Friday Koffee Klatch

[Molli526]

Am I really starting this? Wow :)

Not much going on here this weekend. Today is Ray's birthday :) We will go out to dinner to one of our favorites, then back home for dessert. I am making Mom's Old Fashioned Layer Cake with Fluffy Chocolate Frosting from the Cake Mix Doctor.

Tomorrow, not much going. I want to go to the Royal Oak Garage Sale. They shut down a big parking strutcture right downtown and let vendors set up. I've gotten some cool stuff there in the past. I also want to hit the RO Farmer's Market to get something to inspire me for Supper Club on Sunday.

Not much else going. I am on home study today - YIPPEE!!! :D so just a conference call for me today.

[SandyM]

Hi Molli!

Happy Birthday, Ray!!! :D

Molli - have fun at the Farmers Market and Garage Sale. There must be more than one Farmers Market in RO - my SIL and I went last year, and it was quite forgettable. Hardly a vegetable to be found. It was more like a flea market. :rolleyes:

Jim and I are going out for our anniversary tonight (16 years - whew! :) ). Tomorrow we're going to a pool party at the house of friends who have sold their house and are building in Ft. Myers. (They were on us continuously until we bought our tickets to visit them for a week between Christmas and New Years :D ) It'll be tough to see them go - very close friends.

Nothing Sunday - perhaps I'll start packing for vacation. I always overpack, so getting a week's head start is probably a good idea! ;)

Happy Friday, everyone!

[Molli526]

Happy Anniversary Sandy and Jim!


Sandy, I bet you went on Sunday. On Sunday it is more of a flea market, I don't know why they even call it the Farmer's Market, b/c the farmer's aren't even there :rolleyes:

Have fun at your party this weekend.

[SandyM]

Originally posted by Molli526
Happy Anniversary Sandy and Jim!

Thanks! :)


Originally posted by Molli526
Sandy, I bet you went on Sunday. On Sunday it is more of a flea market, I don't know why they even call it the Farmer's Market, b/c the farmer's aren't even there :rolleyes: [/B]

Ahhhh. This was indeed the case. People have raved to me about the ROFM, so I was surprised. I guess I'll head back on a Saturday some time.

I hear the Northville FM on Thursdays is really good.

By the way - that cake sounds awesome!

[Gracie]

Good morning! I am so unmotivated at work today. I have things to do to tie up loose ends before my business trip to Philly the end of next week and I just can't bring myself to get to them.

Happy Birthday Ray and Happy Anniversary Sandy!

My friend and I went to the Boston Farmer's Market (it's called Haymarket) last Saturday and got tons of fruit and veggies. We went together because if something is sold 10/$1, they make you buy all 10 so we split some stuff. All in all a great trip with awesome prices. Zucchini and summer squash were 0.33/pound, blackberries, raspberries and blueberries were $1/box, tomatoes were 0.50/pound, whole pineapples were 0.50, etc. We ended up with way more than we planned! :)

This weekend is less structured. DD has a birthday party Saturday night where they're all going into Boston for dinner and shopping. She's looking forward to it. That's all the plans we have.

A second and third contractor are looking at our kitchen expansion plans next week. Please cross your fingers for me that they will miraculously come in at least $20K less than the last quote! :rolleyes:

Hi to anyone posting at the same time as me!

Loren

[Peggy C.]

Goodmorning ladies and lurkers!:D

Sandy I'll tell you that some of the "farmer's markets" around here are also more like a flea market. They sell very little produce and lots of Watkins, tupperware and junk! I forgot, where are you going for vaca? Napa? Italy was out last I recall. But my recall isn't very good. happy anniversary!

Molli have fun at dinner tonight. What kind of restaurant is it?

I'm light on plans this weekend, unless you consider the amount of cleaning I need to do. We are going to an Irish festival tomorrow to hear Gaelic Storm, they were the band in the movie Titanic. (I actually never saw the movie so this is all heresay)

And I'm babysitting my nieces on sunday.

[HRJ]

Morning!

There seem to be two klatches going this a.m., hope I'm posting on the right one!

What's going on this weekend -- well --

We're going to Guatemala to bring Victor home!!! :) :) :)

We're still waiting for the US embassy to issue his visa, but our agency is 99 percent sure that will happen early next week. We just couldn't see spending the weekend waiting up here without him, so we decided to fly down and finish the waiting in Guatemala, with him. So we fly out tomorrow!

We're scheduled to come home the end of next week, but if the paperwork is delayed, we'll have to re-schedule and come home a little later. (Thank goodness we're able to use our Marriott Rewards points to help cover some of the cost of the hotel stay. The Guatemala City Marriott, BTW, is really fabulous.)

We've been working frantically to get everything done at home that we need to before the trip. I'm sure my home will never be this clean again! ;) Likewise, I'm trying to finish everything up at work, since today will be my last day until sometime in October.

And, all you moms out there, if you have any tips about flying with a 2-year-old, I'd be glad to hear them.

Happy Birthday to Molli's Ray, Happy Anniversary to Sandy and Jim, and hi to everyone who has posted while I'm typing.

Helene

[SandyM]

Loren - Yikes!! I hope these next quotes come in closer to your expectations! When do you hope to be done? I know - you haven't even started yet. I was just wondering if you have a "target" date.

Peggy - we're going to Northern CA for our vacation. Monterey for 5 days, and then just north of San Francisco (Bodega Bay) for the remainder. Very excited. :)

That Irish festival sounds like great fun. I love all things Irish. :D

[SueK]

Good morning!

Molli- Hope your DH has a nice bday. That cake sounds good!
Sandy- Happy Anniversary!
Loren - Good luck w/the kitchen quotes!

We won't be doing much this weekend except starting to clean. The offer we put in on the house we looked at was accepted, so now we have to get this one ready to put on the market. We'll be moving into the new one before school starts, so I guess we'll have to get this one ready by mid-August. At least I get out of the painting and lifting. :)

Peggy- Up until last week I was planning to come to Cleveland to visit my sister, and was going to PM you. But now I'm not going since DH and I have so much house work here. :( One of these days I'll finally make it out there!

[SueK]

Just posting again to say Congrats and good luck to Helene and DH! That is such exciting news!

As for flying, DD always liked to have brand news books or (little) toys to occupy her. Plus we took munchies for her since it doesn't seem like you get fed much on planes anymore. I'm sure he'll do fine!

[oskie]

Ok, so I'm actually in work on a Friday and not on the road - mind if I play? :)
(of course, this is the first weekend in a month that nothing is going on!)
Good morning all! DBF is coming by tonight for dinner. It's been a crazy week for the two of us, so I'm in the mood for something low-key. The rest of the weekend is pretty empty, just the usual laundry and housecleaning chores.

Loren, I was also at Haymarket last Saturday. DBF and I were up visiting my parents and he had never been to Boston before. I took him all over the place and wanted to swing by the market on the way home, but I guess we waited too long. Everything was closing down and it was just some sort of chaotic warzone with fruits and veggies spilled all over the place and people trying to break down and clean up. DBF called it Saving Private Ryan, but with produce! :eek:

-Jo

[lhall]

Happy Birthday Ray!

Happy Anniversary Sandy & Jim!

YEAH! Helene, DH, and DS Viktor!!!!

Helene,

That's such great news. I haven't flown with my kids, but I'd suggest you take several books and small toys. You can switch out toys to keep him interested. Also, take something he's familiar with like a favorite toy or blanket. Finally something to suck on. You have to be careful with hard candy, but maybe a sucker (if you watch closely) to help with take off and landing. Sucking can relieve the pressure on his ears.

Molli,
Enjoy your dinner out.

Sandy,
Have fun at your party, vacation, and have a great anniversary.

Peggy,
Have fun at the festival and spoiling your nieces.

Sue,
Great news on the house!

Loren,
Fingers are crossed for you remodelling quote.

Tomorrow is the slumber party. Ginger hasn't exploded yet, but she's close. She also has a school play this morning so I'll be leaving around 9:30 to go see that.

Oh, and no bosses here today. :D

Leigh

[Peggy C.]

Congratulations Helene! OMG you must be so excited! That is just the best news I've heard in ages. I'm so happy for all of you.

[HDgirl]

Good morning all!!

Sandy - Happy 16th Anniversary!!!

Helene - Congrats! I'm so happy for you.

Molli - Happy Bday to your hubby. Have a wonderful time tonight.

Peggy - so how was the BBQ?

Not much going on this weekend. DH= has been very motivated and started stripping our staircase. It's almost done. It's also apart. The banister and spindles are in the basement. He has finished those already. We are going with two different stains, a dark and a light one. Can't wait to FINALLY get the foyer done! Or at least make some progress!

Hi Oskie, Sue, Loren and anyone else I missed!!!

[Gracie]

Originally posted by HRJ
And, all you moms out there, if you have any tips about flying with a 2-year-old, I'd be glad to hear them.

Don't do it!!!!! :D :D :D :D Just kidding!! Congratulations Helene! I bet you're flying so high now you don't need the airplane! Do you dare bring him to lunch some day while you're off? Think he'd like the spice store in Inman Square???? :D :D

Peggy - we love Irish festivals. There's usually a couple going on around here in the summer.

