Wintermaggedon-2014 Edition

Hey Y’ all!
Wow. We are experiencing the craziest winter here at the beach! When I last posted, we were on the verge of a four day snow/ice/slush event. Yes. Four days. We missed four days of school! Here is a pic of our backyard….


Pitty Pat was not thrilled with all of the frozen precipitation. Luckily our portion of the beach melted quickly, but other parts of our county were not that lucky. It warmed up by Groundhog day and Pitty Pat and I took a trip to the beach just to show Mr. Groundhog what we thought of his predictions!


But late last week, I started tracking a storm and knew the news was not going to be good for us. Today we got hit with a HUGE ice storm. So far I have lost 3 trees in my back yard and one is very close to taking out my fence. The temps have warmed up to 32 degrees, but with melting trees are continuing to lose limbs.



They just announced that we won’t have school tomorrow either. Oh well. I will enjoy being home with Pitty Pat and working on my new hobby…. Loom  knitting!

Several years ago, when loom knitting was just getting started, I bought a set of looms and never used them. With losing Granddaddy, I just haven’t been able to pick up my knitting needles and concentrate. So the other night I went upstairs and picked up the smallest loom in the pack. Within 30 minutes I had made a preemie hat! I have so enjoyed making them and usually make at least one a day! If you follow me on instagram you have seen my progress. For now it is a great activity to do, especially while watching tv. It doesn’t require a lot of concentration, but you still get the satisfaction of making something everyday! And the hats are just precious!

I have found some great websites with some easy patterns. I plan on trying a cowl tonight. If you see a loom, pick it up… it is a great activity! Here is a video that helped me get started with making a preemie hat. Just grab some bulky yarn and a loom and go!



Alright, I am off to enjoy my night. Keep your fingers crossed that we keep our power!
Tootles!
JKP

Summer Check Ups and a Quick Trip

Hey Y'all!

This past week flew by! I don't know if it is because I spent most of it behind a computer, but wow. It flew! By Thursday I waved the surrender flag with my classwork and headed to the beach for a much needed beach fix. It was just what the doctor ordered!

Friday was a busy day, Paddington went and had his four year old vet check up! He had to get three shots and was pronounced healthy! He does have to go back in Tuesday for a dental procedure. One of his baby teeth never fell out. It is causing some problems with other teeth, so it has to be pulled. I am a little nervous about this, but I know he will be just fine. He was put under when I had him neutered, so this should be a quick process. I just hate not having him home with me for the day!

Yesterday I made a quick trip to Sumter to have lunch with my Granddady and my Mom. I also got to visit with my Granny too. It was a fun day. It was rainy in Sumter and then most of the way home. But once I crossed the Horry County line, the sun was shining! Here's a pic from yesterday...

I gave Granddaddy a crash course in Instagram and he enjoyed looking at all of my pictures. My mom even decided to download the app!

The weather here is cloudy today. I had hoped to go to the beach, but since it is cloudy I guess I will go ahead and work on some classwork for the week to get ahead. I am really not in the working mood, but my bestie is coming for a visit on Wednesday, so I need to hop on the work train. Too bad all of the housework and laundry are done.. they are great distractions and excuses! Maybe I can cook something up in the crockpot... I can have a delicious aroma while I work!

Well, let me run. Y'all have a good Sunday!
Tootles!
:) JKP

FMS May Photo a Day- Day 2 Morning Ritual

Hey Y'all!
Today's task for Photo a Day was your morning ritual.  Mine is, of course, sharing my morning toast with the Pitty Padster. YUM!
TOOTLES!
JKP

43 More!

Hey Y’all!

Tonight marks the end of Spring Break. I was sad about it for a few minutes, until I realized that we only have 43 more days of school left. That is a very do-able number. So, as of right now, I am ready to knock those days out of the park and dive into SUMMER! Besides, unlike our spring break, the weather is getting ready to warm up . And. That means weekend beach visits. Oh yes. 43 is do-able.

I am not sure how the furry baby is going to handle us getting back onto our schedule tomorrow. I have been with him almost 24/7. He has had 4 walks a day. And. We have really enjoyed our afternoon naps. Here’s a shot from today’s nap! Pitty Pat is a blanket hog!

