Sunny Day in Lansing

The sky is usually pretty bright here in Lansing, MI, but getting a chance to see some blue skies is awfully tough. There seems to be a permanent blanket of white that obscures the blue. Instead the sky is like a living inside a light box. It looks bright, but you just can't see through it or determine just exactly where the sunlight is coming from.

The other day we had blue skies.

I went to a market to photograph some mums and I loved the way the clouds and the sly looked through this old green house.  I don't think those slats are doing much these days.

I know there are a lot of clouds in the sky, but LOOK!  It's got blue in there!

I never really thought about how mums are grown, I guess I just assumed that they were sown and grown in pots.  When I went by Lansing Gardens the other day and I saw row upon row of mums I was intrigued and delighted.  I was on my way to my reunion I think when I saw them the first time, but I got a chance to come back a few days later (when we had blue skies!) and take a few dozen shots.

The gardens are so weedy, but I think that makes the picture even better.  The mums are growing right out of the mass of green.

This is one side of my Mom's house.  I realized after I posted this that it could use a little photoshopping magic because the leaves are really quite brilliant.  I'll need to work on that.

This gorgeous burning bush is just a few doors down from my mom's place.  This truly was this brilliant.  It was so red it was fuchsia. 

One step past the burning bushes was this sight.   Too bad it was trash day, but the sun was just lovely, lighting up the yellow in those trees.  This picture just HAD to be taken.

I woke up this morning and checked my dashboard on my MAC where I have the 5 day weather for both Jacksonville, FL and Lansing, MI.  At 9am Lansing was a balmy 37º and Jacksonville was 71º.  I'm missing the warmth, but loving the family time I'm getting.  Tonight is dinner at Alison's home with my sister Hillary and my Dad. I'm looking forward to it.

I didn't participate this week, but if you'd like to take a moment, head on over to Leigh's Thrifty Thursday for lots of great ideas.

Have a wonderful Thursday!
Kristin

POTD - Gourds

Gourds - by Kristin Corlett

Basket of gourds at the Allen Neighborhood Farmers Market in Lansing, MI.

Enjoy!

Kristin

City Chickens

The other day my mom and I took Zora to a woman's home who raises chickens.  She lives in the city and has a fenced in yard and a little chicken coop.  They only have a few and they raise them mostly for the eggs and partly for the entertainment I think :)

I can't remember this woman's name but she's got three lovely boys that she homeschools.

One of the boys is Zora's age, so just after this next shot, the kids ran off to play and hit each other with big sticks of bamboo. 

Zora got the biggest kick out of being able to pet the chickens and to see where they slept at night.

She was also thrilled to discover that one of the chickens lays bluegreen eggs. 

I just never know what's going to be a part of my day when I wake up in the morning. Sometimes it's Farmer's Markets and some days it's chickens. Today I had lunch with a boy that I went to Kindergarten and First grade with and who was one of my first kisses. :) We've been in touch all those years, but probably haven't seen each other in at least 30 years. Truly amazing.

Sometimes it's taking my sister to the hospital like we did on Monday. I just wanted to update that my sister got home yesterday after being observed for 24 hours and she and baby are just fine. We're expecting the delivery of new baby next Wednesday as planned. If you have no idea what I'm talking about - Click Here to get caught up in a hurry.

I hope you have a FABULOUS remaining week!
Kristin

POTD - Rest Area

Rest Area by Kristin Corlett

This was at this giant rest area somewhere in Florida along I-10.  It was closer to Alabama than it was to Jacksonville - but anyway, I loved all of the picnic table structures and thought it made a unique photo.  I took this while on my way to Gulf Shores, AL to see my mom.

Enjoy!
Kristin

Stella

Last night while I was hanging out over at my sisters place watching the kids, I pulled out my camera. Stella, who I thought never really noticed the camera before immediately started pointing at herself when she saw the camera. She sat straight up and started making faces.  I was asking her to give me a sad face or a happy face or a goofy face.  These three are the best from that much appreciated photo shoot!

This was laughing.  I said "Laugh Stella!" and she did!  (her sister Zora will usually put her head down or do anything to avoid the camera - This is a welcome treat for me!!)

This was growling.  I loved the scrunched up nose.  She is just so sweet.  Although she has a love of screaming, I'm still totally in love with this kid.

I hope you have had a wonderful Tuesday.

Kristin

Ha!  another 11:11 post.  I had no idea!!  two days in a row.

POTD - Indian Corn

Indian Corn by Kristin Corlett

Taken at the Allen Neighborhood farmers market in Lansing, MI.  As with most of the POTD photos, you can click to enlarge.  The colors of this corn was just gorgeous and the kernals were just giant!

