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That’s How You Celebrate!

Posted on March 29, 2014 by auburnchick

People have already been asking me if I’ve enjoyed my Spring Break, now that it’s almost over.

I can say, with all honesty, that it’s been the best one to date!

I got to do everything I’d hoped…

Yarn shopped…clothing shopped…stayed up late and sort-of-slept in…

The best part, though, was spending a few days with Chicky!

Chicky and her roommate, K, drove up to visit on Thursday, walking in the door an hour and a half earlier than originally planned.

Do you have grown children?

If not, you have yet to experience the joy of welcoming one back home.

I’d spent the entire afternoon cooking, and the girls were ready to chow down, beginning with the vegan-friendly Cowboy Caviar…

For dinner, we ate Parmesan Chicken over Lemon Butter Pasta.

I ate my Daniel Fast Black Bean Soup.

For dessert, I’d made another batch of brownies, as well as a double-recipe of Velveteen Cupcakes…

The frosting on those cupcakes is very messy, and I’m a bit ashamed; however, after spending over five hours in the kitchen, I was simply happy that 1) The frosting turned out well and 2) That there was an end to the cooking.

We watched Catching Fire after dinner before turning in for the night.

Friday was a bust as far as venturing out.  It poured like crazy here, so I stayed inside.

For dinner, we met some of the people in our Small Group.  We went to a Mexican restaurant across the bridge and had a lovely time.  It’s a place meant for the tourists, so there was live music.

Chicky told the waitress that it was my birthday the next day, so I was serenaded…in English and Italian.  Though I was quite embarrassed, the man who did the singing was so sweet that I had to hug him afterward.

We went home fat and happy.

Today was the real treat, though.

Rooster had to work, and the Mr. took Chicky’s car to the auto shop for much-needed repairs (shout-out to our friend, T, who gave us a super-awesome deal on the repairs!).

Chicky, K, and I headed out for an afternoon of fun.

First, we visited the boutique where I’d purchased the dress and sweater I posted pictures of a few days ago.

The day was simply glorious.  I should have taken pictures.  We were down at the marina, and it was in the low 70’s…perfect weather.

We walked to a coffee shop nearby, and I treated K to her first Espresso shot.  Chicky got regular coffee, and I got hot chocolate.  The owner was a sweetheart, and Chicky was reminded of how nice the people in Podunk, USA are…something she misses living down in South Florida.

We stepped next door to a small show where I purchased a bottle of wine.  The wine came from a local winery, and on a whim, I asked the girls if they wanted to go wine tasting.  They are, after all, of age.

They did, and so we drove across the bridge to the beach.

What fun, although the experience was a bit awkward at first.

Social graces are not my thing, I fear.

We got over our nervousness and simply had a good time.

I bought a few bottles…

Don’t you just love the bottle topper?

By this time, we were starving, so we headed back into town, drove past my school, where I waved at it, and parked the car in front of one of the many stores that lined the street.

We took a leisurely stroll, glancing in the windows and reading the menus at the various restaurants before finally setting on a well-known restaurant in our area…one that I am fond of for its Mediterranean food.

We sat outside and ate…enjoying the people watching we were doing as well as the easy conversation.

By this time, we were quite tired and headed home where Chicky presented me with my birthday gifts from her…

The wine is a Riesling called “Relax.”  This was the theme of the entire package of gifts, as you can see from the body scrub, body wash, body mist, and spa socks.

Super Sis sent me this lovely bracelet…

The bracelet was made by a single mom who is part of Trades of Hope.  The proceeds go to benefit women who are trying to create a sustainable income for themselves.

Coupon Queen and Grand Pooba sent me a card and a check…much appreciated.  🙂

We then sat down and watched Frozen.  I had been singing Do You Want to Build a Snowman ever since Chicky had walked in the door.  It was good that she finally got to see the movie!

Spring Break was a total blast.

I did not work, except to answer one SOS email from a parent (a quick response).

I got to see my Chicky and spend some time with Rooster (we met for lunch after his classes ended on Thursday).

I feel rejuvenated and ready to face the next two and a half months left of school.

