YBC Book Review - Gabby Care by B.A. Coots

My recent reading time was spent with a cute fun mystery

"Gabby Care" by B.A, Coots.

Gabby Rendon is the director of her church's after school program, and a truly sweet, and naive person.  Struggling with the demons of her past, she is trying hard to find love.  But what she finds is one serious problem after another.  Before she knows it, she is being framed for a crime she didn't commit.  But don't let that fool you, this is a fun story, while still being suspenseful.

Surrounded by her quirky friends, Gabby plays sleuth to try and clear her own name, but just gets in deeper and deeper.  It was hard to believe that one person could have so much bad luck.

But in the end, and with help, Gabby clears her name and enjoys a bright future.

I highly recommend this book for your fun and light summer reading list.

Be blessed,

Debbi

*I received a copy of this novel from BookLookBloggers for my honest review.*

It's a Wonderful Weird World

Happy Hump Day!

How do you celebrate Wednesdays? Do you look at your work week as half over, or still half to go? To me, it's the day I get to look for weird, wild, and wacky items.

I love Wednesday. lol

bizarre vintage cell phone cover

It looks like this woman is trying to shove chop sticks up her nose. hahaha

According to Art On Stuff at Scott's Marketplace, this woman is actually using a medical device to suck up oxygen.

All I know is that with this cover, you'll be able to easily find your phone in a pile of phones.

weird pillowcases

I have pillowcases on my bed that say "always kiss me goodnight"  but these would work for us too. lol

I also found these 

 on Scott's Marketplace at rkgrace.

celia rivenbark book

Oh my!!!!  I wish I had found this book 16 years ago when we first moved from New York to North Carolina!  I had to learn many of these phrases and idioms the hard way. hahaha

A book full of southern charm and wit, again I found this on Scott's Marketplace at Apway Books.

strange furniture

And now for something completely different!

hahaha

How do your design habits lean?

Be blessed,

Debbi

Wonderfully Weird Designs

It's Wednesday, and you know what that means, right?

Wonderfully

Weird

Whatevers!

webdesignerdepot.com

This...is a chair.

Comfy?

Maybe.

But even though I spend a lot 

(and I mean A LOT)

of time on my laptop, I just can't see me sitting in this chair.  And I certainly can't see me being able to get out of this chair.

bajiroo.com

Now I know what to do with all those old bikes

 my hubby likes to collect.

I find this not only weird, 

but kind of cool.

lightopia

ummmmmm

no words....

hahahahaha

backalleyjohn.com

I used to collect cows,
and while this makes me smile,
ummm, no thank you.




So how about you?  In what direction does your taste in design run?
Tried and true?
Of fun and funky?

Be blessed,
Debbi

Friday Family Night

I love Fridays, not just because it's the start of the weekend, but because we get to play.

I love playing games.  My siblings and I played games a lot growing up, especially board games on holidays, or snowed in the house days.  Which in Buffalo, were quite often. lol

This is a peek into our game cabinet.  As you can tell by the taped corners, we do have a few favorites.  And old ones.  I've also replaced quite a few over the years.

Aside from the tape around the Pictionary box, a favorite game of ours was..

Dark Tower.

As a young adult, we would get together, settle the kids down with toys, popcorn, and a movie, and all us parents would sit down to this amazing game.  It was so much fun, and back then, it was the height of tech savy, just like our...

Odyssey Game System

We played Jeopardy a lot, among others.  Most of the games we had for more than one player, which made them even more fun.

Today we play...

Wii.  Back when my kids were teenagers, we had a Nintendo, which seemed to cause so many arguments, and yelling "it's MY turn"..."I don't want to turn it off and (go to bed) (do my chores) (etc.), so when it broke, I secretly rejoiced.  About 10 years later, we broke down and bought a Wii when they first came out, BECAUSE the games required more than one person, and required people to interact.  Wii Sports and Mario Cart are by far our most played games.

I've searched for new games, but have yet to find anything really new that peaked my interest.

So, what is (or was) your favorite game?  

Be blessed,

Debbi

Hannah's Homeschool Teen Christmas Party

This past Friday, our teen group got together for a Christmas Party. 

It was wonderful.

Hannah's new "do".  She wants to be a hairdresser, and will spend literally hours in the bathroom fixing her hair. lol

Here's a few pictures of the teens getting to know each other.  The wonderful man in the Santa hat was our game controller, and he did a great job. 

Next came a break for some more visiting, and eating. 

Then back to some games, very challenging.  Plus the kids were learning at the same time.  (shhh, don't tell them that) 

Next came the gift exchange.  And the silly Santa game.  No names were on the gifts, and stealing was encouraged. lol 

After all the gifts were distributed, it was time for one last game, the left/right game.  Santa read the nativity story and every time he said left or right, the gifts were passed.  So no one actually went home with the gifts they started with.  It was fast, and funny. 

Now the group shot.

A really great group of kids, no-one felt left out and everyone had a great time. 

And I want to give a special thank you to Charles and Judy Blow who handled all the food, and Michelle and Roger LaFlamme, the game masters. 

The kids (and us adults) are already looking forward to our Valentines Day party.

Be blessed,

Debbi

A Busy End Of Summer

Wow, I haven't been here much at all this summer.  I don't know why, we didn't go anywhere or do anything special.  I know that I have been busy online working for The Craftstar, which put Yankee Burrow on the back burner for a little while, but I think I finally have a good working schedule.  But for now let me share with you some fun pictures.