Sandy - originally we wanted the kitchen to be completed before the end of pool season. We have an i/g pool and were looking to expand, renovate and make a sliding glass door to a deck out to the pool. So now we're thinking we'd like to have Thanksgiving dinner in our new dining area. It'll probably be NEXT pool season! :rolleyes: But we're still hopeful.

Sue - congratulations on the house!

Jo - how cool you were at Haymarket! Where do your parents live? Too bad DBF got such a lousy view of Haymarket. It's really a fun place. We also got pita bread at the bakery and I wanted to get fish but I ran out of money.

Leigh - is this Ginger's first sleepover? How exciting for her! Do you have games/activities lined up for them? The most I've ever done is 8 girls including DD.

Loren

[Molli526]

Yay Helene! Welcome home Victor!! :D


Loren,
Your farmers market sounds great. I am pretty sure our prices aren't as good as yours.

Peggy, the festival sounds fun

Sue, did you decide who will be doing the painting?

Leigh, is the slumber party at your house?

[lhall]

Molli,

Yes, it's at hour house. 4 screaming 5-year-olds with one 2-year-old tagging along. DH and I may not have any hair left by the time Sunday afternoon rolls around. :rolleyes:

It should be fun.

Welcome Oskie,

Karen,
Any chance your DH= could some finish our front door. We got it installed and caulked, but still have to fix up the door, fill in the nail holes and paint. We're going to do the outside first, and finish the inside when we get the storm door installed.

Leigh

[SandyM]

Leigh - your quote "Ginger hasn't exploded yet" just made me giggle. I'm sorry - I know it wasn't meant to be funny. :rolleyes:

Helene - awesome news!!! Congratulations, FINALLY!! :) Good luck on that flight. He'll probably be just so tired, he may sleep the entire way. Of course, that could quite possibly be wishful thinking. ;)

Hi everyone else! :D

[SueK]

Originally posted by Molli526
Sue, did you decide who will be doing the painting?
Not yet. If DH doesn't have to travel, then he might do it himself. He'll find out his schedule next week probably. If he will be out of town, then we'll be calling T.P. for a quote.

Leigh - You're a brave soul! Wear earplugs! :)

[Molli526]

Wow Leigh, you guys are brave. I remember slumber parties at that age. :rolleyes: One time, we decided to eat ALL the candy in our goodie bags before we ate dinner. We were SO sugared up. Well, at least you will have no problems putting your girls to bed on Sunday night :)


Sue, I hope it works out for whoever will get it done the best & fastest.

[Peggy C.]

Loren how was your DD's play? Also I'll keep my fingers crossed for a more reasonable quote on the kitchen.

I'm having some serious kitchen envy as of late. My sister just bought a new house with a beautiful (aesthetically and functionality wise) kitchen. Mine isn't bad, it just really needs a face lift and some fine tuning. Some day. sigh.

Sue to bad about your Cleveland trip. That would have been fun. That's ok, next time.:)

oskie that saving private ryan line is hysterical. I can just see it. Though I have to tell you those fruit markets can be violent. I was at one here with my sister once and she got hit with flying rotten strawberries. Ok it was only 1, but still. Evidently the farmer was picking through his stuff and lobbing (no really lobbing not loving) stuff over his shoulder and it just hit my sister on her neck/chest!

Leigh how many girls are you having for the sleep over? Do you have any activities planned for them or are they just going to entertain themselves?

Oh and by the way how is the progress ont he front door?

Karen Ihave to say the BBQ was a big disappointment. The weahter was yucky and the bbq was catered! Have you ever heard of such a thing? The band was good when they could play...wind rain lightening does not a good bbq make. The bikes we saw were awsome, but few and far between. Oh and they had yucky beer. BUT in all fairness it might have gotten better later when it cleared up, we only stayed for about an hour and a half and then left.

The foyer project sounds great. Can you see your bannister and steps as you come in the house?

[lhall]

Originally posted by SandyM
Leigh - your quote "Ginger hasn't exploded yet" just made me giggle. I'm sorry - I know it wasn't meant to be funny. :rolleyes:

Actually,

I was meant to be funny. She's been counting days. Yesterday she woke up and began saying "two more days, two more days, two more days" :D Her best friend has been doing the samething. It took a few minutes for the friend's mom to figure out what she was talking about. Al and I were teasing Ginger this morning by telling her we thought her party was last weekend. :D Then Ginger came up to me and to make sure it was tomorrow.

Molli,
There's not that much candy in the house. :D We are making a Giant Cookie Pizza for dessert though. Chocolate chip cookie, covered with milk chocolate frosting, and topped with M&Ms, gum drops, and fruit rollups. :D :D

Leigh

[Peggy C.]

Leigh ignore all my questions in my last post, you already answered them!

Oh and that dessert should lock you in as the best mom ever!

[Gracie]

Originally posted by Peggy C.
Loren how was your DD's play?

DD's play was awesome! Thanks so much for asking! It was long (3 hours plus intermission) and warm, but thankfully not too hot. She was in 3 numbers/vignettes, one of which she had the lead as an elementary school teacher in a scene from "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown". The song was "A Book Report on Peter Rabbit". The other numbers she was in was "Heart" from D*mn Yankees (you know that one - you've gotta have heart.... miles and miles and miles of heart) and "I Love a Piano" from some play I'd never heard of and have already forgotten.

The kids had a wonderful time, as always. Afterwards, one of the boys hosted a pool party. It was her first party with boys that wasn't a boy's birthday. It was well supervised (the kids ranged in age from 10 - 14) and they had fun. I took the opportunity to give her "the talk" about parties and uncomfortable behavior, etc :rolleyes: but it wasn't necessary this time.

Loren

[Molli526]

Originally posted by lhall

We are making a Giant Cookie Pizza for dessert though. Chocolate chip cookie, covered with milk chocolate frosting, and topped with M&Ms, gum drops, and fruit rollups. :D :D

Leigh

That is going to be SO much fun! :D

[KathrynY]

Good morning!

The weather forecast says we're going to have a beautiful weekend, so we plan to get out and enjoy it :).

Our town has an annual Handcrafts Exposition (http://www.handcraftcenter.org/) (info under "Expo") that's held on the green every year, and it's this weekend so we'll probably stop in for a while. Lots of neat stuff - blown glass, pottery, weavings, paintings etc.

Tomorrow evening we're going to hear the CT Symphony at an outdoor concert at Harkness Memorial Park (http://dep.state.ct.us/stateparks/parks/harkness.htm). It's a beautiful place - 180 degree views of Long Island Sound from the grounds of the park. Mr. Harkness was an investor in Standard Oil, and the park and mansion were his summer home, gifted to the state after his death. This time of year we're pretty certain to see a wedding reception at the mansion, and there are restored formal gardens on either side of the mansion that should be lovely right now too.

We'll be taking a picnic supper to the concert. I'm planning to try the Zesty Black Bean and Corn Salad from July '03 that's gotten such good reviews. Not sure what else to go with it yet.

Helene - Congratulations and have a wonderful trip!! I'm so excited for you! :D

Mollie - Have a wonderful dinner out, and Happy Birthday to Ray!

Sandy - Happy Anniversary to you and Jim!

Leigh - Yeah on no bosses at work today! Have fun with the slumber party - you sure are brave ;).

Peggy - Have a great time at the Irish Festival!

Sue - That's wonderful your offer was accepted on the house. Have fun with all of the planning and moving preparations.

Loren - Fingers crossed for good news on that estimate!

Hi Jo and Karen - your low-key weekends sound great :).

[Molli526]

Leigh,

That sounds just awesome. Is it Ginger's birthday? I bet Mariel will love hanging with all the girls :)

[lhall]

I don't have much besides a Menu planned. I figure they will play inside and outside and maybe watch a movie after Mariel is in bed. We also got a Playstation2 last week and have Finding Nemo and Piglet's Big Game for the kids.
(DH and I have have LOTR: Two Towers and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City :D) The store was out of Harry Potter. :frown:

We're having 3 girls over, but I only got an RSVP from one. I do hope the other girls can come. Yes, this is the first sleepover. I do have a menu.

We're doing
Snacks:

Fluffy Peanut Butter Dip with fruit (PC Kids in the Kitchen)
Popcorn

Dinner:
Homemade Pizza (Cheese, Ground Beef, and Turkey Pepperoni)
Giant Cookie Pizza (PC Kids in the Kitchen)

Breakfast:
Blueberry Muffins (with the berries picked last week)

Drinks:
Milk
Juice
Homemade Lemon-Lime Soda (Pretend Soup)

Loren,
Do tell us about the play! ...er, nevermind. I see your post. Glad everyone had a great time.

Oskie,
Enjoy your quiet weekend!

Peggy,
I'd already typed this so I posted anyway.

Leigh

[SandyM]

Originally posted by lhall
Actually,I was meant to be funny.

Whew. Then I'm relieved of the guilt of the giggles. :D

That dessert idea is awesome - the kids will love it!

Kathryn That Handcrafts Explosion sounds amazing! Have fun at the symphony!

[KathrynY]

Leigh - I love it! A menu for the sleepover :D.

[HDgirl]

Originally posted by lhall
Molli,

Karen,
Any chance your DH= could some finish our front door. We got it installed and caulked, but still have to fix up the door, fill in the nail holes and paint. We're going to do the outside first, and finish the inside when we get the storm door installed. Leigh

Sure, I'll send him over! Funny, the next thing is a new front and storm door. DH= is good like that...he's very handy.

