My stitching gal pals...

Thought I would take some pics of some of the talented gals I cross stitch with once a month. I've gone on one retreat with them at a B & B which was tons of fun...and hope to go on more. Mostly I remember laughing so much with them, it actually hurt!
These first two pics are the back room ladies where I sit....

These are the front room ladies. It's a great cross stitch store about 3 minutes from my house which is why you can see all the beautiful framed pieces as well as all the goodies to buy.

I was working on this little ornament from the JCS Halloween issue. This is the second one I've started. I love each one...can you guess which one this is?

Now, being our group meets in a cross stitch shop it really is hard to resist buying something, so being I needed some colors for some of the other ornaments, I of course had to buy some of these fall beauties to add to my stash....
And aren't these buttons just the coolest things....I have no idea what I'm going to use that orange pumpkin for, but I just could not resist buying it!!!
So needless to say our fun-filled evening ended till next time! Because we all enjoy stitching so much and can't wait to get together, we're going to meet again for a stitch-in at a nearby Panera Bread in a couple of weeks. I think we're officially addicted. If you live near me, come join us. Email me if you are interested and I'll give you the where's and when's...the more the merrier.

With that, I'll end here with some beautiful morning glories I found on the side of my house. I planted them last year and not being a plant expert, was excited when I found them growing like crazy again this year! (hey, I'm a stitcher not a gardener...what can I say!)


So, till next time, yinz crazy guys.....

Great Stress Diet....

This is a specially formulated diet designed to help women cope with the Stress that builds during the day:

Breakfast
1 grapefruit
1 slice whole wheat toast
1 cup skim milk

Lunch
1 small portion lean, steamed chicken
1 cup spinach
1 cup herbal tea
1 Hershey's kiss

Afternoon Snack
The rest of the Hershey kisses in the bag
1 tub of Hagen-Daaz ice cream with chocolate chips

Dinner
4 glasses of wine (red or white)
2 loaves garlic bread
1 family size supreme pizza
3 Snickers Bars

Late Night Snack
1 whole Sarah Lee cheesecake (eaten directly from the freezer)

Remember: Stressed spelled backward is desserts.
Now this is what I'm talkin' 'bout, yinz crazy guys......

Some progress...

My penguin is coming along wonderfully....if it weren't for the fact that someone introduced me to Thread Heaven...I'd be cursing that glittery thread!! It's not a 100% fix but it helps.

Finally finished the first of the Halloween Ornies in JCS. Only finished stitching. Can't find the spider unless I order it online so I just may make my own from polymer clay.

And this...well this is my Village of Hawk Run Hollow...not much done but it's a start. I saw the newest one that I think is called the Shores of Hawk Run Hollow. I just love all of these patterns.

Sweetie Man is away right now and one of the places he was going was going to be in the path of Ike but the storm took a slight turn and his plans didn't have to be cancelled...that means three weeks without him. My son and DIL keep me company and are doing an awesome job re-decorating the livingroom. I told them to do whatever they wanted in there...am I crazy?...probably, but they have alot of great ideas and I trust them. Anything honestly will be an improvement....and I'm not real picky when it comes to home decorating....just make it light and bright and cheery....but then again...if the Sweetie Man is there it will be! (ahhhhh...don't forget, I'm still a newlywed!)
Okay...till next time yinz crazy guys....

You know you live in Steeler Country...

......when your 125 lb mastif/lab has to have his own Steeler collar....

....when you have to pose with your 125 lb mastif/lab wearing your very own Steeler vest....

.....when it's not unusual to ask to have black and gold Steeler colors when you get your nails done...

.....when your cat could care less about football (ah, what does he know, he's sitting in a suitcase...probably thinks he's going to the Cleveland game!)

...when your Pastor informs you that he'll be playing a You Tube video on the Steelers before his sermon....Steelers You Tube

So, with that said, enjoy your Football Sunday and a few free hours of stitching while watching the game. Till next time, yinz crazy guys.....

Crazy Reese.....

