H is for Hat

Spring Break in Nashville (con’t.)

I decided before I left the Northern Wilds of Wisconsin that Nashville was the place for me to shop for an outfit for my son's wedding. On previous visits to Nashville I noticed the shops had a wonderful selection of day dresses, evening wear etc. Oh and Hats. Northern Wisconsin not so good!

Shopping is not one of LS’s (Little Sister) favorite past times but she graciously indulged me and took me around to a number of little boutiques. I love boutiques. It reminded me of day tripping in Ireland. Actually for one small moment I thought I was perusing the boutiques and interesting little shops in Cork or Waterford! Until a salesperson spoke, the accent was a dead giveaway!

There are so many little and interesting shops to gush about....But this is H for Hat, so I am going to focus.

Our last shop stop was The Cotton Mill, in Green Hills. I walked into this shop and I saw hats. Heaven! A bounty of Hats and dresses. There were too many dresses to my liking. My flexible friend groaned. Sadly I had to go into elimination mode. I put on my Simon Cowell face.

The time had come for a Hat. After all that was my main mission. I tried on a variety of Hats. Loved them all.....LS informed very Helpful salesperson Brittany, she had never known an event in my life when a Hat wasn't involved. Adding our mission, an Ascot type Hat. Brittany didn't blink an eye...so we presumed she got our meaning.

After finding the perfect Hat I realized I had a problem. How to get Hat and dress back to Northern Wisconsin in all its perfect glory. Wonderful Brittany, suggested shipping. My dilemma solved, my flexible friend exhausted and in shock, I exited The Cotton Mill one Happy little future Mother-in-Law shopper!

Hat and dress arrived at my door a few days later in a HUGE box. Enclosed with foam and bubble wrapped Hat and tissue wrapped dress was a lovely note card from Brittany, professing her delight that I had found the perfect Hat for #3's wedding.

Some of my life in hats:



Child #1 (son)



Child #2 (daughter)

Child #3 (son)

LS, MS and me



Child #4 (son)

LS wedding

G is for

is for

Godchild

Spring Break in Nashville (con’t.)

Little Sister's youngest daughter is my 11year old Godchild.  She met me at the airport with her Dad and first thing I noticed was how tall she has grown. She has sprung up like a weed.  I got a glimpse of the beautiful woman waiting to emerge from the cutie little girl.

The second thing I noticed,  Godchild donned many of the wearable things I have given her over the past year or so.   That made my heart smile.

Godchild gave up her bedroom for my six day stay. Each morning I heard her opening the bedroom door and  thought she was trying to sneak in, to get something from her room.  I didn't want her to think she had distrubed me, so I pretended to be asleep.

On the fourth morning she peeked her head around the door but didn't come in, quietly closing the door behind her. I sat up in the bed and began working on my laptop. A few minutes later she arrived back holding a glass in her hand and a big smile flashed across her face. "I thought you might like a morning smoothie?" she said shyly.

Later I discovered Godchild had brought a smoothie up to me every morning.  When she thought I was asleep, she didn't want to wake me.

But on morning four LS told disappointed Godchild to go back and leave the glass on the bedside table that way I would have the smoothie when I woke up.

Godchild wasn't trying to slip into the room for forgotten socks after all. She was being a sweetheart and bringing me a glass of deliciousness each morning before she left for school.

Who's the lucky Godmother then???!!!!









F is for.....

is for

FIDO'S

Spring Break in Nashville (con’t.)

Fido's is Little Sister's (LS) favorite coffee shop/restaurant. It is located in Hillsboro Village a short five minute walk from LS's new house. While in Nashville it became my favorite haunt too. I had the good fortune to sample many tasty treats.

My first visit to Fido's was after Mass for Sunday brunch.  I ordered the Veggie Scramble with wheat toast and salsa. It was mouthwatering good.  Needless to say after breakfast Fido's had a new fan.

 When you order your food at Fido's you are given one of those card stands to place on your table.  In other places the card is usually a number.  In Fido's the cards feature a photo and small blurb about a dog.  Dog owners supply photos and quirky/cute information about their much loved pooches.  Some dogs featured are available for adoption.  I loved reading these cards.  The photos always made me go Ahhhhh!  Isn't this one just too cute for words!!!!

So bloggie friends when you go to Nashville, a stop at Fido's for delicious food and coffee is a must.  Oh and don't forget to say a big 'Howdy" to LS.  No doubt she will be sitting in the corner sipping her Chai Latte!

I also sampled the featured Pecan Salad and the Grilled Salmon. Both are to die for too!

Fido's Nashville.

E is for Envy

Spring Break in Nashville (con’t.)


When I first walked into Little Sister’s (LS) kitchen in her new “Green” house and saw the wonderful stove and counter work space, I could feel myself going green around the gills with Envy. LOL! “Green” House, "Green" with Envy……sometimes I just crack myself up! Back to Envy! This is one serious kitchen with workspace and storage galore.

