The Stone Rabbit

A LITTLE PINK FAIRY

Recently, THE STONE RABBIT brought home a new little friend---The Little Pink Fairy!

Isn't she beautiful?

Not only is she a knock out---she has magical skills, as well ! 

Really!

If you need help with something, The Little Pink Fairy just waves her tiny little hands and "poof"  the job is done!!

 

Like the other day- - - - - I was running behind and needed a little assistance with fixing breakfast.  All I did was get out the oatmeal and a pan. The Little Pink Fairy just waived her little hand and a moment later- - - -

 

there it was-----a bowl of piping hot oatmeal, complete with a little sprinkling of Craisins---AND a spoon!!!

Then I asked her if she could zap up a batch of orange juice and- - - -   

wah-lah!!!!   The pitcher was FULL of juice---she even blinked an eye and it was thoroughly mixed!

I can tell that you folks reading this right now are starting to become just a teeeeeeeeny bit jealous, aren't you? :)

 

Breakfast was finished and the kitchen was in shambles!  "Never fear", said The Little Pink Fairy and she lifted her dainty arms and - - - - -

 

in a flash the mess of dirty dishes and newspapers had vanished.  Oh, my goodness, this little Pink Fairy is a keeper!!!!

 

She promptly hopped off the counter and in to the dishwasher which had amazingly already washed and DRYED all of the dishes she had just zapped into it.  "Do you mind if I put the dishes away for you?", she asked. 

MIND?  I was thrilled beyond belief at the offer and gratefully told her to go right ahead-----and with that she promptly wiggled her fingers and - - - - -

 

NO MORE DISHES IN THE DISHWASHER!!!  She's just totally Outstanding!

Poor little Twiggy was so lonely, noticed The Little Pink Fairy.  She asked if I thought Twiggy would like to play----"Sure" I told her. That little Twiggy is so sweet and playful, I was certain it would be fun for her to have a new little pal. 

And boy oh boy, did those two have a grand old time!!!  They played Hide and Seek and Tag and Hopscotch.   They even put together a 500 piece puzzle I had received as a Christmas gift. 

  

When The Little Pink Fairy was through playing with Twiggy, I asked her if she would finish getting the shower invitations folded and put into envelopes for me.. . . . .  I needed to get them in the mail!

Oh, she loved the idea of someone having a wedding shower, so she quickly clapped her hands and - - - - - 

 

there they were: stuffed, stamped and sealed---all ready to be mailed! 

  

The Little Pink Fairy is so observant!  She noticed Frankie was staring at his empty food dish.  She asked if she could feed the poor bony cat.  "Please!" I answered! (OOOOOOH, I was really growing to like this little gal!)

   

With just the daintiest flick of her right wrist, Frankie had a plate full of nibbles---he was so thankful!!!!

 

Oh, I told her I had another little kitty chore that she could help with if she wanted.  I led her to the room where we keep the dreaded Litter Box.  Yep, I told her, it was in need of a "change".

That sweet Little Pink Fairy just hopped on top of that "keeper of the litter" and - - - -

 

TOTALLY amazed the felines when she blinked her eyes and the old litter was tied up in a bag and the clean litter was in the box--ready for little kitties to enjoy themselves! 

 

I told her I had a really big request.  She had been so wonderful to help me out with so many jobs and messes---and she did it all so effortlessly.  I was just wondering if she could help ME get all gorgeous for my - - - - - -

  

exercise class!!    

"Sure!" she eagerly said.  And with that she wildly waved her arms and wiggled her fingers and blinked her eyes.

Then she leaned back and studied the results.

Hmmmmmmm-------she told me she didn't understand what went wrong.  I told her that she did her best with what she had to work with.

   

No wonder THE STONE RABBIT was so nuts about her.  She's pretty and sweet and magical and- - - - - - -  

 

she's teaching him how to dance!!!!  THE STONE RABBIT has been grinning for days! 

He wants to auditon for "SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE".  I don't know if he'll be ready by the time the next competition rolls around, but I think he's having one swell time with his dance teacher!!!