I'd like to introduce you all to Reese E. Cup...he's my son and DIL's chocolate lab mix....he's slightly hyper but very smart. He's with us while my son and his wife are staying with us and going to school. (yes, you counted right..that makes 4 dogs, 1 cat, 1 turtle and 1 dominant rabbit....

Why a dominate rabbit??? Well, yesterday my DIL told me that Reese enjoys playing with Otis, the rabbit. Rabbits, I guess, mark their territory also and yesterday decided to mark Reese who is quite a big larger than him. Reese, who is highly submissive...sank in defeat in the corner while Otis basically said.."I'm boss around this room!" Really funny..Reese is a sweetheart tho. Unfortunately, the other dogs boss him around big time!
Anyway, onto more crafty things...everyone is asking about that Scrabble cross stitch pattern....unfortunately, I searched and searched the internet and cannot find it again. As I said, I couldn't download it, thinking there was a virus or something attached to it, and hence, never saved the link. If I happen to run across it, I will definately post it...but it doesn't look too hopeful.
I also finally finished my first biscornu....I love these things. I'm trying to collect patterns on them and find quite a few for sale/download on creative poppy and patterns online sites. I love those sights where you can just pay and download...found alot of nice patterns...no postage/shipping fees!
Anyway, this is my first one...


This is a WIP that I shouldn't even be showing (spies...you know who you are with it being a penguin) but it is so adorable...I've actually got more done than this at this point in time. The picture doesn't not do it justice with the beautiful Krenik (spelling?) threads through it (actually I hate working with that thread but the results are gorgeous)Can you figure out what it is or where the pattern is from?
Well, that's it for now....it's Steeler Friday (Black and Gold Day in the City of Pittsburgh) so it's something to start looking forward to now! With that said....have a great weekend, till next time, yinz crazy guys!!

Labor Day Festival

Hey...if any of you live near the Pittsburgh area, I'm sure you are well aware of the many Arts Festivals in the Fall. This particular one is a favorite of mine at the Westmoreland County Fairgrounds. There must be at least five barns full of crafts not to mention all the outdoor tents people set up. It was a beautiful Labor Day weekend for this also! Didn't buy much except a Steeler Dog Collar for the big boy and some instant gourmet coffee drink mixes. It was fun to just look and get ideas and see what's out there......

Afterwards we went to the local park and had an early dinner and just relaxed...me stitching and the Sweetie Man with his crossword puzzle.
Now it's back to a short work week...oh, yeah! So, till next time, yinz crazy guys!

What will they think of next???

This is really neat....at first I couldn't see the pictures but then once I realized what was going on I wanted to keep watching it to see what would come up next.....ENJOY this Video of the Day!
Till next time....stay dry, yinz guys!!

One of those days...

I had one of "those" days the other day. You know, the kind were nothing goes right! I made the mistake of going to the grocery store right after work when I was hungry and cranky. (cause I was hungry) I figured I'd do the "in and out thing"...but NOOOOOO....I had to have Miss Talky checking me out! She was so busy talking to the lady behind me that she decided that she would ring up HER cantaloupe and put it in MY bag......first bad moment! I said, "this ISN'T my cantaloupe". She said, "Oh, sorry...but I can't fix it here, you have to go to the service desk." In my mind I'm saying, "BUT YOU DID IT....IT WAS YOUR STINKIN' FAULT FOR YAPPIN' AT THE LADY BEHIND ME!!!!". Instead I said, "oh." Well, it did get fixed by the supervisor in the next register and I got my $1.25 back for the cantaloupe that wasn't mine! (hey, that's 5 skeins for floss on sale at JoAnns!)

Anyway, my next, moment came when I knew that I had to get turtle sticks at PetsMart. Got the sticks, got to the checkout, only to find the cashier didn't know how to ring up gift cards....another WAIT!!! (don't they teach you this in Cashier 101 when you get hired????)

