That's M'Boat

The Cowboy and I got a wild hair up our asses on Monday night and bought a canoe.
















Now, to be honest, we'd been discussing buying one for a few weeks, and once The Cowboy gets an idea in his head, you're hard pressed to get him to think of anything else until that idea comes to fruition. So he decided we needed a boat (of some kind), and we obviously couldn't afford a real boat, so a canoe/kayak/paddle boat became our options. We did some research, looked at a few places and found one we liked, so we bought it. We're kooks like that.















We took it out to the lake for the first time today, and it was a blast! They don't make canoes like they used to, and for that I am thankful. The canoes of my childhood were very narrow and tippy. I mean, you stood up, the boat flipped. You leaned over, the boat flipped. You picked your nose, the boat flipped.

I'm pretty sure we both were terrified of tipping it over and balancing and getting used to all that and rowing. In fact, I feared this canoe would be the end of us. I could all too easily imagine him yelling at me to paddle harder or faster or more on the left or that every time I moved I was tipping us and he was getting frustrated. I'm serious. I had nightmares. And he admitted he thought so too.
















But lucky for us, this canoe is fricking awesome. We didn't tip it once, and the lake we were on today was busy and choppy, but we manged to stay right side up.

We paddled around.















We swam for a bit.















We relaxed for a bit.















We stopped for lunch and had a picnic. Then we paddled some more.




















We love our new canoe and we will be getting a lot of use out of it!















Well, I love it. The Cowboy (and his chins) doesn't look too thrilled here, but he assured me he likes our new canoe, and that he can't wait to go fishing.

Happy Birthday America!
Hope everyone has a great Independence Day!!

Freaky Friday

I know it's been awhile since I've blogged, and instead of offering you a million excuses about why, I will instead dazzle you with some scientific fact, which, I believe, will also inform you as to why I haven't been around.















It's too hot. TOO HOT. Here in central Texas we've been having a wee bit of a heat wave that started 3 weeks ago and hasn't let up. Temperatures have been in the 100s every single day. Yesterday it was 106. I am not making this up. It's fricking hot here. It's too hot to blog. It's too hot to breathe. It's too hot to do anything. Really.

This is the end of my third week of summer vacation. It hasn't been a total waste, though. I mean, I have kept busy.















I've been busy taking pictures of Sam.















That dog is ridiculous.




















And I even tried to get the dogs to wear my reading glasses long enough so I could snap a pic.






























The crazy times never end around here, let me tell you. Dog in glasses!! Whoo. What's next.

I must have been temporarily insane yesterday because I attempted to clean out the Cowboy's closet. The Cowboy and I, thank the Lord above, have separate closets. Mine is organized, tidy and neat (most of the time). The Cowboy's is the exact opposite. But worse. The Cowboy's looks like a land mine went off in there. It looks like North Korea dropped a bomb in there. It's just piles on top of piles on top of piles on top of mismatched shoes and socks and boxes and ammo and papers from 1997 and wires and broken hangers and a bottle of something suspicious looking that may have been wine 10 years ago but now who the hell knows.



















It's a mess.



















But, he wanted to find a particular t-shirt that he owns, because tomorrow we are driving to Houston to watch the Houston Astros play the Detroit Tigers (his team vs mine, in other words) and although he's got about 20 Astros shirts (and I know this because I found every last one of them in there yesterday), he had to have this particular shirt. And because I'm a nice girlfriend, and am bored out of my ever loving mind, I decided to tackle the closet and find that shirt.



















I've also been reading quite a bit because, obviously, that requires minimum movement, so I've knocked quite a few books off my summer reading list. And I've been working on my tan.



















Today is me and The Cowboy's Anniversary (hence, the reason for the trip to Houston) and he surprised me with flowers this morning - delivered to the house after he left for work.



















My favorite - Calla Lilies!

So I went to the Super Special Cupcake Store and bought these bad boys.















