If Walls Could Talk - HGTV

I want to give everyone a head's up about a show on HGTV called "If Walls Could Talk." My friend Amy's house is supposed to be on that show on Monday, February 4, 2008 at 5:30 CST. Check your listings for your air times. HGTV filmed her home last year and have changed the episode number of when her house was supposed to air but she tells me that it is supposed to air on Monday night, February 4, 2008. Her house is DROP DEAD GORGEOUS (and Amy ain't so bad herself). I don't know how much of the inside you'll see but from what I understand, the host of that show couldn't get over her house! I've been planning to get some pics of her house and post them but haven't got around to it yet. If you get a chance to watch "If Walls Could Talk" on February 4th, you won't be disappointed. I think they show 2-3 houses so I'm not sure in which order hers will be shown.


I also want to thank everyone for all the helpful suggestions about places to stay and things to do on our trip next month to Charleston and Savannah. I'm checking it all out and I am looking into making reservations at some of the B&B's suggested. I can't wait to go!

Charleston, Savannah and St. Simon's Island

Hubby and I are going on a little vacation next month (February). I know it's not the ideal time weather-wise to visit beautiful places like Charleston, Savannah and St. Simon's Island, but with his work, that is when we must go. We usually fly or cruise to someplace warm, but this year I agreed to a "trade off" of a "big" vacation to get hardwood floors in my den and dining room. I love the look of hardwood floors with big, beautiful oriental rugs on them or the more casual sisal rugs, and he's agreed that now is the time! We were going to Cabo San Lucas but he "made me an offer I couldn't refuse" with the hardwood floor suggestion. I agreed but I told him he has to take me to the beach this summer (we haven't been since the devastating hurricanes of two years ago). He and I will go this Spring and later I am going on two "girl's" beach trips.

My mom and I went to Savannah about 8 years ago - one of the most beautiful cities I've ever seen. I've never been to Charleston or St. Simon's - places I've always wanted to visit.

I am asking for any suggestions for places to stay, places to eat, special things to do in those cities, etc. I know we will eat at Paula Deen's in Savannah. We would like to stay at a B&B in either Savannah or Charleston - any suggestions?

I know that a lot of ya'll have been to these wonderful areas of the south and I would love to hear any ideas you can give me for our trip.

Thanks bunches!

How I Met My Husband

Sandi at Fabulous Fluff Stuff has tagged me to tell how I met my husband David. I was working as a legal secretary at a law firm and he had used our attorneys for some real estate transactions in the past. At the time I met him, he was actually paying another client's attorney fee who could not afford to pay the fee himself. As a trade off, David was going to get some land from this gentlemen. I had had several phone conversations with him and had met him from time to time during the pendency of the case. Eventually, the case settled and that was that.

