Sunday, January 30, 2011

Green Thumb Sunday

My own garden is in way too bad of shape to share photos right now so I am sharing photos of a tree that I am fond of. It's in one of the busiest areas of town (US 19 & Hwy 60) and between two restaurants. It's an amaizing tree and a true symbol of survivorship.






A web links to this tree Waymarking,

Friday, January 28, 2011

Funeral

On my way home from work I drive past the church where the two St. Petersburg police officer's wake was being held. I drove by about a half hour before the service and I have to say that I have never seen so many police vehicles in one place ever - there were motorcycles, cruisers, SUV's, and even big RV type rigs. The only vehicles I could see that were not police were 3 stretch limos and the media vans.

This morning driving to work traffic suddenly stopped and we were idle for 10 minutes as a long line of police cars with their lights but not sirens were allowed past us.

At work we watched streaming of the service on our PCs as well as a TV tuned to the local coverage of the funeral. It was huge and amaizing.

It's nice to see the officers remembered in such a grand manner. I'm sometimes guilty of associating police officer with traffic ticket when really they do so much more. They put their life on the line everyday for the greater good of our society.

Here's a THANK YOU to all police officers and their families.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Slain Officers

I work for the city of St. Petersburg and this morning two of our uniformed officers lost their lives in the course of duty. It's been thirty years since an on-duty officer was killed so the mood was somber even in the Billilng & Collections department where I work.

According to the media and a PD spokesperson, the two officers and a Marshall went to the house with a warrant for the arrest of a man so they could speak to his daughter to try and determine where he was. They didn't expect him to be there because the warrant was a result of a broken restraining order for him not to be on the property. According to the man's sister-in-law, he would find his way into the house when her sister was not home and would surprize her when she returned. He had a long rap sheet, including sexual assault and assaulting a police officer, but, more importantly, he had a family too. And, they are reeling from this too.

My heart goes out to the family of the slain officers. Their loss is truly a tragedy. I also feel for the family of the "bad guy" who also lost his life. They have a lot of deal with too.

Wreath-over

I've been hanging the same rose wreaths for Valentines day for several years now and it was time for a change. I'm not sure if they were getting tired looking or if I was just getting tired of looking at them. I decided that instead of buying new I would do a makeover!

My rose wreaths before the transformation. Nothing wrong with them, just have been looking at them year after year. I repaired a couple places where the silk roses were coming loose from the twig wreath and then it was on to the fun stuff.

I spent $4 at the dollar store for 4 packages of the heart picks - I wasn't sure which I would use so I bought pink flocked and red glitter hearts, each in two sizes. I spent $2.99 at Michael's for the ribbon which also has red glitter hearts on a background of pink. How perfect that the picks and the ribbon found each other! Also assembled my glue gun, glue sticks, floral wire, and craft scissors.

I cut the picks down to a manageable size - 2 inch was a little short and 4 inch was too long but if you try a similar I suggest you start with long and widdle down until you find the right size.

Next, added hot glue to the bottom inch or so of each pick. Careful! That glue stings like a son-of-a-gun if you get it on your skin. I still have little scar spots on my finger tips from 15 years ago.

Position the wet glue picks between leaves in areas where you think they will look best. Remember, if a wreath has an area that is a little bare, this is a good place to use something like this, or a bow, to help fill it in. I actually just glued in a few and then decided it best to figure out the ribbon positioning before committing with hot glue.
Casually placed the hearts and the tried out the ribbon in several places. First, the top center. Looks really good but thought perhaps a bit predictable.

Tried it on the side. Different. Because I have double doors and use two wreaths, this would mean also deciding if the bow should on the same side of each wreath or on opposite sides.

Before I tried them out I thought this wreath was going to be a bottom ribbon candidate but when I tested it there I didn't like it at all.

I made a very simple loop bow out of the wire-edged ribbon and secured it in the middle with a long piece of floral wire. No need to worry about a center "knot" on the ribbon or to cover the wire because it will be secured deep into the silk flowers. Placed the bow in the appropriate spot and and tied off the floral wire behind the wreath. Twisted many time, cut to about two inches, and then folded into the wreath twigs.