 

You'll have one swell time, too, when you go to Beverly's at HOW SWEET THE SOUND, and check out all of the folks who have lots of PINKS to share this week!!!

DANA

 

 

Friday's Fave 5

Last Saturday evening, my husband and I decided to go to a movie.

We started by looking in the newspaper for a bit of guidance in the selection of a wonderful show.

Now we could have seen "BOLT" or "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button".  They were each rated "three stars" by our paper-----I'd circled these to show my husband.  Heck even "The Dark knight" or "Defiance" were given the same coveted rating, as you can see.

 

Soooooo, what DID we go see?

Yep, we saw MALL COP! 

                                            

Yahoo Moviesdescribed the movie: " A single, suburban dad tries to make ends meet as a security officer at a New Jersey mall. It's a job he takes very seriously, though no one else does. When Santa's helpers at the mall stage a coup, shutting down the megaplex and taking hostages (Paul's daughter and sweetheart among them), Jersey's most formidable mall cop will have to become a real cop to save the day. "

I have to say, while there will probably be no one nominated for an Academy Award in this film, it was funny.  I really had major doubts about the quality of this show, but in all honesty, we enjoyed it.  You fell in love with Paul Blart---who is just a loveable loser.  However, he does end up saving the day and becoming a hero---just like we all dream about doing once in our own life.  It was a sweet movie that made you leave the theater in a light-hearted mood--knowing you had been entertained without shocking, jolting, dark, or computer enhanced tactics.  I like "feel good" movies---especially in times that don't always "feel so good"!!

So that was the looooong #1 on my list of Friday's Fave 5.

#2 this week would be my Valentine Tree!! 

It's a grapevine tree a local man makes (he sells them at shows around town--in all sizes.  Mine is about 5' tall.).  I keep it on a back patio---it is filled with white mini lights and mainly used at Christmas.  However, I found the hearts at a bargain price and decided to decorate the tree with them.  When I look out the patio doors from my dining room, it just lifts my spirits to see this happy tree looking back at me.

#3 Would be the scene from our office window this week as a mixture of precipitation rolled across the mid-west.  We were spared the horrible ice storm and, thankfully, just received a small amount of snow.   I was so grateful to look out and only see a bit of white covering the ground. 

#4 Tyler Candle Company makes some of the most wonderful scents.   My friend, Sharleen, owner of Luticia Clementine's on the Square in Independence, MO, carries this line of candles now.  It's always a treat to pull out one of these candles and enjoy the great smell it gives to the house.  I believe this one is called PARIS.

   

#5  This little corner by our fireplace has been dark for four years--ever since we moved in to this house.  I could never find the lamp I liked---for the price I wanted to pay.  However, this week, Hancock's Fabrics was having a 40% off their lamps sale.  I was so happy to find this sweet candle stick lamp for $13.00!!   

As you can see, THE STONE RABBIT and Twiggy the Cat, appreciate the new light in the corner.  They both thought it warmed the place up---I agree. . . .and at a bargain price to boot!  

 

I hope you will visit Susanne's blog for links to other bloggers who have some wonderful Friday's Fave 5s, too!  It's always good to appreciate the little happenings in our lives.

 

      DANA

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

The word for this Wordless Wednesday------GARDEN.

 

For links to several more Wordless Wednesday participants, just visit Dixie's blog,FRENCH LIQUE, TEXAS!   Thank you, Dixie, for organizing this great event!!!

  

DANA 

A PINK BALL!

Once a year my hubby and I join forces with lots of other folks and participate in a local bowling fund-raiser.  We always team up with Marian and her husband----and typically one other unfortunate bowler gets assigned to our team.  I used the word unfortunate, because no one in our group of four is much of a bowler.  So if the person who "gets to be on our team" is a good bowler, well---that's great for us but bad for him!

Anyway, Marian and I use ten pound balls and they happen to be PINK at this bowling alley!!!  I was soooo glad I brought my little camera just so I could take a photo of our PINK bowling balls---here they were, all ready for a swell and looooong evening.  I say LONG because we rarely get strikes (or spares, for that fact) so we throw a lot of balls in each game!!!

