A Big ROOOOLLLLL TIDE Roll from the Stone Family

Much like the first day of school, the first day of summer, Christmas morning and all other things great, the first day of football season is a day for celebration in the home of Stone. With low expectations for the season, we are looking forward to Bama football and want to wish you all a wonderful first kickoff day! Roll Tide!

Time at Home with the Girls

John and I have been pretty intentional this week about spending some time at home. The girls get strung out by Thursday night (being in school three days straight) and then with our schedule lately, we've been gone a lot at night.  So, we were home all weekend and then every night this week (except tomorrow) and then we're going to the Bay this weekend with Daddy in tow.  All that being said, we've had some fun days at home. 

AND with it raining for three days straight, we've gotten pretty creative in how we (I) keep the girls occupied: with friends, with paint, with food and with our fantastic playroom!

Our friends Will and Bennett came over for a few hours Monday - they had such a fantastic time!

Lounging on the sofa with the Stone girls.

Will is such a precious little boy - so caring. 

Time with Daddy looking at the Baby Books.

*** On a side note - watching the Democratic Convention... you know, you have to see what everyone is saying... but does anyone else think that Bill Clinton is in desperate need of a haircut - it looks like a bouffant.

Casino Night - Goofing around with Friends

Alan and Elizabeth were kind enough to invite John and I to tag along to AIDS Alabama's Red Hot Casino night at WorkPlay.  We had a great time and got a little goofy at the Blackjack table with the camera. 

Funny enough, John was complimented on "winning the prize and being the best dressed man in the room." We think Jim was trying to pick him up.  

Here he is with our friend Alan - not Jim.

I didn't really catch on that we were supposed to make silly faces.

Super model posing. Elizabeth could actually pass - me, not so much.

In that it was an AIDS Alabama event, there were a lot of "alternative lifestyle" friends there.  Elizabeth and I just played along.  She's having my baby and we're very happy. 

Kiki and Doodal (not pictured, obviously) were also able to come.  Kiki is apparently a Blackjack SUPERSTAR player and taught the rest of us the ropes.

New Favorite Picture

Here's my new favorite picture of Ellabee.  I have been experimenting with hair wear... new hair clips for the girls.  They don't like bows, but I like girlie so we're compromising and I'm using felt along with some embroidery skills and making them clips.  Here's a little pumpkin one I did.  I was trying to get a picture of the clip for Shrimp & Grits and caught this of the bee.  I love love love it!  

Anne Bailey's Personality

She's a bit like her mom, a bit like her dad. She likes to clean, and cuddle.  She loves to eat and doesn't really get into over exerting herself.  She likes to sleep late and go to bed early.  She's a wild one and can hold her own with her big sister.  She's outspoken, strong-willed and independent... she's everything you want a little girl to be in this world... and then again, she makes me want to pull my hair out.  She's precious and she's ours.  

Our new favorite past-time... running the dust buster.  I'm not complaining!

Our blue-eyed girl!

reserved one minute...

... and wide open the next.

Sleepy Summer Days

It's pretty hot here.  Apparently there's a tropical storm coming but right now, it's hot.  How do you combat August in Alabama?  Ice Cream, pool playdates and outside time only in the morning.  

It's been a pretty crazy week in the Stone home.  John's been gone four nights this week and I've been "single moming" it with the girls.  I was about to the end of my rope tonight when John finally walked through the door tonight - but we made it.  Here are a couple of pics from the week:

Popsicles are YUMMY on a 102 degree day!

First "big girl" picture. She's not a baby anymore and this is the first pic that captured that little girl look.  

You know what, it's just too darn hot to play.  I think we'll just sit in the shade and lounge.

And the Canning Continues

So, the canning continues.  John has accused me of morphing into a 70 year old woman and asked me when I was going to start darning. I don't think he even knows what darning is - to be honest, I don't even know exactly what darning is... perhaps I'll research it and try just to spite him.  

While at Pepper Place yesterday I got it in my mind that it would be a good idea to buy a bushel of lady peas... a BUSHEL is a heck of a lot of peas... just in case you've ever wondered.  From that bushel, I've canned 14 pint jars and 6 quart jars.  Holy cow, it was a lot of peas. Then I went and did another 6 pint jars of blueberry jam and I also did five jars of peach butter Thursday night. It was supposed to cook for 12 hours and be ready - 36 hours later, it was ready to jar.  But, by far it's the best thing I've made.  Here's the count so far:

20 jars of lady peas

6 jars of blueberry jam

6 jars of peach butter

7 jars of peach preserves

6 jars of green beans

8 jars of apply jelly

6 jars of pickled okra

4 jars of squash

4 jars of salsa

I have about a 2 sq foot space of shelving left in my pantry and about 6 quart jars and 10 pint jars left - any ideas on what I can can?  can you do anything with butternut squash - or what about pumpkin?  pumpkin butter?  HUM....

Honor for my Paw Paw

My grandfather was inducted posthumously into the Amateur Softball Hall of Fame last night.  It was a nice honor for him, an incredible pitcher who played on various leagues in Birmingham throughout the 50s, 60s and 70s.  More importantly, it was nice to have our family (minus Emery and my girls) together for the night. 

