Gypsy Girls Journal

bigger than life

2012-01-11T13:21:00.000-08:00

Where have i been for the last few months...?
Experiencing some writing/sharing brain freeze and unlike my usual routine I have been doing some traveling : )
I've been to Washington and back a few times, went to BOTH Mark and Angela's graduations, injured my back, hosted Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day(and I do mean hosted...we housed 8 people for a week!) and after that I needed a vacation! So hubby and I went to the Calaveras Big Trees in California.

Here are some of the sights we saw that were bigger than life...

Yep...that's me

Yep...that's hubby! These trees were HUGE!

A car could drive through this space

Beautiful trails to walk on

So, it's January 2012 and in 5 more month's Angela & Jon will be getting married home at the farm, so I imagine more traveling and business is in order to get ready for that wonderful occasion.

Angela is now a credentialed teacher and subbing like crazy. Her heart was lost to the primary age children and hopes to get a full-time 1st-3rd grade class of her own.

Mark is a Certified Respiratory Therapist and applying at local hospitals. Yes, he made it all the way through the program and to think that his horrible car accident a few years ago was the means to launch a career.

I am a proud Momma : )

I miss writing/sharing, so will try to be more diligent. I think 2012 is going to be a year of priceless memories for my growing family...ah, bliss

2nd trip to B~town WA

2011-09-03T14:56:00.000-07:00

~some favorite things~

this was a sign in a neighbor's front yard...awesome!

these berries are EVERYwhere...a snack on the go!

dappled sunshine

someones side entrance to their secluded house

the surrounding greenery in stunning shades of green!

messy nature looking beautiful

these blinding white buds are gorgeous!

~ocean rock throwing~

~picnic at the ocean park~

~making GF muffins~

Why I just keep laughing...

2011-09-01T00:29:00.000-07:00

because of this...
and this...
absolutely this...
and finally this...

that last apron string...

2011-08-23T12:43:00.000-07:00

Do we ever really cut that last apron string?If so, I've thrown away my scissors...

All I think about these days is our daughter's upcoming wedding. An event that will forever change our families. We are increasing in size and adding some wonderful souls to our lives. I love Jon and his family are the most warm and friendly peaceful folks. This picture of Angela and I was taken at the Engagement Party that was hosted by Jon's parents. Someone grabbed my camera and said "cheese" but I can't remember who? All of Angela's & Jon's closest friends were there, along with family and friends from both sides. The spirit was loving and their home was filled with the most incredible group of people I have been around in a long time. I will treasure the memory of that day for years on end. (the food...oh, the food!)

But back to that apron...I am blessed with very close relationships with both of my adult children. Mark and I talk a few times a week, visit here and there and go out to eat at least 3 times a month. Angela and I talk almost every day on the phone and when we visit each other, it usually involves spending a night or two or three and it's always hard to leave each other. Mother/Daughter trips are traditional with us, as are projects. Marriage is something they both wanted to wait to do and so that last string seems to be attached with super glue.

Do I have to cut it?
Who made that rule anyway?
What is the meaning behind the cutting?

I understand that entering into marriage changes things, new responsibilities, a changing of the guard so to speak and we all say, "You're not loosing a daughter but gaining a son" and I believe that...really. But there is something to be said when the bride is your baby girl. When her name will change and that emotional shift happens. Less momma, more hubby thing. I went through it, I think most brides do. Does it feel that way with son's? I guess I'll find that one out soon enough.

I have 10 more months before those scissors have to come out and planning a wedding is going to give me plenty of Momma/Daughter time...

I may just have to loose those scissors after all!

What scissors?

Washington ~ part two

2011-08-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

The beauty in Washington is breathtaking. So many times I was reminded of all the camping trips of my youth. I couldn't take the smallest of walks without thinking of my Father, who loves the mountains and fresh air. I imagined my Mother gawking at all the flowers that grew everywhere you looked the way I did. It was difficult to process that these public parks looked so untouched and the people we ran into so friendly and courteous. Everything was wet with that magical mist that comes and goes on cue. Even the actual rain felt...rather dry and dissipated on your skin. I found myself breathing deeply knowing that the air was crisp and clean. I was constantly hungry, which is so unlike me. My little sis feed me well and we have this way of falling into place with one another that feels so natural. We make no rules when I'm there and are very spontaneous with our days. I laid down in bed at night with a smile having learned something new about her, Cedar and Boho Boy.

My sister is a wonderful Mother. She is patient and kind, gentle and wise. I told her that I saw a new assertiveness that has blossomed, I've never seen her so content and relaxed with her environment. She belongs right there, on that street, in that house for now.

Cedar is...precious, unique and incredibly funny. He understands some adult humor and many times I found my chin dropped to the floor saying, "what???how???smarty!!!" He enjoys imagination play on such a healthy intuitive level that one can't help but want to be a character in his world. I love him more than I expected to. Is that a strange thing to say? I knew I would love him, did from first sight, but I never expected to fall so deeply and feel so connected. I ache when I'm not with him. In his presence I feel so incredibly alive and loved.

Boho Boy works his patootie off with his growing business. He is a great tag team as a Daddy and also has such contentment in their little homey home. He escaped and went Kayaking one day, something I will do the next time I visit.

I'm convinced that they will all grow healthy here. That Washington love will invade their beings in such a way that only it can. I look forward to my next adventure there and appreciate what it has already given me. Thank you...