Most of all, I feel loved after the extra pampering (by myself and by others).

Filed under: children | Tagged: , , , | 1 Comment »

Happy Birthday, Super Sis!

Posted on January 9, 2014 by auburnchick

Dear Super Sis,

Today is your 41st birthday!

I hope you don’t mind that I just announced your age to the entire world, because, you know, I have loads of readers.

😛

Truth be told, I don’t remember there ever being a time when you weren’t a part of my life.

I was the serious one, and you were the one with the mischief in your eyes.

While we were certainly different when we were little, over the years, we discovered that all along, we were very much the same…each with similar insecurities and fears.

We have the same sense of humor along with a love for Reese’s Cups.

You are a blessing to me, and I smile because I see the impact you have on the lives of every single person who God allows to cross paths with you.

You inspire me with your zeal for the Lord…a steadfast faith no matter what circumstances surround you.

I love you and am doubly-blessed to call you my Sister Squared (sisters marrying brothers).

Hugs to you on your special day!

Love,

AuburnChick ♥
aka “Nanny”

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: , | 3 Comments »

Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant

Posted on November 1, 2013 by auburnchick

Dear Mama Dot,

You entered this world 98 years ago.  Today, you entered heaven.

I am so thankful I got to see you one last time in September; however, our visit did not afford me the time I needed to tell you just how much you have meant to me.

I met you twenty-five years ago.

You opened your home to me every Saturday, when you served the kind of lunch that always typified your home…large, home-cooked, Southern food…much of it battered and fried…vegetables straight from the garden.

How I treasured those meals.  They were among the best I’ve ever eaten, prepared by your faithful companion, Mary.

You were quite the spry thing for a lady in her 70’s, and your sense of humor was wicked.

Time passed, you got older, and our visits became infrequent.

Still, I knew I could always count on you to “ask” me to take you to Walmart every time I visited.

I still smile when I remember how you were quick to go off on your own the second we entered those doors.  It was your time to shop, and you wanted no part of whatever I was doing in the store.

That was okay with me, because we usually met up at the cash register after an hour…right about the time you’d had your fill.

I remember how you purchased my first honest-to-goodness supply of Christmas decorations.  The Mr. was not happy at the large bags of wrapping paper and lights that came home with me the first few years.

One of my favorite things that you used to say, when in the middle of slipping us some money, was never to, “Let your left hand know what your right was doing.”

That was code for, “Don’t you dare tell Papa Bernard that I gave you money.”

You knew that he’d be slipping us some before we left, and to say anything about what you’d given would make him change his mind.

I remember the Christmas when I was upset about how my visit with my own mom had gone.  I was pregnant with Rooster, I think, and you sent me shopping with Julie and a wad of cash.  You wanted me to buy a stylish maternity outfit…something I couldn’t afford.

That trip to Dothan really made my afternoon and took my sadness away.

Another thing I’ll never forget is the way you could never sit still!  You had to be up, cleaning something or putting stuff away.

Nowadays, we call that condition “ADHD.”  For you, it was seeing things that needed doing and taking care of business.

It hurt to see you stuck in your recliner the last few years of your life…especially during our final visit.  I could see that you were itching to get up, but your body was failing you.

Mama Dot, if there’s one thing about you that that stands out from the rest, though, I think it was your faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world.

You had a steadfast assurance of God’s promises, and you didn’t hesitate to share with anyone who was within earshot.

Though I know that you are living it up in the mansion the Lord prepared for you, I’m going to be real honest with you.

Things just aren’t going to be same any more.

Where else am I going to go and watch reruns of Lawrence Welk, turned up at full volume because nobody can figure out how to work the remote?

Who’s going to fix veal cutlets and serve up grape juice when we go visit?

Saying goodbye to you is like saying goodbye to a part of my early adulthood, and I don’t feel prepared to do this.

Snippets of memories keep rushing in…

You, announcing that we were going to have a girl when I was pregnant with Chicky, and us believing it because, in our words, “Mama Dot has a direct line to heaven.”

Nine months later, Chicky was born.