Third moment....had to go to Borders Book Store. Now I know you have all had this moment....you watch someone get into their car to leave....BUT THEY DON'T LEAVE!!! They see you waiting...BUT THEY DON'T LEAVE!!! The pick their nose, put on lipstick, call their boyfriend, vacuum the inside of their car....BUT THEY DON'T LEAVE THE PARKING SPACE!!!! ARRRRGGGGGG! So, I go to another parking space only to have another lady pull in it quickly first!!!! Then I find a space in the next aisle...good....but as I do, who starts pulling out of her space...LADY #1!!!! x#$%&...(did I say that????)

Anyway, I went into Borders, and God must have decided that I had enough cause there on the shelf, staring and shouting at me "HERE I AM!!!" was this...........
I magically forgot about all the bad stuff that just happened!!!! I've been searching and waiting for this mag for a few weeks now and there it was!!! AHHHHHHHHH! Sorta like that first cup of coffee in the morning!!!!!

So, needless to say, I went home, ate some dinner, plopped myself down on the front porch swing and read it cover to cover contemplating on what I would start first in the ornament section. By the way, I decided on the Brittercup Kitty!!!

So with that said and done....it's off to a stitchy weekend....till next time, yinz crazy guys!!!

Eros update...

Just a quick note to let you know the Big Boy is doing fine after his surgery. We've had to keep him indoors for the next 10 days or so or at least limit his time out there with the other dogs so he is under our feet quite a bit....and 123 lbs of matador is alot under your feet!!!! But he seems to be doing well and I'll try to get pics. (my camera was not charged and I couldn't find the plug...but I think I know where it is so maybe I'll have them by tomorrow!) Been really busy this weekend with a golf outing for our church then I was just plan old lazy on Sunday sitting around stitching!!!! Well, that's it for now....till next time, yinz crazy guys...have a great Monday!!!!

WHAT???????

The day before our gentle giant Eros is about to go under the knife (tomorrow to be exact) to be neutered...Sweetie Man sends me this article.....

DES MOINES, Iowa — A Des Moines man accused of using a razor blade in a botched attempt to neuter a friend's dog has been charged with improper care and treatment of animals.
Police say Hung Doc Vu was issued a misdemeanor citation on Monday and faces a fine of up to $500.
Officials say 49-year-old told them he had been taught the procedure by his father and grandfather, but he has no veterinary license or training.
Police say they have no indication that Vu was trying to be malicious when he attempted to remove the schnauzer's testicles on Aug. 2 with a razor blade and no pain medication.
The dog's owner took the animal in for emergency treatment. Police say the dog, named Pooper, was treated and released.

Note: Eros, if you are reading this, not to worry, I don't even own a razor blade!!!

yeah...it's another quiz....

Saw this one over at Garden of Heather....I think this one is accurate as accurate as internet quizzes go....

you are lavender #E6E6FA

Your dominant hue is blue, making you a good friend who people love and trust. You're good in social situations and want to fit in. Just be careful not to compromise who you are to make them happy. Your saturation level is very low - you have better things to do than jump headfirst into every little project. You make sure your actions are going to really accomplish something before you start because you hate wasting energy making everyone else think you're working. Your outlook on life is bright. You see good things in situations where others may not be able to, and it frustrates you to see them get down on everything.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

Mama Mia!!!

Hey, I actually am crafting and to prove it, I'm posting a couple of pics of the Quirky Ladies (aka Dolly Mama's) that I made for my sister recently. I've done this for her before but she wanted more for gifts.



They really are fun to make and inexpensive and the pattern is here. I have to be in the mood tho to make them as most crafts I do. Lately tho, I've been in the mood to cross stitch. I have quite a few to finish up and tried to do the "rotation method" of finishing up UFO's but I don't I'm so anxious to finish up my first biscornu that I haven't done anything else. I'm sure you've all seen this one on the Internet...I believe the pattern can by found free at cyberstitchers. I still have to do the back side.


