Although I am a great lover of St. Patricks Day as soon as Valentines Day is over the stores are stocked with Easter Candy. My favorite being the Leaf Robin Eggs. I really prefer the full sized ones to the mini version but I couldn't find a picture of the full sized one. I love-love-love these things. Thank God they only come out at Easter. I have a bag in my drawer right now, half gone. Okay 3/4 gone. I only like the Leaf brand (maker of Whoppers Malt Balls). I don't like the "off-brand" pastel ones and don't try to fool me, cos' I can tell! I really can! My other Easter love is Marshmallow Peeps. I am even a card-carrying member of the Peeps Fan Club. I like to open a pack and let them sit for about two weeks until they get firm, not brick hard just slightly stale and THEN, only then do I eat them. It doesn't work if you try to cheat and put them in the refrigerator to speed up the stale process either. Strange quirkiness cannot be rushed.

Yep this is my Valentines Mantel I am a self-confessed Holiday freak. I love to decorate. I love to dress to celebrate the holidays, I buy my animals holiday items. I dress my child in holiday clothing. I make goodie bags for my co-workers, I would make my husband wear holiday themed underwear except he puts his foot down at that. Has to do it somewhere LOL
I dont' know. I can remember when I was a child of course I never paid attention to a calender but I would walk in from school and Mom would have the house transformed with spooky Halloween decor, or beautiful fall leaves,turkeys,scarecrows, or a winter wonderland of christmas decorations or pink & red & hearts everywhere or easter bunnies/chicks/flowers. I would always get SO excited. I guess you could say I get it honestly! I plan on going all out for Madison also. I want her to have the same kind of memories that I have and love the holidays as much as I do. This morning I dressed her in red tights, a red/pink dress decorated with hearts and the word LOVE embroidered on the chest and little black boots with pink hearts on them. I am wearing black boots, pink trousers and a pink michael simon tunic trimmed in zebra with a zebra print heart on the front. Sassy! ;) Oh and I was presented with a beautiful box of Godiva Chocolates this a.m. Happy Happy Valentines Day to all of my friends/visitors!

Well I did take some pics and hopefully will be able to post them soon. I have been visiting around to other blogs but have been busy with work and just getting a chance to post. Our week-end was wonderful. The King George IV Inn was just lovely and very soothing. The bed was heavenly. Stacy had to boost me up to get in it (i'm short) so we had a giggle over that!
There was a huge Victorian Dollhouse in our sitting room that Stacy was enchanted by. He is now inspired to build one in the future for Madison. I say "Good luck i'll stay out of the way on that endeavor".
The Inn has it's own on-site mascot named Queen Victoria who was quite the charming kitty. I of course pampered and made much of her every time our paths crossed. We had a delightful southern breakfast every morning with scrambled eggs, grits, sausage on Sat. & bacon on Sunday, toasted fruit breads,Waffles and Earl Grey Tea. There was also complimentary cookies & benne wafers all day/evening long which we partook Saturday night. We walked all over Charleston and enjoyed the old Slave Market. I laughed at Stacy in the Gucci boutique goggling over the price of a pair of Maddie sized loafers $238. I saw him stealthily sneak into Godiva so i'm looking forward to some nice chocolate tomorrow on Valentines Day. I of course bought some souveniers but also got some good buys in Talbots Petites & JCrew and some funky little boutiques. We hit some of the culinary highlights of Charleston. Friday night we ate at Hyman's Seafood and got there "right" before it got busy cos' there was a line three deep when we left. Stacy had boiled shrimp & steamed oysters, I had a cup of she-crab soup and a shrimp scampi appetizer. Heavenly. Saturday we at lunch at Poogans Porch on Queen Street I bought a t-shirt w/ poogan on it and also the Cats Meow Poogan's Porch house that shows Poogan on the porch and the black cat on the porch railing It is the only Cats Meow figure with another animal in it besides the requisite black cat. I will put it with my collection of Sheila Houses that grace my mantel. Anyway at Poogan's we both had fried catfish (gave mine to Stac), fried Oysters & fried shrimp all very lightly breaded & fried to perfection, accompanied by red rice, collards & fresh biscuits. Yummy. For dinner Saturday night we went to the Mellow Mushroom for pizza. I am somewhat of a pizza conniseur but this one would make yo' tongue slap yo' brains out! It had a nice light garlic/olive oil base, steak, portobello mushroooms, artichoke hearts, black olives, feta cheese & fresh mozzarella. And did I mention this was one HUGE pizza. We took the leftovers back to the room (there was nicely appointed little fridge in the far corner which we stocked with beer & leftover pizza) and we ate the rest of it last night at home. Still delicious. Man. I love me some good pizza! Sunday we went 'round the Market one more time buying a few more things and had dinner at A.W. Shucks. Stacy again had boiled shrimp & steamed oysters (his fave) and I had a cassoulet consisting of lump crab, scallops, shrimp & cheese. Very good. I also got a goofy t-shirt that reads "Big Mussels, Long Legs & Tasty Tails"
Anyway a good week-end was had by both of us. We did some relaxin & lovin - something we have needed for quite a while. I'm thinking of surprising him in a few months with another week-end at a B&B this time in Wilmington,NC at the Beach. Pics should be posted soon, I promise, I might have to get a FlickR account or something. I'll surely be glad when I have access to a computer at home again.

