Fabulous Since 1961

tpflug@gmail.com (Tricia) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:42:00 +0000

Today We Went to Tampa,

And I brought a little something home with me.

tpflug@gmail.com (Tricia) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:12:00 +0000

Today I Broke My Own Rule.

I started watching Christmas movies. The windows are open, its a cool 78 degrees out, hence it feels like Christmas. I'm also wanting happy things to counteract the selfish craziness of the world. I'm so glad I picked Megan up this morning to spend the day with me because the shooting that happened is walking distance from her house.
Brewier should be home in couple of hours, YAY! Tomorrow we are spending the day in Tampa visiting Jessica and the girls :)

And these were the pics for my post today today which really aren't appropriate now, but this morning they were REALLY funny. I'm posting them anyway because I'll forget about the pictures if I don't, and like I said, this morning they were really funny.

My neighbors with the flamingos had this set up for Halloween:

And Megan and I both broke out in laughter at this pest control truck:

Come on people, its FUNNY.

tpflug@gmail.com (Tricia) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:31:00 +0000

Random Fact Wednesday.

I don't like meals with the word, "surprise," in them. Seafood Surprise, Hamburger Surprise, Crockpot Surprise. No thank you, I want to know what I'm eating.

Sarah came over last night after work and spent the night. We hadn't talked since her birthday last month when I was sick and dying, so that's what we did for the first four hours she was here. Well, that and eat and drink wine. I forgot to take pictures because we were too busy catching up.
I did go out side a few minutes ago to photograph Florida's fall colors. I present bougainvillea and Meyer lemons.

tpflug@gmail.com (Tricia) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:07:00 +0000

So Tired.

We arrived back in Orlando around 3am Sunday morning. We spent most of he day sleeping, resting and getting Brewier ready to head back to Daytona for the week. Today I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned and yet I still have more to do. I need to grocery shop too, as my cupboards are bare!

tpflug@gmail.com (Tricia) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:57:00 +0000

Wahoo! My daughter Megan is featured on the front page of Saveur magazine today!

tpflug@gmail.com (Tricia) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0000

The Halloween Post.

As you read this I'm probably on my way home to Orlando. Brewier had an early morning flight into Cincinnati, I picked him up and we hit the road. All because I can't really travel anywhere by myself. I can't pump gas with out getting really really sick. So yeah, Brewier flew here to drive me home. Thats love.

There is a picturesque farm just a couple of miles down the road from Almas house and while approaching it one day I saw all this clutter along side of the road.

As we got closer I saw that it wasn't clutter but Halloween decorations! The woman who lives here goes all out and each day saw the arrival of more vignettes. My favorite had to be Children of the Corn.

The creepy cow was just...creepy.

Here are a few more of the many decorations.

tpflug@gmail.com (Tricia) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:17:00 +0000

Goodbye Autumn.

Yesterday Monica and I spent the day together and part of the day was spent hiking around Clifty Falls. So many of the leaves had fallen the night before, that we couldn't see the road, which can be kind of dangerous because an invisible road makes it very easy to drive into a ditch. Fortunately the park has a special truck that drives and blows the leaves away though.

See how happy we are to be at the park. If I lived in Madison I'd be there a couple of times a week.

My happy, happy feet. (Even if I can't paint my toenails anymore.)

This tree is across from Monicas house. I love how the leaves had carpeted the yard in gold.

And here is Mawmaws tree. Almost all the leaves are gone!

tpflug@gmail.com (Tricia) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:45:00 +0000

You Know You Are in a Rural Area When...

The speed limit for the school zone is 45 mph.

Yes, I took this while driving through the school zone.

tpflug@gmail.com (Tricia) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:34:00 +0000

Random Stuff, Because its Wednesday and Wednesday is a Random Kind of Day.

How cool is this wine cellar? I've never gotten my childhood dream of having a trap door and a secret passage way in my house. Seriously, I think I need this, though I'd have to move out of Florida to have it. Dig a hole in the kitchen floor here and you'd have an indoor swimming pool.

Why didn't I think of this? I need one of these, just think, no more stopping and lowering the bowl of my Kitchen Aid, to scrape the sides.

Oh how I wish I had a photo to go along with this bit of randomness. Sunday while Monica and I were at Lumber Mill Antiques, she wandered into a section of the store where larger items such as vintage sinks, pink toilets and large pieces of furniture are on display, and what did she come across but a man standing in front of one of the mirrors, Bic razor in hand, shaving. I would have gone a taken a picture, but that part of the store is to aromatic for me.

tpflug@gmail.com (Tricia) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:21:00 +0000

Monica from Madison.

But first this exciting news....JESSICA IS PREGNANT!!!! I'm just a wee bit excited.

Yesterday I drove over to Madison IN, to visit with Monica. Our afternoon started out with a visit to Lumber Mill Antiques where she found this awesome feather hat. I tried to talk her into buying it, after all she rocks the look and it matches her jacket. She passed.