You, presenting us with what you announced would be the ONLY baby quilt you would ever make because of the work it took, and Chicky loving on that blanket until it was tattered.  The only remnants left are a few squares.

Memories of you driving…was this your sly way of getting me to pray more?  I think I prayed more during those trips than all of my life combined.

😀

Thank you for your kindness.

Thank you for welcoming me into your family as the first “granddaughter.”

Thank you for loving my children and creating memories that they will carry with them the rest of their lives.

I pray that you are enjoying sweet reunions…

Papa Bernard…

Aunt Lula…

Mary…

…and countless others who have passed before you, for I know there have been many in the 98 years you lived here on earth.

I pray that you will finally give yourself permission to sit down and rest a bit, not because you have to, but because you can.

I want you to enjoy the rewards the Lord is showering upon you…

Rewards for a life well-lived.

I will always love you and look forward to our own reunion one day.

Love,

AuburnChick

Christmas 2012

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: | Leave a comment »

All is Fair When You’re Playing Spoons

Posted on June 24, 2013 by auburnchick

Yesterday evening, my family went to another family’s house for dinner and card games.

To be more specific, we were going to be playing Spoons…

The link above explains how to play.

Before dinner, Chicky and her friend, D, explained the “official” rules and even played a practice round with me.  I don’t do abstract, you know, and have to see things to understand them.

As we gathered around the table after we had eaten, D’s mom and dad began to explain the “unofficial” rules.

Because the point of the game is to wind up with a spoon, players are allowed to use any means to acquire said spoons.

By “any” I do mean any.

In fact, the previous evening, Chicky had spent the night at this home, and they had played Spoons for several hours.  D’s father showed me where Chicky had stabbed him in the hand with her fingernail during a fight over a spoon.

What can I say?  I’ve taught my children to give everything their all.

😀

The game moves very quickly, and being sneaky is both allowed and actually expected.

Fake moves toward a spoon are allowed (you can pretend you’ve got four of a kind and reach for a spoon to lure others to the pile).  If the first person to grab a spoon doesn’t actually have four of a kind, he/she gets a point, which is not a good thing.

I’ll get to that in a second.

Something else that is allowed is the crawling over or under furniture and people to acquire a spoon.

Oh, and don’t think that you should show mercy to your elders.  Age means nothing when you play this game.

You are basically allowed to do anything to get a spoon, short of actually murdering another person, thus choke holds are allowed as long as you release your grip before the other player loses consciousness.

As I said, the “unofficial” rules remained abstract concepts until we actually started playing.

The first couple of rounds were tame, by all accounts, but it did not take long for things to heat up.

I played nice.

I really did…

Until a plot developed to make me get a point.

After all, I’m pretty good at multitasking.  I am, after all, a teacher…used to managing 25 youngsters at once.

However, D used an arm-sweeping tactic to throw all of the spoons off of the table when she laid down her four of a kind.

A mad scramble ensued, and I’m not ashamed to say that I crawled over Rooster, who was sitting beside me, to make a grab for a spoon.

My efforts were in vain.

Dang.

A few rounds later, I actually knocked my chair over and crawled under Rooster’s chair to get to a spoon.

I got what I wanted.

Now, this family created a rule that once a player gets five points (loses five rounds), that player has to perform a dare decided upon by the rest of the group.

D’s mom was the first to reach five.

We walked her outside, where it was quite dark, and watched as she stood in the middle of the neighborhood street meowing at full volume for ten solid seconds.

It was pitiful.

I definitely did not want to reach five.

However…I am AuburnChick, and my life is, sad to say, the perfect example of Murphy’s Law.

Oh yes.

I did, in fact, reach five.

My punishment?

I had to do the Stanky Legg…in the middle of their entrance way…with all of the lights on and D and Chicky filming me.

I had to do the entire Stanky Leg.

Here’s a video of what the dance is supposed to look like…

For the record, the above video is for the clean version.

I dirtied mine up a bit once I got into it.

😀

I’m sorry.  I do teach high school.

heehee

Oh, and I must tell you that this couple who so kindly opened their home…yeah…they go to church with us.