My husband owns a lawn and landscape business. After his friend's case was settled, I found myself in need of a landscape/lawn service because the guy that had been doing my work had moved and I thought I would ask David to give me a price for maintaining my yard and cutting down some trees. He came over one Sunday after church, gave me what I considered a ridiculously low price, and I agreed to the price he quoted me. I wanted him to hurry up and do the work before he realized how cheap he quoted me! The next day, he called me to say he was finished with the job. I asked him if he wanted me to send a check or if he wanted to come by the office and pick up the money (he was coming in the next day for another real estate transaction), but no, he said he'd meet me at my house after work to see if I "approved" of his work. Okay, it was a Monday, I HATED Mondays, I was tired, didn't freshen up or anything....I thought this guy was cute but I was not interested in anything other than someone to keep up my yard. He stayed 2 hours! We talked about all kinds of stuff....when he FINALLY left he called me twice on his way home! I knew he was quite a bit younger than me and I asked him on the 2nd call if he knew how old I was and he said yes, but that he was attracted to "older" women (I was 50 and he was 38). Now before you think I robbed the cradle, no one that knows us, now or then, would ever think there is 12 years difference between us. Call it genes or whatever, but I've never looked my age. As a young person, that was a curse but as you get older, it's a real blessing. Anyway, I fought this tooth and nail. I had been through a very difficult divorce some years before and I vowed I would never open myself up to anyone or allow myself to be hurt again. Fast forward 8 weeks....during which time we talked on the phone every day. He would even leave me messages on my private line at work every morning so I'd have a message from him when I got to work. I had told a few of my friends about this "phone relationship" and of course, was getting all kinds of advice. Since I worked in a law firm, I had access to court records and I had already checked him out on line to see if he was a serial killer, married, or tried to find anything out about him that I could. Some of my friends thought he was married (the reason we never saw each other); others thought he was some kind of sicko, but I did not know what to think. My friend's husband wanted to "have a little talk" with him (i.e. don't call her anymore, she's like a sister to me), blah, blah, blah. We had started talking in February and now it was April. One Monday he called me at work and wanted to come over that night. I got so addled I left early, came home and had two glasses of wine (which is a lot for me) and he finally came over. We started dating the next weekend. The following February, we went to Las Vegas with my daughter and her husband. One evening before we went to dinner, he said he had a surprise for me. I didn't think anything about that because he was always giving me little surprises. As he was leading me over to sit down on a chair, he started saying stuff like "I want you to know I've talked to everyone that you love and that loves you....(at that point I think I zoned out).....and I wanted to tell you that I love you very much.....(down on one knee, pulls out a jewelry box - just like the movies!)....and I would love for you to become my wife....OMG! I was speechless but I did say yes!!! The rest of the trip and on the flight home I hardly said a word (which is certainly not like me). He had talked to my mom, son, daughter, brother and best friend the previous November and asked them for their blessing to marry me. On October 12, 2003 we were married in a beautiful ceremony where my brother performed the ceremony, my daughter and daughter-on-law were my attendants, my son gave me away and son and son-in-law stood up with David. I know some folks think for a 2nd marriage you don't go all out, but I wanted my children included and we're so glad we did it that way. It was a wonderful wedding and reception.

Sandi at Fabulous Fluff Stuff showed the gorgeous ring her husband gave her after 30+ years of marriage. While I can't claim that (yet), I wanted to show you some of the wonderful gifts he gave me in our few years of marriage. The first gift I got was to pick out any car I wanted....I got a brand new Toyota Sequoia with personalized Auburn tag (4 Judy).

Our first Christmas I got these:

AND THIS:

There have been many wonderful gifts my husband has given me in the 4 1/2 years we've been married but the one gift that is priceless is that he PUTS UP WITH ME (ha ha), loves my children, is ga-ga over the grandchildren and is a great guy.

I'm supposed to tag some other folks to tell how they met their husbands. I'm going to tag:

Kelly at Kelly's Korner (such a sweet precious girl); Judy (Kelly's mom) at His Door Keeper; and Rhoda at Southern Hospitality.

Safety Tips for Women

I received this in an e-mail from my sister this weekend. It never hurts to be reminded of safety or to learn new safety tips. I hope none of us ever find ourselves in any of the situations outlined below, but these tips could save our lives. Please pass this along to all your loved ones:


1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!
2. If a robber asks for your purse or wallet, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you....chances are that he is more interested in your wallet/purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!
3. If you are ever thrown in the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you, but everyone else will. This has saved lives.
4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc. doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc., DON'T DO THIS! The predator will be watching you and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE. If someone is in the car with a gun to your head, DO NOT DRIVE OFF repeat: DO NOT DRIVE OFF! Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your air bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat, they will get the worst of it. As soon as the car crashes, bail out and run. It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.
5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot or parking garage: (a) be aware; look around you, look in your car at the passenger side floor and in the back seat; (b) if you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars; (c) look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle and the passender side, if a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work and get a security guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY (and better paranoid than dead).
6. Always take the elevator instead of the stairs. Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot (this is especially true at night).
7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; and even then, it most likely will not be to a vital organ, RUN, preferably in a zig-zag pattern.
8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP! It may get you raped or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking well educated man who always played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane or a limp and often asked for "help" into his vehicle which is when he abducted his next victim.