She didn't buy this either, but I could totally see her wearing it at Halloween.

After the antique store we stopped at Madison Coffee and Tea, where Monica got a latte that smelled like I know heaven is going to smell, and I had a cup of tea because I'm trying to be good. We walked around Madison sipping our drinks and gasping over all the beautiful leaves.

We started picking up the prettiest leaves gathering them into a bouquet in my empty tea cup. People stared at us just like I stare at tourists who go crazy excited over picking up broken pieces of shells at the beach.
As we were strolling the streets, we kept seeing this brilliantly painted home peeking at us from a block away. We had to go investigate. It's really really bright and you can't look at it too long our you will burn your retinas.

After awhile it started getting too cold to walk so we went back to Monicas house and crashed. I ended up staying until 7:30 because I could breathe in her home! (and because she is very hospitable and entertaining.)

Megan, here is the daily tree update. This was taken on Saturday while Mawmaw was getting the mail.

tpflug@gmail.com (Tricia) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 01:28:00 +0000

Its Mostly About Nature.

I kidnapped my great niece Carmen, and took her to Clifty Falls with me. It was beautiful, everything was washed in golden light and the trees were stunning.

And here is an update of the gorgeous tree across the street.

tpflug@gmail.com (Tricia) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:45:00 +0000

I Forgot About Mud.

We don't have it in Florida; we live on a sandbar.

AAA is on their way to pull me out.

tpflug@gmail.com (Tricia) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 02:00:00 +0000

And THIS is why I need to move away from Orlando. Stuff like this happens to me on a daily basis there.

tpflug@gmail.com (Tricia) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:43:00 +0000

They Are NOT Very Lady Like.

They bite, smell horrid when you smash them, and there are thousands of them flying around and making their way into the house. I went outside to wash my mother in laws windows, and in a matter of seconds I was covered in them. Gross. Alma told me the government brought them in years ago for the soybean crops, and when the soybeans are cut, the lady bugs fly. Swarm is more like it. I want to research them and see if this is some genetically altered government experiment bug, because they are nothing like I'm used to.

I found a link about them HERE. They are Asian ladybugs.

You know what else we have a lot of? Black walnuts. It was a bumper crop this year and the yard is covered. I'm dying to make some black walnut fudge with them.

I wish this picture wasn't so fuzzy. Brewier found this hat in the antique store and wanted to buy it but it wasn't for sale :(

This is my grandson Duncan. Isn't he pretty? I know I'll have to start saying handsome soon, but for now...he's so pretty.

He and his mommy Meghan were carving a pumpkin last week. He kept his distance from the gooey stuff though.

tpflug@gmail.com (Tricia) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:09:00 +0000

Guess What I Did!

I answered comments in my last post. I've always said I'd leave a comment replying to people, but always forgot. My brain works SO much better when I can breathe!

This morning Brewier and I went over to Lumber Mill Antiques, in Madison IN. It is my favorite antique store of all time, (and I've been to lots of them!)
This is just a tiny part of the basement; there are two more floors to the store.

Brewier's favorite thing to look at is the old toys and photographs.

I never look for anything in particular, but I do have a few favorite sellers. I never know what will catch my eye and beg me to buy it. This is what came home with me today.

I think its old, but it really doesn't matter to me. I just love it. (There are more pics on my thrift blog.)

An for Megan, here is a picture of the tree today.

tpflug@gmail.com (Tricia) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:02:00 +0000

This is Not a Black and White Photo.

Its what Ky looks like in the winter..or fall, though its really more winter like here. Isn't this a perfectly creepy Haloween tree? There had been three big buzzards sitting in it, but I guess they're camera shy.

Brewier is on his way back to Ky so that I will have a car; then he flies home Monday and starts his job on Tuesday. Whenever Brewier visits his mother, she makes a jam cake, sometimes two.
(If you look close you can see the Maxwell House instant coffee jar on the counter.)

There is blackberry jam in the recipe so both the batter and finished cake are purple.

I think Alma kind of liked me taking pictures of her baking, though she kept telling me she wasn't Betty Crocker. Do you see all the icing on the cake?

No, really. Do you see ALL THAT ICING? Its the only reason she and Brewier eat the cake. I think she could just make him a big bowl of icing and he'd be happy.

tpflug@gmail.com (Tricia) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:54:00 +0000

Prayer

The Lord hath heard my supplication, the Lord will receive my prayer.
(Psalm 6:9)
That's the verse on my blog today; I also came across the same verse in my scrapbook today. Both times I read it I asked God, "Really? Because I don't feel like you're hearing me. Brewier really needs to get this job he is interviewing for today, and I would like my health back. Do you hear me?" And then both times I cried.
Brewier called about an hour ago to tell me he got the job. It is a 2 month stint of employment, but I'm ~~hoping~~ praying, it will lead to more employment. And now Lord, about my health....

tpflug@gmail.com (Tricia) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:10:00 +0000

My New Motto.

