The kids and I were bored so today we took off to the mall. First stop was the bookstore. Can’t go shopping without getting books…:) While in the mall, we went by Yankee Candle. I love their candles and to my surprise, they had certain scents on sale two for $25.00, which anyone who shops Yankee on a regular basis knows their candles are usually one for $25.00 so it was basically buyone get one free.

After leaving Yankee we headed over to Barnies to get some coffee. To my shock, they were going out of business. OMG!! I can’t tell you how long my mother and I have made Barnies a traditional stop on our shopping excersions. The lady working told me they were closing all the stores outside of Florida. Just another sad sign of the times, I suppose. Coffee and tea was on sale at 75% off, so needless to say, I stocked up.

To end the day we hit The Children’s Place were  my daughter got a couple of outfits and I picked up a cute one piece romper for my grandson. Shopping isn’t too bad of a way to spend a hot, muggy day like today. I would’ve loved to back to Dollywood today, but not with a 100 degree heat index. Way too hot, even for Daredevil Falls…:(

{{hugs}}

Trista

We went this past Monday to Dollywood and had a blast. My 8 year old daughter rode the mystery mine for the first time, she was finally big enough…:) I have mixed feelings about that…lol. But she did great and she absolutely loved it. Here’s a pic of her in front of the entrance.

 The scenery is great at Dollywood too. It’s in the mountains, so it’s nice and shady with lots of ponds and fountains to admire.

 My kids and I will probably spend all summer there…:) Hubby even comes too sometimes.

 Hope everyone is having a great summer so far…:)

{{hugs}}

Trista

Registration for Lora Leigh’s RAW is now open!! Come join in the fun.

We all know that VIRGINIA IS FOR LOVERS!
And that WEST VIRGINIA IS WILD & WONDERFUL!

But, did you know that HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA is for:

Wizards, Witches, Breeds, Vampires, Werewolves, Fairies,

Sentinels, Counters, Super Heroes, Assassins, Detectives,

Lovers from Yesterday and Today,

AND the mortals who love to read their stories!

Don’t forget the RAZE THE DEAD Costume Party Saturday night! Be sure to dress as your favorite zombie slayer. Come as a: Wizard, Witch, Fairy, Werewolf, Super Hero, Assassin, Detective or whatever your fantasy slayer is for the RAZE THE DEAD PARTY!

For more information, visit here….http://www.readerappreciationweekend.com/

Hope to see you all there!!!!

{{hugs}}

Trista

Southern women know their summer weather report: 
Humidity
Humidity
Humidity

Southern women know their vacation spots: 
The beach
The rivuh
The crick

Southern women know everybody’s first name:
Honey
Darlin’
Shugah

Southern women know the movies that speak to their hearts:
Fried Green Tomatoes
Driving Miss Daisy
Steel Magnolias
Gone With The Wind

Southern women know their religions:

                                               Baptist
                                               Catholic
                                               Football

Southern women know their cities dripping with Southern charm:
Chawl’stn ( Charleston )
S’vanah ( Savannah )
Foat Wuth ( Fort Worth )
N’awlins ( New Orleans )
Addlanna ( Atlanta )

Southern women know their elegant gentlemen: 
Men in uniform
Men in tuxedos
Rhett Butler

Southern girls know their prime real estate:
The Mall
The Spa

The Beauty Salon

Southern girls know the 3 deadly sins:
Having bad hair and nails
Having bad manners
Cooking bad food

More Suthen-ism’s: 
Only a Southerner knows the difference between a hissie fit and a conniption fit,

and that you don’t “HAVE” them, you “PITCH” them.
_____

Only a Southerner knows how many fish, collard greens, turnip greens, peas, beans, etc., make up “a mess.” 
_____

Only a Southerner can show or point out to you the general direction of “yonder.” 
_____

Only a Southerner knows exactly how long “directly” is, as in:

“Going to town, be back drekly (directly).”
_____

Even Southern babies know that “Gimme some sugar” is not a request for the white, granular, sweet substance that sits in a pretty little bowl in the middle of the table. 
_____

All Southerners know exactly when “by and by” is.. They might not use the term, but they know the concept well.
_____

Only a Southerner knows instinctively that the best gesture of solace for a neighbor who’s got trouble is a plate of hot fried chicken and a big bowl of cold potato salad.

