I've been tagged!....

By the sweetest blogger: Her Highness of Cute: http://princessfreckles.blogspot.com/. My hyperlink still will not work, sorry! OK, so 7 weird facts about me....

1. Even though I am 55 years old, I still get poison ivy/poison sumac so bad. I have it right now, this is the 4th time this spring/summer that I've suffered with it. I had it all through childhood.

2. I'm super allergic to insects....bees, hornets, mosquitoes, gnats, any type of biting bug....they seek me out and I suffer with their stings for weeks.

3. I'm too nice, too sensitive, too soft, and love to make other people happy! I don't know why, I've been this way since I was a little girl.

4. I am short of a Master's degree by 3 classes...husband never wanted me to even think about finishing or going back to work.....until he retires! HA! Why would I want to go back to work then? I might be weird but I'm not dumb!

5.I don't like to be teased...too sensitive!

6. I still think I want to go back to Cape Cod to live! Maybe for the summers? Could I stand the traffic?

7. My children and husband are my most prized possessions!




So I tag anyone that reads my blog....XOXO!

GGRRRR...!!!!

Trying to get ready for an informal meal tonight.... note .... my feeble attempt with white pumpkins...

but I'm so mad and devastated that I have to tell. I strive to be apolitical but after yesterday's fiasco I hate both parties! They all lie! And we, me, all of us, are the victims. They better get their act together and pass some kind of financial restructure program. If not, we will all be in a world of hurt!

Enough said, sorry to vent, but it is too important not to mention. None of us can afford to pretend it will all be OK!

My Newest Love

I'm in love with kinerase.com. It is a skin care line recommended by dermatologists. Daughter got samples from her facial series at a dermatologist, she loved it and suggested I try this product. After 2 days of using these products, I see a huge difference. Ready to order some of their anti-aging products.

We found Kinerase at an Ulta store, which I'm also in love with. http://www.ulta.com/ulta/. I'm not lucky enough to have one here, but daughter does in Shreveport. We did some serious monetary damage there, there was just so much in one store!

Back Home...

Been away, had some great times! Looking forward to catching up! Home now !

WANT TO MEET A FAMOUS & BELOVED BLOGGER?

Most recently this creative blogger has done this... and this...

she is loved by many...

and revered by all...

her creativity is amazing...

she touches many lives...

by now you must all know this famous blogger as...

SUSIE from Bienvenue http://susieharris.blogspot.com/. She is coming to my town this weekend for the Diamondhead Arts & Craft Fair. This Craft fair is renown in this region and brings in hundreds of talented artists and hand crafters.

Let me show you a few things I've purchased at this craft fair over the last few years:

I bought this wreath at the fair last year, sorry I don't know the lady's name. She does the most awesome things. It is torture to try to make a choice at her booth.

Pam Marshall http://members.cox.net/phmarshall/ is another beloved local artist. Below is her "Mississippi Patterns" on a coaster. My daughter has one of these originals over her fireplace. Pam also has a "Louisiana Pattern". Sylvia Corban....I loved her work for years.

Below is my Bay St. Louis train bridge with view of ST Stanislaus College, etc.

My favorite "St Stanislaus Sailing Team":

Sylvia Corban has been a local artist on the Gulf Coast for many years. Her artwork is featured in galleries all over the world. Her personality and her love of the Coast are represented in all of her images.Her newest series of work includes crabs, shrimp, pelicans and oyster shells. These images are available in multiple color schemes and can be mixed and matched with some of her other products for an exciting and colorful interior.

So come to the DIAMONDHEAD ARTS AND CRAFT FAIR this weekend. There will be tons of Fabulous Fluff Stuff, get your Christmas shopping started and best of all.....You'll get to meet Susie!

Today's Bloggy Shower

One Fabulous Mom http://onefabulousmom.blogspot.com/ hosted a Bloggy Baby Shower today. I was lucky enough to enjoy all the festivities. I shopped at Monogrammed Chick http://www.monogramchick.com/ for these preppy goodies for ....

Pigtails and Pacifiers sweet little girls and her 3rd little girl on the way. It was so great to see her adorable girl's enjoying their lunch boxes. Really made my day!

Thank you, One Fabulous Mom, Monogrammed Chick, and Pigtails and Pacifiers!

BTW:

Sometimes my I can hyperlink, other times I can't. It it Blogger? or me? Anyone else having this problem?

TO ALL OF YOU IN IKE'S PATH....

my heart is aching and I'm praying for you. As the pictures of devastation come on the national news networks, we all see how bad it is. I pray that no one is left stranded, that all those that put out a 911 call are rescued. I pray that FEMA and RED CROSS are swift in their efforts. I pray for all the first responders: the Coast Guard, the National Guard, the local police and firemen, the linemen that so swiftly appear from many other states, and the local citizens themselves. I so know how you are putting your life, your family, and your comforts on the line right now. God Bless you and thank you!

To all of you homeless, stranded, evacuated, and suffering everywhere due to IKE ..... soon you will all experience the love and outreach of our great country, from the Federal goverment to our faith-based groups, our school children, and our wonderful fellow citizens. We will not let you down. Stay strong, we will all help you, whenever and however we can!

What do you call an amorous insect? The love bug.

Oh, yea it's the fall love bug time! We have 2 seasons, fall and spring. These little loving flies haunt us, damage our vehicles, somehow find their way into our homes, and totally taunt us while they are making LOVE!

*The brighter side of Love Bugs

The tiny flies we call Love Bugs are making a nuisance of themselves again as their mating flight takes them into the paths of oncoming cars.

