Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes...

Picture this.

 A warm summer evening, under the stars, sipping Cosmopolitans, munching on chicken salad and french bread,relaxing and sitting back in our own chairs on the grass, watching one of our favorite bands with the best guy in the world.

What's not to like?

Every summer LL Beans does a summer concert series.

For FREE.

The concert was scheduled to start at 7:30. We got there about 5.
They were just finishing setting up the stage equipment.
Everyone brought their own chairs. (Many WERE LLBeans chairs, including ours, because that's just what you have when you live around here.) 
You are allowed to claim your territory the day of the show, so technically you can arrive there at 12:01 a.m. and plop down your chairs.
Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes was the band we came to see. We've seen them many times, mostly at the Hampton Beach Casino in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire. We love them. Have his CDs.

We were also lucky enough watch him do his sound check between 5 and 5:30.

And then he performed for almost 2 hours. It was wonderful under the majestic pine trees, under the starry night.

Ahhhh......

Started school mural....

Every fall I paint a huge mural to post outside of my classroom. I have a large bulletin board in the hall, covered in glass. It's 91 inches wide by 55 inches tall. Big.

I have been doing this for twenty years, including this year.

I base the theme on a current summer movie.  The movie has to be appropriate for middle schoolers to see, so 'Hung, the movie' ** would not be a wise choice.

It usually takes me a week to design and paint. This years honoree is the movie The Smurfs.

Here's a sneak peak of the beginnings.....

More to come as I proceed..... (there's a reason why they are not all blue....I'm the boss of the brush.)

**'Hung the Movie' is not really a movie, but Hung is an actual TV program. It's about an ex school teacher who is divorced with two high school kids that have, um, issues. He shares them with his ex wife (Ann Heche) and they have issues as well. Things are not going well for him in every way until he discovers how the fact that he's, um, well 'hung', is an attribute that could make him a LOT of money, especially with an 'agent'. The warped side of me loved this show. I think it was HBO, but you can find it to watch online somewhere. Just google 'watch Hung' and see what you get. It was quirky, and I like quirky.

BYW, you never really see how well hung he is, so you have to use your imagination. 

I have a very good imagination.

New painting.....

I was commissioned to do a painting of someone's house. I just finished it last week.

It's a tempera painting measuring 16"X 20".

Interesting stones built into the chimney.

Summer Shandy

Mr. Downeastdoingstuff (aka Birdman) and I like to try new things. New things... as long as they don't have potential for bodily harm or curling my hair.

We especially like to try new drinks. (I don't want any comments about how alcohol can cause bodily harm....duh.)

Martinis have been our latest diversion. Especially the kind that are not really, officially classified as martinis, ie. chocolate martinis, appletinis, tinis with any appealing flavor.

The photo above is of a drink called a Shandy. Birdman has a blog, and a lady from Perth, Australia suggested this.

It's a mixture of two liquids served in a beer glass.

Can you guess what it might be?? 

check out her comment from my husbands blog....

PerthDailyPhoto said...

You get a big glass (chilled for maximum effect), depending on how strong you like it, usually half/half, half beer of your choice, and half lemonade, also there's the classic English version of lager and lime, just add a dash of lime juice to the beer and a slice of lemon,takes away the ughy taste of the beer, sooooo refreshing and easy to drink. I'm not sure though Birdman, somehow I'm not getting a picture of you thinking much of this idea haha! See if Elenka will try it and let me know what she thinks.

Me thinks....Not bad. It's a rather odd mixture. You can taste both ingredients separately. 

Strange. Hasn't curled my hair......yet.

Today.....

This morning I was watching the Today Show while having breakfast in bed and I learned something.

Did you know that some people WANT to have a bigger butt??

Really?

Kathie Lee said, "who knew?" She claims she's been spending all her life trying to make hers smaller.

Apparently there are unmentionables you can buy to enhance, pad, lift and separate your tush.

You can even surgically have some orbs implanted forever.

I laughed a little and then forgot all about it.

Until....

I went to Shaws supermarket, and then, checking out, right there in front of me, was a young lady about 19 years old and thin, with the biggest a$$ I've ever seen packed into a pair of short shorts.

I tried not to stare and wished I had the balls to take a photo, but she was with her mom who was giving the poor cashier guy a run for his money with, I kid you not, 4,000 coupons.

After he ran every g.d. coupon thru the scanner she asked him if the coupon for the water scanned? What? Now?? So he had to look through the $291 dollars worth cashier's slip and check.

So I had plenty of time not to stare at her butt.

I stuck out so much that I KNEW it had to be fake or enhanced....or something.