Denise and I always have a special moment when it's time for me to leave. We become silent...look into each other's eyes and hearts...and the tears start to flow. We hate leaving each other, always talk about adding a few more days, but I must return home. We belong together, so being apart is unnatural to us. I love her deeply, will always be her big sis, confidant and believe in her...she is so special...

I had to end this post with this picture again because it was not rehersed and happened right before I left. Cedar was using a straw as a microphone, leaned up against me and sang a little "auntie dd on the airplane" song. It was a slow sad song and we both felt that our time together was ending...smartie! ; )

Mmmm...washington...part one

2011-07-25T19:24:00.000-07:00

I arrive and the adventure begins...
"Pull me please"
This makes auntie dd nervous!
Talk about a 'bear hug'
Near by creek, rock hunting and tossing heaven
Just someones beautiful side yard, complete with local munchkin
Airport that Mommy made for Cedar
Trying on auntie dd's shoes

Cedar and I found a roll of unused doggie poo plastic bags. We made it a race running finish line and then ribbon danced for awhile. When we were done, I rolled it up and put it back by the garbage can. No harm done and we had a blast!
Garbage is interesting...

"No, I've never made mud...Ewww"
Dirt + Water = MUD
and a little stirring
On another walk, we came across a dark house set back in the woods. The conversation went like this, "You go!" "No, YOU go!" no one went ;~)
A good ole piggy back ride got rid of the fear
and so does pretending you're a dog. He said, "Pull my tail!" (?)
"I'm gonna get you!"
Rain in Washington?!
Mommy and son looking over the bridge

Boho Boy and baby sis...LOVE them!
Marching on the bridge
Tree climbing
Family rest spot
I had to do this...
Ummm, now what do I do?
Scoot backwards?! How?
Den teaching Cedar to "pump" on the swing
He picked it up really fast!
Awesome "tree" house
Complete with a natural slide
"Look how far I am!"
"Watch me run really fast!"
I told Cedar I could hear a Sasquatch...hee hee
omg...Angel Face!
Curls & Dreads
"Please get me out of here."
This also makes auntie dd nervous
Ewww...Yucky!
"Want to go for a car ride?"
adorable
cuteness
everything is a microphone
"Don't leave auntie dd"
"Auntie dd doesn't want to leave..."

They're Engaged!!!

2011-03-28T11:13:00.000-07:00

Yes...Jon popped the question and we all couldn't be more delighted :)
The families all came together on Saturday to celebrate and my face hurt from smiling so much. We adore Jon's parents and had the best of times with them. The food was fabulous (and so was the champagne) and the desert was even gluten free! Guess what the next surprise is???

The wedding is going to be HERE and have a beautiful country theme! Wow!

We have our work cut out for us, but luckily the wedding is set for June 2012. We feel honored and very sentimental that our daughter and her love want the farm to be a forever reminder of their union. Could we be any more blessed? I think not!

Congratulations Angela and Jon :)

tree climbing...

2011-01-28T15:45:00.001-08:00

some trees just beg to be climbed
this one cradled me like a baby

I needed this...

rewrite

2011-01-13T15:02:00.000-08:00

~ i hear the sounds of someone trying not to make a sound ~

this is what i think when my daughter cries, holding her breath as she pushes that emotion down as deep as it will go, when i announce to her that i am too unwell to attend the plans for that day.

this is not a slight of her character, just the evidence of the burden she bares at seeing me, watching my face droop with the pain, i am feeling that moment.

i close my eyes and concentrate on breathing, but in between each breath i can hear the hushed voices, the tissues that wipe away tears and the footsteps that lighten around me.

this is a scene that i cannot rewrite.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T11:09:00.000-08:00

This is how I brought in the new year. My hubs shot this picture while I was asleep this morning...it was pretty cold and obviously Baxter thought so too ^..^ hee hee

35 reasons

2010-12-30T15:28:00.000-08:00

Oh how I needed a break from blogging...every once in awhile I feel like blogging puts me in a box and I really resist it. So this break is now officially over and I can catch you up in 35 pictures...

1. This is Cedar on his birthday. The tractor is out and he is in a state of amazement. At this time, tractors were called, "Ah Un...ah un!"

2. So, while it was turned off, Auntie dd gave Cedar a little non moving ride.

3. And then we posed for a picture :~)

4. Cedar has found something that he thought was "Stinky!" and chased me with it.

5. Out daughter Angela joined in on the fun.

6. Zeus loves Cedar very much, but hasn't learned how not to jump on little people yet...actually, all people! Signing up for dog training classes this Spring!

7. It's hard not to want to throw a rock or two when there is a veritable sea of them, but this was one of those, "Not for babies!" moment. Still loved the mischievous look on Cedar's face.

8. This was the motorcycle that Gran Marmie and Vo Vo got for Cedar...and him in his adorable Birthday outfit.

9. These are the cupcakes my niece Ashley made for dessert...yummy!

10. And some of them were Gluten Free...so thoughtful of Ash.

11. Opening presents...just a few ;~)

12. This is Liam, my great nephew...yes, we all melt by those deep blue eyes. Liam and Cedar get along wonderfully and are a little over a year apart in age...Toddler Heaven!

13. A Very Big Book About Farm Equipment...Yay!

14. And a duck puppet...so fun!

15. Now THIS is what I'm talkin about!

16. My brother Jim showing his Grand Baby family photo's, but Liam is much more interested in the buttons on the heater control. Hey, buttons are cool!

17. And here is Mark...looking happy and healthy...love him!

18. My boho sis and bro look a little overwhelmed with all the presents. I imagine she is thinking, "How in the world are we going to get all of this on the plane?"

