Getting a little jump on summer decorating

The awesomest man in the world is married to the luckiest girl in the world. Our neighbors were getting new fencing all the way down the back of their subdivision,(wonder how much their HOA fees went up this year), which backs up to the road we drive on everyday. Me, being the junk hound that I am, and my hubby, being the best partner-in-crime ever, took the 'burb' down and loaded up a few sections of what they were tearing out. Ron is so good to be the "Dean" to my "Jerry", the "brawn" to my "brain" (HA!), the "meat" to my "potatoes"...Wait. What?? I couldn't do some of the silly things I get to do, if I didn't have such a supportive, "sure we can do that!", kind of husband. I sure love him. He helped me turn this fence from this:

... ...

To this. Though he wasn't too sure when I asked him to hang it for me, inside the house, he went along with the task & I think he kinda likes it.

The color green, in all its many hues, tints and shades is my favorite of all the colors in the rainbow. My love affair with this luxuriant pigment, may have stemmed from the time Christine Emery's mother took us to the Dole Pineapple factory and let us pick out a little treasure to take home with us. We were six, and Christine was mean, bossy, "assertive" by nurture, and she chose name tags for both of us...not really what I would have chosen, but I learned at an early age not to look a gift name tag in the mouth..err whatever. Christine's name tag was red and my name tag was green...and did you get the part where I said they were NAME tags? Well, Christine decided she wanted the green one and I should have the red one. Now I'm no rocket scientist, but shouldn't I have the one that says Kathy, seeing as though that's my name?? I remember looking at her mother thinking, aren't you going to intervene here? When Mrs. Emery figured out what little Miss Bossy Pants was up to, she made Christine give me the green name tag that read "Kathy", and that tipped Christine's apple cart...or should I say pineapple cart...such weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth the likes of which Polynesians hadn't witnessed previously or since. Having won that little victory may have been what started my prodigious liking for the color green. Isn't it weird that I would remember that story? The End.

Friends are the chocolate chips in the cookie of life

I've blogged about my insanely uber-talented friend, Becki. Last weekend we had our pre-ward conference adult dinner/social. She was asked to be in charge of it this year. I know what a monumental (heavy on the mental) task it is because Ron and I did it last year. Becky enlisted her husband and kids (she has such a great family) to do everything from soup to nuts. The dinner was fantastic (pasta, warm bread sticks, "Olive Garden" salad, all kinds of desserts), and they even put together an Italian soda bar. They just did an awesome job. My assignment was to set the tables, and Ron got some guys together to do a guitar sing along, to Kermit the Frog's "Rainbow Connection". I know it sounds corny, but it was actually a really fun, sweet song to sing. So, the Blackners do all this work (Becki pulled it together even though she was sick). Then tonight, what gets delivered to my front porch? Warm, fresh baked chocolate chip cookies! Not only Yumm to the "O!", but look how CUTE they look! And wait. She's thanking ME?? That girl! She doesn't do anything if it's not beautiful! ...and I'm the lucky recipient of her talent and generosity! 'Scuse me while I go pour a big glass of milk!

CURSE you MilkyWay Midnight!

Dear Dark Chocolatey Goodness, Like the sailor to the Siren call, I am powerless to resist your bittersweet temptations when I am waiting in the grocery store checkout line.

...consider my willpower crashed upon the rocks!

We calls 'em like we sees 'em

...Next we'll be touring the Karl Malone Skool of Speech

Remember the "Post Mother's Day Thoughts" post? It took me a few days to compose it because it was such an emotional (for me) topic. Once again I was unexpectedly and emotionally, transported back to 1981 with this beautiful tribute to her mother, by Calee Reed.

One of my favorite "art" pieces in my kitchen came about quite by accident. I've had these glass cream bottles for many years. I use them for parties and gatherings because they are so fun. They make great centerpieces and add a colorful straw and you have a fun beverage holder.

I brought the cream bottles, crate and all, in from the garage to run them through the dishwasher before an activity one day, and set the dairy crate on the counter and I loved the look of it. Some day I will part with them, but for now I'll just enjoy their beauty.