This is where we are staying in Charleston. It is the Peter Frenault house that was built in the 1700's. I know we will be on the second floor, which I like. I am not one to stay on first floor anything. I hope the tub is neat, i'm thinking clawfoot. Anyway I will post about our visit on Monday and hopefully maybe even have some pictures. I bought a new digi cam a two weeks ago but will probably have to rely on my sister or brother to scan or download the photos as my home computer is packed away at the old house. Hope everyone has a wonderful week-end!

1. Full name: Patricia Lee
2. Were you named after anyone? No my sister Kathy named me.
3. Do you wish on stars? Yes every time
4. When did you last cry? When my FIL died, at the funeral 12-18-05
5. Do you like your handwriting? Yes it's kind of loopy
6. What is your birth date? 10-16
7. What is your most embarrassing CD? None I stand by all of my musical selections even New Kids on the Block
8. If you were another person, would YOU be friends with you? Yes
9. Do you have a journal? Yes this blog
10. Do you use sarcasm a lot? Um, Yeah. a LOT
11. What is your nickname? PattiCake & Lil' Mom
12. Would you bungee jump? No Way but i've been hang gliding
13. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Yes always
14. Do you think you are strong? No, not really but i'm resourceful as hell
15. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Chubby Hubby
16. Shoe Size? 7
17. What is your least favorite thing about yourself: My stomach
18. Who do you miss most? My grandparents & deceased pets
19. Do you want everyone you send this to, to send it back to you? I'm not sending it
20. What color pants and shoes are you wearing? Pale Pink Khakis, Silver Ballet Flats
21. What are you listening to right now? My co-workers yakking away
22 Last thing you ate: Crab & corn chowder
23 If you were a crayon, what color would you be? hot pink baby, hot pink
24. What is the weather like right now? Cold it was sleeting at lunch
25. Last person you talked to on the phone? SC tax service
26. Do you like the person who sent this to you? No one sent it to me i'm a list whore who stole it from another blog (a link of Fish on a Bicycle)
27. Favorite Drink? Diet Sunkist or Diet cherry vanilla Dr. Pepper
28. Favorite Sport? Football or Circle Track Racing
29. Hair Color? Dark Brown
30. Eye Color? Brown
31. Do you wear contacts? No 20/20 vision
32. Favorite Food? Seafood or japanese
33. Last Movie You Watched? At the theater The Excorcism of Emily Rose
34. Favorite Day Of The Year? Halloween!
35. Scary Movies Or Happy Endings? Scary Movies
36. Summer Or Winter? Summer but actually I prefer Fall
37. Hugs OR Kisses? Hugs
38. What Is Your Favorite Dessert? Cake
39. Who Is Most Likely To Respond? Surprise me!
40. Who Is Least Likely To Respond????
41. Who is in your family? I have a husband and a daughter
42. What Books Are You Reading? Mary, Mary by James Patterson
43. What's On Your Mouse Pad? Brett Favre
44. What's the last thing you watched on tv? The Super Bowl
45. Favorite Sounds? My baby Madison laughing
46. Rolling Stones or Beatles? Beatles
47. What's the furthest you've been from home? I guess Chicago, IL
48. Do you have a special talent? Hmmm maybe it should stay a secret :)
49. What is your cell ring tone? In Da Club
50. Best one sentence advice? Think First