Enjoy!
Kristin

24hr Observation

My sister, Alison, sent me a text message this morning saying that she was going to drop her daughter off at school & then she needed to run a few errands.  She'd swing by mom's house to see if I wanted to go with her after dropping off the kiddo. I wasn't even awake when she sent the text message, so it was about 15 minutes later when I finally woke up and saw the message.  At first I was bummed because I thought I may have missed her, but my mom told me that my she probably wouldn't drop Zora off for another 30 minutes or so.  So I grabbed my cereal and yogurt and ate quickly (while looking through facebook at all of the post-reunion messages) and flew into the shower.

Tick Tock Tick Tock

As I was combing out my hair my mom knocks on the door and says..."Here's what happened" or something close to that.  (Alison is 37-38 weeks pregnant.  She's due on the 22nd of this month and is scheduled for a C-Section on the 21st.)  Alison was leaving the house with Stella in her arms, car keys, an empty travel mug, a few pieces of boxboard for the recycling bin and she was trying to click the car door button while she was going down the back steps.  (You know where this is going, right?)

She got to the bottom step, her foot hit at an odd angle and she felt her ankle give way.  She tumbled to the ground.  She said that she felt like she had a super power arm that it's only function was to keep the 18 month old from hitting the ground.  Amazingly enough, she did just that.  Stella didn't get a scratch on her and we don't think that her head hit the ground at all.  She cried of course, but Alison thinks that it was just because the whole fall was scary.

Alison scraped up her knees, both of them, and fell on her side.  She said that she just laid there on the sidewalk for a few minutes, holding onto Stella, trying to assess the situation...checking for broken bones, blood, etc.  A neighbor, who happened to be looking out her window, saw Alison on the ground and came running over.  She helped get Stella out of her arms and opened the door for Zora to run into the house and get her Dad.

Jim got her into the house and sat her down to clean out her scraped knees and bandage one of her pinky fingers that got banged up and was bleeding.  Her ankles have been swollen due to the pregnancy, but they didn't seem to be damaged at all from the fall.  All in all she was doing alright, but she decided to call her doctor just in case.  The doctor told her to go into the hospital, check into the Triage floor and get hooked up to the monitors for a 4-hour evaluation.  After this evaluation they could determine whether or not her baby was going into distress or if the fall had caused the placenta to tear away.

 This was the triage room

After the 4 hours, Alison and I, in all of our worldy judgment figured that she was bound for home. She felt good, there was no baby distress, no momma distress and no bleeding.  We were both starving so we'd spent the last hour talking about food and what we were going to get when she was sprung.

Then the doctor came in and said...

We're keeping you for 24 hours.

Turns out that Alison had been having contractions, however  mild, nearly the entire time they had her hooked up.  This could mean that it was brought on from the fall or that they'd been going on all along and she just hadn't noticed, but either way they were keeping her just in case it was a problem with the placenta.  Ugh.  Also - no food.  no water.  no nothing.  In case they needed to do an emergency C-Section she couldn't eat.  ahhhh!  Alison wasn't too upset about staying in the hospital, but she was very upset that she was starving and couldn't eat.  They were going to hook her up with a nice batch of sugar water through and IV though, so that made it all better  :)  Yeah right.

Because of the H1N1 virus the maternity floor is full of rules and regulations about who can and can't be up on that floor.  Only the Father and the grandparents (parents) are allowed on the floor.  Since was was none of the above I was getting some pretty serious looks from the nurse.  She mentioned a few times that I couldn't be there, but I wasn't listening.  I left only when Alison's husband wanted some help and asked me to come watch the girls while he went grocery shopping.  Then I stayed and watched the girls while he came and sat with Alison for a few hours.  I can see that this new rule (which is nationwide) is going to be a real pain.  I understand, I do, I just don't agree. :) A support person is also allowed, but the nurse that was giving me the evil eye wasn't having any of that talk. 

Anyway, it all looks to be OK as of right now and I epect that it will stay that way.  My mother is going to pick Alison up tomorrow morning and I hope that she had a fairly decent sleep with no complications.  Then hopefully the next time she's in the hospital will be to have that baby!

Thanks everyone for your well wishes.  I posted a little note on Facebook and received a lot of prayers for her.  Thank you.

Kristin

edited to add - usually if I schedule a post to run, I set the time for 11:11.  In this case, the 11:11 was just what time I finished!  Cool :)

POTD - Mug and Brush

Mug and Brush - by Kristin Corlett

This little business is located right near my sister's home. They are open several days a week and the parking lot is always full.

The KrisMiss Reunion

This is a picture of my dear friend Missy.  The two of us were best friends in High School.  We've tried to keep in touch since then, but I moved away, she got married, she had kids, she moved away, I moved home - you know, Life!  We got together about 10 years ago for a few months and then she moved again and so did I, but I moved to Florida as I recall.  Then earlier this year she joined Facebook :)  Ahhh, we connected, again.  I've seen her once so far and we spent a fair amount of time together at the reunion last night.  I'll for sure see her many times before I scoot back off into the warmth of Florida.  Missy, it was great to see you.  Thanks :)  I talked about her back in July, here, when I saw her for the first time in eons.