Have fun with your DD's slumber party. I remember those days!

[oskie]

Thanks for the welcome (not that it's unusual on this board!) A quiet weekend will be nice - maybe I'll even try some of the jams/jellies I keep reading about over on the Christmas thread. Then again, reading about everybody's exciting plans have me wanting to do something!

Loren, my parents live in Braintree. We hopped on the T, got off at Park St. and walked around until our feet ached. Since DBF had never been there, we stuck to the typical Quincy Market/North End/Public Garden route. Sort of on the Freedom trail, but not really.

The Haymarket Demilitarized Zone probably wasn't the best way to end the day, but luckily he has a good sense of humor. :D

Off to make some tea (a gift from my swapmate, karamel :))

Hello to all the sleepyheads just joining (and to those in other time zones!)

[jjsooner73]

Good morning. Wow, I'm late today. I thought about starting the Klatch before I went to bed at 1 a.m. this morning. :rolleyes:
I leave for camp in the morning, so I was finishing packing and such so tonight can be DBF's. We're just going to dinner at a local Italian place and then probably watching a movie.
It's been an emotionally rough week, but now I'm looking to a fun-filled week with the kids at camp!
Gotta run-I'll read everything else and check back from work. :)

[lhall]

Thanks Karen,
I'll send my DH up and you can visit OCC. We have to stay up till 11 on Mondays now to watch American Chopper :rolleyes:

We replaced the whole door frame, not just the door. I think the installation took about 5 hours for two people and one of them has experience isntalling door frames.

Molli,
No it's not anyone's birthday. Just a sleepover party. Ginger's birthday is in January and Mariel is in December.

Peggy,
How is the planning for your Christmas in July party going? I keep forgetting to check that thread. I made the Spicy Sweet Cucumbers over Tomatoes again. That's a nice summer time salad that's red, white and green so it's great Christmas colors. Unfortunatley it's not finger food.

Kathryn,
Well, there's not much I can say. I'm just a foodie and anal retentive too. :D
Enjoy the Expo.

Leigh

[HDgirl]

Originally posted by Peggy C.


The foyer project sounds great. Can you see your bannister and steps as you come in the house?

That's too bad about the BBQ.

Yes, when you walk into the foyer the staircase is to the left. We have a decent foyer considering the house was built in 1920. The staircase is wider than most. We are so excited about getting it done. It's actually more than just the staircase...it's the foyer, stairs and upstairs hallway. We are going to do wall to wall in the upstairs hall and a runner down the stairs. We will refinish the hardwood floor in the foyer. Can't wait!

Sorry....got carried away there!

[lorilei]

Morning everyone!
No coffee for me -- YET -- today. But I'm contemplating it. It's actually quite cool outside this morning, so coffee doesn't feel terribly out-of-place. And for some reason, I'm having a hard time keeping my eyes open!

Leigh - THat sleepover sounds like such fun... and the menu sounds just perfect :) I hope you guys have a great time!

Peggy - Have fun at the Irish festival... I'm waiting with bated breath for Irish Fest here in Milwaukee (August). :) So, can I live vicariously through you in the meantime??

Morning Sandy, oskie, Loren, Helene (congrats!!!!), Jennifer et al...


Our weekend is slowly filling up with activity. Tonight, my parents are coming over for dinner (and to see some of the new developments at our house). I have my menu all planned out:

DINNER:
Atlantic Salmon with crab stuffing
Kohlrabi parmesan
Steamed sugar snap peas
Savignon Blanc

DESSERT:
Peach pie with pecans and caramel sauce :) (I'm eager to make use of all of those lovely in-season peaches!!)

Saturday will likely warrant a trip to the Farmer's Market, and I'm also hoping to get to the library. I'm going to make a serious attempt at making time in my life to READ again... so this is a first step. I have a feeling having a deadline (the due date) for my reading will be a motivational tool. :)

Sunday we don't have anything planned yet. So, I'm hoping for a nice, relaxed day. Maybe some errand running... possibly a bit of work outside in the yard...

Overall -- a pretty good weekend :)
Wishing you all the same!!

[lhall]

Lorilei,
Your menu sounds yummy! What time should I be there? Did you get your dining room wall paper finished?

Peggy,
Too bad about the BBQ.

Leigh

[MKSquared]

You guys are just wrong, wrong, wrong. It's JUST turning 9 AM, and we're already on page 2? UGH.

I'll go read the posts now.

Page 2? Already? :rolleyes:

[Molli526]

Lori,

Your menu sounds great.

Jennifer,

Have fun at camp this week :D

MK,

Not everyone is a college student ;) ;) I also happen to have a dog who have super hearing, and we slept with the windows open, so he heard someone walking by at 7am.

[lhall]

Molli,
We had a garbage truck on our street before 7 this morning! I was rather surprised to see them so early. When school starts the bus doesn't come until 7:15.

Jennifer,
Enjoy your time at camp, you do work with children with cancer don't you?

MK,
I've been up for 4 hours now.

Leigh

[KathrynY]

Mornin' Jennifer, Lori and Mary Kate! :D

Molli, that's funny Max wakes you up. Sam (the cat) wakes us up every morning by 5:30 am :eek: - she pretends to be hungry, but we think she's just bored and looking for someone to play with :rolleyes:.

Karen - your house sounds lovely! :)

[Gracie]

Hi Kathryn, Karen, Lori, Mary Kate and Jennifer!

Jennifer - is this camp that you're going to the one that you had to be completely over your cold/flu? Have fun!

Kathryn - I'm glad the weather in CT is supposed to be great all weekend. We are having an iffy Saturday here.

Lori - your dinner party menu sounds great.

DD is starting day camp for 2 weeks Monday. She loves camp. This Thursday and Friday I'll be in Philadelphia (I'll miss the klatch next week - sniff!!).

Next Saturday I am going above and beyond the call of parental duty and taking DD to the American Idol concert. We are meeting my mother for dinner beforehand since it's her birthday, but it's just us for the concert. DD is totally in love with Clay. Should be a great time. :rolleyes: :D

Loren

[MKSquared]

OK, I think I'm all caught up now. :D Happy birthday to Ray, Happy Anniversary Sandy and Jim, and a big congratulations to Helene! Yay!

So, once again, I have no particularly fun plans for the weekend. Study and work, work, work. :p One of my classes ends next week, so a big project's due, but after that, my workload is significantly reduced. I also need to find a kid somewhere to do some literacy testing. Anyone know a 7 year old in the Columbus area? ;)

Loren, I've even made it to Haymarket! :D I was in town in Boston for my first conference - I hadn't even graduated from college yet, and I wanted to attend a symphony conference, so I went. One morning was very open, so I decided to walk the Freedom Trail (Liberty trail?) - you know, the painted line on the sidewalk that winds through downtown? All of a sudden, very close to Paul Revere's house, the line disappeared into a sea of vendors' booths! I still don't know which house Revere grew up in. :D

I had an odd dream last night. Dreamt that I was somewhere else - I don't know where - and I needed to wash my red linen dress. So I flushed it down the toilet. Then it got squirted with toilet bowl cleaner, so it got a bleach stain on it. Anyone care to analyze THAT? Why can't I have normal dreams?

Good morning, everyone! :D

[Peggy C.]

Loren when I was a sophmore or a junior we did "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown", but I can't seem to remember that song. But as previously stated, I have a horrible memory. I think you were wise to have the talk with your daughter now. I'm sure the coed events will start coming faster and more furious. And kids just seem so much older than when we were that age.

Kathryn your weekend sounds busy AND really fun. Will take the bike to these events? Or do you end up buying stuff and need the car?

jjsooner, ok it's killing me, why can't I remember your first name? My gut feeling is Jennifer, but then I think jessica? Sorry. Anyway I hope you have a wonderful time at camp. It sounds like you got a lot out of it last year so I'm sure it will be the same. Are a lot of the same counselors returning?

Leigh the planning is going very well for the party. I definitely stick to finger foods, so that people can mill about and not worry too much. I'm trying to get everything made in advance and frozen or refrigerated appropriately. I did the brie kisses the other night and froze them. I had a few left over that wouldn't fit in the pans so I made them into little turnovers and snacked on a few. They are very yummy! I think I'll make the fruited torta tonight that chocolate rose posted. She said it can be frozen. Thanks for asking.

Karen our houses sound similar, but it sounds like you have an open staircase. The staircase is a huge bonus when moving! I think if the weather had been better the bbq would have bee too!

Lori, I've always wanted to go to the Milwaukee Irish festival. Someone around here organizes a bus trip there every year, but we never seem to beable to make it. I think it is in August if I remember correctly. This Irish festival is nice. Lots of good vendors, music and dancing. I used to Irish Step Dance (way before Michael Flatly:rolleyes: ) so I'm sure I'll run into some old friends.

Your menu sounds great. Will you dine alfresco? Oh and have you finished the wall paper? AND have you had the buffet delivered yet? Will you share pics?

Sorry MK! I think Helene's good news got us all going this am.

[Molli526]

Well, the cake is finished. The frosting is so good! I have never made a chocolate buttercream. I definitely think this will show DH, there is something out there that beats the can :)

[HDgirl]

Kathryn - I've been to the Guilford Craft Fair before. We won't be down this weekend otherwise we would have gone. Need to keep DH= going since he's on a roll! Hey, when we gonna get together for a ride?