 

Yesterday, I started working on and finished the cutest baby hat. I call it Buzzy due to the flowers and the bees. I think it is one of my favorite hats that I have ever done. I bought the pattern off of Etsy.

I made a stop at the Dollar Tree this week to pick up some poopy bags for Pitty Pat. I found those great clips in the first picture holding my patterns together. I also found some other great knitting tools. I plan to post about those tomorrow!

I haven’t posted a lot about my trip to Charleston on Thursday. It was such a rainy and nasty day that I was very glad to get home. The doc made me have more bloodwork (which I did on Friday) and I have to have a Cat Scan of my belly done on Wednesday. He thinks I am having a Crohn’s flare and just wants to make sure I don’t have a blockage or other issue. So, I had to put in for a sub on Wednesday. I have to drink some really yucky stuff and then they take pictures of my belly as it goes through. The last time I had this done it took 4 hours. So. You better believe I am going to have a good book. I don’t take my knitting with me. I having this done in the hospital and it is so germy. I could never take my knitting there!

Well, let me log off. I have to resume “school time” bed time tonight. That is going to be so hard, I have been staying up until midnight and then sleeping until 8:30. 43 more days people. 43 more days!

Tootles!

JKP

Blueberries! Blueberries! And, Instagram Fun!

Hey Y’all!
Spring Break is moving right along! Imagine my horror when I woke up this morning and realized that it is already Wednesday. WEDNESDAY! That means tomorrow is Thursday, and spring break is almost over. BOO!

Yesterday I took it really easy. I haven’t been feeling great with my tummy and I have a trip to Charleston tomorrow to check in with the tummy doc. The pain that I was having in the fall has come back and it is really uncomfortable. So. I am hoping the ol’ GI doc will have some answers for me. And. Hopefully those answers don’t include prednisone. But, it is what it is.

Yesterday I had all kinds of fun playing with instagram! If you are not on instagram, you really need to give it a try. I take a ton of pictures with my phone and instagram provides all kinds of filters for you to add to your photos. It seems that my favorite filters are 1977 and Nashville. I am pittypat 269 on instagram if you want to follow me. But let me warn you. I take tons of pics of Pitty Pat and my knitting. So. You have been warned!

Here are a few pics of yesterday….

Pitty Pat needed some “alone” time. My spring break is getting in the way of his daily schedule.


Pitty Pat has partied to hard with the Yorkies next door…..


I found two new awesome products yesterday that have BLUEBERRIES in them. Oh YES!



So that is what has been going on here. I think today I am going to venture out and maybe hit the movies. Tomorrow is going to be a long day, so I need some fun today. I am thinking GI Joe may be the movie of choice today. I’ll be back with a movie review if it is. Have a great day!
Tootles!
JKP

Just a Little Hello!

Pitty Pat and I took this earlier today.  I thought you guys would enjoy seeing it! And, of course my phone did all of this! Pitty Pat is a wee bit upset he hasn't been on the blog lately!

Tootles!

JKP and Pitty Pat

Sent from the Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro, an AT&T LTE smartphone

March Madness

Hey Y'all!

Do you remember me? I hope so! Things have been pretty hectic in my part of the world and I have also been fighting with some SERIOUS exhaustion. So most of the time, a nap wins out over updating the blog! I am eight days shy of my spring break and I am so ready for it! The warm weather is visiting us for a wee bit and I have enjoyed getting out in the sun and taking Pitty Pat for plenty of walks. He likes it too! I don't do well in cold weather and this winter has been lots and lots of cold weather. Over the next few days we are supposed to go back to cold weather and I am not looking forward to it. I am ready to pull out my spring clothes and shorts!

I have also been doing quite a bit of reading since it has been so chilly. Right after Christmas I got addicted to Maggie Sefton's knitting mysteries that take place around a knitting store. In each new book there is a murder mystery and lots of knitting talk too. I am on the 8th book in the 10 book series. I am not sure what I am going to do when I finish them. It has taken up many nights! But they are great little reads and I can read one in two or three days.

