Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Hey Daddy!

Hey Yall! I am still away from "The Home" and will be for a few more days. I am currently in St. Marys visiting the parentals. And that brings me to the one purpose of this blog! All I have heard from my Daddy is how I have not been posting and how he checks it everyday and how it disappoints him and why don't I post more and surely it has been three months since I last posted (NOT TRUE!) and blah, blah, blah! So this post is for you Daddy!

Now I need a favor from all you loyal readers. The three of you know who you are! If you read my blog, please leave a comment and say hello to my Daddy. He is really very sweet. You don't have to register with google, just leave a message anonymously and you can put your name at the end if you like.....or not! Give him something to do tomorrow besides worrying about whether I posted!

I will be back to "The Home" on Sunday and will get back to my normal blogging then. I will talk to you later! Don't forget about my Daddy! Tootles!

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Hey Yall! I apologize for not posting yesterday but I was just too dang tired and nauseous to post. You see, I played cards last night. Still unclear? Elaine went to Columbia with Mary Ann to deliver her school "stuff" to her new school. I got to sleep late then got up and took Maggie (Tar Baby) out to do her business. Then I went to do what I do best....Shopping! Okay Dick......stop hyperventilating! I didn't buy anything.....okay....I didn't buy much.......Okay.....I spent $40.00 and that was divided between three different stores. Of course I put $74 worth of gas in the truck, but that doesn't count, does it? When I got back to Elaine's, she arrived back a few minutes later and we warmed up our dinner. Just as we were sitting down to eat, Anne Marie drove up so we could start playing cards. We play a card game called "Shanghai" and used to play every Wednesday night when I lived here in God's country. We usually had at least 4 people playing, sometimes more. We always have lots to eat when we play. In fact, I don't think we would be able to play if we didn't have food. Always, always have popcorn. And there has to be some type of chocolate. Miniature Reese's Cups are the preferred chocolate. And we usually had M&M's also. And anything else we might have at the house or might have picked up. And we eat a lot. Until we feel like we are going to throw up. So now you understand about why I didn't post last night....tired from shopping and nauseous from playing cards!

Today we went to look at Mother of the Bride dresses for Elaine. She looked beautiful in almost all of them. She already knows what she wants and what style looks good on her. So she shouldn't have any trouble finding just the right dress. I know she will be as beautiful as the bride!

John came home today from Dallas and took us out to dinner. We went to the River Room in Georgetown. I absolutely love the River Room! It is on the water and has delicious food. I had rib-eye oscar and as always was delish! For dessert, we shared Sauteed Pound Cake and Mud Pie. I am just about as full now as I was last night! Thank you John! You are the greatest!

I was supposed to go to Raleigh tomorrow for Christopher's birthday but the air conditioning in the condo went out and since I despise being hot, I think I will wait till Friday and see if it will be fixed by then.

I guess that is about all I have for now.....I will talk to you later.....Tootles!

Monday, July 14, 2008

A Little Bit of This and A Little Bit of That!

Hey Yall! I had a great day today. I managed to sleep till 9:30. It was glorious! We had decided Sunday that we would go to Myrtle Beach and get Jamie and Heidi's wedding presents. Jamie is Barbara and Jim's son. They are getting married August 2. Our plan was to get the presents and then head to Barbara's to deliver them and visit with her. She had a heart catherization last Thursday. It was nice to see her and laugh and it reminded me of some good times we have had in the past. Somehow during our chitchat time someone said something about how they like to eat breakfast food for dinner. Well that is all it takes for me. I can hear someone talking about something they are having for dinner or something they made and I just about can't wait to have it myself. So we went to the Waffle House for dinner. And we were not disappointed. Much. The food was delish, but well.....the place was filthy (aren't they all), there were flies hanging around (don't they all have them?) and our waffles came about 10 minutes after the first part of our meals (you can't be perfect all the time). Actually, Elaine's waffle came about 7 minutes after the first part was delivered, but the waiter accidentally let it slide off the plate onto the table when had been wiped clean 15 minutes earlier but still looked wet. We figured the rag must have had bacon grease on it cause the table kept that wet look. But you know what? You go into Waffle House and you know what you are probably going to get...........and we got it all. Plus the food was delish, just like it usually is.