19. Plenty of wood for the winter...

20. Munchkin homes in the Orchard.

21. Winter time here on the Farm.

22. Christmas berries on our Hawthorn tree.

23. Pandora is getting bigger and bigger.

24. The kids gathered to decorate Christmas cookies.

25. Mark seems to enjoy this, while Angela takes her decorating very seriously :~)

26. Jon is getting ready to inject the Turkey for its deep fry.

27. The evidence of all that hard work.

28. A little Christmas scattered everywhere.

29. The succulent box Jon and Angela made for me. I think this was my favorite gift. It's made to hang on the wall...so clever!

30. "Oh Christmas Tree..."

31. We decorate our Tables with a Christmas Town.

32. Jay and I argue about this every year...I get my way ;~)

33. Deep Fried Turkey...Yum!

34. An out of focus picture of Marmie in front of the fireplace.

35. Daddy and my Mom in Love(Barbara) seem to be relaxed and having a good time.

So, that's just a smidgen...we hosted a dinner party with our neighbor's and I did put myself through the craziness of handmade Christmas cards. My health is just okay. I recently experienced a seizure and I haven't had one of those for 10 years, so I'm being careful and imagine a quiet New Year's Eve...maybe ;~)

A belated Happy Holiday's to you all!

more divine puppy adorableness x 100

2010-11-05T16:25:00.000-07:00

meet pandora

2010-10-29T16:38:00.000-07:00

Today we adopted a new puppy and named her Pandora. We have always talked about having 2 dogs to live on and protect the farm. Pandora is half Great Pyrenees and half Anatolian Shepherd, both are very large breeds, some as big as Saint Bernard's. Zeus now has a playmate and I have puppy duty...not a small task. Tonight will be her first night away from her 8 brothers and sisters, I will be feeling her sorrow and probably loosing a little sleep. yay.

I have been skyping all day with my sister. Showing her, Cedar and Boho boy a very fat & fuzzy puppy. She looks like a stuffed animal, unreal, but then Cedar thinks stuffed animals are all real anyway ; )

moments with cedar

2010-10-18T17:26:00.000-07:00

sidewalk yummies

2010-10-13T17:25:00.000-07:00

Visiting the boho family in San Diego. I arrived on Saturday and will be here until Thursday. My sister is glowing with motherhood, Cedar is so much bigger and boho boy looks adorable in his scruffy beard and wavy long hair. Ours days have been filled with toddler play (like sidewalk chalk) and non stop conversations. Regardless of where we take Cedar, or what he wears...people refer to him as "she." Yes, he is just that beautiful!

New stuff about Cedar:

~Anything "Stinky" is hilarious
~Tractors are really really really cool (thank you uncle jj)
~Chasing and hiding games rule
~Running is faster and falling is harder
~Everyone in the room must have a turn too
~Affection flows freely (the best hugs and kisses ever!)
~Berenstain Bears rock
~Stuffed animals are alive (just what my sister thought too)
~"I can do it myself" ; )
~Wakes up from his naps a little taller
~"Yucky" is pretty funny too

He is all boy...pretty...but all boy. I always cherish these visits and my hubby? He counts the hours until I am home again ; ) love you babe

lightning bug

2010-10-04T12:54:00.000-07:00

Very strange weather here in Northern California. High humidity, random thunder/rain and a lot of late night lightning. Specifically 2:00 am. I can be such a shutter bug : )

happy happy

2010-09-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

happy birthday to you

happy birthday little sister

happy birthday to you

how old are you now

I'll never tell ; )

rattle shake roll...(GF tip)

2010-09-13T17:39:00.000-07:00

We took this rickety(eek!) old(scary) and very cool(adventurous) elevator to the 4th floor of our daughter Angela's new apartment. We were here to bring the finished project of wrapping the Thailand Silk around four canvases, visit and go to dinner. Their place was clean, cozy and quite typical of downtown S.F. row houses. You enter a long wood floor hallway with all the rooms straight down in a row and off to the left; Bathroom, Kitchen, Living Room and a Bedroom. What more does anyone need?Well, here they are...the colors are so serene and I think they'll look lovely on any wall.

This last week was spent with all the surrounding orchards lining up for their turn to have the shakers do their thing. Wednesday bright and early it was our turn. I thought the shaker looked like a great big black spider maneuvering in and out of our rows. A big front claw gently grabbed each trunk and then (Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr!) the quick vibration made the ground tickle beneath your feet and all the light fixtures rattled on the walls.I turned away, I can't watch and I found myself wincing deep inside with each and every tree. After many hours there was an abrupt silence and the regular hush informed me that the process was over. I ventured outside with apprehension, in my mind, the trees would all be broken and torn to shreds. But this was not so, THEY are much stronger than one thinks.My reaction came swift. My mouth dropped open and tears filled my eyes. I felt a sense of deep pride swell in my chest and covered all over the ground was the gift that comes when they are nursed from Winter to Harvest. Gifts, each and every one of them. Crazy me felt compelled to say out loud, "Good Job All of You! Thank You So Much!"Late afternoon Hubby arrived home from his main job, changed his clothes and drug out the poles. He poles the top of the branches to get the nuts that didn't make it to the ground...seriously, more? Hey, these pennies add up!

