Many of you have asked where in the world I've been.

All I know is that after 7 plus years of blogging and a different lappy, which I don’t like, I seem to have lost my blogging fervor.

Someday, when you least expect it, I will post again.

For those of you still waiting I say thank you.

Meanwhile, I am rather prolific on twitter. Find me: @KeethaB
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The Eclectic Company - Waitin' on a New Adventure!!
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Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Hello, My Name is Keetha and I'm - - -

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A Sha Na Na groupie.

Oh, I know by today's standards they would rank somewhere between silly and completely ludicrous. (Um, but doesn't that describe Lady Ga Ga??? OK then, I feel vindicated.)

I realize I'm running the risk of losing every bloggy fan I ever had.

Can't help it - - - I must confess, I loved, loved, loved the Sha Na Na of yore.

Circa 1980, hubby and I never missed their show. We giggled. We laughed. Shoot - - - we SNORTED right out loud with GLEE.

And then it happend. They had a concert in Greensboro, N.C., just about 40 minutes from our home.

Fisherhubby was in P. A. school at the time. We were living on LESS than a shoestring, but SOMEHOW we counted out our pennies and got a pair of tickets.

The day of the concert finally arrived - - - along with a good old fashioned Blizzard. I think we considered missing the concert for about five minutes - - - and then we ventured forth, sans snow tires - - - no one had those in North Carolina - - - and pointed the nose of our 1969 Chevy Impala toward Greensboro. The 40 minute drive only took us 120. I remember thinking all the way there, "And when it's over, we have to DRIVE back home through this mess!"

But once we entered that coliseum, we forgot all about the roads. We forgot everything but having a great time.

We giggled. We laughed. Shoot, we SNORTED right out loud with GLEE.

It was the concert of our lifetime. You think I kid? Would I JOKE about this:



The video quality is poor - - - but hey, it was "high tech" for 1980!!!

And now, I have just one final confession to make before I end this shameless display of questionable taste:

I still love me some Sha Na Na.



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Monday, March 29, 2010

Sunday, March 28, 2010

The Big Ten is In!!!

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The Big Ten is IN the Final Four!!!!


(AP photo/Jeff Roberson)

Michigan State beat Tennessee 70 - 69
To advance to the Final Four!!!!

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Sunday Reruns - Dog-Gone Slipper Days

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It's Sunday again, and you know what THAT means!?! It's time for Sunday reruns!!! Thanks so much to Chari over at Happy to Design for hosting this meme, "Sunday Favorites".


"The Pitter Patter of Little Feet"
(First posted on 12/15/07)



My friends the Shoemakers made a post on their blog the other day about their little tyke wearing his favorite slippers to help himself feel better when he was sick. That made me think of these:


The slippers our baby wore around the house every day when he was a toddler.


He nearly wore these "puppies" out before he outgrew them!!


Kind of hard now to imagine that they EVER fit him!!!!

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Saturday, March 27, 2010

The Victors are Coming Home!!!

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(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Our own Butler Bulldogs are coming home to Indy wearing laurels!!!!!

Little Cinderella is goin' to the Final Four Ball for the FIRST time in NCAA history.

Go Dawgs!!!!! You can beat ANYBODY!!!

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Signs of Silliness

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A little wall art humor, courtesy of our local Moe's Southwestern Grill.

And just my kind of funny, too!







Smile, folks! It's Saturday.

:-)
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If You Haven't Already Seen It - - -

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Rent it and see it.

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Friday, March 26, 2010

Spring Break Tropical Adventure

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It was cold and blowing winds were driving rain when we set out last evening on our tropical adventure. You'll have that in Central Indiana in March. We were just thankful we didn't see any snow flakes.


The friends who went with us on this adventure were Keith, named after me - - - - WAY after me - - - and Janell. Keith and Janell are the parents of two of my students and they "bought" me at our school auction.

Here's how THAT works, they bid on me and paid the school for me. Now my part of the bargain is taking them out for an evening. This equatorial adventure was my end of the deal.

Our tropical destination was Red Lobster, which is of course as tropical as you can get here in the midwest, far from any sea shore.



Janell and I sported our Wisconsin gear, both being native Badgers. Janell is also the friend who gave me a Wisconsin blankie for Christmas.

We enjoyed shrimp, lobster, crag legs, tilapia and steak in the tropical paradise known to others simply as Red Lobster, then we headed over to DeBrand for dessert.

I've raved over DeBrand before, so shall refrain from doing so here other than to show you the delights in which we indulged.


I had a semi-sweet hot chocolate with whipped cream and a dark chocolate candy wafer on top.



