Over the Kitchen Counter: Angie's Place for Cooking and Crafts

Is this what it was like seeing the Beatles?

Being the wonderful parents we are, when our daughter needed a ride to the city and a place to stay in order to see One Direction, the boy band born from the British X Factor, we were there for her. When daughter #2 could only score tickets in a set of three our fate was decided.

We didn't know much about the band other than they were a current phenomenon generated from a reality competition show and that girls were crazy for them.  We were given a 3-album playlist to 'study' while driving to Maryland and were surprised how many songs we actually knew.  I will admit they grow on you! The music is catchy and varied even if the lyrics are limited to one subject (love, ain't nothing wrong with that!).  They are pretty talented kids.

Hubby was one of approximately six men in a sea of about 55,000 screaming girls and their mothers.  (#Trooper). We came in after the warm-up band, 5 Seconds of Summer, had started.  Based on the female hysteria I guess they are also pretty popular.  We were a little concerned that if the decibel of screaming was this loud already how would our ears not bleed when Harry, Zayn, Niall, Louis and Liam came on stage!

It proved to be an excellent show.  The five guys were like ants in such a big stadium although I'd say our tickets were pretty good considering.  The boys sang well and were very entertaining, playing all the 'good' songs and making everyone happy.  The girls screamed for absolutely everything and it was pretty funny and scary how loud it was.  I seriously had to plug my ears and I just couldn't believe the pandemonium with every move One Direction made.  A sight to see for sure - I think it was a historic moment I might be telling my grandchildren about some day!

Oh, and they are really darn cute - I can understand the appeal!

Life Gets in the Way...

Life has got in the way the past week or so, planning my mother's 90th birthday party for the whole family and dealing with my computer woes.  There have been fewer hours in the day, I'm sure of it!  (Ok, maybe one for sure...but it feels like more!).  I haven't had a good chunk of time to sit down and write and any spare time I've had I have been sewing - trying to finish up my quilts and get a baby one done, hoping to beat the baby's arrival!!

My kids will all be back in the nest within the next four weeks and I'm feeling a time crunch with that too.  The house will be full again with expectations of 'real' dinners (hubby and I have been eating leftovers and emptying the freezer, keeping it simple), shuttle service, and the sharing of the t.v.  Every evening we have been binge watching House of Cards, our latest indulgence, trying to get it finished before they are all home.  It's fun, but my sewing and blogging are taking a back seat!

So those are my excuses and here I am.  I am taking a break to post.  I have so many things to share with you, albeit mostly quilting related.  I admit I'm addicted to the sewing room and have not been in the kitchen much experimenting with new recipes.  I did manage to finish up a holiday scrapbook using the second half of my Creative Memories 13x9 PicFolio album.  That actually worked out well because I had extra empty pages left over from the last trip and since I can no longer get those albums (because Creative Memories is no more), they would have been wasted.  I didn't end up taking that many photos this past trip so there was just the right amount to fill and finish off the album.

I didn't even realize that I missed my 'blog anniversary' on February 6th.  Over the Kitchen Counter turned 5!  Wow!  I can't believe how fast it's gone and how many posts I've written over the years.  Thank you again for joining me, whether you've been here since 2009 or just today.  I appreciate you taking the time to visit.

Black Books - Favorite Place

Now THIS is an awesome music video!!!

 

Steff's At it Again!

I had to share yet another package of goodies that Steff from With A Grin recently sent me.  This time I was spoiled with a collection by Anna Griffin - starting with an acrylic heart-shaped album from the Peyton Collection.  I've never worked with an acrylic mini before so I'm excited to try it!  There were also 2 packets of the most gorgeous satin ribbon - one in a stunning soft pink and the other is a delicate mauve.  If 36" of ribbon wasn't enough, there's another pack of 5 yards of different ribbon embellishments.  Next, a package of beautiful brads, one with gold resin embellies (feather, leaf, and butterflies), a collection of 24 journal tags just begging to be inked and distressed, and to top it all off, a paper punch!  The design is a cute scalloped flower from the Flora Collection.

Steff sends me the sweetest gifts and she has such a knack for picking out items which will help me pull together a mini.  I'm sure she's trying to get my creativity directed into minis because she knows I'm challenged when it comes putting them together!  I haven't done one since the last time she sent me some inspiration in the mail!

Now...she couldn't even leave it at that...also in the package was...
the funkiest apron I have ever seen!  It is so darling - full of colour and petticoats!  DH said I looked like Minnie Mouse! lol!  I actually love and use aprons so this was just icing on the cake!  Thank you again Steff for all your sweetness!  Now...I'd better get to work!