Thursday, August 30, 2012

Hey Everybody, I’m BA-ACK!!!!

That’s what Abby tells us now as she comes downstairs after her nap.  Of course we’re all thrilled to see her, and probably a lot more excited to hear her say those words than all of you are going to be when you read this.

It’s been a busy week here at the OK Corral.

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Friends came over this week for a morning of Clabber (card game).  I made King Arthur Flour’s Morning Glory Muffins,  had everything on the patio ready to go, we sat down, and Dawn, the lovely lady on the right got stung on the cheek by a wasp  before she even got to take a bite.  My  neighbor Trish ran over to her house to get some kind of electronic wasp zapper, came back and was fighting the nasty stinging insects with her zapper paddle and they stung her twice on the hand before we discovered a nest under the table.  Hubby came to the rescue with wasp spray, and we were ready to play.  Except…

We couldn’t find Maggie anywhere, the patio is enclosed, but apparently she got out of the gate during all the wasp commotion.  We looked all over the house, no Mags, and finally a panicked Jan located her over at the neighbors sniffing the light pole where Ozzie, the lab likes to hike his leg.

In the meantime we had let Butterbean out to play on the patio, where he promptly mowed down my black eyed susans, and then kept darting to the top of the waterfall, where we all thought he might jump to freedom.  Of course there was no catching the little scamp, so we just started our game and hoped for the best.  He finally wore himself out and hubby was able to put the little rascal back in his house.

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My friend, Diane came over yesterday with sweet Miley, her four pound Yorkie.  Miley is from the same breeder as Maggie, Trish’s London is, too, and oh what sweet little souls they all are.  They are so cute when the are playing together, it’s enough to melt any dog lover’s heart, just watching them together.  That’s Diane holding the dogs, my Maggie on the left with her tongue out, her Miley on the right. 

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Then fast forward to this morning.  Trish had told me that the hummingbirds were “flocking” to the mimosa tree down by the woods that is blooming again.  The honeysuckle is also in bloom, we can’t figure out why.  It never blooms twice in the summer, but then this hasn’t been a “normal” summer.

So I grab my coffee, pick up my camera and with Maggie in tow,  I’m off for a photo op with all those hummingbirds.  Right…  It was 8am, and there wasn’t a hummingbird in sight.  I called Trish on the phone, she said maybe they weren’t awake yet.  Awake yet?  It was 8am for pete’s sake.  Then Maggie started whining because she needed to potty, and the hawks were circling, so no way was I going to let her do it, so we came home, where she promptly came in the house and instead of using her piddle pad, she proceeds to pee by the french door going to the patio.  Was she mad at me?  Ya think?  She never does that!

So about 10am Trish calls to tell me that the hummingbirds had arrived, so I grabbed my camera and trekked once again to the woods.  Her idea of hummingbirds “flocking” was one little bitchy female that kept running off all the other birds, and was impossible to photograph.

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All I managed to capture was one lonely little butterfly before I called it a day and came home.

So here I sit, anxious to watch Clint Eastwood tonight, it will be interesting to see what he has to say.  I’m drinking a coke, that was frozen, it has now spewed all over my desk, and is dripping onto my jeans.

Fascinating entry, isn’t it.  I told you it would be more fun to hear Abby say, “Hey everybody, I’m back!”

Monday, August 27, 2012

Oops, I didn’t see that….

So, it’s late last night, well late for me, 11pm, I was up reading, went to the computer in the sunroom, started for the living room, tripped over an “object” that DH had put by the side of the chair, fell kersplat, knocked the “object” clear to Sunday, knocked over the chair, and there I laid,  sprawled spread eagle on the floor.  No, I didn’t hurt anything but my dignity, and even that wasn’t so bad since LC was in bed and nobody saw me.  But it just irks the heck out of me when I do stupid things, which is pretty much every.single.day.of.my.life.  I could have hurt myself, but luckily I didn’t, I’m not even sore this morning.

But at least I’m not alone, check out these old(er) people, they’ve had a few “kersplat” moments of their own.

Happy Monday!

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Jan reviews The Best Marigold Hotel

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I can’t say enough good things about this movie, I LOVED it!  The cast was incredible, the screenwriting was amazing, the cinematography was, as Judi Dench called it, “an assault on the senses.”  It was full of memorable quotes, I want to see it again just to relive those quotes one more time.

As much as I disliked Hope Springs, I liked this movie.  The actors were superb and it was so unique, the sites and sounds of India were so vivid, it transported me to another world. 