LS, the scientist is very conscious of global warming and the effects it is having on our planet. As a result she is totally dedicated to ecology.  Hence the “Green/Leed” house.

LS and B-I-L shed major blood, sweat and tears during the building process of their new home. It took not  the projected months but years for this dream to become a reality. Knowing the anguish she/they suffered,  all I can say is the finished product was worth it all.  It is Exquisite.  They are truly living their convictions. Unlike so many, (ahem me!) LS put her money where her mouth is. She and B-I-L are true to their beliefs. I wish I had the strength to step out of the box and go for it the way she did. Do you hear another ‘little’ touch of Envy.

Let me get back to that stove………

Look at it……

Go on admit it…. You're feeling it too!  A little twinge of that Green Eyed Monster:  Envy

D is for.......

During my stay in Nashville my Sister and Brother-in-Law brought me to see the Doyle and Debbie Show at the Station Inn.  What a laugh.  I laughed so hard my sides hurt. My face ached and my hands were red raw from clapping.  This is a riotous sublime parody on Country Western duos, the battle of the sexes and cliched lowbrow Southern culture. A rip roaring romp of "policital incorrectness"

Once my ears had become accustomed to the exaggerated southern twang and I realized the majority of script was in song the laughter started.  There was so much happening on stage.  It was a job to catch everything.  My head was moving from one face to the next, like ping ball following.  The facial expressions were entertainment in themselves. The sidekick/back-up musician sat behind Doyle and Debbie and lent his facial expressions and telling shrugs to the mix.  It was one romping good belly laugh from beginning to end.   

My sister spent most of the day repeatedly telling me, I might find this show on the rude/crude side.  When we emerged from the Station Inn she nervously asked what I thought.  I told her it was one of the funniest comedy shows I had ever seen.    One I am sure I would need to see a number of times more to catch all the  nuances.  She was visibly relieved.

If you are in Nashville on a Tuesday at 7PM , be sure to check The Station Inn's  calendar for confirmation Doyle and Debbie are appearing.  And if they are, get yourself down there for one hilarious show.

Thanks Sis! 

C is for Clock

You would think after the many times I have done this I would be more careful. But alas, it seems this lesson is too often forgotten.

I finished sorting what to put into the suitcase and then taking things out again. My bag was packed and boarding pass printed. My laptop, kindle and mobile phone sat all charged up and ready to go. It was nearly midnight and I had an early start in the morning.

I had it all figured out. Flight at 9AM….an hour and a half to get to the airport. Be there an hour before flight time. To give myself a little wiggle room, leaving the house by 6:15AM seemed sensible. So, I set my Clock for 5AM. Plenty of time for a shower; primping hair; putting on makeup and a leisurely breakfast.

On the morning of departure I woke with a start. I looked at the alarm Clock and the neon green numbers screamed 6:00AM. I bolted out of the bed, grabbed my clothes and headed for the shower, cursing myself under my breath. Yes I had done it again….I had set the Clock to 5:00 alright….5:00PM!!!

I ran the brush through my hair and slapped on some moisturizer as I raced down the stairs. Husband had coffee in the travel mugs and a few biscuits in his hand. We got out the door at 6:20 breathless but miraculously only 5 minutes behind schedule.

B is for Baggage

My stomach churning I grabbed my Bag and ran as fast as my little legs could carry me through the doors of the airport departure area. I located a Delta person…

”I was told by curbside man I had to check-in here. Something about special handling?”

“There's the line,” he said.

 “I have been queuing outside for over an hour. My flight leaves in half an hour,” hysteria creeping into my voice.

He beckoned for another more senior Delta person who ushered me to the front of the queue where I waited some more. Finally after what seemed like hours, but in fact was only minutes my Bag was being weighed. There were no questions about dogs or animals this time.

“Your Bag won’t get on this flight,” Delta lady said sympathetically.

“So what do I do now?" I replied with resignation.

 Well, Delta lady proceeded to schedule me onto another flight, free of charge. So my 9AM flight became a 4:50PM flight. There is so much more to this story, but you have so many A-Zers to follow, so I will skip to the end of the Bag saga.

On arriving in Nashville I made my way to Baggage claim and received a call from Husband. Delta contacted him and said my Bag was not on my flight and to check with Baggage services.

Wondering how Bag could not be on the same flight as me…..I mean really….

Guess what, Bag made the original 9AM flight after all. Bag had been sitting in the lonely Nashville Baggage room with all the other unclaimed or lost  Bags for 8 hours, while I sat in Minneapolis waiting for my rescheduled flight.

What can one say only Bleedy H E Hockey Sticks! Excuse my French!  :)

Hope to "C" you Monday.

A is for Airport

Saturday morning I pulled up to the Delta curbside check-in at Minneapolis Airport in what should have been plenty of time. I had checked myself and my suitcase in the night before. Can you guess where this is going?

