Mixin' It Up

I decided to change my background for the new year. I found the bees and flourishes on Background Fairy at http://backgroundfairy.com . She also does http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com. I've found some great images on her blogs for projects.

I'm not sure it will stay this way. Every time I try to do something on the computer I end up having to learn 30 new things and changing my original project. That's okay though because you should learn something new as often as possible otherwise, you just get old and wither. At least that's how I see it.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! We had bad news on Christmas Eve morning. Mr. Plantfreak's grandmother passed away. She had been ill for quite a long time so it wasn't a surprise, just sad. Since it was Christmas Eve, and we have an ark's worth of animals, and we are broke from Christmas shopping...I stayed home with the boys.

Mr. Plantfreak did get to see family that he had not seen in years. I'm glad for him on that aspect. I think Granny's passing was more of chapter of his life closing rather than a shocking tragedy. I understand that she was a spitfire of a woman. She was obviously endearing enough that my mother-in-law stayed close with her (mother-in-law) long after Mr. Plantfreak's father died (almost 30 years). I met Granny once but her mind had already faded so I really didn't get to know her.

One of Cody's friends came over to break in the new toys and they spent the entire night being rockstars, military snipers, and whatever other video games they've bought over the last week. They are still playing!!! Scratch that, I just looked over and both heads are nodding and the game is motionless.

I myself had a great haul for Christmas! Page and Dad gave me a digital picture frame and loaded it with tons of pictures. I'm going to post some of the pics of my grandmother as a teenager later. I also received a beautiful mask from Venice (posting later), a woodland Santa that is our only decoration this year, Cajun cookie cutters, and not one but 2 awesome new cookbooks! One cookbook is from the Times Picayune ("Cooking Up A Storm")out of New Orleans who, after hurricane Katrina, were inundated with requests to replace lost recipes. OMG, absolutely the most amazing recipes! The other cookbook is from Jimmy Buffet's sister LuLu, who has a restaurant in Gulf Shores, AL (my old stomping grounds). The book is called "Crazy Sista Cooking" and it features recipes from the restaurant. Good Stuff!

The boys (Mr. Plantfreak actually) surprised me with a food dehydrator. I've been wanting another one ever since I wore the last one out. I'm cranking that bad boy up today!

Now it's time to clean up the pigsty that is my kitchen (remember, teenage boys were awake all night) and play with my new toys!

Christmas in Vicksburg

Christmas came early for the Plantfreak family this year. The boys and I met Grandpa Sute and Page at Annabelle's B&B and had a wonderful time!http://www.annabellebnb.com/ The place was gorgeous! The boys behaved the whole time...but when we got in the truck to leave, all the bickering they held back just busted out. I almost put them in the back of the truck (but I think that's illegal).
I think AJ had the most fun. He shopped with Page and me and found some little treasure to buy. He loved Borelli's, and had his own room in the guest house.

Here we are in front of the guest house where we stayed.
Cody is only smiling because Grandpa Sute was yelling at him to smile. Who knew that was what it took!

Page was such a trooper! She didn't feel well but she still looks great.

I'm including this picture with Grandpa Sute even though my eyes are closed like a dork. I did that in several pics. Typical.



I'll post more pictures of the place as soon as Grandpa Sute sends them. The place was just gorgeous! We stayed along the Mississippi river and shopped in the downtown area. There is a restaurant downtown called Borelli's that has excellent food. If you find yourself in Vicksburg and you're hungry....BTW the tiramisu was beyond fabulous!



The visit with the family did lift my spirits and yesterday I bought Santa which always makes me happy. I actually caught myself humming Christamas carols all the way into Walmart...then I actually went inside. OMG!!!! People everywhere acting like jackasses! How is it that everything I need to get is right in front of the old lady who needs to inspect every item on the shelf?! It's canned tomatoes lady, there is no way to screw that up.


Customers aside, the employees seem to think they have the right of way. I usually give it to them because they are (ahem) working, but the meat girl just never looked up to see if anyone needed to get by. The freezer guy blocked the entire walkway with his cart and beerbelly. The computer goober was nice even though he thought he was impressing me with his video game knowledge. Please little boy, don't insult me. Then there is the gaggle of employees laughing and jabbering in the middle of the main aisle and we can just go around thankyouverymuch.



No humming when I left.

PS. Merry Christmas everyone!

Happy Birthday-Number 4(and 5)

Like I said, December is a booger!!! Today is Ol' Man's birthday, and he's older than dirt. Sadly, it's also Mom's birthday. That's all I'm going to say right now about Mom,. I have to hit the road today and I can't afford puffy eyes.

Ol'Man has been in my life since I was 5. He has never considered me a step-child...I'm his oldest baby all the way. Cody and AJ are the absolute lights of his life as are all the grandkids.

Here is Ol'Man with my brother and my cousin Mandy. He has always loved kids. Of course we all know it's because he is just a big kid himself.

Just look at that cheesy mustache!! Mr. Plantfreak is sporting the exact same mustache this very minute. Just deliver me.