They are almost too pretty to eat, but I'm sure we'll find a way. S'mores, Strawberry Cheesecake and Toffee Chip. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

But I suppose the biggest news of the past 24 hours, what everyone is talking about, and what I wouldn't feel right about including, would be the death of a pop icon.


















Say what you will about him, and all jokes aside (and I've even heard some good ones about his death, not even 24 hours later), he was an amazing entertainer. At least back when he was in his hay day. Every little kid I knew growing up had the Thriller tape and idolized Michael Jackson. The man was not without his problems, who among us is, he just happened to be more in the spotlight than the rest of us. Well that, and perhaps he was a bit sick in the head. But that guy could sing and dance. And in his death I suppose we should focus on the good he did in the world, and the music that affected and shaped my childhood. Rest in peace, Michael.

Hope everyone has a great, not 105 degree weekend, and this includes me, but alas that will not be possible because we'll be in Houston where, if you can believe it, it's even HOTTER than Austin. I might melt! Go Tigers!

The Many Faces of Stinky Pants

First, congratulations to my friend Sarah who won the blog contest. I used random.org, and she was lucky number 7! Her apron will be made and mailed as soon as I finish the socks from the last blog contest. One project at a time, and now that I don't have to work for 10 weeks, I'll have plenty of time!

Now, onto the post. I find Baby Stinky Pants to be very photogenic. I love the funny faces she makes.





Silly



















Delirious


















Adorable













Constipated?














Curious














As you can see from mommy in the background, she comes by funny faces naturally. :)

















Investigative













Bewildered












Judgmental


















Angry.














It's ok Stinky. I'd be angry too if I had to wear a Giants bib, too.

Blog Contest Reminder!

No big news to report other than the fact that I only have 3 and a half days of school left until summer break. Yay for me. Lots of sleeping, knitting, sewing and reading are in my immediate future. 10 whole weeks. Woot.

In the meantime I just wanted to remind you all to enter my blog contest, which will end on Wednesday. Click on this link and leave a comment on the cupcake story post, and you'll be entered! Good luck!















Random picture because I have a problem posting sans photograph. Check out how long my hair is getting! I'm trying to let it grow out.

The Cupcake Story

I have always loved my birthday. It's my favorite day of the year. The one day I feel like everyone should be able to look at me and tell that it's MY day, MY birthday. I expect, and frankly, I demand, that a big fuss be made about it. And when it's not, there's hell to pay. And although this year, I'm not really feeling all the love I usually do around this time of year (perhaps it's because my mom isn't visiting like she has for the past 2 birthdays since I've lived in Texas, or perhaps it's because I'm getting older - ahem, 31 - and just don't care to celebrate that any longer, or perhaps it's because I have realized that it really just is another day of the week, month, year, life), it wouldn't be my birthday without the annual re-telling of

The Great Cupcake Story of 1984
TM (all rights reserved).

Before I begin the story, a few notes of housekeeping. To the J, Marcie, Charlene, my mom, and my ex (who shall remain nameless), all of whom I promised I would never tell this story again: I am sorry. Or rather, tough shit. It's my birthday, and I'll tell The Great Cupcake Story of 1984 (henceforth referred to as TGCSo'84) if I want to. To Wonder, Chicken and anyone else who knows me, and knows me well, and has known me for some time, and DOES NOT KNOW this story: I don't know if I should feel proud (that at least I didn't tell it to them over and over and over again, like I did with some people), or ashamed (that you call yourself my friend and do not know this story, this one tale that has shaped who I am as an adult). And so with no further adieu, I give you TGCSo'84.........

Our story begins, obviously, on May 27th, 1984. I am in Kindergarten. It is my 6th birthday. Of course, I am excited. It's the first birthday I will be spending at school, and since it's May, I've seen all the other kids come and go throughout the year with their cakes and parties and whatnot. Now it's my turn. My turn for all the attention. For the class to sing to me. And for the cupcakes.

Oh, the cupcakes.





