 My cute grandson discovered Ravioli

Our homeschool group had our first gathering with a pizza in the park party.  Our group has almost doubled in size from last year. :0)

The weather got cool enough for some childhood comfort food.  Tuna and peas on toast, yum yum.  I remember my mom LOVING this stuff, but she called it s**t on a shingle.  Chuck remembers eating this in the Navy. lol

In August we discovered a young stray cat living under the shop.  Chuck felt bad for it and started feeding him.  (Yeah, he's a softie at heart <3)  Within a few weeks Tom moved onto our back deck.  He still won't let us touch him (yet) but he loves it when we come and sit out there.  He just meows and talks to us and lays under our chairs.  He hangs out by our back door, mostly because of our female cat Patches, BUT when we take our dog Pee Wee out, Tom will rub right up against him.  He's bigger than Pee Wee, so Pee Wee is not too sure about this.

The word must have gotten out because a few weeks later, Little One moved onto our porch.  Tom shares his food without too much argument.  Little One is super cute, but super skittish.  I finally have him to the point where he will stay on the porch when I come out...but he watches us closely.

The last Saturday of September is the Hiddenite Festival of the Arts, and we attend most every year.  This year they put an actual rope around the tractors, instead of just the keep off signs that all the kids ignored.  Owen was disappointed. lol

And this????  One of my favorite reasons for the fall season!  Totally bad for me, but totally tasty.  I'm still waiting for the pumpkin spice coffee creamer. :0)

So how was your summer?  Busy?  Relaxing?  Stressful?  Fun?  Share your story with a comment.

 Be blessed,

Debbi

Finding the Unusual on Pinterest

I love Pinterest, but it's a dangerous place to be.  You can start a search, and get lost there for days on end.  :0)

I enjoy being unique, after all I am of a "peculiar people" according to God, and He knows me best.  So let me share with you what I "discovered" today on Pinterest.

I think this is totally cool!  I remember as a kid taking my baths in a super huge (to me) claw foot bathtub.  Then along came the 80's and everyone switched these great tubs out for surround shower units.  Not nearly as cool looking, but easier to clean under.  The site for this pin is here.

I told Chuck that when we redecorate our living room, I want a fireplace.  What do you think of this one?  I'm pretty sure Chuck will veto it. hahaha

You can find the pin here, and the site here.

Ok, picture your favorite drunk trying to climb these stairs.  Enough said, lol

You can find the pin here, but the original site was blocked from by Norton Security.

hahahaha.

Here's another one for the party people.  You can find the pin here.

This will surely keep stray kids out of your yard.  I think he's a cutie.

Here's the pin.

I used to collect cows,

but,

ummmmm,

no!

:0)

Want the pin? Here.

I'll leave you with a great quote from a great woman.  How true is this in your life???

I found the pin here.

OK, now it's time to get back to work.  Tomorrow is my first farmers market.  Wish me luck.

Be blessed,

Debbi

Everyone needs a laugh....

I was watching The Big Bang Theory the other night and I was laughing so hard....and I remembered hearing that laughter helped to release chemicals in your body that help you be healthy.

So here is your prescription for today.....

 

 

 

 

Did you laugh?  Well, then, you're welcome.  :0)

 

Be blessed,

Debbi



Want To Know How To Have A Great Weekend?

Easy, grab the ones you love and do what you love.  For us, that was going antiquing.  And this weekend we went to an amazing local (and very large) shop, Fantastic Finds.  4 buildings stuffed full of history. Check out what I was drawn to during this visit.

I just love everything Americana.  This table and chair set was right up my alley, and the quilt and server set looked great on the table.  When you're selling, presentation is everything.

Look at the details on this wicker baby buggy.  And the umbrella? Perfect.

Yep, it was a baby buggy kind of night.

This coat rack is not really my style, but I had to share it.  An old door, small table, and mirror, creates an interesting entryway.

And this last one?  Isn't this a great idea for display?  This is something I am going to make for my craft tent.  (Actually Chuck will make it for me. :0D )

So, what did you do over the weekend?

Be blessed,

Debbi



Throw Back Thursday - memory of a smelly car

Yesterday we were driving home from a hot day spent at Brandon's Special Olympics.  I took Hannah and Owen with me.  Here's our pictures before we started to melt.

Me, Hannah, Owen

 Best buddies, Brandon and Owen.

Any how, on the way home, Owen let out a "silent killer".  You know what I mean, the kind that can curl your hair.  And we knew it was Owen because when Hannah and I in the front seat commented about the smell, he just started to laugh!!!!!  That little stinker, lol.

And that brought up a memory that I shared with Hannah, and now I'll share with you.  It was back in late 1999 and Chuck, my son Josh, and I had just moved to North Carolina.  As a surprise his daughter Colleen and her husband Pat surprised us with a Christmas visit.

And they brought their kids, Patrick (the blond at the top) and Krystal (holding the bunny (?)) and Shannon (the red head).  Cody wasn't with them on this trip.  I had taken my son Josh and the 3 kids to an evening church function, and on the way home Patrick let loose with a whopper.  I mean the kind that fogs up the windows and can wilt every plant in a 3 mile radius.  It was so bad that I had to pull off the road so the rest of us could get out of the car, while Patrick just laughed his fool head off.  Now here was the problem.  We live in the country.  Where there is no street lights.  And it was nighttime.  And it had been raining.  And apparently I pulled off too far, and the car got stuck in the muddy ditch.  So poor Josh had to walk to the closest house with a light on and ask to use their phone.  Let me tell you, Chuck and Pat were not laughing when they had to come and pull the car out of the ditch.  But by that time, the rest of us were.  Yeah, we're a strange family with a strange sense of humor.

And this memory just gave me another memory.  Of my Daddy's car.  My Daddy liked to drink.  Genny Cream Ale to be exact.  And every time I had to borrow his car, if I had to drive over a bump, you could still smell the old beer farts that were "stuck" in the drivers seat.  I hated to borrow that car, but I loved my Daddy. hahaha

And to end this smelly memory trip, how about a little Seinfeld?

Be blessed,

Debbi