The Blue Ridge Gal

Listen To The Rhythm

2010-08-01T00:01:00.000-04:00

As I sit here and type this post tonite I am listening to the rhythm of the rain outside the window. We threw open the windows tonite when the rain turned from a silent falling mist to a downpour and the temperatures dropped into the upper 60's. This is something we have waited for all summer long so it's music to our ears.

I had been upstairs when it started to fall heavily and I went downstairs to find Hubby standing at the back door to the patio with it flung wide open. He had the front door open as well and I mentioned that I did not really want the frogs hopping onto the front porch and into the house. He just laughed and said that he was letting them in. Then he put his arm around me, smiled a huge smile at the rain and gave me a big hug. We fall in love all over again when it rains.

Our tummies were full of the giambotta he had made us for dinner... it's an Italian stew, although we make ours with less liquid so it's a bit thicker than most recipes. The Italian sausage sates our appetites. There's also chicken breast, bell peppers, garlic, onions, diced tomatoes and tons of Italian spices.

Hubby also made polenta, a childhood recipe that his Italian grandmother would make. I'm not a huge fan. We also sliced and fried up potatoes so they are thin like potato chips and serve them atop the giambotta.

Look for yourself.. it was dee liss eee oh so! And delicious too by the way.

I barely had time to clean up the kitchen and digest this fine meal and it was time to tie on the tennis shoes, don a raincoat and head out the door for a family walk.

As I said in my previous post...I really don't give a hoot if we have a Sunday this week-end because to be honest.... Saturday was perfection.

The Blue Ridge Gal

Mowing, Maters and Pie

2010-07-31T20:02:00.001-04:00

Saturday.... finally a week-end with weather worth getting out of bed for. Rain.... the answer to our wishes finally came true and Hubby mowed the lawn in between fronts of rain, put a pie in the oven to bake which I came home to take out after a bit of grocery shopping. Can't you just smell it??

THEN, he made giambotto for our dinner and WE walked Handsome in the rain.

Saturday was so wonderful that I may not even need a Sunday this week-end.

The Blue Ridge Gal

It Takes A Village

2010-07-30T12:56:00.001-04:00

Okay... as Sissy explained in the prior posts comments, there are now 4 chicks.... 3 black and only one blonde which of course has been named Blondie. I'm just sure she will have more fun than the others because as we all know.... Blondes Have More Fun!

Oh, and as Sissy also explained, Mama Daisy has her hands full with these 4 so the other eggs are now being sat on by Chicken Little who is broody these days. It takes a village I guess.

Peep!

The Blue Ridge Gal

Chick Update

2010-07-30T09:58:00.001-04:00

~~ UPDATE ~~

There are now three chicks... yes! Triplets!!

Sissy e-mailed the above two photos, one light chickie, one dark chickie, yesterday!

She's in the midst of having to dismantle a room of the house since the builders are there to make the exterior structure a bit different; taking a goofy shaped room and make it square, and bigger, and more beautiful and scraping ceilings.... so all the furniture must be moved elsewhere for a while.

Needless to say she has not had time to photograph baby chick number three yet, which is also black.

But I'll keep nagging at her because that's what all good sisters do!

***Sissy just e-mailed... now 3 blacks and a light one for QUADS! You're half-way to being an Octomom, Daisy!!***

Wonder if that qualifies her for her own reality show?

The Blue Ridge Gal

Two Chicks & A Hen Named Daisy

2010-07-30T00:02:00.000-04:00

I went to a couple of shops today..... mercantile shops. You know. Everyone there rents a space or a booth and then sells all of their schtuff. Some have cutsie names like this one. Not real sure why this particular person/persons chose the name Two Chicks & A Hen since nothing they had held a country theme. *shrugs*

I'm in the process of building an arsenal of items for my kitchen wall and once it's all painted (when the weather cools off this fall) then I'll be hanging the new items like the orange utensil thing a ma bob I showed you a couple of weeks ago.... my orange theme. Kind of liked this little cabinet which would hold a few of my knick knacky stuff. I didn't buy it YET.

I did add this shelf to the arsenal though... I think a mix of the red items in my kitchen may be okay with the orange schtuff.

I'll probably choose a warm color of paint for my walls... somewhere in the brown tones... or something in the yellows or tans. OR... maybe I'll go crazy and choose a shade of orange. I need to go to the Sherwin Williams Paint website and play with their paint design thingie. Have you tried it? It's pretty neat.

Sissy is playing with it to decide the color of the exterior of her house since she's getting a new look to the front of the house.

