Happy Zombie

No blah, blah, blah… I’ll get right to the point! One contest, two winners. And the winners are…
Comment #32 - Tami of Lemon Tree Tails
and
Comment #126 - Mindy of Mindy Said! Yeah Tami and Mindy!

So now the blah, blah, blah. Going back in time (insert wavy tv magic trick going back in time, rubbing my chin and looking up and squinting)… to lunch on a beautiful sunny day at the Bridgewater Bistro in Astoria… Karen and me yackin’ it up and having a fab, fab, fab lunch and time together.

Columbia River traffic - watching the ships go by. Well, not us. But these people are watching. We were watching the people.

The ultimate place I want to cocoon in with the T-man on a stormy weekend. The Cannery Pier Hotel.

Lunch at the Bridgewater was great - dessert was divine. I’ve been on a Bread Pudding World Tour to find the best. My journey is now over - and right here in my own backyard. Bread pudding from fresh baked bread (from scratch) with Cremé Frech, Cognac and dried cranberries. TO DIE FOR!

Karen’s dessert - Carrot Cake with candied carrots and Cardamon. Karen said it tasted like Sweden. I can honestly say we had a healthy lunch. Karen had veggies - carrots. I had fruit - cranberries. No carbs, no calories, and certainly no twisted rationalization. Sorta kinda honestly.

Even the HZ staff got to go today. Here’s the staff validating the winning comment numbers. Mimi, PA Bob, St. Joe-Joe and the newest member of the staff… Heinzelmännchen Hans-Olaf (he’s half German half Swedish, don’t ya know). I have to keep an eye on naughtly little Hans-Olaf… he’s always hiding my stuff behind his back. One time he even took the entire month of December and hid it from me. But on most days, he just likes to eff with me and hide my glasses, my keys, important receipts, my car in the Safeway parking lot, and so on. I’m really concerned about what he’s hiding back there today.

Our draw-er was Mr. Bridgewater Cafe himself… Tony Kischner. Tony’s put many a meal in front of me here, here and now here. Great guy, great sense of humor… and great food! Here Tony draws Mindy’s comment number.

Here Tony draws Tami’s comment number. Thank you Tony! BTW… Mimi’s got herself a new cause - and sporting her new bracelette… WristStrong. Go Mimi, go!

Karen signing her book as the staff watches on. Hans-Olaf reminding Karen it’s Tami with an “i” and one “m”. I have a sneaky suspicion he’s got Tami’s other “m” behind his back.

Thank you all for playing and leaving the sweet comments for Karen. [whispering] I think she really got the message to get a blog [/whispering]. ;)
And now I must nap.

Things are really hopping at my house, and it’s really cutting into my blog-time! Ok, it’s all good, but my bloglines is lit up like a Festivas Tree and I’m itching to catch up with everyone’s blogs! DS has taken it upon himself to re-landscape our back yard, which is no easy task since we live on a hillside. DH and I have jumped on the band-waggon (though I’m working in a not so treacherous area of the yard, ie., with the potted plants and keeping the work crew happy with pancakes and pizza). Outside and in the sunshine non-rainy weather we’ve been having… make for glorious family time! My bloggy fun time and quilting/sewing have been neglected, as well as cooking, cleaning and the laundry (the latter not too unusual). And speaking of neglected… I’m learning fast I need to keep a closer eye on PA Bob and Mimi!

And NOW I KNOW why PA Bob has that grin on his face!

As promised, I took Mimi to Redwork Club and some shopping fun at Anna Lena’s. She had fun!!! Maybe it was a bit too much fun, as she got a bit cranky when it was time leave. I don’t know if it was all the sugar she consumed, or if it was a fabric high she was on. Anyhoo, I’ll let Mimi tell her story…

Going to Redwork Club was a blast! I got so much attention at Show & Tell time - I was a rock star! I got to meet Mum’s talented and creative friends and got to see all the pretty things they’ve made. What a fun group of ladies they are! A special treat… I got to meet my Great Auntie E and I can see why my mum loves her so much. Great Auntie E is mum to my cousin Mimi Mae. That’s right… she is mum to my cousin! I was hoping to meet Mimi Mae, but that will have to be another day.

Great Auntie Happy (yes… that’s really her name - how cool is that!) brought along her little baby and she and I became fast friends. She’s not really a little baby as she’s about 50 years old. I guess we really DO shrink as we get older! I was disappointed that Happy’s BFF Mary wasn’t there, as I wanted to meet her and her new baby Mimi Lou too (OMG… I have yet ANOTHER cousin!). WOW… what a week. Not only do I have two new cousins here on the coast, but my sister Sophie made her debut AND I found out I have a kiwi cousin Blossom down under!

Time to go shopping! How handy to have shopping carts in the store! I’m guessing Aunt Karen had them especially for my visit. Though it was kind of dangerous as I was not strapped in. I must admit, I was a little dizzy from the sheer bliss and excitement of seeing so much yummy fabric, especially all the 30’s! Wow… it’s 30’s heaven here! Ok, NOW I understand why Mum wears $3 t-shirts and $15 jeans… so she can spend all her money here instead! And wow… look at that bundle of Moda Cherries Jubilee I scored. Ahem… Mum scored. Say… that fabric looks familiar. Where have I seen it before??? ;)

Toys and toys and toys and toys! And books! And stamps! And more toys, oh my. I’m so curious, ha!

Oh SEW pretty! I got to snuggle up with Darlene’s new fabric line!