Mary Kate - ok, thanks for the laugh about your dream! At least you don't dream about what your next motorcycle is going to be!

Leigh - since you guys are watching OCC...that's where it starts...are we going to see you on the back of a hog???

[Peggy C.]

LOL MK, I have those kind of dreams (ok not exactly that dream, that would be beyond scary!) all the time!

Ok I see it's Jennifer, I'm glad my gut was right.

[MKSquared]

Originally posted by Molli526
I definitely think this will show DH, there is something out there that beats the can :)

Butt ;) Molli, your can would be hard to beat! :D

[MKSquared]

I apologize. Recently, it's like something's invaded my head, tells me bad jokes, and then makes me share them. It's wrong. I apologize. :p

[Peggy C.]

Originally posted by MKSquared
I apologize. Recently, it's like something's invaded my head, tells me bad jokes, and then makes me share them. It's wrong. I apologize. :p

My guess is it's a Dad, don't they alway have the most awful jokes? Or maybe that's just my DOD.(dear old dad)

[MKSquared]

Originally posted by Peggy C.


My guess is it's a Dad, don't they alway have the most awful jokes? Or maybe that's just my DOD.(dear old dad)

You may be on to something, Peggy ... :D

[Molli526]

Originally posted by MKSquared
I apologize. Recently, it's like something's invaded my head, tells me bad jokes, and then makes me share them. It's wrong. I apologize. :p

You got a laugh out of me, so no worries :)

[lorilei]

Leigh - We're having dinner around six tonight... so you're welcome to join us!!

And YESSSSSS!! I finally finished the wallpaper in the dining room, and it looks just swell :)

Peggy - Yes, we got the new buffet. I'll have to dig around in my files to find a picture for you. And THEN somebody is gonna have to give me hand trying to post it to the boards :D

No pix of the new wallpaper yet, though :)

[Beth]

I haven't had coffe yet and this looks like the bottom of page 2 -- no wonder I don't make it through this thread very often!

I'm trying to enjoy a quuiet moment while the boys are still down -- of coarse, I was throwing them out of the gameroom for the third time at midnight last night. My boys have a friend sleeping over because his mother was having surgery today. They were severely reprimamnded and told their punishment would be decided this morning. I was ready to cancel a certain boy's birthday party.

Two other boys will be coming this afternoon for DS1s birthday party -- a sleepover. In order to fit the party in, we are combining it with the Watermelon Festival tomorrow and taking all 5 boys to eat watermelon, spit seeds and beg for stuff to buy. :D After they will have no doubt been up half the night. This may be a disaster in the making. Think they will notice if I put benadryl in their drinks? ;) :D

On Sunday, I hope DH will be able to finish powerwashing our drive and the back of the house. I am also trying to decide how to paint my son's room in a way we can both live with -- he wants black and red walls. OR all black walls. And black furniture. He's turning 10 next week. :rolleyes: But I did think his idea of putting glow in the dark eyes on his little brother's black bedskirt was cute -- his room is in a jungle theme. ;)

Hope we survive the next 36 hours! At least we are done with all the repairs and clean up of the other house -- waiting for that perfect buyer to come snap it up now. :) Better run to the store and bake a cake!

Happy Anniversary Sandy!. Molli, happy bday to your DH (making chocolate cake here too). Helene, so excited for you -- snacks, lap sized books, puzzles, a drawing board -- kind of depends on the chil'd interests and attention span. The flight attendant might have some crayons to offer.

Have a great weekend everyone!

[Peggy C.]

Oh Beth you brave brave soul! Can you take the boys swimming today? Nothing wears kids out like swimming, or maybe that's just me.

Oh and I think the red/black bedroom sounds very masculine. Maybe you can find some kind of wallpaper border or wallpaper and do the bottom half in mostly black and above in red. With A LOT of white accents?

Lori if you can email me the picks I can "probably" get them on to this thread.

[HDgirl]

Originally posted by lorilei
[B and YESSSSSS!! I finally finished the wallpaper in the dining room, and it looks just swell [/B]

That is so great that you have the patience. That is one thing we don't do is wallpaper....I have some paint techiques going on instead, not in every room though. When we moved into our house every room except one bedroom was wallpapered...it's all down now.

[SueK]

http://www.cbur.com/canedy.jpg



Here's a picture of the house we've bought.http://homepics.realtor.com/Image9/http/CentreCounty//Listings/Large/068/0320538.jpg

[lorilei]

Originally posted by HDgirl


That is so great that you have the patience. That is one thing we don't do is wallpaper....I have some paint techiques going on instead, not in every room though. When we moved into our house every room except one bedroom was wallpapered...it's all down now.

HaHA! You flatter me :) This room was a labor of love... but I've vowed not to touch wallpaper ever again!

Our house was very similar. Most rooms were wallpapered. The kitchen was the WORST. (SandyM will attest) It was completely COVERED (switchplates and all) with not one -- but TWO different kinds of wallpaper. There were up to FOUR layers in some areas, and it took me DAYS just to get it down :)

So, you see. I'm breathing a sigh of relief. Utterly painful relief :p

[HDgirl]

Originally posted by lorilei


HaHA! You flatter me :) This room was a labor of love... but I've vowed not to touch wallpaper ever again!

Ok, that cracked me up. In our bedroom there were two layers of wallpaper with a coat of PAINT between them. It was a nightmare to strip it. The worse part is AFTER we did it DH= decided to GUT THE ROOM!!! I wanted to strangle him!!!

[jjsooner73]

Leigh-yeah, the camp is kids with cancer. But my real job is as an analyst at a bank.

Loren-Yeah, no illness allowed at camp. Luckily, I'm feeling great!

Peggy-you got it right. Jen, JJ, Jennifer. I'll answer to all of them. Just don't call me Jenni!!! :) We do have alot of returning counselors. My cabin has 1 new counselor (of 6-the girl she's replacing is actually a camp co-director this year). This particular camp has a low turnover in general. 60 counselors+ 6 med staff, and I think there were maybe 10 new ones.

Oh yeah, send positive thoughts my way. My cabin is 13 year olds. Last year I was terrified. I'm still nervous as I'm not exactly experienced w/ that age level. I think most of our girls will be at the younger side of 13, as in just moved up from the cabin below ours. That's good. :D

OK, I skimmed everything else really fast. I have a bunch of stuff I need to finish at work today, but this is more fun. :eek:

Beth Sounds like you'll have a fun weekend! Hopefully you at least manage to get some sleep.

Leigh How old is your oldest daughter? THat sounds like a lot of fun.

Lorilei Any ideas on what book(s) you are going to get to get you back into reading? I've been on such a reading frenzy lately, but I read mostly light stuff. I don't want anything that makes me think to hard. Right now, I'm reading Alice Sebold's Lucky. Your menu sounds awesome!!

Loren Your Farmer's Market sounds awesome. If I ever make it to Boston again, I'd definitely like to check it out. The Dallas Farmer's Market is just so darn commercial. I like it, but at the same time, it annoys me. I want to buy produce from the farmer's, not some middleman. And .50 for pineapple???? They are still at least $3 at our market, and they can get them from South Texas. :confused:


Molli Happy Birthday to your DH! Your cake sounds awesome.

Sandy Happy Anniversary!!

Peggy Have fun at the Irish festival! I've always wanted to go to one they have here, but so far have always missed it.

Helene CongratulationS!!! That's awesome. Can't wait to hear about your little boy once you get him home and adjusted. Good luck with the traveling!


OK, work calls. Have a great weekend everyone and I'll be back to the Klatch in 2 weeks. :D I'll check in later today.

[SandyM]

Hi everyone - here's a picture of Lori's hutch:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid70/p6891bf5fe2370d0cab3219c4e4cb4dae/fba40c14.jpg

[Molli526]

Lori,

That is beautiful!!

[lorilei]

Karen - OK, you must forgive me if I laugh at that story about your room!! That's CLASSIC, and sounds exactly like something that would happen to us!


Jennifer - I'm not sure yet what I'll get from the library, although I'm being sucked in slowly by the idea of reading THE DAVINCI CODE. I think it might be right up my alley... and hopefully it will be interesting enough to really draw me in from the get-go.

If that's not it, I might pick up something by Richard Russo. He wrote a book called THE STRAIGHT MAN that I read a while back -- a very comical look at the ins and outs of academia. He's written a number of other things, and I really like his sense of humor.

Must also check the reading thread for more ideas :)

[SandyM]

Originally posted by lorilei
Sandy - Hey THANKS!! You're a doll! Now, wanna post a pic of that UGLY kitchen?? LOL!

You're welcome!! Now - it's up to you whether or not the rest of the pictures get posted!! :p :D

[lorilei]

Sandy - Hey THANKS!! You're a doll! Now, wanna post a pic of that UGLY kitchen?? LOL!


BTW Peggy - Thanks for the offer to post the pics! Sandy was just so quick on the gun! ;)


I'd like everyone to note the completely AWFUL wallpaper in the picture. That's BEFORE I did my job on that wall!! :eek:

[Beth]

Peggy, the boys are now up and have found that the play station their friend brought over and their yugioh cards are off limits. There will also be no TV of any kind until they find at least one of 2 lost remote controls. The birthday party has not been cancelled, but DH was sure ready last night.

