I never made it around to read on Friday so i've got some catching up to do... I hope I get it done. Boss is off this Friday so that will give me a little breathing space on THAT day! (gawd Friday seems so far away on this Monday!)

Had a TERRIFIC "girls week-end"! Me, Madison, my sister (birthday girl), niece Casey and Brittany went to Columbia and stayed at the Embassy Suites there. Madison is now spoiled when it comes to hotels. She'll think they are all like Embassy Suites!
She doesn't remember any of our prior stays in hotels, just our stay at Oak Island last year in the beach house so this is quite a yardstick to measure future hotels by for her!
They have a managers receiption from 5:30-7:30 with light h'ors d'ourves and an OPEN BAR. We didn't over-imbibe but it was nice, very nice.
We hit some thrift stores Saturday and I even found a Kelly's Kids tunic with "Maddi" embroidered on it! The girls got to enjoy the Pool (their favorite part of the week-end - go figure!) and we went to Riverbanks Zoo on Sunday. The weather was - PERFECT.
Life is GOOD for...

Down the road that connects my neighborhood with US Hwy 52 lies this tobacco barn all but forgotten and soon to fall down.

You used to see these all over the place but no more. I can't even tell you the last time i've saw one. Maybe over in the Lake City or Mullins area they are more plentiful but not around Florence ... anymore.

They harken back to a by-gone era. When tobacco was picked by hand, bundled together and hung up to dry in these old barns built solely for this purpose. My brother used to work in tobacco when he was young. He said it was hard, hard backbreaking HOT work. I believe him. I never saw anybody look happy while doing it!
When our grandparents first moved down here to South Carolina from Pennsylvania they lived in Mullins in an area called "Penderborough". I have no idea where it even is today. I haven't been there since the 1970's. My brother worked tobacco for a man named Mr. Marvin Shelley. Mr. Marvin even came and visited us in Pennsylvania once.
I know you had to be very careful of snakes in these barns because they were rife with them. That right there kept me firmly OUT!
Anyway i've always loved these old barns. If this one falls down I might purloin a piece of wood from it and do... something with it. Not sure what but something.

Hope I didn't bore you too much with my meanderings into the past and hope you have a great week-end!

Decked out in shamrock's from head to toe! (shamrock trim on her jeans, "Everyone Loves An Irish Girl" t-shirt, Shamrock Antennae). Madison loved dressing for St' Patrick's Day!

This is her "leprechaun face". Don't ask...........!

I took my sis out to celebrate her birthday, we ran into her friend Cheryl (in the hat) and her friend Sonja. They were good company! We had some laughs, some beer, some shots and shrimp!

Hope you got your Irish on too!

This little girl is SO excited!

Sneaky had one kitten over the week-end. She never got really big so i'm not surprised. He is a feisty little thing.

He hollers the minute Sneaky steps away from him. She was anxiously watching me take his picture. I hope this little guy makes it. Her last litter did not.
Regardless she WILL be spayed this time. I feel like the world's worst pet owner but I am happy to welcome this wee one to our family.

No, I am not yet sure if the sex but he looks like a "he" to me!
**St Patrick's Day pics tomorrow!

You are my oldest sister, the one who always took care of me, and STILL "does" for me....
Who, let me tag along... with your friends... on dates ... even though I was a terrible tattle-tale - you were never, ever mean to me.
I have always looked up to you, your beauty, your intelligence, your feistiness.
You've set a good example for me.
Us "Switzer Girls" have a very, very special bond.
I can always count on you and I hope you know you can always count on me, too.
We always have fun together and I hope we always will. I love you Kathleen!

It was a good one, the weather could have been better BUT it could also have been a whole lot worse! The rain HAS finally arrive though....

Saturday night brought green jello shots, shamrock beads, sparkly shamrock antennae and green beer! Good times! I just love getting out and about, ya know? Stacy & Chad are so much fun to go out with too. They're crazy!

I have nudged the darling Husband onto Facebook .... my sisters have already pounced all over him LOL
Does anyone find it weird when someone finds you on Facebook and you wonder how/why they found you? When they pretty much would have had to punch your name in to find you (i.e. no common school/work/friends). Any input on that is appreciated.

We went to Ch*ckie Cheese in N. Chucktown yesterday and it is SO much bigger than the one here in Flotown. Some friends (who are our age) babygirl was a year old. They are brave souls aren't they?! They have three older children and the youngest of the three is a Junior in HS. That baby is the sweetest thing. OMG. Madison was in love with her! I will post a few pics this week.