***Here is the skinny on the Best Gluten Free Pizza Dough Ever! Tried and tested by yours truly and "YUM" is all I can say!Go here(Schar) for more information about their products...and go crazy with the toppings ; )

Thailand Silk

2010-09-07T16:42:00.000-07:00

This is the silk that Ang & Jon brought back with them from Thailand. My camera doesn't do them justice. Each one is iridescent and casts different colors, depending on the angle in which you are standing. Now home, they purchased 4 large rectangle shape canvases for me to stretch the material around. Great idea and they turned out beautiful. Tomorrow I will be bringing them to San Fran to see their new apartment and then go out to dinner. The restaurant is Gluten Free, so I will have to take some pics and let you know how it is. In the meantime, while I stare at each gorgeous canvas, it is very tempting to put them up on my own wall and when I see them tomorrow say, "What Silk?" I guess I'll have to settle for the scraps...which are also very beautiful ; )

nearly harvest time...

2010-09-04T19:42:00.001-07:00

this may seem like just another ordinary day here
just another walk in the same orchard
one more day of many
but it isn't

how is it possible
that every time i come here
this place astounds me

each row offers a different view
a new perspective
some sense of calm

a moment of warm dappled sun
an offering of cool shade
and the conversations of rustling leaves...

I usually walk with these two as my companions. They don't complain about my slow pace, or if something random catches my attention. We three are very consistent together.

Ellie has a tendency to wander off in her own world

and Baxter stays by my side.

I can reach right up and taste the fruit of our labor

well, not actually fruit : )

16 memories

2010-08-28T23:20:00.000-07:00

I've really missed not going on our annual beach vacation this year. We just couldn't afford it and like many other families today the idea of spending any large sums of money right now is kind of scary. When my desires slip into my dreams at night I always ponder what they may be telling me. This has been happening a lot lately and I think my subconscious is saying, "We miss the Ocean!" I think the 'We' represents Body Soul & Spirit. So, I took a walk through beach vacation pictures memory lane and am sharing it here with you. This is the cement boat view from the house we used to rent in Aptos California...pure bliss.

The house wasn't fancy, but it was roomy and had plenty of extra bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Extremely necessary because we invite a variety of friends and family. Oh, and the Ocean was a clear stones throw from those 3 huge windows. n.i.c.e.

I missed getting absorbed in a great summer read. Wrapped up cosy and warm with the sound of the ocean drowning out people noise and creating an atmosphere of escape *sigh*

I loved the way the trampled sand looked at the end of a day full of planned activities. Everyone ate extra dinner, felt really tired and slept a little more deeply. This made me joyously happy.

And then there was the girls...that's our daughter Angela on the right with her best friend Tiffiny. The kids were allowed to bring a friend along and Tiffy joined us most every year. They were all about new bikini's, sun bathing and a lot of giggling. Oh and let's not forget about the munchies. They packed more in then the boys and were proud of it!

Every once in awhile they braved actually going into the ocean...sort of.

One summer our son Mark grew his hair long. Oh the ladies gave him plenty of double takes, which didn't make the now (ex)girlfriend very happy. (sorry about the tacky white out (ex)girlfriend glare) It's just that he looks so yummy here...I couldn't resist!

When it came to Ocean activities, Mark was no wimp. So many times I had to wince at the big waves he braved and once he was in, it was hard to get him out of the water. When he was little I called him "My Little Fishy Boy" ...but not anymore...well, sometimes *wink*

And don't you love burying someone in the sand! On this day, we drew sticks and our (long ago past student, who stayed in touch with us) Sopon pulled the shortest! He didn't look like he enjoyed this...who does? t.r.a.d.i.t.i.o.n.s die hard!

You can often find me in this position. Ahhh...the best naps ever!

Or, I go on shell finding journeys. I refuse to get up early to partake in this ritual, which means I end up with the shells that everyone else chose to leave behind. I don't mind, sleeping in is worth foregoing a few jewels to me.

After a brisk walk, I feel refreshed and ready for some dinner but I need a few hugs first. "Who wants a hug?!"

Most meals were eaten outside and cooking/cleaning duties were split up fairly. If this was my cooking night, We're probably having my famous spaghetti sauce and salad with a side of garlic bread. Desserts were plentiful to an extreme. (hello extra 5 pounds: )

We always tried to squeeze in a group photo. It's fun to look back and see the kids get older, who came that year and how content we all look.

Another cherished moment was walking down the almost deserted beach with someone you love. Holding hands and hubby always trying to slyly lure me closer to the tide. I squealed to his delight and he always finds me sand dollars on these walks. "symbols of love" he calls them *gush*

And lastly, the sunsets were always a miraculous painting in the sky. Oh the reds, purples, blues, orange and yellows. A little pink here and there and when it got really dark, we could see Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk all lit up, with the Ferris Wheel going round and round.Sleepy time...Goodnight...Angels on your pillow : )

Maybe you have a treasured vacation to share, I'd love to hear it : )

~favorites~

2010-08-25T11:01:00.000-07:00

I chose some favorite pictures from my visit with my sister Denise. We both carry around our cameras, so there were plenty to choose from. Here are a few...

~arrival trip from the airport~

~peeking in on nap time~

~slowly waking up~

~mommy puts on shoes for outside~

~too many exciting things to find~

~uncle jj drawing with a stick~

~cedar finds the biggest stick ever!~

~stopping for a pose~

~contemplating a tractor ride~

~brave decision~

~farmer uncle jj and cedar~

~vrrrmmm~

~turning the wheels~

~marmie picking fruit & veggies~

~always, always...running~

50 years of love

2010-08-20T20:51:00.000-07:00

These 2 parents are very loved......and we celebrated them today.

