hot in the city, tonight!!!

Thursday evening, as I was cleaning up after dinner and minding my own business, Jason yells to me from the other side of the house, "Hey!  A fire truck just pulled up in front of Helene's house." 

That's not a good sign, as Helene is our elderly neighbor-lady with a heart problem and bone trouble.  She can barely walk, so we knew this was serious!

I dashed out of the house, wearing my black nylon exercise pants and an old ratty t-shirt of Jason's.

Running off and leaving Jason, with nary a backward glance, I was anxious to see about the hot firemen Helene's condition. 

Walking into the house, I had a sharp eye open for some of these:

I hate to have to tell you that the whole "hot firemen" hoopla is pure mythology, urban legend.

This is who I found:

A Kevin James lookalike.  And Kevin James is way cuter!

Not that I was looking all that glamorous in my housewife uniform...

None of us left the other feeling "hot."

By the way, poor Helene broke her leg and is in the hospital.  I know, I know...I sound so shallow about this whole fireman thing... 

Just so you know,  I'm not always so desperate selfish.  The next morning, I headed to the hospital with a bouquet of flowers and a get-well card for Helene.

But not before ditching  the black nylon exercise pants, the ratty t-shirt and nixing the stupid Pebbles ponytail on top of my head. 

I opted to look respectable.

You just don't know what cute doctor old friend you might run into at the hospital!

electronic book worm.

This arrived at my door yesterday...for me!

Jason ordered a Kindle as a surprise...I had no clue!  Jonathan knew, but true to form, he kept it a secret and the little booger didn't let on.

It's an amazing gadget...I don't know how to work all the features, but I'm larnin'!

Jason thought it might come in handy while on vacation.  Read in the car, by the lake, on the wide porch...that is, if I still remember how to read!

Visiting the Kindle store on Amazon is a daunting task.  There are just too many books to choose from, but thankfully, I stumbled across the "free" section and was delighted with the wonderful selection of literary classics. 

Here is what is currently on my Kindle:

* The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
*Uncle Tom's Cabin
*Always Watching (never heard of this one)
*Mixed Bags (nor this, but it could be about old-lady friendship?)
*The Malacca Conspiracy (good reviews)
*Pride and Prejudice
*Treasure Island

I'll eventually run through the free classics...because I love "free."

I need your suggestions...what amazing books have you read lately?  I need to know!

Thank you, Jason.  I adore the Kindle...and you!

bra talk!

I've often wondered...who invented these contraptions?

They're uncomfortable, binding and just a nuisance!

So I decided to conduct my own thorough investigation to find the responsible culprit. 

Typing "history of bra" into a search engine,  I naturally landed at Wikipedia.  And there I finished my thorough investigation.

Thinking some dude was responsible for developing the elusive properly fitted undergarment, I was surprised to find that I just might owe dudehood an apology.

It seems that covering one's breasts is a practice that has its roots in ancient times.  Just look at Missy here...she didn't finish dressing.  Perhaps they ran out of fabric when sewing the dress?   Maybe this is where the modern art of wearing one's pants not pulled all the way up originated.

Look! Spartan women exercised topless.  Interesting...that was waaaay before augmentation was invented and widely practiced.  If that happened today, there'd be a lot of facial injuries...just saying!

Seriously, women didn't wear tops!  Imagine how packed the fitness gyms would be today if women could exercise topless..

In 1910, Mary Phelps Jacob had to go and ruin it for us.  A socialite and endowed in more ways than one, she invented this get-up so that she'd look stunning in her sheer dress.  Why couldn't she just have bought a more suitable frock?  Why did she have to go and design a modern bra?  Why not just frolic topless?  Three years later, she was issued the first U.S. patent for the modern "brassiere."

Are you still with me?

During my extensive research, I found some guides on how to measure oneself for a bra.  There are department stores that will measure your chest, but are the salesladies ever there when you need them?  No, of course not! 

So here you go...a little clip to help you find your best-fitting contraption:



You can also find great bra-fitting resources here and here.

Now go, find a bra that doesn't bind and make you bitter!

web of words.

For a woman who usually has a lot to say, today, I "got nuthin!"