Be good to someone today ... and most of all - YOU!
Much Love,

I've been blogging now for, oh about three years.

I think of my blog as sort of a journal, but really with the pictures and things in it - it's sort of like an online scrapbook too.

I know my sweet husband doesn't really understand about blogging. I told him about mine a little over a year ago because I didn't want to feel like I was "hiding" anything from him.
Plus we were going to the Isle Of Palms for a week and Cheeky and Bella were going to visit and he'd surely want to know how I knew them!
The visit went well. We three hit it off and my daughter and husband loved Cheeky & Bella! My daughter even thinks I wear Miss Bella's clothes LOL

Really i've been lucky. All of the people in the blogworld that i've met IRL have been great.

Lynilu stopped by Flo-town in November '07 and we had dinner at Redbone Alley. She was exactly as she is on her blog. A bond was formed! I can talk to this lady about anything and she is so understanding and wise. Oh and she has adorable pets. Lots of them!

I got to meet Michelle of Chelle's Winks and her two adorable kiddos in T*arget back in October and I hope very much that our schedules allow for a more lengthy get-to-know-you visit soon.

I plan on going down to the Market in downtown Charleston maybe next month (or maybe not until May) and meet Greg who has a stand down there.

"Someone" is coming to visit me soon but i'm not allowed to talk about it. Don't ask. No, really. It's no use. Loose lips sink ships!

There are some newer blogs i've only been reading since last Summer that I really love. In fact i've been poking around on them yesterday and doing some back-reading (don't think i'm stalking ladies just "getting to know you" a little better!).

Okay, i'm bored at work and i'm slacking off. I admit it!
I try to visit my blogroll every weekday and am not really looking to add any more blogs to it but sometimes I branch out and click on a link and then cannot resist leaving a comment. Anybody else do this?

I guess you can all see i'm slacking off here too and this rambling post must come to an end.
I leave you with.......
S.H.I.T (So Happy Its Thursday!)
A giggling....

Although I am thankful beyond belief that we didn't get any snow (just didn't need THAT particular headache this morning) I am sick to death of messy RAIN! Go AWAY!

Went to NC with my sister and Niece, had a great time just relaxing at the Hotel. Woke up Sunday morning to very nasty weather and we literally OUTRAN the freezing rain! Had we lingered just an hour later we would have probably been stranded.
I was SO glad to be home and even happier when Stacy and Madison got home safely.

I got Stacy two tickets to see one of his favorite entertainers; "L@rry The C@ble Guy" this month.
It's an early birthday present. I told him to take a friend and enjoy himself. I like Larry but I don't appreciate him the way Stacy and his friends do.

I'm so-o-o-o-o sleepy. I never sleep well when Stacy and I are apart and I didn't want to get up this morning.
Off to get me a Diet Mt. Dew!

Can you tell it's FRIDAY!
Thank the tiny-econo-sized-baby-Jesus that I made it through this week!
Seriously if I a) didn't think i'd throw my back out or b) scare the hell out of my co-workers I would turn a Cartwheel.
THAT is how pleased I am that it's the week-end!
Picture Snoopy doing the "Happy Dance" and you'll know how I feel!

Stacy & Madison are going to Summerville and I am going to take this as the last week-end (before the car payments start) to do whatever I want.
It's all about me.
If my sister wants to do anything I am up for it!

Also can I just say how much pure unadaulterated JOY I get out of sitting in my new car? I love the feel of the seat, the steering wheel, looking over the dash, over the big hood. I also love the fact that the windows are tinted.
Darkly tinted.
As in "I-Can-Pull-Up-Beside-You-And-You-Can't-See-In-At-All-Dark!"
If I don't give in and put a monogram sticker on the back window I can pretty much ride around incognito. I like incognito!
*turns virtual cartwheel*

Ain't she purty? (said with heavy southern accent)

Yes i'm a spoiled bitch, I have been wanting a Dodge Charger for months and Friday my darling husband took me to "look" and made it happen!

She is steel grey, with dark tinted windows and dove grey leather interior. I can't even begin to tell you all the bells and whistles - i'm still figuring them out!

These pics were taken yesterday on the way to Summerville to show it off to my MIL. That is Big Daddy (a.k.a. Stacy) in the pics hehe...
I am one happy sistah! Oh and as for me saying we didn't have any debt - we do now! LOL but not for too long!

A smooth riding........