It was yummy.


Fisherhubby had a four shot Americano espresso in a cup big enough to swim in.


Gourmet miniatures - raspberry, mocha (with the face), and apricot. I'm telling you, you've never had anything like these unless you've been to or ordered from DeBrand.


Deluxe caramel apples. Granny Smith apple wedges and almonds around a chocolate cup filled with the butteriest caramel I've ever tasted.


I ate every last bite!

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Thursday, March 25, 2010

In the Interest of "Hones-tea"

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I have had such a fabulous response to my Thrifty Vintage Thingies "Teas" post that I feel, yes I really do feel that in the interest of "hones-tea" and "integri-tea" I simply must make a confession here.

They say confession is good for the soul.

I just hope it is also good for my bloggy friendships and that you won't all DESERT me, leaving me high and dry in a cyber wilderness waste land.

OK - - - are you ready for this?

Here goes:



I have never ONCE used my tea things for a tea party.

Shocking, I know.

In fact, I have never even sipped tea from any of them!!!

Instead, they sit around my home as eye candy.

There. Now I've said it. I've bared my tealess soul to all the blogiverse.

Oh I do hope you, my bloggy followers, don't disappear right and left over this.

But if you do, that will be the price I pay for brutal, unabashed, "hones-tea".

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Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Thrifty Vintage Thingies - "Teas" are a Few of My Favorite Things

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I'm linking today with Vintage Thingie Thursday at Coloradolady and Thrifty Thursday at Bloggeritaville.












Be sure you click on both of the above links to check out what everyone else is posting.

I have not participated in these memes since February. Part of the reason was time - - - school kept me really busy and I just didn't have the energy, or creativity, to come up with posts each week.

The other part of the reason is that, to be honest, I've already shown all my thrifty vintage thingies!!! Then it dawned on me - - - many of you are new to these memes and what is a rerun to me will be new for you!

So, without further ado, I am reposting:


"Teas" Are a Few of My Favorite Things

I realize "things" really aren't very important. They have no eternal value. And yet I confess, I do have some favorite things - - - little treasures.

All of these things are vintage - - - to a degree, some to more degrees than others. For some of them I paid full price in an antique shop and others were given to me. I HOPE that averages out to thriftiness.


Way up there on my favorites list are "tiny fine china tea things." This is one of my antique children's tea sets. It is large enough to be what I would call demitasse.



I found this little set in Monterrey, Mexico about 15 years ago. It is glazed pottery and each mug is about an inch high.


Demitasse teapot with matching sugar and creamer.


I bought this set new in 1997 - 13 years ago - so I guess technically it isn't an antique yet, but it isn't new either. So what is that? "Newtage" or "Vinnew"??? How about "Newtage Vinnew"



Who wants to come have a tea party with me? I think we could just about make two cups in this little rosy gem. It is also "Newtage Vinnew"



Sometimes when we're on vacation I look for new treasures. I found this one in an antique mall during one of our infamous summer treks to Hayward, Wisconsin.


This demitasse cup and saucer was a gift from my friend Vangie. The child's "toy" tea cup and saucer is an antique, it was made is occupied Japan.



Straight from Cracker Barrel - - - a china tea-spoon.


The rest of these pictured items are all antique demitasse sugar and creamers. This one is English china covered with a gold glaze and and nestled on a matching leaf tray.



From one of my Hayward trips.



These violets are way up on the top of my favorites list,
And also came from Hayward.




This was my first demitasse set. It was given to us as a wedding gift by my Aunt Janet. I guess it's probably an antique by now, being nearly 35 years old! If you click on the picture to enlarge it, you will see that I managed to break the creamer. I can't remember now how I did that - - - but I know it was all my fault, and I know it makes me sad. :-(

By the way, the dresser scarf upon which they are sitting was embroidered by my paternal grandmother as part of her hope chest.

Her hopes and dreams were granted - - - she had 13 children and raised them all - - -right through the depression. Oh, but THAT my dear readers, is fodder for ANOTHER post, don't'cha think?

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Why Fisherhubby Loves Fish Who Cannot Speak

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Fisherhubby is an ER PA, physician assistant. This little YouTube will show you EXACTLY why he loves fish so much and people - - - not so much.

Enjoy.




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Not One of the Herd

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At least not today.


(photo from steadfastfinances.com)

From time to time when I go to my blogger dashboard, it says: "You are currently not following any blogs."

Poppycock!!! I'm following LOTS of blogs.

The first time this happened, I felt PANIC!!! But then the list came back and I figured it was another of those pesky blogger glitches.