 

Marian is always impressed with my dynamite form, so I had her take a photo of me just so she would remember how fantastic I look with that PINK ball poised to knock down some pins.  YES, YES I know---I need to turn around and throw the other direction---toward the pins!!  This was just to capture my amazing form!  I believe she did. :)

 

Here is our team photo!!!!

L to R:  Marian, me, nameless, nameless, and nameless. 

The guys did not want to be featured on my bowling post, so I assured them NO ONE would recognize who they were by the time I got through using my Photo Shop skills on their picture! 

I'm very new at using Photo Shop---I think I need a little more practice, but really, I don't think I did too bad of a job at disguising the boys, do you?  I hope they like the way they look now! :)

 

Whew!  What a fun evening we had bowling our little hearts out!  We actually won a few prizes this year, too!

I just went on and on about our fun outing to THE STONE RABBIT.  He said he'd never had the opportunity to bowl and certainly wished I would take him some time.

I thought a bit and said "Heck, you can do some bowling right here!"

I had just purchased some great PINK tennis balls----one of them would be perfect for THE STONE RABBIT to use as his bowling ball.  Now for the pins- - - - - -

I KNEW I'd been saving all of those empty vitamin bottles for a good reason and THIS must be it!!  They would make the perfect pins for THE STONE RABBIT's bowling experience!!!   

So, I sat those pins up in realistic bowling alley form.

THE STONE RABBIT got into place----a couple of his yard buddies wanted front row seats for this event!!!  Little Twiggy gave him a few pointers---I heard her tell him to "follow through" and "don't cross the foul line"  (she got a little too technical on this, his first time to bowl, but she meant well). 

 

Then THE STONE RABBIT took four hops and hurled that PINK tennis ball in the direction of his target!

 

Oh my goodness---that ball was heading directly at the "side pocket"---the PERFECT spot for a strike!!!

 

And wouldn't you know, THE STONE RABBIT  did get a strike on his very first throw!!!

 

The little yard buddies all joined in a circle and did a big ol' Happy Dance!!!  It's not EVERY day a rabbit made of stone throws his first strike!!!  Woo-Hoo!!!!

 

Izzie joined in the fun, too, but she was only pretending to do the Happy Dance---she had her eye on----

 

the PINK ball!!!!

In fact, Izzie made bowling a bit challenging for THE STONE RABBIT.   Every time he threw the ball, she would pick it up and run!  The other little yard buddies did their best to beat Izzie to the ball, but they didn't always make it in time!

THE STONE RABBIT didn't let Izzie's antics stop him from completing three games!!  (I kept score for him.)

He loved bowling and said he wants to make it a weekly event--maybe even form some little teams with all of the yard buddies who are interested.

I told him I thought we could make that happen!

   

THE STONE RABBIT was really surprised and pleased when his little yard buddies gave him the "Most Improved" trophy!!!  He was very touched---it was his first award!!!!

 

Now don't stop here!!! There are lots more bloggers with great PINKS to share with you!!  All you have to do is go over to Beverly's blog, HOW SWEET THE SOUND!!  She works very hard every week at organizing the ever growing list of folks who LOVE to share PINK---on Saturday!

DANA

FRIDAY FAVE 5

I found Susanne's Blog, LIVING TO TELL THE STORY, through one of my favorite bloggers, Ellen of THE HAPPY WONDERER ( a Pink Saturday buddy). 

Susanne hosts a wonderful spot each Friday where bloggers can link on and share five of their "favorites" from the week.  I thought this was the perfect opportunity to help me remember and appreciate the small, but important, happenings that help compose my life.

                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My car tags were expiring the end of this month.  I dreaded getting all of the paperwork together, just to go stand in an endless line to complete the process.

However, much to my amazement, as I entered the Department of Revenue I realized I was only the SECOND person in the area who needed help with licensing cars (unfortunately for the poor schmucks who needed their drivers license renewed there were lots of them and few clerks to assist.)

Yes, indeedy, it was a moment to appreciate.  The COURTEOUS lady who helped me with my new tags had me in and out in about two minutes--she must've set some kind of a record !! 

