Diann's Book Release Day!

Once upon a time there were two young girls who lived in the very same neighborhood but never got to know each other until they met in 9th grade at Ferguson High School in Newport News, VA. They became fast friends and spent many an hour together. One of their favorite after school activities was to watch a "new" soap opera called Santa Barbara. The girls would watch the dramas of the Capwell and Lockridge families unfold daily and then get busy and do their homework.

Time flew by as they shared the ups and downs of adolescence together....boyfriends, dances, first cars, car accidents, trips to Nags Head, Mr. Hespenhide's 50 prepositions and finally graduation. Soon it was time to go off to college and start a new chapter in their lives.

Each girl went their separate way and they didn't talk as often or see each other as much but they always remained in touch and could pick up the phone and chat almost as if no time had even passed.

They would be in each others weddings, share sad times and happy times and move forward down the paths life took them.

And then one day one of them wrote a book. She called it The Outer Banks House. The author is Diann (Schnell) Ducharme and tonight after work I raced to Borders in downtown Louisville and proudly bought my very own copy! Always the sentimental one and scrapbooker, I toted along my camera and asked a couple of people if they would mind taking my picture with the book that my best friend from high school wrote. They happily obliged.

I am proud of Diann. She always excelled in English and creative writing. From the glimpses I caught of the novel, she's written a fine piece. She's headed down a new road and I hope it's one that brings her deserved success and joy. I had tears in my eyes as I read her dedication and acknowledgments. I guess I'm just a sap. But honestly, if anyone in the world deserves to have this moment in time it's my best friend from high school...Diann Ducharme.

Please visit her website at http://diannducharme.com/.

Howard Steamboat Museum Chautauqua 2010

May 15th brought another Chautauqua festival to the Howard Steamboat Museum in Jeffersonville, IN. Exactly 11 years ago on the very same date, also a Saturday, I met Tim! Little did either one of us know that fateful day that a couple of months later we would meet for supper and ultimately spend the rest of our lives together!

Saturday was a beautiful day and it was nice once again to sit under the same tree where we met and enjoy the festival, food and customers. I found a few goodies in the carriage house (antiques section) and fell in love with Anastatia's Button Jewelry! This artist makes the most beautiful bracelets out of gorgeous antique buttons and cuff links! I couldn't get enough of them and it was hard to pick out my favorites! I won't see them again until Christmas but they will definitely be worth the wait!

Tim got to try out the retro patio chair tray I found at the Goodwill last year! It was pretty cool although you had to be careful not to tip over the chair!

Sadly, it rained Sunday so we didn't go back except at the end of the day to retrieve the gazebo!

My Photograph Got Published!

Awhile back, I wrote an article for Vintage Indie about the Elliston Place Soda Shop in Nashville, TN. I was contacted last year by a book publisher who wanted to use the picture in a coffee table style book about the famous city. Of course I gave them permission and was amazed that they liked my photo that much!

After a long wait, I received my two courtesy copies of this beautiful book in today's mail! The book retails for $24.95 and can be purchased at Amazon.com as well as bookstores! What an honor to be included in such a gorgeous, well done publication!

And, Of Course, the LOOT!

Well, not quite all of this is from the Hwy 50 yard sale but most of it is with a few other recent acquisitions included!

Yet Another Highway Yard Sale

Rain was in the forecast for last Friday so we canceled our plans to drive some of the Hwy 50 yard sale. Saturday the sun was shining so mom and I decided to hit the road after all. Tim was left behind as he needed to work on his upcoming Kiwanis presentation!

We drove up I-65 to Seymour, attempted to get some breakfast at McDonald's (too crowded) and then picked up Hwy 50! Saw sales immediately although crossing the highway was always a bit scary! We made our way down the road ending up a few miles outside of North Vernon later in the day. As expected, most of the set ups were in people's front yards and not a lot of antiques or collectibles. I found some goodies anyway, and sniffed out an antique store and resale shop in N. Vernon that had some great finds for my etsy shop! Mom was thrilled with the mound of cookbooks she discovered at one set up. The guy gave her a super great deal so she came away with two box loads!

We hit a couple of Goodwills on the way back finding a few more goodies to add to the mix! All in all, a good day, not too much driving and a nice break from the norm!

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse

On my actual birthday, we went to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. We had never been but had heard great things about it. Well, the ambiance was fabulous. The service superb. The bread hot, crusty and delectable. The salad and homemade ranch dressing delicious! The steak....sucked. It had gobs of fat around the edges and I didn't care for the flavor. It was served on a very hot plate and the steak was sitting in gobs of greasy butter. The shoestring fries were not hot and overcooked although I think the cooking style was probably intentional. Oh and they were way too peppery. So we sent the first order back and tried again without the spices. They were still on the lukewarm side and just as overcooked. Mom enjoyed the stewed tomatoes. Everyone else seemed to like their steaks though.

But quite honestly just give me the 6oz sirloin complete with unlimited hot yeast rolls, salad and baked potato at Texas Roadhouse for $9.99 and I'm a happy camper!

Tim enjoyed my free piece of cake and fruit cup. He discovered "blue raspberries" which we had a good laugh about! (It was actually a blackberry!) I didn't care for the cake either, it was stone cold and heavy on spice.

I went to W.W. Cousins after we left and ordered my favorite chocolate chip cookies!

Win some, lose some!

Birthday Party

Sunday, May 9th brought us the annual Mother's Day/Birthday celebration. Dad made his world famous London Broil and Rice Pilaf which everyone enjoyed immensely! My aunt and uncle came down and Mom and Mary Lynn both received Mother's Day gifts for being the two special ladies in my life! Tim gave me another gold charm for my charm bracelet, this one shaped like the state of California to remember our fun trip out there last September! He also FINALLY found a Christmas ornament that had been on my list for over two years thanks to Ebay! YAY! Gift cards to two of my favorite places to eat, practical gifts and non practical gifts were opened and on my actual birthday mom showed up with a new computer for me!!