Please share this message with all your mothers, sisters, daughters, etc. and all loved ones. This is just a reminder that the world we live in has a lot of crazies in it and it's better to be safe than sorry!

Show and Tell and another tag

Karen at Karen's Korner has tagged me for 7 weird or random things about myself. This is going to be hard because who wants to think they are "weird"? Alrighty then, here we go:

1. I cannot stand the thought of being confined. I think I'm this was because when I was a little girl, I got a cut on my head from a swing and had to go to the ER. Apparently, I would not be still and they wrapped me, mummy like, to put stitches in my head. Just writing about this gives me the creeps!
2. I am extremely claustraphobic - I can't even ride in the backseat of a car. One time when I was with a group of women we were riding in a van to transport us back to our hotel. I got in first so I was pushed to the far back of the van. I had a panic attack and literally crawled over several people to get out - I felt like I couldn't breath! Another time I was supposed to have a cat scan and even being medicated I could not go through with it. Any time my husband and I get on an elevator and people get on and push me toward the back, my husband tells them I have to be up front because I can't stand being behind anyone like that!
3. I love to be out on a boat, be it a pontoon boat or a cruise ship, but I have a fear of what's lying beneath the water! I would never go snorkling because I feel the ocean or body of water I'm in is so vast that it will swallow me up. I don't know how divers go in the water looking for stuff cause I get a feeling that something will "grab" me!
4. I saw on another blog where a girl posted the order in which she bathes and/or showers so I guess I'll do the same. Whenever I take a bath or shower, I do it in the following order (1) I first wash and rinse my hair (2) I lather up all over and shave my legs and under my arms (3) then I lather up again and bathe all over. I NEVER deviate from the order of the bathing!
5. I am never late for anything. If I have to arrive somewhere I'll be as much as 30 minutes early and just sit in my car, that doesn't bother me. I don't know where I get this little quirk but I've always been like this. My first husband was ALWAYS running late and it aggravated me so much. My now husband is like me....he can tell you to the minute when he'll get home. If he thinks he'll be delayed for any reason, he calls and tells me exactly where he is and when he'll get home or to wherever he's going. If he is traveling without me, we usually are talking on the phone and he'll tell me where he is and we can "travel together" cause I know the landmarks he is talking about.
6. I love to shop! Okay, this may not be random or weird but I have to go shopping, even if I don't buy anything. I love to look at clothes, accessories, decorator shops, antique shops, flea markets, etc. I do consider myself a good shopper because I shop so much that I know where to find the best "deals"! I don't always pay a lot for stuff....I'm really lucky that eventually I get what I want at a good price and seem to luck up on good deals if I'm persistant.
7. I don't really like to talk on the phone. I know some people are "phone-a-holics" but not me. I don't call someone to just have a good ol' chat (except with my best friend Judy). I check on my mom every day (she's 87), talk to my daughter every day, talk on the phone with hubby during the day and talk to son and his wife 2-3 times a week. Other than than, I HATE being on the phone.


Don't know how random or weird the above are. I'll probably come up with some really weird things after this post.


Thursday night I spent the night at my daughter's house cause her husband was out of town on business. We met after work, she had a hair appointment and we went and ate supper and shopped afterwards. Pop picked up the twins and stayed with them at Shannon's house until we got home. After we got the twins to bed (they were excited MiMi was there and they didn't want to go to sleep) I was wandering around in her kitchen and took a few nighttime photos. Her kitchen is to die for! The pictures don't do it justice. It's huge and gorgeous. They've only been in the house about a year and don't have window treatments but she's not sure what she wants. Her kitchen was so cozy I couldn't resist taking a few pictures.