They have loved each other deeply......for 50 years!

My beautiful sister Denise is here......and she brought a little wood nymph.

Our handsome son Mark showed up......to join in on the party.

Hubby and Cedar have been really bonding......and he makes us all laugh so much!

Happy 50th Anniversary Mom and Daddy...

Your love is contagious......and has been a great example to all of us.

This hysterical picture was a reenactment of the faces my parents made when they woke up this morning and said, "We've been married for 50 years!"It is a classic moment of family humor. We made them a delicious meal, rented a comedic movie for the evenings entertainment and they are spending the night to soak up every minute of the event. Tomorrow we plan to continue celebrating and enjoy the preciousness of being with a toddler treasure.

I am so proud to be your daughter and thank you for 50 years of loving each other, loving us and being the best parents ever!

happenings...

2010-08-14T12:09:00.000-07:00

I received this odd and funny email from my mom that simply said...
"It's time to change the sign, Yes?"
Sign? What is she talking about? Oh! My blog still has Angela's birthday sign posted...geez.
She just moved back to San Francisco and I'm taking my first deep breath and spent a couple of days setting things right around here. I haven't posted much for a few reasons. One, I haven't felt real well and Two, any good days have been spent keeping up with my daughter. Her 26 year old bod has endless energy and she likes to go go go. And Three, I've felt rather uneventful lately. So, I took a look around and thought I could indulge you with a few simple happenings.

What's Going On Right This Second:

Paying a couple of teenage boys to pull weeds and such. Doing all those things we dislike doing ourselves. Oh the memories of odd jobs I did during summer break to make a buck or two!

What's New...Literally:

My phone pooped out on me so I had to get a new one. Just when I started getting the hang of the blasted thing it breaks down on me. Now I'm back to being awkward, clumsy and spending way too much time getting to know my new phone. And the couch pillows are also new...love those colors : )

While shopping with the hubs (something quite rare) he came up to me (smiling) with this huge wooden picture and said, "I really like this!" And here it is. It's not enough to be surrounded by 20 acres of trees...we must also decorate the inside of our home with them too. Good choice honey : )

What I'm Reading Now:

I love a great mystery and this one delivers. Book 2 and 3 are already purchased and waiting...weeeeeee!

What I Collect:

Give me an old glass bottle and I'm happy. That's what I look for in antique shops. They hide in nooks and crannies and come in so many colors. I also buy unique new ones...this could go on forever, unfortunately.

What I Received From Thailand:

My daughter bought us matching bracelets and I will wear it until it falls off. (and then I get a wish? or something?) She also gave me a beautifully woven scarf and bag, oh and a silk wrap that I can't wait to use.

So that's my day and now I'm getting ready for some overnight company soon to arrive that I'm really excited about.

To Be Continued...

2010-08-04T12:10:00.000-07:00

Yay! They are home safe, we celebrated Angela's 26th birthday yesterday with Jon and had a family party and now I get some alone mommy/daughter time with her.

i heart her so much

best coffee drink

2010-07-30T14:42:00.000-07:00

~mix~
1 tsp instant coffee
1 tsp (heaping) caramel vanilla coffee mate
1 tsp agave nectar sweetener
1/3 cup very hot water
~pour over~
1 large glass ice cubes (stir)
~add~
1 cup almond milk (or milk preference)

This is a family summer favorite. Very delicious and much more budget friendly than Starbucks. Enjoy : )

what it's like to be one...

2010-07-27T13:52:00.000-07:00

How blessed am I to have 2 babies in the family to love on?! This is Liam, my great nephew from my niece Ashley. He is the perfect bouncing baby bundle boy and a treasure to our family. He turned one this last week and we celebrated his adorableness with a swimming party. Of course, the colorful plastic cups are just as interesting as anything else around...when you're one :)

And talk about a cool flotation device, I want one of these. Every once in awhile he would stick his tongue out and lick the water...it was a really hot day, we all wanted to do it!

My sister Diana is "Grandma" to the birthday boy (I'm So Green ;) and it's hard to be anywhere near him without wanting to give him a love squeeze.

Shark Butt!!! How cute are these? "Oh, let me outside already!"

Very content sitting in daddy's lap after the presents were opened. "And what's this?..."

Something that belongs in your mouth...when it's your birthday and you are only one.

no emergency rooms

2010-07-22T14:58:00.000-07:00

Fifteen years ago, I was my doctor's first lupus patient. Because of me, he took on the responsibility of learning everything he could about it. In that way I like to think that I am special to him, as he is to me. Many of you made me feel gently held for the last two days, thank you. I don't go to emergency rooms during the week. My doctor allows me to go directly to his office without any notice and he sees me quick. He has witnessed enough of my flares to warrant his sympathy towards the waiting room time that I would have to spend in some hospital and doesn't want me to suffer through that. He is an angel, our angel.

So, I showed up the day before yesterday about an hour after posting. I was in tears when he entered the room and I'm not a crier, so he was taken aback. "Whoa, whoa...what is going on here!" I blubbered harder and my husband had to speak for me. Well, he usually gets the details wrong because he is just as upset as I am, so I'm interrupting him saying, "No, no!" but still can't form a sentence and my doctor immediately gives me a couple of shots. hee

His nurses are also very awesome (and like family) so the newly hired nurse comes into the room to be introduced to me (being that they see me quite often) and here I am red eyed booger nosed and looking like a train wreck but managed a drug induced smile and held my hand out to her. (that's right newbie, you must shake the crazy lady's hand) hee hee

The rest of that day was a blur of television and heaving anything I tried to eat or drink. Those of you out there that expressed empathy because of your own shared experiences with migraines, can I just say this...throwing up because of such intense pain is the W.O.R.S.T-D.A.Y-E.V.E.R (!!!)

