I must admit I live in a very masculine house.

Yes, it is warm and cozy.

Yes, I do love its Texas, country style.

Yes, I did love my grandmother's leggy, Edwardian tufted, red upholstered chairs. They added a bit of femininity and formality amidst the deer mounts and elk.

My husband discovered much to my dismay that they are not recliners.

Here are a few of my favorites that I have invited to my poor chair's funeral.

I'm hoping some will decide to stay.

I'm back!!
I certainly did not mean to be gone so long. I apologize sincerely for my absence, but thank you so much to those of you who continued to send me sweet comments and e-mails. Especially to you Jacqueline for even writing about me! To the followers who dropped me..... I must say I don't need fickle friends anyway.

So, where have I been?
At the mum shop of course. Slaving away over ribbons and bows, hot glue and bears, trinkets and bells, red and blue, white and silver.... It's all a blur now.

Texas Homecoming Mums 101:
The tradition of Homecoming mums supposedly started in the 1920's when boys would give their special HC date a live mum corsage with ribbons in their school colors to wear to the HC Football game. Over time glittered writing began to appear on the ribbons, trinkets were added, bells, bells and more bells became the rage, and eventually in the 1980's the real mum flower was replaced by an artificial flower. The ribbons got longer, bears or school mascots made appearances in the center of the flowers, and the trinkets and decoration became a sort of scrapbook of the couples interests and activities.

Seniors are traditionally solid white and silver. Some kiddos choose to have a bit of the school colors mixed in, their favorite colors or their future college colors.

Underclassmen's mums are in the school colors.


Girl's mums are long and are pinned on or have a ribbon to hang around their necks. They can be quite heavy.

Boy's mums are shorter "Garters" worn on bands around their upper arm. Cowbells make these too heavy to stay on, so they are generally loaded and I do mean LOADED with smaller noisy bells.

These lovelies can be quite expense, well over $100, so a number of years ago our high school PTA decided to open our own "Mum Shop" run by parent volunteers to save money for the kids and raise money for the school. We rent a store front a block from the school from June through our HC date, and settle in making the mums from start to finish. A lot of the basic ribbon cutting and construction is done by the students earning them service hours through their various clubs and organizations. There are mothers who make the name loops, braids, fluffy bows,dress bears and finish (putting all the wonderful goodies on), not to mention the sales staff. I am a finisher, bear dresser and bear designer (I am very proud to say). We are able to make a much nicer product at half the price of a florist. This year we made 1,000 mums bringing in around $50,000. About $35,000 of this should go directly back to the school. Volunteers sign in their hours under their children's organizations, so the money is divided by the volunteer hours.

Do you think we are crazy??!!?? Not at all. This is my favorite volunteer job. I get to visit with other mothers and friends that I only see at this time of the year. People take time off work to volunteer, and believe me, this is one time I truly know every bit of gossip out there!! Our kids get away with nothing from August to October.

What is crazy is the entire week it took to recover and catch up on sleep. This could have something to do with the fact that I chaperoned my Senior's after party at the lake for two days, another story for another day.

(Click on the following pictures to see the details)

Tripp's Senior garter. The theme this year was "Vegas", so his has some Vegas goodies as well as a Swim Bear sporting his State Medal!!!
Callie's first mum!!!! As a freshman, hers is all blue and red. You can't see it very well, but her bear is a Softball bear with a bat and ball, and giant bow on her head.

There are "group" mum exchange parties where the couples all get together for desert and to exchange their mums with their dates. The parents are invited to take pictures. Callie and her date both had games that night, so they just exchanged at our house.

The bottom of Callie's date's garter.

The bottom of Tripp's date's garter. Check out her cowbell with the hat. We added red in with the traditional white.

Tripp's date's mum modeled by me!!!!

Callie's date's, Tripp's date's and a garter for the swim coach just to annoy him. He is from Michigan and just can't understand why we do this.

Happy Homecoming fellow Texans!!!!

Quote of Yesterday......

Keith Richards would not be the rich man he is today without Mick Jagger's walk!

-Kimberly Wells

...... Don't ask!

Taking a quick break from "mumming" to say HELLO!

Had to borrow a "Freshman" model!!

Homecoming in Texas is AWESOME!

Are you ready for some football.... Food?
I am so sorry for this picture. I just couldn't resist. I do have to be careful sometimes when it comes to Jerry since his grand kids go to school with Race, but he does loves him some stadium!

Now, on to the good stuff. I am going to share my favorite dip. This dip has put 10 pounds on my hips, so I want to share the love with all of you! Fluff like misery loves company. About a year ago I had this heavenly concoction at a Mexican Restaurant, and I have been trying to replicate it since. When it comes to my favorite restaurant meals, it is not enough for me to be able to go out to eat them. I have to know how to make the meal myself. I have to own the recipe. I have to tweak it and make it divinely mine. This is my obsession! This yummyness they called CC dip was covered by a melted white cheese. Okay, simple enough, off to the Central Market Mexico cheese shelf I went. After trying each and every white cheese created, even the processed white American cheese, nothing worked. They would not melt to the right consistency, they were stringy or gummy, and all turned to rubber as they cooled even with cream added. I spent a Fortune. I almost gave up. One day while on the chip isle of Walmart Market I noticed a very plain looking jar of White Queso, medium heat Dip. Their "Great Value" store brand label. This $2 jar was something I would never buy, but something compelled me. You have to know what I'm going to tell you. This was it. This was the illicit cheese. Oh happy day!!!! So here you go....