Last step before hanging was to position the hearts. I mostly used one pink and one red, each in a different size, together. There was a couple with two large or two small but never two fo the same color.

Finally, hung on the door. I couldn't get the red glitter hearts to show in a photo but in "real life" they are easily seen. Then I went on to updating my St. Patrick's day wreaths that I dont really like - those wreaths grow a little every year and some day I will have them how I like them but you will have to wait a while to see those; afterall, Mardi Gras is first!

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Four Bitchin' Babes

Saturday night my mom and I went to see a performance of the "Four Bitchin' Babes" at the Largo Cultural Center. Very comfortable venue. I'm thinking that is because it is small so everything is close (restrooms, parking) unlike the larger facilities such as Ruth Eckert Hall or the Tampa Performing Arts Center. I would definetly attend another performance at the Largo Cultural Center and most definetly recommend Four Bitchin' Babes to other women, especially middle-aged women.
They were hysterical and so talented! Mom and I were captivated and the performance seemed to last only a half hour although it was 2 hours. Funny, funny songs that "women of a certain age" can relate to. Songs about shoe shopping, hot flashes, chocolate....you get the drift.

Funny coiencidence - Jerry and I and the mom went to the Thirsty Marlin for dinner last night and, not surprizingly, my mom had the fried shrimp. One of the babes was talking about being on Weight Watchers and the points and how her friend shrimp dinner at the Thirsty Marlin cost her 80 points. I don't recall seeing them there but we go to dinner really early for my mother-in-law and since the performance didn't start until 8pm, we probably missed them.

I had the Mahi-Mahi and it was fabulous - slightly chargrilled on the outside and moist and succulent on the inside. The way fish should be. Jerry raved over his chickena nd portabelo mushroom entree and Marge, who had a hard time finding something that sounded good on the menu to start, really liked her prime rib quesadillas.
Photos are links from the Babes website and the cultural center's web site

***MISSING*** Reward Offered

*****PINK ALERT!!!*****

A photo memorial of "Flamingo" who disappeared the night of January 16th or the wee hours of January 17th, 2011.
Celebrating Mardi Gras

Easter egg hunt

Flamingo's first Christmas....sniff, sniff

WE ARE OFFERING A LUCRATIVE $5 REWARD FOR THE RETURN, OR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE RETURN, OF OUR BELOVED FLAMINGO - NO QUESITONS ASKED. HE IS A SPECIAL-NEEDS FLAMINGO AND WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIS HEALTH.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Cold Nights in Florida

We've had some cold temps for central Florida off and on the last couple weeks. One night I had all three dogs snuggled up on the guest bed and under the blankie I was trying to use to keep warm!
Daisey had a little eye irritation - it was red and icky for a couple days but is now better.

Sorry no photo of Woody. He was completly covered and curling into a ball.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Sorry Bloggers

I have not been able to share the goings on here in central Florida because I cannot get blogspot to work at home. It's been taking longer and longer over the past couple months but now it's pretty much impossible.

I changed to a very basic template and shortened the amount of posts to load hoping that will help. In the mean time, perhaps I will see you on FaceBook! Really though, I want my blog back in working order.

Vickie

Saturday, January 1, 2011

New Year 2011

Today we gathered at cousin Erica's house to eat black-eyed peas and exchange Christmas gifts.
Cousin Erica who let her daughter Sarah dress her today and that's why she has 4 pins and 2 necklaces on :)

Cousin Sonya helps Sarah with her Hello Kitty gumball machine

Cousin Lea with MIL Marge.

Jerry, who had a relaxing time watching football and eating.

Mom with Don, Cousin Lea's hubby.

Sarah with a pink ukelele that some of you might recognize.

Tommy, Cousin Sonya's hubby.

After the kitchen was cleaned and all the wrapping paper mess was cleaned up, Sonya, Sarah, and I went to Putt Putt Golf.

This is Sarah doing the happy dance after a hole-in-one!


Admission to miniature gold includes a soft serve cone from their ice-cream store.

It starts out all nice and neat but then..............you get this!

Finally, Sarah trying to plant a chocolate kiss on Sonya! lol