Yesterday I woke up still not migraine free, but at least the ice pick had been removed from behind my right eye. I braved going outside to potty the dogs and sat down holding my head in my hands. Sitting in the corner of my porch are all of my cactus/succulent plants. I briefly peeked at them and lo and behold a cactus that I have had for at least 10 years was in bloom for the first time ever! I smiled, asked it to please hold out until today and I am happy to report that things are down to a dull roar...
and here is that flower. Now I'm going back to bed...

migraines and moo shoo pork

2010-07-20T12:02:00.000-07:00

Life has been rough for the last week. I'm not a complainer, so actually writing a post about this is difficult for me. The general heat wave that has been hitting the USA this last week has activated my the lupus and I have been feeling all kinds of horrible. A cluster of migraines being the most annoying symptom. I can deal with body pain, I can sit and have a complete conversation with you and you would never know I was in any pain, but migraines are a different breed of pain altogether. Most of the time I can't even form words, let alone a coherent sentence. I have no picture to liven this post, I can't look through the lens and make any sense, it's all a blur to me. Mentally, I have to fight with my body. That is how I learned the skill of ~~faking~~ ignoring pain and pushing past it. But this week I feel like a beaten soldier and...I miss my daughter really bad *tears* (that came out of left field) whoa, i guess i need to cry about that (pause) Lord, I'm a mess!

Okay, so, I don't like moo shoo pork and apparently I don't like any meat these days. When my sister was here she cooked the entire week 'Vegan' style. I didn't miss the meat at all.(hubby did) Ever since then, I can't even think about eating meat without a stomach lurch, I tried...bbq chicken(blah!) turkey burgers(ick!) I tried to swallow the first bite and just couldn't get it down(???)

I'm not sure I would ever call myself a Vegetarian because it sounds rather political to me and I'm not about that. I love animals and I don't mind eating them (sorry) I just can't right now. My body is having a visceral reaction and I'm listening. And I must say that I find it all very interesting...maybe my love for God's creatures are subliminally calling to me and I hear them now? "Moo, Bah, Cluck!" okay okay I won't eat you!

I've got to stop now, I can barely look at this screen anymore, but you get the idea. I could use some prayers. I confess to feeling a little beaten down, weak of spirit, confused and oh so tired of hurting.

thanks so much

are you a foodie?

2010-07-18T00:25:00.000-07:00

What is a Foodie? Not yet defined in Webster's Dictionary, by observation, I think that Foodies are people who's lives revolve around food. I could be wrong and feel free to give me your definition of a person who calls themselves a Foodie. My daughter and her boyfriend are deeply Foodies. They think and discuss the subject of food all the time. Me? Not so much. But, when my sister Denise came here with her 2 full months of implementing a Vegan diet, everyone complied. All of the dishes she made began looking like this. (or a variation thereof) Beautiful each and every dish she made. Here's the cutest part...Denise uses fresh herbs and as soon as Cedar smells that Basil, he comes running.Den gives him a small branchy leaf and up it goes into his nose! He walked around and around sniffing that Basil until it was clean snuffed out! And of course, he got a piece for me too (he is so good at sharing) and we both filled our lungs with this herby delight.

~*~

Well here on the farm we've been having 100 degree weather. The almonds have filled to the brim with sweet nectar and it's time for the heat to start drying them out.

When they do begin to dry and split, it looks like this
and it's happening already here and there.

My husband was mowing down each rows
with the tractor and kicking up
quite a bit of dust along with it.

When he got this close I ran...

Then I watched him and this loud machine
make a hair pin turn.I yelled, "Whoo Hoo Honey!
Look at my tractor driving greasy sweaty dirt covered Man!"

And I still had my nightgown on...one of the perks that comes along with living out in the country : ) So, back to the food. Denise has been gone about 10 days now and I haven't been able to eat meat ever since. I gag when I see
it and have no desire to eat it. I don't want to become a Vegan, but I think I could easily become a Vegetarian and do just fine.

So...are you a Foodie?

puppy lovins

2010-07-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

I have to say that having a toddler around for a week kind of freaked out my dogs. Oh, they loved Cedar, even played with him and snuck in some puppy kisses when they could. Baxter really enjoyed when Cedar sat in the high chair. Any food that ended up on the floor was immediately gobbled up by him.He (Bax) rarely leaves my side and this is his latest favorite place...up on the couch cushion near my head. I rest best when I'm reading and I've been doing that a lot this week. I love him dearly and I think it's funny that he found a new way to get as close as possible even when mommy has a book in her lap.

cute silly puppy...

Happy Friday : )

they're in Thailand...

2010-07-14T16:29:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share some pictures that my daughter and her love Jon has sent me from Thailand. They took a cooking class *how fun* so the food you see they made themselves! She is teasing me with some pretty awesome jewelry and doing the same to us all with the beauty of her surroundings. Geez I miss her like crazy!

Ahhh...she wore the dress I made her...sweet girl!Oh to be twenty something and having adventures around the world. I raised my children to be independent, responsible and to be kind servants to others. Now, they are both off doing all of those things and more... I couldn't be happier and proud. God is good and I am very blessed and feeling the wonder of that today : )

last day

2010-07-13T10:19:00.000-07:00

Suddenly, the big suitcase came out and things began to look suspicious. I was following him around and this is how he looked at me once he saw it. He became very serious and I said,
"Where are you going?"

