IS MY HUSBAND THE GREATEST OR WHAT?

I celebrated the big 4 - 0 this week; and I have to admit that Sugar Daddy outdid himself in the gifting department.

He walked in with a Barnes & Nobles reusable shopping bag (a nod to my serious reading habit and my trying to be a little greener... was my thought). After dinner (a wonderful Vietnamese take-out feast... love that Saigon Fast Food on Pleasantburg Rd!), it was Present Time!

Sugar Daddy doled out the contents (all wrapped in colorful tissue paper by the man himself, so sweet) of the bag:

1. Garmin nuvi 765T GPS
2. an envelop containing hotel cofirmation (for Sptember) for 8 days\7 nights in NYC
(on Times Square)
3. book: a Knopf Mapguide to New York
4. book: another New York Mapguide
5. book: 1000 things to do in New York
6. book: ZAGAT guide to NYC restaurant for 2009
7. book: the Unofficial Guide to NYC
8. book Fodor's NYC 2009

Wow! I almost threw up ... that is how excitted I was! I have never been to NYC--but have always wanted to go.

And then, he told me the rest: We are going to drive!

He knows that I have an unnatural fear of flying (never flown & hopefully never will... it is really not the flying that scares me... if I had wings, I would gladly flit about... it is the crashing that scares me the most).

So we will be driving; and the first stop will be 1 night & 1 day in DC (never been there either!) and then we will spend 1 night & 1 day in Philadelphia (never been there... Liberty Bell, here I come!)

What a wonderful and exciting gift! Sugar Daddy, you are the greatest! I love you so much!
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Maybe I should turn 40 more often!

SOME WEEKEND WRAPUPS

First off, here is the hat that my younger son bought me for my birthday. It was ordered from Etsy; and is made by Xenobia Bailey (who, if you crochet, aren't familiar with... shame, shame, shame... Google her... Now...LOL). (Her Etsy Shop) If you look on my sidebar, you will see that she is listed as one of my CROCHET HEROES!

I don't know when I will ever be able to go and see her wonderful & inspiring artwork in person... and this was a chance to own something that she actually made.. . and I received a nice hand-written note from her too!

Here is another early birthday gift... an absolutely bright and marvelous carpet runner (from Dad & Jan... thanks!), that I decided to use... well, on the wall! (that isnt too weird, is it?) The colors (not to mention the Sunflowers!) just seemed perfect to use as almost like a wallpaper border. I think it goes great with the new counter that Sugar Daddy & Sunshine put up.

And since we were traveling on Vday (our niece, R, got married), Sugar Daddy outdid himself with last night's Filet Mignon and Lobster Tails on the grill... so delicious!

LOBSTER TAILS ON THE BARBIE!

and of course, a pic of our usual Sunday in Greenville Saffron Plate. super yummy!

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FO ALERT: ANOTHER BERET (a birthday present for my sis)

My sis has been wearing hats lately... so after I finished the beret for my cousin, I thought I would make one for my sister's birthday gift. Only problem is i forgot my pattern for it at our little place in Georgia. And I was having "wireless router" issues preventing me from getting online to look for it.

soooooooooo... i pieced together my own design. What do you think of it?

I used a size J hook and Hobby Lobby acrylic yarn (for ease of care). It is all done in dc, 2dc together, and hdc stitches.

(is there a name for the 2 dcs stitched together?)

I sure hope she likes it!

Happy Birthday, Sis!
(Don't worry, I won't tell your age... although I will say that you are younger than me!)
LOL