7.30.08 Mudbugs Jambalaya

I hosted book club tonight and served up a big 'ol pot of Mudbugs Jambalaya for the ladies. This is Shannon showing off the Cajun wine she brought for the occasion. 

7.29.08 A palm tree in Kansas?

It doesn't seem quite right, but I like it.

7.28.08 party favor

We left Friday night's gig with lots of party favors, including these little Mudbugs. I've put them in many places around my home including the medicine cabinet.

7.27.08 a prayerful Ernie

I was back to work today after taking most of last week off. Working on a Sunday usually means shooting something at a church, which is exactly where I was today. I was surprised because it's a church I had never been to before. 

Anyway, as you can see, I wasn't the only one at church.

7.26.08 two weeks away

Amanda shows off a sparkly shirt she was given during her bridal shower at Oeno Wine Bar (the gift-giver was pretty clever in matching the shirt to the venue). Only two more weeks until the big day.

7.25.08 Bayou Bash

The Mudbugs played at a kickin' swamp party in Arkansas City. This is CRG checking out the fresh mudbugs that were flown in for the occasion. They also had 200 pounds of shrimp AND a frozen Hurricane machine. Yee-haw! Good times.

7.24.08 photos of food are free of calories

I just finished my new food wall in my kitchen. It's a collection of photographs of food I've eaten (and watched while others ate) from around the world including exciting locations such as, Brazil, Mexico, Chicago and Wellington, Kansas.

Unfortunately, not all of the pictures I printed actually fit on the board. I plan to rotate the exhibit every few months or so. 

7.23.08 freecycling works for me

I've spent the past few days cleaning out my garage. I accumulated a large pile of garage crap: random pieces of plywood, trim, drywall and a battleship gray plastic Adirondack chair that once was white. I piled all of my junk at the end of the driveway, stuck a FREE sign on it and it was all gone in 24 hours. I love freecycling! It works for everyone.

My next project is to fix my weed whacker. As you can tell, it's been down for a little while.

7.22.08 Maddy Mairs

I had lunch with Amy and her two kiddos, Maddy and Harrison. That's Maddy peaking at me through the tiny hole in the 31 card. She's a smart one. We counted to 31 together and she didn't miss a beat.

7.21.08 bunny art

I took a few days off work to paint my house. I realized that was a bad idea for a couple of reasons: the temperature is hotter than the Mudbugs and my house doesn't really need painting. 

So, I'll working on some other random things around the casa this week. Today, I finally found a home for this piece of art I bought a long time ago.

7.20.08 my favorite flower

This lily has been blooming in a couple of spots around my house for the past two weeks and it's my absolute favorite.

7.19.08 red Schwinn

Saw this red Schwinn at the downtown farmer's market this morning. Looks a lot like one I had as a kid.

7.18.08 Neighbors

Joe played at my neighborhood bar, Neighbors Bar & Grill, where I ran into my old neighbors from Spaulding St. Joe has written the Mudbugs a killer song that includes the chant, "Suck the head. Suck the head." It's great.

7.17.08 summer eats

We nommed on grilled pork chops, corn salad, roasted potatoes and lemony green beans last night. Good summer grub.

7.16.08 an equine adventure

I spent the evening working on a story about a horse rescue ranch where all of the creatures were very personable. 

7.15.08 spotted in the parking lot

This is your crayon on drugs. Any questions?

7.14.08 Vive la France!

I celebrated Bastille Day on the patio at Oeno listening to the swing and gypsy jazz sounds of Nouveau Quintette. Good times.

7.1308 why can't we all just get along

The QuikTrip food mascots got into it at the Wingnuts game today. The tacquito oversees a fight between the hot dog and the egg roll. I think the children in the stands were frightened.

7.12.08 set list

Carter goes over the set list before playing at Oeno Wine Bar. Carter and Nick played acoustic guitars all evening and I sat in on the drums with them for one set. Good times.

The Mudbugs will be rockin' the Oeno patio on August 9. Aaaaieeee!

7.11.08 Poop Posse

The Wellington Wheat Festival is going on this weekend, which means parades, carnival rides and a cow chip throwing contest. 

The Mudbugs are playing the Wellington Fall Festival in October. That festival is, unfortunately, without a cow chip contest. That's poopy.

7.10.08 Paula Deen is a real charmer

Paula Deen was in town today to speak on behalf of Harrah's casino. If they are chosen to build their casino in Mulvane, her restaurant will be built in the joint. 

She is just as funny and charming in real life as she is on camera AND her husband is just as cute.

7.09.08 Your Cute

We had a great time at Brenda's farewell gathering at Yia Yia's. That's Brenda slurping a $5 martini (it's a Wednesday night special). 

Brenda and I were dancing and I somehow managed to get behind the drums. A dream come true.

7.08.08 spontaneous explosion

I was awoken last night from a peaceful slumber by an ear-piercing explosion. I knew Blixie wasn't to blame because she was beside me in my bed. I looked at her and she mouthed the words, "WHAT THE BLEEP BLEEP BLEEP!"

I didn't find the source and went back to sleep while blaming the strange sound on global warming. (Really, isn't that the problem with everything?) This morning I figured out that the glass tabletop I had in my guest room spontaneously exploded. I know, it sounds crazy but I've since learned that I'm not the only victim. 

07.08.08 Chillin' with my iMac

Yeah, I'm three

7.07.08 Batboy

The batboy for the Wichita Wingnuts can do it all: pick up bats, juggle baseballs AND balance a ladder on his chin. 

7.06.08 God, country AND apple pie

I finished out the Fourth festivities this morning with a trip to Lyons, Kansas to see Carter's bluegrass gospel band, Zebedee's Blunder, perform at the First United Methodist Church of Lyons. (Three of the Blunders are also Mudbugs.)

We stuck around for a good old-fashioned potluck dinner that was pretty awesome. (I know Denise is reading this and salivating because that girl loves her some church food.) Our dessert was delicious homemade apple pie. 

God, country AND apple pie. I'm living the dream. I have never in my life had such a festive Fourth, Fifth and Sixth. I don't want it to end.

7.05.08 Fourth festivities celebrated on the fifth

Here's Lexi twirling a sparkler moments before a bigger firework exploded and scared the BAJEEZUZ out of the both of us. We have 364 days to recover.

7.04.08 Bluebird

Spent the Fourth at Bluebird, a farm in Oklahoma that has been in Robin's family for more than a century. It was beautiful and probably the most all-American Fourth I have ever spent in my life. I felt like I was in the pages of a Better Homes & Garden spread.

Here is everyone lined up tossing eggs. Denise made it into the finals and then this happened.

07.05.08 foggy fifth

J & G playing while we grill up some DAWGS! For dinner! Happy fifth!

7.03.08 cats love them some boxes

I had just finished looking at Lori's photo of her cat inside a box when I looked over and spotted Blixie doing the same. I bet Blix is gonna love this photo since she looks rather thin.

7.02.08 an afternoon nap

I spent the day at the zoo working on a story about what the animals eat. This gorilla was taking a nap after a snack of sweet potatoes and apples. I like both of those things and naps, too.

7.01.08 Wow! This blog is making me look a little lushy.

Robin holds some lovely limes while sporting her matching skirt. The fruit was used in mojitos we sipped while I was attacked by mosquitos (it was worth it, though).

I had a hard time deciding which picture I liked more. Here's the other contender? What do you think?