In health news, I met with my general doctor last Friday. I had some bloodwork done recently and he wanted to go over it with me. I was really worried about my results. It turns out my cholesterol is looking good and I am in good shape overall. I am still very anemic, but that is never going to change. My SED rate is high, but with Crohn's that is to be expected. I am going to have to make a trip to Charleston soon because I am having some issues. I am just thankful I don't have to change the way I eat! That would be really hard for me since there is so much I can't eat! I am very relieved that waiting for those results is over! I still have to come home and take at least an hour or two nap every afternoon after school. But, if that what helps, then I am going to stick with it!

I have been very busy on the knitting front. Since the beginning of the year I have made several hats, cowls and I am even starting a sweater! Right now, big, fat, fluffy yarns are holding my attention because they are so quick to knit with. I just love casting on for a cowl one night and wearing it the next day. That's my kind of knitting! Here's a cute little hat that I like to call "Pom, Pom Goodness!"

One exciting thing that has happened since my last post was WE SAW SNOW! Pitty Pat and I were very excited! I love snow. The last time we had a good snow here at the beach was when Pitty Pat was a puppy. This time he really enjoyed getting out in it! It was so relaxing to watch the big, fat snow flakes fall. I wish I lived part of the year where it snowed, just a little bit!

The other exciting thing that happened is PITTY PAT TURNED FOUR! My baby is four. He had a great birthday. I gave him a squeaky cupcake for one of his prezzies. It lasted all of 5 minutes. But, at least it was a cute photo op!

Over Pitty Pat's birthday weekend, we had our annual Girl's Weekend Spring Palooza. This year was very different in that one of my friends could not make it AND since I had really been feeling run down, I didn't cook. But, we still shopped until we dropped! While we were out I stumbled upon a WALL OF PITTY PATS!!! Take a look....

It was quite a sight! I had to pick one up to make sure it wasn't the REAL thing!

I am still doing my thrifting thing and I have found lots of cute stuff. Since the weather is *hopefully* about to change I am kind of taking a break from it. I have really enjoyed spending our few warm Saturday's outside with a good book or knitting. I can't wait until it is warm enough to go to the beach!

One last cool thing.... in my last post in February  I was attending a technology workshop. During the workshop I learned about a free website builder and hosting service. Weebly is a very easy site that helps you build a professional looking website and hosting is free. I am in the process of building a website of all of my knits. I can't wait until it is ready to publish.. maybe in the next few weeks. I hope over spring break I can get it up and running.

Well, let me run. My Monday night shows are getting ready to come on. I have a feeling I won't make it through Castle tonight... tomorrow is my early morning duty day. Come on spring break!

Tootles!
:) JKP

Happy, Happy Thanksgving/Black Friday!

Hey Y'all!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I did! Do you know what? I technically cooked my first turkey on Wednesday! Granted it was in the crockpot and it was just a turkey breast, BUT I DID IT! And, it was yummy!

I have a recipe for the turkey and corn pudding that I made on Wednesday, but I will post about that later on. As you know, my family eats out on Thanksgiving, so I wanted to make sure I had leftovers to munch on over this busy weekend. And munch we have!

Here's a quick recap of our Turkey Day Meal....

Family Pics..

Me and Mom!

The Fam!

 



We always eat at The Boundary House in Calabash. The meal was yummy and we had leftovers from this meal too!

After our yummy meal, we went and checked out the movie Lincoln. Y'all, this movie is so good,  you must go see it. It is so interesting and the cast of characters is very enjoyable. Go, you won't be disappointed especially if you are a history buff!