I think I made a few small errors but this is for me anyway and I'm sorta obsessed with the whole biscornu thing (not to mention trying to find the correct pronunciation!) I think it's something about the odd shapes that catches my eye. I'll show you the finished project when completed.
I've been looking for some free patterns online and have found a few but would really like the ladybug biscornu one I've seen around. Can't seem to track that one down. I'm wondering if there is a hot pepper one also...if anyone knows, please let me know.
Other than that, I'm just enjoying the Summer and trying to take it easy. I'm sorta forcing myself not to let a messy house get to me with extra people around (college kids)....I think I'm managing to let it go and enjoy the company though. They are doing alot for me around the house so i really can't complain!
So, it's off to bed and onto Friday....and the WEEKEND!!! Till next time, yinz crazy guys!!

Super Scrabble CRAZY!!

Okay...so we like Scrabble!!! Well, Sweetie Man likes it and now I'm hooked! We've been playing the regular one but then last night pulled out the SUPER SCRABBLE!!! That game is INSANE!!! I mean really...the point values are crazy!!! Quadruple Points for one letter???? What's up with that? Not to mention the board is double in size...the letter bag takes two hands to lift ...and it takes almost three hours to play the thing! We were determined to finish it and actually brought out a light onto the front porch and the bug zapper till it was over. For awhile I was multi-tasking and cross stitching while I was playing! I did beat the Sweetie Man which I still can't believe I did...I think he is letting me beat him since I'm the only one who plays it with him and he doesn't want me to give up saying I never win! He is way way better at words then I am! I mean, he can unscrabble jumble puzzles in the dark...okay, well he probably could! Anyway, it was fun and with the Sweetie Man home for a week on a well-deserved vacation, I'm sure there will be a few more games in our near future.
I do have to tell you that I found a pattern for a scrabble board cross stitch but I can't seem to download it....if any of you know of one that is easy to download, let me know. I have seen the Monopoly one but I'm really not into that game!
Well that's about it for now....till next time Y-I-N-Z C-R-A-Z-Y G-U-Y-S.....

Do you CHA CHA????

Well, I do....and I don't even dance!!! (just kidding!) It's actually fast becoming a very popular search engine site. You can do a regular websearch at chacha.com or if you are out and about and only have access to your cell phone but you really need to know the nearest restaurant to have a bite to eat or how to make your dog stop barking at strangers in the park....just text ChaCha (242 242) and ask. They have on-hand trained ChaCha Guides who anxiously wait at their computer for the familiar "door bell" ring to give you your answer in a matter of seconds. And how do I know this you ask...my son and DIL are two of them....and they get paid everytime they answer a question.
They've been paying bills off with this while babysitting for my DIL's younger siblings....talk about ingenious kids.
It's sorta funny cause they wanted to go see the new Batman Movie midnight showing but didn't have enough money for snacks. So they said, "Hey, let's go Cha-Cha for awhile!" They are trying to get me to do it but I just don't have the time right now. Maybe in the winter I will. You do have to go through a rather serious online training process and you are timed and monitored but for two young married college students....it works for the summer and probably will work for school also.
Now, if my son gets me to do it, then he gets a percentage of what I get...or something like that.
I'm not totally sure how it all works. It's not really a "pyramid thing" . If I joined and got someone to join, he wouldn't get any percentage from that person. Make sense?
So, check it....go ChaCha!!! And if you want to become a ChaCha Guide, email me and I'll give you my son's name for a reference....you'll be helping a struggling college student in the process!
So, till next time.....yinz crazy guys...go CHACHA!

BAD NEWS......

....THE TURTLE IS IN ON THE CONSPIRACY!!! She bit me good and hard yesterday when I was feeding her...broke skin...no blood! I had to shake her off and she flipped on her back....I personally don't know what she has to gain by knocking me off!!!! I'm so upset..."CUJEENA, HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME!"
...Don't think I'm not going to keep my eye on the rabbit and cat!!!

Canine Conspiracy!