I took this Friday morning - Jackson and Taylor ready for "school" Taylor's bangs are growing out and it's hard to keep them out of her eyes!
This oil painting is just outside her kitchen and on "loan" from me!

I have the matching picture in my dining room

Dining room sideboard we bought for them

Eating area in the kitchen - my husband wanted to give them the table, chairs, and barstools as a housewarming gift - that was so sweet!

Top of one of her cabinets. We have not "decorated" the top of the cabinets much but that is on our list. She has some things for us to use we but haven't done that yet.

Pretty tray I gave her over the kitchen door

Sorry this is so dark - it's so pretty at night!

See the water cooler? They own several bottled water companies in our area

Centerpiece on kitchen table

Now you can see the little side table better . We lucked up on finding this table. It is a good match for her kitchen table.

Only A Southerner Knows...

I know that not just southerners know most of these little "tidbits", but I thought it might be fun to "explain" some of our "southern speak".
1. Only a Southerner knows the difference between a hissie fit and a conniption fit and that you don't "HAVE" them you "PITCH" them.
2. Only a Southerner knows how many fish, collard greens, turnip greens, peas, beans, etc. make up a "mess".
3. Only a Southerner can show or point out to you the general direction of "yonder."
4. Only a Southerner knows exactly how long "directly" is - as in "Going to town, be back directly."
5. Even Southern babies know that "gimme some sugar" is not a request for the white, granular sweet substance that sits in a pretty little bowl on the middle of the table.
6. Only a Southerner knows instinctively that the best gesture of solace for a neighbor who's got trouble is a plate of hot fried chicken and a big ol' bowl of cold potato salad. If the neighbor's trouble is a real crisis, they also know to add a large 'nana puddin'!
7. Only a Southerner both knows and understands the difference between a redneck, a good ol' boy and po' white trash.
8. A Southerner knows that "fixin" can be used as a noun, a verb or an adverb.
9. Only Southerners make friends while standing in lines. We don't do "queues" we do "lines" and when we're "in line" we talk to everybody!
10. Southerners never refer to one person as "ya'll".
11. Only true Southerners say "sweet tea" and "sweet milk". Sweet tea indicates the need for sugar and lots of it---we don't like our tea unsweetened. "Sweet milk" means you don't want buttermilk.
12. And a true Southerner knows you don't scream obscenities at little ol' ladies who drive 30 MPH on the freeway. You just say "Bless her heart" and go your own way (besides, it might be your mama)!

SOUTHERNESS - Someone once noted that a Southerner can get away with the most awful kind of insult just as long as it's prefaced with the words "Bless her heart" or "Bless his heart."

You know you are in the presence of a true southerner if they say something like:
I've got to "carry" my mama to the doctor;" OR
"Cut off the light"; OR
"I'm fixin" to do something; OR
Bless their hearts, they don't know where "yonder" is or what "I reckon" means.

To those of you who are still having a hard time understanding all this Southern stuff, bless your hearts, I hear they are fixin' to have classes on Southernness as a second language!

Thanks to http://www.rockinghamremembered.com/ for this cute reminder of all things southern!

I Spent the Day With My "Babies"

If my kids read this, they will say "oh, mom" but I don't care! No matter how old your children get, they are still your "babies" don't you think? Now that they are grown with families of their own, I never get to spend time with just the two of them. Today that all changed! Sweet daughter had some Christmas money so we took off to Birmingham where son lives for some SERIOUS shopping. He met us for lunch. My precious DIL also came by from work to eat with us. I'm so blessed with my two "other children" (DIL and SIL). They are truly my "other" daughter and son.

My "babies" (Shannon was tickled about something...look how she's laughing)



What a hunk!

Baby boy's birthday present last year (how do you compete with this?)

It's a tank....no it's a Hummer!

Shannon could not wait to get in here and spend her $$. I love this store, it's so classy.

She bought a pair of shoes, some jeans and a top.

