Sunday night

Doc said CT scan showed no bleeding from the scan they took when they first took her in. I left around lunch time and left the brother and sis in law in charge. Mom was in good spirits, ate some and was engaging in conversation. I talked to Jimmy this evening and apparently things were on an even keel the rest of the day.

I had a good cry on the way home (Mom is in Athens, about 50 miles from my house). I am not sure what the future holds, but I know that my life will not be what I have become accustomed to for the foreseeable (or should that be the unforeseeable) future. When I got back into town, I called the friend who was keeping the dogs for me, but she was going to be away from the house for a couple more hours.

I ran by Hancocks and bought the Cinderella dress pattern (will I have time to even tackle that before Halloween?) When I got home, I just collapsed on the couch and fell asleep. The phone woke me up - Nancy was bringing my dogs back to me.

I've had a double dose of corgi therapy this evening. We've snuggled, frapped and shared a bowl of popcorn. Just what the doctor ordered.

Sunday Morning

So far things look a little better this morning than they did last night. Yesterday was a real trial. I managed to piss off the entire day nursing staff and finally had to break down in tears to get some help. Too much to go into here.

Mom was less with it as the day went on - I guess the result of no food or water until after 6pm and probably some swelling in her brain. She was talking out of her mind - sometimes it was pretty funny. "Janet, help me pick up all the fish.". "What fish, Mom?" "Those crappie are jumping right up on the bank.".

She slept pretty well and woke up very lucid this morning. The doc should be in shortly and we can get the results on the second CT scan. My brother and sis in law are coming in this morning.

Thanks for the well wishes. Keep sending happy thoughts and healing vibes our way.

Priorities Changed

My mom had a stroke during the night. She has impairment on the left side but can talk and knows what's going on. I knew she was still there when I got to the hospital and she looked at me and said, "I can't believe John McCain picked that woman for vice president."

Tying knots and a Hugh Grant Film Festival

I didn't tie a single knot yesterday, but I want to get this thing finished before I go back to work next Tuesday. I pulled out my DVDs this morning, an inordinate number of which star Hugh Grant - go figure. I watched Four Weddings and a Funeral this morning. What should be next? Love Actually? About a Boy? Notting Hill? Bridget Jones' Diary (the first one - not the awful second one)?

I thought about trying the instant movies on Netflix, but I gotta tell you, the selection is less than stellar. But I could keep with my English comedy thing and watch the original Office or Keeping Up Appearances.

I've got make a thread run to Hancocks. I'm thinking I might find that Cinderella dress pattern and hide one somewhere in the store so I can be sure to get it tomorrow when it goes on sale.

It was Yum!

I have been thoroughly enjoying my week off. I am turning into a hermit, tho. Yesterday, I ventured out (after the West Wing mini-marathon) to do some shopping. However, after a couple of stops and on the way to another, I realized that what I really wanted to do was return to my cocoon at home - so I did!

Last night, I thought I might take myself out for breakfast this morning for IHOP cornmeal pancakes, my favorite. Instead, I googled this morning and found a recipe that is FABULOUS. Here's the recipe:

3/4 cup cornmeal
3/4 cup plain flour
2 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
2 T sugar

Mix all the dry ingredients together, then add:

1 egg
1 cup milk
2 T melted butter

Mix up batter, pour on a hot griddle. Yum!

(btw, this reminds me - Scout's original name was YumYum. So glad I changed that.)

How I'm Spending my Staycation

I am enjoying a week at home. I had all kinds of grandiose projects - most of which are going by the wayside, but I am not being a complete slug. I even had thoughts of taking myself out for an afternoon movie, but so far I am just enjoying hanging out.

I was a slug on Monday, when I woke up with a headache and kept it all day long. So, I just took it easy. Spencer and I laid around, and mostly only got up to let Scout out, then let her in, then let her out, then let her in . . . .

