(No so) Wordless Wednesday...First Ride of the Year

My dad is a farmer. His father was a farmer. His father's father was a farmer. You see where I'm going with this, don't you? 

I grew up on a farm. I grew up knowing that each spring and each fall, we wouldn't see much of my dad for several weeks running. And if we did see him during this time, it was usually inside the cab of a tractor or combine.

Now, I NEVER remember combines (those big machines that harvest the grain) out in the fields so early in September - at least in our neck of the woods. Dad started picking corn last Tuesday. I jumped in the cab for my first (and hopefully not last) ride of the year last Friday. He said that he'd harvested soybeans as early as September 1 before but NEVER corn (field corn, not sweet corn).

Why so early? We haven't had a significant rain since late July. This caused the corn to mature and dry down in the field much faster than normal. Farmers don't want the corn to get too dry in the fields so when it's ready, it's ready - no matter what the date!

Here are some more shots I got during my ride. Enjoy.

My dad...

Views from the cab...

Unloading...notice that dad unloads into grain wagons which will then be pulled out of the field and dumped into grain bins. You may also see combines unloading directly into semi trucks with grain hoppers (trailers) or even unloading while continuing to harvest.

Dad doesn't do that. It's a two-man team on our farm - my dad and my Uncle Sam (though Mom has driven the tractor this year too) and they don't own a semi so this system works best for their limited manpower.

 

Party Planning, Part II: Action Figures, Cookies & Pink

Hello visitors from Follow Me Back Tuesday!

My hostess pack from House Party came last week for my Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 3 premiere party. The season opener for SWCW is Friday night (September 17) on the Cartoon Network at 9 p.m. EDT.

My oldest nephew saw the action figures and went wild!

He honed in quickly on this one..

Captain Rex is his favorite character. He's already laid claim to this one but has to wait until Friday to get it!

I have talked on here already about this party and my baby sister's, aka Brat, baby shower and how I've been planning them. I have had some great suggestions from both old and new friends for both parties.

My college roommate told me that her son's birthday party later this fall is Star Wars-themed and she passed along these games: Pass the Death Star, Feed Jabba the Hut, Jedi vs Sith, Use the Force, Jedi Obstacle Course, and Meteor Shower.

I still need to finalize the menu and the games and the other entertainment for my SWCW party...so stay tuned!

As for the baby shower, it went off without a hitch this weekend. For the food, we decided to forego the cake and concentrate on cookies instead! We had quite the spread and they seemed to be enjoyed by all. Though we realized how easy it is to just pick up a cake from the bakery while we were each making several kinds of cookies!

I even tried to add some flair and used two of these 3-tiered cake stands and put a flower in the base of the middle and top tier.

Add a tablecloth, balloons, wildflowers and you have our decorations!

No shower is complete without some games. You can see the mommy-to-be judging the "babies" the guests drew on paper plates while their eyes were closed! In the background, you can see our Aunt Peggy passing the toilet paper.

No, we didn't use the toilet paper as hillbilly napkins. It was the second game...how many toilet paper panels around is the mommy-to-be's belly! Most people thought she was a bit bigger than she really is. Just in case you are curious, her belly measures 10 panels of Angel Soft toilet paper!


Then it was onto the gifts.

Now, I want to point out that I was sitting to the side the entire time so I couldn't see her face OR I would have told her that she had a piece of hair across her forehead! Oops...sorry Brat, but aren't the boots adorable!

See, there I am off to the side.

Isn't the quote behind her appropriate at a baby shower for a girl? I just know this baby will be smart, strong and bold! She has some great role models to help her down that path.

Of course, she got lots and lots of pink outfits. I think she said she got 25 outfits in total - not all pink, but the majority were!

Brat got 2 beautiful quilts made specifically for her baby girl. The one below was done by a friend of mine's mom after she saw my sis's blog post about putting together her nursery. She matched the colors of the room perfectly, according to my sister after she took it home and put it in the nursery.

So, one party down, one more to go...can't believe I chose to host two parties in one week!

Random Shots from My Phone...TOTALLY Random

I have so much to blog about that I really don't know where to start.

