Leader of the Zombie Pack

I decided to to paint a huge bookcase that was white enamel. I asked a friend who does painted furniture the easiest way. She recommended Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. I found someone who sells it in Pelham. It is the neatest stuff. You don't have to prime or sand and you can use it on any surface. It was pretty easy too. The most difficult part was doing the dark wax at the end. I bought another can to start on my bedroom furniture. I used Duck Egg on the bookshelf and are going to use Paris Grey next.

I have also been working on Annabelle too. Annabelle is our dog who we love but she is a pistol. I have a friend who has been helping me train her that she is not the pack leader. She is not aggressive but loves being in charge. The biggest challenge has been teaching her how to walk on a leash. She was literally pulling me down the street. The trainer recommended treats but they didn't work. She recommended a little choke collar but Annabelle could have cared less. We tried a collar that leads the nose and turns the body and Annabelle would just lie down and not move. The only thing that works is a prong collar. I only have to pull it quickly to get her back on track. It works wonderfully. I bought the first one at PETCO, but it kept popping open. I took it back for one that did not have a quick release. They didn't have one and the guy proceeded to give me a lecture about it. So I complained to PETCO headquarters and they had the manager call me. The manager was still a little know it all, he claimed he had seen dogs throats torn open etc from them. I told him that I did not go all the way to Ozark, AL to adopt her to bring her home and abuse her. The guy was probably mid twenties, so much life experience there. I explained sometimes customers don't want your advice. It fell on deaf ears. I told him I am raising 3 kids, I think I know a little about life. Annabelle is very smart and stubborn. I am very stubborn too so this works for us. Needless to say I was not impressed with PETCO at all. Actually typing this makes me realize what a jerk he still was.....they would not take back the collar without a receipt. I told them couldn't they find it on my PET Perks card? Probably not they said, what the heck kind of Perks is that? In PETCO's defense Hollywood Feed tried to give me a lecture too. My trainer I trust completely and she has been doing this for a long time. She has great dogs and kids. Just had to vent a little. Another thing Annabelle has been doing is learning doggie manners at doggie day care. It is so good for her. The trainer has land she can run on and she is learning how to act around other dogs from a sweet lab and brilliant German Shepard. To say I am obsessed is true, but I know Annabelle once trained will be worth all the effort. I love her trained or no, but she already seems more relaxed and happy because she is learning her place in the pack. I am enjoying my responsibilities at OMMS. So many wonderful people are there and I love it. I was recently in the Haunted House with two of my best friends. We were the Zombie Bride sisters.

Groupon makes good on their pinky promise

I was so excited to use my Groupon DELUXE facial on Friday.   I get there and the first thing I see is "all services are provided by students."  That gave me a little pause but I soldiered on.  I went to the back to change and the velcro on the towel wrap kept busting open.  Then I was taken to my "room" which was like the semi private hospital rooms that you see on tv.  I could hear some relaxing music in my ear but also I could hear everyone who came in and out of the salon.  People kept walking thorough to go to the bathroom.  The girl who did my facial almost put bruises on my arms by pinching and squeezing them.  I was lying on my back for 90 minutes with a tight headband on my head, not very comfortable.  She didn't do any extractions because she said I didn't have blackheads, Lord knows that is not true.  I also looked up one time and she was picking her nose a little.  Several steps seemed to be repeated over and over. 
So I thought oh well it is not this poor woman's fault I was tricked into this, so I asked the receptionist how much a 90 minute facial normally cost because I was going to tip on that amount.  She said, "We don't have a 90 minute facial, we just created it for the groupon."  "The 60 minute facial is $40."  I had paid $37 for the facial.  I was ticked.  I came home and checked the website for the salon and no mention services were performed by students.  It also did not say it on the Groupon.  I emailed Groupon to let them know and they refunded my money.  Thanks Groupon!!!  This just fed my Groupon obsession. 
We went to a few garage sale/estate sales on Saturday and Sunday. Below are my lovely finds. 

I found these funky Barbies looking for a fondue party.  I bought them, the fondue set, and the blue table.  They are supposed to be for Ruthie, my niece, but I am not sure if I can part with the Barbies. 