😀

It was all in good fun, and it was a great evening.

I will admit that I am a bit nervous because Chicky refuses to delete the video from her phone.  She has assured me that she will not upload it; however, I see blackmail on the horizon.

She is, after all, a smart girl.

I wouldn’t raise anything but.

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: , | 3 Comments »

More Than Sisters

Posted on October 9, 2012 by auburnchick

On Saturday, I found the following in the mail…

It was a “just because” gift from Super Sis.

Since school has started, we’ve taken to calling or texting each other on Mondays…just to see how our week has started off.

She teaches preschool (God bless her), so we have a lot of fun talking about our days.

We’ve found interesting similarities in our work.

Although our pupils are many years apart, we still find ourselves teaching them social skills.

Although my academic curriculum is a bit more advanced than hers, we’ve found that we both struggle in the same areas…the best way to set up activities…timing…etc.

We also marvel over our students’ personalities and how even one strong-willed (usually a leader, to boot) child sets up the temperature for the rest of the class.

People often bemoan the fact that they are getting older.

Super Sis and I embrace it, however, because it’s only through our aging that we’ve become especially close.

Parenting, marriage (to brothers, none-the less), and work have bound us together so that we’re more than just sisters.

We truly are friends of the closest kind.

I love you, Super Sis, and am blessed that God made us part of the same family.

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: , | 1 Comment »

Skeletons in the Closet?

Posted on January 10, 2012 by auburnchick

So, mentioning the Mr.’s oh-so-amazing memory recalled an incident that occurred a couple of months ago.

We were on our way to the Auburn game I blogged about here, and while driving through Eufaula, Alabama, the Mr. pointed to the Shorter Mansion, a fixture in this picturesque town, and turned to the kids and said, “Mama and I had a wedding shower in that house.”

I looked at him like he was nuts and said, “No we did not.”

He looked back at me and insisted that yes, we had gone.  He elaborated by saying that my friends had thrown us the shower.

“Dude,” I said.  “My friends did not have a shower for us there.  I would have remembered having a shower at the Shorter Mansion.”

Oh, but the Mr. held his ground and maintained that it was I who had the memory problem.

Seriously?

I reminded him that I had never known anyone who even lived in Eufaula.  All of my friends had hailed from a city in the opposite direction, way far away from Eufaula.

You should have seen the look on his face.

“Hmmm,” he said, bewilderment in his eyes.

To which I replied, “Exactly who was it you were with at this supposed ‘shower’ you attended?  A prior marriage?  I guess someone has a skeleton in his closet.”

heehee

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: , , , | 5 Comments »

Ringing Out 2011 With the Hodgepodge

Posted on December 28, 2011 by auburnchick

It’s hard to believe that this is the last Hodgepodge for 2011!  Thanks, Joyce, for a great year.  I’m looking forward to what you have in store for us in 2012!

1.  Share something you loved about your Christmas Day.

I loved watching the childlike joy that emanated from each person’s face, regardless of age, at the opening of each gift.  I think that gift opening strips from us the pretenses that age and experience can bring with them.  Instead, there’s anticipation of what lies beneath the ribbon and wraps.

2.  You get to put five items in a time capsule to be opened in 100 years, what items would you choose and why?

Knitting Needles – To show that knitting was WAY COOL even in 2011
Sock Yarn – To show that yarn was WAY COOL even in 2011
Educational Psychology Book – To highlight how much educators “thought” they knew in 2011 (things are always changing, don’t you know)
A Smartphone – To show how archaic we were in 2011 as, I’m sure, technology will be out of this world in 2111.
The Bible – To share the message of Jesus, God’s Son, and to demonstrate that God never changes, no matter how much time passes.

3.  What do you like on a cracker?

Hmmm…I don’t eat crackers very often anymore.  I guess I’d have to say that I like to eat them with hummus, which is a vegan-friendly dip.

