This sort of thing ain't my bag, Baby!

A few days ago (or last week?) I saw someone posting a meme about the contents of their purse. I'm not big on these silly tagging events, because it makes me feel like a 3rd grader again, but I thought it was really neat to see what people had in their purses, so here's my take on it:



This is a purse I've never used. It was a gift some Christmas or birthday a ways back...and I think it's outrageously awesome, but it ended up in a box and I just found it again recently. I will be using it soon...it's empty currently.



This is a bag that has gotten LOTS of use. I think I bought it at Stein Mart ten years ago in a rush because I had to go to a ball that night and had no nice purses. It's basic black and reusable over and over again. It's tiny, but big enough for a cell phone, keys, an ID and some money, a little make-up (special occasions are pretty much the only time I wear make up!). However, not big enough for my favorite brush.

Now, what is this monstrosity? This is my Target monster bag that I bought when my favorite purse broke (picture coming up below). I just needed something, anything, as long as it was cheap and BIG. Hense the scary, maroon monstrosity!

This bag gets used mainly on trips. It's my favorite messenger bag, pink Kate Spade. I could so easily collect bags...if I had the money!

This is my favorite backpack. I use it when going to any sports practice or game for the boys. I can throw in books, notebooks, pens, toys, snacks and water bottles, extra clothes, the camera, etc. It's nice and easy to cart around.

This was my favorite purse that I have used for years and years. It's a black nylon Kate Spade and it's slightly beaten up, as you can see. It's strap broke! I was so sad...and I can't sew! My stepfather bought it for me in South Korea years ago. I miss this purse...

Now for some examples of what I've been carrying around lately in the big, maroon, Target monstrosity. A notebook that is full of creative writing, To Do lists, random scribblings and important notes, and of course some child doodling...here's one of my To Do lists...
And, my trusty Sudoku book...
See, I promise I use it...it's almost completely filled up!
Here are my keys...which are sometimes in my purse...sometimes on the desk..sometimes in the kitchen or on the bookshelf....or sometimes left in the car!! The clicker doesn't work (will cost like $200 to fix, no way!), the bronze Texas I got at age 16 and the kids displayed of course.

This was my old wallet that went in the now-broken-strapped black purse...and as you can see it has seen better days. So, I had to retire it (but can't seem to throw it away?). I love the color green...before it got really dirty...

This iPod stays in any purse/backpack/bag I carry around.
and, here is the new wallet, so nice and pretty and clean!
and, finally, here is a purse (not mine) that costs around $5,000. Can you imagine spending that much or much, much more on purses?!!
I know my huge monstrosity purse is lacking fashion...but it's better than this below...
What else is in my purse? Lots of clicky pens, some pencils (for Sudoku), a pencil sharpener, a cell phone, a charger for cell phone, tampons, gum, and absolutely no make up! There are usually some kids' toys as well, sometimes a Nintendo DS, pain relievers, old batteries, curlers and receipts. You name it, I've probably had it in my purse. The one thing missing? MONEY!

The most unique item in my purse right now is a Cream of Wheat packet (I love CofW).

What's the most unique item in your purse?

Bubble Gum Philosophy

I found this on Valarie's blog and couldn't resist.

You Are Wintergreen Flavored Gum

You are laid back, low maintenance, and super cool. You go with the flow, and you never cause too much of a fuss. You are very in touch with nature and the world around you. You prefer to keep things simple. Complexity stresses you out. You are a very real person. Openness and honesty are important to you. You can be friends with almost anyone, as long as they tell it like it is.

What Flavor Gum Are You?

All-American Afternoon Antics

See, I am doing something with that English Major...I used alliteration in my subject title for today's post!

Baseball season has begun in our home. Donny's first game was yesterday, and unfortunately, they lost 1-9. I see a lot of potential in their team's talent though, so all is not hopeless! Remy's first TBall game is Friday, and he can't wait!

