1ST SHOWER FOR SCARLETT!!

Couple of weeks ago, Scarlett had her first Bridal Shower!  This was given by her sister and one of her bridesmaids.  Now, they had a conundrum... where to host it.  Jessica and Heather both live out here in the country.  The rest of the girls live in Chicago, and most of them don't own cars. They discussed a restaurant, and finally came up with the perfect solution.

The hosted it at Scarlett's apartment.

It was just lovely.  Now I won't lie, I had SWOLLEN eyes from crying over my sweet Millie, and I'm sure some of her friends thought 'wow, Scarlett's mom needs a serious face lift' (they are right, but that's another story).

The girls made a TON of delicious snacks, and had a tea party theme, complete with fancy china! The party favors were a darling cookie made to look like a three tier wedding cake with a rose on top and a candle, made in a tea cup.

I didn't take many pictures, but here's a smattering... 

 Jessica jotting down the gifts.

And Scarlett got such nice gifts! Wonderful kitchen things, great entertaining things, and some sorely needed practical things.  She made a haul... and she didn't have to drag it all home to put it away. She was home! Great plan.

Her sister, grandma and I gave her the always wonderful Kitchen Aid Mixer.  In a fun retro green, actually pistachio.  I expect great things to come from the mixer Scarlett....

LONG TIME NO TALK....

So, as I mentioned when I posted about losing my sweet Millie, of which I am still having a hard time dealing with... there's a whole lot happening in my life.

Like I went to New York.. where we were greeted by this... so very true... really my thought exactly and not just in NYC.

We went to New York City to see Babs...as in Barbra Streisand.

(photo from New York Times)

Ah yeah.. she was returning to Brooklyn for her first concert there in 50 years, so we went.  We were in really good company, let me tell you.  The likes of Barbara Walters, Woody Allen, Sting and his wife, Katie Couric, Rosie O'Donnell, Regis, Calvin Klein and Babs' fave designer Donna Karan. And me.... and Mark of course!

Cheeky huh?

AND, we were in the 14th row, so I could see that for 70 she looks really good.  It was awesome. I know I'm weird.  I followed directions and didn't take my camera... duh me.  Had I taken it, I could have taken the above picture, I WAS THAT CLOSE.... But the lady next to me lied to me, and said she'd email me hers.  I'm still waiting....

In addition to Babs, we hit the world trade center memorial, where we were reminded the horror of that day.

All those names of all those innocent people who left home that day to never return.. possibly to have had NO PART of them return... they all kissed their loves and children goodbye that morning... ugh....it was well done. And amazingly people were quietly respectful, as they should have been.

After that, we felt the need for cheering up, so we headed to Times Square for lunch, at a deli, of course.  And to see the crazies.
   

Yep, he's got on whitey tighties.. THAT'S ALL.  I'll spare you the details of the OLD man, in a thong bikini that had boobs... it's an image I didn't need to see..

Anyway, after lunch we headed down to SoHo and ran into a store I sometimes have ordered knitting stuff from. So of course I had to go in.  Right?  Other than that, we wandered around, had delish foods and drinks and being us had to go to the water. 

The next morning after seeing Babs, we said good bye to NYC, 

and headed out to Rhode Island, a charming little town, Newport. Kind of like what you'd imagine an East Coast fishing village to be.  We hung out there, wandering around in the little shops, enjoying some lobster. 

The next day we headed over to Cape Cod, and somehow, Mark convinced me to get in a plane the size of the Miata with 8 other foolish people and fly over to Nantucket.

I have to say Nantucket was way charming... It's stone streets and expensive real estate.

After we safely flew back on the miniature plane, with a pilot that was about 12,

we headed out to our hotel, and out for dinner.  I sent my children a quick text to let them know they were not orphans, we had survived our flights.

We found a restaurant, ate outside, (it was kinda cool) and then enjoyed their live music in the bar.  Bet you can't guess what we had....

Lobster.  What else do you have in New England?

The following day, we were scheduled to fly out of Boston and decided to take a little detour to Plymouth Rock via a lighthouse.  Where it was super windy, and Mark needed his sunglasses to keep the sand out of his eyes...

Since my 10th great grandfather came into Plymouth on a little ship called the Mayflower, I thought it'd be cool.

This replica of the Mayflower showed us how SMALL the boat was.  Now I like to sail, not on this...all the way across the 'big pond'.  In steerage, no less.  

We treated the Indians poorly.. just saying.

 This houses 'the rock'

After that visit we headed to Boston, and learned we were delayed... great.  Drove around Boston, checked out Harvard, and Beacon Hill, and finally decided we would head to the airport.  