Now, I am not like most folks. I likey a good shopping deal, BUT  I do not like to get out in the wee hours of Black Friday. But, I don't mind going out during the day. However, if I walk in a store and it is mass chaos I will walk back out! Mom and I hit a few stores today. Our main goal was to hit Belk. I had heard a wee bit of a rumor that the Belk up in North Myrtle Beach carried Orthaheels. And. Y'all know the sad shape my left foot is in. It has really been bothering me lately because the weather has turned cold and most of my Orthaheels are for warmer weather. Mom and Pitty Pat gave me a new pair for my birthday, but I can't wear them everyday because they are black.So off we went. 5 minutes in the store and I thought I was going to lose my mind! But WE FOUND the shoes AND WE GOT TO USE A COUPON! So, I have two new pairs of shoes to wear! Both of these are brown and they are so cute. So, now my feet can be happy again.. EVERYDAY!  I still may have to make a trip back to the podiatrist sometime soon. I am hoping these few days of rest will help it though! :)

Tomorrow we are planning to take it easy and maybe hit a few consignment stores. I don't really need anything, but the weather is really turning cold... well, beach cold here, and it wouldn't hurt to have a few more sweaters. I'll do a post soon on the latest finds I have found in consignment stores.

Before I go... I do want to tell you guys about a few favorite things I have discovered this week....

Bookbub! If you have a Kindle or a Nook you need to visit this site daily or sign up for emails. Everyday they send you an email with 3 or 4 books that are free to download to your Nook or Kindle. To see the daily deals and not have them emailed to you visit www.bookbub.com/deals/
I have put 6 new free books on my Kindle Fire as of today. And. Yes you read that right! I now have a Kindle Fire! We originally ordered it for my Granny's Christmas present, but once we got it, we realized it would be very hard for Granny to manage. I do have an ipad, but it is not mine and it is only mine as long as I am employed by my school district in a primary grade. I didn't feel very comfortable downloading books on something that really didn't belong to me. This way I can download away and continue reading the e books that I have come to love reading! :)

As if I am not enough of a medical mess these days, I have had the worst eczema breakout I have ever had over these past two weeks. I have fought with this since I was a baby and winter is really the worst for me. On top of that, my Crohn's can cause terrible skin rashes, so the past few weeks have been very uncomfortable to shower and put on clothes. After dealing with Aveeno and failed results, I picked up some Cetaphil and finally started to use it this week. I have now added the Cetaphil lotion to the mix... and y'all... it is a Christmas miracle! My skin has calmed down so much and I can actually take a shower and not be in pain! Every day the rash gets smaller and less irritated. Thank goodness! So. Cetaphil is awesome if you are having eczema issues or just crazy dry skin. I swear, I will never be without this stuff again! It is terrible to go to bed one night and wake up the next morning covered in an eczema rash. I am sure stress is playing a part in it too! So run, don't walk if you need this product!

Well, that is what I have been up to. I want to leave you with one more pic... I think "someone" is very happy I am home for a few days!

Tootles!
:) JKP

So I Once Took a Sabbatical From Blogging....

Hey Y'all!

I am alive and I am somewhat kicking. But I know I have been gone for TWO LONG MONTHS! Right after my last post on Sept. 2... I got really, really, really sick.

This kind of sick.

Then, the next weekend, I got this kind of sick.

Morphine people. The pain and exhaustion that I had been having really did a number on me. And for me to end up in an ER TWICE. Ugh. It was not fun. I was put on a week of bed rest, which finally helped. I am still having some pain, but if I can sit during the day I feel better. My pain is abdominal and there are 1,000 causes for it, but the sneaking cause of mine is my Crohn's. So. I hope you will forgive the absence. I just didn't want to moan and groan about how sucky I have been feeling. Besides, you go to a blog to get away from your life, not be bored with mine! :)

While I took my blogging sabbatical lots of things happened. There has been some knitting!

I finally finished my Crescent Moon Shawlette! So pretty! Pitty Pat thinks so too!!

I made a ladybug hat for my University of South Carolina roommate Jill. She has a new daughter named Caroline. This hat was so fun to make!

This is a sweet pea hat for my friend Marie. She had a daughter too.... Miss Ellie!

The weather has turned chilly here at the beach, so I needed a new pair of Orthaheels to keep my toes warm! Mom and Pitty Pat gave these to me for my BIG Birthday!

This past weekend I TURNED 40!!! My best friends rented a house at the beach for me for the night. We had a big slumber party and had lots of fun!



Of course, before the fun, I had to get my fingers and toes done! This is OPI Kennebunk-Port!