Yesterday I ventured out and ran a few errands between rain showers. I dropped in Hancocks, because I had an idea about making Avery a princess dress for Halloween or just for playing dress-up. She is such a girly-girl, and at the ripe old age of 2 is already completely bitten by the Disney Princess bug. She knows every one of them by name and had memorized all of their stories. How cute is this:

Now I just have to wait for the Labor Day Sale to buy the pattern for $1.99.

Here's my current project. I am finishing a redecorating project I started five years ago in my guest bedroom. I had already covered the valance with the black toile, but didn't get any farther. My original plan was a duvet cover, black and white check on one side and white toile on the other. Now I have changed my mind and I am going to make a tied quilt. One side will have a center panel with the white toile and side panels of the checked. The other side will be the opposite. I am tieing with pink and green six strand embroidery thread.

The wild pink, green and black will be shams, and the I am going to attempt a rollup shade with the other white toile with black and white polka dots on the back. I saw some tied up shades at Pottery Barn and I am going to attempt to copy the pattern.

Here is where I am today. I have tied about a quarter of the quilt - it really goes pretty quick.

I have another idea about covering some bolster pillows with this check and doing a little cross stitch on them - maybe a cardigan silhouette.

My Blog Addiction

Hi, I'm Janet and I waste too much time every day reading other people's blogs.



Recently, I have really enjoyed poking around the net and reading blogs. I started out just checking in on folks I already knew - dog friends, family, and others. Mostly through links on these blogs, I began to venture out and find new favorites. It's a rare day that I don't check in on what's going on with Ree, Rechelle, and SueBob.



I particularly enjoy reading stories people share about their lives. I did not find this one until after the author and her husband were in a airplane crash a couple of weeks ago. I first read about the accident on Design Mom's blog, and since then have seen reference to it on several others.



This story has really touched me, not only because of the sadness of what has happened to this beautiful family, but by how strangers are reaching out to help them. Here is the link:

How could a judge resist this face?

Well, he resisted.

But I'm over it now, because this just happened at my house:

Bridesmaid Again

Scout showed well and got a good look but no cigars!
Laura

Another day at a dog show

Sent from Aunt Laura: We looked good but did not win.

Laura

Scout in Atlanta

Thanks for sending, Aunt Laura. Sorry she is sideways (Scout, that is, not Laura).

My New Toy

Earlier this year, I upgraded from a Razr to a Blackberry Pearl - my first smartphone. I was immediately hooked. Connected to email and the internet all the time, it truly was my crackberry.

Well, months have passed, and like any good addiction, the cravings grew, and nothing would suit me until I moved up to the Curve. So over the weekend, I got on eBay and wheeled and dealed until I made a bargain and bought a gently used one (I hope).

It came today and oh, life is good. This is my first post using it.

Spencer for President!

The numbers are bumming me out

5 weeks gone from home. 13 shows. 3 BOBs. 7 BOSs. 3 last chances next weekend. Likely against the #1 dog in wins this year handled by the handler who turns the "level playing field" into a mountain bike course. Let's ignore the numbers with dollar signs in front of them because then I feel rrrrreeeeeaaaaaallllly bad.

BOS today. I had been hopeful because this judge had given her BOB just back in early July. But it was not to be, and now I'm even more bummed because we see this judge again in less than week - she is the Friday judge in Atlanta.

But, I am happy that this time next week I will have my little butterbean back with me, and with doG as my witness, I will never send her out again.

Good News, Bad News

Not really bad news, but Cheryl says that Scout appears to have started blowing coat (who knew that would be a theme today?) That's at least a month and half sooner than I expected. Hopefully she will hold on to it for one more weekend.

The good news is that she was best of breed today. Herding Group is last - will update if there is more good news.

What is the world coming to? (spoken like a true old fogey)

I am here waiting to get a pedicure. Sitting at the nail dryer is an eleven year old girl drying her new acrylic nails, long and painted with whatever they call a french manicure with bright fushcia tips. In the immortal words of Michael Kors last week on Project Runway - "slutty slutty slutty." (Yes, I broke away from the Michael Phelps show long enough to watch PR.)