4.  Do you make resolutions at the start of a new year? How’d that work out for you this past year?

I’m not so good at making resolutions.  I typically forget about them.  I’ve got no idea if I made any for 2011.  I guess I could go back and see if I blogged about anything, but I’m feeling lazy.  I’m not going to make any for 2012 because I know I probably won’t be able to keep them.  I am going to strive to find some balance in my life, but I fear that will not come to fruition with teaching and upcoming reading endorsement certification classes (ten of them…oh joy).

5.  What’s a song or song lyric you’ll associate with 2011?

I love the song, Firework, by Katy Perry.  It’s what I danced to when I got the final approval on my last EPI (teaching certification program) assignment and was, after six months, finished.  Thus ended a very stressful half year, and I’ll never, ever forget the release of joy as I danced my way through that song, on the Wii, several times, alone in my house, tears streaming down my face.

6.  How will you ring in the new year?

I’ll probably be knitting and chatting online with KnittingHelp knitters.  Yes, I am a party animal.  Be jealous.

7.  What is something you look forward to in 2012?

I am looking forward to summer vacation, which will begin early in June.  That will mean that I survived my first year as a teacher in the public school system, and I’ll probably be 1/3 of the way through with my reading endorsement certification program.  I plan on sleeping through the first month of vacation.

Sad, eh?  LOL

8.  My Random Thought

Many of you have grown or nearly grown children and, thus, can identify with me when I say that it’s so wonderful to have both of my kids at home during the holiday.  After we got home from visiting the Mr.’s parents and my sister and her family, Chicky got a wild hair and decided to redecorate her room…a room that she doesn’t really spend much time in since she’s in college now.

First, we bought her a new comforter and sheets.

Then, she got Rooster to help her move the furniture around.

Her room went from looking like this…

To this…

One of her college friends is coming to visit for a few days, and I suspect that she wanted to de-kidify her room a bit, if that makes sense.

The sounds of discussion and laughter as she and Rooster moved things around made my heart swell with joy.

We have had an incredible Christmas.  Life with two nearly grown children is so much easier.  We all communicate well with each other.  Our laughter is based on years of shared memories that others outside of the family just wouldn’t get.

One of the questions above asked what we were looking forward to in 2012.  One of the things I’m dreading is Rooster leaving for college, and some of the laughter leaving with him.

Holidays will become even more important as the years go by.  This year gave me a glimpse into the future.

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: , , , , | 7 Comments »

Christmas Celebrations – Continued

Posted on December 23, 2011 by auburnchick

Like most families, we celebrate Christmas…several times over.

Our second celebration took place in Small Town, Alabama, where the Mr.’s grandmother, Mama Dot, lives.  She’s a sprightly 96 year old who seemed to take great pleasure from our visit.

The Mr. had picked out this pair of earrings for her…

Chicky helped her put them on…

She seemed to like them and looked quite sporty with them on…

After spending a few hours with her, we headed back to Bigger City, Florida, and landed at the Mr.’s parents’ house, where they had prepared dinner for us.  Super Sis, Super D, and their children were there.

We pulled out the game that Chicky and Rooster had gotten for Christmas…

It’s called “Logo,” and it’s quite fun.  There are tons of questions about various types of logos.  It took a long time to play, and we finally had to call it quits.  I took the above picture so we could continue the game later.

Today (Friday), it was time for celebration #3…the one with my mom.

Last year’s get together had been a disaster, but Mom and I have recently started the hard work of repairing our relationship.

Today’s shindig was much merrier.

Super Sis always hosts, and she had prepared another great table of food…

Her decorations were lovely as well…

No tree would be complete without an Auburn ornament…or two…or three…

Rooster and Music Man (my nephew) distributed the gifts…

Some gifts were handled carefully…

I sat in anticipation as I waited for Mom to open her present.  I’d finally gotten in the Christmas spirit on Tuesday afternoon as I let the stress of work drain away.  I’d purchased this Ashton Nichole piece…

The company is owned by a local gal whose daughter is Rooster’s age and attends a local high school.  Her jewelry is GORGEOUS…made out of the ever popular Swarovski crystals.  Everything comes with a lifetime guarantee.

The blue stones are similar to Mom’s birthstone…sapphire.  Mom seemed quite pleased and proudly put it on…

Mom had surprises for us.

