily...it didn't! It was a beautiful clear day with 68 degrees for the high...perfect weather for getting all dressed up! Really.....Perfect. We had a wonderful time with all of our family and friends.....we were lucky to have my Uncle Dave marry us. And now 28 years later...we're still celebrating....I feel very lucky!
We will be celebrating next Saturday...more on that next time.heeheehee

Debbie's Bonfire Birthday Party

Tonight was Debbie and Duane's annual bonfire party for Debbie's birthday.
Yesterday it rained all afternoon...so it was nice to see the sun today. Of course Debbie and Duane have this great covered patio area...so weather is not a problem. Tonight it did get rather chilly...and It was very windy ,15-25 mph ,so we weren't sure if they would be able to have the fire. They usually save up tree stumps, assorted tree and lawn trash and an assortment of discarded Christmas trees.
The piles were ready to go....
Well..as fore casted...the winds did die down considerably...so it was time for a fire.

It was amazing how much heat this fire gave off. Several years ago when we first attended this party...it kind of freaked me out how quickly the Christmas trees ignited. I assumed it was because they were dry...but then was told that it is the resin?sap? in the trunk of the tree that is highly flammable...and when you toss one on the fire...it smokes a bit and then POOF! That tree ignites and puts out so much heat...it's scary. This is also why fires spread so quickly in the woods...when one tree burns and the ash spreads...it doesn't take much to ignite the rest of the trees in the area. I must admit that having a live tree for Christmas kind of lost it's charm after I watched them burning the first year we attended the party. We've had an artificial tree ever since.


The sky cleared nicely...lots of stars were out. The wind died down enough to safely burn the fire and there was plenty of tasty food and drink available. We ate, talked, ate, stood out by the fire, ate some more and then headed home!

Valentine Craft

Today at work we spent some time getting ready for next week's Storytime. Of course we will be doing Valentine's Day stories...and I found this cute flower craft in this month's issue of Family Fun Magazine.
I like the fact that it makes a cute valentine and also has a little treat! We used card stock...because it's a little more substantial than regular construction paper for the heart shaped flower petals, scrapbook paper for the inside portion of the flower and of course Dum-Dum lollipops for the center.

We used a special small hole punch on each of the pieces....so they could thread right on to the lollipop stick.



Have a little glue on hand...put a dab on each piece so they will stick together and also to keep them from shifting around when you're done.


Write your Valentine message on one or two of the "leaves" and thread them on last.

Then...just find a special Valentine to give it to!

Home again

So....for the last 9 days I have been home by my lonesome...while John was off on a trip he's had in the works for almost a year. He went to Nicaragua with John M, L.J. and Chuck. They were going to a spot that is pretty much "undiscovered" in hopes of having it all to themselves. Back in the late 70's, early 80's John used to travel down to Costa Rica to surf. He'd take off for a month or so...as long as possible, and just surf and travel around the country. Back then no one knew about Costa Rica...so it was uncrowded and really "primitive" as far as accommodations go. No electricity..etc. Last year he went with a couple of friends back to CR for about two weeks...but was disappointed by the number of surfers that were there. He had fun....but missed the old days. He started looking around on the Internet an found what looked like the perfect destination. Parts of Nicaragua get more surfers...but the spot they were going does not. He made the plans and got three friends to join him.....Not knowing exactly what they were in for...he was a little nervous...but ready to go. Well....after the second day there...they had already caught fish, hiked up Volcano Negro and snowboarded down into it and surfed on some great waves.
He was tired but very happy when he called me, Last time I talked to him he said they had been surfing 3-5 ft waves each day (exactly what he had hoped for...not too big...but big enough)and most of the time they were the only 4 people in the water. They had seen a few other surfers passing through...but pretty much...it was them and the guides. Sounds like a perfect vacation. Can't wait to see the pictures and video when they return tomorrow. well I'm sure I won't see anything tomorrow...but you know what I mean *Of course...as it turns out...this month's copy of SURFER Magazine has a picture of one of the spots they were planning to surf today.. so next time they go there may be a few more people down there after this gets out!
So...while he was off.....I've been just doing my regular routine here in Indialantic. Me and the dog...enjoying the big bed all to ourselves. When John's gone...I miss him...but I know he's coming back...so I also enjoy my space. I've gotten things organized...took some stuff to the Sharing Center.we'll see how long it takes John to notice that all those bags I've been accumulating are now gone! I went to get a massage, I gave blood....just keeping myself busy. Wednesday night Chuck's wife Pat invited me and 3 others over for hors d' oeuvres and wine. After work I headed over for a fun evening of tasty treats and good conversation. We ate mozzarella, brie en croute with raspberry preserves, salmon, pasta and a few other things. A couple of glasses of wine and we talked about everything from the guy's trip, to our kids, work, current events...you name it...we talked about it.haha Then we had a sampling of some delicious desserts....just a bit of each...but I'm still thinking about that chocolate turtle thing! The PLAN was for us to come over for a couple of hours...since most of us had to work the next day. Well....8:30pm came and went and all of the sudden I realized it was 11:00pm...I looked at Pat and said..."Don't you have to go to bed soon?" She started putting things away while Gayle and Nancy contiued to talk...and Pat and I laughed when she started turning off the lights...I told her she needed to get the broom out...and we'd go...Nancy and Gayle didn't want to leave...Pat laughed and told them /us we could keep talking as long as we wanted...we just had to find somewhere else to do it. Hahaha It was fun...and I appreciated the invitation after a week by myself. Friday night I joined some friends at where else but Longdoggers. Today I had to work 9:30 to 2:30....and then did my usual routine around here. Took a bike ride, walked the dog, caught up on Season One of Greek....(I love that show...it just started back up for this season last week!) And now...I am ready for things to get back to normal. I miss hearing John up and about at 4:30am...haha...well he does bring me coffee and bagels or breakfast sandwiches before work...since I do not get up early enough to have time to do it myself....if it's not here...I'm probably not going out of my way to get it!...so I miss all those little things he does for me. It will be nice for him to be back...all relaxed and happy....he deserved a break. I'm glad it turned out to be all he hoped for...a great group to travel with and exactly the conditions he was hoping for!

PS- Megan this one's for you...haha...by the way...I have the AC on tonight...!

Irresistible

Isn't it funny that no matter how old you are I am there are some things that are just irresistible!) (by they way...this first photo is from the internet..)
Like these....of course I have to make sure the people whose yard they are in don't SEE me...hahaha...spreading the seeds around.
But there is something about them...I really have a hard time passing them by...especially ones like this perfect and just waiting to be set free. hahhaa