Her tatted-up granny paid for it. We can hope that this little one will be returned soon to parents with some sense.

Fur-fest

Has this been a particularly bad shedding summer for anybody besides Spencer? I think he sheds off another dog every week!

Spencer is a 24/7/365 shedder, unlike Scout, who just sheds when she is about a month away from going into season. I have been calling him Pigpen lately - everytime he gets up, he leaves a pool of shed fur around him.

I brush him, rake him, furminate him, bathe him, and it still doesn't stop. To look at him, you can't even tell that he is missing any coat. If Scout lost half this much, she would be completely nekkid! Why is it that the non-conformation dog is always in coat??

Speaking of bathing, I am so lucky hat Hot Dawg DIY Dogwash has opened literally right around the corner. It's great - elevated tubs, hydraulic tables, strong dryers - for $12 they provide the shampoo and towels and all that corgi hair goes down their drain and not mine. If anyone is coming to Chattanooga shows next month, you might want to think about bathing dogs there. They are open until 8:00 and if you check their website, they usually have coupons for free baths.

Happy Girl

I'm glad she's getting some time to run and play. She did not show last week, as Cheryl went to a show that was either just Brittanys or just sporting dogs - not sure which. But I do hear that Scout enjoyed the birds at the hunt test.

This weekend she shows in Fitchburg, MA. The breed judges both days (who are also the group judges on alternate days) have both given her BOB in the past, so we're keeping our fingers crossed.

After that, she heads back south to Atlanta. I will miss the Friday and Saturday shows as we are going to Memphis for Avery's birthday. I'm headed back this way right after the party, and will be in Atlanta on Sunday to see her show to Lester Mapes.

And then I will get my little red alarm clock back home with me! No more sleeping in for Spencer and me!

Somewhere in New Jersey

Cheryl is staying this week with friends, and the dogs have a big area to run and play.

Girl Moms Alert!

Grosgrain: Nantucket Weekend Shirt and Short GIVEAWAY!!!!

She makes cute girl clothes and gives them away!

I am an admitted Barbecue Snob

Born and raised in West Tennessee to parents born and raised in Mississippi, I have definite ideas about what is good barbecue.

Good barbecue comes in two forms - pork shoulder and pork ribs. Pork shoulder is probably my favorite, cooked long and slow over charcoal, pulled from the bone by hand, and never contaminated by a knife. Sauce is red-brown, not too sweet, not too vinegary, smoky, and always served on the side, never ever stirred up with the meat.

I like it piled high on a platter. If served as a sandwich, slaw is absolutely required as a topping. (When I first moved to Georgia, I dropped in a barbecue joint and ordered a pork sandwich. As I watched them prepare it, I noticed they were wrapping it up without putting slaw on it. When I stopped them and asked for slaw, you would have thought I asked them to pour chocolate syrup all over it by the look on their faces. Of course, after I took one bite of it, I realized Georgians have much bigger barbecue problems than just omitting slaw.)

I am not a complete traditionalist - I like pulled pork on baked potatoes and big salads as well. I love Coletta's barbecue pizza and barbecue spaghetti, and somewhere I even tried barbecue nachos.

When it comes to ribs, I generally prefer the dry ribs of my Memphis homeland, but I enjoy wet ribs as well. For the uninformed, dry ribs are prepared with a dry spice rub, but the ribs themselves are still very juicy. Again, sauce is on the side for dipping. I believe that Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous was the birthplace of the dry rib, and this is one of my favorite restaurants. Their cheese plate used to be a frequent workday lunch, but I digress . . .

Having settled in east Tennessee, I am happy that even east Tennessee barbecue is pretty close to what I was raised on, although I generally find I still prefer west Tennessee sauce. There's a little take-out place down the road from my house where they smoke their barbecue out back. I'll pick up some takeout there, but I'm not wild about their sauce. That's why I always keep a bottle of Corky's on hand. Corky's has also opened locations across the state, so I am never too far from good barbecue.