If the neighbor’s trouble is a real crisis, they also know to add a large banana puddin’! 
_____

Only Southerners grow up knowing the difference between “right near” and

“a right far piece.” They also know that “just down the road” can be 1 mile or 20.
_____

Only a Southerner both knows and understands the difference between a redneck, a good ol’ boy, and po’ white trash. 
_____ 

No true Southerner would ever assume that the car with the flashing turn signal is actually going to make a turn.
_____

A Southerner knows that “fixin” can be used as a noun, a verb, or an adverb.
_____

Only Southerners make friends while standing in lines, … and when we’re “in line,”… we talk to everybody! 
_____

Put 100 Southerners in a room and half of them will discover they’re related, even if only by marriage.
_____

In the South, y’all is singular, all y’all is plural.
_____

Southerners know grits come from corn and how to eat them.
_____

Every Southerner knows tomatoes with eggs, bacon, grits, and coffee are perfectly wonderful; that red eye gravy is also a breakfast food; and that fried green tomatoes are not a breakfast food. 
_____

When you hear someone say, “Well, I caught myself lookin’,” you know you are in the presence of a genuine
Southerner!
_____

Only true Southerners say “sweet tea” and “sweet milk.” Sweet tea indicates the need for sugar and lots of it — we do not like our tea unsweetened. “Sweet milk” means you don’t want buttermilk. 
_____

And a true Southerner knows you don’t scream obscenities at little old ladies who drive 30 MPH on the freeway.

You just say,”Bless her heart”… and go your own way.
_____

To those of you who are still a little embarrassed by your Southerness: Take two tent revivals and a dose of sausage gravy and call me in the morning. Bless your heart!
_____

And to those of you who are still having a hard time understanding all this Southern stuff…bless your hearts, I hear they are fixin’ to have classes on Southernness as a second language! 
_____

And for those that are not from the South but have lived here for a long time, all y’all need a sign to hang on y’alls front porch that reads “I’m not from the South, but I got here as fast as I could.” 

{{hugs}}

Trista

Today was the family crawfish boil. We had a blast…:) It was such a beautiful day. Clear blue sky, not too hot, not too cold, just perfect. Below are a few pics.

How many men does it take to light a burner? Apparently three in my family...:)

Purging the crawfish. It's a nasty job, but has to be done.

Let me at 'em.

I want some!

I don’t believe he’s quite old enough for crawfish yet, but it won’t be too much longer…:)

{{hugs}}

Trista

Today was my grandson’s dedication at Grace Babtist Church. It’s my daughter-in-law’s grandmother’s church, so I’d never been. It’s very nice and very big. The choir alone was well over 100 members, then they had 2 drummers, 4 guitarists, 1 piano player, a brass section, a woodwind section and keyboardist. Needless to say the music was great.

That’s my son in the blue shirt holding Mason.

And here they are on the massive screen over the main stage. The church service is televised, but I’m not sure which station.

And here are all the proud grandmothers. With one great-great grandmother, who’s in the middle, two great grandmothers and two grandmothers, there’s no doubt this child will be spoiled rotten…lol

After the dedication we all went out to eat lunch at Red Lobster. I think it’s great both sides get along as well as thy do. It’s nice to be able to include her side in family gatherings. Makes the family feel even bigger…:)

{{hugs}}

Trista

Well, we were finally able to speak with out landlord’s bank and the verdict is we have to leave. So much for Obama’s “encouraging” the banks to work with renters.

So, we’re headed back home. Back to the country, back to the mountains I love. I’m just not sure I can bring myself to rent from someone else. I would be too afraid to unpack for fear of going through this all over again. Aparently, it’s not that uncommon. Since telling my story, I’ve heard from numerous people who have either gone through or are going through the same thing.

It will be good to get home. Kids are very excited and to be honest, so am I…:)

On a lighter note, did anyone see the new Stargate Universe? I knew they’d get Rush back somehow…:) Despite what an ass he is, he kind a grows on you…lol.

{{Hugs}}

Trista  

And so have my allergies…argh!!! I wonder if it’s possible to die from allergies? Sometimes I feel as though I might…lol.