I'll have more and more and more to say about the reunion as I've got a lot to tell.  I'm still hoarse from all of the talking and laughing that I did this weekend, but I have to say, it was a total success.

Have a fabulous day!  I'm off to a flag football game and then back over to the barn to help clean up after the reunion.

Kristin

Oh what a night...

Oh what a night - late September back in '63. ba da dum da dum

OK, so it's October and we're talking about the graduating class of '84, but you get the idea.

Don't mind me, I'm just talking more reunion stuff.

Here I am with a group of boys - the two on either side of me were in my High School class.  The one on the far left was a year older and married one of my classmates.  This was really late into the evening, so I think they are all kind of giving those "too much to drink" stares, but I wanted a photo of me!

I was the official photographer tonight.  I gave myself that title and that job.  I do believe I got a photo of every one of our classmates that came into the door tonight.  I was also the keeper of the list.  I had the list of everyone that had RSVP'd to the reunion, so I was checking them off as they came in and also making sure that those that hadn't paid yet could do so with me. 

In case I haven't mentioned - Friday night we had just a meet and greet at a local bar.  Saturday night is the paid event with a DJ and food.  I don't know what anyone expected about tonight (Friday) but I think it exceeded all expectations.  We had 46 people from our class attend the meet and greet.  We had spouses, too - but goodness, I didn't count them!  Not tonight anyway.

I made a fool out of myself several times by just walking up to people and saying -"I don't know you - did you graduate with us?" and if they said yes "So are you on my list?" and I'd laugh.  "The list of people who have RSVP'd to the reunion" and they'd give me their name and I'd say "Well of COURSE that's YOU!" or "I don't remember you exactly, but that's OK. "  Then I'd tell them who I was and chat for a moment and try to introduce them to the others who had arrived before them.  After a few hours though, the bar was far too crowded and I couldn't introduce anyone anymore.  They had to fend for themselves.

I kissed a boy on the cheek that I'd always wanted to kiss when I was in High School :)  I told him I was just happy to see him.  (I'm sly!!)  I think I hugged everyone and nearly everyone hugged back.   What a night.  I'm so hyped up that I can hardly even think about sleeping, but tomorrow has already arrived and I have to get up and work on some things before another late night.

Thanks so much for stopping by and I'll tell more reunion stories later on in the weekend!  Stay Tuned.

Kristin

POTD - Soldiers

Soldiers - by Kristin Corlett

Don't the tops of the fence look like little faces? I imagined them being soldiers defending the house behind them.

Enjoy!
Kristin

Friday Fragments

Mrs. 4444, from Half-Past Kissing Time, hosts Friday Fragments each week. It's a great excuse to get all those little snippets that gather in the brain and don't seem enough for one post but together they can make one fun blog post! 

This week I'm in Michigan hanging out with my sisters, Hillary and Alison, my mom and Alison's husband as well as two kids, Zora and Stella.  My High School reunion is this weekend and I swear that's all I've got on my brain.  Let's see if I can find some fun stuff to chat about.

 

 

.•:*¨¨*:•.

I've got a purring cat on my lap.  This is actually a very unsual occurance as my cat will not sit on my lap.  She will lay next to me, put a paw on me, stand on my legs and kneed my belly or chest, but she will not lay on my lap. Snuff, my sister's cat, will lay on my lap and will allow me to rest my forearms on her back and neck while I type.  She's agreeable that way.

.•:*¨¨*:•.

I went to a friends home today with my mother to pick up a photograph that my mom was purchasing.  Right across the street was the place where I lived for several years with a boyfriend.  He still lives there.  It was so weird to be that close.  The friend had a garage sale a few weeks back and my mom went to the sale.  She told me that said X was sitting on the front porch with some friends watching the garage sale goers.  I'm glad I was still in Florida at the time.  I would have felt the need to go over and talk to him and even though I'm sure we'd both be terribly friendly, I'm glad I didn't have to make that decision.

.•:*¨¨*:•.

My Mom and I took Zora (my niece) to an Open House at a Fire Station last night.  It was a lot of fun.  They allowed kids to get into a helicopter, a fire truck, an ambulance, into a police car & on a police motor cycle, too.  They got to hold the fire hose and try to shoot water through the cutouts of a house and they got to put out a fire using a fire extinguisher.  Oh! and they ran a small course where they hauled a fire hose and a fire hose shaped like a person.  It was all free and a ton of people were there, even my cousin and one of her kids.  If you ever see something like this in your area, be sure to take your kids (or nieces, nephews, grandkids) to this.  It was really educational and fun. 

.•:*¨¨*:•.

A Message I received on Facebook today ---

You have been spotted....
On the bridge in Grand Ledge taking pictures of the island....
Back in town and you can't go anywhere without everyone knowing...
Welcome back to GL.

I was trying to take some photos of some interesting parts of town because I coudn't find a postcard to save my life. How funny that someone saw me!

.•:*¨¨*:•.

