Special Friend

"So, Ginny, how is school going? Have you made any friends?"

"Well, I do have one special friend at my school who always lights up my day...Corabella."

Too cute!

Sisters

So, last April, Alli gave Chardy a book of customized coupons for her birthday. Things like "I will...let you use me as a test subject for one of your cooking experiments...because I love you" and "I will...let you use the computer when I'm on it unless I'm doing school work...because I love you." So sweet.

Fast forward to this weekend. I go up to Chardy's room and she has accumulated about a month's worth of dirty laundry. Of couse, I tell her to do it...immediately. A few hours later, I hear the two sisters arguing over something fierce. I go upstairs to see what's going on and find Chardy with this totally wicked look on her face waving the coupon below...

New Pattern Coming Soon!

Almost done with my latest creation... Will post as soon as I get the pieces sewn together and the pattern written up!

The Joe Biden Hat

I happened to see Joe Biden being interviewed on TV today and it reminded me of something I always meant to blog about but never did.

So, a few years ago, I crocheted this hat for my daughter, Alli.


She wore this hat all the time. One day, she was at some event that then-Senator Biden was at. Of course, being a senator, he was surrounded by all sorts of people who wanted to shake his hand and chat with him, etc., etc.

But, here's where it gets neat: Joe Biden caught sight of Alli's hat from across the room, left the crowd of people, and walked over to speak to her. She came home that night all excited because "Joe Biden liked my hat and said his granddaughter would really love it!"

To this day, I think, no matter your politics, it was pretty cool of the guy to make a little kid feel special in a room full of adult bigwigs... Sadly, the hat itself is now long gone...lost at school a few months later...sigh.

First Day

Summer went by so fast...as usual. It's back to school, and this time (for one year only, folks) all the kids are at the same school! So, without further ado, here are the obligatory first day of school pictures:






And, yes, they were *sooo* embarrassed that I took a picture of them in the school hallway! But, c'mon, it is Ginny's first day of preschool. One day, they will understand...

Throwdown!!

So, Chardy is addicted to the Food Network Channel. After Next Food Network Star, Chopped, and Iron Chef, our favorite show is Throwdown with Bobby Flay.

After watching a few episodes, Chardy and I decided to do our own slightly-modified version of a weekly throwdown. Each week, we pick a new dessert and main course to make. She's the "Head Chef" on one dish while I'm the "Sous Chef" and vice versa for the other dish. Then, we cook up a big meal, and have the rest of the family be our critics!

So far, it's been a huge success...except for the fact that we have never writen down any of our menus!! So, here's the list of our earlier throwdowns, and as soon as I get a camera, we will start posting pictures of our meals, too!

Throwdown #1: Chicken Tikka Masala and Lemon Cupcakes
Throwdown #2: Vegetarian Samosas and Lassi
Throwdown #3: Potato Jumble and Irish Soda Bread
Throwdown #4: Mozzarella Sticks and Creme Brule

Next Up??
Possibly Beef Stew (Chardy's had a hankering) and either Buttermilk Biscuits or Dumplings...

Two Wishes

Ginny says to me, "One time I wished on two stars."

What did you wish for??

"A butterfly garden and a fire truck with a long ladder to save kitties."