Hobby Date

Good Thursday morning!

There are a couple more "Things That Make Me Smile" pics in the Gallery. I promise I'll have some picture-taking events this coming weekend. Next week's Gallery should be SO much better. But until then...

RANDOMNESS #1 - I'm rhubarb shopping today. Some women like to shop for shoes, purses and summer dresses. Not me! Rhubarb, baby!

RANDOMNESS #2 - Do not... I repeat, DO NOT try the Raspberry Cordial at the Godiva Chocolate store at the Galleria. It may seem like a good idea at the time because it is sitting beside the always delicious Cherry Cordial AND it is wrapped in the prettiest light pink foil with a delicate design AND it is covered in chocolate, but when it is all said and done it is still a SOUR raspberry. You would be much happier going with your first instinct and eating the Cherry Cordial instead. Learn from MY mistake.

RANDOMNESS #3 - Mikie's convention is being held in Colorado Springs at a huge, beautiful resort... AND THE RESORT HAS A PRIVATE ZOO ON THE GROUNDS! I ask you. Is this fair?

AUSTIN UPDATE - THE BOY IS COMING HOME! Finals are finished. Austin's freshman year at JSU has been completed. We survived!

He is taking an English Lit class during the Maymester, but he will be staying/visiting with different grandparents Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights, and he'll be home on Thursday afternoons, so I don't really consider the Maymester "being away at college."

After much reflection (and reviewing the notebook I have kept since last August 7 when he left), I will regale you, the readers of A Simple Life, with the pros and cons of being a mother of a college freshman living in a dorm at JSU tomorrow. I realize I am not the first (or only) mother who has survived the "Dreaded Freshman Year," so feel free to add your two cents if you are member of this club!

Blog Linkage - I have two posts to share with you this morning. One for reflection and one for a smile!

1. Click on Sherri's Blog under My Blog List and read her April 18 post entitled "Letters to God." It is one part movie review and one part testimony. I want our family to see this movie very, very soon.

2. Go to www.coalcreekfarm.com and read the April 19 post entitled "Becky, the Cake Maker." If you are a fan (or a reluctant viewer) of the show LOST, you MUST see the cake this very talented woman made for a LOST Party. It is amazing!

Hobby Date

This date was listed under my post "100 Date Ideas" a few months back. It was very vague in the list, but since Austin and Melia have tried this one (and enjoyed it), I decided to make it more specific.

This is not an expensive date. It goes something like this...

1. Find a nice, local bakery and pick out a pastry treat for each other. Spend some time leisurely talking and enjoying your treat.

2. Go to a nearby Hobby Store and pick out something the two of you will enjoy doing together. It can be a puzzle, model car, kite, birdhouse kit, etc. Try to pick out something which will take a little more time than just one evening to complete.

3. Head home to get started on your project.

So, to actually make it more doable, head to Savage's Bakery in Homewood. This is an old bakery I visited for the first time over 25 years ago. It is wonderful, and it has a huge variety of cookies, pastries, cakes and pies. (I suggest trying a melt-away. It was my favorite back in the day, and now they have about five or six different flavors.) If you want to make it a lunch date, they have a semi-large selection of deli-style sandwiches, salads, soups, etc. Very, very good.

Now, take your time and meander (good word) down the hill to the Homewood Toy and Hobby Shop which has hobbies and kits to choose from. Take your time shopping and finding the perfect hobby you and your child (or spouse) will enjoy doing together.

VARIATION - After you have gone to your favorite bakery (no matter where you live in the country), go to your local post office and check out their stamp collecting kits. You may want to visit or call prior to the date to check on supply (I'm not sure every post office will have these kits on site) and cost. If stamp collecting was something you enjoyed as a child, it might be something you could share with your child now.

Have a terrific Thursday. Busy, busy day today. I have to kill a fatted calf in celebration of The Boy coming home. (Is it very difficult to kill and prepare a fatted calf. Does anyone know where I can find a fatted calf... legally. It doesn't sound pleasant, does it? We may just have pizza. His choice.) And then there are the banners which have to be made and strung across the front of the house. And then there are the flags which must be raised which have been at half staff all year. And then I have to run to Cracker Barrel and buy his favorite creme soda to have sitting on his pillow when he walks into his room (a/k/a The Shrine). Yes, there is much to do in preparation for his homecoming!

I'll have Weekend Happenings and some timely reminders for you Friday, so check back for a few minutes before you start your busy weekends!

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda