Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day...

I happen to think Valentine's Day is a holiday with some actual merit. Because it's a good idea to actually TELL THE PEOPLE in your life that you love them...


John and I have been married for 40 years -- and it hasn't always been fun. For either one of us. (I am the master of understatement...)

One problem was that it took me 20 years to figure out how John shows love....first of all -- HE FIXES THINGS...whether it's running the snowblower, clearing our lane, taking care of the garden, mowing the grass...
Doing repairs, making sure the steps don't creak, repairing the thingy in our dryer (for the 3rd time), updating the lighting or making new shelves...

John takes care of every living thing around here. In the summer, he keeps five hummingbird feeders going at all times. I'm sure our house is famous with every hummingbird flock...because THEY KNOW THEY CAN RELY ON HIM...

He has cats who also rely on him -- and a flock of chickens who reward him every day with 20 perfect brown eggs...

This morning, he made scrambled eggs for me the Barefoot Contessa way -- gentle, low heat...ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS...

So, after 40 years -- we're in a very good place. We got lucky -- and we know it. We enjoy each other's company...we laugh every day....and I travel just enough for him to miss me...

Book Nook

Okay -- I finally opened MY CHRISTMAS PRESENT from John. He gave me a Barnes & Nobles color Book Nook. Yes, it took 6 weeks for me to turn the thing on...I've been busy.

Well, the truth is...

A year ago, I thought I wanted a Kindle (the book reader from Amazon.com). But then I decided against it. Mostly because I like the feel of a REAL BOOK...and the truth is -- I get most of my books at the Goodwill for 88 cents...so why would I pay $9 for a downloaded book?

And I just don't want ONE MORE THING THAT NEEDS TO BE CHARGED UP...

So -- I got over the Kindle thing. Really. I totally talked myself out of it.

However -- then I traveled to Mary's wedding in September with Gail Brown. Gail is addicted to her I-Pad...(here she is, fixing the video at Mary's reception...she is a techno-GEEK)


THEN, Oprah did her "Favorite Things" show -- and of course -- IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE I-PAD...SO -- like everybody else in America -- I decided I wanted an I-Pad.

So, on Christmas morning, when I opened John's gift, a Book Nook from Barnes & Nobles -- my brain kept thinking, "this is not an I-Pad"....at some point, I was afraid I said that out loud...

This is why people hate Christmas....

Anyway -- I am only telling you this because John NEVER READS THIS BLOG. And he really, really was trying to buy me something very special. Apparently, the guy at Barnes & Nobles gave John a great demonstration. The Book Nook can do email, and Facebook, and John believed I would use it all the time and totally love it..

My first issue is that Barnes & Nobles charges $12.99 for many of their e-books. What a rip-off!

However -- you can download free books from the library -- anybody know how to do that?

AND there's some website where they give away a free book every Friday. Any information on that, people?

It has a "lending" feature. But since I don't actually know anybody else who has one...

Hummm... even though I have watched the tutorial. And visited the booth at Barnes & Nobles...after a week of trying...I just can't help but think...

This is not an I-Pad...

John thought he was doing such a wonderful thing for me. Here he is, on Christmas morning with Lillian... He just wanted everybody to have a wonderful Christmas.

As God is my witness...I'm going to learn to love this thing.

Even though it is not an I-Pad...

Lillian, Sophie

This is not a new topic...Lillian and her dog Sophie...
I have never seen anything like it. Sophie is her constant companion, and Lilly takes such comfort in her little dog...

They are always aware of one another...


If I want Lilly to sit on my lap, all I have to do is get Sophie to jump up...


On Christmas morning, Lilly took this little comfort break...


If things got too quiet -- I'd check on the stairs...Lilly's quiet place...and there she was, sitting with Sophie...

Recently, Lilly spent four nights at our house. She sleeps in her own little room -- in a pack & play. When she is napping, Sophie is right outside her bedroom door. The minute I open the door -- Sophie rushes in...



The first three of those nights were blissful. Lillian went to bed at 8:30 PM and didn't wake up until 8:30 AM. Perfect. However, on the last night -- she was up at Midnight, and nothing would calm her down. We're talking serious screaming...

So, here's my confession. At 2:30 AM, I put Sophie in bed with Lilly. I closed the door -- and that was that. I checked 30 minutes later, and Lilly was sound asleep, holding onto Sophie's ear...

Sophie gave me this look that seemed to say, "what took you so long?"

Ultimate Expo tote??

One of the things I MOST LOOK FORWARD to at Expo is to see what the Inspired2Sew duo has come up with for their "challenges".

Here's a picture of them at last year's show -- with a t-shirt that I believe is going to be one of their challenges...I wonder??



AND -- they were talking a lot of trash between themselves as they were working on their Expo totes. They both got the free embroidery logo from Creative DRAWings...and this is Jan's pic...
ARE YOU KIDDING ME??

