Q and A part 1

Q: I want to know more about your dog. What's his name (I know you've told us before)? How old is he? Have you had him since he was a puppy? Is he "part of the family" or "just a pet?"

A: When people ask if I have children, I say yes. One son. His name is Butch #3. I got to name him. I woke him up to take this picture.

His birthday is January 21, 2002. My husband got him when we were just dating, and he was about six weeks old and very small.

When I was little, I had two other dogs, both named Butch.

For the first few years of his life, he was a "Daddy's boy". He did not really like me.

He really liked the woman next door. He thought she was his mother. Here he is sleeping in the clean clothes.

But then, after we got married, he slowly warmed up to me, mostly because I take him for walks and then let him sleep in bed at night. Now, he loves me.

Before we moved into the new house last year, he was an outside dog, who just came in to visit.

We had to keep him inside for a few months while building a fence and he liked it so much he refused to go live outside again.

We tried to make him stay outside, but then gave up. He might be a little spoiled.

He is a Britney Spaniel, cousin to the Cocker Spaniel. He is a hunting dog, a "pointer", and very fast. I know thats hard to believe.

Sometimes when you let him out the door, he takes off like a flash. He loves to run to the river behind our house. He also loves to lay around.

He is a really good gaurd dog. Knock on the door and he will bark up a storm.

He follows me all over the house and makes a sad face when I leave him to go to work. Even watches the car from the window.


Q: Why is blog named "40 shades of Pink"

A: I wish I had some snappy little answer.... but the truth is I read that phrase in a magazine describing a china collection and it just struck me. I dont have an unusual amount of pink in my house or garden.

Q: Have you ever considered catering business?

A: No. Not willing to jump through the hoops required of licenses, tax issues, requirements of a commericial kitchen, and the bottom line is.... I dont really cook that well, just like to do it.

Q: Why dont we see more pictures on your blog?

A: Remember when my computer caught on fire? I never got another one... just tried to fix the one I had and make do. Sometimes the computer lets me put pictures up and sometimes it does not. Its hit or miss.

While we were all busy watching the award show last night.... The White House was busy hosting a party for the Governors. Look here for all the details, including menu, centerpiece, china and crystal.

And, because all three of you have asked repeatedly... I will now open the comments for questions and will actually answer them in a later post. Anything you wanted to ask me? Now is your chance.

Look! Some plants I haven't killed (yet)

When I get home, I am lingering a little before going in....

It smells really good at my house....

The Star Jasmine near the kitchen door just starting to bloom. I am ashamed to say I almost chopped it down recently. It just sat there so long doing nothing. But now, blooms:

I had forgotten about the Carolina Jasmine I planted, but now it is running along the trellis and blooming:

Chapter 2: How is your attitude?

Now just wait a minute.... before you start going on and on to yourself about how there is nothing wrong with your attitude, you have a great attitude, people tell you all the time how calm and sweet you are and this Chapter is just not for you...

Stop right there.

What were you thinking when you first opened your eyes this morning, and when all the hot water was used before you got in the shower, and when you were stuck in traffic, late for work (again), or looked in the fridge and found nothing defrosted for dinner or just thought about having to make dinner?

Cindi Wood points out in Chapter 2 of The Frazzled Female Bible Study that Women can typically go through the major things in life but its usually the accumulation of the smaller daily hassle that robs us of our joy and sneaks us on us giving us a bad attitude

Now.... how's your attitude? No, really.

How is your attitude?

So what! I can hear you saying now! I may have a little bit of a bad attitude... but I keep it to myself. I put my best foot forward in public. My bad attitude doesn't affect anyone but me!

Wrong! We may think we can hide the attitude pretty well, but really, we are always affecting others. Who is your bad attitude affecting?

children?

co-workers?

Husbands?

Neighbors?

The clerk at the grocery store?

People who we would never think is watching us?

Our witness to others?

OURSELVES? Because we are constantly talking to ourselves in our own mind... even if we try to hide it in front of others. Our bad attitude still affects us.

What does God have to say about our bad attitude?

Read Philippians 4:8

What is True?

Honorable?

Just?

Pure?

Lovely?

Commendable?