Here we are in all our sweater glory! At least we coordinated well.

I don't have any kid pics of Ol' Man right now. They are in the bottom of a huge box of photos that I'm currently sifting through.

Happy Birthday Ol' Man! Love you much.

Tex Mex Kitty

My friend Phyllis gave me a ridiculously cute Tex Mex basket loaded with goodies. Texas 2 step soup mix, Snow man soup, cookies, Hot chocolate mix, etc. I just love it!

Niblet liked it so much that he just moved right in!!

Wasabi says there is plenty of room for him!

AWWWW!

Happy Birthday Part Deux

December is an absolute booger for me! All these freakin' birthdays. My youngest son turns 14 today. Yes, that makes my kids one year and three days apart...which makes me insane. Not planned but happy it happened.

This is Aj and me in the hospital. He was a chunk at 8lbs 12 oz.

AJ in all his Batman glory.

This is a rare moment of happiness for AJ. He was the most sour baby ever. He didn't want anyone but me and sometimes I couldn't even make him happy. He sure was a cutie pie though.

I love this shot of AJ in the tub. Those ears!

I knew this would be the only time I could dress them up in froufrou clothes. They look like little dolls!

AJ and Ol'Man. The little angel to the right is my neice Emilie. She would have ten this year, but we lost her at 4 months old.

Cody and AJ used to be best friends. I have to threaten bodily harm on a regular basis now to get them to quit bickering.

This was taken at AJ's daycare. I think this is what AJ's world really looks like- if you add aliens and machine guns.

AJ is my outside the box boy. We found out that he had ADHD, learning disabilities and a speech impediment at an early age. It's been a struggle but it's worth it. AJ has plans for his future and I hope that he can achieve all the goals he has set. I love you AJ-er. You'll always be my little fruity-pie.

My baby turns 15

Yesterday was my oldest son's (Cody) birthday. He turned 15 this year and I realized that he's not almost a teenager...he is a full-blown, smart aleck, peach fuzz on the lip, self-centered teen. I found myself looking at old pictures again. I've been sorting Mom's pictures to get them squared away for everyone.

Here are a few of pictures of Cody when he was a little guy.

Here is my brother with Cody when we brought him home. He was a monster at 9lbs. 7 oz.!

Cody spoiled me by sleeping through the night after 3 weeks. He was such a big eater that I had to start him on cereal and that would fill him up and knock him out all night.

Those cheeks!! Mom called him her "Sweet Petunia"

This was Cody's DUH look. He still does that.

This was the Christmas that the daycare came down with a raging case of lice (because some &$#$#$ parents didn't put in the effort to get rid of them). He was still pretty.

I have hundreds of pictures like this. Cody was/is my little ham. I have tears streaming down my face...partly because of nostalgia...and partly because Mom isn't here for Cody.

Christmas is looking a little bleak this year. There is just a grey pallor over everything for me...and since I'm the only person who takes care of the holidays...well, you get the picture.

Our one bright spot is that we are meeting Grandpa Sute and Page in Vicksburg, MS (it's halfway from Daphne, AL to Nowhere, TX) for Christmas. Actually we are meeting this coming weekend, and Page found the best Bed and Breakfast called Annabelle's. Check it out and www.annabelle@vicksburg.com

Happy Birthday Cody-Man! I love you even though you act like you don't care. God help me next year when he turns 16.

New 'Do

My friend Phyllis has long straight horsetail (her words not mine) hair and has worn it straight down, parted in the middle for as long as I've known her.

Apparently somewhere in there was a wild hair because she just up and got this cut

I think it looks sooooo good. It makes me wonder what's next....

Hey junkqueen! No, my hubby isn't an animal lover...I've just broken him down over the years. Brainwashing really does work!

Great Rooms At Hotel Plantfreak

Yep, made herself right at home...and brought a friend!

SPIKE

I'm hoping it's only because of the cold weather. Maybe I'm supposed to be running an animal shelter instead of a plant nursery. All I know is that the animals are now coming to me. Truth be known, Mr. Plantfreak is the one who established contact first with these two, and he named Spunky. So there.

Newest Project

I've been playing with my crafties again. The box below came from the paying job, it used to hold soap that smells like Frasier Fir. I prefer the candles myself, they smell wonderful! The company is called Thymes. Check it out at www.thymes.com

Back to the crafties! I saw the empty boxes and my mind started whirring around, "I could make something out of this". Sometimes I'm so much like my grandmother Nonie it's scary. She was a notorious packrat and I got the gene.

I'm working on several of these boxes but this one is the most complete. It still needs more, any ideas from my cyberbuddies? Sorry about the bad picture, this camera is still crap!I bought a papier mache box and just started covering it with a friend in mind. She loves crowns, crosses, gothic architecture, and tons of bling.

I lined the box because I think I'm going to put cookies in it. Cody has a concert on the 15th and they usually do silent auction/bake sale. I hope it helps raise a little bit.

I'm rather pleased with it myself.

