Late Sunday Night

Ok, so we got an extra hour last night and I am still trying to decide if it is 11 p.m. or 10 p.m.  Why this matters, I really don't know except that maybe I'd go to bed already.  I am sleepy, but have been wasting time watching TV (Prince William and Kate) and playing with my iPhone and losing at Scrabble to sister Kathy.  Man she is one tough Scrabble player.  But, I am getting a bit better.  It is fun to know that she is playing right along side me even though she is in FL and I am in CA.

Was back with the 4th graders today in Sunday School and it was fun.  Although, there was a fake lizzard on the counter where I, the greeter lady, have to stand.  Ugh.  I put a hat over it and hoped no one would notice.  Jesus loves the little children, but surely not the lizzards.  Yeah, I know . . . they eat bugs.  But that's what I have Orkin for!  (smile)

Make it a good week!

Hmmmmm Quiet

I am never alone.  I used to say that I spent my lunch hour in my car, or "a la vehicle" as my co-worker Ashton would say, because that was the only hour of the day that I was alone.  So today I am home alone.  It feels wonderful and strange and comforting all at the same time.  "Bubba" is having breakfast this morning with "Barnacle Butt" and I am leisurely reading the paper and eating peach yogurt with Target blueberry granola.  Did I mention that it was quiet? Then, my phone alarm went off for some reason.  I raced to get it (not sure why that is), literally jumped over Lucy who had taken up her guard position in the hallway, and frantically searched my mind for what I set the alarm for and if I was late for something.  Can't think of a thing, so must be "user error." There's a lot that can be filed under that category these days.  Then, I noticed that I was still logged into the computer because I was reading the Pioneer Woman blog and had gotten up to catch the newspaper from Bubba as he retrieved it and drove off to breakfast.  I love P Dub (as she refers to herself in one of her oh so entertaining entries) and can't wait for her book to come out about how she met Pioneer Man.  So, P Dub inspired me to blog and my yogurt is still on the dining room table.  My mind is a sieve.

The Hills . . . well at our house anyway

This is what our front hill looked like in spring.  I wanted lots of colors and got them, but there is still too much dirt showing.  It's a good start though.

The Nest is Becoming Empty Again . . .

So, my Ashley is moving back to school again.  My heart isn't as sad as it was years back when my first little bird flew the coop.  But, I am feeling the pangs again.  I distinctly remember telling "little A" as we fondly call her, when she moved home in June that I didn't want to "bond" with her again because I knew she'd be leaving me.  I told her that she was "just a big leaver!" Some mom, huh? But, ya know something? I was right! She is leaving again. She and Chris took up the first load on Thursday and she is packing more stuff and making plans and making sorority boards for Rush for Sigma Kappa and, well, she's been busy. I am just very glad that I have Skype now and can see my kids while we talk.  This is a big help and I am looking forward to seeing her cute little face on the computer screen next week.  I just have to be careful what I am wearing when the "computer" rings.  It is a little tricky when you get calls on "naked Thursdays."

Labor Day Weekend

Well, it's the last weekend of the summer - wait, did we ever have summer? Well, yes, I think there were a couple of warm days, ate the requisite watermelons, watched the sun go down over the ocean, we had one beach party, and spent one evening with friends in their backyard by their fire pit.  Hmmm, guess that was summer. I'm not complaining though, believe me. I loved that it wasn't hot, hot, hot as usual.  But, it does make one wonder if come Christmas it will be 90 degrees in the shade.

We have been running errands, went to church last night, BBQd, hit the Macy's sale, found frames for the pictures of Lucy from Oh My Dog photos. I am actually typing this blog on Carrie's new laptop sitting in Dan's room in the recliner with my feet up.  Sweet!

It's Quiet!