P.F. Chang's for lunch....yummm

The food and service are outstanding

I had "lettace leaves" for lunch (trying to lose weight). It really was delicious

I almost got in trouble for taking this in a store but I love all the spring displays out now

This is another great place to eat. When DIL graduated from college, this is where we went for a family celebration.

This is the Cheesecake Factory....really a lot bigger than it appears. Son would not stop for me to take pictures so I had to snap them as we drove by!

This outdoor shopping center is situated very high up. The views are awesome!

Isn't the sky beautiful?

I hope you all enjoyed "shopping" and "eating" with us today. Have a safe and wonderful weekend!

Tag Challenge

Deborah over at The Bunnies Bungalow issued a "blanket" tag to anyone reading her blog. I wanted to take the "challenge" because I'm new to the blog world and I think it's fun for others to find out things about us. I know I have enjoyed reading fellow bloggers answers and finding out things about them. So, without further ado, here goes mine......

4 jobs I've had:
I've only worked in one field and that is as a legal secretary/legal assistant - this is what I've done all my working life.

4 movies watched over and over:
1. Message in a Bottle
2. Gone with the Wind.
3. Hope Floats (makes me cry).
4. Miss Congeniality.

4 places I've lived:
1. Columbus, Ohio (dad was military)
2. Shreveport, Louisiana.
3. Wichita Falls, Texas (1st hubby military).
4. Montgomery, Alabama (most of my life).

4 shows I watch:
1. Cane (with Jimmy Smits - not on now due to writer's strike).
2. HGTV - especially Devine Design.
3. CNN.
4. John Edward - Crossing Over.

4 places I've been:
1. Jamaica.
2. Mexico.
3. Savannah (most beautiful place on earth).
4. LA (lower Alabama) - joke!

4 people who e-mail me regularly:
1. My mom.
2. My two sisters.
3. A wonderful new blog friend Sandi at Fabulous Fluff Stuff.
4. Work.

4 favorite things to eat:
1. Mexican.
2. Chinese.
3. Southern cooking.
4. Chocolate.

4 places I'd rather be:
1. San Francisco.
2. Savannah.
3. Cabo San Lucas.
4. The beach.

4 things I look forward to this year:
1. More time with my mom.
2. More time with my husband.
3. More time with my children/grandchildren.
4. Getting closer to God.

4 people to tag:
1. Kelly at http://scottandkellyhog.blogspot.com/
2. Cindy at http://romantichome.blogspot.com/
3. Diane at http://petticoatjunction.typepad.com/
4. Nonna at http://nonnasnews.blogspot.com/

Favorite Magazines

I love decorating magazines! Two of my favorites are Traditional Home and Southern Lady. Whenever I see new issues of magazines in the store, I get a little "high" and can't wait to take some home with me. I have spent countless hours pouring over decorating magazines and getting inspiring ideas that I can't wait to incorporate in my home. How many of ya'll feel the same way? What are some of your favorite magazines?

These pages caught my eye...the article is about how to dress your fireplace/mantel after the holiday decorations are put away.

This page makes me think that spring is not far away. I love the little eggs in the birdsnest

This photo is of actor Sidney Poitier's home. His wife Joanna is an interior designer. I love the 18th century chinoiserie desk in her study....so elegant.

Better view of the study....don't you love the silk drapes and chair?

While I was out of town this past weekend, I went to a wonderful little shop that had all their Christmas decorations marked down 50-75%. I bought 2 rolls of ribbon (you can see each roll was $25 and I got them for about $6 each)!!

I love this green and chocolate combination

The frosted magnolias look much better than they photographed - I got three of these

Prayer Request

I wanted to send out a prayer request for a family I know through my friend Judy. She has a good friend whom I have met on several occasions whose sister took her own life on Friday night. The sister who died had lost her husband in January 2007 just a month after he found out he had cancer. Then in December 2007 this lady found out she had breast cancer but she was going to start radiation treatment and apparently the doctor was very optimistic for her recovery. Her son found her yesterday morning (Saturday) dead at home from a self-inflicted wound. Needless to say, the family is devastated. She left a note saying she was so depressed and could not get over her husband's death nor her cancer diagnosis. People that worked with her did not see this coming and evidently no one else did either. I have never considered taking my life but I have been so depressed in the past due to my divorce a number of years ago that I know how bleak and hopeless life can seem at times. I know so many of you wonderful ladies out there are prayer warriors and I would appreciate you just lifting this family up at this terrible time in their lives. I'm hoping that she is finally at peace.

