I was

 talking with Misty on the phone about what she bought with the birthday money we sent her.  She had gone shopping with a friend a few days after her birthday, and her friend knows all the good high-end thrift stores.  She got some amazing deals.

Misty said she was telling her friend that I would love it, because I love clothes, and love good deals.  She told her friend that when she was growing up, I would say, "We don't have a lot of money, and we don't buy boats and things like that, but we can always buy cute clothes."   

Now, I don't remember saying that, but according to Misty, I said it often enough to make an impression on her.

Don't let it ever be said that I didn't teach my children what's important in life.

Last night we had a very

nice dinner with Gary and Lynn at the Communal Restaurant.  It was also Gary's 76th birthday yesterday, as well as Lucienne's.  The nice thing about this meal was that it was paid for by Charlene and Greg.   They had given Gary and Lynn a gift certificate for Christmas and one to me for my birthday.

We held onto them so long because we wanted to find a time when we could go to dinner there with the gift givers.  But, we hadn't been able to find a time.  We thought it was time to use them.

Thanks, Charlene and Greg.

This adorable little

girl is 5 years old today!    

Tiffany took all the Splish Splash decorations to re-use for Lucienne's birthday party.  Luci told everyone that she was having a Splish Splash Party like Grandmas, but not with the suckers.  (The homemade suckers definitely did not go over big with her!)  

 Lucienne is full of life and love, and she is adored by everyone.  Tiffany said all of the other kid's friends want to spend time with Luci because she is so cute.  I think she spontaneously told me she loved me at least 100 times when she was here this summer, and she is that way with everyone.   I Love Luci is very appropriate for her.  

Tiffany sent these pictures of the cake and cupcakes that she made for her party today.    
 

 The cupcake decorations are Mike and Ike's put on toothpicks for popsicles.  I've never seen that before, and it is so cute.

Happy Birthday Lucienne!

I wish I were there to give you a hug, but this will have to do.

I could get used to this . . .

I don't like Natalie being unemployed (and she won't be after Monday), but I could get used to having her drop by in the day.  I sent her on a lunch run to Zupas and then she came back and we ate together while I worked.   She had also picked up some super-strong sticky mouse traps that we strategically placed for maximum benefit.   

I am so blessed to have wonderful daughters! 

Fudge

Natalie dropped by this

morning after a job interview, and it was fun to spend the day with her.    We visited and, while I worked, we watched a few shows.   She has a couple of offers on jobs, and it looks like she is taking one doing customer support.  Then this evening we went to Chili's for dinner (because Gary gets free Queso and Chip emails every week).  

Then Natalie and I (along with Gary) were on a mission   A very serious mission.  We went to 5 different stores until we found the fly paper mouse traps.  Yes, I hate to admit it, but we have had mouse sitings again.  A couple of years ago we had mice and caught 8.  Then I thought we were free of them because I've kept traps out with no captures.  It seems that now we have some bold ones.  We've all had at least one siting.   (I was just reading in the paper that mice can go through holes as small as a pencil eraser.)

Natalie and I agree that we are somewhat hypocritical, as we are are creeped out about the mice and want them gone, yet we don't want to be the ones to deal with the trapped ones.  Gary has to do that.   We don't want to do the dirty work, we just want them gone.  Fortunately, Gary is not so fickle.  So his assignment is to check all the traps in the mornings when he gets up.  That way he can dispose of them if any are caught, and I don't have to feel sorry for the poor little things.  

Yes, I know:  Hypocritical.  Fickle.  Little Red Hen (want the mice gone but don't want to work for it).

Thanks, dear.        
 
   

 

It is actually starting to feel

a little bit like fall is in the air.   I love autumn.  It is by far my favorite season.  There are several things I always make when I start to feel like fall is on its way.  I made apple crisp for after the ball game on Friday. And today I made Roasted Zucchini and Tomato Pasta and fresh peach pie.

Yup, it's starting to feel like fall, and I love it.   Now I need to make some zucchini bread and pumpkin chocolate chip muffins and for sure fall will be here.