WEEKEND PHOTOS

Watch out for the WHITE MARKED TUSSOCK MOTH CATERPILLAR because it will sting you and make your hand swell like a jellyfish sting! I know, because I was stung while trimming my crepe myrtle. They have little fine hairs projecting from the little white tufts on their back. I don't see a stinger, so I guess the venom comes from the fine hairs. Believe me, IT HURTS!

Later, this little guy landed on a marigold on my deck. Love the patterns of his wings!
Here are a few photos of my son's cats. I'm usually not a cat person, but they are very cute!

BARBIE'S PROGNOSIS

Well it seems that my dear Barbie needs a new head of hair! It's no wonder since I trimmed it many, many times myself! I also dyed it, curled it, and restyled it.....so I'm not really surprised. She also needs a little touch up to her lips, eyebrow and eyelashes. I will post an "after" photo when she returns from her spa vacation.

IKEBANA

Thanks to Suzanne for hosting Vintage Thingies Thursday over at Coloradolady blog. Check out her website and all of the interesting things others have posted. My vintage item this week is an Ikebana vase that belonged to my mother-in-law and is from the early 60's. My mother-in-law lived in Hawaii for several years while her husband was stationed at Wheeler Air Force Base. She loved the flowers of Hawaii and started taking Ikebana flower arranging classes. Ikebana means "living beauty" in Japanese. The vase is made of two pieces and below you can see the base.

The round disk like piece fits on top of the base. There is a hole in the middle for the flowers to go through.

The two pieces fit like so..........I think it is such an elegant vase. Several years ago when I was cleaning out her house so she could move to an assisted care facility, I found a cabinet full of vases and flower arranging materials. She told me that when she and her family were leaving Hawaii in 1962, they were aboard the ship and she heard her named called. She looked down and saw her "MammaSan" (a native Hawaiian) their cook/housekeeper. MammaSan ran aboard to give her this beautiful vase as a reminder of her days in Hawaii.

As a tribute to her, I made an arrangement using flowers I bought from Publix, some branches off of my corkscrew willow and a (plastic) anthurium. I remember she always had fresh flowers on her kitchen table. I think she would be glad to know I'm using her vase and I love the story behind it.

LARRY JOE TAYLOR CONCERT

Tomorrow we leave for Dallas, TX to see Larry Joe Taylor in concert. We make the trek every August to visit one of my husband's co-workers who graciously hosts a Texas bar-b-q and concert with Larry Joe Taylor. Larry Joe is the Jimmy Buffet of Texas. He sings about the Texas coast, the beaches of south Texas, and the pleasures of taking it easy! One of my favorite songs is "Island Time". Check out Larry Joe's website and see if you don't agree. Can't wait to jump in the pool, drink a margarita and listen to Larry Joe!

Family Jewels - Vintage Thingies Thursday

Thanks to Coloradolady for hosting Vintage Thingies Thursday. Check out her website to view the other participants and many more interesting vintage items and their stories. Because of the lagging economy, one of my sons decided to move back home for a while to try to save money. I have been cleaning out the basement, organizing, trying to make room for his things. During the years we were transferred around every two years and I could keep a handle on the "stuff". Well, we've been in Atlanta for the past 13 years and it's past time to clean out. As I was cleaning, I found a box of my grandmother's costume jewelry and purses from the 40's. I love the blue brooch and matching earrings. My daughter will love the chunky pearls. The rectangular purse is made entirely of plastic and has a tag labeled "Plasticflex" on the inside. Anyone heard of it? The plastic is woven in a basketweave pattern with little interlocking plastic pieces to hold it together. I also found my father-in-law's football letters. He was the captain of his Jackson, Tennessee high school football team which won several State Championships in the early 30's. I plan to frame these soon. Enjoy your vintage hunting!!

PAUL

We saw Paul McCartney in concert at Piedmont Park Saturday night (August 15). I'll have to say this was the best concert I've ever been to, the crowd was great, the weather was wonderful except for a little shower, and the music was amazing. This was a once in a lifetime experience that I'll remember forever. I still get chills just thinking about it!

