Melon Pops

So, Lissy and I have been going to Weight Watchers in anticipation of her wedding quickly approaching at the beginning of November. We go on Thursday nights and I quake in my crocs everytime I have to step on that scale. I must be the slowest weight loser they have ever had, but by golly I am making progress. We have been going for about a month now and I have lost 4 pounds. When I was young, I could take off 4 pounds in about 4 days. I really do hate getting old. Now, 4 pounds a month doesn't calculate out to much weight by the time of the wedding, but I keep hanging onto the theory that the slower you lose it, the better it stays off. Any port in a storm, right?. The main reason for this post, however, is two-fold. First of all, I found this great graphic that I wanted to use on my blog (isn't it fun!?!?) and secondly, I wanted to let you know about these wonderful popsicles that I have been snacking on. They are the absolute best!!! They are the Kroger brand and they are called melon pops. There are three flavors- watermelon, honeydew and cantaloupe. I wanted to take a picture of the box for you, but of course, I ate the last one last night. So I took a picture of the root beer float ones, that Leon eats. By the way they are good too. Anyhow the boxes really look very similar. So go get yourselves a box of popsicles......UPDATE, I just pulled the melon pops box out of the recycling so you will get the 'real deal' photo.

Oh yeah, 40 cal each - you can eat two and only use 1 point.

On the hook

Well, it has been a few days since I posted. I kept wanting to do a post, but somehow couldn't motivate or think of anything fun to post about. Now, I realize that there are tons of things to talk about, but for some reason, I just wasn't into it. But today, I just felt sorry for you all and thought I better get something on there or you all might stop reading it. Notice the eastern Ohio, W.Virginia "you all". That's a whole other post. I used to hear "you'uns" when I was very small. When I came back to Ohio and reconnected with my aunts, I heard it again and it about brought tears to my eyes. Anyhow, that is not what I am posting about. I am working diligently on a crochet project that I thought I would share. I am making a shoulder bag/tote and it's really pretty cool. I have actually started it twice, because I started the first time in totally varigated yarn. Well, as I crocheted away on the bag, I realized that the pattern got really lost in the varigation of the yarn. I had already crocheted the bottom/base of the bag and the strap in the varigated. I decided to tear out what I had done of the bag, but not the base and strap. Then I would use a complimenting color to do the bag and fit in some of the varigated to pull it all together. I have enough of it done now, that I can see that it will probably be okay. I am so glad that I changed it though, because the pattern would hardly be visible in the varigated yarn. So here it is. At the top of the page is the picture from the pattern showing how it will look when it is done and my pictures of the one I am doing are right here below.

Summer is......

Pictures are compliments of Flickr. The top one is my Abby.

I was cruising blogs as I spend way too much time doing these days. But I happened upon a blog that really touched my heart and reached way back into my childhood to grasp onto some really great summer memories. I couldn't begin to tell about what summer is to me as well as these bloggers did, so I am just going to cut to the chase and give you the link, so that you can enjoy it as much as I did. Uncommon Grace invited guest bloggers to share their impressions of summer and it was really neat to read through, as this summer begins to wind down. The pictures are wonderful and the sentiments are so genuine and touching. I work full time and I honestly don't get much chance to enjoy summer, but I think this will inspire me to spend the rest of this summer trying to catch up just a little bit. Enjoy her blog!!!! I loved it!!

more waterfire from a better photographer (or camera)

Waterfire on the Mile - Columbus, OH

Well, I don't mean to bore you all, but Leons pictures were so much better than mine, that I felt obliged to put them on my blog. I guess it just takes a better photographer ( or camera!?!), right??

Anyhow, here are some pictures that he took of waterfire that evening, along with some pictures of 'our town' on the river.

regressing to the "waterfire on the mile"

Oh my gosh, what a horrible week this has been at work. I have never been so glad to see Friday at 5:00 in my life. I think I will be really nice to myself this weekend. I came home and made soup which turned out pretty good. I have been wanting to make a vegetable soup for quite a while. I know it's summer and I usually do the soup thing in the winter, but I have been in the mood. It has also been just a bit cooler, so I just did it. I wanted to use noodles and beans in my soup, but mostly wanted vegetables. I think I succeeded. I forgot to get a picture when it was in the pan, so I had to hold Leon off and take a picture of his bowl. Of course, he puts hot sauce on everything, so the red stuff is hot sauce.