I told her I wished I had my camera with me, cuz I was doing a post on Friday about five favorite things from my week and I would have LOVED to have made her #1!  I don't know if she knew what I was babbling about, but she said "thank you".

Of course, I DID have my camera in my car, so as I was leaving the parking lot, I snapped this photo through my dirty windshield!  It was a lovely sight to behold!  Yes, I was attracting some looks from a few folks who were walking in to the building.  I hollered out to them that it was their lucky day and how we have one of the most wonderful DORs in the entire state of MISSOURI!  I think they must've thought I had a couple of screws loose!  Their looks, however, made that great experience even greater! :)

 

On another day, I was out and about running errands and was stopped at a super busy intersection.  As I sat at the red light and  looked across the street I saw this person working to attract customers to a local tax service.  Decked out in a sad looking "Statue of Liberty" outfit, she didn't just wave at the motorists---she was dancing and moving and singing and really getting into the business of being seen.  Her upbeat approach to her job certainly brought her a lot of attention as she was receiving lots of little toots from car horns.  I can tell you, she put a smile on my face!!!

 

I received a pretty good lab report from my doctor this week.  I am trying very hard to "undo" some of the damage done during my less than healthy eating over the recent Christmas holidays.

I found a recipe for Baked Fish With Tomatoes on Tara's blog, DAYS MISSED ON A HAMMOCK.  I want to  add more fish to our diets, so I was anxious to try her recipe!

My hubby and I both enjoyed  Tara's dish (I used cod) this week,  along with steamed broccoli and cauliflower and some roasted potato wedges.  Hmmmm. . . . I feel SO much healthier already! :)

I am a procrastinator.  

I especially procrastinate when it comes to distasteful chores such as filing quarterly sales taxes, paying charge bills, and completing paperwork in general.  

I always feel like the weight of the world is lifted (for just a little while) off my shoulders when I can finally get the pesky forms filled out, checks attached and envelopes in the mail.   

 

Finally, we enjoyed two wonderfully warm days this week.......a rarity for January in Missouri.

The sun was shining brightly and even THE STONE RABBIT and Izzie couldn't get enough of the weather gift.  THE STONE RABBIT told me he had noticed a few blades of grass struggling to be green!!  That made his day!

 

Be sure you visit Susanne's blog for others who have Friday Fave Fives to share!!!

DANA 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Our topic for this Wordless Wednesday-----WINTER!!!!

                       

For links to more Wordless Wednesday folks, please visit Dixie at her blog!!!

 

                                              

 

 

DANA

A PINK SATURDAY CHRISTMAS

Bonnie and I get together every year and exchange Christmas gifts.  After the little exchange, we head off on a day filled with shopping and antiquing---and, of course, a great lunch!

This year, we didn't have a chance to have our "get together" until after Christmas, but that didn't matter---we had a good time, anyway!

First, I headed to Bonnie's house---the scene of the exchange!

She had a yummy glass of eggnog ready for a special toast! 

Do you know that was my only eggnog indulgence this Christmas?  I LOVE that stuff, too.

 

Bonnie's cat, K-mart, watched intently as we clanked our glasses and sipped our creamy drinks!

 

I have to share the photo I took of K-mart in the middle of December---he LOVES it when Bonnie dresses him up! :)   Yes, he really does!  You can tell by his teeny little smile!!!

Ya gotta look realllllll close--there is definitely a smile on his furry face!

  

Bonnie had prepared a snack of French Toast Sticks, which we enjoyed with a --------

 

perfect cup of hot coffee! 

Then we went into her living room for the gift exchange.  

Here is one of the wonderful items I received-----I had no idea what this gift could be!  She disquised it as a ghost!!!  BUT when I removed the white bags-- - - - -

  

 I found this fantastic folk art Santa Bonnie had painted on a vintage wooden ironing board!!!

  

Her hubby fixed a stand for Santa using part of the original legs and adding a chain to keep the legs from moving.  How clever was that!!!!

 

Here is my artistic friend with that amazing gift.