Just in case you are wondering, I am doing crafts. I can't post any pics for two reasons...our dogs (4 at last count) decided it would be fun to play with the wireless router for the computer and knocked it off the shelf....no one claimed responsiblity of course but I knew. My son is currently repairing the damages,
Actually, regarding the dogs...I've come to the conclusion that there is a "Canine Conspiracy" afoot...or would that be "apaw"? Anyway, anyone who knows me knows that I favor the older dog Katey. Don't get me wrong, I love them all, but Katey is older and has "issues" (floor licking, barking at reflections of aluminum foil in the kitchen and oven doors opening) Well the other day, I was walking down the steps and unbeknownst to me there was a kong at the bottom of the steps. Well, if you ever saw a kong (we have four of varying sizes, 2 med. red, 1 extra tough med. black, and 1 KING kong and you know who that belongs too) they are round and are filled with treats to keep the dogs busy for at least three seconds (if you are a Mastif/Lab anyway...enough time for me to escape out the front door). This particular morning, I stepped on it and fell on the wood floor (carpet currently being pulled up by my son and DIL). OUCH! I recovered with no broken bones only a nice bruise on my arm. I then proceeded through the cellar (aka basement for you non-Pittsburghers) to the outside to find my son's dog out there. (chocolate lab) He proceeded to pick up this 8 ft. tomato stack he found somewhere in the yard and whacked me in the leg!!! OUCH..again! I recovered! Well, I gotta tell you, these incidents so close together made me start thinking (along with the fact that I watch alot of Investigative TV) that this could be a canine conspiracy. I'll tell you why (then you let me know what you think):
1. Katey was attacked a few weeks ago by Chloe the young female terrier (who wants desperately to be the Alpha dog) and Katey was cut on the head. (it was over a food morsel)
2. I babied Katey for a couple of days letting her sleep in my room away from any night time attacks on her and to help her one inch gash heal.
3. The other dogs are outside without Katey alot and have a chance to "talk" if you know what I mean!
4. With Katey out of the picture, Chloe becomes the Alpha, but Chloe also knows that I protect Katey, hence, if she gets rid of the Queen (aka me) then getting rid of Katey is a piece of cake!
5. I see Chloe letting the other dogs, Eros and Reese, eat out of her kong, let them eat her treats....bribbery, I say.
So, whadda ya think? And what should I do??? Don't kid yourself....dogs are smarter than you think....given a couple thousand years.....Planet of the DOGS!!!!
Till next time (I hope)...yinz crazy guys!!!

What's your DNA?

I think I did this before, but it has changed a bit I think since I've gotten married. Try it...it's a fun!! (and pretty accurate when you read the Visual DNA Profile at the bottom of the screen.
ENJOY!

Another Wedding....

....That's right!!! This time it's my handsome son and his lovely fiance who tied the knot on the beautiful beaches of Lake Michigan! We are so excited and happy for them. It was definately one of the most beautiful weddings we ever witnessed!!!
ENJOY!

Make a Smilebox photobook

Saw this over at Stash of Sanity and thought it was cool..

7 ANSWER QUIZ

7 Things To Do Before I Die

1. Be a grandma
2. Be a great-grandma
3. Live to be 108
4. Live in another country with Sweetie Man
5. Win an art award
6. Retire
7. Change a life


7 Things I Can Do

1. Cross Stitch
2. Quilt
3. Crochet
4. Make people laugh
5. Bake
6. Write poetry
7. Read directions


7 Things I Cannot Do

1. Drive a long distance (passenger only)
2. Swim or dive into deep water
3. Sing in front of a crowd
4. Be bored
5. Cook a meal well
6. Change a tire
7. Read a book in one night


7 Things That Attract Me To Another Person

1. Smile
2. Ease at laughing
3. Silliness (aka Corny-ness)
4. Honesty
5. Good smelling breath
6. Good listener
7. Same hobbies


7 Celebrity Crushes
(I have none so I'm changing it to 7 People I would love to meet in person)

1. Rob Bell (Christian Speaker/Pastor)
2. James Taylor
3. Nancy Grace (Court TV)
4. Diane Sawyer
5. Robin Roberts
6. Charles Gibson
7. Jodi Picoult


7 Things I Say The Most

1. Yinz Guys
2. D'ja eat yet?
3. Cellar
4. Slippy
5. Are the dogs fed?
6. Who pooped?
7. Don't flush that toilet yet!


So, what's yours?????? Till next time, yinz crazy guys...............

TOO CUTE!!!!!

