Old Tables Never Die - They Just Get Carried Away

When we were getting ready to leave the boat and move to Charleston Christie knew we had no "stuff" - no furniture or things that fill a home. She was in the habit of walking the neighborhood each day and found us some treasures. Plastic patio chairs that still worked, 2 great dining room arm chairs that we still use at our desk and the best was a coffee table. We didn't have a sofa but by golly, we had a coffee table when we got here and began to set up housekeeping.

I would look and look for a new coffee table but could never find what I wanted. Recently Ethan Allen moved to Mount Pleasant and there was my coffee table. After 2 and a half years I was finally getting rid of the trash coffee table.

On Monday the new table was delivered and on Tuesday the old one went out on the street for the trash pick-up. I smiled to myself as I arrived home from work and saw it sitting there where Kirby had put it out for the trash men. It had served us well. You could put your feet on it, sit on it and you didn't have to even use a coaster. If I had liked the looks, it would have been perfect.

After dinner we gathered coats and hats to go to Casey's soccer game. We walked out the door and couldn't believe our eyes. The old wonderful but ugly table was gone. It went on to a new life. Someone had passed by and just couldn't resist that great old table sitting at the curb. We were cracking up. If only the table could talk! What an interesting life it is having!


And here is the new table.


Addendum - We know where the table went. More to follow!

Chili Cook-Off

Always Third Place and never Grand Prize Winner! In 2000 Kirby, some friends and I planned and organized the first Chili Cook-Off at Paradise Village in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Ten years later it is still going strong! Our chili was called "Ta-Kill-Ya Chili" and had a bottle of Tequila in it. We won 3rd place! This week at work, I helped to organize our first chili cook-off in a few years and guess what? Kirby and I won! Third place again!

Actually Kirby won because while I worked, he made the winning Chili! It is called "Ma's Chili" and really is a winner. (we didn't use tequila this time.....we are in South Carolina and this was at work!)
This was 2000 in Paradise Marina. Dale, Kirby and Luigi. We had so much fun. We had beans in a container and our guests got to guess the number of beans. The winner received - you got it - a bottle of Tequila!
Here is the complete team after winning. Suzie, Kirby, Dale, Kathlee and our very own - Luigi!! (he is a spaghetti western here - an Italian in cowboy clothes!)

I just love a good Chili Cook-Off!

Grand Canyon

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I was going through some old photos this morning and came across this one. It is one of my all time favorites.

We were traveling from California to Maryland to begin our search for a sailboat. Neither one of us had ever been to the Grand Canyon (amazing - at our ages that neither of us had!) so we spent some time there and of course just loved it. It is such an awesome place and if you haven't been, you need to do it. I really wish we had been younger and had the energy to hike it.

These lovely animals just stood there staring at us and I think mostly they were interested in our dog, Holly. I was able to just keep getting closer and closer taking pictures until I got this really good one.

Puzzles Increase Brainpower!

I just found the coolest thing. If this works, you can solve some of my picture puzzles when I post them right here. Let's see if this works! Click on the little arrow in the picture of the swamps and you will be directed to Jigzone. You can then select the number of pieces you want to work with. Give it a try! Puzzles are fun!

Try the 67 piece classic and try to beat my score!

More Promises

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Here are more promises that spring really will come and we will have warm again. (What a very long winter this has been. ) I do prefer the cherry blossoms but these buds are from my own street so I feel more confident. I have to admit though, that these poor little buds are pretty weak but maybe by next week they will be stronger. Poor little things think it is time for warm....just like the rest of us.

Soccer Game

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Grandson No. 2 is playing soccer at Wando High School this year and I am enjoying having the games so near. He has played club soccer for years and traveled all over the place from North Carolina to Florida for his games which makes it hard for working grandmas. Today the game was right here in Mount Pleasant at Patriot's Point. They won the game but I can't remember the score exactly - I think it was 5 - 0!! They were tied at zero for most of the game and then it was one goal after another. And I only took 130 pictures. It was the first time at a soccer game with my new camera and I am very pleased. I would have enjoyed a better zoom but it did just fine the way it is.

And isn't he gorgeous? (No, I am not prejudiced - I am the grandma!)

*** Update - Sunday noon - they played 5 games in the tournament and took it all! Yea! Go Wando!

Cherry Blossom Promise

Today after work I went to a funeral. The wind was blowing and it was really cold. I was kind of depressed because of where I had to be. Pat, a good friend from work, lost her husband this week after a difficult battle with cancer. (Pat's daughter works with us too and she was my first friend at SRC) Bob was 64 years old (just one year older than me) and last year at this time he was in perfect health - no high blood pressure, no high cholesterol - everything was good and then those bumps appeared. You just never know.

So when I arrived at the funeral home in the cold of winter, I was delighted to see the most beautiful cherry blossoms I have ever seen. OK, maybe not the most beautiful ever but they meant more to me than ever before. They were like God's promise of a brighter (and warmer) tomorrow.

Dandelion Wine

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When Kirby was at Aunt Vera's cleaning out her apartment he came across this old picture and recipe for Dandelion Wine and decided to bring it home to me. I love it. If someone out there wants to feel like an old hippy and decides to make this, please let me know how it turns out. I don't ever want to have 2 1/2 quarts of dandelions in my yard!

• 2 1/2 Quarts dandelion flowers
• 4 Quarts hot water
• 4 Lemons, sliced
• 2 Oranges, sliced
• 3 Lbs sugar
• 2 T. granulated yeast

1. Remove stems from flowers. Place in crock, pour hot water over flowers and let stand for 3 days.
2. Strain. Dissolve yeast in small amount of cold water.
3. Add dandelion water, yeast solution, lemons, oranges and sugar.
4. Cover crock & set in cool, dark place.
5. Wine is ready to decant when you hear it working; in about 3 weeks.
6. Strain before decanting.
7. Makes 4 Quarts

Golden Torches

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I have been wanting this picture for the longest time. So many times I have driven into the parking lot at work and seen this golden sight and wished I had my camera. Today I did! There is a paper mill very near us sitting on the Cooper River and I pass it every day when I go over the bridge. If my timing is just right with sunrise and the air is clear, this is what I see. It looks like flaming torches doesn't it? But it is just the sun rising over the ocean and peaking out behind the rising plumes of steam. If we ever have spring the trees will fill with leaves and this golden sight will go away. It just isn't the same with the green leaves. At least there are some good things about the cold of winter!

Snow in South Carolina

Not Natural and Not Right!