Adjusting Priorities

"Desire is the starting point of all achievement,

not a hope, not a wish,

but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything."

Napoleon Hill

I need to adjust my desires.Some of them are off the mark.Sometimes these darn quotes make me ponder so much, I cant write! I'll come back tomorrow and try again.

I'm thankful for friends who pull a chuckle out of me when I need one the most.

Pandora Charms (5)

Speaking of being "hooked" on things.........................

My newest obsession in accessories, my Pandora is growing!My Sissy brought me the platinum sun from the Bahamas, ( my sissy went to the Bahamas and all I got was this charm?) And Jake and Stephanie gave me the Murano glass Cheetah in Idaho! I need Jakes birthstone... I think Walts... and whatever else that makes my head twirl! Im hoping that when its filled its worth the price of a new car or something... lol
Linda and I met a lady in a jewelery store whose Pandora was upwards of 20K!!
I started my Sis on a bracelet, she loved it, opened the box and squealed "U went to Jareds???" LOL
I think its going to be a Christmas gift for many from yours truly!

Anyway, my wrist makes these European charms look great!

Pioneer Woman Meets Food Network!

One of my favorite morning reads 

(after my cat laugh)

is The Pioneer Woman.

Now.... she will be on TV!

 GO REE!

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Last year she had a "throwdown" with Chef Bobby Flay and she won!!! Go Ree!!

Last year, Ms Heather and I had the pleasure of meeting her in SF at her latest book signing there. GO ME!!!
 Ree is going to have her very own cooking show on Food Network! GO Ree!!!

The show is slated to start this Saturday, August 27th. Check out the link to her show for more information and check your local listings for the time!

Go Ree!!!!

PS: Ya think this PLUG will finally net me my all time wish to win designer colorful kitchenaid mixer from Ree? COME ON REE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!It's so me!!!

Guess Who Finally Watched...................

How To Make An American Quilt? I see you shaking you're head. WTF was I doing in 1995 anyways??? Why am I always behind in movie views??This one takes the cake though..I mean really G..... No wait.. I think it took me longer to see The Joy Luck Club! LOLOL

There's much more to a quilt than fabric and thread .But we quilters already knew this eh? Each  design has its own unique story (or stories) to tell. All the sorrows, joys, longings, sufferings, and loves of these women are sewn into their quilt and, as their bittersweet memories are given life, one young woman applies these lessons of the past to her own uncertain future.
"Where Love Resides":::SIGH:::( Best line)
 How to Make an American Quilt presents a distinctly feminine perspective. The "chick flick" to beat all chick flicks. The "quilting bee" consists of seven stitchers. Sisters Gladys (Ann Bancroft) and Hy (Ellen Burstyn); Sophia (Lois Smith), a woman known for scaring kids; Emma (Jean Simmons), the timid wife of a perpetually unfaithful ( read: P.I. G.) man; Constance (Kate Nelligan), who has been having an affair with Emma's husband; Anna (Maya Angelou), the leader of the group;( Or at least the one who points) and Marianna (Alfre Woodard), Anna's daughter. The project they're busy with is the wedding quilt for Hy's granddaughter, Finn (Winona Ryder), who is about to enter into wedded bliss. Or not. She's spending the summer with Hy and Gladys, and away from her fiance, to decide whether a lifelong commitment is really what she wants, and whether it's better to marry a friend or a lover. ( I loved that question)
One of the greatest pleasures I had comes from watching flawless performances by a most impressive cast. The costumes and period settings were so exciting!. From Winona Ryder, Ann Bancroft, Ellen Burstyn, and Maya Angelou to minor players like Claire Danes, and Kate Capshaw,and this hunky guy I dont know the name of... this film is oozing talent. In fact...... There are probably too many characters. So, instead of really getting to know a few of them, we are presented with quick glimpses into a defining event in each of their lives. We learn about the resentment between Gladys and Hy, and are told the reasons why Emma stays with her husband and Sophia is so "pissy" all of the time. There are other episodes as well: the love of Anna's life, Marianna's never meant to be soul mate, and a look at the reasons why Constance had an affair with her friend's husband. ( remember the p.i.g.) The reason for these tales is meant to provide the answer for Finn's cold feet questions: whether to go forward with her marriage or fool around with a six pack smoldering hot Latin hunk.
I personally was left wanting much more of each woman's story.Sequel?
It made me smile inside validating every one of my sentiments on what a quilt is really all about. The story each one tells.Where love really does reside.
Totally inspiring to go in there and fling fabric everywhere trying to design the perfect story Quilt.
PS: I am almost certain that I was born in the wrong generation.