What a wonderful adventure this was, not for everybody, but if you want to watch an excellent movie and experience a different culture, it’s a must see.  And it’s so refreshing to see a movie cast with older people who look “normal.”  No plastic surgery for these English actors, they have lived life and they show it, and it’s a beautiful thing.

They’re releasing it to DVD September 18th.

Here’s the synopsis:

A small group of British retirees learn that the life they want to live might not be the life they need to live after pooling their resources to spend their twilight years in a unique setting located in India. Upon arriving at the once-opulent Marigold Hotel, however, the eager pensioners come to realize that rumors of the building's restoration have been greatly exaggerated. But just when it starts to seem that the privileged seniors have been swindled out of their life savings, they summon the courage to sever their ties to the past, and embrace their new life with a sense of wonder and adventure. Tom Wilkinson, Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, and Dev Patel star in this uplifting comedy-drama from director John Madden (The Debt, Shakespeare in Love).


Read an interview with Judi Dench here.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Abby’s first day of school…

I’m all about Abby this month, so much is happening in her little life.  She calls her school, Kangaroo School because the classrooms are identified by different animals, and hers is a Kangaroo.

I was thinking the other day, that when she grows up she can look at these blogs and see herself through the years.  It’s a wonderful gift I’m giving my little granddaughter, this online diary of her life, and her baby brother will be following right behind her. 

Life is good this morning, the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and my little sweetie is a (pre)school girl…

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The funniest birth story, yet…

My friend, Mary, sent me this story this morning.  Oh, ladies, I’m going to start your morning with a giggle.  Good one, Mary, thanks for sending!

The "Middle Wife" by an Anonymous 2nd grade teacher

I've been teaching now for about fifteen years. I have two kids myself, but the best birth story I know is the one I saw in my own second grade classroom a few years back.

When I was a kid, I loved show-and-tell. So I always have a few sessions with my students. It helps them get over shyness and usually show-and-tell is pretty tame. Kids bring in pet turtles, model airplanes, pictures of fish they catch, stuff like that. And I never, ever place any boundaries or limitations on them. If they want to lug it in to school and talk about it, they're welcome to do so.

Well, one day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very outgoing kid, takes her turn and waddles up to the front of the class with a pillow stuffed under her sweater.  She holds up a snapshot of an infant. "This is Luke, my baby brother, and I'm going to tell you about his birthday." 
 
"First, Mom and Dad made him as a symbol of their love, and then Dad put a seed in
my Mom's stomach, and Luke grew in there. He ate for nine months through an
umbrella cord."

She's standing there with her hands on the pillow, and I'm trying not to laugh and
wishing I had my camcorder with me. The kids are watching her in amazement.

"Then, about two Saturdays ago, my Mom starts saying and going, "Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh!"
Erica puts a hand behind her back and groans. "She walked around the house for like an hour, "Oh, oh, oh!" (Now this kid is doing a hysterical duck walk and groaning.)  "My Dad called the middle wife. She delivers babies, but she doesn't have a sign on the car like the Domino's man. They got my Mom to lie down in bed like this.  (Then Erica lies down with her back against the wall.)

"And then, pop! My Mom had this bag of water she kept in there in case he got thirsty, and it just blew up and spilled all over the bed, like psshhheew!' (This kid has her legs spread with her little hands mimicking water flowing away.. It was too much!)

"Then the middle wife starts saying "push, push," and "breathe", breathe. They started
counting, but never even got past ten. Then, all of a sudden, out comes my brother.

He was covered in yucky stuff that they all said it was from Mom's play-center,
(placenta) so there must be a lot of toys inside there.

"When he got out, the middle wife spanked him for crawling up in there.

Then Erica stood up, took a big theatrical bow and returned to her seat.

I'm sure I applauded the loudest. Ever since then, when it's show-and-tell day,
I bring my camcorder, just in case another "Middle Wife" comes along.


 

Live every day as if it is your LAST chance to make someone laugh!!!! ( I do my very best)

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

My Grandchildren, heart be still….

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Lindsay’s parents are visiting, and her dad sent me family pictures this morning.  Oh my, this one is simply wonderful.  Grammie is printing this ASAP and putting it on her bulletin board!

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Lindsay always told me that her mom was great with braids.  Well, she wasn’t kidding, I tried doing this with absolutely no luck.  The woman is amazing!

Okay, so I’m printing this one, too.

Thanks for the pictures, Howard, you made my day!!!!

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Does anybody remember Hazel, the television show….

