I think I'm almost ready. I've been methodically packing and gathering. We're going to be a crowded house at the beach. First Em was going, then not, then maybe, then not, and now, today, it was decided that she'd be coming and bringing a friend. Now Kelly's daughter is seeing if her friend can come. So, we went from being 4 to being a definite 6 and maybe 7. Can everyone say a little prayer for us? For everyone getting along? Getting everything in my car will be interesting. My mom has her motorized scooter. It takes up a lot of room. That means everyone has to pack extremely light. We have 4 beach chairs and an umbrella. And stuff. It will all fit, one way or another. Em was able to borrow 2 pairs of noise canceling headphones from her father so she and Leah can watch DVD's on my laptop in the car and Mom and I can listen to our audio books. I plan to buy a big bag of jelly beans from Walmart on my way. I'm an addict, I'll admit, and love eating them, especially on car trips. (Walmart sells a brand that must be made by Jelly Bellies, and it comes in a bag that's over a pound. It might last me the week.) I also drink lots of coffee. I like to drive, and it will feel like vacation the moment we get in the car. We'll go about 300 miles to Smithfield, NC where we'll spend the night. I'll be wearing my famous sun dress. Well, famous with my family and friends. It's my driving dress. Everyone expects to see me in it on long car trips. It's comfortable and easy. Not too attractive, but who cares when you're on the road? I got it from a Big Dog store many, many years ago. It's called the Big Dog Dress and here it is:


The emblem says 'I love my big dog'. Have I ever mentioned I don't like dogs? Don't hate. I'm not much of an animal lover, but I love my Big Dog dress.

Well, it's time to put this day to rest. I wish I could say I'd be sleeping till 8:00, but I'll probably be up at the crack of dawn tomorrow.

I don't think we'll have Internet access in our condo. That's going to be hard! I have the addresses of all the Starbucks and Panera's in town cause I'm probably going to visit them. I might not be able to read your blogs, but I'll try to post when I can. Till then...

They say it's your birthday.....Yes, it's that day. Emily was so excited about the gift she got me. I hoped it had something to do with feeding the birds, and I was right! This is the Squirrel Buster Plus. Guaranteed to work! I'm looking forward to being entertained by the squirrels and big birds trying to outsmart the advanced technology behind this feeding system. What do you think? Can there really be a feeder that can keep squirrels out?

I should be getting ready for work, but I'll tell a little story first. The dress I'm wearing in these pictures has a name. It's my 'famous' Big Dog dress. I got it many years ago from the a Big Dog outlet in SC. The top part is a soft and now, very worn out denim. The bottom is a soft old-fashioned plaid. It's the most comfortable thing to wear around the house. I ALWAYS wear it on long drives---to Georgia, the beach, etc... Whenever I arrive in GA, they always say, There's Aunt Cheryl with her Big Dog dress. Emily and I agree I shouldn't wear it out in public, except for the long trips in the car. I really love that dress.

Big dog, little bird

The time I've been waiting months and months and months for has arrived. Porch time. I'm really in my glory (is that phrase even used anymore?). The weather in the shade has been delightful. Not just nice, but perfect. Warm and breezy with no humidity. Blue sky. I wish every day could be like this. I'm sitting on my porch with my Big Dog dress on. (Check out the link for some history.) Mango has been hanging out with me in his cage, on the walkway. He seems to like it like it too...lots of birds singing. Here's one of my views right now:

I've loved having my mom's birdbath. The birds don't seem to notice me, and I get a front row view of their activities. The songbirds come alone. The robins are vigorous in their bathing. The starlings and other black birds come in groups and party. I feel like a voyeur!

I always say I 'get off on the little things.' It really is the the simple pleasures that give me joy. As I sat down to start writing, a hummingbird came to one of my feeders. If you know me, you know that made my day. And you know what? I knew it would happen today.

I put down 3 bags of mulch this morning, through the interior of my garden, around newly emerged perennials. What I found is that my knees aren't what they used to be. It was very hard to squat! I was probably sore from yesterday's task of digging up 60 tulip bulbs and transplanting them in my backyard. Rob loves to landscape so I'm saving the rest of the work for when he's here this week. He's glad I didn't do it without him. I brought my zinnia seedlings outside for the first time. I only have a couple of hundred of them!

I picked up my mom yesterday and met my sister Lisa and friend Kit at the restaurant my daughter works at. Brio. We sat outside in the shade and had a wonderful meal.

There's about a half hour of daylight left. I think I'll take a walk around the block to finish up this gift of a day. Happy me.

I'll take coffee in that half-full glass

I should be busy doing something, but I don't have to. That's the good thing about waking up at the crack of dawn. The extra time you have is yours. It's a bonus.

I saw on the news, starting in November 2012, all cigarette manufacturers will be required to cover 50% of the front and back of every pack of cigarettes with one of 9 graphic pictures. Here's an example of three of them:

I think it's a great idea, and yes, I'm a former smoker. I've said it before: quitting smoking is one of the things I'm most proud of doing because it was one of the hardest things I've ever done.

In other big news, I am now the very happy owner of a weave-it afghan, made by my friend Happyone (Karen). Follow the link to see pictures! Karen wrote that she was making the afghan as a surprise for a friend. I really hoped that friend would be me. She came to the salon yesterday to have her hair done. With her, she had the afghan and a bag of home-made chocolate chip cookies for me and my co-workers. I'll treasure my afghan always. Thank you Karen!

I'm so disgusted with the ants in my house! I've put the liquid Terro on squares of shiny cardboard all over the house. The ants have swarmed in the foyer by my garage entrance, by the front door, and on my kitchen counter. The foyer was the worst, but now most of the ants have disappeared. The front door area is better. The kitchen counter ants have just arrived. It's so hard not to use Raid spray or crush the ants. Yuck.

Summer left a comment the other day about my trip and the 'familiar' things. Yes, Cafe Risque is one of them. You drive for miles and miles along I-95 seeing signs for it. When it finally comes into sight, it's little more than a building that looks like a nondescript house. There's the Shetland Pony ranch, Kings Dominion, the model Log Cabin Homes, the upside-down truck, the clock tower in Richmond, South of the Border, etc. I have my 20-oz bag of generic Jelly Belly jellybeans ready to go. I never go on a road trip without them. And my denim Big Dog dress? It's still officially retired. I do wear it around the house sometimes but I only wear it out for watering my garden. It really shouldn't be seen in public. I'll still be wearing a traveling dress. It makes those stops so much easier.

Time to get ready for my last day of work. I have two clients who want to change their haircolor, so it won't be an easy day, but it will be a short day and one that ends with vacation. And coffee! I'm a glass half-full person, if nothing else.

Big Dogs

Just about ready to leave. Too bad I broke my garage door this morning. A bird flew in and I tried closing and opening the door to scare it out. Didn't realize the back of my CR-V was open and the door was landing on it. Now the chain won't move. No worries. I'll manually lock it and take care of it after we get back.

We'll head out and pick up my mom. Then off we go for an overnight in Smithfield, NC. It's a huge outlet center. Nothing worse than staying the night in a motel in the middle of nowhere. Right, Seth?

This will be my first trip without my Big Dog dress. It was time to put it to rest. It's still in my closet. I'll keep it for old times sake.

I'll be around. My and my laptops are traveling companions.

Happy Friday!