Hooked On Things

"Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip."

– Will Rogers

Good morning:) By the time I was on my second cuppa this H.O.T. morning, I had a light bulb moment about my Ma's lil addictions through out her life. I could never figure out why she got attached to certain things, and they would come and go within several months. During those months she was obsessed with said addictions. It was especially a butt scratcher when I appeared with her latest attachment, only to find that she had moved onto a different one and didnt know WHY I would serve her such a thing. I can (off the top of my head) cite grapefruit, pink, with splenda, cherries, enough to make her ill. rootbeer in the half sizes.Cherry tomatoes with a salt shaker. Barbie sized juice glass with fresh squeezed orange juice. Popcorn nightly in same barbie bowl. ( Mom was hooked on teeny tiny barbie sized things forever)

 This may not seem odd, until you make it a MUST HAVE issue. On a daily basis. Now you might be wondering why the heck I'm chit chatting about this eh? Well, they say that every woman one day wakes up and discovers their own Mother in the mirror. I know you are all grunting right now, me too. For the last month or so I have been eating the SAME breakfast, and enjoying the SAME popsicles for dessert at night.Yep yep yep. Even while visiting family, in each place I ran to the store to stuff the fridge with my current... needs shall we say? Last evening I ran to the corner store for my favorite popsicle becuase we ran out? This morning while arranging my three little peache slices, cottage cheese cup, and peeling my hard boiled egg, all on a paper plate so that I dont have to wash the dang thing.. it hit me. Bingo. Its in the freaking genes Gina!!! Look at you! OCD? no! Ma!!! (Side note...do we blame all things on Moms or what?)

As soon as I complete this post I'm calling my sis and asking if its happening to her yet too!

Why cant I get hooked on excercise????? No... small kitchen gadgets is more my speed...little teeny whips, lemon juicers, garlic tools... yep yep yep... if I wait long enough, the answers come. thanks Ma.



Marvelous Monday, On Time!

"They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself."– Andy Warhol

Good mornin`. Yep yep yep, its Monday. One more cup and I'll be on my feet. Which is a good thing since I have much to do! I think I have been Mach three since I got home. This morning Im making THE LIST with a strong cuppa and The Eagles on the stereo. Ahhhhh I sure wish I could see them in concert. Hey! Maybe I'll ask Mufasa for another LV Birthday! They are in my top ten BESTIES.How about you? I suppose while everyone was grooving to Elvis or the Beatles, my choice was Eagles or Elton!

<---hard to be me member?

Okay, so back to Marvelous Mondays.....You know when I get behind in the blog my brain goes a bazillion miles an hour and I cant figure out what to say! I'll say this.... while driving to Idaho was cathardic in that I pondered a great deal,sawbunches of family, and stopped at the resting spots for my Mama and son, I shall fly next time. DAMN! I didnt even see a jack rabbit out there! A whole lot of nothing on I-95 I tell you. Nothing! I am actually missing the kids already, so I need a new game plan for spring. Maybe I should just buy myself a mini motorhome and take off when the bug bites?

Today I'm only road tripping over the hill to my home town of Arroyo Grande.:::sigh::: I wonder what trouble I'll get into?

I have 3 quilt projects going on!! A new restoration, a simple panto, and yes... Jake scolded me for taking so long on the Tee Shirt quilts. I'm on it!!

Marvelous Mondays include:

Safe travels for Me. G!

Squirt gun wars with the baby grands!

cuddles on couches with above mentioned

much needed coffee chats

Home sweet home

a restoration project to re make!

H.O.P.E.



Marinated Lamb Chops With Cherry Tomatoes

I have an abundance of cherry tomatoes! I pop em in my mouth all the time! Think of all the good lycopene I'm getting right? Of course right. I think its a "G" popocorn.
I am running out of quick and easy ideas for the little prizes though. Here's tonights pick after I pick! I think I will forever grow cherry tomatoes! Now if only my red peppers would do something for me:(

• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 4-6 rib lamb chops
• 1  lb cherry tomatoes (a bunch of em!)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Mix together honey, red wine vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper and transfer to a large ziploc bag. Marinate lamb, turning occasionally, at least one hour. Bring lamb to room temperature before grilling.