I was making a FaceBook post tonight, and I said the word “Doozie.”  Made me think of Hazel, and I just had to find her on YouTube.  I loved Hazel all those years ago, and she always said things were “doozies.”

If you’re as old as dirt, you will remember Hazel, if you’re younger, you will think this is hokey. 

So all you oldies but goodies, here’s Hazel,  a blast from the past.  Enjoy…

My favorite lipstick, Revlon ColorStay Mineral Lipglaze

Pioneer Woman blogged about her favorite lipstick this week, so I’ll just follow down the yellow brick road and do the same, since I have a great one to share with you.

The older I get the more I like nude lips. Well, not nude Kardashian type lips, but shiny lips, with just a hint of beige, not pink, color, it’s just really natural looking.  Bold lipsticks don’t work for me anymore, they just make me look hard.

So here it is, my absolute, hands down favorite.  Deanna tried it, didn’t work for her, she does brights really well, so I inherited her stash!  I tried it on Lindsay, looked great on her, as she doesn’t wear a lot of color either.  And added bonus, it’s ColorStay so it stays on for several hours, of course not 8 hours, it is a gloss after all, but you can get 3-4 hours before you have to reapply.

Oh, did I mention the price is right, too?  Love that drugstore makeup.  This will only set you back about $6-7 dollars.  Send a kiss

Revlon ColorStay Mineral Lipglaze (Glacis Mineral).  The color is Lasting Shimmer

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Monday, August 20, 2012

Marie is coming to the Hallmark Channel

October 1, 11am, I’ll be there!  I’m such a fan!!!

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Happy Birthday, Gabby

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My friend, Nisha’s adorable granddaughter turned two Friday.  She’s quite the fashionista, our little Miss Gabby.  Talk about pretty in pink!

It’s so much fun when your friends are Grammies at the same time you are.  We’re enjoying it so much, these little grandchildren are simply amazing…

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Jan reviews Hope Springs

hopeI really wanted to like this movie, I really did.  The trailer was good, the cast was great, the critics loved it, but me, meh, not so much.

I expected it to be really funny, and it did have it’s moments, but it was a sad movie.  The acting was good, of course it was, it was Meryl Streep after all, but the sets were depressing.  I’m a bells and whistles girl, I love to go to the movies and see pretty houses, great kitchens, pretty clothes,  makeup, all of that along with good acting.

This couple lived in a 70’s style track home that needed serious updating.  And when they went away, they stayed in an Econolodge, for pete’s sake.  Their marriage was painful, and seeing it unravel as they went through their week of therapy was not enjoyable.  And the sex scenes, let’s face it, old people are better off doing it in the dark.  Egads, it was not attractive.  I have to wonder if Meryl Streep was totally acting, or if she was just uncomfortable playing the role she did.  Tommy Lee Jones played his part well, but I think he overacted.

Let’s face it, it just wasn’t that good of a movie, LC was disappointed, too.

Oh well, Diane Keaton has a new one coming out this fall that looks much better.  It has terrific sets in the trailer, and her clothes are lots prettier than Meryl Streep, who looked positively dowdy.  And the acting has to be good, Diane Keaton is a great actress, too.  Maybe we’ll go for another date night when it comes out and give it a try.

I go to the movies to be entertained, and this just wasn’t entertaining. Sad smile

Thursday, August 16, 2012

She simply amazes me…

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Abby:  A hexagon has six sides Grammie

Grammie:  Duh, okay, yes, it does

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Abby:  If we had a rocket ship, we could blast through the clouds, Grammie.  We could go all the way to outer space.

Grammie:  Yes, we certainly could.

Abby:  What is outer space, Grammie?

Grammie:  Uh, it’s beyond the clouds, uh, it’s, ummmmmm…

Grammie thinking, oh I need to Google this! 

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Abby:  This is my Baaabie Plane, Grammie

Grammie:  (finally, something I can understand)  Yes, Abbie, Grammie had a Barbie Doll when she was a little girl.

Abby:  Saying nothing, looking confused….

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However, when she gets in her car and takes off, her Grammie gene kicks in immediately.

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She pushes on the gas, guns it, and she’s off.  But instead of steering it down the road, and looking straight ahead, she’s busy tuning in her radio, playing with her gears, doing everything but looking where she’s going.  So she runs off in the grass, and then Daddy has to give her a tow, with her wheels spinning as she tries to get traction.

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She and Maggie are buddies now.  She's taking her “Pal” on a little ride.

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Such joy, this little child just rocks Grammie’s world.

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And little Ben is such an angel.  We’re still trying to figure out who he looks like.  He looks nothing like Abby as a baby, I see a lot of Ryan in him, and hopefully, Lindsay’s lips. 