So once I got home I investigated....you know...for research purposes. Not that I would ever buy anything to increase my girth, although I could use some lifting.....

Anyway...

Here are some options for you.

A Butt Bra (no padding)

Adhesive falsies.....

And cheeks that are built into the panties, for your convenience.

Isn't life grand?

I wish this was the only thing I had to worry about.

Assinine. {sic}

Lord of the flies....

We have a compost pile. Actually have several compost piles, but only one where kitchen scraps go. I keep a white porcelain pot on my counter and compost goodies go in there.

Yesterday it was pretty full, so I grabbed it to lug it up the hill when suddenly a bazillion fruit flies took flight.

I came back with an empty container, but the fruit flies, with rather perplexed looks on their faces because  their lunch was suddenly gone, were still there.

What to do?

I did what any normal 29 plus old person would do.....Google it!

One site I found said to take a cup and fill it 1/4th of the way with water, squirt in a little dish soap and splash in some vinegar. Then cover this cocktail with cling wrap and poke a few little holes in it.

Apparently the fruit flies, smart as they are, will find the itty bitty holes and because they thirst for vinegar martinis, will dive right in.

And then the fruit flies, dumb as they are, cannot find their way out again. So the next thing they know is that they are in the drink, without life jackets.

Voila.
No more fruit flies. (Where do they come from anyway?)

Thank you, once again,  Google.

Some like it hot....

In the shade.....

What is wrong with me??

I complain when it's cold.....and now I'm complaining because it's too dang HOT!

Is there anything wrong with wanting everything just to be PERFECT all the time???? Huh????

I was thinking about putting on my bathing suit to keep cool. This I can do, 'cause I'm inside my own house and do not have to gross anyone out....other than Birdman.

I feel good about saving the world from embarrassment.

These folks however, apparently don't care about that....

source

sorry this one came out so big......

source

source

source

Good grief.

hmmmm, I look pretty darn good.......well......comparatively.

Enjoy the heat!

p.s. We have NO air conditioner.

UPDATE: This is the thermometer at around 4:30 pm. (I know it's in the sun.)
The crazy thing is that the thermometer doesn't go any higher, so who knows what it really was.

I've never seen that happen on that thermometer.

Happy Birthday my Birdman.....

UPDATE: Want to wish someone else a very happy birthday, too. Happy Birthday Bruce!!! You're a very special guy, hope you have a great day out there in Or eh gone. (The correct way to say it if you're from Jersey, which, by the way, you are.) Love ya!

Yesterday was Birdman's birthday. 

Why didn't I do a post yesterday, you ask??

I was looking for a photo, specifically in his baby book....which I couldn't find.

So I waited til we went out to dinner to get some photo material.

Coming home with a full tummy, late, I didn't post.

This morning....I walked into the living room  and there on the window seat was his baby book...along with my baby book and our son's baby book. They were not on the shelf where they should be....where I looked yesterday....but there they were...in full sight.

sigh....

I'm getting old.

Anyway, my Birdman is the joy of my life. My best bud. I hope he had a great birthday....ahem....

yesterday.

So here was our dinner experience.

We went to On The Marsh in Kennebunkport, Maine.

We got there a little early, we went to the bar for a drink. We both had a Sangria.

Our table for dinner was at a window. It's called On The Marsh because they are on a marsh.

Our window view of their garden....

We each had a glass of wine and ordered their mussels. I forgot to take a photo of the mussels, so Birdman showed me some other ones.

Impressive.

Pan-Roasted Rope Cultured Mussels Oven-Roasted Tomatoes, Roasted Garlic, White Wine, Cream, Fresh Herbs $9

Hubby had steak...

Grilled Center-Cut Beef Tenderloin Prime Rib Hash, Red Carrots, Truffle Demi $34

I had lobster.....

Fresh Maine Lobster "Succotash"
Polenta Cake, Sweet Corn, English Peas, Carrots, Onion, Saffron-Fennel Pollen Cream
$37

Then for dessert I had a blueberry swirl icecream with blueberry cake.(not on the online menu...)

Birdman had...

Dutch Apple Bolen
Roasted Apple, Caramel, Cinnamon, Puff Pastry, House-Made Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
$8

Everything was wonderful and I hope Birdman had lots of fun.

I think he did.

He's always fun to do stuff with.

Love ya.

Here's Johnny!

If you have ever seen the movie the Shining with Jack Nicholson, this is the outside of the hotel they were living in. In the movie it was called the Overlook. In real life, it's the Timberline Lodge.
We were here last week. It is half way up Mt. Hood in Oregon, at about 6,000 feet. In July, people are still skiing here, chairlift and all. Everyone else, such as Birdman and I, were in shorts and t shirts and sandals because it was summer! Very, very weird.