Speaking of Chicks and Hens, I forgot to tell you Sissy's hen, Daisy, had two babies yesterday.

Sissy wasn't sure she wanted chicks around yet, but Daisy got all hormonal, Octomom-ish and totally bitchy like. The other hens were all like, "DO SOMETHING!! SHE'S DRIVING US ALL NUTS!!", so they accommodated her with a place to nest and she's now raising twins.

I'll post photos later today or tomorrow. They're so fuzzy and caaaute!!

The Blue Ridge Gal

Computer Malfunctioning

2010-07-29T09:42:00.000-04:00

No. It's not that 'blue screen of death' that Windows users experience. It's just my iMac upgrading Safari.

Should take about 1 minute.

Okay.

Completely painless, as always.

Let the Blogging resume.

Wondering if there's an upgrade that cleans up your desk in one minute?

I once heard that computers are supposed to simplify and organize our lives but I can't seem to find the program for that. Maybe I'm just pushing the wrong button.

*taps foot and waits for it*

The more time I spend on my computer the messier my house seems to get. Anyone else having this problem with their computer just not doing the job? Stupid thing won't dust, won't sweep or vacuum, won't do dishes or laundry, won't buy groceries or feed the dog, have sex with the Husband, make the bed, pick up socks from floor, scrub the toilets. In fact it won't do a THING!

I think I need a refund from Apple.

The Blue Ridge Gal

A Fashion Extravaganza!

2010-07-29T00:01:00.001-04:00

I went shopping today... for clothes... on clearance.... at Marshalls.

Big Mistake!

First up was a pretty blue, but too clingy top. AND ruffles always disappoint me once on my body.

This one was scary. I could see my flab right through it!! And no... not going to wear a tank under it. Two layers defeats the 'trying to stay cool in 90 degree plus temps'. Definitely left this one on the rack!

I liked the looks of this number... the necklaces were connected so at least I'd never lose them while out on the town... but Hubs and I are never on the town and the chains would slap me in the face while jogging.

Checked this one off the list, for now at least.

Another one with a necklace and I'm sensing a jewelry department trend going on.

I'd buy it, but the first time anyone asks me when the baby is due... well, you just know I'd have to slap them.

I think I need a bigger bra.... or heavy duty straps for these guns of mine.

You can see the look on my face.

Complete disappointment, and why did I wear running pants for this fashion event?

WHY?

Paging Nurse Diane... Nurse Diane... could you come to the emergency room please?

This one doesn't need a necklace... it needs a stethoscope!

Oh, Honey.... let's play doctor!

Let's try removing the elastic belt.....

Umm, nope.

Now I just look like a fat nurse.

Who is this woman in the mirror!!!

I want my body back!!!

THAT'S IT!

*Puts own shirt back on*

No more clothes shopping for this gal til the pounds melt off.

At what temperature does fat melt?

The Blue Ridge Gal

For Cat Lovers and Those With A Sense Of Humor

2010-07-28T21:05:00.001-04:00

I borrowed this photo from a REALLY fun blog.

He's a big, black, Dominican cat... so if you are a cat lover or simply love to laugh then check it out.

The Libe Ob Don Estorbo de la Bodega Dominicana. LOL People just never cease to amaze me at what they will blog about in order to entertain us. Deets the cat of the7msn has gone missing, so Estorbo is looking for him. Isn't that just the sweetest?

Go visit both of these wonderful bloggers!

The Blue Ridge Gal

I Leaned On You

2010-07-28T17:31:00.000-04:00

To all of you, and you know who you are, that sent a sympathy card from Tennessee, made a phone call from Virginia and E-mailed from Oklahoma today making sure that I knew you understood my recent sadness; and to each of you who left a comment on this blog about our darling Missy..... this video (which I stole from the blog Spatter) is especially for you. ALL of YOU! Blogging is indeed a circle of friends from around the world.

I Heart each and every one of you.

I leaned on you and you were there.

The Blue Ridge Gal

Gadget Phobe

2010-07-28T09:39:00.001-04:00

Oh Gawd! Forgot to clean the glass door before taking this photo this morning... but I guess it just is what it is when you have a large breed of dog in the home. If I had a small breed of pup, well.... the smears would just be at lower eye level on the door I suppose. You dog owners I'm sure can relate.

*heads off to find the Windex*

As you can tell by the expression in Handsome's eyes he does not care for photography sessions. We've never had a rottweiler that does... they continually look away from the camera gazing off in any direction possible other than the eye of the lens. What's up with dogs anyway? Ours seems to be gadget phobes. I'm thinking this calls for a government study... well, heck, they study everything else, right?