Check Out Time

Well, Spunky stayed most of the day and then (I'm assuming) went home. She came for the first time Sunday a week ago and left Monday. Same thing this week, I guess it's sleepover Sundays for Angel and Spunky.

BTW, Kjirsten it's not a Noah moment but a Noah life. Mr. Plantfreak keeps saying no more animals. "Sure Honey, whatever you say".

Hotel Plantfreak

As I've said before we live in the middle of nowhere (and I like it that way) and there are no need for fences on my property. With that said we sometimes have four-legged visitors. About a week or so ago we had a little visitor who proceeded to make herself at home and stayed the night. In fact, she plopped herself in the bed with Mr. Plantfreak and slept the sleep of the dead. I never got a chance to take a picture...but guess who's back!?

Mr. Plantfreak has dubbed her "Spunky". She's terrified of our cats and they are less than thrilled with our new friend.

Happy Birthday Sis!

Yesterday was my sister's birthday. She is nine years younger than I am and in most ways she and my brother trained me to be a mom. To give you an idea, here's a shot of Jennifer and Bryant at Jen's birthday and I am on the right making the birthday cake.


I know this year her birthday will be hard without mom and I feel for her.






















Jen says I'm the mean one and sometimes I am, but she's the sneaky one. If you need a devious plan...Jen's your girl.






















She was like a little doll when she was a baby...then she learned to talk and all hell broke loose!

I hope you had a good one sis!!!

A Different Kind of Fairy

Mr. Plantfreak (consummate smartass that he is) found his own fairy name...

it is Ralph.

He is a bringer of gaseous odor

He lives in the land of couch potatoes and football

He can only be seen through beer goggles

He wears plaid boxer shorts and has tattered smelly wings

Actually, I think I've met Ralph before...

What's Your Fairy Name?

My friend Phyllis found this little website where you type in your name and learn your fairy name. Phyllis is Fidget, fits her perfectly! I'm working on a drawing to represent her fairy. Don't hold your breath though.

My fairy is called Hex Icewand
She is a bone chilling bringer of justice for the vulnerable.
She lives in places hexed and tainted by black magic.
She is only seen when the seer holds a four-leafed clover.
She wears black feathers and rose petals. She has icy blue butterfly wings.


Why am I not surprised.


If you want to know your fairy name go to
http://www.emmadavies.net/fairy/default.aspx


BTW, Phyllis and I found this cute little place from nosing around on http://the-feathered-nest.blogspot.com/. She has a great blog! Check it out!

Cougar Attack

I'm watching the Today Show. The little girl who was attacked by a cougar is on and I can't believe they are giving this little girl and her mother their "15 minutes" of fame. What idiot lets her daughter hug a damn cougar?!? They are wild animals, not teddy bears!! They are saying that the young man (who they met that day) pretended to be a trainer. Here's the deal, I don't trust anyone with my children-epecially not someone I just met.

What's sad (ok, Devil Dog just climbed in the chair with me, Ughhh) is that the cougar will be the one to pay the price. Not the jackass who thinks that cougars are great pets, not the idiot who tried to impress a 16 year old, nor the so called mother who let her daughter (who didn't strike me as bright either) play with a large wild animal.

I'm just sayin'...

New Blog

I found a new blog that caught my eye. This creative blogger makes things out vintage items and I just love that. http://sassytrash.blogspot.com I just wish I knew where she found all these little treasures! I never find cool stuff like that!

Anniversary

Yesterday was my wedding anniversary. 10 years. And Mr. Plantfreak is still breathing. They say miracles never happen. Whatever.

Mom

I'm sorry I haven't blogged in awhile. Mom's death took the wind out of my sails. Mom had heart problems for years but this was such a shock to all of us. She went to bed on Saturday night and just never woke up. I miss her terribly. She was my mom but she was also one of my girlfriends. I have my adult friends, Vicki and Phyllis. I have my friends from high school like Rio, Rhonda, Tracy, and Beth, but Mom was always there.

I usually called her a few times a week...typically I ranted and raved about one thing or another, or told some gossip that I knew wouldn't be spread. She would bore me to tears with every little detail of her day. I still reach to call her sometimes.

I don't have any more to say other than I miss her so much. I feel like a little girl lost. If I didn't have the boys and the animals depending on me I don't think I would be sane right now. We made some memory boards for Mom's wake and found pictures of her over the years. I posted a few.

When I was little I was convinced that Mom was the Little Debbie girl. So you see, I was always a little weird.

Here's Mom in High School.

I think this is when Mom and Grandpa Sute were first married.

This was one Easter at my Uncle Glenn's house.

This is my grandmother Keo,MomThis, and Uncle Glen.,

We had a big family portrait made out by the beach and this is a shot of Gaga and Ol' Man

I love this picture of Mom and Cody and AJ.

This is one of the most recent pictures of Mom. She was giggling with old classmates. There's a bunch of her old schoolfriends that gets together for lunch once every couple of months.

Love you Gaga.