This is the view from the back side of the hotel looking toward the peak.

There were 8 of us in our party. (And a party it was!) Living together for a week with my sister-in-law and her husband. They were the most gracious hosts there could be. One of the days we ventured up to Mt. Hood. Everyone, but Birdman and I, went for a hike up the mountain in the snow. They had sneakers. I had sandals. My sandals were not meant for snow. So we sat on a lovely stone veranda in the sun and sipped Martinis instead, watching the skiiers lug their gear to the chair lifts.

Ahhhh, winter sports!

Happy Birthday my sweet boy.....

25 years ago tonight....Oh, What a Night. (The Four Seasons)

The birth of my Beautiful Boy. (John Lennon)

In My Life, the best night. (The Beatles)

Although at times it feels like I've been Dancing in the Dark, (Bruce Springsteen)

and we've had a few Rainy Days and Mondays, (The Carpenters)

But for the most part, we've always tried to Take It Easy. (The Eagles)

I've Had  the Time of My Life, that's for sure. (Dirty Dancing Soundtrack)

25 years ago.....It Seems So Far Away, (Carole King) yet only Yesterday. (Beatles)

A start of a Whole New World. (Aladdin Soundtrack)

Just remember one thing, my sweet, sweet child.....I Will Always Love You. (Whitney Houston)

Happy Birthday 'lil Bird.

"So be brave, son and know that I long
To race you to the top of the morning!
Come, sit on my shoulders and ride.
Run and hide, I'll come and find you,
Climb hills to remind you 
I love you! 
I love you, my boy at my side!"   

 (the Secret Garden)

How to make gigantic poppies.....

These poppies were adapted from directions on Martha Stewart's website.

You can see the scale of these flowers in a previous post. Here.

Here is a finished one. It's about 24 inches across.
I don't have the exact measurements for too much, as I basically wing it when I make them.

This pattern I made because some of my friends wanted to make some. This is on a piece of 12" by 18" colored construction paper. Cut 4 petals that look something like the pattern.

Cut 3 smaller ones.

Sorry, I didn't measure these circles, but they are placed on 9" by 12" colored construction paper, so you can estimate the size by comparing it to the paper. They don't have to be exact.

(this will be the centers of the finished flower)

Here is a close up of how I make the cuts. As you cut more, the paper gets weaker, so the later slits are cut shorter and shorter not to weaken the center of the circle.

Cuts already made. Randomly take something round like a marker and curl the strips of paper on the marker. See a close up of the finished flower up above to see what I mean. (biggify the photo)

The folds that are made on each petal are made on the edge of a ruler randomly, radiating out from the imaginary center of an imaginary circle. (Clear as mud......) Some folds are done from one side of the paper and some are done from the other side, in no apparent order and no rhyme or reason. 

All the petals are actually stapled together. First the outer four, in a circular fashion, and then the center three. Then I stapled them all to each other wherever I could.

I'm sure they are supposed to be glued together or something, but I didn't want to wait until the glue dried.

Poppy leaves are cut out to some shape that resembles poppy leaves.

I scored them down the center to create a vein of sorts.

After I took these photos, I forgot to take any more. But I think if you refer to the first photo of the finished poppy, you get the gist of how to glue the pieces together.

These are the worst directions I've ever given, I'm sorry to say. 

We just went out to dinner, had two glasses of wine, came home (we are actually in Oregon, believe it or not), had some delicious chocolate chip cookies, am stuffed to the gills and suffering from possible jet lag and THATS when I decide to do a blog entry.

You get what you pay for, and I'm paying.

Going to bed to try and remedy the situation.

Good night!

Da da da da, da da da da....(sung to Twilight Zone music)

So I’m standing by the strawberries in the grocery store. Two women are chatting nearby.

One says, “So, your birthday’s in April?”

#2 says, “ Yes, it is. Is yours in April, too?”

#1 says, “Yea!”

#2 says, “April what?”

#1 says, “Oh, it’s really in February.”

#2.......blink.......blink

#1 says, “most people I know with an April birthday have it in February.”

Me: blink....blink....scratch head....walk away as quickly as possible.

The Twilight Zone never ends.

Cracked me up....

image credit

Paper Flowers I made...

Here are some large paper flowers I made for a special occasion at my school. I was inspired by googling 'large paper flowers'. Some places had directions, like the poppies, some sites were just photos and then I figured it out myself. A lot of the flowers I just made up.

They really make a big impact. I will post directions as soon as I can for some of them.

Oh, by the way, they are just construction paper.