Super Sis and I got Christmas sweaters…

Here’s a closeup of my sweater…

Even Gracie, Super Sis’s sweet dog, got a gift…

All-in-all, it was a very good day.

That is until Coupon Queen had to go to the emergency room.

Please say a prayer for her.  She’s been feeling unwell for the last few days, and so far, the tests that have been run are inconclusive.  It stinks to be sick.  It’s even worse when it’s during the holidays.

Let’s pray that she’s feeling well enough to come home tomorrow (Christmas Eve) so we can celebrate Christmas with everyone present.

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Dinner for Four

Posted on April 30, 2010 by auburnchick

A rare sight these days is that of the four members of my family sitting at the dinner table together, at the same time, eating the same food.

Such an event happened last night, and I almost cried as I saw it unfolding.

I am not very good at planning dinner.

Oh, I sometimes remember to pull meat from the freezer, but actually getting it cooked, with starches and veggies is like a Halley’s Comet sighting.

Bad, I know, but true.

So yesterday, I actually had the foresight of:

1) Buying the meat ahead of time
2) Keeping it in the fridge the night before in preparation for dinner.
3) Researching recipes the night before.
4) Putting everything in the crockpot early enough to get stuff cooked.
5) Watching items on the stove so nothing burned and everything got done at the same time.
6) Setting the table, all by my lonesome self, and even filling glasses with ice.

Now, when we eat dinner together, someone usually winds up getting mad, for whatever reason.

Sometimes, because I’m not that great of a cook, something will be said about dinner, and I, wearing my feelings on my sleeve (guess I am a feeler after all – see Random Dozen post from this week), I either get upset or mad.

But all of the planets must have aligned, because everyone was…

Hold your breath now…

HAPPY.

There.  I said it.

And, the kids actually…

Hold your breath now…

Started telling us about their day…

Without being prompted.

I KNOW!!!

I could hardly believe it, but I dared not draw attention to this mini-miracle in fear that it would dissipate as quickly as my paycheck every other Friday!

I dare say that our conversation resembled…

Hold on to your hats…

Adult conversation.

I KNOW!!!!

And you know the kind of sad thing?

This happened just a few months before the Party of Four turns into a Party of Three, when Chicky leaves for college.

It’s yet another memory I’ll tuck away.  What might seem like an ordinary evening for some truly became a special moment for me.

Filed under: children | Tagged: , , | 4 Comments »

Reunion

Posted on November 18, 2009 by auburnchick

When your child plays competitive soccer, you become a part of a very small, close-knit community.

After being a part of this “family” for a number of years, you begin running into soccer people everywhere!

The best part about this family is watching the kids grow up.  It’s also the hardest part because, as they get older, you have to let them go.

Not only do you say goodbye when the kids leave for college, but you bid adios to the parents as well.  These are the people you’ve shared rides to practices and tournaments with…people who have talked you through confusing, isolated roads to find soccer fields in remote areas.  These are the people you eaten soggy bagels at 6am in dark, quiet hotel lobbies with.  These are people you’ve shared late-night, after-the-game pasta dinners with.  And these are the people you shivered through the cold and rain and sweated through the heat of summer with.

Lots of memories are forged when you share tense moments on the field, the concern of injuries, and the joy of victories with.  Strong bonds result…which distance and time cannot break.

Tonight we were thrilled when Chicky’s best friend’s parents went out of their way to attend her game.  Chicky’s friend, the Marvelous Miss M, started college in August, so we haven’t seen this family since early last summer.

It was a joyous reunion as the Mr. and I caught up with them during the game.  Chicky was in for a treat.

After the game, Chicky met up with Mr. B, both sporting huge smiles.

And then Chicky spied Ms. J standing across the field.

They ran into each other’s arms, overcome with happiness…

You know me.  I’m emotional.  I’m sitting here with tears in my eyes even as I type this.

I get close to people, and my heart is warmed when I witness Chicky express her own love for others who have touched her life.

Filed under: children, soccer | Tagged: , , , | Leave a comment »

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