We decided to take a trip to

Mcleod Farms

in Mcbee,SC (that's pronounced Mac-Bee ok?). After buying some fruits and vegetables including a pumpkin roll for yours truly Madison and Daddy sat down in the comfy rocking chairs out front to enjoy some ice cream!

Look at that sweet face peeking through the gorgeous Lantana ....

Mommy - can I just eat my ice cream in peace now???!!!

Even a shot of Mommy sitting on the porch. Of course, true to my I-Love-Lucy Life when I hopped down off the railing I ripped my favorite pair of hippie jeans on a nail. Yep right in the ol' behind! Now i'm in the market for a patch!

We stopped by Stacy's friend Tommy's (who lives about two miles from Mcleod Farms) and Madison got to check out his horses. He has about 5 or 6 large horses but her favorite was this Pony aptly named "Midget".


She says next time she's wearing her cowgirl boots and riding Midget. I don't doubt it a BIT!


******** Just wanted to say I am busy at work for a few days but I may get caught up and be able to visit your blogs soon. Thank God for pre-posting!!!

Daddy had some shocks to replace on his truck so...........

Naturally "Lil' Missy" had to follow his lead... Wouldja hand me a wrench Daddy?

Yeah i'm down here getting dirty - so what? (that's what she LOOKS like she's saying - she didn't SAY IT)

Yep I think i've got my hands full with this one. A ballerina/princess that can work on a car. A redneck boys dream come true! LOL

Pink Owl

sent me my winning prize from her Gold Medal Gifts drawing. The box as it arrived....


Wow now I can teach Stacy to give me a serious pedi! I love it!

Almost FAINTED when I saw it was the Vera Bradley Pink Elephant pattern. How awesome of you Pink Owl! These will REALLY come in handy for me. A mini jewelry box, and although the other is billed as a lunch bag I will use it to store hair/beauty products when I travel I think. Also the little wooden box is darling too and really looks like a Vera pattern!!


Thank you so much for your sweet generosity. You really made my day and I feel like a real "winner"!!! I am even inspired to try such a contest myself.... soon!

But nobody was hardly there... no FUG's (sorry Manblogger!) Unless you count me and Stacy *snicker*

Stacy was spotting for our friend Bo's son Timmy #72 ! Timmy lost oil pressure and had to come in early. Boo Hoo!

This little man is ALWAYS there, we've dubbed him "the turtle". He looks so feeble and fragile though and I have always wondered how in the world he gets up that steep, steep hill but somehow he does. I guess you do what you have to when you love something and I believe he is a true blue dyed-in-the-wool racefan!

The car count was even pitiful but of course there was drama. Always drama!

Little Miss Maddie is too! I know, I need to find that child some black socks but she's had those orange shoes for over a year and can just now wear them! She's cute anyway! Rockin' the humongo hairbow too.
She has a orange/white polka dot one but I put my foot down - there IS such a think as too much polka dots!!!!
I really really REALLY want to get one more beach trip in, just a few nights would be great.
Madison has been asking me if we can't go "just one more time Momma".
"One more time Momma, indeed!"

** In case you can't tell or your eyesight is slightly shot like mine those black blobs on her shirt are black kitty cat heads!

You all know i'm the Monogram Queen... right? Right!
One of these days, when I get them unpacked (never mind the nitpicky detail that we moved here over a year ago Mmmmkay?) I will show you all of my monogrammed purses.

But... I just got an early birthday present from my friend Stacey (who does all of my monogramming for me - she operates Monograms By Gail in Scranton, SC along with her Mom)!

Now ... a back view.....

Couldn't you just DIE?! I mean how freakin' cute is a Pumpkin Purse!
It's almost spooky how well Stacey and I can buy for each other.
When we used to work together on a daily basis, we would actually find we had bought the same shoes or dress or top!
Anyway she gave me this so I could start carrying it early.
I'm already itching to put up Halloween decorations!

Hello-o-o-o blow-ups!
I'm sure my neighbors are waiting with bated breath also, seriously..........

We were outside last Friday, waiting on Daddy to come home and this little guy jumped on Madison's Barbie Bug causing her to run screaming to me "Momma-a-a-a there's a cricket on my Bug!"
After I satisfied myself that we weren't under bug siege I discovered this little guy and promptly moved him to the porch where he settle upon a red Geranium.

