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.