Well - - - it's happening again today. Oh how I wish it wasn't - - - I'm on BREAK - - - I have TIME TO BLOG.

I guess I'll just have to be patient.

Is anyone else out there getting the same annoying message today? We'll just have to be patient together and wait for blogger to restore our lists.

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Tuesday, March 23, 2010

In THEIR Words

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The other day I made a post about my sophomores. Several of you left comments suggesting that I invite these students to be guest bloggers and tell you all about me from THEIR perspective.

Well - - - the MINUTE I mentioned that idea to these kids, they JUMPED at the chance.

I'll admit, I was a little nervous about what they might say - - - - but as it turns out, I was nervous about the wrong thing! Now I'm nervous because what they said was soooooo very nice I'm afraid you will think I "put the words in their mouths" so to speak.

I can assure you - - - these are their words, I only edited out one tiny inside joke that they WILL have with me, but which I'm afraid would be TOTALLY misconstrued in cyber space.

So - - - without further ado - - - here are my Sophomores:


"Even though I haven't been with Mrs. Broyles long, during the time I've had with her she's been the best! (Addendum from Mrs. B - Audrey just transferred to our school after Christmas) She's my favorite teacher here at Lakeview, and I love going to her class! I'm going to be sad at the end of the year because my time with her is going to be cut short. But I've enjoyed the time I've had with her. I love you Mrs. Broyles!"
- - Audrey


"Mrs. Broyles' true identity is Eve from the Garden of Eden. Even though she seems nice, Mrs. Broyles has her dark side. She even broke a child's leg when pretending to help a little girl play on a tricycle. Just warning you - - -she has a very dark and violent side!!!!"
- - Brandon

(Brandon is referring to a story I told the class about an incident that happened during my college days - - - yes, I did accidentally cause a darling little girl to break her leg.)



"Kamma has been here for ages, literally. But she is one of my favorite teachers. She helps us daily in our spiritual walk. She has made an input in my life. My favorite part is probably 'Football Fridays' or her stories. She is like a mother-hen for us. She always treats us like family from helping with 'drama' to us going to her house. I know she's a big part of my growth with the Lord. I love her, even if she's older than time."
-- Love, Baili



"Carpe diem
Love her stories"
- - Seth


"When first I met her I was like - - - Wow! What a crazy ole bat! But after all these two years she has become my favorite teacher.

We all love your crazy stories! (Like the Africa one or the guy with the 'floods.')

I'm going to miss you! Thanks for a great two years and making me feel so welcome and a part of your family!

We love you even though you ditched us!

I love you Mrs. Broyles"
- - Jessica




"Not my fave, not bad.
Funny
Good stories
Good teacher
Stinks that I won't have her next year
That's it
Oh, good at Catch Phrase
The end"
- - Zach


"I love Mrs. Broyles! She is my favorite teacher ever. (Shhhhhh, don't tell my mom or the other teachers at Lakeview) (Rebekah was formerly homeschooled.) I love it when she tells stories and lets us have fun days in class! :-) I will never forget our eighth grade trip! I had so much fun watching my dad and another teacher beat her and one of the moms at Euchre! She is an amazing person- - - sweet, caring, loving, grandmotherly, and a godly woman. No, I'm not just saying that for brownie points. (But, Mrs. Broyles I'll take them if you want to give them to me.)

Even though she's millions of years old and is a cousin to the dinosaur, she is still, I guess, groovy & hip! Hahahahahah

Love ya, Eve!

Love always from your favorite student,"
- - Rebekah


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Sunday, March 21, 2010

I Don't Care WHO You Are - - -

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This here's CUTE!!!!!


I'm sorry about your luck that these aren't your grans - - - they are MINE.


Maybe one day, yours will be as cute as mine, but I sincerely doubt it.

I'm their Kamma, it is my prerogative to be this proud!

;-)

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Saturday, March 20, 2010

Sunday Reruns - Boy Meets Camera

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It's Sunday again, and you know what THAT means!?! It's time for Sunday reruns!!! Thanks so much to Chari over at Happy to Design for hosting this meme, "Sunday Favorites".



What in Kyle's World - - -
(First posted 12/13/2007)


Are these things?

The other night Kyle, our youngest son, unleashed his creative little soul with my camera. (When I say "little soul" I am only referring to him as my youngest, not saying he barely has a soul, nor that he is still a baby - - - just MY baby.)

I think he made some pretty fun pictures. But what are these items???

Wanna play? Make a guess and submit it as a comment under this post. Photo A and B are of the same thing, just taken with slightly different techniques. Photo C is something else entirely.

I think A is my favorite, what's yours?


Photo A


Photo B


Photo C

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