I explained to her that he's not a cricket (they are black) but a grasshopper.
That they won't hurt you. He tickled my hand and was quite friendly when I moved him.
He would peer at me as I talked softly to him (can you imagine how BOOMING our regular voice must sound to bugs?).
Then he jumped from Geranium to the Deck.
He stayed there for a long, long time. Every once in awhile i'd go check and talk to him and he'd peer at me - so cute! Madison lost interest and resumed zooming around the yard once more.

I was just glad she didn't run upon a snake.
I don't quite have the courage to give her a nature lesson in one of those and probably never will!

Going great so far but, uh, Madison that is NOT what you do on the barre'!!!

Miss Patsy giving a little one-on-one instruction before class actually begins!

Look Mommy - I think i've got it!

I didn't get any during Tap Class as they segue right into it after Ballet but I can hear them in there, tapping their little hearts out!
Madison loves it. I'm so glad we can do this for her.
She's such a confident little girl. Something I was NOT at her age.
That is one of the most valuable gifts we can give our children is build their confidence, in my opinion!

Pikes Pickles

did a post last week on people's cars and bumper stickers .... I don't have stickers on my bumper but I do have them on the rear window.....

A gamecock spur/palmetto tree on the bottom left (top left is my parking permit for School), a smiley face/palmetto tree on the bottom right, my Monogram in the middle and below that my "stick family". What stickers do YOU have? Please ignore the dirty car also. Thank You! *wink*

Whoo Hooray! I passed that test Wednesday night on the re-do AND I aced my Power Point. I am feeling (as Tony The Tiger would say) - Ga -REAT!!!! I couldn't do it without the help of Stacy and the encouragement from him, my parents, my friends and you all! Thank you so much.
I have to admit it's not easy. There is no time between classes to get anything to eat, I have resorted to packing some Nabs (that would be snack crackers to you non-southerners) and munching when I can. I also put a drink in my backpack. The rule is no eating and drinking in classes and I try to adhere to that but I get a headache if I don't eat something. Hmmmm how come I don't see any weightloss benefit here? LOL!
I am ready for a Ga-reat week-end now! I am going to organize my closet and work online on as much homework as I can! (don't anybody get jealous of my rockstar life okay?!) *wink*

I want to extend a warm Monogram Welcome to

Hippo Chick

on my blogroll. Pam comes to me via Cheryl Wray's blog. Although her blog is new to me, her posts already touch me - being that she's a Pennsylvanian as I am.
Just reading her post yesterday about her visit made my soul yearn for those wonderful PA mountains... the excitement of spotting an Amish Buggy, trying to "politely" stare at the adorable Amish children ... of childhood summers spent in PA ....

Today... I choose...

To smile at three people on my way into work and wish them a nice day.

To not cuss at anyone in the parking lot No. Matter. What.

To not immediately start googling for info on Cry*ng C*w B*nk the second I get to my desk and start freaking myself out.

To not grimace or make faces at my boss behind his back. No. Matter. What.

To make 100 on that re-test IF she let's us do it tonight.

To give the best Power Point Presentation in my Col 103 Class and not be nervous!

Okay some of you know where I work at IRL.
I don't blog about it, because I don't care to get fired from my job but, over the past week-end our CEO was ousted.
Our stock has been failing dismally....... change is in the air at Crying Cow Bank.
I just hate the tension, the feeling of "when is the other shoe going to drop".
Just lay me off, give me my severance and i'm out of there.
I'll be glad to go to school full time and collect unemployment.
We can get by.
What I AM worried about is the company folding and me NOT getting my severance pay. That would be very very un-cool.
I hate worrying about crap I have no control over and it does me no good to tell myself NOT to worry... cos' i'm gonna worry.
Even subconsciously. I wake up three or four times during the night. Blah. Hate it. Anyhoo send good thoughts. For me, for my girl Cheeky, who is undergoing some tough times personally, for Shell in Houston who may be in for a week-end visitor in the form of Ike. Just pray for everyone...
AND last but not least, big thanks to my girl Bella for the cool signature she made for me! I love-love-love it~! Thank You!