OK, Ashley isn't that noisy, but it sure is quiet this weekend with her away!  Last night Dan and I went to this great restaurant that a friend, Susan Callahan, introduced me to this week.  Thanks, Sue!  It was good that she mentioned there is a man there who gives hugs because I would have freaked out as he came toward me. He hugs everyone - even a crusty, scary looking motorcycle guy seated at the bar. There was a wedding rehearsal dinner going on, families munching on pizza, and all in all it is a great experience.  It is an Italian restaurant called Capazolli's.  Yummy.

Today I got to sleep in, had a pedicure and went to church.  They began a new summer series on the book of Ruth and it was very good.  Pastor Chris referred to it as a "summer chick flick" and lamented that no one gets blown up or fights, but he was drawn into the story of Ruth, Naomi and Orpah.  Did you know that Oprah was to be named Orpah from the Bible, but her mother misspelled it on the birth certificate?  Just some trivia to bring you up-to-date.

Now, got to figure out who will go see Eat Pray Love with me tomorrow.  Dan said he's had enough of a summer check flick already this weekend.  Maybe I'll take a page out of Carrie's book and go by myself!  Probably just women there anyway . . .

Down She Goes

So, on Thursday I was walking to walk from my car and somehow managed to fall flat on my face.  My arm suffered the most damage, but is in its sling and healing.  Nothing was broken, so am sure glad about that.  It was my right arm, too, which is so inconvenient.  However, that said, it could be a form of a diet to eat with the wrong hand.  Working on that now. I hope to go to work tomorrow, but Dan will drive me and I don't think I'll be doing much computer work.  I'll manage by walking around this week.  Well, I will plan to walk and hope that I don't find myself on my face again any time soon. 

Missin' TX, Ya'll

So I am missing all the fun we had in Texas . . . anyone else feeling the same?  Such a sense of community, family, never being alone, little Miss Ainsley Fluff, laugher, discussion, sharing, revealing, learning, and all in all reveling in being part of a big family that doesn't see each other often.  Perhaps that is why we always have such fun - we don't spend too much time with each other?  I am amazed that I didn't buy any quilt fabric, but was making a real effort not to do so.  I have to finish my projects that I have already purchased.  But, that said, has anyone noticed that all the new Christmas fabric is out now?  Oh, how I love Christmas in July!  Does Ashley have the Christmas countdown on her iPhone for 2010 yet?!?  I bet she does.  Love to all!

What's New?

So, bet you noticed that my blog has had a  makeover.  Too much?  It's like, WOW!  I've probably been watching too many David Tutera shows - am sort of hooked on that of late.  He is an event planner and apparently has a very large budget because his wedding receptions are amazing. For one he used something like 14,000 roses and all I could think of was that there are people in Haiti who need food.


Ashley is moving home today for the summer.  The empty nest will have a little birdie back in it, but a birdie that has soared with eagles and will not cotton to having helicopter parents again.  Note to self: no helicopter rides.  It will be nice to have her home again!  Our gain is Carrie's loss - no roommate for three months!


Dan's red sofa delivered and he loves it.  With the blue carpet, it is quite red, white, blueish and so very him.  I need to redo the bookcases now as they are quite junky.  The red items on the shelves are really popping with the red couch.   Who knew?!?


We put about 50 more plants into the front hill to fill up the holes from last year's plantings.  It really is pretty.  The gardener (you didn't think WE planted all those plants, did you?) liked it so much that he asked if he could take pictures.  Good sign!  They scraped down the side hill and we are thinking of how we will plant that one now.

Well, someone has to go to the grocery store, so guess I better get moving.  Hmmmmmm, what to make for dinner tonight?!?

Poem Inspired by Carrie's Blog

Sometimes the weekends aren't long enough
and summer comes too fast.
Old friends forget to call
and memories don't last

But, life is worth living
Fall will soon draw nigh
Christmas season will be upon us
and angels' singing we will "hear from high"

Yesterday I loved a fall-themed painting
in the mall by a store called Coach
And remembered my mother buying one
of beautiful runnuculas totally beyond reproach

Don't you just love the new poetry
It doesn't seem to rhyme
But gives way to pictures in its time

But, enough trying to be poetic,
because my desk is a mess!
I'll spend a few minutes to do a pile or two,
then back to enjoying my Sundays too few!