Then he tried to push the suitcase with little success. Was he happy to be going home? We certainly could tell that he missed his daddy.

He turned on a dime and came right up to me looking very disgruntled.

Then he hugged my legs...I think he knew he was leaving and had mixed emotions about it. Auntie dd certainly knew how he felt.

***

We loaded everything back into Uncle jj's truck and before you knew it he was out like a light.

When he woke up, we were in the airport parking lot. Denise has always said that he wakes up happy...

I couldn't believe they were leaving, the time went by so fast. This little monkey boy was ready to get on the plane.

***

These beautiful mosaic birds adorn our airport. I want one!

He has very good people watching skills and these cute harness strappy leash things weren't around when I had kids. I could have really used one for Mark (my very own monkey boy!)

Cedar and I had a moment together while Den was checking in. I squished up my face and said, "I love you stinky face..."
...and the look I got back said it all!

rituals

2010-07-12T11:46:00.000-07:00

Denise is wonderful at keeping consistency in Cedar's daily schedule. She herself is very spontaneous and it's not easy traveling with a toddler but she does it with grace. The days flowed and we have a way of finding humor in everything, so there was a lot of laughing. She never feels like company to me. Each time she has stayed here it feels like she never left from the last. The rituals were very normal, but the subject matter is precious to me...priceless!

~ nutritious lunches with little bear ~
***

~ window gazing ~
***

~ auntie dd chasing Cedar ~

~ down the halls ~~ around the kitchen ~
***

~ lots of coloring ~

***

~ bath time fun ~
***

~ rocking with uncle jj before bed ~

park outing

2010-07-11T13:35:00.000-07:00

On the day that Uncle jj put vitamins on the trees, we decided to go to our local park to have a picnic. The weather was extremely hot and the playground equipment was not very inviting. However, there was a Teeter Totter that called my name and I said to Den, "Why not?!" So, we placed our curvy bottoms, one on each side and I held Cedar on my lap. Up and Down the spring loaded ride made us giggle and laugh. When we'd had enough, I tried to get up first while holding Cedar in my arms. My foot got caught on the handle and down I went, baby and all. I twisted just in time so that Cedar landed on me while I was sprawled flat on the bark covered ground. Denise was equally worried about us both and I was hoping no one was watching. I never claimed to be graceful ; ) and thank goodness we don't have a picture of THAT!

"Not too sure how I like this snack."

"Ahhh...nothing like a cool breeze."

"Did you see the size of that bird?"

"Hee...the wind tickles my neck."

"Auntie dd, please put down the camera now."

"Mmm I love my mommy so much!"
"and I love you too little bean."

~Auntie dd blowing bubbles~~*~

Back home chillin out before nap time.

Mommas cuddles to end the afternoon.I feel so blessed and savored every moment. Each day our bonds grew deeper and deeper.

back seat driving

2010-07-10T16:55:00.000-07:00

On the way home from the airport Cedar and I sat in the back seat together. Auntie dd had so many questions to ask him. "Can I see your beautiful eyes?"

"Sure can!"
Oh how he slays me with every funny face. I laughed all the way home :)

"Cedar, show me how big your feet have grown!"
Besides the feet...these are the cutest shoes ever!

"And your teeth...how many teeth do you have now?"
"Auntie dd, I have as many teeth as a lion! Grrr!"

"Oh my little monkey boy...I love you so much!"
and then he gave his little monkey some love :)

beautiful girl ~ beautiful boy

2010-07-09T19:34:00.000-07:00

My beautiful sister Denise and nephew Cedar just spent the last week with me. The inner squeals that happen as I see her at the top of the escalator are pure happiness and joy. I called Cedar's name as he reached the bottom of the stairs and got a huge smile from him. (Ahh...he remembers me :) I make sure to see them every couple of months, especially since his early years are so important. He has grown so tall and Den looked a little burdened with his lanky form, so I gladly relieved her.

~*~

It is so much fun sharing the farm with family. There is nothing like sitting in the middle of the orchard and picking the clover flowers. A whole new experience since Cedar is surrounded by cities and public parks. Den does a wonderful job making sure Cedar has many different experiences, but having him here is a little piece of us that I hope he enjoys returning to, over and over again. Aren't they beautiful?

~*~

I think the surroundings suit him well. It was a busy week...completely filled with as many snuggles as I could sneak. He had so much to teach me about his toddler self and I was an eager student. I am overwhelmed with how many pictures I took this week...so many of them are quite adorable, so I am going to share them, along with our stories, over the next few days.So, for right now...

not quite yet for us

2010-07-07T21:21:00.000-07:00

Hubby and I have been busy with retirement dinners and I must admit that I look forward to that one day, but not quite yet.

~Cedar Pic of the Day~

"You actually expect me to go out like this?"

mom's calla lily

2010-07-02T16:51:00.000-07:00

Whenever I visit mom and dad's one of my favorite things to do is checking out the many pots in which my mom grows things. I know she fusses over them carefully and every year she comes up with something new. This year it was this Calla Lily. It was breath taking next to its pale lightly spotted green leaves. Just wanted to share it with you.

~Cedar Pic of the Day~ "Superhero's often disguise themselves as yoga reading lumberjacks."

Cedar K.

meet Meadow...