Cherry Chip cupcakes, to be exact. My very favorite. If you've never had them, you are missing out. They are white cupcakes with little artificial cherry bits in them. And you frost them with cherry flavored icing. They are heaven. Assuming you like artificial cherry flavoring, of course. Which I did. So my mother had stayed up late the night before*, painstakingly making these wonderful, delicious cupcakes for my entire class.

*I have no idea if this is true. She could have made them during the day. I don't know for a fact that she stayed up all night, but it sure makes for a better story.

The morning of my birthday arrived, and I was excited. I was all dressed up in my birthday best, and my mom got me ready and on the bus. I loved riding the bus. I loved my bus driver, Mr. Larry. I would tell him it was my birthday and he would be happy for me. Maybe even let me sit up front with him.















I climbed aboard the bus, clutching my JC Penney box full of cupcakes (we were, apparently, too poor to afford proper Tupperware, so and my mom had put the treats in an old department store box), excited to be going to school. I had no idea what was in store for me, on what would be the most traumatic bus ride, on the most traumatic birthday of my life.

If only my mom had driven me to school that day.

My friend Charlene (NOT the aforementioned Charlene to whom I apologized in this blog, but after reading what you're about to read, you will understand why I had a hard time accepting her into my life) came and sat next to me. Charlene, you see, was not in my class. But she lived in my neighborhood, we had gone to nursery school together, and we sometimes played with each other. In other words, we were friends. The following is our conversation, as I have played it out in my head in the past 25 years.

Charlene: What's in the box?

Me: CUPCAKES!!!!!!!!! TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!! MY MOM MADE CUPCAKES!!!!!!!!!! ISN'T THAT GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND THEY ARE CHERRY CHIP CUPCAKES, MY FAVORITE!!!!!!!!!!

(it's possible my mom let me have a cupcake for breakfast and I was already feeling the effects of the sugar)

Charlene: I like cupcakes.

Me: ME TOO!!!!!!!!!!! THEY'RE FOR MY CLASS AND THEY ARE ALL GOING TO SING HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!!!!

Charlene: Can I see them?

Me: OK!!!!!! BUT DON'T TOUCH THEM.















Charlene: Those look good.

Me: THEY ARE GOOD! HAVE YOU EVER HAD A CHERRY CHIP CUPCAKE BEFORE? THEY ARE SO YUMMY!!!!

Charlene: Maybe I can have one of yours?

(this, my friends, is where our story takes a turn for the worse)

Me: (hesitating) No......they're only for my class.

Charlene: Please??

Me: (silence)

Charlene: Pretty Please? With sugar on top?

Well that did it. I mean, aside from the fact that she pretty pleased me, we WERE friends, and I did want to share them with her (hell, with everyone, the more people I could get on board this birthday train the better), and I wanted her to taste the wonder of the cupcake, and surely one little cupcake wasn't going to make that big a difference, I mean my mom had made plenty.

Me: Ok.

Charlene: (NOM NOM NOM)

Me: ...........

Charlene: (GULP) Wow that was really good! Thanks!

A moment passes as we continue our ride to school. And then, out of nowhere, the unthinkable happens. The one event that has changed me and my birthday celebrations for the past 25 years. The one thing that could have ruined my entire birthday.

Charlene threw up.

All over my cupcakes.

And me.

And my birthday dress.

And shoes.

Charlene: (RETCH, SPEW, COUGH, COUGH) Oh.......

Me:





















I was inconsolable. Mr. Larry asked what all the fuss was about, and someone informed him that Charlene had just thrown up all over the place. Luckily, we were at school. All the kids piled off the bus, including Charlene, who miraculously felt better. But I just stayed right where I was. Covered in vomit and clutching my JC Penney box of ruined cupcakes.

I don't know how, but somehow they got me off the bus and into the Principal's office, where I continued to sob and mourn my lost birthday. I could not be calmed down. I could not be talked into going to class. Nothing could be done with me, so finally my father was called and he came and picked me up.