Sticky Fingers is another good source for Memphis style barbecue, and they even cater to those who like other styles, even that wacky Carolina mustard thing. Another favorite is Big Bob Gibson's in Decatur, AL, of all places. They have won the prestigious Memphis in May Barbecue contest repeatedly, as well as several other lesser contests. I have to admit, I even have come to really like their white sauce, but only on chicken, never pork.

I was inspired to write this after seeing this video on CNN today. It is a hoot.

It's done!

I wish I had a better camera. I'm happy with it - but who wants to take a bet on which family member will call it a dog bed first?

BTW - if you ever need a pillow form, check out this site. I ordered this pillow form there, and it was a great price (a quarter of the price of buying retail at Hancocks), shipping not so bad and very quick delivery.

It's a pillowtop

I have been enjoying having a weekend with nothing I have to do and haven't left the house. The pieced top for the pillow is finished now, so I guess I'll drag myself out and go buy some batting and backing.

The pieces are coming together...

Piecing while I watch the Opening Ceremonies tonight. I have never been a big fan of first part of the opening ceremonies, where the host country tries to tell its story through music, dancing et cetera - but this one tonight was amazing.

I'll be crying for the next 3 weeks . . .

That's what the Olympics to do me. It started this morning - the US women's gymnastics team was on the Today Show, and I teared up when they went down the line describing the good luck charms they brought with them.

Then they had a story on Lopez Lomong, the runner who will be the flag bearer and lead the US team in the opening cermonies. He is one of the "lost boys of Sudan" who fled the ethnic cleansing in Darfur. He was placed in foster care in the US, went on to run track in college and made the team running the 1500 meters. He recently became a citizen and by the time they showed him taking his oath of citizenship, I was bawling.

When they started the story of Dara Torres, the 41 year old swimmer in her 5th summer games, I finally had to turn it off so I could get myself together and get to work.

So, if you catch me being all verklempt over the next few weeks - nothing bad has happened, I have probably just o.d.'ed on medal ceremonies.

Getting crafty again

Avery turns 2 later this month, and what do you get the kid who has everything? I thought I would give her a magic carpet, a flying saucer and a landing pad. I got the idea last week to make her a big pillow - I think I would have liked this as a kid. And who knows - maybe in about 16 years she will take it off to college with her. I bought a jellyroll of Thimbleberries fabric on eBay to make piecing the top quick. I'll use a solid for the back and put a zipper in it so that the cover can come off and be laundered.

And once again, BOS

Here she is on her early morning walk today.

Baby Things

We've been hanging out with the Memphis family this weekend. Baby Dana is sleeping all day and partying all night (see how tired daddy Neil looks).

It takes all of us to chase big sister Avery around. I keep forgetting that she doesn't know all my dog commands, like "drop it" and "leave it."

BOS again and again and again

Scout just can't seem to make it to the top. Canfield is an outside show. It has been rainy there. So much so that they couldn't mow the rings, and Cheryl says Scout just won't move smoothly thru it - she tries to jump over it. I'm not surprised!

Cheryl's RV was sinking in the mud and had to be pulled out and moved Thursday night. Sounds like no fun at the dog show to me.

More Dog Art

A few weeks ago, our local children's museum was having a party for Clifford the big red dog. I really know anything about Clifford or why he deserved a party, but we went anyway because it was an opportunity to hang out on a Saturday morning, bob for hotdogs (Scout and I skipped that but Spencer made a pig of himself) and get a free drawing by a local artist. I kinda like it.

Scout is in Canfield, OH this weekend. Yesterday she was BOS. Cheryl said she showed well except for the fact that the grass in the ring was really high and Scout kept trying to jump over it. I'm not surprised - she has only shown on grass a couple of times and never under the conditions Cheryl describes.

I have not heard from her today, which I take as a sign that we didn't do anything.