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And here’s their pretty little Mama, five days after Ben’s birth, sitting in the floor playing with Abby and her dollhouse.

Grammie is very, very blessed…

And yes, I do realize I’m gushing.  It’s what Grammie’s do, they gush about the grandkids…

I got the most amazing necklace in the mail…

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I have a friend from Oklahoma, Holly.  She somehow made her way to my blog and emailed me a couple of years ago.  Holly and I have a lot in common and we became fast friends, emailing back and forth often.  She’s used some of my gardening ideas, including the micro irrigation and straw bale gardening with good luck.

She knows I love turquoise, and when we got home from Ryan’s there was a package in the mail.  She made this gorgeous piece of jewelry ladies, She . made . it !  I’m in awe, it’s absolutely decadently fantastic, and the best part, it has a magnetic closure, easy on and easy off.

I’m going to have hubby take me to see that new Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones movie this weekend.  I do believe, Miss Holly, that I will take my new necklace for a spin.

I know you’re all drooling, I know you are.  I’m a lucky woman to have a friend like Holly.

Awesome necklace, absolutely awesome!

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Homemade cleaning solution with alcohol and Prell Shampoo

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A homemade cleaning solution using alcohol and Prell Shampoo that you make yourself, and it’s inexpensive and works great!

Sounds too good to be true, but my friend, Barb, is swearing by this.  She visited a friend and said her wood floors looked amazing.  The lady told her she threw away all her cleaning products and uses this mixture on countertops, appliances, windows, bathroom fixtures, and yes, wood floors.

I haven’t had time to try it, I did call my friend, Krista, that cleans for me and told her about it.  It will be interesting to hear what she thinks.

 

Here’s the mixture:

1 pint rubbing alcohol
2 tablespoons Prell Shampoo (can be hard to find, but they have it at Dollar General)
A gallon milk jug

Put the alcohol and Shampoo in the gallon milk jug and fill with water.  That’s it, then just fill a squirt bottle and you’re good to go.

Now go wash those windows, and see how this works for you.

~ Jan

Grammie is home…

ben1_editedWe got home last night, and I’m missing Abby and baby Ben so much.  I have pictures on my camera, but I’m playing catch up and haven’t opened them yet.

Just wanted you all to know that I’m still kickin’…

Friday, August 10, 2012

Abby is proud to announce the birth of her baby brother…

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Benjamin Baron

Ben was born in the early morning hours of August 8th.  We got a phone call at 3am (we got a phone call with Abby at 2:30 am).  Lindsay was in labor, Ryan was away on an overnight company trip, as Lindsay’s due date wasn’t until August 24th.

Thanks to good neighbors, Lynette got her to the hospital in record time while her husband, Tim, came over to be with Abby. Ryan broke speed records and thankfully arrived five minutes before the birth, about 5:30 am.

Grammie and P-Pa left at 5am, no I wasn’t packed, and arrived at the hospital about four hours later.  There is nothing like experiencing a new life, especially when it is your grandchild.

He’s precious beyond words, all 6 lbs., 1 ounce of him. 

Mother and baby are doing great, they will be home in the morning.  Uncle John and Auntie Dee will also be here tomorrow, and then Lindsay’s family will arrive on Tuesday.

This is a picture of Ben’s big sister, who picked out her clothes and “accessories” for her hospital visit this afternoon.  She loves to wear jewelry, and loves for Grammie to fix her hair, so she can run and look at herself in the mirror.  I do believe she is going to be girly.  Oh, Deanna will love it if she is!

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The first question everybody asks is “what does Abby think of her brother?”  Well, I think she’s warming up to him and starting to understand that he’s part of the family.  She said today that she wanted “Mommy and Ben to come home.” 

As for us, we’ll be returning to Heavensville next week, but for now we’re just enjoying this whole experience and hopefully, helping out, to make the transition smoother for them. 

I would have blogged sooner, but I was waiting for a name.  They picked a good, strong name for him.  Ben, my latest grandchild…

The name Benjamin is taken from the Hebrew name "Binyamin" the name means "Son of Right", this name is also in general stands for "Son of my Right Hand". However in many rabbinical traditions, the name stands for "Son of the Right Side of the Body" or as the "Son of the South". Some of the famous people who have their name as Benjamin are; 'Benjamin Agosto', Judah P. Benjamin and Pope Benjamin II of Alexandria.