Notice the firm grip I have on his leg? Mmm hmmm, because if I let go he'll walk away.

You can find photos of all of our rotties way down towards the bottom of my sidebar. Handsome is our 4th... Guess you could say we are sold on the breed.

It's an ugly, humid, miserable weather day so we are going indoors now to see if we can burn a few calories in front of a fan since we both are wearing black today.

The Blue Ridge Gal

Prince Charming

2010-07-28T00:08:00.000-04:00

Squiggly things? Mmmm, not my bag.

BUT

My eldest granddaughter is delighted with the critters.

At age 8 she's still into Princess Barbie.

Oh, and having a Prince Charming on each shoulder.

Love you, Maddie Lou.

And when Grammy grows up she wants to be JUST LIKE YOU!

The Blue Ridge Gal

A Boo Boo Tuesday

2010-07-27T12:18:00.001-04:00

Slooooow day here in Roanoke.

But here's some tips for you.

When the tomato plants on your back deck tip over, rescue fallen tomato after checking for boo boos and bring into house to ripen on a plate in front of the window.

Just the sight of it will make your chotchkies begin to dance.

And when you can't go for a walk because you twisted/boo-boo'd your knee a bit while in the kitchen preparing your Hubby's lunch to take to the office, instead go outside and water the other tomatoes assuring them that it was a fluke gust of wind that toppled their containers and that their lives are not in danger.

Be sure to wear a cute pair of blingy sandals while doing so.

Because they make for better blogging photos.

Say something like this.

"It's okay maters.... all you still VERY GREEN maters. That nasty old wind will NOT show his face around here again in an attempt to murder you before your time."

"I will keep you safe."

"And those big fat green wormies? Well, Mama's got an extra pair of ugly, old, used flip flops for smacking with if HE shows up."

"Trust me. You're Safe!!"

Then go back inside and assure your big, mean rottweiler that his boo boo will be just fine too.

It's been a boo boo kind of morning.

The Blue Ridge Gal

Stuff I Want You To Know

2010-07-27T07:10:00.000-04:00

My newest Southern Living magazine arrived. It amazes me how some months it can be so loaded with things, photos, recipes and articles I love and other months it's simply a bust and I wonder why I've wasted my money on the subscription. Hubby usually flips through it first to see if there are any recipes he might enjoy. I look at the photos, toss it down on a table, and then return days later to browse more thoroughly. It's the way I've always approached my magazine reading.

More than anything this month, I adored this mock photo of Janis Joplin (supposedly). If I could do the late 60's and the early 70's over again I would soooo dress like this. In fact if I could get away with it I would dress this way today, although Hubby would most likely be checking into having me committed. No. Wait. He's said on numerous occasions that he would love to have afro hair again. (speaking of needing to be commited).

* thinks to herself that she wants that turquoise cabinet behind Janis because not only is the color great, but it would hide so much junk in her office*

Oh, and you may want to stop buying your underwear at Wal-Mart.... and your jeans too. You can bet I won't be buying ANY clothing items there ever again since they will now be placing RFID tags to track the undies you buy! These tags are supposed to be removable.... Check out this lovely info HERE.

On an animal note..... Handsome has been staying very close and going to the bedroom every night around 10:00 to snuggle in where it's darker, quieter and cooler. He's just been doing this since Missy has been gone, otherwise he shows no signs of missing her or of now being the only dog in the house.

I on the other hand miss her all the time.

*wipes a tear*

The blue, Blue Ridge Gal

Heavy Breathing

2010-07-26T16:09:00.000-04:00

Oh boy... this post title should draw some people looking for something other than one of my walk videos. That'll teach them for having dirty minds and being a bit on the perverted side. But the truth is that I did indeed do LOTS of heavy breathing on today's walk up the hill to the end of the street and back again. You'd think I was smoking a pack a day. Nope! I put that habit behind me in 1994 never to return. Do you know how bad smokers smell?? ICK. Hope I am not offending any of you readers who may be smokers, but honestly... if you ever quit smoking you will completely understand. Until you walk away from the habit and look at it for what it is, well.... 'nuf said.

My lungs are fresh as a ~~daisy~~ hibiscus these days..... just a bit out of shape. If I were a smoker and attempting this uphill walk you'd be picking me up from the pavement, tossing me in the bed of your pick 'em up truck and dumping me on my front lawn waiting for the am bam bulance to arrive.

Given time, the heavy breathing will hopefully disappear.