The cupcakes, I presume, were thrown in the trash. The class never got to sing Happy Birthday to me. I never got all the attention. And to make me feel better, my dad did the only thing he could think of.















He took me to McDonald's and let me eat it while I sat THIS CLOSE to t he TV screen and watched Sesame Street. And since I was only 6, this did work to calm me down and distract me.

But I never forgot.

I still eat Cherry Chip cupcakes on my birthday (a batch just came out of the oven, as a matter of fact). It wouldn't be my birthday without them. And it wouldn't be my birthday if I didn't tell at least one person that story. I'm glad I got to share it with you.

And now, for my birthday present, I've decided to hold another blog contest. This one will run 1 week, and all you have to do is leave a comment on this post and tell me one of your birthday memories. It can be good, bad, sad, funny, vomit filled or vomit free. It matters not. I just want to hear about your birthdays. The winner of the contest will win an apron, made by me! I will choose the winner randomly.

Good luck! And Happy Birthday to me!

Happy Birthday, Cuteness!!

The Cuteness' birthday was this past week, and we celebrated yesterday. It's hard to believe it was just a year ago that this little muffin entered our lives. She's already walking and talking (babbling) and everything!


































As with all first birthdays, all the adults sat around and watched as The Cuteness ate her first birthday cake (in this case, a cupcake, she's a girl after my own heart).
















It's as if we, as adults, have not ever seen a child eat cake before. It's as if we don't all sit around every year and watch another child eat their first cake. Making a mess, shoving it in their mouths, getting it in their hair.




















We sit around and watch and laugh and take pictures as if this is the first time we've ever seen such a sight.















I am no exception to this rule.















The Cuteness was pretty clean, actually. This was the extent of the damage.




















The Cowboy had a bigger mess on his face when he was done with his cake.















Baby squatting! Opening up the present we bought her.....















I think she likes it!

Happy 1st Birthday Maddie!

Yeah, I made that

I've been busy being the crafty bitch that I am. Christy and I are taking another sewing class, and we are for sure getting our money's worth this time around. The instructor is nicer, more organized and less crazy. Things I look for in a teacher. We're making pajama pants, and I don't have a picture to show you just yet, but they will be done next week and I will post one then.

In the meantime, I've really gotten a lot more comfortable with my sewing machine. I made another bag:















I finally figured out that apron pattern:




















And then I really outdid myself. I'm sure I'm not the first person to think of this idea, and I know my sewing leaves a lot to be desired, but I made some of these fabulous burp cloths for a friend of mine who needed a baby gift:





























How cute are those?? I am telling you, my arm is sore from patting myself on the back.

I've also been knitting. Not a sweater, if that's what you're thinking. I know I keep promising and saying I'm going to knit that damn sweater, and I did cast on for it, but it's quite a conundrum and I just can't motivate myself to knit it. It doesn't help that it's already hotter than balls down here in Texas and it seems wrong to knit a sweater.

So instead I've been knitting socks. Naturally. Because that makes perfect sense!
















The pattern has little holes in the leg (you can see them in the picture below), and when I showed them to The Cowboy, he said "wow you sure made a lot of mistakes on those". I had to explain that sometimes holes are part of the design. It goes against his beliefs to have holes in his socks.

Anyway the holes are pretty small, and the pattern was easy to work (I bought it at Bluebonnet) and I would for sure make them again, but I'd make them longer next time.





















I'll be keeping those socks, but the pair I'm currently working on are for my blog contest winner, Daisy Mum! Here's a sneak preview (and I actually have a lot more done now, but don't have a picture to show):















I am really digging the way the yarn is knitting up into cool little stripes and stuff. I'm using Knit Picks Essential Multi Sock Yarn in Meadow, and I will for sure make myself a pair with this yarn after I finish this pair. I hope Daisy Mum likes them!

Speaking of blog contests, I will be hosting another one this week for my upcoming birthday! So stay tuned for a good contest and a GREAT story. You're not gonna want to miss it!