The name Benjamin was also the name of Jacob and Rachel's son. He was born on the road which lied between Bethel and Ephrath; this is now identified as Bethlehem.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

My early mornings….

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Maggie and I head for the woods most mornings, where I drink my coffee, and eat breakfast, yep, that’s my bowl on the floorboard, while I commune with nature. Maggie dreams of getting off the cart and running through the fields but I won’t let her because I don’t want her to get ticks and sticks in her fur.  I know, I know, geez Jan, let her be a dog!

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Then I take a lot of pictures, most of which I delete.

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And a lot of which bores everybody to tears, but Mikey likes them! Send a kiss

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Hope Springs, finally a movie worth watching

I’m a huge fan of both the talented Meryl Streep and the craggy faced Tommy Lee Jones.  Their new movie comes out this week and it looks like it’s going to be really good.  I’m hoping even better than It’s Complicated, a hilarious movie she did in 2009 with Alec Baldwin.  If you never saw that one, you missed out, here’s a link to the trailer for It’s Complicated

We seldom get to see movies that appeal to our age group, and when we do, it’s a real treat.  This is a must see for LC and I, it’s gonna be a great old(er) couple date night movie.

Here’s the trailer, and here’s a interview they both did with AARP.  I know, AARP, sad, huh…

Note:  Wow, I just went to rottentomatoes.com and the critics love this movie, 100% thumbs up.   This is a nice surprise, usually they are really negative when they review comedies.

Read their reviews here.

Happy Anniversary to us…

rosesHubby and I were married 41 years ago today.  He brought me roses, a nice surprise, and yes, there are a dozen, I know you’re counting them, or I would be if I were reading this post.

Who me?I know, I don’t have a filter, I ‘m just out there with it.  But I bet you’re giggling. Nyah-Nyah

So far our day is turning out much better than the people celebrating their anniversary on the video I’m posting.

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We went to dinner last night to Angelo’s, our favorite Italian restaurant, where my low carbing bit the dust and I managed to inhale almost an entire basket of warm, yeasty, buttery, garlic knot rolls.  Oh, you can only imagine how good these were.

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Then I went on to devour half a plate of this spaghetti and meatballs.  I know, I know, I had spaghetti and meatballs.  I almost had scampi with white wine and lemon sauce, but every time I go there and order something different, I’m always sorry I didn’t get spaghetti.  It’s always been my favorite and theirs is always amazing!

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LC always gets the same thing, too, chicken cordon bleu in a creamy wine sauce.  Meh, it’s not my thing, I’m a red sauce kinda girl.  I love to post pictures of what I eat, can you tell???  This is kinda blurry, but he’s patiently sitting there while I’m snapping pictures of our food while people are staring at us, and I was trying to hurry!  You have no idea how bright the flash was on my iPhone in that dimly lit restaurant.  Geesh!

Now back to that video.  Carlene sent me this, and it’s hilarious, subtitles and all.  The poor old guy really steps in it, this is so funny…

My Pinterest boards…

I don’t know how many of you check my Pinterest boards, but I have some really neat stuff pinned.  I especially like the craft section, with the techniques for painting and aging wood.  And of course I have a badzillion food pins, and my low carb board is pretty darn awesome, if I do say so myself, and the homes and gardens, oh my...

My friend Jean sent me a link this morning to Martha Stewart’s 10 Top Pins.  Heck, I have her beat, I have lots better pins than hers!

Look at Jan’s 10 Top Pins and see if you don’t agree…

First of all, this is just a snippet of my Pinterest boards.  I have a total of 90 boards, so obviously I can’t show a picture of the entire menu.

Jan, blogging at... {jancooks.blogspot.com} (janandhergirls) on Pinterest

Jan, blogging at... {jancooks.blogspot.com} (janandhergirls) on Pinterest-1

And now for my top 10, well how can you really choose, I have so many pins, but these are some I really like.  Each caption under the picture is a hyperlink that will take you to  the specific board.

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Favorite Places and Spaces

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Things That Make Me Smile

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I’m Such an Animal Lover

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Snips ‘n Snails & Puppy Dog Tails

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Sweets for my Sweet: Pie

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Kitchens

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Cottages

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Libraries and Offices (had to showcase my own bulletin board ;o))

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Gardens & Outdoor Spaces

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Sugar & Spice & Everything Nice

And there you have it, 10 of my favorite pins.

I would love it if you would follow me on Pinterest.  Here’s a click to get you to my boards.  Spend some time this cloudy, hot Sunday, browse around my different areas, you will be inspired.  Pinky swear you will ;o)

~ Happy Pinning, Jan

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