I'm tired of sounding like a dirty old man at the other end of a perverted phone call!!

The Blue Ridge Gal

Take Note Please...

2010-07-25T23:15:00.000-04:00

If you will all please turn your heads to the right and take note of my weight loss scoreboard you will see that I lost no weight this week... none, nada, zippo, zilch, ack, NONE! My comfort food pangs simply got away from me and two days I didn't even walk. THE HEAT. It's the only explanation I have for staying in bed later in the morning and then not wanting to go outdoors. Pitiful, yes... I know.

Set an alarm clock you say? That's something we do only when we have to be somewhere early, like at the airport for a flight. Otherwise we are a 'no alarm clock' house. Usually dog toenails clicking across the tile floors of the kitchen are enough to rouse us. They are continuous until there is food in the dog bowl. But even Handsome, the laziest Rottweiler we have ever had, has been sleeping in late so, yes, I will blame it on the heat.

And for your delight today I have a hibiscus mosaic to ooh and aaah about. Let me hear you now.....

Have a Marvelous Monday!!

And, visit Mary over at Little Red House to view other gorgeous mosaics today.

The Blue Ridge Gal

My July 22nd Walk

2010-07-25T11:41:00.000-04:00

I'm ready for October. Anyone else? This has been a LONG, HOT, HOT summer for us and we are wondering how much more of this abuse we must take. UGH!

The Blue Ridge Gal

Hubby Chuckles

2010-07-25T09:43:00.000-04:00

Just threw these clips together of Hubby chuckling at the HGTV show Cake Boss. I'm a huge fan of many HGTV shows, most of which he does not enjoy, BUT he does enjoy Cake Boss. They had a Cake Boss marathon on yesterday all afternoon and evening and Hubby just chuckled away.

I am posting this mostly so that daughter, Crystal can hear her dad's laugh 1800 miles away.

Love you, Crys!

The Blue Ridge Gal

Need A Haircut?

2010-07-24T10:41:00.001-04:00

My hair is a mess and I'm very much in need of a haircut but putting it off since it will also include a hilite sending the bill up over $100. I try to stretch the in between times as long as possible to keep my annul hair care costs under a bazillion dollars. Hubby had his cut this morning for a twenty dollar bill and his handsome salt and pepper natural color needs no help in staying in style.

While he was away and in the barber chair I decided to see what was on the boob tube and was in luck. It was the 1950's black and white movie 'Caged' starring Eleanor Parker. Here's the description of the movie:

An innocent lands in a womens' prison with crude inmates and a big matron called Evelyn

Now if THAT'S not a riveting one sentence description of a movie then what is? LOL

These are a few of my favorite quotes I jotted down from the movie, keeping in mind that it was filmed in 1950 and the world was a much more 'G Rated' place in the theatres at that time.

"Kitty was off her trolley"

"I got a file as long as your arm"

"Aww, stop tootin' your horn"

And my favorite line telling the other inmates what to do with their life when they get out of prison:

"Get a job slingin' hash, find a good man and have a kid"

That truly sums up what was expected of women in the 50's. Also the conservative views of this decade (ahem).

Here's a few clips from the movie. It had me in stitches when she went into a zombie like state upon having her head shaved. Happens to me every time I go to the hair salon which is another good reason for delaying my next cut and color.

Enjoy YOUR next hair appointment.

The Blue Ridge Gal

Playing Catch Up

2010-07-23T19:41:00.000-04:00

This is my Tuesday's walk video. I've fallen behind in getting them posted on time but hope to get that situation remedied ASAP. Life just seemed to get in the way.

The house is noisy tonite as I post this. Fan going downstairs and Hubby has the TV blasting away. If I had my druthers I'd pull the plug on that machine. IF we ever have another house, it will NOT have a loft open to the family room below since the sound from below carries upward and disrupts the quiet upstairs. ugh. Oh, yes, lofts look very cool but sometimes life ain't about cool. It's about shhhhhh.

The Blue Ridge Gal

Comfort Food Required

2010-07-23T15:34:00.000-04:00

I'm not posting a walk video today because I didn't take one. I should have. I could have, but my sadness kept me from walking out the front door this morning.

Hubby arrived home from the office yesterday evening early. His ballgame had been cancelled due to the immature nature of some of the men on his team who just decided not to show up. He's tired of baby-sitting grown men and this season's games may be over early due to Hubby and the coach (the more mature men on the team) being tired of holding the hands of the team. It's worn them down.