Memorial Weekend

There is nothing quite satisfying as the Friday night of a three-day holiday weekend. We took Ashley and Chris to dinner at Pizza Nova, which started things off quite nicely even though my salmon arrived with cold veggies. They made me a new plate and didn't charge me, so that was some good customer service. And, I know customer service!!! The next three days loom ahead with pedicures, movies, church, BBQing, shopping and I don't know what all. And, I spent some time sending about 20 sample of new books to my Kindle today, too. Oh, the possibilites!

Safe or Crazy?

Well, it depends if you are Dan or Jan. One of us has ordered an eight-man tent and a kit with supplies (food, crank-up radio, water filtration thingy, first aid supplies), plus two more sleeping bags for our earthquake preparedness supplies. And, the other of us thinks he is going to check into the nearest hotel when the big shake occurs. Oops, I gave it away! Ha, bet you already knew who was busily gathering supplies for the big shake. Maybe it's because I am a mom and if the kids are home, they'll be looking at me to see where they'll be sleeping. Maybe it's because I dread the thought of having to spend the night in the backyard in the cold/wet/who knows. Or, maybe I just sleep better knowing that I have at least made an effort to be prepared. The email string went like this: I sent Dan the link to a tent on sale at Costco. He wrote back, "no thank you, I'll be staying at a hotel." I wrote back, "I'll let you share it with me after the big one hits." He conceded. I bet it's because he knows he can't take Lucy to the hotel!!! And, I'll be the first one to find a hotel because Holiday Inn is the nearest I get to camping. But, you just never know . . .

March Madness

It is nearly spring - have you heard the birds singing of late? That is always the first sign and I hear them early in the morning as I get ready for my shower. We've had lots of rain, which makes for very green hills, flowering plants and wild flowers. I am not ready to have winter over, but then I never am. I do love the spring with Easter and spring breaks and pretty colors in the shops. I was at Joanne's this evening and really enjoyed seeing all their Easter items. I, wisely, did not buy any of them. I got thread, rotary blades on 40% off (yay), pre-made piping, and a nifty cutting board that you can flip over and use as an ironing board. Now, if I could just find time to sew. Maybe this weekend? Our Growth Group ladies are meeting for lunch on Saturday and I'm helping in the 4th grade on Sunday. But, hopefully, I can get some sewing in, too. Spring is coming . . . March 20!!!

The Merits of Bronchitus

1. More sleep
2. Cough medicine with codeine
3. Lucy curled up at my feet
4. Blogging
5. Lounging around in jammies
6. No makeup
7. Reading
8. Playing backgammon on the iPhone
9. Hawaiian punch
10. Catching up on recorded TV shows

I hope I can work tomorrow because this stuff gets old after a while!

January 20 Already?

Gosh, has it really been nearly a month since I last blogged? So what's been happening? Work is crazy busy and I am never bored. Christmas was great and thank you cards finally sent. Last weekend was our annual Mother/Daughter weekend getaway during the football playoff games. We went to Doheny Beach, which is near Dana Point and about 30 minutes north of where we live. We stayed in a lovely hotel that had two balconies that overlooked the ocean and it was really great. We read, we went to tea, I knitted, Ashley worked and did homework, we relaxed and just really enjoyed spending time with each other. We even missed Dan and called to see if he would join us, but he wanted to watch football and was enjoying himself and declined. Dan is home sick today and sounds horrible, but went to the dr. yesterday and got some meds. Lucy will be happy to sit at his feet as he wheezes and coughs. I am selfishly hoping that I don't catch it. We are having a huge amount of weather here this week from wind to rain to tornadoes. I hope I find a house landed on a witch sporting a pair of sparkly red shoes.