I really want to finish up my "Random Shots from my Phone" series but I also just co-hosted a baby shower for Brat, my Baby Sis, and have been prepping for my Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 3 (starts September 17) premiere party (see my prep post). Add to those some interesting travels last week and the start of corn harvest, and I have all kinds of stuff to talk type about.

So, I think I'll go ahead and finish the Random Photos series with a collection of truly random shots I found on my phone recently. Here we go...

First, I'm all about good fashion repeating itself. I also really like the leggings look (on folks who can pull it off, not me) that is out there right now. However, I cannot believe that stirrup pants are back in.

Yes, you read right - STIRRUP PANTS. I stopped in Gap the other day and was busy digging through their jeans selection (all were $35) when I spied these...

I admit that I was a stirrup pants wearer back in the day, but if they aren't bringing back the slouchy socks to go with them...I just don't see the appeal. Maybe I should ask Leslie over at Blonde Ambition or Little Miss Can't Be Wrong over at how i met your father because they are much more fashion aware than I am!

Moving on...

The next two photos are of some paintings I fell in love with during a visit to Gwen Gutwein's studio in Fort Wayne, Ind. I bought the painting in the middle of the first photo - my first real piece of art!

It's of soybean plants awaiting harvest. I am not sure what it is about the painting that speaks to me so loudly, but I'm in love with it still, always.

This painting is one that I thought my mom would really like. She loves birds and while this one is very simple, it's striking...at least to me.

The organizations I work for have a program with the Indianapolis Colts and Tight End Dallas Clark is the spokesperson. We spent a day last spring filming some television and radio spots with Clark. In this photo, he's doing a shoot with the Indiana FFA State Officer Team (last year's). He stopped filming when he realized the FFAers had memorized their lines while he was reading off cue cards. I was impressed by both Clark AND the FFA officers. Both were approachable, professional and lots of fun.

Can anyone tell me who this is? Some of my co-workers and I were eating lunch at our hotel in California last March and this former contestant on the Bachelor was our server! Now, I don't watch the show but a couple of my co-workers do and they begged me to get a shot of her.

This one was taken very casually as I "checked my e-mail" while she was taking our order.

For the life of me, I can't remember what her name is and what season she was on. I guess I could zoom in on her nametag and Google the show, but I really don't care that much!

Isn't this a cool shoe? I snapped this shot while eating in a great outdoor courtyard this summer. If you don't know what the "P" stands for...shame on you. Just kidding, it's for Purdue - the Boilermakers - THE best university in the world. Boiler Up!!!

Every post needs a monkey, right? Haven't you always wanted a Monkey? Sorry, I always think of that Barenaked Ladies song when I see a photo of a monkey...I know, I'm weird.

This very well-dressed monkey (maybe she needs some stirrup pants...) was at a small town homecoming that I attended for work earlier this summer. This was the same place that had the frog jumping contest. It was just excitement everywhere!

While I'm on the subject of animals, here's a shot at the pool in my neighborhood. My sister, nephews and I had just gotten out of the pool when these guys decided to take a dip.

We haven't been back since...

And last, but not least. Did you have a Monchhichi growing up?

We had one in the house but I can't remember if it was mine or one of my sisters. I saw these in Target the other day and just had to get a shot of them. Again, like fashion, I'm somewhat amazed what toys cycle back into circulation every few years!

That wraps up my "Random Shots from My Phone" series. Now that I've cleared off some shots from my phone, I have room for even more so stay tuned for more in the future!

Linking up to:
Mingle Monday

Getting to Know You, Getting to Know All About You...

OK, my love of musicals is shining through again in my post title, but I just couldn't help it. The lyrics have been running through my head ever since I started this post!

Little Miss Can't Be Wrong over at how i met your father tagged me in the 8 Questions game so here it goes...

Q:  If you could have any superpower what would you have? Why?

A: Teleportation - Ability to move from 1 place to another without occupying the space in between.

It is such a hassle to get in the car, plane, boat or train to get places so wouldn't it be nice to just teleport myself to where I want to go. Sort of like on Star Trek?

Though that really wasn't a superpower...