One of the highlights of the past few weeks has been FINDING MY FAVORITE COFFEE IN THE WORLD!! It is in different packaging this year, but still so YUMMY! I also found a cute mug too!

And, there has been a wee bit of cooking. Not a lot. But I did do some baking this past weekend. I plan on posting this recipe tomorrow. It was a big hit at my slumber party and they are so easy to make!

Peppermint Dipped Chocolate Cookies

Anyhoo, that is what has been going on with me! I am so sorry if you have been faithfully checking the blog for an update and there wasn't one. I hope you will come back soon! I have some big Turkey Day plans for my crockpot that I can't wait to share!

Tootles!

:) JKP 

Julia, Julia, Where For Art Thou?

HEY Y'ALL!!!
Glory Be. It has been a month since my last post. OMG. And it has flown people. I know it doesn't seem like it out there in blog land, when you want to read a new post, but. It's September 2nd people!

Let me catch you up!

During our last update I was just about to start school and Pitty Pat had just been to the vet. What I did not know was that not only was I having adjustment issues to starting back to school, but so was my furry baby. So on August 13th.. the DAY before I had to go back to work, I found myself in the Vet's office discussing the pro's and con's of Prozac for doggies. FOR REALS. Pitty Pat was so distraught that I was coming and going more and staying gone for longer periods of time... he licked his front left leg RAW. So. We had to wear a cone of shame for a few days. BOOOO!!

After a few days of me coming home for lunch and antibiotics and creams, Pitty Pat seemed to be turning the corner. I was able to remove the cone and he started to get used to our "new" daily schedule. Thankfully, without the Prozac.

One of the coolest things that has happened in my absence from the blog has been that I received an ipad from my school district. I love my ipad. It is so convenient. And. My time that I usually spend blogging, may have been replaced by playing my Mom and Aunt Gwen in online games. Oh yes. And. I usually don't win! Pitty Pat also likes the ipad. He loves to read Paddington stories!

Also. My new hobby of thrifting has kept me VERY busy too! I will update the thrifting blog, but I do want to share a few goodies here too. Here are a few outfits that I have found in consignment stores that have been getting a lot of wear during these Back to School Must Look Professional Days.

 

 

This is a cute brown dress that I found and I also bought it in black too. These dresses are so comfy and look great on too. I paid $5 A DRESS. They also manage to hide the 5 pounds I gained this summer from my cortisone shots. Oh well. At least I look cute!

 

 



This outfit is not entirely thrifted, just the shirt. It is a cute Ann Taylor Loft shirt that looks great with white or black. It also hides the "summer five." If you notice my shoes.. those are my wonderful Orthaheels. My feet feel great even after standing all day in my classroom. And. I know these are YUCKY bathroom shots. I just bought a new mirror today to use to show off some thrifty finds. Now. No more bathroom shots. Living room shots instead! :)

Anyway. I am really enjoying thrifting. This past week alone I have picked up a 4 piece place setting of Correlle, 2 vintage Pyrex mixing bowls, a Susan B. Anderson knitting book that I have been coveting, 5 shirts and two NEW pairs of pants. For $30. Um. YES!

Last weekend my Mom came for a visit and brought me a wonderful "new to me" gift. Over the summer whenever I would visit Mom, I just couldn't wait to use her Keurig to make my coffee every morning. I really wanted a Keurig, but just couldn't afford to spend that kind of money when both Pitty Pat and I are having nervous breakdowns about summer ending. And many Vet visits have been happening. Anyhoo. My mom has been through two Keurigs. Once she got her first one, she went ahead and upgraded to the Mack Daddy Model. She gave her first one to my Grandmother, who was terrified to use it. SO GUESS WHO HAS IT NOW???

Just looking at this picture makes me happy. What you don't know is that to get the Keurig to this exact location in my kitchen, we had to perform a FULL ON KITCHEN reorganization. It was painful people, but had to be done. :) Notice my caddy? It's my old spice rack. YEP. If you feel you need a caddy for your Keurig Coffee... hold the phone. Try your spice rack. SQUEEEEE!!!!!