This was too cute not to share......remember this when someone has had too many beans for dinner.....it's just a BUTT SNORE!!!! (are there "Breath Rights" for that????)

Till next time, yinz crazy guys.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz oops, sorry!

Sorry yinz guys....

....ya haven't heard from me in awhile cause I was sorta on vacation....and one of our stops was this fabulous mansion in Alton IN. It's owner is the uncle of our Pastor. OMG...it was incredible! We got to stay one night here....definately not enough time!

Just to prove I'm telling the truth...this is me in front of the mansion!!!! (and not photoshopped either!)


This is the back of the mansion......

And Sweetie Man sitting in the back yard...oh, did I tell you the Mansion sits on the banks of the beautiful Mississppi River???

Check out this view from the back yard!!!!!!!!!!!

For all you cooks out there....check out this kitchen!!!!!

Let's not forget the "wheels" in the garage!!!

Can you spell "LAMBORGHINI"????????????

I could go on and on here!! There was a guest house, a pool and hot tub, 13 bedrooms and 9 baths and an arcade and theatre in the works!!! And one family occupies this. The great part is that the gentleman who lives here came from nothing to this!!! And now he gives back to those in need....it's an awesome story and an awesome family. It was a sorta side visit on our way to the Willowcreek Arts Conference in Chicago Illinois. Well worth the stop!!

Hey, and the Arts Conference wasn't so bad either....lots of fun there too! All in all, even with the long drive, it was a good time! Constantly on the go....and we got a taste of real Chicago Pizza....mmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

So, that's were I've been yinz guys. At this point in time, my son and his fiance are ripping the carpet out of my house and re-painting some rooms for me (sorta a trade off for room and board). So my house is in a bit of turmoil....it's not easy to always find the computer let alone get to it...know what I mean! So, bear with me here. Not to worry, Jen...I'm still alive!

Till next time, yinz crazy guys....................

Our Honeymoon

Since it's the official start of the Sunshine Season....thought I would bring you a little bit to get you going with some Honeymoon pictures from beautiful Punta Cana....Enjoy!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

A Classic....

If you haven't watched this and you are a mom....consider it my present to you..

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?cl=7769235

HAPPY MOM'S DAY, YINZ GUYS!!!

Hey.....

I'm still writing Thank You notes....in the mean time check out who has a blog now....
My Girl......

MAXINE

Enjoy....

Our Wedding....

Well, we're back...and very very happy! Everything was beautiful. I do have to tell you a little story. The day, weather-wise, was warm but rainy and cloudy so we were dodging raindrops most of the day. The church we were married in has beautiful large windows, so the night before, knowing the weather was going to be dreary, I said a prayer that maybe just for a little bit, around 7 pm, the sun could shine through those windows as it is so beautiful. As the wedding drew near, I sorta forgot about it and said it really wasn't that important anyway as I was just so happy nothing could dampen this day. Well, I was in a room with curtains on the window getting ready and then when it was time, I was to step out into and down the hall to the sanctuary. Well, as soon as I stepped into the hall and looked into the lobby area.....the sun broke through all those clouds and shined for about one half hour like you would not believe! Well, needless to say that is when the tears started to flow.....my breath was taken away! God had truly blessed our marriage! Sweetie Man said the God was letting in our parents and my brother and his wife from Heaven to watch us get married....either way, it was absolutely amazing!!! The rest of the night it poured and hailed, but we were inside having the time of our lives. The honeymoon was incredible but I'll let you digest pictures of the wedding first and then I blog some honeymoon. Thank you for all your wonderful good wishes for us both...you are all awesome cyber-friends!
With that said, enjoy the pictures below. Be sure to press both the arrow in the middle and when the music begins, press the play button on the bottom. Let me know if you have trouble viewing and I'll set up another link also. Enjoy yinz guys.......

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

Well TODAY is the DAY....

