For All You Monty Python fans....

The owner of the local feed and garden store has no idea of the humor in his sign.......

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!!

Is It Thursday Already??

And what happened to February? One minute, we're celebrating Girl's birthday mid-January, and the next time I look up, it's the day before Leap-Day!! I know February is the shortest month, but SERIOUSLY....I mean....times goes by much faster the older I get.

I've been spending the week getting ready for my Girl's Supper Club. 27 of us, divided into groups of 4 or 5, get together about once every 6 weeks. Each group cooks once, and the rest of the year we get to visit. Yesterday, I made Barefoot Contessa's Tiramisu and and today I'm making Giada DeLaurentis' Shells with Pancetta and Spinach. Whatever did I do for inspiration before Food Network came along? Lots of wine will flow tonight..but not at Maison Cou Rouge- we're getting together at my friend Kay's!

Speaking of wine flowing, Crazy Aunt Purl posted this picture on her blog yesterday.

I agree with her...I, too, have a checking account here. And a savings account. And several CD's.........

Don't forget, TOMORROW IS LEAP DAY!!!

Mea Culpa

Well, I'm not starting out the new year on a very blog-friendly note, now am I?? My apologies to all, especially Dude, who tells me all the time how much he loves reading it and catching up on his niece and nephew.

Ok, now a rant/plea to the Big Guy upstairs. Enough with the death and dying for a while, ok?? The denizens of Maison Cou Rouge have had a spate of them, unexpected and not, and I am tired of counting in multiples of three to see if we are at the end of the cycle. (note to self--explore where that superstition came from...I think it's Roman..) From my great-aunt, my beloved Auntie Mame, who left on her final cruise at the age of 95, to a friend who had complications from elective surgery, to family friends from my childhood, enough already! I'm beginning to dread the telephone's ring, as it's never good news.

It's a four day weekend here. Girl had gone off with the Methodist youth group skiing here in West Virginia.

How so many teens can look so good at 9am is beyond me..and so cheery for facing an 8-hour road trip.

I sent them off with tons of junk food. Her list of "things to bring" had both a bible and a bathing suit. As Girl's boyfriend is along on the trip (he being the main reason Girl now attends all Methodist youth group activities and occasionally goes to church services) Grumpy Guy is about to bust a gasket. Ah, the life of a red-blooded father of a teenaged girl who fully understands what all teenaged boys think about. You'd think they were vacationing at the Playboy Mansion and not West-by-God-Virginia.

Chip has gotten used to the neighborhood chickens that seem to get out at every turn.

I guess she only retrieves those who are not ambulatory. It's still hilarious to me to be looking out the window and see the rooster and his harem.

Knitting wise, I've finished my pink cardigan

and made the most hilarious knitted olives

for Valentine's Day (Olive You!) I need to get a life.

And Congratulations to Girl's BFF who got her braces off this week!!

A pretty girl with an even prettier smile! Hope they survive snowskiing!

Wild Weekend

First of all---my team WON!!!

Congratulations to the fabulous NEW YORK GIANTS and their amazing victory in the Superbowl! Who'da thunk it??

And what an amazing game. The commercials were so-so..I did like the GoDaddy ad and the E-trade ads featuring the baby.

We had quite a weekend. Grumy Guy had been up in Atlanta helping a friend at the Atlanta Flower Show, so I got alot of decluttering done. It's my annual mission for the month of January, but I never seem to get enough of it done. This month was a little more productive, with most of Girl's room redone.

Both kids had friends over most of the weekend. Boy got a new "crybaby" pedal for his guitar, and the new "old" tube amp arrived in the mail, so he had a fab weekend playing guitar. We also prepared for asking a date to prom, which has turned into quite an elaborate event in these parts. Creativity is a must, and, as always, Boy rose to the task.

With a little help from Mom, we spelled "Prom?" on the roof in Christmas lights, and had rose petals tracked around the house for a scavenger hunt. She said yes, so that's all squared away.

Alix had her new boyfriend and other buddies over to hang out on Sunday pre-superbowl, and the usual "gang of reprobates" joined us for kickoff.

Much fun was had by all.

I fixed a gi-normous pot of chili. Meatballs and cheesedip and chips completed the menu, and one of Boy's "friends who are girls" brought brownies (thank you muchly for the sweets, Kristina--you are the real sweetie!!)

GG and friend Paul arrived just in time for the last minute of play, including the game winning touchdown. There was much rejoicing.

Looked out the window this morning, and saw these.

Evidently the gate down the street was left open. I wonder how long it will be before the neighbors realize their flock is out.. I love living in rural Georgia!

Peace reigns this morning at Maison Cou Rouge--kitchen clean, GG home and back working hard at the computer. I really missed him while he was gone this past week. Home really is "Home, Sweet Home" again!

So Much for Getting Things Done

When one reads blogs, one is certain to get sidetracked...

Many thanks to the Yarn Harlot for blogging about Flight of the Hamsters. Go kill and hour or two. Who needs to make dinner?????

PS- I'm up to 322 feet!!!!!!!!