Remove lamb from marinade, reserving marinade. Grill lamb on lightly oiled grill pan over medium high heat, turning once, about 4 minutes for medium-rare. Transfer to a platter and keep covered and warm. (* Can be done on an outside grill or bbq also, but this is quicker for me.)
Cook cherry tomatoes in the lamb roasting pan, covered, carefully turning, until softened and just beginning to split. Drizzle balsamic vinegar over tomatoes, turning to coat, then cook, uncovered, until vinegar is reduced by about half, about 2 minutes.

Bring reserved marinade with any lamb juices accumulated on platter to a boil in a small heavy saucepan, covered.

Drizzle lamb with reserved marinade and serve with tomatoes.

I'm serving this atop Israeli Couscous, my personal pasta fix:) I'll get a pic for ya tonight!

Manja!

Say No To Shark Week!

There are things six year olds should NEVER be allowed to watch on the history channel! Shark week being one of them.While Aviana was visiting we learned all about several species of sharks. She spoke quite knowledgeable about them, citing lemonheads, great whites, tigers, bulls, etc....Lil Miss larger than life didnt seem to be frightened in the least about the creatures. Just a bit obsessed eh?

So one day while Emily too was here, we ventured over to Avila Beach for a day trip. It was then that I put my foot down about her shark education.

 Both girls played happily the day away and loved especially wave jumping with Pappa.Sharks were never mentioned or given a thought to.Until..............

 While hopping around on the waters edge and Nonni only steps away, Aviana lets out the most blood curdling scream I have EVER heard come out of her lil body!She is running in circles flaling her arms, and my eyes NOR legs couldnt even keep up with her! I gave chase to a child in circles while I noticed Mothers pulling thier children out of the water in just as fast as a foot race as I was in. This was all happening so fast that no one understood what was going on, we were all just frantic. Except Pappa whom out of the corner of my eye was shaking his head. Emily, who had been building a sand puddle was oblivious to it all because she was focussed intently on where the poured water was vanishing to in the sand. ( Nonni told them it was on its way to China).
I caught my lil drama princess and finally made out her screams...CRAB! CRAB! CRAB! She was white as a ghost, tears POPPING from her eyes, and pointing to the surf.
Side note: Thank God I took my blood pressure pills this morning!
I planted Aviana next to Pappa and ran back to see the dick dastardly creature that scared my Lovie....
Here's a picture of the big meanie... Its a pair of burnt orange short pants, washed up and wrinkled in the sand.
As I looked around in disbelief I noticed felt burning eyes fixed on me. Every Mother on the beach wanted to smack me? I think little kids hated me.........so because poop runs down hill, I wanted at that moment to smack my dear daughter for allowing Shark Week to be viewed. Ya know what? Nonni thinks swimming pools with squirt guns are much more fun! As for my lil Lovie... she forgot all about the big bad crab, and went BACK in the water!!

We ended our day with Avila Barn, a petting zoo that we could feed and touch nice lil goats and ponies. We enjoyed hot dogs and some ice cream... A much safer stroll for a worn out Nonni!

Hi Honies! I'm Home!

"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe."– Anatole France

Are these the cutest kids ever? I know!

This is whereyour bad blogger hasbeen.

I did a road trip by myself to I.D.A.H.O.!!!!!! yep yep yep... I done did it. I am so glad that I did! An ever so grueling 2000 miles, but well worth the trip! I'm sorry I have been AWOL, thank you for all of your caring emails. I have a HUGE list of things I wish to accomplish by years end. ( very goal oriented here) I just knocked a BIG one off my list!

I am thrilled to be home,thrilled to have seen my baby grands, thrilled to have school starting!

Time to get busy! Christmas is coming!!! 

Big Red Quilt is On Her Way! MM

"Failure seldom stops you.  What stops you is the fear of failure."

– Jack Lemmon

LOOK!

Not only first place, but Judges specialty award too! I am so very tickled!!!

A serious boost to the confidance department:) It was so worth all the mind boggling pebbles!

Marvelous Mondays include:

Pretty ribbons saying I am good enough!