MERCY me!

I've been exploring around the innernets for a bit visiting new and old favorites alike.

New-ish to me and HIGHLY recommended is Confessions of a Pioneer Woman She is the real deal Oklahoma rancher's wife and cook (not chef, cook) extraordinaire. She has a personal blog at "Confessions" and a companion cooking blog (linked on the right side of the "Confessions."

From her personal blog I've learned all I want to know about chaps and chinks -- although I think I'll be taking a refresher course and look over the material MANY MANY MANY more times. (Check it out and tell me how much you agree, ladies.) I've learned prolly way more than I wanted to about calf fries. And I've just fallen so very head over heels in love with her love story called "Black Heels to Tractor Wheels." Check out her ongoing series from the beginning and then let me know how many times you've caught yourself fanning yourself! Yum!!

My other favorites (that are public blogs) include Kuky Ideas. It is SO MUCH FUN to go to Kuky's and see her drawings and her pictures and stories about Isabelle, her 2-year-old gorgeous and crazy daughter.

Special treats: Kuky's drawings are da bomb. (How outdated is that expression? Really?) There are occasional videos of Isabelle doing the sweetest little girl things. And Kuky is a crafty lady who loves to sew spectacular things and knit and well, all manner of creative things. Plus they do a monthly family photo that I wait for every. single. month. because they do the same pose and yet it's an amazing way of seeing how time passes and changes everyone. Kuky, I just love your place!

One other daily "can't miss!" read for me is Posie Gets Cozy . Alicia is another beautiful craftswoman. She lives in Portland, Ore., and has a new corgi puppy named Clover. She also is living the life I want to steal. She is married to Andy, who is an R.N. and quite an extraordinary man, besides being cute as cute can be.

Going to visit "Posie" brings me an incredible sense of peace and centering. Alicia appreciates and creates beauty in the middle of everyday life. Her incredible color sense is something I wish could be bottled and sold at pharmacies nationwide because of the "all is right with the world" feeling I get from it. Reminds me of the feelings I got in my days on Pondamin 10 years ago right before the FDA pulled it off the market. Please, Alicia, if the FDA comes looking for you, grab Clover and Andy and HIDE! QUICK!

Go see "Posie" today -- they are at Multnomah Falls, one of the most BEAUTIFUL places on earth. I want to go back with a PASSION. If Clover ever needs a baby-sitter, call me and I'll move to Portland by morning, Alicia!

I hope y'all enjoy today's trip around blogland. Of course I continue to visit my longtime blogging buddies every single day too, but now and then I venture into new worlds. Mostly on those days when my longtime blogging buddies don't post, or they have ignored me too many days in a row. See, this is how I have to cope. It's paid off.