Some highlights from the evening:

1. when the older gentleman emcee (you imagine the crowd at this event) told everyone that the program would start in 5 minutes and the ladies should go to the "sandbox" now... as in litter box - meow.

2. when the same said gentleman invited everyone to join the board of the Amateur Softball Association at their next meeting where the men "get to business" and the women "sit around a gossip." 

Those are just a few of the Patriarchal and chauvinistic remarks endured.  We were hysterical at the situation, but it was a nice honor and a good time had by all - well maybe that's stretching it but it was very nice.  

Daddy fell asleep during the presentation and proceeded to begin snoring. Chancellor and Garrison were more concerned with the candy in the centerpiece.

John was quite dapper in his seer sucker and bow tie.  I love a man in cotton!

Meet my Uncle

My mom and dad headed south at the first of August to be at my cousin Drexy's wedding.  My aunt and uncle live in Miami and we rarely see them.  My mom brought back these pictures and I had to share.  You may see this and say that they look nothing alike, but to me, my dad and Uncle Drex could be twins!

Uncle Drex and Aunt Ruth.  I have many stories to share about the time Mother and Daddy sent Amy and I to Miami with them for two weeks.  MANY STORIES!

My dad, Ed or Eddie - what his brother calls him (or Edwardo as he's commonly called among my friends).  Don't they look alike?

Meanwhile... Back at the Bay

We headed south for the weekend for a last hurrah at the Bay before school started yesterday (my school - work).  We spent A LOT of time on the water, time in the boat and time in front of the Olympics.  I LOVE THE OLYMPICS!

Who me?  I love watching the Olympics.

Hanging on the Bay, having some sister time.

Our little "no fear" child.

We also got to ride the ferris wheel at The Wharf

Leave it to Paw Paw to turn a dock trolley into a baby carriage.

Read in Silence - Incognito Even... without your Co-Workers Noticing

So, it's been pointed out that the music on the blog is rather overwhelming in an office setting... perhaps Yea Alabama by the Million Dollar Band was a bit over the top (24 days, Roll Tide).  So, I've made the decision to remove the music. For all my procrastinating, blog-stalking friends out there.  Now you can surf to your hearts content without your co-workers knowing what you are doing.  Read away and escape into the blog world where you don't have to think about that memo or your crazy client or even the stop sign you just ran (that's for our friends reading on their blackberries).  

On a different note - does anyone check their own blog?  I find myself re-reading what I wrote... flipping through the pictures, etc.  Perhaps a bit too much delving into the depths of my mind... or my egocentric self.  Oh well, as I was saying - Music is gone, not forgotten, but gone none-the-less.

No Seriously, have a BITE!

I can't tell if my children care for each other or just find humor in torturing each other or even in the act of trying to cohabitate this home simply tolerate the other's existence.  Seriously - they hug and love on each other one minute and then one will swat at the other which is returned with a bite... which Ellabee informed me is just a "love bite."  This said in the midst of facing the consequences for biting our sister.

Anyway, I shot these pictures as Ellabee shared her ice cream with her little sister the other evening.  We had run (yet again) to Publix for canning supplies and John took the girls to Sonic while I ran in to buy more mason jars, etc. I see glimpses of Ellabee's sweet spirit every once in a while - but like I said, there's usually a punch ready to be thrown at any minute. 

No, you really do want a bite. 

YUM!

Canning Update:

7 jars of Peach Preserves

8 jars of Apple Jelly

6 jars of Pickled Okra

4 jars of Squash

4 jars of salsa

I plan to visit the farmer's market at the Bay this weekend.  We'll see what we find down south.

In A Pickle

I have a bit of an addictive personality. This I know about myself which is why I stay away from excessive drinking, gambling, etc.  I know this about myself so I also know that I have a tendency to get carried away.  All that to say, when I was at the Bay with the girls a few weeks ago, Tori & Mother were talking about canning things from the garden.  I was intrigued. 

So after reading up and getting all my materials together, I started canning today.  Five jars of summer squash and 6 jars of pickled okra later, I'm already searching the internet and my cook books for more recipes.  There may even be a trip to the Finley Blvd or Alabama State Fair farmer's market tomorrow!!!  I have 36 cans and I need stuff to put in them. Send me your recipes - I'm a woman on a mission.

And seriously, it's kindof like my sewing - it comes in waves - but this is a good thing for the family.  We'll be able to eat on it this winter and think about Pepper Place and where we got the veggies.  I have memories of our house in Hoover smelling like vinegar from Mother canning pickles.  Perhaps Ellabee and Anne Bailey can have that same memory. 

And in full disclosure: I will have to redo the squash tomorrow because of a small mistake, but the pickled okra did just like the recipe said it would - down to the "pops" at the end of the process telling me that the jars sealed.  We'll see if we can get some "pops" for the squash in the morning.

 

My first canning experience.  Five cans of summer squash - will need redoing in the morning, but it was a good first try.

I love pickled okra.  Not sure if it's as good as Mother's but I used the Southern Living recipe and I'm pretty sure hers is similar - a pepper, clove of garlic, dill seed and vinegar... Mother, sound familiar?

Pretty pathetic, I know, but I was so excited to be actually canning!

All that cutting and dicing is cathartic.