Remember, Jan is the birth-mother of the Hey Rita tote...


But Bonne is 'BRINGIN' IT"....in this poor cellphone pic -- it seems like she decided to GO NEON...
Anyway -- it's GONNA BE GOOD, PEOPLE...

It's not too late! If you have not received your embroidered logo -- here's the email:

info@creative-drawings.com

Just send an email, put "free Expo designs" in the subject line. They'll send the designs -- in all the sizes and formats.

JUST WAIT until you see my embroidered wardrobe...(thanks again, Deb)....MY NEW CLOTHES ARE AMAZING...

Without Simon?

For many years, American idol was "can't miss television"for me. I'd go into Val's house - -and we'd watch it together, picking our favorite singers, rooting for them, and voting every week.

But, like every television show -- American Idol jumped the shark.

Four judges was at least 3 too many...Ellen never added a thing...and Kara what's-her-name was like a skinny white Randy Jackson without the annoying name-dropping.

Last year was so pitiful -- I found myself missing Paula. Who I always thought was TERRIBLE because I could never understand a word she said.

I actually do NOT KNOW the name of last year's winner. I only know it wasn't Crystal Bowersox...And the year before that -- it was NOT Adam Lambert...

Like everybody else -- I had quit caring about this show. And this year -- without Simon, I just knew it would suck. No Simon? Impossible. American Idol without Simon would be like lemonade without the lemon.....toast with no butter....a sewing machine with no needle...

Well -- you catch my drift...

SO IMAGINE MY SURPRISE...

No kidding!! I've never seen this happen before. After ten seasons -- American Idol has revamped the concept -- relaunched the franchise -- and IT'S GOOD AGAIN...

Jennifer Lopez is a knowledgeable, current female judge with a brain, an opinion, and the chops to know what she's talking about. She is stunning -- smart and kind. And I can actually understand every word that she comes out of her mouth.... Wow.

But, of course, the real surprise is Stephen Tyler. OH MY GOD. Can we just spell the word "charming"...? He's so interesting and funny. You never know what he's going to say...but he is NOT MEAN...he's smart and I WANT to hear what he thinks of the contestants. And so do they...

My friend Valerie thinks the producers have dialed back the number of "loser" auditions in these early shows. And maybe that is the difference. Because the only reason to watch these audition shows is so you can have that Clay Aiken/Carrie Underwood "moment". Because THAT is an amazing thing...when you see a complete unknown, ordinary person -- walk out on that stage and SING. And maybe you get goosebumps. Then you know. Their life will never be the same...and someday, you'll be buying their album....

I am DELIGHTED with the new American Idol. Thank you Jennifer Lopez -- I love you, Stephen Tyler.

For me, a big difference this year is that the judges actually WANT to be there. And so do I...

Simon who??

Deborah's Jenny Haskins QUILT...

Deborah -- who is wild about Jenny Haskins' designs -- and a devoted Simon Haskins
stalker -- recently completed her SECOND Jenny Haskins embroidered quilt.

Oh My God. There are no words for how beautiful this thing is...this is just one block...

Every block is different...

As a whole -- it is a stunning work of art.

It's a King size quilt on a double bed. The pictures just don't do it justice.

But you've gotta admit -- this is a FABULOUS picture of Deb & I with her granddaughter, Lexi. Nice job, Austin!!

I might have to actually PRINT THIS ONE OUT..!!

More Blackhawk

Okay -- glitch fixed. I spent $20 to buy 80 MG of additional storage space. Whatever tha means...so now I CAN POST MORE PICTURES...

Just so you know -- it's wrong to encourage me...

Since Deena's surprise birthday party -- I've received emails from all over the country telling me how much they enjoyed reading about the renovated Blackhawk Hotel...(okay -- maybe there was only Linda P. in Phoenix and Barbara in Wisconsin...)

It really is a stunning renovation -- everywhere you look -- here's the stairs leading up to the Second Lobby...
Many rooms have a view of the Mississippi River. This window is in the old "Davenport Club" on the 9th floor.

One of my favorite pictures of that day. We look like the members of a very important board of Directors, don't you think? Jackie, Deena, Kim, me, Linda, Billie and Ronda.

They want the check-in desk to look like it might have looked in 1915...so it's two low-key, simple desks.

Me and Linda sitting on one of the custom-made chair/sofa/thingy bobs...as we're waiting for dinner...
I'm posting THIS SPECIAL PICTURE because today is Linda's birthday!! So guess what? Yes -- we're taking her to breakfast at the Blackhawk!!

Almost makes you wish you weren't spending the winter in Arizona, eh, Linda??

Linda's Mom is joining us -- she'll enjoy seeing the NEW BLACKHAWK HOTEL...

So far, since the opening, I've had occasion to go to the Blackhawk once a week...I think this is a habit I'll keep.

Happy Birthday, Linda!!