*"Yeah, as a matter of fact, one important natural enemy is a car. I always like to tell people the best way to kill Love Bugs is with a car."

*Does the Bug cause any economic harm?

"Actually there's quite an industry of washing cars that would disappear if we didn't have Love Bugs. So its very important for a lot of people to earn their livings washing cars for the tourists as they go through the state."

*To a question about the density of Love Bug swarms...

"How do you tell a happy motorcyclist? With the Love Bugs in his teeth."

*And of course, observations about their flight ...

"They'd be a very good advertisement for United Airlines: Fly United."

Suicidal love bugs on their way out - Your Life - SunHerald.com

Sadly...while this is all so true....this is ...rather funny! Unless you have to clean these BLANKEITY BLANK THINGS!

A SHAMLESS P.O.O.P.I.E.

Thanks, Nester, for allowing me to realize my foibles, my shameless ways in decorating my home!
I am guilty, welcome to my front door

Oops, these are real below. At least I digress a little. They were begging to be photographed.

Entry hall

Way too guilty in the kitchen

still guilty in the kitchen

still kitchen

Oh my, still in the kitchen, time to get rid of these things

My very favorite. I made this centerpeice to go with my beloved SUSAN LUMPKIN "DINE ON THE BAYOU" handpainted dishes. We live on Rotten Bayou, yes, that is really it's name, so these images and textures are so relevant. Tried to bring in the cat-a-nine tails, the sticks, the moss, the ferns, and the fuzzies....all lovley items that Mother Nature has blessed us with here on Rotten Bayou.

in my bathroom

in master bedroom

So, now that I see everything published and public, I realize how bad I've got this disease.

Maybe time to dust, redo, and toss some of these things! Way to go Nester, keep me focused!

I WISH CASTED....

IKE to you, Texas and Mexico, please forgive me! I know what you are all going through right now. I'll be praying and wish casting that Ike dissipates.

So yesterday, I spent hours searching online for a suitable condo in Oxford for the Thanksgiving Wednesday through Sunday. Found about 6 units, 2 on the golf course, 2 on the Square, and 2 that were not as attractive. Being on the Square was very tempting but this is what I choose:

This unit overlooks the 6th green at The Country Club of Oxford:

Living area looks nice, lots of seating for us all. Hardwood floors, very nice.

Nice little porch overlooking 6th hole so hubby can smoke his cigars...

Not sure which is master bedroom, both look nice...

One BR for daughter & SIL...

Kitchen looks good & should be well equipped...

I'll be able to cook up some tailgating food for Friday in the Grove...

Son and friends have a tent they set up, I'll need to come up with some yummy recipes. We are all excited about this 5 day Thanksgiving trip. Turkey dinner, golf, football, lots of partying....what more could one ask for?
Glad I finally accomplished something positive. Hope to stay on this roll. Next, I've got to make plans to the Cape and be thinking about what we will do for Christmas.
Wish casting...gotta love it when it works!

Ok, time to move on...

yet I'm struggling to get back to normal. Why?...I've no clue. Maybe it's the waiting, watching, anxiety, cleanup, just putting away all the darn crap I packed to evacuate, taking care of others, and here we are again....living in fear thanks to Ike. I am not alone, there are thousands of us going through these same emotions.

So here are some happy thoughts and plans:

* Hubby and I going to Cape Cod late October (when hurricane season is over, Thank you God!)

* Trying to make plans for Thanksgiving Wednesday thru that Sunday. Want to go to OLE MISS/STATE game, son on board with that & thrilled. Ready to eat at City Grocery and Downtown Grill Restaurant. Still waiting to hear from daughter & SIL if they can make it. I'm so ready to not cook the turkey dinner this year.

* Trying to plan Christmas...again, I'd love to pick a central location where we can all meet. Daughter & SIL may not have that much time off, son will be taking intersession classes. So this will be a challenge!

I'm still trying to visit with everyone. We had power and cable problems all week. Numerous times the local power company had to shut down different grids to bring others back on. We SO understand but it can be very frustrating when you are in the middle of doing something that requires electricity.

So please excuse my lack of posts and inabilty to read all of my favorite blogs. Once we get through this week and IKE, I should be myself again!

LUCIKEST PERSON ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH!

Yes, that's me, the luckiest person in this entire world. We had no major damage, just a messy yard. My communities to the south and west are wiped out and devastated, though. Took us a while/but yet no time at all to get power and back online. (After Katrina, those was no power for at least 3 weeks...depending on where your home/grid power line was.) We took care of MIL, MIL's power out over 27 hours, which is nothing compared to what a lot of people will have to deal with.

Earlier had to empty out her 2 refrigerators/freezers, and same for friends that are out of town. Also taking care of their 16 year old dog named Lady. Someone else was supposed to babysit this poor 16 year old dog, but bailed out and they evacuated at least minute. So we are taking care of Lady! Ya'll know we are soft when it comes to pooches! It's been a hectic few days.

Can't stay online and connect with any one's blog. We are taking in....2 families....the men work with my husband....these families lost their homes. So we are sheltering them, feeding them, and loving them as best we can. It is the least we can do!

I'm praying for everyone that has been in the path of this storm....Susie, Diane (and her son), Cena, my children, (both are under tornado warnings, heavy winds, and rain), and those unknown to me. God keep you under his strong reach of protection!

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers...they worked!!!

I'll visit with everyone when time permits.

xoxo, Lamp Tramp