 I haven't watched TV since Friday.  I always thought it was the television that kept me from getting to everyone's blogs each day.  I actually think that the TV has nothing to do with it.  I've been sitting in this chair for a few hours now and haven't read a single blog other than my own and still haven't finished this post.  Granted, I am waiting for the pictures to load and I'm doing laundry, but I have very few distractions.  So maybe the TV isn't so bad afterall!

.•:*¨¨*:•.

Who got Auffed on Project Runway tonight??  No wait, don't tell me.  I might get to see it on my sister's DVR later in the week.  No, wait - I do want to know.  I'll find out before I see the show anyway.  Do tell - who did Heidi Auff this week???

.•:*¨¨*:•.

Hillary went to the doctor the other day to see if this new physician can figure out why she gets horrible headaches all the time.  She came home with a lot of information, a short term script for something to see if that helps her headaches and a tetnus shot.  It's two days later and she can still hardly raise her arm.  Poor thing.  I guess she didn't move her arm enough after the shot.  She hadn't gotten a tetnus shot in 12 years, which is just 2 years over the max.  So here's your PSA for today -- How long has it been since you've had your tetnus shot?  I know I'm due.  I think it's been over 15 since I've had one.

.•:*¨¨*:•.

The cat left for an hour or so and is now back.  It's just after midnight here on the East Coast, so that means that Mrs. 4444 probably has her Friday Fragments post up and is taking links.  I'm going to hit the hay then.  I hope you have a fabulous Friday and that you get a chance to swing by the other  FF blogs to see what their up to this week.

Enjoy!
Kristin

Let's Go Comets

I've been trying to find some items to put in a gift basket for my High School reunion.  I went to the little town where I graduated and tried to find some post cards or other items that had Grand Ledge on them or a comet or something.  We were the Grand Ledge Comets.  To say that very little existed is an understatement.

I did find some post cards of the refurbished Opera House, which IS cool, but was a boarded up building when I went to school there and honestly, I hadn't a clue it was there. 

I found a newspaper from 1963 (which my mother just said was the year she graduated from HS - but she went to school in Nebraska) and I may use something in that paper to be a part of the gift baskets.  I'll probably just scan sections of the newspaper, come to think of it.   I found a magnet, a few post cards of the beautiful Ledges here in Grand Ledge, and some note pads with the water tower painted on the cover.  The water tower is pictures at the top of this post.    It's not a lot, but at least it's something fun that has to do with the town where we went to school.

I may even print off a few photos that I took today while I was out and about, since those would be nice and pretty much free :)

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.  I'll be catching up with people I haven't seen in ages.  Should be a great time.

Kristin

POTD - Red

Red - by Kristin Corlett

This was taken in the parking lot of the Fresh Market in East Lansing, MI.

Thrifty Chalkboard party ideas

Welcome my late edition of Thrifty Thursday hosted by Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville. This gives us all a chance to have a fun time hunting around the house, the garage, someone elses house and garage or even a thrift store or two to dig up some cool finds.

Be sure and check out the other Thrifty Finds, from the other participants. I'm always amazed at what folks submit and how often I wish I'd found it, or bought it or noticed it...whatever IT is :)

I've got a High School reunion coming up this weekend and we wanted to make some very thrifty items for the event, but still have them be interesting.  I got an idea awhile back from that chalkboard party that was held - some folks did some very interesting things with chalkboard paint.  Also, I received in the mail my gift tags from Olive Rue just before I left town and that gave me yet another layer of ideas.  So what I did was to make a bunch of short term chalkboards, gift tags and clothes pins for my reunion.   By short term I mean that it's pretty much a one or two use thing.  The paint was thin, the paper was posterboard, not wood - so that type of short term.

Here is my lovely chalkboard paint and roller.  My paint was from 3 or 4 years ago - so totally thrifty!  It's been paid for already.

Here is the beginning of the clothespins.  I did all 4 sides and the little kissy mouth ends :)  I didn't do the inside as it was just too difficult.  I took the spring off of one clip just to see if I could get it back together and there was no way! LOL  Lesson learned on that one.  I bought the clothes pins at Michaels.  I think they were $2.50 for a package of 20 or so.

These are the chalkboard tags.  This is only one coat so far - they don't look streaked with two coats.  We are going to attach these to the gift baskets and use for various things.   They are way cool.  These were the hardest item to find - just a plain white tag.  We went to three different stores and finally found them at Hobby Lobby.  A package of 20 for $1.99.  We'll probably use 10 and I made 60 :)  Over-kill, but that's OK.  I'll write notes on them and pass them out at the reunion all night. 

These are the posterboard chalkboard signs.  They will be cut in half to make two signs.  I experimented here because I HAD to!  It was an overwhelming desire to use chalk on a newly painted surface.  My instructions on how to make sidewalk chalk literally glide on a chalkboard surface is here, a part of the chalkboard party post that I did.  The posterboard was $1.99 for a pack of 5.  I will get 10 signs from the 5 pack. 