Of course, I couldn't resist bringing my camera along to be that obnoxious photo parent, taking pictures of anything and everything that moved. Here's the team getting their pre-game pep talk:


Here's Donny. He was nervous about the game. He played second base and third base and did ok at bat. He has a powerful hit, when the bat makes contact with the ball, which is good, because he isn't the fastest runner.

He got popped in the face with a grounder during warm-up and now has a dark bruise under his left eye. I'll get a picture of that after school today.

Most everyone knows the basics of baseball, but just in case you don't, here's a refresher. You try to hit the ball and run towards these things:

They're called bases. It's very important you touch these, before the other team touches it with the ball, or you're out. There are four of these bases...home, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. When you stuck on a base, waiting for another chance to run, it's a good idea not to try and figure out what shapes you can find in the clouds...or watch an airplane fly overhead. Just saying...

These are common tooks used in the game. The bat is good for hitting balls...and your brother. It's not good to hit rocks, despite the attraction every boy has to doing so.

The helmets are surely something pesky mothers invented or those guys in suits who worry about liability.

Gloves are not for scooping up dirt or putting over your head, despite seeing many do otherwise.

Remy isn't very good at sitting still and watching his older brother's game. So, he spends his time moving...I managed to catch him as he hopped up on this cement baseball...

Then I caught him again as he quickly scaled the backdrop fence...

And, finally, I redirected his energy to the baseball complex playscape, that surely a mother invented to keep all her kids busy so she could watch her child play baseball!! Of course, I had to keep checking to make sure he hadn't been kidnapped or was hurt...can you believe the size of this playscape?

The Tball game Friday will have even better photo opportunities, because little kids are hilarious playing sports. So, stayed tuned for more fun baseball season commentary as we get deeper into the month.

Construction

Please excuse the mess, folks, trying to work on the blog layout today...

One-Eyed Remy Longlegs

How much does it cost a pirate to get earrings?

A Buccaneer!

Why are pirates so mean?

I don't know, they just ARRRRe!

Would you like some ham with that scavenger hunt?

We had lots of scavenger hunts on our ranch for birthday parties. It was a lot of fun! Here I am on a scavenger hunt, hamming it up for the camera. Nice outfit, huh? This was taken in the early 1980's.

Milking the Cow

Here is a photo of a jersey milk cow (with a very full udder). Why am I showing you this?

Because when I was a child, growing up on a ranch in the Texas hill country, we had a jersey milk cow that we had to milk twice a day.

This picture was taken around 1981. It's me about 4 years old, milking Bessy on our ranch. It had to be done every day (twice a day!). (Those of you who have been nursing mothers surely understand!)

I can remember my mom stopping the suburban at the barn to run over and milk her...even dressed up nicely on her way to a meeting or something, running through the grass and hay in heels and pantyhose. Childhood memories.

It was also an initiation of sorts. Any visitors to our ranch, family or friends, usually ended up having to milk the cow on the little wooden stool and have their picture taken doing so.

You have to clean the teats first, then sit on your little stool and squeeze the milk into a pale. The cream rises to the top, and you can use that to churn into butter or make homemade cottage cheese or yogurt. There is something very appealing about living off the land and your own resources, but there is a big debate around "raw milk." Some say it isn't safe to consume because it hasn't been pasteurized, but others say raw milk has health benefits that get lost in the pasteurization process, and that it can be produced hygienically.

Where do I stand on this? I'm not sure...but I grew up drinking this milk and I'm ok...I think.

We also had chickens who produced eggs, a huge vegetable garden, apple trees, pigs, rabbits and cattle that were eaten periodically as well. My dad liked to go hunting and bring back venison. Now, that's living off the land! I'll have more posts on these details (my job with the chickens and my experiences hunting and shooting big guns) at a later date. Oh, the anticipation!

This picture also goes in theme with all the animal butts I posted Sunday from our trip to the circus. lol