In individual bowls put 1 scoop guacamole (recipe follows), poor the white queso cheese dip that has been heated in the microwave over the guac. Just enough to your taste. Don't swamp it. Then top with freshly made pico de gallo. Serve with chips or on home-made buttered flour tortillas!!!! For this dip, I do not put the jalapenos, cilantro or lime in the guac. The pico has these in it, so there is no since to.

Guacamole: 3 avocados mashed
3 jalapenos seeds and membranes removed (I leave some seeds, we like it hot) finely chopped
2 or 3 crushed garlic cloves (or to taste. We like lots of garlic)
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
Cilantro chopped amount to your taste
a squeeze of fresh lime juice

Pico de Gallo: Finely chop and stir the following together.

Roma tomatoes, Jalapenos (membranes and seeds removed, keeping some seeds for desired heat), small white onion and cilantro. Amounts to your need.

Happy Football Season, from my kitchen and couch to yours!!

Anthropologie has me begging... I do desperately need a new shower curtain. We also need groceries. It's a shame we have to eat. With all that extra allowance $$, my house could be so wonderful. Oh well, another addition to my Christmas List.

Have you heard???

The lights are on!!! She is open!

She is back!

I don't know how Noah did it. I have three dogs refusing to wade out into the water-logged yard to go to the bathroom. This has gone on for five count them 5 days! Where are they going?? When are they going?? Will this ever end?? Yes, I know I was singing with joy the other day, that was before my animals became neurotic. My kids became neurotic. My husband became neurotic...

"There are four questions of value in life........ What is sacred? Of what is the spirit made? What is worth living for, and what is worth dying for?

The answer to each is the same.

Only love."

-Johnny Depp

Via Magnolia Pearl

There is so much to love...

My back yard birds.

My dogs, all three.

Animals, in general.


The beauty of dance and Chanel Number 5.

Old Carousels.

Texture and tone.

Cotton Candy.

Creative People.

Friday Night Lights.

Silly Teen Agers.

The damp, drizzly weather makes me want to be in the kitchen, so... The dogs and I have baked a cake.

German Bundt Cake to be precise. Ettouffee', Boudin & Bean think I should share the goodness with you.

1 yellow cake mix
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup oil
1 3-oz package instant vanilla pudding
1 tsp butter flavoring
1 tsp vanilla
4 eggs added 1 at a time

Beat the above for 8 minutes @ medium speed.

Mean while mix the following for the filling: 1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup crushed pecan pieces

In a well greased bundt pan, put in another 1/4 cup crushed pecan pieces, topped with half of the cake batter, sprinkle in the filling evenly and finish up with the remaining cake batter.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.

Cool 8 minutes then glaze with: (mixed together)
1 cup powdered sugar
2 TBL milk
1/2 tsp butter flavoring
1/2 tsp vanilla

The pups also wanted me to let you know this picture is not them. They are much better mannered, and would never climb on the table. This precious pic. is from Paul Costello.

We are singing in the Rain here in Texas!
It is a blessing!!

PAPER DOLLS

Hours and hours of snipping

Tears over tares

Drawing my own

Glitter and Glue

Accessories too

Boxes full

Always affordable

Mixing and matching

Saved through the years

Fancy, cute, old, new

I Love PAPER DOLLS

If you're lucky enough to live in Connecticut, you can check out Jennifer Paganelli's Paper Doll class on October 10th and know how jealous I am.

I stole some time this Labor Day weekend to sew for myself!!
This is a horrible picture of me (I think I had just gotten puppy nipped), but it shows off my new, super cute Minnie Edmonson Peasant Dress/Top.
I stumbled upon Minnie and the wonderful shop she teaches at, Domestic Bliss, while googling my favorite fabric designers. In fact this is how I discovered all my favorite blogs. Unfortunately, Minnie, Domestic Bliss and all the great fabrics are in Mesa, AZ. I am not, but not to fear, they were kind enough to let me order. Check out both of their blogs here and here. They are so much fun, and delicious eye candy. My new obsession is getting to Mesa to actually take one of the classes. My travelin' mister's office is in Phoenix. I might have to tag-a-long on one of his trips (he'll love that. hahaha).

Domestic Bliss carries Heather Bailey, Amy Butler and Jennifer Paganelli among others. You would think I could find these fabrics somewhere in Dallas, but I have had no luck. Just look at this cabinet full!! They also host all kinds of special events check out their Blissful Living blog for a schedule of upcoming festivities. You Arizona girls are so lucky to have these talented, creative people near you.

The fabulous Minnie in one of her darling creations. This looks like such a fun group!!

Thanks, Minnie for putting together my patterns and fabrics. This pattern was so quick and easy, and it fits like a dream. My hubby even likes it! I can't wait to see what you're up to next!!!

I hate the first few weeks of a new school year.

So many meetings. So many appointments. So many supplies to buy. So many teachers to meet. So many lunch accounts to fill. New bedtimes. New carpool times. New homework philosophies. New expectations. New responsibilities. New reading lists to buy. New athletic schedules. New activities. New clubs. OVERSTIMULATED kids. OVER INVOLVED parents. Still so hot. Take me away already!

I hope to get back to my own life soon.