The pumpkins in the shot above are also from Hobby Lobby.  They were 50% off and my mother picked those three up for $30 total.  They look great on her table and what a deal!  We're having a pumpkin carving party near the end of the month, so these will make nice decorations for the food table.

Thanks so much for joining me on my chalkboard paint extravaganza.  My mom has a cardboard box that printer paper comes in, that she has written over with black ink to mark that the box now holds plastic party supplies.   It's just a mess.  I told her that the leftover chalkboard paint would be great to paint on the ends of the cardboard boxes in storage, so it would be easy to read what's inside and not be distracted by the pictures and other writing...and also easy to change out the tag.  :)  Good idea, huh?  You know I will be painting that box tonight, don't ya?  Yes, I do believe I have to. :)

Thanks everyone!! Hop on over to Leigh's to see the other participants in Thrifty Thursday.
Have a wonderful week!
Kristin

POTD - Parasol

Parasol - by Kristin Corlett

I saw this woman at a garage sale in Jacksonville, FL.  I loved that she was dressed in a long flowing skirt and twirled a purple parasol.

Enjoy!
Kristin

Topopo Salad

A few weeks back (maybe it was a few months back) I talked about El Azteco and the famous Topopo salad, here. I didn't have a photo of the Topopo salad at the time because we had gotten it togo and at El Az ("el ez" as the locals call it) a togo Topopo Salad is made on a large Chinet paper plate and then covered with another Chinet paper plate. It's not pretty and not photograph worthy either, although it is still very delicious.

However! Monday afternoon my sister Alison, daughter Stella, my Mom and I made our way to El Az and split a Topopo. Yum! Before we dug in, I snapped this photo.

The last time I talked about El Az, I mentioned that I needed to get the recipe. Well, I did just that. I had forgotten that I was part of a Facebook group called "I used to eat El Azteco UNDERGROUND." In that group was the recipe to the famous salad and also a comment from my friend. So I included both.

El Azteco used to have a location in East Lansing, MI that was located in the basement of a building. I honestly have no idea what was above, but I do remember going below to have some really great Mexican food. My friend Steve and I used to go there together. I don't think we ever had a Topopo salad at that time. I was not educated in the awesomeness of this great salad. It would take a few more years before I learned a valuable lesson. Eat the Topopo :)

TOPOPO SALAD (Serves 4)

INGREDIENTS
4 cups of iceberg lettuce
2 1/2 ounces Roma tomatoes, diced
2 1/2 ounces cooked, shredded Chicken
2 1/2 ounces Cheddar cheese
2 1/2 ounces Monterey Jack
Jalapenos, minced, to taste
2 1/2 ounces frozen Peas, thawed out
2 1/2 Green Onions, chopped
Oil and apple cider vinegar dressing (2:1 oil and vinegar), to taste
4 ounces fried tortilla chips
4 ounces pinto beans, mashed
4 ounces additional cheddar cheese
3 ounces guacamole
1 tablespoon Romano grated cheese

PREPARATION

Combine iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, chicken, first two cheeses, jalapenos, peas and scallions in a bowl. Mix well. In a separate bowl, mix oil and vinegar. Toss with salad mixture.

Take tortilla chips and spread evenly on a serving plate. Spread pinto beans over the chips. Spread additional cheddar cheese over the pinto beans. Put in the microwave for about one minute, or until melted. (You may also place in an oven pre-heated to 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.)

Spread guacamole over the melted cheese. Top with salad mixture to form a mound. Sprinkle with Romano grated cheese.

***My very dear friend JB (aka Bob) wrote this on the "I used to eat El Azteco UNDERGROUND" Facebook Forum.

Hi! I worked every aspect of El Az, from prep cook to wait staff. The true secret of the Topopo salad is in the oil and vinegar dressing: canola oil and apple cider vinegar. Trust me, I made mountains of Topopo while in "the channel" the section of the kitchen that made nachos, bonatos, and topops...with or without chicken! Mix it all together in a bowl, mound it by hand! LSJ has a great recipe, but make it canola oil and apple cider for authenticity, and your memories will flood back in full color!!!!
xoxoxoxo♥
JB

In the same information about the Topopo salad on Facebook was this bit of information about the restaurant, so I thought I'd include it, too.

ABOUT EL AZTECO

Summer wouldn't be complete without a trip to El Azteco's roof-top patio, and a sampling of the restaurant's famous Cheese Dip or Topopo Salad.

The story of El Azteco began in East Lansing in 1976, when owner Arturo Santa Cruz had a vision to bring authentic Mexican food to college students at a cheap price.

"The whole product was meant for college students, and then it expanded into a family restaurant," says manager Heather Patler-Holguin. "The students grew up and had families and kept coming to El Azteco."

Patler-Holguin says her favorite thing about working at El Azteco is that family atmosphere.

"A lot of student employees stay here all the way until they graduate, and we have regulars who have been coming in since they were kids," Patler-Holguin says. "It's a big family, from the customers to the employees."