Hey, did you know that it's quite acceptable to place the comma outside the quotation marks?  I didn't know this until the day I kept second-guessing myself whilst (my British MIL's word) composing an email to my brother, Tom.  He's an editor, which pretty much means he knows his literary stuff.  Writing to anyone else, I don't angst over my grammar. But I do when writing to Tom.  Compare this to grilling for, let's say....Bobby Flay.  You know your meal is crap.  And you'd hesitate serving your sub par barbecue to the Iron Chef.  So it is with my writing compared to that of  my brother. Garbage.  Anywho, upon informing Tom of my utter lack of confidence and now at this stage in my life questioning  the writing rule I learned soooooo long ago in school, Tom told me that either method of comma placement is correct.  Americans put it within the quotation marks, Europeans place the comma outside the quotation marks.  He provided a link detailing the differences.  I cannot find the link now.  If ever I find it, I'll link it...

Currently, I have 3325 emails in my Inbox.  Do you think it's time to delete some of those?

I have 6 email addresses for my other brother, Steve...they're all similar and I never know which to use. 

Two brothers down, one to go... what "dirt" do I have on Mike?

I know.  As children, he'd move his lips to coincide with our Mom's talking.  He'd make appropriate faces and funny hand waves...of course behind Mom's back.  That's what made it so funny.  I'd be laughing  and when Mom would turn around to see what was so funny, he'd don a poker face. She never caught him...

Back to Steve...the brother with 5 defunct email addresses.  He fell in the Niagara Gorge, scaling the rock walls.  He was the family adventurer.  He survived...he spent several days in the hospital with some pretty severe wounds.  I missed out on driving the car that night...

Like I said at the beginning of this post, I don't have much to say...

Thanks for stopping by...have a beautiful day!

new purse!

After carrying around a bright blue purse for several months, I decided a new purse was in order.  Besides, that other purse is dirty and I can't seem to remember to wash it until the moment I'm walking out the door.

This is my new purse.  A little something special for our vacation. 

A purse to impress all the people I'll be with for a whole week...my family!

Ha, like they really care about my purse.  *Yawn*

That's OK, I'll still be feeling sassy with my new purse over my shoulder.

***Crickets***

paper cake.

What a cute project...especially if a "cake" event is on your horizon.  This is a Paper Cake Treat Box and you can get the tutorial here.  What an inspiring idea...each little section is a take-home box for a slice of cake. 

A great web site for those of you who love to paper craft....ewillow.com

Now go, make this paper cake and when you're finished, bake a real cake and throw a party!

Friday photo.

One last photo...for now.

This was my favorite place to sit as a little girl. 

In my Grandpa's lap. 

I would hold my dolly and Grandpa would hold his!

I miss Grandpa.

happy birthday to me.

I've been working on some sewing, but I can't show the results...yet. 

I finished the second-quarterly taxes...5 days to spare, woo-hoo!

Clothes are washing, the son is fed...

What can I share with you?

I know, another old photo!

You're so lucky.....

That's me, the blonde in the red/plaid jumper.  Kelly Ridge is to the left, barely in the shot.  Judy Brown is standing to the left of me, in the plaid dress.  Cindy Coppolino is the girl in the white blouse, leaning in and Debbie Kennedy is in the dark dress with her back to the camera. 

Those were the days when little girls wore dresses to parties...and we looked darn cute!

It was the early '70s...look at the drapes on the window.  Those would be worth a fortune today.

 I think Mom and Dad took us girls to see a Disney movie...after all, what else was there to do in Buffalo, in January, in snow?

It was a great birthday!

No Dancing Allowed!

Meet my Great-grandmother and Great-grandfather Mesmer.  Or as Grandma Moran called them, "Ma" and "Pa."  They owned a tavern and if I'm not mistaken, this is their 50th Wedding Anniversary, which is being celebrated in the back room of the tavern. 

Great-grandma was a hard-working little dynamo, tending bar and running the day-to-day operations of their little saloon.  It was complete with spittoons.  Ewww...who cleaned those out?

Dad has some great stories about the tavern, how his grandmother would take a little nap in her rocking chair, while patrons served themselves and left their drink money on the bar. 

Notice the wine chalice at each table setting, then take a look at the sign posted on the wall above the Bonds Poster..."No Dancing."  That cracks me up!  And the backdrop of the photograph was the Ladies Room door.  Hey, that's how my family rolls...apparently always has and always will!

Our Dad looks a lot like his Grandfather...

I sure wish that tavern was still standing...I'd convince Jason to move back to Grand Island and reclaim the family legacy:  Tavern Owners. 

I'd step right into my Great-grandmother's sensible shoes and restore the tavern to its former glory...Jason and I would take turns napping in the rocking chair, because  I don't trust people to self-serve, leaving their drink money on the bar.  Those days are just gone forever!

The next thing I'd do would be to remove that "No Dancing" sign and replace it with, "No Pants Below Your Crack" sign!