I LOVE it, Bonnie.  Thank you again and thank you to your husband!

  

Remember my broken Christopher Radko ornament?  My little kitty whacked it off my tree and the tip broke.   Bonnie had given me that ornament several years ago----we both LOVE ice cream.

 

Well, LOOK at the new Christopher Radko ornament she found for me on e-Bay!!  Isn't she something?

She's a great e-Bay shopper---I'm clueless about it.

  

Instead, I went to K-mart and purchased a Santa ornament---also a Christopher Radko!!! 

We always get a lot of chuckles out of our gift exchanges, as we usually give each other some very similar stuff!

  

For instance, besides each of us giving ornaments---she gave me this book by John Grisham---she knows I'm a fan of his and - - - - -

   

I gave HER a book, too!  It was "Dewey the Library Cat"---based on a real kitty!!  Dewey reminded me of her K-mart!

I just noticed, however, that I forgot to remove the price tag from that book.

Whooooops!  Sorry, Bonnie, that was tacky!

Bonnie had ANOTHER handmade gift for me!

You see, she has developed a keep eye for PINK since I have been participating in Pink Saturdays and when she spied this swell little PINK bottle brush tree at Hobby Lobby she just snatched it up! 

She added PINK glitter to the base and the star and even the tips of the tree, then she painted a sweet paper mache box and glued the tree on top!  She also attached little "feet" to the bottom of box!  She is one creative gal!

 

When I opened the box, she had another surprise-----a pair of Ugly Christmas Socks for NEXT Christmas!  It's a long story, but I certainly LOVE them!

 

We shared lots of other little gifts, but she had  ANOTHER special one for me inside a PINK bag with the words MERRY PINK SATURDAY CHRISTMAS written in PINK glitter on the outside!!!

  

Oh, I need to point out the vintage PINK angel tag that was attached to the bag!!! How cute!  That Bonnie doesn't miss a detail!!!

 

Inside the PINK bag was a beautiful PINK sweater----and it was the Perfect Pink fit!!! 

Wow!!! PINK Saturdays have certainly brought a lot of fun and a lot of PINK into the life of this formerly PINKLESS gal!!!

 

When I came home that afternoon, I showed my gifts from Bonnie to THE STONE RABBIT.  He loved everything she had given to me, but he told me he thought HIS favorite items were the PINK tree and the Ugly Socks. 

Over the last few days, he actually has been using one of the socks to keep his long ears warm when he hops outside to visit his friends.

In fact, he wants to know where Bonnie found those socks, cuz his friends LOVE the look and wouldn't mind a "sock cap" of their own.      

AND, they do NOT think they are ugly! 

 

For more PINK POSTS, just hop on over to Beverly's blog, HOW SWEET THE SOUND.  She has kindly posted a LONG LIST of terrific bloggers who have all sorts of PINK to share with you!!!

 

DANA

A LONG OVERDUE SHARE- - - - - -

When Karen of A SCRAPBOOK OF INSPIRATION hosted her wonderful Christmas Fair, she also included as part of her post a fantastic "giveaway"---and I was the lucky, lucky winner!

This was what I saw when I first opened the box from Karen.

 

She had included one of her original Christmas cards!

   

Then there was this magnificent print and - - - -

 

a beautiful red box---tied with a lovely ribbon---and when I opened it - - - -

I found MORE of Karen's artwork in the form of Thank You notes and gift tags and - - - - - 

 

the sweet ornament which was Karen's Inspiration!!!!

 

THE STONE RABBIT agreed with me, that I was an extremely lucky gal to have received such a treasure from the talented Karen!

Thank you so much!!!

 

DANA

 

 

 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY---Favorite Things.

 The topic for the Wordless Wednesday photo this week is "Favorite Things". 

Please visit Dixie at FRENCH LIQUE, TEXAS to find the links for other participants.

 

  

                         

DANA   

THE PINK WINNER!!

Last Saturday, I shared with you my trip to the Brass Armadillo Antique Mall in Grain Valley, MO.  I was in search of some terrific PINK items to use as prizes for my 100th Post Giveaway!