The Topopo Salad, Patler-Holguin says, is one of the restaurant's most popular summer dishes.

"The idea is it being the counterpart to the American chef salad," she said. "It comes out like a mountain, and we even put mounted cheese on the top, so it looks like a snow-capped mountain. People like to come in for lunch and split it four ways."


Thanks to Facebook group"I used to eat El Azteco UNDERGROUND," to the Lansing State Journal for publishing the recipe at some point (because that's how it was posted on FB,) and to my friend Bob for working there and helping make the recipe Fabulous!

I hope you have a wonderful day and I hope you make a Topopo salad at some point in the very near future. If I make one, there will not be a jalapeno in sight! Too hot for me :)

Kristin

POTD - Fall

"Fall" - by Kristin Corlett

This photo was taken somewhere between Indianapolis, IN and Marion, IN.  I just love barns that are half falling down and this one is maybe closer to fallen down than half fallen down. 

Covered Bridge and Keetha

My day on Sunday started off real nice.  I got up in the morning and my Uncle and I drove to a little town on the Northern edge of Indianapolis called  Noblesville.   He had spotted a covered bridge there awhile back and asked me if I wanted to see it.  I said sure!  So off we went.  This is the official marker and had I actually read the teeeeny tiny print on the bottom that said "continued on other side"  I would have photographed the other side of this marker.  Sheesh. 

 

 As you can see, the covered bridge was not torn down and replaced with a concrete bridge.  Thankfully so - as this is a gorgeous bridge.  That's my Uncle Matthew in the photo :)  Hi Matt!

 

 We took a little walk down eather side of the bride on the walkway.  That is one fabulous reflection.  The water was shallow and the current wasn't strong at all.  We found a spot for Matthew and his boys to put a canoe in the water.  We told funny stories (mostly him telling me stories about my cousins - his sons) and Matthew pointed out different types of trees and birds.  It was a nice morning.  Thanks Matthew!

I left Matt and Marg's home around noon and headed off on my next adventure.  I was going to meet Keetha.  Live and in person!  I could hardly wait.  I met her at Culver's - which is an interesting restaurat to say the least.  I thought it was fast food, but it's different fast food.  I actually had a pot roast dinner.  It was so very good.  but then again, I could eat pot roast every day.  I love it. 

 

 Keetha knew someone dining in Culver's while we were there, so we grabbed her to have her take a photo (or 6) of us.  It wasn't until later that I realized that I had forgotten to put on my mascara when I was doing my makeup.  How funny.  It was so good to finally meet Keetha - I think I hugged her ten times before we sat down.  She was so sweet, she even bought me lunch!! 

 

 After that photo session she took me to the school where she teaches and I got a chance to see her classroom. I loved it. It's such a small school that it was kind of hard to imagine only having a handful of students, but once I saw the room and the chairs and tables, it was easier to understand.  Thanks Keetha for taking me there - I really liked seeing where you go all day!  I know the kids just love ya...even though they think you are as old as a dinosaur.  (That's why they call her Keethasaurus!)

 

 Then Keetha took me to her home.  One of the first things I saw was, gasp, Brunhilda and Boris Bearsaltandpepper. I felt like I was in the presence of royalty.   Seriously, I was excited to see them!  What a hoot.  If you have no idea why I'm excited it's because you haven't read Keetha's blog :)  Brunhilda and Boris went on vacation with Keetha and her husband and had all sorts of adventures and they blogged about it.  I had so many belly laughs that I couldn't wait to meet the superstars. (It all started here)

Keetha and I sat in her family room and talked.  We talked and talked and talked.  We laughed at the kitty who wanted a lot of attention, we talked about our blogging friends and how much we enjoyed the blogging family, we talked about how we came to live where we live, we talked and talked.  It was a great time.

I so appreciate your friendship, Keetha and I am so grateful that we got to meet and laugh and share the same space.  We're doing that again for sure!!  What fun.  (and I'm doing very well with my bloodsugar levels.  Thanks for asking!) 

I hope you have a fabulous day!

Kristin

POTD - Heart

Heart - by Kristin Corlett

Can you see the heart in the tree limb?  I saw this on one of my walks in Jacksonville, FL.

Kristin

*This photo posted on Sunday instead of Monday - so I'm moving it to the correct day.   I'm assuming it was user error haha

Sunday Sunday

I have so much that I want to say, but I'm so tired tonight.  I've got both of my Mother's cats hovering around me like I'm a piece of meat.  Actually, that isn't true at all.  They are hovering around me like I'm an automatic head scratcher, belly rubber and a lap for them to sit upon and kneed their little paws into.  Little Snuff kitty was purring so hard that I was having trouble hearing myself blog! 

