Start The Bidding At $1.00

Nothing gets my heart racing like a good auction. If you've never been to an auction, you should go. Just don't go to the ones I go to, I don't need the competition. I usually see my neighbor at every auction I go to. Her and I have the same taste and we continually end up bidding on the same items. This by the way is not my nemesis neighbor, this neighbor I really like. We usually find a way to work it out. There is a certain finesse needed to navigate an auction and come up with some good bargains. I pretty much wear my emotions on my sleeve and when I am excited about something, it shows! You have to have your poker face on for an auction. Not only because you'll look like an ass if you don't, but because the auctioneers really know how to play to your excitement. It's really easy to get carried away. I should probably take someone with me to help hold my arms down if I get out of control. Here is a list of my purchases from yesterday's auction:

Cutting board table
Child's table/coffee table
Rustic stool
Shop Vac
5' level
Rubber mallet
Hammer
8 wooden bowls/misc wood serving dishes
Craftsman circular saw
Some other saw (I don't really know what it is)

How much did I pay??????? Drum roll please!................$17.00. Now can you see why I am soooooo excited. The 5' level is worth more than that. The fun thing is when you bid on something and they throw in random shit with it. For instance, when the level came up for bid, they also had the rubber mallet and hammer with it. I really didn't want the rubber mallet and hammer. They were the bonus gifts. I got the level for $1. Sometimes the extra stuff they throw in is literally junk, but it's fun sifting through the boxes to see if there are any treasures. That is also why I got a saw that I don't know what it's for. It came with the Craftsman saw, which I also got for $1. Sometimes you end up making an impulse purchase. Last year I bought a lathe. I had every intention of using it. The problem is, I don't have the slightest clue how to use it. Who has time for lessons. I am in the process of trying to resell it. Anyone want a vintage Craftsman wood lathe mounted on a work bench is good working order??????? Let me know, and I'll make you a good deal.

PattiOriginals2009

I finally posted something for sale on my ETSY web page. It's already had 10 views. How cool is that!!?? I have more things to post, but they want you to put down the postage for each item. I haven't figured out how to do that yet. There has to be a rate schedule somewhere. If anyone knows how people do that, let me know. I'm gonna be raking in the big bucks. Joe can retire now, I got it covered.

Happy Birthday Ellie

Ellie was 5 yesterday! I didn't feel right about putting her Birthday greeting in with my Dad's. She is after all just a dog. (Don't tell Joe I said that). She didn't get a cake or anything like that, but I did carry her around in one of her carriers while I mowed the grass. She sat there like a little princess and growled whenever I got close to the chickens or the rabbits. She's very possessive. Love her or hate her, she's part of the family.

Happy Birthday Daddy

My dad would have been 89 years old today if he had not died at the young age of 63. I can't believe he has been dead 25 years! I miss my Daddy. He taught me a lot of things, and most of them I didn't realize until after he was gone. He would be glad to know that all of those times when he thought I wasn't listening, I really was. Maybe I didn't apply his teachings then, but I do now on a daily basis. The moral of the story is: when you have told your child for the hundreth time what to do or not to do, eventually it will sink in. It may be 20 years, but it will sink in. So don't give up.

Hiding From The Public

So.....the poison ivy has popped up in a few more places. My jaw line and eyes as well as around my mouth and lips are red swollen and itchy. That is a photo of me above, or at least it represents how I feel. I went to the drug store to find some anti itch medicine. I was trying to choose one to buy. It's like everything else, it usually comes down to packaging. All things being equal, I chose the one that came with the free blistex lip balm. I like free things. I make my purchase and headed off to my other errands. I'm pulling into the drive up at the bank and I decide I would put a little medicine on my face before I get up to the window. Crap! it's pale pink color. I knew I should have choosen the spray. I had already started slathering it on my chin when I realized it's not going to rub in. Luckily I was on the outside lane so the teller couldn't see me very well. Now I looked like a white person with vitiligo. Of course the teller was the gorgeous blond girl with the flawless skin; I hate her. I still have to stop at the grocery store. I try to avoid eye contact with anyone so I don't have to say hi. Little children are running from me screaming, clinging onto their mothers. Some old man starts talking to me about the beef barley soup he is making for dinner. "Don't look at me man, you will turn to stone!" I'm home now and I am staying here until it is safe to be seen in public again.

Beet It

The "What am I" photo is a beet. I peeled it the other day and I thought it was so pretty. It almost looked like dark red stained wood. Steve guessed it after I gave the hint. Amanda actually guessed it too. She wasn't sure what it was called though. Amanda doesn't eat that kind of food. I made roasted beets with it. You slice the beet thinly, coat the slices with olive oil and salt, then roast them in the oven around 400 degrees for about 20 mins. or until they are soft. Really good!
Beets are really good for you too. Lots of vitamins and antioxidants. Just trying to keep everyone healthy.

The Poison

I mentioned earlier how Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer. That's not true, I am the unofficial start of summer. I have my first case of poison ivy. I say first case because I know it won't be the last. I have a special gift for contracting the bubbling itchy blisters. I have lived in the "country" almost 10 years. I don't think there has been a summer that I haven't gotten it. It took me about 5 years to recognize what it looks like. That doesn't matter though it still finds a way to sneak up on me. The year that Amanda and Brad got married at our house, I had the poison all summer long from trying to get the yard ready for the wedding. The first case I ever had was the first summer after Joe and I got married. I was trying to settle into my domestic role by putting up a clothes line. The pole to attach the line to was covered with a bush. Of course I had to remove the bush and all its attachments. Joe didn't bother pointing out that it was full of poison ivy. Maybe he was regretting marrying me and that was his way to try and off me. I ended up with the poison from head to toe. I had blisters in places were there should be no blisters. I was miserable for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks of scratching and complaining and sleepless nights. Joe says: "Do you want me to order something for you to help get rid of that?" "Whaaaaaat!" "There's something you can take for this and you have waited 2 weeks to tell me?" He really was trying to kill me. I can suffer through the mild cases, but the bad ones get a call to the pharmacy right away. Today's case of the poison is on my face (of course). Circumoral and on my tongue. I swear I wasn't eating it. At least I don't think I did???? I know exactly how I got it. The oil was apparently on my glove cuff and I remember wiping my upper lip with my glove. What I don't get is how I get it on my nether regions, but invariably once or twice it will show up there. None there at this present time. Remember....Leaves of 3, let them be!

Hint

It is a Vegetable.