I Love my Dog...I REALLY TRULY DO!!!

I love my little Tessie La Rue sooooooooooo much... those that have met her say she is one of the nicest pups they have ever met.... and her PASSION is to PLAY!!! She was Born to play play play play play...all day long!!! The season in Havasu has changed our warm days are here and the pool is warming up...that means one thing and one thing only ...SWIM SWIM SWIM SWIM SWIM SWIM ...for Tess. She is like one of those little kids that stays in the pool or ocean sooo long...their skin gets all pruney ...Tess does that ...and shivers, although we can never tell if it is from cold or excitement...
Her game is "throw the toy Mom and Dad...throw it NOW...and I will jump in over and over and over...." Now Tess is very fast...and to try and take a picture of her in jumping mode is damn near impossible...as you can see...I spent 40 minutes and many more shots than you see just trying to get one of her flying across the pool to get her thrown toy......and it's blurry!!! I just wanted to share cause I love her so much, she brings me such joy...and I am a bragging Mom!!!

OOPS!!!

OK...so I blew it...when I got this Award from Chris and Oops! ...I was supposed to post 7 of my favorite things... well drat....didn't know this little detail...I have GOT to pay closer attention... so a little late...here there are... can't have bad Karma hanging over my head...

1) Sitting in the tipi with Friends and family...nice fire and a little wine

2) Kayaking...anywhere anytime.....

3) I love to Cook (not shop) .. I love pasta dishes, I make good Kung Pow, also appetizers like grilled Scallops wrapped in Prosciutto held together with a sprig of fresh rosemary... YUM!

4) Gardening....just basically being out in the yard.

5) Going out into the desert and looking for rocks....and bringing them home...no matter how large.

6) Renting Movies on weekends...making big bowls of popcorn and nesting!!

7) Trying New Good Wines......

Mad Eye Moody

Here ya go Debbie...as requested.....Mad Eye Moody....in miniature.

Jodi

Arthur Weasley

Good Morning ...or Good Evening...when ever you might be reading this... just thought I would pop on another picture of a recently finished commission . Arthur Weasley, Patriarch of the beloved Weasley Family. As most know Arthur works at the Ministry of Magic in the Dept. of Misuse of Muggle Artifacts ... I am informed that this little miniature character will be placed by a desk in an office ...the desk filled with many 'muggle' items... I will get her to send me a picture and ask if it is OK to post here...I can't wait to see it.

Working on Dumbledore at the moment...

Have a great day (or evening) everyone...

Jodi

What the %$@#* Happened to Tuesday???

I swear I did not have much Brew...
Of Scotch or whiskey I did not imbue...
Or chase a Rainbow to find that gold..
Nor a Leprechaun did I hold...

On bar top counter there was no jig...
Or dressin fancy the neighbors pig....

No Irish ballads sung till dawn...
On the county courthouse lawn....

I did though eat the Corned Beef stew..
Potatoes,Cabbage ,Carrots too...
Till full enough to bust some seams...
And drift right off to fitful dreams...

Of drunkin Pigs dressed to the nines...
And Leprechaun advances that I decline....

And singing songs in the nude...
On Rainbows edge for all to view...

And golden coins with feet and hands...
Sinking deep in desert sands....

In a Vat of whisky I did swim...
All was looking rather grim...

Awake to find a Pepto Fast...
Hoping fitful night had passed...

Next time me thinks I'll take that snort...
And eating binges I will thwart....

Gleaning in Groceryland!!

Happy Monday........or is it!!!! Truth be known, I go a little limp in the knees when Mondays roll around... you see, Mondays are normally 'Grocery Shopping' Days...stand back everyone...she's gonna faint!!! Now I don't know exactly when this strange phobia of 'Food Shopping' reared it's ugly head...or for what reason it did so...but it has...and that's that! Don't get me wrong, I love to cook and I do it pretty good (or so I have been told) but it's the actual shopping part that brings on the hebbie jeebies!! I make my lists prior to Monday...check it twice for mistakes or over buys (stuff I already have on hand but it is so far back in my cupboard that I forgot I had it...oh wait, there are actually 4 of those...OOPS! Time to do a little rotating!!)

I get dressed in actual street attire (a hard task in itself as 'sweats seem to be a fashion statement with me of late) ...I drive over to pick up my Mom to take her with me so that she can shop (and show off her highly detailed and organized shopping list...is it normal to alphabetize a shopping list???) anyway...we arrive at Smith's and it is at that point that I realize...I forgot my Freakin list........I think I might have a few screws loose or a death wish...not sure which, but this is a regular occurrence with me...I seriously am going to try duct taping the list to me next time!

So NOW the real fun begins......... taxing my brain until smoke comes out of my ears as I TRY to remember what was on the list...SOMETHING...ANYTHING!!!

My Mom at this point is busily bustling through the throngs of Happy Monday Shoppers.... while I stand and 'stare into space' with a look that I am sure scares small children and the faint of heart. Milk...yeah, I need that, bread...wouldn't hurt, Portuguese Sardines packed in Mustard oil...hmmmm I am pretty sure that was not on the list.
So I want to share with you all a method of shopping that I developed over the years for situations like this......the "Jodi's Guide to Glean Shopping "...

First off...Act Normal..grab the basket and just blend into the crowd...throw in 2-3 staples so that you don't look too suspicious... now as you are walking slowly down the food aisles...take quick short glances into others carts...quickly now...and DON'T STARE...otherwise they will be onto you. Notice what they have in their carts...take a good mental picture and then 'go and get that item'.... walk up and down each aisle... not to closely to the shopper in front of you...Tailgate Gleaning is a NO NO! ....Just slowly walk past them, saying excuse me...flash a big smile and then look into their basket as you pass...'snap'click' 'snap' take that mental picture...now back track and grab what you saw.... I have actually prepared wonderful meals for the week just by looking and thinking...hmmm ...they are having spaghetti, Pot Roast...YUM, is that Tilapia ? sounds good!!! And there you have it....Forget you list..not to worry...just glean ideas and products from others...works like a charm!!! Of course... there were those times in the beginning when I came home with bunion ointment, rudabeggas, pickled pigs feet and a extra large pack of 'Huggies' ...I was inexperienced back then... and got caught up in the moment! Now I know when to hold em and when to fold em...
It's an Art Form ...and saves you from those 'Listless' Monday's

Have Fun....(now where did I put that duct tape?)

Jodi

I like to display my Awards on my Mantle!!

Just the other day I was doing a little light dusting on my fireplace mantle ... when I paused to reflect on my good fortune in the friends I have met here in 'Blogland' ...

The Friends that kindly passed on various 'Cyberblog' Awards to me... the kind folks that write such lovely comments... and that add their names to my 'Followers' list , the wonderful individuals that post my Blog and/or Web Site to their blogs... It really hit me at that moment how genuinely 'Nice' people can be ... this truly is like a big ongoing Blog 'Family Reunion' (only without the fighting or potato salad)...

I very proudly 'Display' my Awards on my Mantle...and give Thanks to one and all....

And please...any old time you feel like popping in for a chat , cup of tea, glass of wine... just use the Floo Network... it's always open!

Happy Sunday One and All

Jodi