It's finally here...the day I become Mrs. Sweetie Man! We've waited eight years for this day and believe me we are ready!!! Everything is pretty much in order and ready to go. I want to thank you all for your good wishes and congratulations during the past couple of weeks as I rambled on about this day. You guys are the best! I wish I could webcast it for you but we are hoping to upload a video on the blog in a week or so after the honeymoon. Keep us in your prayers for a safe journey for all the travelers including us (I'm not crazy about planes) and for an awesome wedding this evening! Thanks, Yinz Guys....talk to ya in a week or so!!!!

To all you Animal Lovers...

Sweetie man made this at Bitstrips! I didn't realize he did this thinking, how cool that he found a cartoon that really happened to us! Then I realized he made it at Bitstrips. Check it out and make your own cartoon strip with people that look just like YOU!
Till next time, yinz crazy cartoons.....

4 DAYS AND COUNTING!!!!

Why should the wedding ring be worn on the fourth finger? You really won't believe it - but it is, as it says, Amazing.

There is a beautiful and convincing explanation given by the Chinese.

Thumb represents your Parents
Second (Index) fin ger represents your Siblings
Middle finger represents your-Self
Fourth (Ring) finger represents your Life Partner
&the Last (Little) finger represents your children

Firstly, open your palms (face to face), bend the middle fingers and hold them together - back to back

Secondly, open and hold the remaining three fingers an d the thumb - tip to tip
(As shown in the figure below):

Now, try to separate your thumbs (representing the parents)..., they will open, because your parent s are not destined to live with you lifelong, and have to leave you sooner or later.

Please rejoin your thumbs as before and separate your Index fingers (representing siblings), they will also open, because your brothers and sisters will have their own families and will have to lead their own separate lives.

Now rejoin the Index fingers and separate your Little fingers (representing your children), they will open too, because the children also will get married and settle down on their own some day.

Finally, rejoin your Little fingers, and try to separate your Ring fingers (representing your spouse).

You will be surprised to see that you just CANNOT, because Husband &Wife have to remain together all their lives - through thick and thin!!

How cool is that??? Till next time, yinz crazy guys.....

ONE WEEK AND COUNTING....

I MOST CERTAINLY DO!!!!!

Maxine Says....

Who I REALLY am!

Saw this on Kari's blog.....I've always told Sweetie Man that he brought out the ME who I thought I was (scraped away the years of crap heaped on me)...he brought out who I remember being when I was young.....The description below is about as close as you're gonna get to who I am...for real! (this is weird---except for the last sentence as I will be HAPPILY settling down!)

What Lucy Means

You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow. You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily. Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is. You are a very lucky person. Things just always seem to go your way. And because you're so lucky, you don't really have a lot of worries. You just hope for the best in life. You're sometimes a little guilty of being greedy. Spread your luck around a little to people who need it. You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily. You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind. A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable. You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in. You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising. You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

It's CRUNCH time!!!

Honestly, I'm not that bad but I do hope Sweetie Man understands IF I do happen to get a little irritable with only 16 days to go to the wedding. I work better under pressure but I do have a slight tendency to focus intensely on things and if anyone gets me off track....I could bite their head off! Nothing major tho!!
A few of you did ask how the plans are coming along. Very well actually. Got a trial run on my hair and ended up having it highlighted for the first time in my life. Got alot of compliments tho alot of people also thought I got new glasses (see my post on "What Women Notice")...go figure! I also lost 22 pounds total since January so that helped alot...especially in my face I think. Yesterday, got my nails done in what's called "pink and white"...I just love getting "fake" nails! That is such a treat for me...never had it done and my nails are naturally thinner than paper! I just feel so GIRLY...something I never had felt till I met the Sweetie Man! Tonight is the "final" dress fitting...I hope. The hem was wrong last time so hopefully I can take that "baby" home today!
People are waiting till the last minute to tell me if they will be attending....a little frustrating but I have to admit, I'm the same way with RSVP's. Maybe next time I'll be a little more prompt.
So, it's all coming together for the most part and it's not even that big of a wedding. But it is fun and exciting...and the best part is that in 16 short days I'll be MRS. SWEETIE MAN for the rest of my life!!!!!
Till next time, yinz crazy guys....(check out my book blog...managed to get a quick book review in ...enjoy!)