The Happy McDonald's Man!

For those of you who live in Tallahassee, you have to drive through the McDonald's on Thomasville Rd. one morning just to meet this guy! NO, I am not there all the time! I go on occasion on my way to work to get my standard Egg McMuffin - one of the more healthy options;) Anyways, the guy who takes your money is always so kind and full of complements. I wish I would be that kind all the time. He says, "You're gonna have a wonderful day." or "It's gonna be a great day for you, you know that?" And it's really not like he's saying it just to you. You know he says that to every person who drives through that morning. I've heard him saying it to people in front of me! It just puts a smile on your face and makes you feel special. He might be the manager - I really don't know and in which case I would be even more impressed that he's at the Drive-Thru. I hate that I don't even know his name; but you have to go see him!

July 4th

We were invited to a friend's parents' house this year and it was huge! There was swimming, swinging, and sparklers! You know, it's all about the red, white and blue and last year I had found this cute bubble outfit for Ellie from Target. Well, this year I found this oh-so-patriotic navy fabric with cream-colored stars and just knew I had to make something. Here's the thing...I'm still kind of new at this sewing thing and hadn't looked to see that I had enough fabric until two nights before - and I didn't (go figure). But I was determined. So, off to JoAnn's I went the next day to get more fabric and a new pattern. And yes, mom, I actually looked at the pattern this time and got the notions I needed before leaving the store - I'm learning! So, I was actually quite proud of myself for making her this dress in less than a day! Now I'm anxious to do more. Last year was Ellie's first introduction to fireworks and she loved it; but I wasn't thinking we would HOLD OUR OWN sparkler this year!!! She actually did great and didn't try to shake it at all. We had a great time. Click here for more pictures.

Blueberry Picking

Each year, I await the last weeks of June and first weeks of July with possibly more anticipation than Christmas! And just like Christmas, as soon as blueberry season is over one year, I can't wait for it to come the next! That time is here and yesterday Rachel and I took off to Blueberry Springs to harvest our bounty. This is the third year in a row that some form of the same friends or families have visited the same place to pick the blueberries we will savor the entire year. Last year, we took Ellie, who was 10 months at the time. She was, of course, relegated to her stroller the whole time, where she was quite hot and miserable. I would love to take her this year; but I'm still not sure she'll enjoy an hour or so of mommy and daddy just picking blueberries. Then again, she might - she does love the little blue fruit afterall! Anyways, Rachel and I got there around 8:30 or so, signed in and got our 'gear' - a rope and a gallon milk jug with a hole cut out of the top. You tie the rope through the handle and around your waist so that both hands can pick at the same time - looks kind of funny but it works! I saw one lady this year who had done two jugs all by herself - maybe I'll aspire to that next time. I never thought about doing that - another case of my 'inside the box' thinking. Maybe I'll write on that later. Here's a picture of my beautiful berries (they actually filled two trays like this) - about 18 cups worth! All for just $10. I decided to do some research and found that had I bought that much at Publix, I would have spent $24!! And they taste so much better.