To back track a little, the party Saturday night was great. Virginia, Kathy and I did the cooking at Virginia's house in Sumter. And boy did we cook! Virginia is the cooking queen and knows just what to serve and how much. Kathy and I just followed directions. We made chicken salad, tomato tarts, grilled flank steak for sandwiches, Vidalia (Yea Georgia!) Onion dip, bean dip, a fruit tray, special brownies, Lemon Blossoms, and had shrimp and cocktail sauce. Virginia's chicken salad is to die for and she is known far and wide for it. She had ordered cream bread from Charleston to make sandwiches with it and they were a big hit. We marinated the flank steak and sent it on down to Georgetown and had the men there grill it then refrigerate it. Right before the party, we sliced it and put it on a platter with rolls and containers of champagne mustard and mayo so the guests could make sandwiches. The men in particular loved this. The Vidalia Onion Dip is so easy. I actually first found the recipe on "justabeachkat" blog that I have under my recommended blogs. Virginia also has the recipe and makes it pretty regularly. It turned out to probably be one of the most popular things we served. The bean dip is a mixture of canned white corn, black beans, and black eyed peas, chopped onion, bell pepper, tomato and cucumber and some olive oil and spices. Yum. The brownies were wonderful! You prepare a regular box brownie mix, pour half of the mix into a 9X13 glass dish. Cover it with 3 Symphony candy bars with toffee and almonds. You need the really large ones from Walmart of the grocery store. If you lay them side by side it should cover the uncooked brownies. Then pour the remaining mix on top and cook according to directions. Oh. My. Lord. It was Divine. The Lemon Blossoms almost caused Virginia to lose her religion a couple of times. But in the end, it all turned out great. At the end of the party, Mary Ann and Justin presented the hostesses with a gift. When I opened it, it almost made me cry. They had made a donation to the Alzheimer's Association in the name of Dick and Fran Jackson. Mary Ann's grandmother and Elaine's mother had Alzheimer's. Mrs. Creech was just the sweetest person and I am so glad I was able to meet her before this horrible disease took her from the ones she loved and that loved her. I think this was a wonderful gift to the hostesses and hope that this becomes a trend with brides. Thank you Mary Ann and Justin.

This afternoon, Elaine and I went into the Goodwill in Surfside. As usual, I was able to find something I wanted. I have been looking for this particular thing for a while. I would love to tell you what it is, but I am giving it to Chris for part of his birthday present. Aren't you excited Chris? Momma got you your birthday present at the Goodwill! Yeah, I thought so..... But you WILL change you mind! I will fill all of you in on my purchase this weekend. I will be heading back to Raleigh maybe Wednesday for a birthday celebration for Chris on Saturday.

Tomorrow, Elaine is going to help Mary Ann move all her school "stuff" to her new classroom in Columbia. She is leaving me here to do as I dang well please which should include sleeping late, walking their dog, doing a little shopping, walking their dog, taking a nap, walking their dog, and if I have any more time, maybe walking their dog! Just kidding Elaine.....Maggie, aka Tar Baby, will be a pleasure to babysit. It is the least I can do for letting me drink all your diet cokes.

I guess that is all for now....I need some sleep and rest for all my dog walking I have to do tomorrow..... Tootles!

Fran

Happy Anniversary!


Happy First Anniversary to Jamie and Lesley!

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Greetings from Georgetown!


Hey Yall! Yeah, yeah.....I know....it's been a long time. I have been reminded. I just wanted to let you know that I am in Georgetown, SC and having a wonderful time!

Last night, I had the honor of helping host an engagement party for Mary Ann and Justin. It turned out to be a wonderful time for all. And the food was delicious if I must say so myself! (I actually helped prepare the food!) Mary Ann looks so happy and I am so excited for her and Justin.

This afternoon I saw one of my favorite people. I worked with Jeannie at school when we lived in South Carolina. I had to do a double take! She has lost 69 pounds!!!!!!!! Congratulations Jeannie!!!!! You look wonderful!!!!! And you look so young!!!!! I am so proud of you and you have motivated me to start back on my diet when I get back home. Send me some of your determination and motivation! You go girl!

I will write more tomorrow about the party and the fun things I have in store for the next few weeks! Tootles!