Introducing... Oui, Sugar!

As you might remember, my dear friend David and I promised a little news in one of our posts we published a couple of months ago and, I'm thrilled to say it's about to happen! However, that being said... I'm afraid we do need you to be patient a tiny bit longer. 

In the meantime though, look who finally created a Facebook page for her cookie decorating, baking and other culinary adventures! Me... That's who! And, it would mean a lot if you would pop over and Like It for me!

Thanking you in advance and Wishing you a fabulously sweet week ahead!

Hard hardwood choices!

Fellow Ozians... I ask that you not be deterred in your search for Wizard of Oz

collectibles! For while requests for specific characters will be met with blank

stares and you will likely be told they "only" have, the Iron Man, Clown, Kitty,

Princess and Green-monster" I assure you, our beloved Tin Man, Scarecrow,

Lion and Glinda ARE waiting for you! As for the Wicked Witch of the West...

Please, don't be alarmed when shown my photo as reference; this comes merely

as a reaction to my good intention of informing the people of McDonaldsville!

So, here I am... Two weeks since I decided to replace the carpet

with solid hardwood and yet, I'm no closer to making a decision!

The problem is that my first choice at Lumber Liquidators costs twice as

much as a nearly identical product elsewhere. I would buy the other one

in a second, but there is something about the color of the one I chose at

Lumber Liquidators. Of course, it's a difference that is so slight it makes

no sense to the man responsible for installing it, who also wants our lives

to return to normal. But for me...Well, I'm a bit hung up about what to do!

Forced to make a decision before close of business tomorrow, he said, I called

to ask Lumber Liquidators to price-match the deal... So we'll see. If not, then I

promised to do my best to live with this other option. But we know how I am

about settling for something that ultimately was second choice. Wish me luck!

Wide Open Bluegrass Festival, Raleigh North Carolina!

Almost better than the souvenirs from our the last evening with

Steve Martin, Edie Brickell and the Steep Canyon Rangers...

Was remembering to bring my camera this time!

It was a beautiful day in Raleigh today and, the IBMA couldn't have

chosen a better city to host its Wide Open Bluegrass Festival!

If you know me, then you know Bluegrass is not typically my thing...

But if you know me, then you know that Steve Martin is my thing!

I love him. I have loved his sense of humor most of my life...

So when he offers to show up to spend an evening telling me his

amusing stories and play the banjo with the very lovely Edie Brickell,

whom I also love dearly... Well, then, I make myself available to him too!

If you haven't listened to every tune on their CD, I recommend you do!

The Steep Canyon Rangers are amazing too! If you ever wanted to

know what became of Paul Revere's horse, click here. Go ahead, I'll wait!

And, to see really inspired fiddle-playing, watch this! Go ahead, I'll wait...

I'm not yet sure when we'll be together again...

I'll have to check my calendar... And, probably their calendar too!

Nevertheless, one thing is certain...

As long as they're available, Steve, Edie and I have a date

with those other Rangers this Army Ranger mom loves!

The Prettiest Day in North Carolina!

I've been known to complain that the sky isn't as blue here as it is in California...

But today, North Carolina decided to prove me wrong...

Out of the blue!

I could not stop looking up... All day I commented on how amazing the sky looked!

It was just the perfect end of summer, start of autumn day!

A perfect day to be outside among the treasures in Liberty!

After spending a couple of hours pouring over hardwood samples this

morning, I'm afraid I'm no closer to making a decision about the living

room floor than I was last weekend when we rolled up the carpeting!

By the time we were done arguing about comparing

styles and finishes, we were both ready for a break!

Which is exactly what we took after noticing a sign by the side of the

road for the Liberty Antiques Festival and, realized it began today!

You may remember that a few years ago it was here that I stumbled on

that handy little sheet pan cart I now can't bake cookies without!

The rules for vendors at Liberty include no reproductions, no crafts and nothing made

after 1975. However, that doesn't stop me from hoping to find some Martha by Mail!

Why is it always the copper that catches my attention first?!

As the great Carrie Bradshaw used to say... Hello, Lover!

I know it's brass. But it's also vintage 1904 brass perched atop carrara

marble. Only its $450 price tag stopped me from dragging it home!

There was lots to love with this vendor!

I especially loved this vintage wire dish drainer!

Again with the copper!

I'm a sucker for vintage ice cream scoops and seeing this fabulous

little trio was like a dream come true! Cone, sandwich and scoop!

Sadly, the vendor priced her collection over $800! That's the

only draw-back to Liberty... Yes, you'll find mostly high-quality

antiques around but they're also mostly priced well above retail!

But if near-perfect condition matters, which it does to me...

Then Liberty is the place!

Even if buying everything I want is cost prohibited, it's still

a bunch of fun to browse the booths and chat with vendors!

Now there's something I'm sure wasn't made before 1975!

At least I hope not!

How great is this hanging form?

Halfway through we stopped for kettle corn!

And, the last vendor I visited was this one... I remember because it's

where I put my camera down and walked off without it. Thankfully, I

remembered before we left the parking lot and thankfully it was still there!

On the way home, the bluest sky I've ever seen in North Carolina stayed with us!

Let it be known that while the sky isn't always as blue as it is in Monterey...

North Carolina does have...

The prettiest highway landscaping plan I've ever seen!

Tomorrow we're off to see Steve Martin and Edie Brickell

at the Blue Grass festival and, I cannot wait... See why here!