We arrived a mere 2 1/2 hours late, but did at least get home.  And home we came to all that that week 

held.  I know you are thinking it's just a dog, move on.. but I'm still sad.  Sorry.

Maybe, I need to take my cue from Liz Taylor, who said...

 Sounds like excellent advice.

SO SAD...

I have a lot to blog about... my recent trip, my daughter's first bridal shower.

But I can't.

I'm just to sad.

We had to have our sweet little Millie (or Minnie as she was more often called) put to sleep.

She got sick Wednesday morning, and I took her into the vet.  After a ton of tests and a night in the doggie ICU, and another in the regular hospital, it was determined that she had severe pulmonary hypertension.  Like high blood pressure?  Not exactly.  Not a good thing for a dog.  Possibly caused by her collapsing trachea problem or perhaps from throwing a clot into her lungs.. they weren't sure.  Either way, same treatment with the same ending......

The prognosis wasn't good, but all 3 of the vet's on the case felt that it was manageable, with good quality of life for a while.  So home she came on Friday.

Friday night she took a turn for the worst and there was only one choice.  The choice I hate more than anything.  But, I couldn't let her suffer.

I went.  I've never gone before for the euthanasia.  I wouldn't hesitate again.  It was peaceful and I was there for her. It was the greatest gift I could give her. Peace.

And now, I am a mess.  I miss her silly personality, her excitement when I came in, bringing me her toys, and her hoarse little bark. Clementine is sad, bewildered and verklempt. She misses her too. 

I am an ugly cryer.  Some women are beautiful when they cry... me...Really ugly. I am sad, and I look like I went a few rounds with Mike Tyson. 

Actually, I feel like I did too.

M4M NEW RELEASES BLOG HOP!

The blog hop is under way!  

This hop features new releases from 

As the Crow Flies digital stamps

New releases today include:

Pinwheel

Raindrop

Jessie
Ice Cream Boy

My Jessie Card

and my Ice Cream Boy Card

You can now buy these as well as the release from last month HERE

If you started here, please hop on over to the M4M Challenge blog to start at the very beginning!  

Please leave a comment to let us know you visited and "hop on"!

Hop order

M4M Challenge blog 

Ardith 

Jac 

Sam 

Trace 

Melissa G 

Sammi

MelissaO 

Alicia

M4M Blog

Have fun!! 

OCTOBER ALREADY....

It's Already October AND, I'm a blog slacker again. But, I have reasons....

I just haven't been in the mood.

I was gone.

I was sick.

I'm lazy.

There, I've run through all the excuses, choose the one you like, they all work!

I was gone, off to Houston last week.  I was SO looking forward to it.  It didn't go as planned.

We arrived, stocked up on 'supplies' ( snack foods, drinks,you know,  important things), and headed to the apartment.  I was really tired and felt kind of sniffly.  Not a good sign.

The next morning I was sick. Like lay on the couch in my pajamas and feel miserable sick.  All day. Every day.   All week.  I sent Mark out for kleenex, and some cold medicine.  He returned with all things one needs to battle a cold, in addition to a lovely bouquet of flowers to cheer me up.  We didn't have a vase, so we improvised with a drinking glass.  Only tipped over once...sending water everywhere, but nothing important was ruined. They were lovely, and did perk me up.

So, other than dinner, one night outside (it's still nice in Houston)...

and a drink at Sambuca's (MY FAVE) to hear the band, I layed on the couch and watched TV or slept.  Yee Haw...  nice vacation.

my view for the week

But, we returned on Friday and hit the boat on Saturday and Monday last weekend.

It's kinda the last hurrah... on a season that was really short.  We had SO much going on this summer we feel like we hardly used the boat.  Both the month of May and August were non sailing months ~ just too busy.  Anyway, I guess we are pulling it out early this year, like maybe next week.  We have another busy month, this month, so it's over. It has to be out by Nov. 1.

I'm verklempt.  

The 6 months of winter seem way longer than the 6 months of boat season.  

We are moving ahead with wedding #2.  I need to make some decorating decisions, I've been scouring magazines and different sites online for inspiration.  My little book is overflowing with ideas.  Secured the music, the kids picked the tuxes.  And we are beginning the showers!  First one is this month!!

I had an interesting experience today, a facial.  Never had one before.  My kids gave it to me as a birthday gift.  It was awesome.  I'm hooked!!!  Although, when I left,  I wanted to run some errands, not to be....my hair looked a fright!! I tried to comb it... haha...  I tried behind my ears, haha... tried the sunglasses on my head look... it was scary.  Note to self... after facial, you must go home, directly.  Anyway, I am now ready for a big major event coming up in my life....

I'm going to see my best girl.  In HER hometown.

CAN. NOT. WAIT.