When I arrived I was taken aback by the queues at both curbside kiosks. They were long, extremely long. So I decided in my ultimate wisdom to go inside. BIG MISTAKE! The queue inside snaked the full length of the delta area. I rushed back outside to the kiosk queues. I discovered as I queued that the reason for the humongous crowds was spring break.

It was 7:30AM. Freezing out and yet trickles of sweat ran down the middle of my back. Curbside check-in man was very friendly, chit chatting away to everyone as I scanned my watch every half second, hopping from one foot to the other.

I finally reached the chatty curbside check-in man and showed him the boarding pass, clutched in my hand. He took my bag weighed it and clocked in numbers and letters on the screen keyboard.

"Sorry Mam, I can't check you in here."

"Why," I whined.

"Don't know Mam, says special items here. Have you a dog or something?"

Now he was weighing my only bag. A zipped and TSA locked bag....
Where the HE hockey sticks could I possibly have a dog or something!

"You will have to go inside Mam, I can't help you.   Next!"



Tune in tomorrow for B !

Remember Me

Well hello there! You may have noticed my absence from blog writing and reading for the last, let me see..... Oh my, has it really been three weeks?!?! It seems I took a longer Spring Break than I realized. Time flies!

Six days of my three week blogging hiatus was spent in Nashville. I basked in the warmth of family and sunshine, while another blizzard roared in Northern Wisconsin. I read a few books and discovered for me reading books and writing are not compatible. Hopefully I am not unique in this respect.

I also found myself paying attention to the nuances of the authours characters and descriptive. I kept my nifty yellow and pink highlighters at the ready for the words that portrayed emotions and situations perfectly. So now I have three books with splashes of yellow and slashes of pink throughout.


Now I am all geared up for the A-Z Challenge. I am dedicating the A-Z Challenge to my six wonderful and very eventful days in Nashville. I hope you will tune in.

P.S.  I missed the last Crusader Challenge too.  Hanging my head...down in the mouth etc. etc. etc. 

Tears, Tears And More Tears!

For results of 300 Follower Give Away scroll to end of post. 

Photo taken from this Source

I don't usually address politics or current affairs on Inkpots n' Quills.  But for the past few weeks my life has been overtaken by politics. Every time I came to the page, pen was determined to address my political agnst.  The result, I posted/wrote nothing at all.  That is not working for me.  Sorry!  I hope I do not offend, no offense is intended or meant.

You see, I am one of those villainous State Workers in Wisconsin.  I am not going to go into the financial ramifications of Walker's Budget Bill.  All working and unemployed middle class people are hurting financially.  But Walker's original Budget Bill deprives my classification of medical insurance and retirement benefits. What have Republican politicians against healthy citizens?   He (Walker) supposedly rescinded that portion of his bill, but can I or anyone else believe him.  Recent events makes me think not.

This appalled State Worker of Wisconsin is not a  union member.  My classification did not afford me the choice of union membership, much to my disappointment.  But let me tell you after the shenanigans at Madison's Capital building on Wednesday night, restrictions or no, Thursday saw me seeking out a union to join and if that is still not possible I will contribute to one.  I am sickened by Walker's blatant Union busting tactics cloaked in the guise of budget.

According to Scott Walker, there are the haves and the have nots and State workers, the likes of me fall into his "haves" category.  Imagine my shock as I mulled over this stunning revelation.

"Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Japan has been hit by a massive 8.9  Earthquake followed by devastating Tsunami waves and the aftershocks continue. The death toll numbers increase with each news sound bite.   As I type the Tsunami waves heads for Hawaii.   The Americas are bracing for its arrival.   Low lying Chile is also in its path.  My heart and my prayers go out to all who have been ravaged by this cataclysm and all those bracing for it. 

Is there anything we in the blogsphere can do?  Are there any bloggers out there affected by this disaster? 
Is there anything we as a community or I as an individual can do? 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I hate to finish on this sad note so I will direct you over to Talli Roland's.  It is the last day of her Big Book Giveaway marking Publication Week of her book, "The Hating Game"  Congratulations to all the wonderful winners.  Great Giveaway Tallie and a big *bualadh bos*!

And now to Winners of my 300 Follower Give Away.  I didn't have any cute little nieces and nephews to draw the names this time.  But I found this wonderful site called "The Hat." Find the download for this program here .  I had such a great time shuffling and shuffling.  Such laughing I had.  Yes my life is that sad!!! LOL.

Anyway this is how the names came out:
1.  Shallee @ Shallee McArthur
2. Margo Benson @ Margo Benson
3. Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow
4. Niamh @ Words A Day

And Mr. 300 is Nick Thomas @ Along These Lines.

There are three signed copies of Talli Roland's "The Hating Game" and two Amazon Gift Cards to be allotted. Please let me know your preference by email or in the comments.  (ormondann at gmail dot com)  First Come etc. etc. 

I wish I could give all the wonderful followers of Inkpots n' Quills a token of my appreciation.  But this Wisconsin State Worker must live in reality.  So, all I can offer my lovely blog supporters is a *Huge, Gigantic, Foot Stomping Bualadh Bos*