 

I left you in suspense for an entire week as to what prize items I had actually purchased!!!  

Twiggy and THE STONE RABBIT guarded the precious loot all week long----until Friday, when I removed the awesome prizes I selected and ------ 

  

took a picture of them for you!!!  WOO-HOO!!!  SURPRISE, SURPRISE!!!!

I selected the little vintage PINK house as a reminder of how great it is that we can visit the homes of so many great folks through our blogs.  The cup and saucer set, I hope , will be used when the winner reads the many, many blogs on PINK SATURDAY!  Finally, I picked the Frisbee because it was PINK and cheap!  No really, I picked it because it reminds me of fun and play---and that's what blogging is to me!

 

There were over 70 folks who were so excited about the chance to win a PINK prize, that they took the time to leave a comment on that post!!!  I printed out every one's name, folded up the little slips of paper, and put them in the PINK bag----for the drawing.  Izzie put her "good luck sniff" on the bag and- - - - - - -  

 

I went to my friend's shop on The Square in Independence, MO.  I hoped she (Sharleen) would do the honors of drawing the winning name from the PINK bag!   NOTE:  I took this photo at Sharleen's Christmas Open House in November---dang it---I forgot to take one Friday!! 

 

Don't you just LOVE it when shop folk greet you with a sweet smile and a wave when you enter their store?  I do!!!

There's the owner of LUTICIA CLEMENTINE'S, Sharleen, on the right and her assistant, Phyllis on the left!

 

  

I told them what I needed and they were only too happy to help me out!

First, Phyllis stirred and stirred and stirred up the slips of paper containing the names of the folks who had entered the drawing.

  

Then Sharleen reached into the PINK bag of names and  - - - - - - -

 

pulled out the LUCKY winner!!! 

Look who won-----it's MICHELLE from  MAD RED HARE!!!!!

Oh, Michelle, this must be the BEST news you've had all week!  :) 

  

However, Michelle, we did have one teeny tiny little problem about the PINK FRISBEE.  You see, Izzie really, really wanted that swell toy----she batted those cute little buggy eyes at me-----I COULDN'T resist!! So I gave in and let her have it!

But it's OK, because while I was LUTICIA CLEMENTINE'S, I found a really good substitute for you!!!

 

First, I picked out three really great teas for you to enjoy in that vintage cup and saucer, then - - - -

I found this bag of tea cookies---the company that makes them is in Olathe, KS, which is very near Independence, MO.  I've tasted them before and they are so good!!   They'll be great with some of that hot tea!

   

So, congrats, Michelle for winning my 100th Post Giveaway!!!!

 

While I was in LUTICIA CLEMENTINE'S, Phyllis pointed out the cute "cell phone fobs" they carry---Sharleen let me photograph the one she uses on her phone. 

Did you know every cell phone has a hole in the top?  Yep and you can put the loop of these phone fobs through the hole and pull the fob through the loop to secure it! 

 Not only does it look cute dangling from your phone, but you can leave it hanging out of your pocket or purse and when you need to grab that phone really fast---just pull on that fob and you have your phone!

Well, I was so impressed with those fobs and the fact that Sharleen had a PINK one and a PURPLE one, that I asked her to pull out two more names from that PINK bag!

  

The first name out was "Sandy"!  Now I don't think Sandy has a blog, but I have her e-mail address and I will notify her! 

  

The second name was CEE KAY of THINKIN' OF HOME!!  I'm sorry that is so blurry, but I'm certain Cee Kay doesn't care, cuz she's a winner of a phone fob!!       

THE STONE RABBIT had a little fun with the phone fobs, but he really wanted thank everyone who helped celebrate my 100th Post by leaving a comment!  He hopes the winners enjoy their prizes and he reminded me to tell them that I will be contacting them by e-mail so I can get their addresses. 

Beverly, of HOW SWEET THE SOUND, has continued to work very hard at keeping track of all of the bloggers who want to share PINK!!  Thank you Beverly!  Please click on her blog name so you can see the many, many folks who are participating in this PINK SATURDAY! 

  

DANA