P.S. I "failed" the test (well made a 79) but she's allowing a do-ver and I WILL make 100!

After the blowing and raining got done Friday Night/Saturday Morning it turned out to be a nice day (humid as hell but otherwise nice). We decided to go to Columbia and ended up eating at one of our favorite spots - Hooters!

Daddy got in on the action and had his picture taken with Madison and the Hooter Girls too! U da man Daddy!

Sunday we went in search of a Mermaid Costume (neither W*l Mart nor T*rget have their Halloween out yet - i'm impressed!) and ate at Applebees in Hartsville. She had to give Daddy a smooch!

She was just being goofy here, we enjoyed her so much this week-end! She's finally getting out of that "baby-tantrum" stage and is fun to be with.

I hope everyone else had a most excellent week-end as well. Not too thrilled to be at work this a.m. BUT I have a paycheck right... and I take my first TEST tonight!

I know, I know, a RARE post from the Monogram Queen on the week-end! Just wanted to let y'all know we made it through okay. Had alot of wind got about 5 inches of rain so it wasn't too bad. Stacy moved everything to safety (my stained glass window, patio cushions, furniture, swings etc). Now i'm trying to figure out what I want to do with the rest of the week-end! Hope y'all have a great one!

My Pearls and Wedding Rings ... given to me by my beloved husband, Stacy.
My hand-monogrammed ring from Charleston... given to my by my dear friends Bella and Cheeky........

What is something that defines you?

****EDITED TO ADD**** we are now under a Tropical Storm Warning for our County

I hope the boss is mellow today and I hope he okays the week of Christmas off for me like I asked him.
My trip to the dentist still has me cringing. I swear I can still smell the burnt peanut-y smell. Gack. Turns my stomach. He did a bang-up job though. I go back Sept 30th. Will be glad to get it all over and done with.
I am feeling so-o-o-o-o restless. I need a trip. Stacy if you're reading this - hint~hint.
I know what he'd say. "Next Month".

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SWEET NIECE JULIANA Who turns FIVE today! It seems like just yesterday I was holding you in my arms at Christmas at Ma's :)

As much as I love the beach - and I do love the beach alot anymore, I love Fall best. I am so happy to see September arrive. Madison and I were at the Playground yesterday morning and I saw some golden leaves gently drifting to the ground ....
It was nice three-day week-end. Didn't get some things done that I would have liked to, but I spent time with loved ones and that is most important.
Boss is out today, leaving me with peace and blessed quiet (hearing him call my name sets my teeth on edge) and even though I have a dentist appointment I don't even mind that because i'm getting the damage done by my braces fixed.
Maddie and I sat out on the porch last night waiting on the Pizza Delivery person and it was downright chilly!
Thoughts & Prayers going out to those affected by Gustav. I even dreamed about it Saturday, Sunday & last night. Also keeping an eye on Hanna churning out there and now we have joinging the party Ike - Yikes! (Sorry - couldn't resist!).

Cheryl Wray is turning the big 4-0 today and she's hosting a birthday party on her blog. Fun! I love pink and picked out this pink poufy party dress to wear to your party Cheryl. The design would allow me to eat lots of cake and goodies and hides a multitude of caloric sins!

You can't have a birthday without CAKE! Yummy looking frosting!

I'm a big fan of jumping on the bed or the couch but what's a party without - you got it THE ELECTRIC SLIDE! C'mon don't be bashful. Join right in!

I hope you have a wonderful, fantabulous day with your equally wonderful, fantabulous family & friends! Happy Birthday my sweet friend! Maybe before the next one rolls around you can add me to your "met IRL friends" list! :)

Since i've got another post set up for tomorrow I wanted to take a minute and wish an early Happy Birthday to another of my favorite bloggers born on August 31st - Southern Fried Girl whose blog is May I Nap Now? in my blogroll. She is currently readying to evacuate her home in NOLA due to Hurricane Gustv and her and the family are in my prayers. To top it off she is expecting her first child the beginning of November AND her husband is a Firefighter and won't be able to leave with her. That is a whole lot on a girl at one time so keep her in your thoughts okay? Also thinking about my girl Andie who lives on the 'Bama coast. Hugs & Godspeed to you all!