The day was beautiful and full of the sounds of kids riding bikes and playing football at the house just down the street. Two houses down was installing a new basketball goal and four houses were having yardsales. Several people were grilling if the smell of charcoal in the air was any indication…:) I love the smell of charcoal…:) Makes me think of picnics by the lake.

It was also free tax weekend here, so I took my daughter to get shoes for the summer. We tried on several pair, because you know how girls are. They must try on every pair, walk in them, look at them in the mirror and make sure they have just the right pair. Shoe shopping is very serious business. Just as my 9 year old daughter…lol.

What’s interesting is the varying sizes. In one shoe, she’s a 13, in another a 1 and in yet another a 2. Sizes must be based on whatever country they’re made in…:)

She finally settled in a pair of brown leather sandals and a pair of pink plaid flipflops. I never could wear flipflops. They hurt my feet…:( But my daughter loves them and wears nothing else all summer.

Although truthfully, if I had known it was tax free weekend, I would have waited. I think I would rather pay the tax then put up with the crowd.

{{hugs}}

Trista

WOMAN’S PERFECT BREAKFAST
She’s sitting at the table with her gourmet coffee.
 Her son is on the cover of the Wheaties box.
Her daughter is on the cover of Business Week.
Her boyfriend is on the cover of Playgirl.
And her husband is on the back of the milk carton.
 
 Keep reading-they get better!!! 
    
   
WOMEN’S REVENGE
‘Cash, check or charge?’ I asked, after folding items the woman wished to purchase.
 As she fumbled for her wallet, I noticed a remote control for a television set in her purse.
‘So, do you always carry your TV remote?’ I asked.
‘No,’ she replied, ‘but my husband refused to come shopping with me,
and I figured this was the most evil thing I could do to him legally.’ 
    

UNDERSTANDING WOMEN
(A MAN’S PERSPECTIVE)
I know I’m not going to understand women.
I’ll never understand how you can take boiling hot wax,
 pour it onto your upper thigh, rip the hair out by the root,
and still be afraid of a spider. 
   
 WIFE VS. HUSBAND
A couple drove down a country road for several miles, not saying a word.
 An earlier discussion had led to an argument and
 neither of them wanted to concede their position.
A s they passed a barnyard of mules, goats, and pigs,
the husband asked sarcastically, ‘Relatives of yours?’
‘Yep,’ the wife replied, ‘in-laws.’ 
   
 WORDS
A husband read an article to his wife about how many words women use a day.
30,000 to a man’s 15,000.
The wife replied, ‘The reason has to be because we have to repeat everything to men…
 The husband then turned to his wife and asked, ‘What?’ 
   
 
CREATION
A man said to his wife one day, ‘I don ‘t know how you can be
so stupid and so beautiful all at the same time.
 ’The wife responded, ‘Allow me to explain.
 God made me beautiful so you would be attracted to me;
 God made me  stupid so I would be attracted to you. 
   
 
WHO DOES WHAT
 A man and his wife were having an argument about who
 should brew the coffee each morning.
The wife said, ‘You should do it because you get up first,
 and then we don ‘t have to wait as long to get our coffee.
 The husband said, ‘You are in charge of cooking around here and
 you should do it, because that is your job, and I can just wait for my coffee.’
 Wife replies, ‘No, you should do it, and besides, it is in the Bible that the man should do the coffee.’
Husband replies, ‘I can’t believe that, show me.’
So she fetched the Bible, and opened the New Testament and showed him at the top of several pages, that it indeed says ‘HEBREWS’ 
  

The Silent Treatment
A man and his wife were having some problems at home
and were giving each other the silent treatment.
Suddenly, the man realized that the next day, he would need his wife to wake him
at 5:00 AM for an early morning business flight.
Not wanting to be the first to break the silence (and LOSE), he wrote on a piece of paper,
 ’Please wake me at 5:0 0 AM.’ He left it where he knew she would find it.
The next morning, the man woke up, only to discover it was 9:00 AM and he had missed his flight Furious, he was abo ut to go and see why his wife hadn’t wakened him,
when he noticed a piece of paper by the bed.
The paper said, ‘It is 5:00 AM. Wake up.’
 Men are not equipped for these kinds of contests.. 
      

God may have created man before woman, but there is always a   rough draft before the masterpiece