I want to regress a week to share the other event that we went to last weekend. After the movie that we went to at the Arena Grand downtown, we went down to the riverfront to see the "Waterfire on the Mile". We have heard about it several times and kept intending to get down there to see it. This is just the second year (I think) and the first time they did it, they had a news team there and it was on TV. The concept comes from Providence, RI where they also do it. They set up these 'pylon' type things in the river and light them on fire. The fire reflects in the water and is quite beautiful. Of course, this is all after dark. Leon and I both took our cameras, but I could not get a good picture after they were lit. I tried several different settings on my camera, including fireworks - and it just didnt work. Many people there were also taking pictures and some of them even had their cameras on tripods. I wonder if their cameras were just better or maybe they didn't get good pictures either. Leon was not particularly happy with his pictures either. I am adding them here, but be forewarned that they definitely are not reflective of the beauty of the fire. There are some nice pictures of the buildings on the other side of the river before dark as well, that I will share.

Momma Mia, Momma Mia

We went to a movie last night. I have been wanting to see Momma Mia and I was not disappointed. I absolutely loved it. It had everything I love in a movie, singing, dancing, a Greek island, a wedding, comedy, romance - it was wonderful. Now, I realize that it has gotten mixed reviews, but I have never quite been in step with the reviews anyhow. I don't go to the movies to be scared, be enlightened, to get deep in thought, to make a political statement. I go to the movies to laugh and enjoy. I am all about the chick flicks. When I went to Momma Mia, I didn't realize that it was a musical and how delighted I was when I discovered it was. My favorite numbers were the pier dances. Loved them!!!!

Those of you who sang into a hairbrush or a bottle of hair spray when you were young will absolutely love it. Today's children have actual microphones, and more power to them; but I will always remember singing in front of the mirror with my hair brush. Ahhhhh. the days of youth. I miss them.

New cushions for the shower (..I mean chair)

We so enjoyed the shower given by Chad's aunts, sister, mom and friend and now we are on to the one that Carrie will be giving at my house. I actually am giving it too, but that darn etiquette stuff gets in the way. I really take life much too seriously sometimes. Anyhow, this blog is not about the shower, except indirectly. I am about to start something that I have never done before in my sewing, crafting experience. I received a beautiful rocker from the kids for mothers day several years ago and it has been in my den ever since. The denim-esque cushions were perfect for that room. However, it has now been moved into the living room to accommodate more people and the treadmill is in the den in its place. Obviously, the denim cushions no longer match the rest of my living room, so I want to make new ones (before the shower). I will be happier with it in the living room and it will look nice for the shower. So I wanted to share the fabric with you. I got the fabric at Joanns and got 40% off with a coupon. May I just stop and say how much I love Joanns and their coupons. Okay, on with my story. I plan to make totally new cushions because I want to keep the old ones, in case I move the chair back into the den someday. I figure if I just take my time, read some articles, how hard can it be? I don't have to reupholster, just make cushions. The back cushion that is on the chair now, is a little more complicated, so I may not copy it exactly. Anyhow, wish me luck..... Here is the fabric and the chair.

Bridal Shower

THE GIFTS

THE BRIDE AND THE FLOWER GIRL

Well, we went to the first shower yesterday, given by Chad's sister, aunts and his mothers friend. It was just outside Cleveland, and Carrie, Lissy, Abby and I made the trip. We told Abby that it was girls day and we would just have girls' fun. She turned out to be the belle of the ball and was just the most perfect little lady!! Well, there was that time where she put her dress over her head, but hey, sometimes you just have to have a little levity. The shower was very, very nice and we had a great time. It was mainly for his side of the family and since I was mother of the bride; and Carrie and Abby are in the wedding party, we were invited as well. I got to meet Chad's grandmother, sister, aunt and other assorted friends of the family and they were all very nice. Lissy and Chad got some very nice gifts and are having fun looking them all over and deciding where to put them in that "miniscule" condo. They will have to get something bigger, before much longer, I am afraid. Once the airline industry settles down and they are safe and secure jobwise, I'm sure that will become a priority. Of course, I have pictures to share and just want to mention how beautiful the cake was. The other thing that was absolutely ooh'd and aah'd over was the M&M favors. They had pictures of the happy couple on M&M's. I had certainly heard of personalized M&M's, but didn't know you could have pictures put on them. I think I got a pretty good shot and you should be able to see how cute they are.

THE CAKE

Another shower favor - with 2 chocolate hearts in it.