This is a gorgeous oil painting the estate sale guy sold me for $3.  I love it!!

These yellow prints came from the Foundry Thrift Store, total they were $5. 

This was my favorite, even though I don't like beachy stuff at all, but that is what is so cool they are shells made into flowers.  3D

This witch was calling my name, she makes me happy. 

Helping Hands

I haven't seen the movie The Help yet.  I am kind of putting it off.  The book was a wonderful story but was pretty sad to me.  It is set in the area I grew up in.  My Momma played bridge a bunch with her friends and went to Ole Miss like Skeeter.  When Kathleen and I were little we had Lilly who would come and stay with us.  Momma used to go to a club called Mid-Century and to play bridge.  Lilly was so great, she was always happy and loving.  She would basically just play with us.  I was so sad when Lilly quit to take a job with benefits.

Mary Freeman used to come every Friday.  Mary did the deep cleaning and she was a machine.  She smelled like cloves and Vick Vapor Rub.  She was very high energy and she was the first person I remember "worrying" about me.  We are not a family of worriers and I think that fact worried Mary even more.  In fact we had a saying "You're Marynoid", meaning you worry too much.  I remember pretending that we were Harriet the Spy and listening in on her phone conversations.  I am sure she knew what we were doing.  I loved coming home "sick" on Fridays because Mary took great care of me.  She would make me grilled cheese and applesauce and serve it to me in bed.  We would take her to public school system after she worked most of the day with us for her 2nd job.  I hadn't thought about that being a second job until just now.  She never complained or acted like she was tired ever.

Heloise started working with us after my Grandmother got remarried.  She would come twice a week and was the best cook I have ever known.  She would do all the laundry, iron, and cook a delicious meal.  She was always sweet to us but she would put us in our place too.  Kathleen, Heloise and I would all stop (if Momma was out) what we were doing to watch our "stories".  Our favorite was "As The World Turns."  Momma did not like us to watch these but Heloise never told on us.  We walked in and out for the other CBS soaps but Lilly and Holden had our attention.  As I got older and didn't have time for soaps I would take Heloise home just so I could get caught up.  She always had a detailed report.  I ran away one time when Heloise was taking care of me and I still feel so bad I gave her that scare (a story for another time).  Heloise's chicken fingers were so good someone in my class would steal them out of my lunch bag (that was before Chick-Fil-A).  Heloise sat with the family at my wedding and she looked so beautiful on that day.  Brian adored her too. My sister Sarah has said it well in saying that Heloise is one of the first people she wants to find in heaven to thank her for all she did for us. 

My Momma has some help twice a week now and her name is Nita.  She was one of two people who could get Clara to stop crying when she was an infant.  I would come home when my kids were little and she would take care of my babies (all while cleaning the whole house).  Momma and I would go and get out not to Mid Century or bridge, but something like that.  Nita is pretty much one of smartest people I know.  She was an American Picker before they were.  She and her husband have a business re- selling items.  She has survived so much: an abusive  ex husband, losing a child and having a son in jail.  She is such a happy person too, but when she is not we take care of her.  Other day she called while my Momma was in Birmingham and said she had gotten stung by a wasp.  We told her what to put on it then, my Dad's tobacco and Momma called the local pharmacist to get him to put what she needed in the drive thru window.  Nita told Brian at our wedding "If you hurt my baby, I gonna roll you!!"

So the story of these strong women is very personal to me.  I admire these women so much.  I mean my generation is one that has to be appreciated, respected and cherished at all times.  These women sometimes had none of these things but did what they had to take care of those they love, their family as well as other people's families.  God gave these women strength to endure and not just endure but help others endure.  My Momma while we were growing up,  and me when I had my own kids.  Nita's granddaughter (daughter of her child that died at 14) is starting college this fall.  Nita has worked so hard to guarantee she made it there.

The Help is a cute, fun and sweet story to most like Steel Magnolias. To me it is a real story about mothers of the women who helped raise and take care of our family.  So I feel a little protective of them and their story.  I might be presumptuous to say this but I feel certain this is how Katherine Stockett felt while writing this story.   I think I will just go by myself one afternoon so I can cry if I want to. 

My Farewell to Summer 2011