This is my husband, Stacy, he has been racing since he was 15 years old. He has won many races, had many crashes, flipped the car , gotten in fist fights in the pits and just about caused all of the grey hairs on his poor wifes head (hah just kidding me & my hair stylist see to that).
Growing up my Dad & brother were always race fans and my Dad and his father used to race and I HATED it.
Once I married a man who was into it also I just said the hell with it and gave in. Now I love it.
I don't exactly worry about him getting hurt. He is a very good driver and the car is made to be as safe as it possibly can be.
Okay I do worry a little bit. I love it when he is in the back, moving up throught the pack, coming to the front.
What I can't stand is when he has the pole or is leading. I pace. and pace. and pace. I climb up on top of the hauler. I get back down. It is just excruciating.
I plan on letting Madison race if she wants to.
We have talked about it and she probably will given that she cries when we lift her out of the race car and she is only a year old.
Why am I writing about racing today? I don't really know except that my Dad asked me last night, "Y'all racing this year".
My reply "Is he breathing? Is the sky blue?" Hah i'm really funny like that - NOT.

Ahhh... memories..of the way...we were. I grew up in a mid-sized city in North Central Pennsylvania. Williamsport,PA home of the Little League World Series. When I was born we lived in East End (where my Dad was born & raised it is very ethnic, italian,irish,polish) but when I was 3 we moved up to Newberry (much more affluent neighborhood) and I LOVED that house on Diamond Street. In fact I still wish somehow, some day that I could buy that house and stay in it part time. I still dream about that house. I don't know why exactly. It was an old Victorian built in the 1800's with a huge attic & basement and a "summer kitchen". For those of you who do not know what a summer kitchen is, it is an adjacent room where huge blocks of ice were loaded from wagons and the perishable foodstuffs were stored there and also the cooking was done there and if there was a fire the rest of the house was not in as much jeapordy. Inside the house was a regular kitchen, pantry, diningroom, livingroom, tv room & sewing room. Upstairs was four bedrooms and one huge bathroom with a big clawfoot tub. The doors locked with big ornate skeleton keys. Oh it was a great house for hide n' seek! My parents sold if when they moved down South. I don't even want to know the price because i'm sure it's less than what I paid for my last car. I had a really happy childhood. Things seem so innocent from back then. I can only hope Madison has at least half as good a childhood as I had. Here is a picture of me & my sister Bonnie playing in the side yard can you guess which one is me?

This is the strongest man i've ever known. My father in law Robert Leroy Tindal who died December 15,2005 leaving behind a very devastated family who loved him very very much.
Rob was diagnosed with stage 3 bone cancer in March of 2002 and it really took it's toll on him.
He lost so much weight and was in constant pain, moreso according to his hospice nurses than we could ever imagine.
And I never heard him complain.
Never.
Not once.
He died at home and he seemed very peaceful for which i'm very grateful.
He was overjoyed when Stacy and I had our baby girl Madison in October 2004, her "Pa" loved her very very much.
He went to bed at 7pm the night before in order to rest up enough to make it to her first birthday party in October 2005 despite being in such a weakened state that he could barely walk.
He loved that little girl so much (his Princess) and I am so very happy that he got to see her and spend as much time as he did with her.
We had lots of pictures and will always help her remember her Pa who was so special in so many ways.
Thanks for the memories Pa, may you rest in peace.
I love you.

Okay I knew this would happen. Now 'ive caught the BLOG fever!
I guess just in case I do get any visitors I will tell you a little bit about myself. I am happily married and the mother of a 15 month old girl named Madison who is my heart.
It took us 10 years to have Maddie so pardon me if I seem to dote on her a bit much in the future.
I am trying hard not to raise a spoiled,self-centered, entitled little monster but it's hard not to indulge her in every way.
She is just so CUTE but already very, um, strong willed.
She will look at me, shake her little finger and say STOP.
I tell her "Don't tell me to stop young lady".
her to me: *shakes finger* "Stop!" at that point I walk away so she won't see me laughing.
I want so much to raise a little girl who is loving, giving, smart, funny, kind, open-minded and self-confident.
I guess that is what every parent wants.
Enough about Madison.
Stacy and I were married in October 1994 .
He is a good husband, he is very funny and sweet and does his best to help out around the house and takes wonderful care of Madison.
Compared to alot of other women I am damn lucky.
I have a man that worships the ground I walk on, still thinks I am sexier than a playboy centerfold after almost 12 years of marriage and loves and dotes on his daughter.
It's funny though we are so different.
I was born in Pennsylvania. A "mouthy" yankee if you will.
He is a slow-talking (though by NO means stupid) southern boy born in the lowcountry of South Carolina (near Charleston).
Maybe we complement each other, bring out each others "different" side.
Anyway it seems to work for us. I look at Madison and wonder which of our traits she will inherit. I hope and pray she inherits my love of reading and her Daddy's crazy sense of humor. We'll see.