It's been a while since I've posted, and you know what THAT means - no news here!!  Which is generally a GOOD thing....so, why post now & break the silence???

Because last night, we HAD RAIN!  Now, I realize, for most of you, that's pretty much a non-event.  In fact, most of you probably don't even want to see any more rain till next year!  Not so here!!!  We haven't had rain since last April, and I don't mean April a couple of months ago, I mean LAST April.  So, last night, when we heard that distinctive pitter-patter on the roof, we got really excited!!!  Enough so that I immediately thought this worthy of a blog entry!  And we actually got up, out of the bed, and stood on the back porch to watch it come down.  For about 3 minutes.  Then it was over.  Just as quickly as it started.  Boy, talk about a disappointment!!!!  Where were the thunderstorms we had been promised?????

All in all, it did that (pour for about 3 minutes) about 2 more times, and then that was it.  Till morning, when we had a couple of brief showers & lots of thunder & lightning.  That was it for us! Apparently, we got the lighter end of the clouds, because we found out that downtown was flooded with about 3 inches of rain - we got gypped!  Most of that goes straight into the Guadalupe River and right out to the Gulf of Mexico, so it's not really going to do anything for our drought conditions & we're still under voluntary water restrictions (as we *should* be).

So what else is going on?  A couple of weekends ago, Jose drove me all over the Coastal Bend, as we visited 3 quilt shoppes & 2 beaches in 2 days.  What a lot of fun that was!  (don't believe me?  see picture below!)  Ok, that's a bust - I can't get a pic to load up here anymore.  argh.  I so love computers, don't you?

OK, try this link instead —>  Port Lavaca Beach

So, we went shop-hopping, where you visit a shop, see their specials (or sometimes just get a small discount on any purchase) and taste their refreshments.  Often, they are homemade goodies, and at one shop, they did not fail us.  One of the ladies made fudge that was simply to die for.  And she was kind enough to give me the recipe....I have made it twice since, and both times it was simply fabulous.  Share?  Oh, yes, we shared one batch with the neighbors, and the other batch is currently on the counter.  Maybe, maybe not gonna get shared.  Might get gone, first.

After the shop-hop weekend, I got to see the foot doctor.  FINALLY.  Oh, my....I thought I knew pain.  Apparently, he felt the need to remind me that what I was experiencing was apparently NOT the top-of-the-chart I thought it was!!!!!  He listened a bit, took a couple X-rays, showed them to me, told me to hold on to Jose, told me it was gonna hurt, grabbed my foot & proceeded to make it hurt.  Oh yes, I hollered!  But you know what?  After 4 days, it almost didn't hurt anymore!!!  Then, 3 days after that, it was time to go back & get another shot.  I really didn't want to, but Jose talked me into it.  And, nooooo, it did not hurt any less this time around!  Even worse, this time it took FIVE days to feel better!!!!  But, just like before, now it hardly hurts at all.  WHEW!  What a relief! 

And here's the quilt I made out of my shop-hop purchase:


and, NO, thank you for asking, I did *not* win one of the 3 top prizes.  I *did* however, win a bag of soak as a door prize.  I *thought* it was a soak for my achin' back & was really excited about it, 'till Jose started reading the fine print.  It's a soak for stained & vintage FABRIC.  Oh well, maybe I can sell it in my shop, 'cuz I sure don't have any stained or vintage fabric that needs such treatment!

I better give you that fudge recipe so y'all can get in on the good stuff:

1 2/3 C sugar
2/3 C condensed milk
16 or 17 marshmallows (NOT 15!)
1/2 stick of butter (1/4 C)
dash salt

Slowly bring to a boil.  Boil for 5 minutes, stirring continuously.  Add in 2 C choco chips, 1 C chopped nuts, 1 tsp vanilla.  Stir till chips are all melted.  Pour into buttered & foiled pan or bowl.  Wait as long as you can, then ENJOY! 

That's it for now!  Y'all take care!  Oh, btw, I almost forgot!  Dick's mom has made it to Alabama, where she's gonna live with his sister.  Best of luck to you all!!