I don't have any photos for you all tonight, so I can't show you photos of my time with Keetha - but SHE has photos up already, so I'm going to send you over to her place for tonight. (Here)  Tomorrow I will blog more about my FAB visit with her.  Oh I had so much fun.  I have to say that so far meeting my blogging friends has been 2 for 2.  Both Jennifer at Dust Bunny Hostage and Keetha from Keetha's blog (What do you call your blog anyway? I have to go find out...) OK, she calls it "Keepie DaNiece's Eclectic Stuff" (Keetha's blog) -- OK, so both Jennifer and Keetha were wonderful!  Thank you for allowing me to meet you :)  It was certainly my pleasure.  I'll spill more details tomorrow, when I get my photos loaded onto my computer.

I spent the morning with my Uncle Matthew and he showed me a covered bridge in a neighboring town (pictures tomorrow) that was so cool.  We saw an unusual fruit/seed pod from a tree near said covered bridge and I was fortunate enough to get to my Mom's house this evening before my sisters and my nieces left.  So today has been a wonderful day from beginning to end.

My day needs to end now though, as I can hardly keep my eyes open.  Have a lovely day and a great week!

Kristin

Second Day

I got up this morning very early, so I could get out of the hotel before dawn and on the road.  I had gotten such a late start yesterday, that I had to make up those hours somehow.  I wanted to get to Indianapolis before 5pm, so I was going to have to hit the road.

I did actually make it out of my hotel room at 6:40am and drove for an hour in the fog before the sun rose.  I had breakfast and got back on the road and as I was turning the corner I saw one hot air balloon then both of them!  It was quite a sight.  I'm so glad that I had my little point and shoot camera in the car so I could take this picture real quick.

 

I always look forward to go going through Kentucky because I try to find the black barns while driving along I-75.  Some are easy to see, as this one is, but some are so well hidden because they look like a dark shadow next to a house.  I make it a little game to see how many black barns I can find before the next exit.   (unless I'm in traffic, of course!)

I made it to my Aunt and Uncles home right around 5pm.  Exactly when I wanted to arrive, so that was perfect.  I'm always amazed at the directions that I get from Mapquest.  Before I left Jacksonville I typed in the address where I was supposed to go and low and behold it was correct!  I made it right to their doorstep without a wrong turn at all...and to think I wanted a GPS!

Sunday for lunch I'm meeting with Keetha. Goodness I 'm so excited!  I will be sure to take plenty of pictures of our first meeting and I'm sure she will as well. :)   

Oh and I have to say --- Congratulations to Michigan State University!!  I can't believe the game they had yesterday against the University of Michigan.  Hahahaha  what a win.  Go Green!! :)

until tomorrow,
Kristin

Whew!

What a day.

I spent so much time today at my house, cleaning up, finding things, arranging, hugging the kitty, and trying to make sure that I got everything that I wanted to take to Michigan, that I left really late.

I didn't just leave late.

I left really really really late.

3pm.

Ugh. That means that I only drove until about 8:30pm. I just can't drive too long at night, I get too sleepy. Not to mention the next section was the mountainous portion of the trip and I really dislike driving the mountains at night.

So, here I am, just a few miles from the North Carolina border in a cheap motel.

It may be a cheap motel, but it's got free wireless internet!! and pillow top mattresses and a mini fridge.  Usually I stay at a Hampton Inn (I like staying at hotel where the doors to the rooms are on the inside of the hotel) but I decided to chance it tonight.  The sign said "new rooms" and I do believe that's mostly true.  I think it's more new beds, new TV and a new wallpaper border.  haha

The fly that's in my room may not make it through the night though...I think I'm going to start chasing it here in a moment.

I'm off to read some blogs (and kill this fly) and put my feet up. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Kristin

POTD - Grasses

Grasses - by Kristin Corlett

Just some of the blooms that greet me this time of year as I drive through the gates of my condo community.

Friday Fragments

Mrs. 4444, from Half-Past Kissing Time, hosts Friday Fragments each week. It's a great excuse to get all those little snippets that gather in the brain and don't seem enough for one post but together they can make one fun blog post! 

Enjoy!

.•:*¨¨*:•.

First off, I have to say once again that I'm leaving (hopefully in less than 12 hours from right now) and all I can think about is what do I want to write for Friday Fragments!  I need to crack the whip and get the things I want to take with me gathered and yet, here I sit...watching Project Runway on the DVR and blogging lol  It's worth it, isn't it?!!

.•:*¨¨*:•.

Speaking of Project Runway.  I went over to the Project Runway post at Gratz Industries and just had a blast reading everything. The best part though was when he matched the contestants with a celebrity.  He was right on with so many of them and it was hoot!  If you like the show, you have to take a look.

.•:*¨¨*:•.