If only it were true. Oh for the days when ignorance was bliss.
That's why I had this for lunch. Spinach, roasted butternut squash and goat cheese, (that I brought form home.)

I'm hoping it will balance out the potato chip and Chips Ahoy appetizer that proceeded it.
That's what we do here, eat ....watch tv....and watch for the mailman.
I'd be out doing stuff, but I'm without a car. The worst part of it is that I've had to resort to drinking my mother in laws instant coffee. Maxwell House instant coffee. Whoever said it was good to the last drop LIED.

tpflug@gmail.com (Tricia) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:36:00 +0000

La-zy.

How lazy you ask? My bum hurts from sitting all day long. Seriously! It really hurts! I guess I could get up and do something, but....I've caught up on all my blog reading. I've watched endless hours of HGTV. Its been kind of nice. (Not that my life at home is much different.)
This is where we spend our day. Alma works crossword puzzles and naps. I've already told you what I do.

This is the view from the window next to my chair. See that house in the distance? It's their wifi I'm mooching. Thank you dear neighbors for preserving my sanity.

Here are the trees on this rainy day. Their leaves are starting to fall already!

tpflug@gmail.com (Tricia) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:57:00 +0000

NieNie

Are you familiar with her blog? I started reading it shortly before she and her husband were in a devastating airplane crash. She has continued to blog throughout her recovery and last week she was on Oprah. I missed seeing the show, but here is a clip. Watch with a tissue in hand.

tpflug@gmail.com (Tricia) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:01:00 +0000

For Megan.

I went outside last night and picked this bouquet of leaves for Brewier to take home to Megan. He left at 5am this morning and about thirty minutes later I realized I had forgotten to give them to him. So here you go Meg, your virtual bouquet.

tpflug@gmail.com (Tricia) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 01:47:00 +0000

Are We There Yet?

Saturday Brewier and I drove to see Mom and Dick, in Danville. We had planed on going to the Forkland Festival but it was cold, grey and muddy so those plans were canceled. Then around 2:30 Mom and I went out for coffee and ended up driving forever to get to Forkland. The festival wasn't quite as festive as I remember, but mom and I had a good time, mostly people watching. Our first stop after the drive was to find the bathroom. This was it. No, I'm not joking. This really was the bathroom. Did I mention it was really cold out ad there was a breeze?

Mom and I trying to blend in with the locals.

Here mom is practicing her goat calling skills.

After that big adventure we needed a little something to warm us up.

A little is all it takes.

What were the guys doing the entire day? This is it. College football and wifi. Guy heaven.

tpflug@gmail.com (Tricia) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:41:00 +0000

Frustration and Anxiety....Get Ready for a Big Glass of Whine.

One of the reasons Brewier and I made this trip to Ky was so that I could get over pneumonia and breathe the much cleaner and healthier air. (I will never be healthy living in Fl.) I had trouble breathing in the car the whole way up, but I thought it was just exhaust from other cars coming in. Its not. The car has a major oil leak that is filling the interior with fumes so I can't be in it, and we don't have the money to fix the car. (I've never mentioned it before on this blog, but Brewier has been unemployed for 3 1/2 years, has sent out hundreds of resumes, and...nothing. We are at the end of our resources.)
Being here in Ky hasn't done the miracles for my breathing either because of all the chemicals and fragranced people that keep showing up at my mother in laws home, not to mention that they are repaving the roads, with nearly killed me last year when our neighborhood was repaved. Besides all that I have other health issues that have developed and the family doctor I had found whose office I could be in and that understood my health problems, now charges $1500 a year just to be her patient.

(I had to move to the attic while typing this because my mother in law started spraying stuff to clean her floors.)

I don't know what to do. I pray, I wait....I feel stuck and helpless. I went to do my devotions this morning and the key verse was,In everything give thanks. —1 Thessalonians 5:18
So thats what I'm trying to do.

tpflug@gmail.com (Tricia) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:19:00 +0000

Ahhhh, Fall.

Megan called to tell me that Orlando is having record breaking temperatures this week. I'm posting pictures of this tree across the road from Brewiers moms house, for my friends and family who are trapped and melting in FL. The colors on these trees intensify daily. Our first day here saw blue skies and warm temps, but the past two days have been grey and rainy and wonderful. It was the perfect morning to go to Madison and sit and have coffee with Monica. We got so busy talking I forgot to take any pictures:(

Day One:

Day Two:

Day Three:

tpflug@gmail.com (Tricia) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:38:00 +0000

We Made It!

We are in Carrollton, Ky. Its 57 degrees out and I'm loving it.The down side is they have just paved every street in town and the surrounding area. I'm thinking I need to live in a remote area of Montana where there are dirt roads and no factories or semi-trucks. Carrollton has a fertilizer plant so the entire town always smells like someone is cooking up meth. Melissa, we really need to get that family compound.