Thankful

I was doing a whole series of posts on Facebook about what I was thankful for... but I think I can do a better job here with some visuals!

I am always thankful for my Old Goat... prickly, nature loving, vivid, appealing... these are all words that describe him!

I'm thankful for my camera, through which the world is an ever present canvas to be explored...

I'm thankful for the Brute Squad who spend their time keeping the fence under surveillance and entertaining us with their antics...

I'm thankful for family...

I'm thankful for the beauty I see everyday on the way to work...

I'm thankful for all the little gadgets that keep my lungs on board...

And all the things unexpected in life that make you smile!

I'm thankful for football! And coaches!

And friends that make life sweeter!

Wishing you all the blessings in life as you head into the final month of the year!

AG out!

Dinner menu

At last year's auction, some friends of mine from work teamed up with me and auctioned off Secret Chefs! wherein we give you a menu of our best dishes, you choose 12 and we assemble and deliver said meals ready for the freezer, oven and/or crock pot!

Last weekend, we got together and cooked our hearts out! Afterward, we agreed on three things:

1. It's about as much fun as you can legally have on a Saturday afternoon!
2. Seeing how other people make dishes similar to yours is pretty fascinating! 
3. Why in the world didn't we each buy this because we all wanted to split these items up and take them home!

Also, we didn't ask enough for this. The kitchen at work smelled amazing and this was just a whole lot of food!

At this year's auction, we'll make some adjustments!

Happy Monday!

Laissez les bons temps rouler (la deuxième partie)

Or... Let the Good Times Roll (part two)

There was no 500 point winner yesterday on the band. Although I forgot the Cars did a song with exactly that name! Good catch everyone. The band I was thinking of was Little Feat. Their release of the album Let it Roll in 1987 inspired the theme for their tour when TOG and I saw them in the mid 1990's. With their Cajun origins, it was hardly a surprise that 'Laissez les bons temps rouler' were the words they called out when they took the stage. Still, I enjoyed the comments enough that I'm going to make a donation to my local food bank anyway. I was just looking for a excuse! K3 currently does volunteer work there so 3 days per week so I'll have her do it for me!

Now, there were a few 5000 point winners. So... it is with great pride that iMom, The Baroness and yours truly would like to announce:

Blog Fest West

After discussion with the charming and lovely CBW, our Blog Fest host for the last two years in the beautiful state of Virginia, it was determined that with her book commitment, Blog Fest is going to be impossible very difficult for her to pull off this year. Thus followed discussion with other bloggers and finally a bit of chatter among the "locals': me, iMom and the Baroness. We hatched a plan and we're very pleased and excited to invite you to Blog Fest West! We can't wait to show you our great Northwest!

Things you'll see include:

Dinner at the Pub! (wine, ales, great Canadian cider, fabulous sustainable food)

Pike Place Market with iMom as a guide! She used to work there!

Our beautiful local marina!

Time at my dad's out on the island...

And of course beautiful views of Mt. Rainier...

Puget Sound....

And the Brute Squad!

Both iMom and I can sleep at least 4 people if not more at each of our houses. We live about 10 minutes from each other. If you choose to, you can also stay at this hidden gem of a hotel very close to our houses. We can each do airport pick ups and drop offs as we are very close to SeaTac.

Who should come? Anyone who wants to see our part of the country, is willing to hang out with a fun bunch of bloggers, wants to meet iMom's and my family, enjoy great food and aches to go home with a fabulous souvenir blog fest cup and a ton of groovy memories!

The only detail we are still dithering on is a date. It will either be late July or early August! We thought we had it decided this morning, but we just had another wrinkle. Stay tuned to this blog for further details!

Who's on board????

AG (and friends) can't wait to welcome you!

Friendship

Or where today's post practically writes itself!

Last night iMom came over so I could turn her lovely hair chestnut with red highlights again.

During the course of the evening, we talked of many things. Including the fact that today is her birthday (happy birthday iMom!) and something that I can't discuss on my blog. It's impossible to describe how much better I felt after our visit. Thanks Sweetie!

Except this morning, I got an email from LaLa that made me feel even better. I know a lot of you have seen it, but I'm posting it anyway. Because it speaks volumes about the friends I have including my Blisters who have filled my life with joy, laughter and wine!

Ready?

Are you tired of those sissy 'friendship' poems that always sound good, but never actually come close to reality?

Well, here is a series of promises that actually speak of true friendship.

You will see no cute little smiley faces on this  ~ Just the stone cold truth of our great friendship.

1.  When you are sad ~

I will help you get drunk and plot revenge against the sorry bastard who made you sad.

2.  When you are blue ~

I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.

3. When you smile ~

I will know you are thinking of something that I would probably want to be involved in.

4. When you are scared ~

I will rag on you about it every chance I get until you’re NOT.

5. When you are worried ~

I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be until you quit whining.

6. When you are confused ~

I will try to use only little words.

7. When you are sick  ~

Stay the hell away from me until you are well again. I don’t want whatever you have.

8.  When you fall ~

I will laugh at your clumsy ass, but I'll help you up.

9. This is my oath ~

I pledge it to the end. 'Why?' you may ask ~ because you are my friend.

Please add your own number 10. Mine is belching and reminding someone that I love them.

What's yours?

AG out!