And then I got to bask in the glow in some of Auntie Karen’s creations!

All this shopping… I’m starting to get hungry. OMG… Peas & Carrots. Oh so, so, so, soooooooooooo yummy! I want to feast on these!

I have a sweet tooth now. Holy crap, there’s not only fabric… but there’s fudge here too! I wonder if anyone will notice if I slip behind the fudge counter and take a little nibble…

And now I must nap.

Napping in the splendor of Auntie Karen’s Wash Tub Prints. Sigh. Bliss. Um… this fabric feels kinda warm. Oooops. Mum forgot that I need Pampers at nap-time.

Hearts and Crafts,
Mimi

And so it begins. Sticker love.

Few words. Much Joy. Nap time now. Sew time later.

Hello Mum!

I’m almost home, just a few minutes now. Are you ready? I’m ready!

Say… these guys are cute! Excuse me a second Mum, my nice rescuers are tying to communicate with me…

[Lunch? Do I have plans? Why, no… I have no plans or anything pressing. I’m available for lunch. Let’s go!]

Um, Mum… seems like my nice rescuers received an *emergency call* at Fort George. I’ll be home sorta soon!

Dear Mum… Just a quick note. I was on my way up the hill from the bus station, when ooops… OH $h1t! I’m sure I’ll be rescued very soon. In the mean time - my new friend Anderson is keeping me company while we wait for the Coast Guard to rescue us.

Special thanks to my friend Kathleen for snapping this incredible photo and allowing me to use it. If you want to see Kathleen’s other amazing photos, check our her flickr and blog. Give yourself a few hours to take in her amazing talent! Thank you Kath! - Monica

All I can say is - It’s ABOUT TIME I heard from THAT GIRL. Jetting around while I sit and wait for her. Taking a deep cleansing breath and a quick Ohmmm Shamya… there, I’m somewhat better now. Anyhoo… sounds like this is Mimi’s last stop. We shall see.

Dear Mum,

This is my last stop. I promise. For real. I mean, I really couldn’t just pass through Ess Eff without seeing La Familia now could I. I took BART into Walnut Creek and Uncle Marco picked me up at the staion. Before taking me to see Omi & Ito and Auntie Kinh… we stopped at Marco’s big shot studio. Marco said he had a big surprise for me (I was secretly hoping he was going to cast me in one of his Comcast TV commercials), and the surprise was a recording gig for my own hit song! Paula, Randy, Simon… are your paying attention? What ever… I don’t need you - I have Marco. I’m my own Amimican Idol It was fun, though it wasn’t easy to sing, especially since I can’t even talk. We had fun. We laughed, we ate Top Ramen, went out for Sushi, went racing down Ygnacio… it all went too fast. Oh, and once my song is finished in production - it’s going to hit the airwaves.

Marco took me into The City so I could catch my flight to PDX. On our way to SFO, I asked Marco if it was ok for me to take a quick spin down Lombard Street. Marco encourged me to go speedy fast, so I did! Gawd, you two are SOOOO brother and sister. Two peas in a pod. Anyhoo… Little did I know EssEffPD was waiting at the bottom, and well, lets just say I charmed my way out of ticket.

This is my last email, as I’m just about to board my flight. I do hope you’ll let me go on weekend trips once I get home. I’ve really got the travel bug and want to see more - especially Berkeley… oh how I wanted Marco to take me there, but he said “another time”.

Off to PDX!
Love,
Mimi

~Whew… I was getting worried about Mimi when she didn’t show up in California for a visit with my family. Seems she took a left turn and headed east.

Hi Mum!

I was just about to hop on BART after I landed at SFO, when I suddenly heard all this chatter about Stephen Colbet and Willie Nelson feuding about some ice cream. Being the curious little minx that I am, I HAD to learn more. Turns out Stephen and Willie have their own ice cream from Ben and Jerry’s and Stephen didn’t like Willie stealing some of his thunder. Well… I had to get in on some of that ice cream action myself, and off to Vermont I went! Easy as pie, Ben & Jerry’s lets you make your own ice cream (and a little help from PhotoShop)!

Just as I was ready to leave Vermont, one of Stephen’s peeps told me he got wind of my new Ben and Jerry’s and was not too happy about it. That night on The Colbert Report - there was Stephen yapping about ME! Me… on The Word! OMG… what have I done?!?! Not wanting anyone to be upset with me… I head down to NYC. I snuck into Comedy Central and into Stephen’s dressing room.

After the show, Stephen came into his dressing room and found me. Oh you should have seen the look on his face! “I come in peace, I come in peace” I babbled. I could barely talk. Once I explained to Stephen who I was and why I was there… he started to see the true me, that I was just this little sweet thing on my way home (via the world) to live with my new mum. We talked, I told him about my travels, what my future plans were… and no sooner we were fast friends and I got a big thumbs up from my new friend Stephen! Of course I left out the part about how cute I thought Jon Stewart is… but that’s better left unsaid. Oh - and Stephen claims he “doesn’t see color”. Well, I think it’s safe to say - I’m his new aqua friend.

PS… turns out Willie Nelson was interested in meeting me too. But he soon found out my zig-zag was a “stitch”… and well, that meet-n-greet just didn’t happen.

I’m on my way to California and then up to Oregon!

Love and stitches,
Mimi

No recent news from Mimi, though I suspect she’s going to write very soon. Maybe she senses that I’ve been really busy?  I’m guessing she’s been busy herself - or she’s workin’ on something big!