While Mom was visiting we got to meet Uncle Richard and Aunt Brenda for lunch. It was great to see them and I really enjoyed visiting and catching up with both of them. Here's a snap of me and Uncle Richard. Do you like his sweater???

I found it for him. Still with the tags on it. For $3. I think he really likes it. He put it on right after I gave it to him! :) If you look closely.. you can see Mitzi Mazda in the picture too!

I haven't really done much cooking this summer, or knitting for that matter. I have just really enjoyed being home and traveling some too. Today I decided that my house needed to feel Fallish. So I put away my summer decorations and brought out my fall table decorations and my Department 56 Halloween Village. It doesn't help that it is still 95 degrees outside, but it feels nice in here. I think the Decaf Iced Pumpkin Latte that I had this morning had a little something to do with my urge to change seasons around here!

 

So in a nutshell (eventhough I am allergic to them) that has what has been going on. The beginning of school has been tough and every year I think that it is going to do me in. This year I have been fighting exhaustion like I have never faced. That has been hard and has contributed to the lack of blogging too. I know that y'all don't want to hear how tired I am when you are just as tired too! When Mom came last weekend, she took me to the grocery store because I haven't been in a few weeks. Now that is some kind of tired when you can't make it to the grocery store. I have a dr's appoitment in Charleston on the 13th to deal with some things, so maybe that will give me an answer too. And. Do you know how many consignment stores I can hit while I am in Charleston?????

 

I hope y'all are doing well too and thanks for coming back to read!

Tootles!

:) JKP

 

 

Fuh-Get About It Chicken... and Summer is FLYING By!

Hey Y'all!

These past few weeks have FLOWN by! I had a visit from BFF Marie last week. By last Sunday, I was on the road again meeting my Mom in Mt. Pleasant so she could pick up Pitty Pat for the week! Monday I had my third cortisone shot in my foot (YAY, it is soooo much better!). After my shot, I drove to Sumter to visit with my Grandparents. I had dinner with my Granny and then headed over to my Granddaddy's and Step Grandmother's house. My step grandmother Marge had eye surgery on Tuesday, so I was on hand to drive them around and help around the house. By Wednesday afternoon, I was back on the road to Beaufort. Which is where I am hanging out now. I am not sure when I am heading home, all I know is that I can't get back in my car and drive a long distance for a couple of days... I am tuckered out folks! But I am so glad to be back with my Pitty Pat! :)

Yesterday I did a little back to school (sob) clothes shopping here in Beaufort. Then Mom and I ate at a VERY yummy restaurant with some friends called Dockside. If you are ever in Beaufort, you must eat here! The cornbread is like cake! :) Also, this is the best seafood I have EVER eaten. Yup. It was that good!

Anyhoo, now that I have caught y'all up on my adventures, I thought I would give you a great and EASY recipe for the weekend! Y'all, this recipe is so easy and so yummy that I could eat this once a week. In fact, I am cooking it for Mom tonight!

It is called... FUH-Get About It Chicken (insert Jersey accent here!)
Here's what you will need......

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2 cups of Minute Rice
1 can of Cream of Chicken Soup
1 can of Cream of Celery Soup
1 packet of Onion Soup Mix
4 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
Water

Start by mixing the soups, rice (uncooked) and 1 can of water in a bowl. Mix well. Pour mixture into a buttered baking dish. Place the chicken breasts on top of the rice mixture. Open the packet of Onion Soup Mix and sprinkle a bit on top of each chicken breast.

Now cover with tinfoil and bake at 350 degrees for an hour and a half. Here's a disclaimer... this stuff smells so good, you will not be able to wait to eat it! :)

Make a salad or some veggies and enjoy dinner! :)

Oh and one more note..... You know how I was talking about how much I love my new shoes by Orthaheel? Well, they had a little sale on their website.. so I stocked up on some shoes for school! This is my rainbow of Orthaheels! If you have foot problems, you have to get some of these!

Alrighty!
Y'all have a great Friday!
Tootles!
JKP

p.s. Pitty Pat says he is having a great time at Granny's house! :)