My son's room had one wall painted deep blue, and our first thought was to paint that wall black. It's the wall his bed is against. I had also suggested painting the bottom half black, top white or beige and putting up a red line or chair rail around the middle -- he didn't like that idea. Yesterday, we finished painting the back of his white bookcases red and we put black tap on the front edges. Very dramatic, but the zebra fabric in the back of the other son's was a lot easier (try fabric and spray adhesive if you are so inclined). We are working on a black, grey and natural beige with some touches of red. Just not sure where to put which color on which wall now that we're ready to do it.

[lorilei]

Beth -
That sounds like a great color scheme that you're working with!! Very cool. You must keep us posted.

Here's hoping that sleepover is more peaceful than expected! :)

[RebeccaT]

I am starting to think that we need a klatch for each time zone! :(

Good morning to everyone! Helene, I am just so thrilled for you, I coudl HEAR you excitement in your post! Have a wonderful time, and best of luck on the flight home! I am sure he will be fine!

Leigh and Beth, good luck with the slumber parties!

happy birthday Ray, and happy anniversary Sandy and DH!

And hello everyone else!

We don't have big plans this weekend at all. We have a pool party with our Sunday School class from church tonight, which I think we have about a 50/50 chance of actually being able to attend... DH has been working crazy hours this week, and hasn't been home before 10 PM except for Tuesday (and that was only because I made him, his parents were coming to dinner!). Last night it was midnight. :( So we'll see if we actually get to do anything this evening.

Tomorrow will be low-key, I will be making Chocolate Eclair Icebox dessert and the Spicy Corn and Black Bean salad for a BBQ on Saturday night. I am very excited about it, because we get to meet me friend's twins! They arrived at the end of May, but we haven't gotten to see them yet. She has emailed pictures, though, and they are just beautiful!

Sunday will be errands, grocery shopping, and DH will probably be working. :( I hate it when he has these periods... I feel like a widow. :(

[Peggy C.]

Lori you are so funny! I looked at that picture and thought oh definitely a before picture! It is beautiful though I really love it. I can't wait to paint my dining room, now to just muster up the energy! (and a dog sitter, no way am I doing that when the dog is home!)

Sue your house looks great. The lot looks nice and big! Congrats again.

Beth the color blocked walls sound like a good idea also.

[HRJ]

I'm back.

Lori, that hutch is beautiful! (I don't think that old wallpaper is that bad :o ), but I'm sure your new paper is much nicer!! Glad to hear your having some cool weather -- my mom is up in Wisconsin right now, attending an Elderhostel at U of W in Madison -- I don't know much about Wisc. geography, is that anywhere near where you are? She was hoping for a respite from the hot Florida summer.

Leigh and [/b]Beth[/b], sounds like you've both got your hands full with sleepovers, but they both sound like a lot of fun. (Leigh, your image about Ginger exploding made me think about that character from "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" -- isn't there a little girl in there who "explodes"? Or am I remembering this completely wrong?)

Loren, and oskie, the first time we went to Haymarket, we also got there too late -- that "Saving Private Ryan" remark is right on target! We actually haven't been back there since -- I usually go to the Arlington Farmer's Market, which is held on Wednesdays.

Everyone else's plans sound like a lot of fun -- Jennifer, enjoy your time at camp! It sounds wonderful.

Helene

[KristinK]

OK I'm back. Sorry I never officially excused myself from the Klatch, but the past couple weeks have been pretty busy - and it's can be really hard to keep up with everyone here!

Anyway, as of last weekend, DBF and I are officially living together. Although I still haven't finished unpacking (my least favorite thing) :( We decided not to move into the city - luckily the place we originally found had only required a $100 deposit. So before we put down close to $1000 on this one, I told DBF that this HAD to be the one. And we're really happy with it - he even told me that he was glad I kept looking. It's cheaper and more convenient for us - right near our gym and the park where I like to run, near a train station for him, and closer to home. AND we have a balcony so we can have a grill :D My only problem is that the kitchen has very little storage - or at least not enough for all the kitchen stuff we've accumulated!

And last night we had our first 'dinner party' - actually, my brother just came over to check out the place before he leaves for Europe, and I made the Rice Noodles with Tofu and Bok Choy (6/03)with some grilled chicken for me and DBF (brother is vegan). He was definitely surprised because up until three years ago, I never would have touched the stuff, much less made it for myself!

OK enough about me - can you just tell how excited (and yet stressed!) I am about having my own place?!

Helene - Very big congratulations for you! Best wishes for a safe trip!

Sandy - Happy Anniversary! Enjoy your evening alone.

Leigh and Beth - Good luck keeping your sanity at the slumber parties!

Jen - I'm glad you have camp to look forward to, to boost your spirits. Enjoy the calm before the storm tonight!

Kathryn - Speaking of Jen, if it's any help, I made her Southwestern Lime Grilled Chicken (http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21632&highlight=southwestern+lime) with that Zesty Black Bean salad.

Loren - I hope you know my fingers are crossed for you! As I've mentioned before, my parents definitely had some stress over budget, especially since some things turned up along the way that they hadn't predicted. Oh and Sandy mentioned a target date - IMO you can pretty much throw any idea of that out the window!

And hello to everyone else!

[Molli526]

Sue, your new house looks great

Kristin, Happy unpacking. I hate unpacking too

Rebecca, Sorry to hear you've been a work widow lately. I remember when DH worked crazy hours all the time and it was making me insane.

[KathrynY]

Lori, your hutch is beautiful! I'm sure the color is even lovelier in real life. :)

Wow, Beth - sleepovers two nights in a row! I'm sure you didn't mean it to be funny, but I am smiling at those boys having to find TWO remote controls today ;).

Molli, that cake sounds divine! :)

Karen - how about next weekend? :D So far the weather forecast looks good.

Peggy - we can take the bike to the handcrafts expo, but not the outdoor concert (we don't do interstate highways on the motorcycle but there's no way to avoid it on the way there). The other problem is you have to tote your helmet around with you, which is kind of a pain.

Mary Kate - interesting dream... I'm not about to venture an analysis! I'll bet that red linen dress looks very nice with your dark hair though. :D

Hi Rebecca! It sounds to me like a good opportunity to plan some fun stuff with a girlfriend or two while your DH's work schedule is so busy. I hope your schedules are back in synch soon :(.

Kristin - congratulations on your new place! And thank you for pointing me to that chicken recipe - it's exactly what I had in mind! :)

Sue - your new house is really cute! Nice landscaping in front, and a great big yard for your girls to play in. :)

[HRJ]

Where are my manners? :o Thanks for the good words, everyone!

I'll be thinking of all you Texans -- we'll be flying back home through Dallas, so Texas will be Victor's first point of entry to the U.S. If we have time, maybe I'll look for a little cowboy hat for him or something like that in one of the airport gift shops. We really wanted to get a flight through Houston, because we'd heard the immigration station there runs fairly smoothly, but the connections just didn't work out.

Leigh, is that cucumber and tomato salad you mentioned earlier posted on the board?

Helene

[SandyM]

Old Kitchen Sink
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid70/pe3dfbcc1ded2a73f01a30db548341b3f/fba401f9.jpg


Old Kitchen
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid70/pd551f3dab17e1b9882fd3fe3f9a52d6a/fba401f5.jpg


Old kitchen (gasp) wallpaper
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid70/paa93acd14b4b5b01086e2889e6d91e97/fba401e9.jpg


New Kitchen (is that Ruby I see there???) :D
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid70/pf46dc8b7b7d2912059d7bec603d1e606/fba40202.jpg


New kitchen (fridge) (notice new floor)
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid70/p5540e3b47651880c2586eb0256218e05/fba40208.jpg


New kitchen (dishwasher)
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid70/pd4dd26046830327d72966d88110df621/fba401fd.jpg


http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid70/p75538bdc9435947b71cd9ef3964711d2/fba4020d.jpg

[Molli526]

Lori,

You are ao talented! Your kitchen looks so nice! You are a great decorator.

[Gracie]

Lori - I love the hutch. I didn't think the old wallpaper was that bad, either. I really like anything with blue. Our walls have some sort of texture on them, someone painted them and there's swirls of paint. They're all one color (white) but we'd love to get rid it. I guess the only way is to sand it all down and we weren't up for that detailed work and the mess, too.

Sue - great house! It looks like it has a nice large yard too.

Rebecca - you're right about the time zones. All you westerners just have to get up with the birds to join us on page 1! :D I really like the Chocolate Eclair Icebox dessert.

Jennifer - my DD is 11 going on 12 soon. They're not that bad! Remember when you were that age when you wore clothes and listened to music that your parents hated but were so cool! They're actually pretty funny. I love it when a bunch of them are in the car and I just listen to the conversation. Sometimes they forget I'm there and I hear some really good stuff! :eek:

Kristin - congratulations on the apartment! As to a completion date, we will just be happy to afford the project and actually get it done at this point.

Helene - I've been to the Arlington farmer's market, too. I didn't think the prices were too good, but maybe I just hit an off day.

Loren

[Gracie]

Oh - those kitchen pictures got posted while I was typing. The kitchen looks awesome!!!!! Isn't it amazing what can be done with renovation??

I really want my new kitchen, I really want my new kitchen, I really want my new kitchen! Where's the ruby slippers to wish on?????

Loren

[KathrynY]

Wow, Lori - what a nice job you guys did on your kitchen! I must say, the old one was very.... PINK :p.

Can I be nosey and ask the name of your paint color? I'm looking at butter/golden colors for my kitchen, and haven't hit on one that I like yet.

[HDgirl]

Originally posted by KathrynY

Karen - how about next weekend? :D So far the weather forecast looks good.


The other problem is you have to tote your helmet around with you, which is kind of a pain.

We are planning on being in Westbrook next weekend. Sounds like a plan.


You can buy helmet locks to install on your bike. Or be McGyver (DH=)and...well, I'll have to show you. Or I just leave mine on DH= sissy bar. I've never heard of anyone stealing someone's helmet but there's always a first.

[SandyM]

I love looking at those pictures too - they did an incredible job with the house, making it their own. :)

I do need those magnetic sign thingies she has there - if anyone has an inkling of where to get them, I'd be appreciative.

FYI - the cluster at the bottom of the fridge is difficult to read, but it says Eat Chocolate Sausage Meat. ;)

[RebeccaT]

Wow Lori! your kitchen looks FABULOUS! What a transformation! :D

[KathrynY]

Helmet locks, what a great idea - who knew? Thanks, Karen! :)

[aggie94]

One of our dogs hurt her back the other day, so she's been on pain meds and anti-inflammatories all week. The other one got sick all over our bed in the middle of the night last night :eek:, so I am getting a late start this morning.

Molli, Happy Birthday to Ray! Hope you guys have a fun time celebrating tonight.

Helene, CONGRATULATIONS!!!! What wonderful news! :D Have a safe trip.

Sandy, Happy Anniversary!!

Sue, Congratulations on the new house! It looks so cozy. :) Good luck with your move.

Jennifer, have a great time at camp!

Kristin, congratulations on the moving in together! I hope you guys are having fun so far.

Lori, great kitchen! You guys did an awesome job. We still have a ton of work to do on our kitchen. How much do you charge? ;)

Hello and Happy Friday to everyone else!!

I have a quiet weekend planned. I leave next weekend for vacation for ten days (!), so I think I am just going to mellow at home this weekend. DH will probably go to San Antonio tonight and spend the night with his parents. MIL is leaving bright and early for Puerto Rico tomorrow morning, and DH wants to take her to the airport and see her off, but he doesn't want to get up at the crack of dawn to drive down there. I'll stay home with the dogs tonight since they're not feeling well. Depending on when he gets back home tomorrow, we might just go out to dinner, catch a movie, or relax at home.

I may or may not have a supper club dinner on Sunday night. It was scheduled, but emails earlier this week circulated about the idea of postponing when more people could make it. It's still up in the air, but they'd better decide soon so I know whether to make a dessert tomorrow or not!

Rebecca, I'm with ya on the time-zone klatches. This post is probably gonna end up on page 4!

[MKSquared]

I love the kitchen! Ruby looks very happy in her re-done home. :) And I LOVELOVE the hutch! I redid furniture for the first time this year, and I have a new appreciation for it. Looks like a lot of work, both of them!

Eat Chocolate Sausage Meat?
Spray Hot Water?

:)

[Peggy C.]

Lori the kitchen turned out awsome. I love the color and the border. Oh and the knife fork and spoon on the wall. Very cool!

I love to look at how people arrange things. I probably would have hung them more like a place seeting...maybe even with plate hung, but I like the way you did it better.

Hi Rebecca and EVa

edited to add, Hi kristin I don't know how I missed you. Glad to hear you are all moved in. (mostly)

And sue I can't see the kitchen.

[SueK]

http://www.happyvalleyhomes.com/lpgic/0320538_1.jpg

Here's a pic of the kitchen if it works. We have some painting to do once we're in because their walls are pretty dark in several rooms.

The lot is an acre and of course DH is already figuring out what riding mower to buy. Any opportunity for a new toy! I told him we can live w/a regular mower until next summer.

[lisas3575]

Originally posted by MKSquared
You guys are just wrong, wrong, wrong. It's JUST turning 9 AM, and we're already on page 2? UGH.

I'll go read the posts now.

Page 2? Already? :rolleyes:

At 7:15am here it was on page 3... that's why I lurk and hardly ever join in. Can't. Take. The. Pressure. :p

[KristinK]

Wow, Lori, you really did an awesome job!

And BTW my Mom has sworn off wallpaper too - and she only did the powder room this time around (before she had the powder room, kitchen, and dining room). I'm not a big fan of wallpaper myself, and seeing her frustration doesn't help the cause. But yours looks great!

[Peggy C.]

Originally posted by lisas3575


At 7:15am here it was on page 3... that's why I lurk and hardly ever join in. Can't. Take. The. Pressure. :p

No pressure, just pop in and say hi!

[MKSquared]

Lisanumbers, you need to post, and post often! Very, very often. ;)

[KathrynY]

Hi Eva! I hope your pups are feeling better soon. :( Don't you just hate it when pets get sick on the bed while you're sleeping?

Hi Lisa! Whatcha doin' this weekend? :)

[lhall]

Ok, I've caught up let's see if I can answer all the questions...

Helene?
Ginger is 5, and there's a girl who eats a blueberry treat and swells up and turns blue. They roll her away, but she doesn't explode.

I'm not sure if the salad is posted on the BB or not. I think it was in the may issue. I'll look......No, they are not posted on the BB, but the recipe is in the May 03 issue.

Karen,
I've already been on the back of a HOG. My dad had one, but he sold it after his skiing accident when everyone told him that if he hurt his head again he would not recover. Now he's got some little Honda thing. I told him that if he wanted to kill himself and leave us his money sooner I wasn't going to argue with him. It didn't help.

Lori,
The kitchen looks great.

Kristen,
I'm glad your and DBF like your new place.

Lisa,
Hi!

Beth,
We got a PS2 last week and told Ginger that it was a priviledge and would be taken away for bad behavior just like TV & computer games. Good luck surviving your sleepover, and the Watermelon Festival sounds like loads of fun.


Leigh

[lisas3575]

Hi Kathryn! :)
I leave this afternoon to head to Portland this weekend for a (boring) conference. At least I'll get to see people that I don't see too often, including some friends that I'm having dinner with tomorrow night. I'm cat-sitting for a friend too, to save the $$ on a hotel room. I'm kind of excited about having a weekend to myself! Trying to leave early enough today to hit the huge outlet mall in Wilsonville on the way up, I've never made time to stop. I'm not even sure what's there! I heard a rumor that it's the largest outlet center on the west coast.

Congratulations, Helene!! Your amazing patience is about to be rewarded. Have a safe trip there and back. :)

And hi to everyone else on pages 1, 2, and 3...
:eek:

[Peggy C.]

Originally posted by lisas3575
Hi Kathryn! :)
I leave this afternoon to head to Portland this weekend for a (boring) conference. At least I'll get to see people that I don't see too often, including some friends that I'm having dinner with tomorrow night. I'm cat-sitting for a friend too, to save the $$ on a hotel room. I'm kind of excited about having a weekend to myself! Trying to leave early enough today to hit the huge outlet mall in Wilsonville on the way up, I've never made time to stop. I'm not even sure what's there! I heard a rumor that it's the largest outlet center on the west coast.

Congratulations, Helene!! Your amazing patience is about to be rewarded. Have a safe trip there and back. :)

And hi to everyone else on pages 1, 2, and 3...
:eek:

See that wasn't so bad! Be safe on your travels and enjoy the weekend to yourself.

[aggie94]

Originally posted by KathrynY
Don't you just hate it when pets get sick on the bed while you're sleeping?

I know. Talk about one rude awakening in the middle of the night. :eek:

[KristinK]

Hi Lisa!

Sue - I just noticed your house pictures. Congratulations, it looks great! I especially like the big yard, and with bright green grass, even better. BTW when we bought our shore house, the walls were dark wood panel - it's amazing how much a little (or actually, a lot of) white paint brightened the whole house up. Good luck!

Oh and yes, DBF and I are very much enjoying ourselves so far, even if we haven't had much time for relaxing yet. We're headed to the shore tonight and looking forward to getting some much needed R&R on the beach :)

[jjsooner73]

OK, I posted another reply but my browser ate it, so this will have to be short.

Eva-Sorry about your pups! Hope they get to feeling better soon. Where will you be vacationing?

Lori Wow, your kitchen looks great! I recently painted mine yellow to, but it is a BRIGHT yellow and I colorwashed red over it. Turned out kinda cool, if a bit bright. I had awful wallpaper before, so I like it much better. I hate wallpaper, any kind, any where. I'm happy to say my house is now wallpaper free. :)


Kristen-Congrats on finally getting moved in w/ your DBF! I know how exciting that must be. And glad you liked the chicken recipe!

Loren-I do remember overhearing some interesting conversations w/ our girls last year. They are fun. Sometimes they don't want us around, but then every now and then they still want a hug or reassurance. I'm actually now glad I'm not with the 6-7 year olds, like I thought I wanted initially. Talk about high maintanence! :D They are so sweet though. And the boys are to, except their cabins STINK. :D Really bad.

OK, bye for now.

[aggie94]

Originally posted by jjsooner73
Eva-Sorry about your pups! Hope they get to feeling better soon. Where will you be vacationing?