BON VOYAGE, BARBIE!

Barbie leaves today for a trip to the Barbie Beauty Salon and Spa in Irvine, CA. She will have her hair restored and a little touch up on her lips and eyebrows. Come to think of it, I could use that too. My trouble with cleaning out my basement is that I get sidetracked finding old treasures. Somewhere I still have her original wedding dress and veil. This treasure deserves a little sprucing up and pampering so after a little research on the internet I found a wonderful lady who restores vintage Barbies. I found out that mine is a #4 ponytail Barbie from 1960. I will post an "after" shot when she returns from her spa vacation.

Healthcare Reform

Hermain Cain speaks to a crowd at Centennial Olympic Park on Saturday, August 15 to talk about healthcare reform. The crowd was united in opposition to the Public option.

There were a lot of very passionate people in the crowd carrying signs, dressed in Revolutionary uniforms and handmade t-shirts.

Cooling off at Centennial Olympic Park

The fountains at Centennial Olympic Park are a great way to cool off during the dog days of summer! And a lot of kids were doing just that Saturday afternoon. We were there to attend a Healthcare Reform Rally with Hermain Cain. Afterwards, we walked around, found our bricks and enjoyed watching the kids play in the fountains.

My 2 loves at 8

While cleaning out the basement yesterday I came across my old Barbies. I loved my Barbie! I dyed her hair, cut her hair, pierced her ears, made clothes and houses for her and her friends. She was a big part of my life at 8 years old. So were the Beatles! In 1963 when the Beatles arrived I was 8 years old. My friends and I would swing and sing Beatles songs........She Loves You Yea, Yea, Yea......I Want to Hold Your Hand...........we even started a little band of our own called The Pickles. My dad made me a guitar out of a cigar box, wooden thread spool and fishing line. We would perform for the neighbors on the concrete patio. It was a great time. Well, tonight I get to cross off one item on my bucket list...............we're going to see Paul McCartney at Piedmont Park!!! I've waited to see him since 1963!

SUMMER'S END

Well another summer has come to it's end. My youngest son is packing up, washing clothes for the last time at our house and will be going back to college in a few days. He is so eager to get back and see his friends and newly completed fraternity house on campus. He is looking forward to his classes this year and the challenges ahead. I am so happy for him but at the same time I hate to see him go. He is taking back the red and white Irish Chain quilt I made for him when he was a little boy. It used to comfort him during thunderstorms and scary dreams. It was used to make many forts in his room. It has traveled from Nashville to Denver to Atlanta. Now it will be used as a cushion for his laptop or a pillow to study long into the night. This is the fourth summer it has traveled back to school with him. Here's to a wonderful year in college and I hope his quilt will always remind him of home!

SOME OF MY FAVORITE PHOTOS OF NYC

Our anniversary trip....had to get a shot of this!

This sign was posted in SoHo and it WAS pretty quiet there! I'm not sure how they know who honks unless they have a video/audio camera.
These impeccably dressed ladies gathered in Columbus Park in Chinatown to talk and play cards while the men played some sort of Chinese dominos. The median age was about 80 and every seat on the benches was taken! There was a little band playing Chinese instruments while a lady sang. You could tell this was their weekly routine and that they enjoyed seeing each other.

Don't these kids look like they just walked off the set of "The Sandlot"? They were best friends (they told us) and worked in a little store next to Ladder House 10 across the street from Ground Zero. We stopped in to buy a bottle of water and these boys were so eager to help us. I wondered if they lived close by, and if they remembered 9/11, if they were even old enough to remember. Of course they are reminded of it everyday and have known it all of their lives. They just had to look out the front window. It is a part of them. But, their smiling faces remind us how resilient they are!

This little girl was leaving the American Girl Store with doll and bag in hand. I think she could probably pass as "Annie".

St. Patrick's Cathedral...........a quiet moment.

As we were leaving Rockefeller Center we passed a very small chocolate shop. The walls were filled with shelves full of chocolates. I just popped my head inside to take a photo. Wish I had a piece now!