Unlike Misfit (Batgirl) who I learned through my Google search could teleport herself AND she gets to wear a cool superhero costume!

Q. Who is your style icon?

A.  Sadly, I have no style. Seriously, my work attire consists of black pants and a gray shirt or gray pants and a black shirt. I do throw on some cute shoes once in a while, but even then they are usually flats! And don't get me started on my weekend wear - can you say jeans and a cotton shirt??

Having no style of my own, is one reason I love to go visit himyf and A Blonde Ambition because they are ALWAYS featuring some serious fashion! I did invest in some skinny jeans (OK, they are slim fit) last year and I'm so glad I did - I feel a bit more "in style" when I put them on.

Q.  What is your favorite quote?

A.  If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put foundations under them.
Henry David Thoreau

This next one isn't really a quote, more like a line my dad loves to say. "It's so ugly, it's ooogly." Don't ask...

Q.  What is the best compliment you've ever received?
A.  That I'm a good daughter, granddaughter, sister and friend.

Q.  What playlist/cd is your CD player/iPod right now?

A.  I've been listening to the songs I've either purchased off of iTunes over the last year or so, as well as songs from CDs I've bought. I'm really enjoying Kings of Leon's Only By the Night; The Avett Brothers' I And Love And You; and the Hope for Haiti Now albums.

I don't have it on my iTunes but I love, love, love the album that Coldplay gave out at their concert last year. It was basically the concert we heard on CD! Live versions of their songs. Every time I play it I feel like I'm back at the concert!

Q.  Are you a night owl or a morning person?
A.  Definitely a morning person. Sleeping in was 8 a.m. in my house growing up and it stuck. I rarely sleep past 7 a.m. and I'm usually brain dead around 10 p.m.

Q. Do you prefer cats or dogs?
A.  Dogs, definitely. I have a slight allergy to cats so while I have nothing against them personally, I do have a hard time being in the same room with them!

Q.  What is the meaning behind your blog name?
A.  I think my "About Me" sums it up nicely... I'm a middle child (2nd of four girls) living in Middle America (Indiana to be exact) approaching middle age (35 is coming way too soon) always in the middle of doing something (finishing is the hard part).

Here are my 8 questions:
1.  What is the one piece of clothing that you can NOT live without?
2.  Do you have a favorite photograph? If yes, what is it of?
3.  What was your first job?
4.  If you could choose a new first name, what would it be?
5.  Coffee or Soda in the morning?
6.  What is one piece of technology that you just can NOT figure out?
7.  Radio or buzzer on your alarm clock?
8.  Other than this blog, what was the last thing you read?

Here are the lovely ladies who I am tagging:
1.  Going Jane
2.  Beyer Beware
3.  Goodeness Gracious
4.  Liz at Two Maids a Milking
5.  a Latte' with Ott, A
6.  a spoonful of
7.  Pinke Post
8.  kayni's corner cafe

Wordless Wednesday: Random Travel Photos from My Phone

To continue my theme from Monday and to go along with Wordless Wednesday, here are a few random shots from my phone of some of the places I've traveled to over the last three years and some of the sites (and people) I've seen. Enjoy...

Street performer in Chicago a couple of weeks ago...

Another Chicago shot...this one is of the Chinese circus I saw about a year ago.

View from my balcony in Kauai...oh I still miss it so.

From a walking tour of Savannah (anyone else fall in love with that city when they visited?), a shot of Clary's Cafe made famous by a certain book/movie based in the city.

Me during a haunted pub crawl in Savannah...gotta love their open container policy AND that they use 100% biodegradable cups made of corn!

Carrying on the corn theme...I had a little too much time on my hands before a recent flight out of Des Moines, Iowa. Here are some shots of what I found in their gift shop. A bit corny, I admit...

And to finish it up, a shot from our recent Disney vacation...not sure why I had to capture this moment on my phone...

Random Shots from My Commute...

I was clearing off some photos from my phone this weekend when I realized how random (and old) most of them are. I usually use the camera on my phone when I want to capture a funny or sweet or incredible moment and send it immediately to someone who would appreciate it.

