Finds and fixins'...

Happy Saturday!
Ever notice how mandatory "wake ups" are challenging, but on days off you can bounce right out of bed at the crack of dawn?...funny how that works.

There were no treasures for me to be had this week from my weekly second-hand store excursion. I did find this tiered stand and monogrammed cocktail shaker at a local discount store. The tiered stand matches  metalware I already had, so I was excited about that. I picked up the cocktail shaker my last visit to the store but when I saw the length of the checkout lines, I opted to leave it behind. When I spotted it again this visit, I figured I was meant to take it home.

And last, but probably my favorite find, this cool mail holder (very Pottery Barnish without the PB price tag).

I managed to pack up my Valentine decorations and pull-out a few St. Patty's items last weekend...crazy to think March is almost here, but I'm all for spring!  :))

Have a great weekend y'all!

Texas Bluebonnets and....

G'day y'all!
(how's that for a diverse greeting?...threw the "G'day" in especially for the Aussie viewers).

I'm normally headed to work this time of day, but took the day off to help my in-law's (my father-in-law is having cataract surgery)...thought I'd compose a quick post before heading out the door.

Spring fever's in full swing here in South Texas. The trees are beginning to bud, the temperatures are more like what we're used to, and we're beginning to see the first glimpse of those wildflowers Texas is so famous for. A favorite spring time photo op is to plop down in a field of bluebonnets...this photo from  Texas Hill Country is a good reminder to tread carefully as creatures besides humans plop in the flowers ...YIKES!

Wishing you all a blessed "snake free" day!

Play ball!

Baseball has been a part of my life from the moment I said, "I do". My husband is a high school coach (football and baseball) and pretty much lives and breathes sports 24-7. I don't care how much he denies it, I know baseball is his true love ;). You'd think I'd be pretty knowledgeable of the games, given all the years I've been a spectator, but not so much. My simple little mind operates under the illusion I have the upper hand by not fully engaging and embracing game strategies...silly ol me!  Although I don't attend my hubby's sporting events with the same frequency as when our  daughter and son were in school, I still enjoy an occasional game at the ballpark. Our son (Korey) interned with the Houston Astros last year and was offered a "game day" job with the Grounds Crew...he'll return again this year. One of my favorite Minute Maid photos of Korey is below...he's the guy in the back with the "Texas-sized" wallet. Now that the high school baseball season is underway and the Astros soon to follow, let me just say...."play ball!".

Should I be worried?

Ever have one of those days when you do things that are, well, "out there"? I've had a day and a half of doing goofy things. I can't blame it on my kids, they've been out of the house for several years now...can't blame it on the family pet - we don't have one. No getting around it, I have to take ownership for my own absent mindedness, and it hurts!

Genius!!!!

A Facebook friend had this post on his page...
http://hubpages.com/hub/National-Drink-Wine-Day-2011
02-18-11 is National Drink Wine Day....Genius!!!!
For those unable to partake (including my daughter, mommie to our precious Baby Jackson), I'll have a glass for you.
Stay thirsty my friends!
Cheers  ")

What is it?

My latest outing to the little collectible store I habitually hit Wednesday's after work only netted one treasure this go round. Can you tell what it is? 

I'm drawn to the quirky, what can I say. For those who didn't figure it out, it's an old twist or turnkey bell (and it still works...a nice little bonus!). A former owner somewhere along the line mounted it on wood, making it perfect for sticking on a shelf.  I'm debating about refinishing the wood mount in a black distressed finish...maybe changing out the base as well. I'm not touching the hardware itself as I think it's "way cool" as is.

On a separate excursion, I found this tray that'll work nicely in my kitchen. It was made in Italy and the artwork is very similar to the pieces of Queen's Hookers Fruit print dishes I have scattered about the kitchen.

I have a 3-day weekend, courtesy of Presidents Washington and Lincoln. With high school baseball in full swing, I won't see much of my Head Coach hubby, so I have hopes of getting a project or two underway.

Valentine Cupcakes...

Hope everyone's enjoying their weekend! It's gorgeous weather here today, a far cry from that cold weather we've been having. The sunshine warms both the body and soul!

Remember my post a week or so ago on the "funky" little cupcake holder I bought?  With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I thought I'd bake some cupcakes and try out the new holder. I found a recipe on 

GoAskKatie.comRecipes http://goaskkatie.blogspot.com/2011/02/lemon-cupcakes-recipe.html that looked interesting. I thought it was a bit odd the recipe didn't call for baking powder or baking soda and figured they probably wouldn't rise like I'm used to. Once baking was complete, my hunch was right...the texture/weight is more like a muffin than a cupcake. I haven't sampled one yet, so who am I to judge (I'll report that later!). Moving right along...cupcakes baked, iced, and placed in the holder. But wait, I'm one short, HUH!!?????? I checked the counter and the pan to make sure I hadn't missed one...NOTHING! So then I begin to count...everyone knows there's 12 slots for cupcakes in a standard muffin tin, check!. Number of slots on the holder, 13. 13, #%*&^!!@!!!, REALLY? The man that designed the holder must have the same mindset as the guys who decided the number of hotdogs in a package would be different than the number of hotdog buns (I say "man" because that's a boo boo a woman just wouldn't make!  ;) Sooooo, with alittle improv, the top "cupcake-less" slot was filled with candy. Ya live and learn.

Baby, it's cold outside!!!!

In follow-up to my earlier post today, I'm happy to report the work commute was without incident :)). This has got to be one of the craziest winters on record for our part of the country. It seems most of the states have had their fair share of cold this winter. I don't mean to be a "Debbie Downer", but I have a feeling Old Man Winter may not be done with us yet. Oh well, I believe I'll unwind and warm up with a hot beverage. My daughter gave me a package of this tea last year for Christmas. It instantly became a favorite! Imagine my disappointment when I was unable to find it locally. Fortunately, I found a source online and promptly stocked up!

Stay warm my friends!
Cheers

Brrrrrrrrr, again?

Dang, here comes round 2 of uncharacteristic cold weather for South Texas. Ran home from work for lunch and I swear there's ice trying to form on the roads already. This should make for an interesting commute for folks unfamiliar with driving in such conditions. Wish us all luck (we'll need it).

He's Official!!!

The birth announcement for my first grandchild!  

Latest finds...

 Latest shopping finds...

...wine themed coasters 

and a "funky" cupcake holder. 

Too fun!!!!  ")

Winter 2011- Corpus Christi, TX

Ice fingers on our Crepe Myrtle

What a crazy couple of weather days it's been! Although we didn't get the snow everyone was hoping for (it's a novelty in South Texas), the ice wreaked havoc in terms of traffic accidents. City officials reported Police responded to 81 accidents between 6:30 and 10:30 p.m. on Thursday (about the start of the freezing rain and sleet). Another 120 accidents occurred through 11 a.m. Friday. My husband and I were navigating home from the Hooks Banquet Thursday during the thick of it. Though I would have preferred being home in my warm sweats and slippers, three young men from my husbands high school baseball team were being recognized, so duty called. The fact that we were seated at the table next to keynote speaker, Roger Clemens was just *ICEing on the cake *(no typo, just trying to work the ICE pun :)). Due to numerous road closures, many attendees opted to spend the night at the host site (which just happened to be a major bayfront hotel) . We made it home safely and woke up to a beautiful ice display the next morning. Most businesses and schools closed...my husband and I were fortunate to be off from work both Thursday and Friday.

Ice silhouette on our Oak tree

Beautiful ice on Mesquites behind our home

Rest in Peace Foxtail palm!