I think i've created a monster ... I took Madison for her first pedicure last week before Valentine's Day. She loved it!

Watching TV while Mommy gets beautified! After watching me get my eyebrows waxed she commented "Mommy - I don't think I want to do THAT!". It was fun though. Next I want to try a sugar scrub and a hot stone massage. Mmmmmmm.............

My girl complete in crown (she IS a princess, you know!) on her way to Grandma's house in Summerville last Friday.
She had an awesome party at school (my lord those kids got candy like it was Halloween) and gave out crowns to all the girls in her class and the teachers/aides.
She was just giving the pouty face because she didn't want me to take her picture.

I got this dress at (you can guess) a thrift store. You can tell it was home-made. We love it! I think it is old-fashioned and adorable! She got candy for both of her Grandma's (and Pop too).
Happy Belated Valentines Day from the Monogram Princess~

Via.....

It was a bit chilly but it could have been so much worse (a.k.a. raining or freezing!). I snapped a pic of myself enroute to the Marina

The Spirit of Carolina, we were lucky and had the upper dining deck. I don't reccomend anyone to wear high heels on one of these. You could easily break an ankle (or your NECK) on the gangplank!

Our view of the new Arthur Ravenel Bridge (I still miss the Old Cooper River Bridge though and always will.....)

We were right beside the U.S.S. Yorktown it was pretty lit up!

Getting a breath of air before the main course is served!

The menu and a white carnation ... I had a lovely honey glazed chicken breast stuffed with pecan cornbread dressing and Stacy had the catch of the day which was Salmon. They were both accompanied by lovely mushroom and garlic green beans and he had mashed potatoes. The meal started with a delicious she-crab soup and was accompanied by a bleu cheese/pecan spinach salad. The food was very good!

The Monogram Queen and her King!

We had a FAB-U-LOUS time! I sent these pics to work and I don't even think Stacy has saw them yet. Anyway... this was our Valentines DAY. We stayed both Friday and Saturday nights and i'm VERY glad we did. (yeah yeah it's only money).....

You know ol' greedy is going to go out in search of some baked goodness. OMG these cupcakes were divine. The icing was so creamy and smooth......nothing like the horrible ganache icing i've tasted elsewhere.

Our comfy king-sized bed - it isn't as good as our bed at home though. :)

Love the whirlpool tub! We've had some, er, mishaps with a whirlpool tub (I think on a stay in Charlotte) but no problems THIS time!

We had "lunch" at Red's on Shem Creek. I got a low-country boil! Delicious-ness!
For those of you who are wondering what THAT is... it is boiled shrimp, corn on the cob, boiled potatoes and kielbasa sausage. Some also call it "Frogmore Stew".
Stacy made this for Cheeky & Bella when they stayed with us on the Isle Of Palms in 2007. His is better!

Stacy drinking some Coors Lite and watching the race on the bigscreen next to us.

Stac got a bucket of oysters and I had to eat a few. OMG they had fresh horseradish and it was SO good. No sinus problems there folks *snicker*

Yes Bella........ just Yes!

Next up some pics of the cruise........ Hope your Valentines Day was filled with L-O-V-E. Mine sure was!

That is what Madison mistakenly calls Vera Bradley (and also my great-niece Hannah did too) .. cracks me up! I rewarded myself with the On-The-Go Bag in the Green Cupcakes pattern. Matching wallet too! I keep saying "no more Vera" but she keeps coming out with new patterns that I can't resist!

Madison got a new bag too, the Amy bag in Pink Cupcakes pattern. I am going to get her an Audrey bag for her birthday - not sure what pattern yet. They are precious.

Anyway these are just a little something from the tax work that I did. I need to post about my Valentines Trip - perhaps tomorrow *wink*. Still savoring it!

Front Door decorated.... Check!

Something I bought last week (I think Laurie suggested this too!) for my Charleston Valentine's Get-Away ...

Wishing all of you a love-filled Valentines Day - even if you don't have a "special someone" .... SOMEBODY LOVES YOU... namely.....

Yesterday there was about 12 robins in my yard... I snapped a few pics but couldn't get a decent shot of them all (my yard is big y'all)

NOT the same robin either! Does this mean Spring, glorious Spring is on it's way... or are the poor things just confused by our unseasonably warm weather (going from snowfall to 70+ temps in less than a week?)

Stacy got a little Spring Fever and cleaned up the cushions and put the porch furniture on out. I love my porch furniture dearly! So comfy!

Wherever you are - Think Spring!