Thanks. :) I am headed back to Oregon to visit friends. It will be a nice escape from the heat, and I desperately need a vacation!

[lhall]

Eva,
I hope your pups are feeling better soon.

Sue,
The new house looks great.

Time for lunch, and a nap :D

Leigh

[Peggy C.]

Speaking of stinky cabins where is Em? Is she in Canada now?

[Gracie]

Originally posted by lhall
We got a PS2 last week and told Ginger that it was a priviledge and would be taken away for bad behavior just like TV & computer games.

Poor Ginger! Every Friday she has to worry about whether or not she can get ice cream and now she has to worry about the PS2 too! :D

Just kidding Leigh!

Hi Lisa numbers!

Sue I can't see the kitchen pic!

Loren

[KristinK]

Originally posted by jjsooner73
And glad you liked the chicken recipe!
Oh well, yes, I do suppose a thank you is in order! This has reminded me that I never got around to posting my review (oops) - I'll just have to do that now.

[lhall]

Originally posted by Gracie


Poor Ginger! Every Friday she has to worry about whether or not she can get ice cream and now she has to worry about the PS2 too! :D

Just kidding Leigh!


Well, we don't want her punnishments to be all about food.

I know Emily isn't due back to GA until August. I do want to meet her when she's here.

About the PS2. DH is so mean. He was playing the Two Towers game without me last night, scored lots of points, killed the thing in the lake at the Gates of Moria, and won't tell me how he did it!!

Oh, one more question.

Since when is a public library computer the appropriate place to view internet porn? At least this guy was only looking. :rolleyes:

Leigh

[slknight]

Hi everyone on pages 1, 2, 3, and 4! I'll probably be the klatch thread killer today, but I just thought I'd pop in and say hi while I'm on my conference call. :)

Not too much going on here this weekend. I think I'm going to LL Bean tomorrow to meet my sister. It's about half-way between my house and hers. She met a guy on the internet who lives in Seattle. They met for the first time in Chicago a few weeks ago, and he's out here visiting her this weekend. I'm going to go meet him and check him out. Should be interesting.:D

[KristinK]

Originally posted by lhall
Since when is a public library computer the appropriate place to view internet porn? At least this guy was only looking. :rolleyes:
Ugh, really?

BTW my parents never let us have video games as kids - though for some reason computer games were OK. But anyway, I bought DBF a PS2 when it first came out - and I blame it on my parents that I'm so horrible at video games that I can't even try to play with him. Seriously, I'm pathetic. So I hope starting Ginger early won't leave her to my same fate ;)

[lorilei]

Hey, thanks guys :)

No - the old wallpaper in the dining room wasn't INTOLERABLE, but it didn't fit our style at all, so it HAD to go :) I like the new far better.


As for the kitchen, I must tell you all -- I had NO idea I was going to make it through that project. It was days of stripping wallpaper, days of texturizing the walls, days of fighting with the flooring guys :) Fortunately, things like the border I put up really fell into place well.

Kathryn - We used a Sherwin Williams paint for the kitchen -- AMBITIOUS AMBER :) (turned out to be an apt name!!

Mary Kate - Yes, EAT CHOCOLATE SAUSAGE MEAT... :) We're getting a bit silly with our oversized magnetic poetry kit. Can you tell??

Sandy - You CAN still order those kits, btw... Check out this link:

HUGE magnetic poetry :) (http://www.magneticpoetry.com/search_results.asp?txtsearchParamTxt=&txtsearchParamCat=19&txtsearchParamType=ALL&iLevel=1&txtsearchParamMan=ALL&txtsearchParamVen=ALL&txtFromSearch=fromSearch&btnSearch.x=5&btnSearch.y=8)


I bought the kit in graduate school. They sell a magnetic paint that you can put on your walls for just this sortofa thing... I had my whole apartment decorated in magnetic poetry :)

[Peggy C.]

Originally posted by KristinK

Ugh, really?

BTW my parents never let us have video games as kids - though for some reason computer games were OK. But anyway, I bought DBF a PS2 when it first came out - and I blame it on my parents that I'm so horrible at video games that I can't even try to play with him. Seriously, I'm pathetic. So I hope starting Ginger early won't leave her to my same fate ;)

LOL atleast the option was there! Pong anyone?

[SandyM]

Originally posted by lorilei
Sandy - You CAN still order those kits, btw... Check out this link:

HUGE magnetic poetry :) (http://www.magneticpoetry.com/search_results.asp?txtsearchParamTxt=&txtsearchParamCat=19&txtsearchParamType=ALL&iLevel=1&txtsearchParamMan=ALL&txtsearchParamVen=ALL&txtFromSearch=fromSearch&btnSearch.x=5&btnSearch.y=8)


Great! The site is slow to load, but as soon as I can, I'm gonna dig in! ;) Thanks, Lori.

[Molli526]

Originally posted by MKSquared
Lisanumbers, you need to post, and post often! Very, very often. ;)

DITTO!!!

[Gracie]

Originally posted by lorilei

[b]I bought the kit in graduate school. They sell a magnetic paint that you can put on your walls for just this sortofa thing... I had my whole apartment decorated in magnetic poetry :)

Magnetic paint!!! Who knew???? I have never seen or heard of that. Wow the things I learn on this board! :D

Loren

[lorilei]

Originally posted by aggie94
Lori, great kitchen! You guys did an awesome job. We still have a ton of work to do on our kitchen. How much do you charge? ;)

Eva - I missed your post back there (it got buried while I wasn't looking!)... :) I haven't really thought about going professional with kitchens. But I might be persuaded with a meal or two of really fantastic food. I've heard you're an incredible cook!!



And SUE - I meant to tell you... Your house looks excellent too! Aren't you excited to put up wallpaper now, after all of this tantalizing discussion?? :)

[Peggy C.]

off to lunch....no nap!:D

[colleency]

How bizarre! We've had magnetic poetry on our fridge for years. Friends always come over and rearrange it. We had "chocolate sausage meat" on our fridge forever!

I apologize in advance for lack of names. I'm horrible at names, and I can't scroll back through 4 pages while posting.

Yay Viktor!

Happy anniversary!

Happy birthday!

Fun Irish Festival!

Motorcycles...fun, but oh, so dangerous.

Lovely house...you'd have to be a gazillionaire to have that much land in L.A.

Great kitchen! Great hutch!

Sad sick doggies.

Fun slumber parties! I'm glad I'm not there. ;)

I'm finally finished with the wedding dress I was sewing, so Yay, no sewing this weekend! Friends coming from out of town for dinner on Sat. night. Planning meeting for a convention on Sunday afternoon. Otherwise, the whole weekend is mine, mine, mine! I can put in new plants and commune with the turtle!

[lisas3575]

Originally posted by Gracie


Magnetic paint!!! Who knew???? I have never seen or heard of that. Wow the things I learn on this board! :D

Loren

They also make blackboard paint so you can draw on your walls with chalk. Very cool! :)

Lori, have you read Empire Falls by Richard Russo? I really enjoyed that one. I didn't post on your other thread, but I know exactly what you mean about having to get back into reading after college. Took me several years to read for enjoyment again. I started with pure brain candy, including kids books. Entertainment was key for me to get back into reading, and then I moved on to more "serious" books. Give yourself permission to start doing something for yourself!
xoxo

[Gracie]

Originally posted by lisas3575


They also make blackboard paint so you can draw on your walls with chalk. Very cool! :)

How wonderful both of these would be for kids! I can imagine letting a kid have one wall of magnetic paint and one wall of blackboard paint.

Beth - the blackboard paint may interest DS!

Colleen - Hi! Are you making your own wedding dress or someone else's? My friend's mother used to work for Bianca and she did all their handbeading. I do not have the patience to do any of that.

Loren

[lhall]

Kristin,

Yes, Really!

Lisa & Loren,
I've used the chalkboard paint before to repair an easel I got at a garage sale. The kind I got was a spray paint.

Peggy,
We had an Odyssey game system. It came out in 1977 and was the very first video game system. It had several games like ping/pong, haunted house, and simon says. The best part was the little plastic sheets that you taped to you TV to play some of the games. There were two sizes of each sheet, one for each size TV made.

Now, it would be neat if my dad still had that thing.

Colleen,
Great news that you finished the dress.

Leigh

[colleency]

I made a medieval-looking dress for a friend who got married last weekend. I finished it right before the wedding. :rolleyes: It was green with belled out sleeves and gold undersleeves. She wore it last weekend. I'm trying to get someone to give me a picture, but I'll have to keep waiting.

[lorilei]

Originally posted by colleency
How bizarre! We've had magnetic poetry on our fridge for years. Friends always come over and rearrange it. We had "chocolate sausage meat" on our fridge forever!



OK, Colleen -- that's TOO weird. :) I didn't think anyone else's brain was quite that twisted up.


Lisa - Haven't read "Empire Falls"... in fact, I haven't read anything else by Russo at all! Will definitely keep that in mind. I love his style and wit!

As for reading POST-college, that's completely ME. ANd I have to get over this hump. It's disrupting my style :)

[HRJ]

Originally posted by Peggy C.


Pong anyone?

Ah, those were the days! My brother had Pong!