Sometimes I don't have my other camera with me and I have to make do with my phone camera to get a shot that I'll use on here. It's not ideal, but it gets the job done. Remember the dog with sunglasses? What about the handcuffs?

I digress...over the next several days, I'll be sharing some of those random shots and random thoughts with you! Here we go.

These first photos were all captured on my commute to or from work.

NOTE: All photos were taken while I was stopped at a stoplight or stop sign.

First up, do you see the back window of this car?

Someone had fun with stickers! Will that affect the re-sale value?

Not sure you will get the full effect with this next photo. The truck in my rearview mirror is covered in carpet.

I've seen a van covered in outdoor green carpet, but never a truck covered in black carpet!

 Not sure why I took this last photo...I'm thinking it's because the bikers in front of me were all women. Or maybe I was thinking I needed one of those hogs. Or maybe I was trying to check my e-mail and hit the wrong button. Who knows? I just wanted to share!

Coming soon...
Random Shots from My Travels
Random Shots of My Nephews
Random Shots from My Phone

It's Party Planning Time...

I have two very different parties to prep for over the next two weeks.

First, my baby sister (aka the Frugalista, aka the Brat) is having a baby in October so my other sisters and I are throwing her a baby shower.

I know what you are thinking. She's just a baby herself, how can she be having a baby! I still remember going to the hospital to meet this little baby girl that made her way into the world just days before my 8th birthday.

Actually, I'm super-excited for her and her HHBL. They will be great parents to a very lucky little girl. The Brat is having the first baby girl in our family. After having FOUR daughters, my dad hoped, prayed and loudly wished for a grandson for years. He now has 4 wild and crazy grandsons and what does he want? A granddaughter! The man is never satisfied.

So glad that the Brat - my dad's baby girl - is giving him his first baby granddaughter. Won't that be a great photo!

The other party is a kid's party to celebrate the premiere of Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 3.

My nephews are HUGE Star Wars fans. When we went to Disney World this summer, the older nephews were way more excited about the Star Wars weekend than meeting Mickey!

So they are so going to flip over this party! I'm planning to have up to 10 children under the age of 10, as well as at least that many adults, to entertain, feed and corral! The party will finish with the season premier of the cartoon series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

My party pack is going to have some fun party favors, including some Hasbro Star Wars action figures, but I want to carry the theme throughout the food, decor and activities.

Since food is the common denominator of the two parties, that's where I started.

I headed to my local Wal-Mart to grab some supplies! In addition to some fun Star Wars napkins and plates, I grabbed some treat bags for the baby shower. We are planning to serve bite-sized desserts and send a treat bag with some goodies home with everyone.

I want to try some fun decorated cookies/brownies and I'm not all that great with icing, so I wanted to practice before baking for the actual parties.

I decided to do to my test run with bar cookies instead of brownies - basically out of laziness - and used 2 tubes of cookie dough as my base.

Before I got started, I also stopped by my local Kroger's to grab some groceries.

You know the old saying, "don't grocery shop when you are hungry?" It's true!

I grabbed some honey BBQ chicken anytizers from Tyson (never had them before and have to say they are yummy) and one of my favorite quick and easy sides - Ore-Ida Easy Fries! I paired them with the healthy weight Green Giant veggie mix - black beans, edamame, sugar peas and carrots...yummy - and a fountain Coke Zero!

Overall, it was a quick and easy meal, except for one thing...I put my Easy Fries on top of my microwave cover dish (just too lazy to take out the cover dish) and this happened.

Oops! Guess I'm on the lookout for a new cover. At least the Fries weren't affected!

Now back to the party food trials. My good friend over at Going Jane sent me a couple of ideas for Star Wars party food. Her kids are HUGE Star Wars fans - fanatics, really - so she's the perfect gal to consult with. Her first idea was a Darth Vader shaped brownie using a bell-shaped cookie cutter and white icing.

Here's the first attempt...

Not bad, but I'll try again with brownies because the cookies cut awkwardly.

I also tried some butterfly and flower cookies for the baby show. Decorating is definitely not one of my fortes. I'll keep trying!

Any suggestions for food for either the baby shower or the Star Wars party? All are welcome!