More excellent?

Praise worthy?

Does that describe what you think about? Does it decribe your attitude?

Having negative attitude keeps you focused on yourself and unproductive in every area - which is exactly what the devil wants- you to be unproductive in all areas

How do we have a positive attitude and focus on what God is telling us to focus on? GOD’S power. But we have to choose to tap into his power.

How do we tap into God’s power? In a nut shell, by choosing to sit at his feet.

Next week: Chapter 3: I dont have enough time! (maybe my favorite chapter...) Homework is: Think of your best time saving tip to share with us in the comment section... I'll get you started by saying that one of my best time saving tips is using a crockpot and coming home to dinner already cooked.

Remember when I said the Master Shower had a leak and had to be replaced?

I dont think you got the whole picture of exactly what I meant. This is my shower for the past two months, in the middle of being replaced:





Frazzled Female Bible Study: Notes on Chapter 2 coming soon.....

Sounds like a great reason for a Party

Did you know that today is President Lincoln's Bicentennial Birthday?

Did you know that there are all kinds of parties planned to celebrate?

Want to know what they'll be serving at Lincoln's Birthday bash this evening?

So do I!

Look here

... and since you are there.... follow a link to an article about Mary Todd Lincoln and her famous cake recipe.

Its all about me....me.... me....me....me

I was tagged to give 8 random facts about me:

1. My real name is..... Bobbie.
Not Barbara, Roberta, Robin or any other formal name that Bobbie is a nickname for. No one believes me. People asks me... your full name? (It's Bobbie) No, your real name? (It's Bobbie) No, I mean your given name.... (Bobbie)... NO! The name on your birth certificate....... (it's still Bobbie).

2. I am a foodie.

3. I won my husband over to brussel sprouts and he won me over to dark roast coffee.

4. I like going to the movies alone in the middle of the day.

5. It happens very rarely, but I really enjoy a good grocery shopping trip. I like a clean store, with wide aisles, and one that is not too busy, and has soft music playing on the speaker system, with all the time and energy in the world to leisurely stroll through each aisle, looking at the new things, planning meals in my head...... Believe me, this does not happen much.

6. I really like monograms and have them everywhere.... beach towels, mats, trash cans, pillows, plates.

7. My heels are extremely thin and narrow which makes shoe shopping very difficult, and owning a vast number of shoes impossible.

8. I keep my car full of gas at almost all times. The gauge almost never sees the half a tank level.

and one more for a bonus.....

9. I am crazy for a good hotel, and it must have a good view and a great breakfast .... no cold cereal or danish.... I look for hot waffles and biscuits and gravy. Hampton Inn and Drury are my favorites.

A few things I've discovered lately. . . .

Frozen bananas taste just like ice cream- seriously. Cut a ripe banana into slices, arrange on single layer on cookie sheet and place in freezer for 45 minutes until frozen then transfer into Ziploc freezer bag. Cold and creamy.

If you grill a lot of fresh veggies at once, you eat veggies all week. Preheat oven to 450. Cut cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, sweet potatoes, asparagus, onions, eggplant, squash, etc... and arrange in single layer on cookie sheet with a drizzle of olive oil and salt and pepper- cook about 20 minutes or until tender and a little brown- I like them very brown and crunchy- let cool and keep in fridge. Re-heat for a quick dinner all week.

On Monday morning, bring fruit to work with you, sit them on your desk and stare at them all day. You'll eat more fruits.

Cut a cucumber very thin. Mix three tablespoons of non-fat sour cream with a heaping tablespoon of dry ranch dressing mix. Keep in fridge.

If you bring a bottle of water with you every time you are in the car, you will be surprised how much water you'll drink when you don't have anything else to do.

"Dessert" yogurt taste just like real dessert... like non fat Yoplait key lime pie or Yoplait non fat Boston cream pie.

McDonald's ice cream cone is only three points.... three points! For the whole thing! The cone too!!!!

Buy ripe fruit on sale, throw in freezer. Use to make breads, smoothies, or cakes.

Breakfast smoothie: Throw one of those frozen bananas in blender with one cup of low fat yogurt, a splash of milk and some frozen strawberries.