My Weekend in L.A.

This past Friday I went to lower Alabama (affectionately referred to as "L.A.") to spend the weekend with my best friend Judy. She and I have been best friends for over 25 years. Judy is the true definition of a friend....she has been there for me through the good times and the bad times. She is the kind of friend you can call on at 2:00 a.m. and she'd be there for you. There is nothing she would not do for me and there is nothing I wouldn't do for her.

This is Judy and her husband


Aubie welcomes all!

She left up her Christmas decorations out front because she wanted me to see how beautiful her porch looked....it was stunning. The pictures don't do it justice.

Front of her house

Side view from the driveway

She did all of this herself...very talented lady!

Banister was draped in garland, lights, ornaments, ribbons and bows

These are clear canisters in her bathroom with silver ornaments and ribbons inside....pretty neat idea.

One of the two guest rooms upstairs and where I sleep when I'm there. Everything coordinates so beautifully

Oh, lest I forget...she is a great cook. Saturday night we had hamburger steak with gravy, homemade mashed potates, green beans, her "famous" cornbread, and for dessert, peach cobbler! I probably gained 5 pounds just eating her cooking.

Den looking out French doors going onto back screened in porch

Judy's chair in the den (you can see the foyer from this pocture)

Massive fireplace.

Library table adjacent to the fireplace....still partially decorated with Christmas stuff

Master bathroom....gorgeous!

Kitchen

This sign says it all "Welcome to Paradise" which she hung on her back porch. You truly feel "at home" when you are at Judy's

Screened porch runs the length of the back of the house (this picture cut off a lot of the porch)

She spray painted all her wicker last summer. The wicker on the back is this minty green and the front porch wicker is all black. It took her more than a week to paint it all but it turned out beautifully.

"Bar" area in the foyer....now let me explain something to ya'll.....Judy does not drink. They do entertain a lot and all of this is from folks who BYOB. When she was building her house, I told her about an idea I had to turn her hall closet into a little mini-bar. So, she had the builder outfit it with a mirror and light, she put in a mini-refrigerator and that hold soft drinks.

This is a display on top of her entertainment unit in the master bedroom

This is the foyer....the handpainted cabinet in there is the exact one I ordered for my DIL for Christmas. She did not know I had ordered mine and I didn't know she had ordered hers....we ALWAYS end up with the same things because our tastes (and I guess our minds) are so much alike. This has always happened with us.

I have "first right of refusal" on those lamps if she ever wants to get rid of them

Saturday evening we rode around the neighborhood on her golf cart. Her husband bought her the golf cart for her birthday this past year. The cart comes in real handy at ballgames as that's how a lot of folks get into the stadium from wherever we are tailgaiting.

A personalized Auburn tag on the golf cart....have you ever.......?!?!?!?

This was a house we saw in the neighborhood

The house was perfectly situated with a pond in the back....it was sunset and I thought this was so pretty. BTW, Judy says a bachelor lives here...... hmmm, if I was single and looking, I might have stopped to "check him out" !

I did not post a lot of the pictures I took because some did not turn out. Suffice it to say that her home is beautiful. We have our "girly" weekends several times a year with no husbands and really enjoy ourselves. We have so much in common and just enjoy talking and visiting. Last summer she and I started an annual "girl's weekend" where our daughters (who grew up together) and us two went to the beach for the day. This summer we plan on going for a weekend. They take their camper and park it for the summer so we will stay there. I can't wait..... Judy