I remembered an event that happened to me when I was about 18 or 19 years old.  It was so ridiculous that I just have to share.   My boyfriend and this guy, Jeff, worked together so he came over several times a week to hang out. On this particular evening we were all three sitting on the one piece of furniture that I had.  I was sitting in the middle of the couch with the two guys on either side.  The news was on and it was time for their daily "Crime Stoppers" segment.   It's where they show a mug shot and talk about a local criminal and hope that the viewing audience can help them find the idiot in question.  The picture that came up was of the guy sitting on my couch.   "If you have seen this man, please call crime stoppers at  xxx-xxxx."  I just remember looking at him with my mouth wide open as he tore out the door. I had to laugh.  I mean, how many times do you see the mug shot of the person sitting next to you on the couch.  I was totally shocked.  He wrote bad checks or stole checks or something non violent, but something stupid nonetheless.   I didn't turn him in, I had no idea where he lived, how to find him or anything, but the boys employer turned him in that night.  Seriously, what an idiot. 

Just an aside - He was arrested, paid the fine or whatever he had to do, but he never came back to my place to hang out.  Ever.

.•:*¨¨*:•.

 I got my rental condos all rented.  I may have mentioned it last week, but nothing is official until the people move in.  The past two months I paid the mortages, the utilities and the association fees out of my pocket.  To say it was a drain on my finances is an understatement.  I was unsure if I was going to be able to go on my month long trip if I didn't get those places rented.  I was doing dances, visualization, prayers and anything else I could think of to get it out into the universe that I wanted them full before I left town.  Something worked because I got all of them rented.  One moved in on Monday, the other around 9pm Wednesday night and the final one Thursday at noon.  Thank You!! Whew!

.•:*¨¨*:•.

One of the items that I hauling to Michigan are three of my husband's winter coats.  They are wool dress coats.  One even has a fur color. (faux fur)   This really isn't the type of thing that people buy here in Florida, so since I'm heading North, I might as well drop these off.

.•:*¨¨*:•.

My computer desk area (where I don't use the computer if at all possible) is piled so high with stuff that I'm going to have to clear it off before I leave.  I found a bill in the pile today that didn't get paid.  I must have thought it was for one of the rentals, but nope, it was for our place.  It was only the cable and internet.  I'm sure my husband wouldn't mind losing those two things.  The bill for next month arrived today in the mail.  I suggested that he pay it pretty soon so he doesn't start getting turn off notices.

.•:*¨¨*:•.

Thanks for stopping by for my fragments.  If I lost any along the way just pick them up and toss them in the trash when you leave :)  If you'd like to read more Friday Fragments, please stop by Mrs. 4444's place.  The people who participate are a lot of fun.

Thank you and have a great day!
Kristin

Jax Home Show

Here is aisle 200 at the Jacksonville Home Show.  This is where Tom (the guy dressed head to toe in tan) is going to be spending his entire weekend.  I joined him for a few hours this afternoon so he could get a bit of a break and eat some dinner.  I know that he really wanted to just run around the convention center and talk with people.  He didn't eat dinner, he stood around and told stories.  Here he is chatting with the guy in the booth next to ours. 

 

Here is the official Monkey Bars booth (space 200) at the Jacksonville Home Show.  (You can click the photo to enlarge)  My husband and his helper/installer put this together yesterday.  I'm so pleased with how it turned out.  The spring home show they had a much smaller booth and it looked good, but this is by far MUCH better.  It looks more like a garage space.  This whole set up, including the work table area on the end is $1500 installed. 

 

The Monkey Bars Garage Organizing System helps people Rise Above the Mess.  This means to get everything up off the floor and make your garage a place to park your car, not a place that's 4 feet deep in clutter.  Long term storage goes in the bins on the top rack and the items you use often goes on the hooks and brackets on the powder coated steel bars. 

 

These are just a few of the hooks that literally sit on the steel bars.  You can move them easily, but because the bars are square and sit at an angle, the hooks are very secure and won't fall off.  It's such a cool system.

My husband, my dear husband, will be busy this month.  The home show is a great place to get leads.  I bet he'll install 20 systems this month.  He'll hardly even know that I'm gone. haha   He's already morning the loss of the laundress and dishwasher.

I'm going to head towards Michigan tomorrow.  I wanted to leave in the morning, but considering I haven't packed a single stitch of clothing, I'm betting I'll leave more like noon.  It's OK, I've got two days to get to Indianapolis, IN, where I'll be staying overnight with my Aunt and Uncle.   I'll be fine, though.

I'll be in Michigan for an entire month.  I haven't been gone from home that long since I went to Scandinavia with the Blue Lake Fine Arts Choir in 1983.  My 25th High School Reunion is October 10th and my sister is having a baby on the 21st (unless the baby decides to arrive earlier than expected) and I certainly can't leave before the baby is a week old, so I HAVE to stay an additional week.  I will be blogging and photographing at the same rate, although I suspect I'll have a lot more kid photos as I will be seeing my nieces Zora and Stella on an almost daily basis.

Wish me luck and if you are in the Asheville, NC area, let me know.  I need a place to stay Friday night :)

Have a wonderful day!

Kristin

POTD - Nuns

Nuns - by Kristin Corlett

This installation is out in front of the St. Vincent Hospital in the Riverside neighborhood in Jacksonville, FL.