Just got the call from our agency -- our paperwork at the embassy is set, so Victor will get his visa and we can come home on Thursday, as planned. :)

When we were in Guatemala, we were told it's Guatemalan tradition that if your first child is a boy, you mark the occasion with a meal of chicken soup with vegetables. So I guess that's what I'll be cooking next Friday.

I've got the OK to leave early today -- have a great weekend, and week, everyone!!

Adios,

Helene

[lhall]

Yeah for Helene & Family!!!

Have a great trip!!!

Leigh,
doing a little happy dance :D

[lorilei]

Hey, guys.
I left work and came home already... but I forgot to say goodbye! And besides that, I just couldn't stay away from the boards for some reason.

Pong... what memories THAT brings back :) Ah, the hours of my life wasted in idle pastimes. ;)

Colleen - THat dress sounds really cool...and I can only imagine what sort of interesting wedding it was. Don't you just love some of those Medieval styles? Always so intriguing...

Leigh - Blueberry girls... :) Ah, more memories! We went to a midnight showing of Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory a few months ago at a little artsy theatre in the area... and what fun! Kids' entertainment nowadays just can't compare!!

[lorilei]

Well, now, Peggy - That lunch sounds absolutely exsquisite... all fats aside. I'm reheating a chipotle chicken enchilada for lunch... and a LATE lunch at that.

My jealousy runneth over.

[Peggy C.]

Helene I'm glad everything is going to work out.

And whats with everyone leaving early? No fair. Yeah yeah no one ever said life would be fair, but come on!

I had a wonderful lunch, orechiette mac and cheese made with gruyere, mascarpone and wild sage. But now I need a nap! And a very low fat diet....

[SandyM]

<sigh> I'm still here.........:rolleyes: :D

[lorilei]

Hey, Sandy -
Still slow by you?

I'm waiting for my shortening to chill so that I can make that peach pie. For some reason, it seems to be taking forever. :)

And hey - what's with me being psychic regarding Peggy's lunch??

de-do-de-do-de-do

[Peggy C.]

Originally posted by lorilei

And hey - what's with me being psychic regarding Peggy's lunch??

de-do-de-do-de-do

I don't know, but your freakin me out man.;)

[lorilei]

Dude, must be the 'shrooms...:D :cool:

[Peggy C.]

Originally posted by lorilei
Dude, must be the 'shrooms...:D :cool:

Could be how many did you have?

Even John is leaving work early.:(

[lorilei]

Even John??!! :eek:


:) I'm sorry to hear that you're stuck where you are, Peggy. Is it a slow afternoon at least?

[jjsooner73]

Peggy, I'm still at work to. :( I may try and get out at 5 or maybe 4:30...at least I have cookies to look forward to in an hour. :D
Your lunch sounds great to me!!!

[Peggy C.]

Originally posted by lorilei
Even John??!! :eek:


:) I'm sorry to hear that you're stuck where you are, Peggy. Is it a slow afternoon at least?

Friday afternoons are always slow, that's the problem.

I do have a book to read, but just haven't opened it. Ok that's a lie I took it to lunch but couldn't concentrate on it because the woman at the next table was so loud, annoying and phony!

Jenifer how late do you usually work if 4:30-5 is early?

[lhall]

I won't be leaving early.

There's not much going here, but since I took 1 1/2 hours off earlier today I really should stay til 4:30.

Leigh

[Peggy C.]

Sooooooo do you guys want to play cards or sing or something? Lori, you're at home, you mix up the margaritta's ok?:D

[MKSquared]

Hi, again! I stopped in at the place where the CSO does their summer season, just to see if anyone was around. It was a little early, so really nobody was there, but I'm so convinced I made the right decision to leave that place. :) I looked at the stage, the backstage area ... I'm so happy I'm not dealing with that stuff this year.

Now it's lunch time! :D

[lorilei]

Fridays (all day) are slow at the University where I work too -- that's actually how I came upon the chance to take the afternoons off. I actually have a student worker who sits in the office and answers my phone. It's a great benefit, even if I do come back to a bunch of phone messages on Monday :)

UNfortunately, I usually spend Friday afternoons doing housework. Today is an exception. I'll be cooking for most of it, since I got the house cleaned yesterday evening.


OK -- mixing up margaritas as we speak! ;) Would you like them blended or on the rocks?

[lhall]

Ok, Peggy....Do you have any 5's?

Lori,
Blended with salt, please :D

Leigh

[Peggy C.]

Go fish.:)

So leigh when you make margarita's you put the salt in it? Or did I just misunderstand.

Lori, these are delish!

....and the mass exodus has begun.

[SandyM]

On the rocks, please. No salt. Jumbo size.

;)

[jjsooner73]

Originally posted by Peggy C.

Jenifer how late do you usually work if 4:30-5 is early?

I'm more of an 8:30-5:30 type of gal. The rare time I get here at 8, I leave around 8:15.
I was here until 8 Monday night :eek:, but that's actually rare.

Lori-on the rocks, salt please. And strong. :D

karaoke anyone?

[lorilei]

No fair starting the cards while I was slaving in the kitchen!!:( I quite nearly sliced my thumb on a lime trying to rush back here!

:) How's everyone enjoying those drinks??


Oh -- and Leigh, I put the salt around the RIM of the glass, if that's OK.

Sandy - My glasses aren't that big, so I just brought you the pitcher :)


Jennifer - Umm... karaoke.

Know what? I have a pie to bake :D

[lhall]

I meant salt on the rim of the glass. I have some friends who don't like the salt.

Lori,
The drinks a great.

Peggy,
Ok, I'm fishing now. Your turn.

Leigh

[Peggy C.]

Originally posted by jjsooner73


The rare time I get here at 8, I leave around 8:15.


Wow 8-8:15, is that 15 minutes or 12 hrs and 15? Gruelling either way!;)

Sorry Lori.

I'll be up for karaoke after a few more of these drinks.:D

Leigh I spy....oh that's a different game.:eek:

[lhall]

Peggy,
Ginger likes to play I Spy when we are in the car. She really likes to pick things outside the car. You have to guess really fast or it's gone, or she'll say it's something that she could not have seen when she picked the color. Mariel, on the other hand, just says she spies something white and responds "no" to all your guesses. :D

Leigh

[MKSquared]

On the rocks, lots of salt. :D

And no karaoke for this girl. I closed Wednesday night, and some not-so-hot singers kept me there until past 1 AM because they were hoping to win. :rolleyes:

[lorilei]

No prob, Peggy... really :D

I spy something green... :)

HINT: it's not in my fridge. :o


Here you go, Mary Kate... and here's the salt. Do with it as you like!

[jjsooner73]

Originally posted by Peggy C.


Wow 8-8:15, is that 15 minutes or 12 hrs and 15? Gruelling either way!;)

Sorry Lori.

I'll be up for karaoke after a few more of these drinks.:D

Leigh I spy....oh that's a different game.:eek:

Yikes, I had a typo. I meant, when I get here at 8, I leave @5:15. OOPS!!! Thank goodness, I generally do only work a 40 hour week. :D

[lhall]

Lori,
Is is the grass?

[lorilei]

No grass, sorry... though that would be an interesting concept in the office :)

[Peggy C.]

Originally posted by jjsooner73


Yikes, I had a typo. I meant, when I get here at 8, I leave @5:15. OOPS!!! Thank goodness, I generally do only work a 40 hour week. :D

I knew what you meant and I really don't have room to point out peoples typos or spelling errors, but sometimes they are just too fun!

hmmm grass, mushrooms and margaritas today. Very interesting.

Leigh, ginger and mariel crack me up. I'm sure my nieces played the exact same way!

[lhall]

Lori,
Well, I can see grass. What about a plant? A book?

Peggy,
They crack me up too. :D

Leigh

[jjsooner73]

Originally posted by Peggy C.


I knew what you meant and I really don't have room to point out peoples typos or spelling errors, but sometimes they are just too fun!


I'm starting to get frazzled and only just now did you reply earlier sink in. :D I'm just slow today.
Maybe I should get off of here for now and get my work done--I'm starting to stress that it's already almost 3 and my last little thing I needed to do keeps leading me to/through brick walls. :D

Have a great weekend, everyone.

[lorilei]

Originally posted by lhall
Lori,
Well, I can see grass. What about a plant? A book?

Leigh

A PLANT! (a spider plant to be exact) You win.

And now it's time for me to run out to the grocery store... see y'all later!

[Peggy C.]

Leigh they are abandoning us.

Have a good weekend lori and jennifer. Hey who's going to make more margaritas?;)

[KristinK]

I'm still here too! Though I'm counting the minutes...

Sorry, though, I'm no good at making margaritas :(

[lhall]

I'm about to join them. 12 Minutes, and there really hasn't been anything to do all day. Well, my promotion packet, but I'm avoiding that. :D

Leigh

[Peggy C.]

Originally posted by KristinK

Sorry, though, I'm no good at making margaritas :(

That's ok I actually don't even like tequila all that much.:o It just seemed like a good drink for a sunny friday afternoon.

[KristinK]

Yeah, tequila is definitely my least favorite. I remember when we went to Cancun for sophomore year spring break :cool: EVERYTHING tasted like it had tequila mixed in, even the beer <blech>

[lhall]

Bye everyone. Have a nice weekend!

Leigh

[Peggy C.]

Ok I'm out of here too. Although it looks like Leigh is still here!

Have a great weekend and safe travels everyone.