He walked in the door knowing the difficult day I had both on a emotional as well as physical level seeing to Missy's needs and having come to the decision to let her go. Her life was no longer fun. My life revolved around getting her slid out the front door to the porch and then lifting her, sliding her, boosting her hips, holding her upright so she could eat and drink. He helped me with assisting Missy when he was home, but she had become, and I'm sad to say this.... her 100 lb. body had become an increasing burden to me. I could hear the crunching of her bony hips each time I lifted her to a standing position and even though she never, ever cried out in pain, we knew... we knew she HAD to be in pain.

Hubby walked in the door last night and asked if I wanted pizza. "Well, THAT would completely blow my diet, but let's go," I said.

"I just thought you could use some comfort food tonite", he said. We know one another's needs like a book.

And so it was that I blew my diet. TOTALLY blew it last night and today is not progressing any better in the way of staying away from the bad carbs. I am expecting that any weight loss I had hoped for this week is entirely out the window. Pffttt.

A sweet life is gone from this home and diet be damned for a day or two.

And besides..... I've got carrots coming out my nose.

The Blue Ridge Gal

(THANK YOU to each and every one of you for your kind words of condolences on the loss of our Missy Girl. She LOVED carrots by the way.)

Dear Missy

2010-07-22T19:10:00.000-04:00

Our dearest Missy.... the apple of our eyes..... the cause of much laughter and the creator of oh so many wonderful memories. We thank you for coming into our lives and allowing us to share these last 5 and a half years of your life with your crippled little legs and hips, a spine that caused you to wobble from side to side and knees that required braces on many days. Never has there been a rottie in our life that dealt with so much pain and yet continued to take just one more step day after day, year after year. You, our little love bug, were our hero.

Your buddy, Max, has been waiting 2 long years for your arrival at the Rainbow Bridge to once again share the sofa with him as you look out the window.

May your legs know no boundaries in your new home,

May your frail and weakened heart fail you no longer,

May you run pain-free like the wind.

I'll leave the light on and your jingly chain hanging from your favorite shade tree
and think of you as it jangles in the spring breezes next year.

Rest in peace, Missy.
.... rest in peace.... rest in peace.

Let's Go For A Quick Drive

2010-07-22T00:00:00.000-04:00

Today was oil change day in my SUV... come on along for the quick drive if you want... You can listen to my crummy singing and I won't even care if you make fun of me. Hey, it's who I am when alone on the road.

Breakfast was not bad. Hubby takes his eggs soft and runny so you have to chase them around the plate, while I on the other hand enjoy them hard... bullets, as my dear departed dad would have called them.

Oh, and dinner last night was mighty tasty as well, leftover sliced steak over salad! Let's hope the pounds continue to roll off this week.

How are your efforts for a healthier life going?

No calorie counting or carb counting going on here at our house. Just putting less on my plate and no longer devouring empty, unhealthy calories. No candy, cookies, donuts, cake, chips..... Hoping to drop at least 2 pounds this week and I'll be singing a happy tune! Off key of course.

(Now keeping track of lost pounds on my sidebar)

The Blue Ridge Gal

Monday's Walk.. Better Late Than Never

2010-07-21T00:01:00.000-04:00

On Monday I forgot to stop and smell the hibiscus... perhaps because they were wet and I didn't want raindrops up my nose.

And had I stopped to smell the black-eyed Susans I'd probably have had a wasp up my nose!

Instead I walked around with a Monday morning case of the grumps.

Here's my grumpy walk from Monday morning. Man, do I need to visit my hair salon in a big way! Even a baseball cap couldn't hide THIS mess.

The Grumpy Blue Ridge Gal

David and Goliath At The Market

2010-07-20T07:05:00.000-04:00

Until Hubby's tomatoes on the vine ripen on our back deck I will be continuing to buy tomatoes for his 'addiction to the red things' at our neighborhood country market. They always have a VERY large selection and if I look hard enough I can find a few that are unscathed.

Even if Hubby were not in need of tomatoes you would probably still find me at the market at least once a week just to take in the view of their flowers, fresh veggies, garden and gift section.

Today they had yellow coneflowers just outside the front door and although all I had was my point and shoot in my purse, I just had to take the shot. Only two photos and kaboom! My battery was in need of a re-charge. DANG!

This butterfly had quite the time at the market as well as he fought the wind trying to hang onto flower after flower after flower. Sort of a David and Goliath battle with the wind.

The Blue Ridge Gal

Just In Case

2010-07-19T15:58:00.000-04:00

Just in case you haven't seen this BYU rendition of the Old Spice Man... well, here ya go!

The Blue Ridge Gal