I've been told that "Crack Kills."  Dancing, not so much!

delicious summer pasta salad.

One evening, while dining with my fabulous girlfriends, we discussed how tired we were of preparing the same old dinners for our families.  It's not that the darlings mind eating the same repetitious meal week after week, but that we are so bored with cooking the same old meal week after week...

Enter The Barefoot Contessa.  She regularly saves me from cooking boredom.  This recipe is a family favorite which I highly recommend.  Make it for your family this weekend...

PASTA WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

serves 6 to 8

1/2 pound fusilli (spirals) pasta  *I use whole wheat, its delicious!

Kosher Salt

Olive oil

1 pound ripe tomatoes, medium-diced *I use Romas 

3/4 cup good black olives, pitted and diced *I serve these on the side
1 lb fresh mozzarella cheese, medium-diced 

6 sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped

FOR THE DRESSING

5 sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

6 tablespoons good olive oil

1 garlic clove, diced

1 teaspoon capers, drained

2 teaspoon kosher salt *I use 1 teaspoon

3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1 cup packed basil leaves, julienned

Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water with a splash of oil to keep it from sticking together.  Boil for 12 minutes, or according to the directions on the package.  Drain well and allow to cool.  Place the pasta in a bowl and add the tomatoes, olives, mozzarella, and chopped sun-dried tomatoes.

For the dressing, combine the sun-dried tomatoes, vinegar, olive oil, garlic, capers, salt, and pepper in a food processor until almost smooth. 

Pour the dressing over the pasta, sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese and basil, and toss well. 

This is a very fast and easy recipe...I hope you enjoy it.

litany of randomness.

It's time to get my website updated...I've been working on taking photos of my purses and editing the daylights out of them.  It's really not as easy as it sounds.  I mean, how hard could taking a photo of fabric really be? 

If Jen is reading this, there is the peace-sign bag.  It's been sitting in my stack...

I ran short of fabric on a purse I'm constructing...does it really need shoulder straps? 

Having hated my Shark floor cleaner for 2 years, it finally bit the dust (ha, ha) and Jason ordered me a new Bissel Steam Cleaner...how I love it!  Now my floors sparkle!

I'm thinking of adding a recipe page to my blog...anyone interested in reading that?  Last night, I made a bowl of whole wheat pasta with a tomato vinagrette-style dressing.  That one's a keeper!  Super easy...

Why can't I just get out of bed and look marvelous?  Oh 23, where did thou goest?  48 is so much work!

Thank you for listening.

let your needles fly!

You're going to love this site, especially if you knit.  It's called the Purl Bee.  Cute name, don't you think?  And there's much more to the blog than yarn...there are sewing projects, book reviews, quilting and more! 

Knitting and crocheting elude me...perhaps one day, I'll find someone who can teach a lefty some new tricks!

plans.

woke up at 5:30 am.  who does that on a holiday?  everyone else in the house is still asleep.  even the dog.  what are your plans today?  i think we'll just hang around the pool.  there's nothing to do in florida!

God Bless America!

Liberty Bell

Let Freedom Ring

Happy 4th of July!

"Be Prepared."

Aaron

Connor

Congratulations to our nephews, brothers Aaron and Connor, who earned Scouting's highest rank: Eagle Scout.

Earning this rank is no small feat; a boy must earn 21 merit badges and complete a community service project in order to obtain this very special medal. 

Our two young men have worked towards this honor for many years, diligently performing each task set before them. 

I reaffirm my allegiance

To the three promises of the Scout Oath.

I thoughtfully recognize

And take upon myself

The obligations and responsibilities

Of an Eagle Scout.

On my honor I will do my best

To make my training and example,

My rank and my influence

Count strongly for better Scouting

And for better citizenship

In my troop,

In my community,

And in my contacts with other people.

To this I pledge my sacred honor.

Congratulations, boys.  Your entire family is very proud of you.  May God continue to bless each of you and your parents, the Boy Scouts of America and the United States of America.

say, say, say!

My friend Randi, over at i have to say...is giving away an Emma Bag Grand Revival kit!  All you have to do is leave a comment on her blog at the end of the post, and you're entered to win.  Randi has the best fabrics and her customer service is second to none!  When I'm looking for fabric on the internet, I head directly to Fresh Squeezed Fabrics and immerse myself in the pool of textile bliss.

Have I mentioned that Christmas fabric has arrived?  No?  Check it out, it's gorgeous!  The best I've seen in several years.  

Now go.  Have fun shopping.  And revel in Randi's glorious fabrics!