2010-06-30T20:13:00.000-07:00

She's really cute..."hi...look at me, i'm cute!"

and a little feisty..."but oh so cute am i"

She is a miniature Golden Doodle..."i'm special"

and being a little stubborn with her potty training."but i'm cuuute!"

Mommy and Daddy already love her so much."see how big i am?"

Her big sister Callie Lu tries to keep her in line."come on, you love me!"

"She is quite annoying..." says, Callie Lu."...and cute only goes so far."

But everyone is happy..."because i'm c.u.t.e."

~Cedar Pic of the Day~"Ah Ha!"

Baby Bear often uncovered the evidence that Goldilocks left behind.

First Thailand Pic

2010-06-30T05:30:00.000-07:00

This is the first picture Angela sent me from Thailand. Doesn't she look so happy?And then as her momma I notice the small things, like, she looks really tired...the humidity is bringing out the natural curl in her hair and, "Hey, isn't that MY necklace!?"
Ce la vie!

~Cedar Pic of the Day~

And then he realized his Supermarket Piggy wasn't so little after all...

It's me in..."1976"

2010-06-28T08:55:00.000-07:00

This picture was sent to me by a friend and it goes waaay back to 1976! I was a Freshman in high school and a member of the bands drill team. We were the girls who twirled flags, capes and carried the banners. We also would compete locally against other drill teams and this was more like march dancing(?) If you haven't picked me out yet, I am sitting front row, second in from the left. I was so proud of those really long pony tails :)
The Internet is truly an amazing thing that brings so many old friends together.

~Cedar Pic of the Day~

"You said the Uggs were for me!"

"when a tree falls in the woods..."

2010-06-25T18:44:00.000-07:00

it makes a very loud crack, whoosh, boom sound!As you can see this tree split apart 3 ways and so far has been the most unusual sight in our orchard. My husband was in the general area when it happened and he said it was an eerie experience.

This is how we watered our lawn today...We are draining the east gate because the underground pipe line is cracked and will be replaced tomorrow. (oh the unexpected expenses of our farm keep coming $$$ blah!)At least Zeus was entertained v..v

This weekend we are planning to start bike riding and my basket is ready.

Of course their is never ending landscaping to do.

And new music to listen to...Ingrid Michaelson ~ every body
Erin McCarley ~ Love, save the empty
A Fine Frenzy ~ ONE CELL IN THE SEA
Kate Nash ~ My Best Friend Is You
Feist ~ let it die

***so far I am LOVEing Erin McCarley***

~Cedar Pic of the Day~"Superhero's must save all bears from lonely tunnels."

Cedar K.

leaving...

2010-06-24T05:06:00.000-07:00

She's off! And many prayers are being said to keep her and Jon safe...God speed you two :) How fun to be 25 and traveling the world! I will miss her extra because I have become very comfortable with her being home so much. I will miss her laughter, her cooking, morning/evening snuggles, gone is my shopping partner, errand runner and of course, they way she smells! Her father will miss her too, but he won't miss the little messes she leaves in her wake...i will though.Oh my darling, you even got me sewing again!I cherish that big smile of yours when I hand you the finished product...and I adore that you are so easy to sew for. Anything looks good on you ;)

(enough bragging already :)

Again, So long my love, keep safe, have a blast, cherish each moment and spread.out.your.spending.money! Every single shop is going to feel like a "Clearance Sale" honey! I love you forever and I know you and Jon will make wise choices. Angels all around you :)

~Cedar Pic of the Day~Oh, you take your "Baby School" so seriously!

purple & yellow

2010-06-23T05:26:00.000-07:00

We loved mixing jewel tone purple with sunny yellow. What girl can resist a couple of big pockets? And so the whirrrr of my sewing machine keeps on humming.

~Cedar Pic of the Day~
Buddha Belly

(I especially love his oversized big toe ;)

project frenzy

2010-06-22T10:52:00.000-07:00

This is actually dress number 2. Dress number 1 has been packed already and Angela squished it into the smallest neatest square possible that I didn't have the heart to unpack it. She leaves in 2 more days and I just got off the phone with her lamenting about having to spend $ for polarized sun glasses. Silly girl. For 6 weeks she will be trekking around Thailand and other various places and I won't have much of a clue where or when. I am SO not used to that with either of my children. Apron strings hurt when they are cut...seriously.

So for today, I'm onto the next project, dress number 3 and the clock is really ticking now :)

~Cedar Pic of the Day~
love him!

my daddy

2010-06-20T11:43:00.000-07:00

I had almost 9 years as a single child before my sisters came along, so I have a few memories all my own, small things, but none less important. When our family decided to move West to California, leaving behind the chilly winters of Massachusetts, my daddy got a job at Hunt's Tomato Factory. It was right across the street from where we lived and I could hear the whistle blow at the lunch hour and then at 5pm. I would stand near the front window waiting for him to come home. He always smelled like vinegar and cooked tomatoes. I unlaced his shoes, removed them and then placed them under the stairs. That was my job and I took it very seriously.

At night you could always find me sitting on the back of the couch with a comb and a baggie of spongy pink rollers. My daddy's hair was slick black, thick and shiny. I wrapped his hair around as many rollers that could fit, I later passed on this ritual to my little sisters and we all remember the greasy feel of our fingers and the smell of our daddy's head. Don't worry daddy, it was always a clean smell. A shower cap was used in place of a hair dryer and taking out the rollers was just as fun as putting them in. What patience you had with us because we each had to have a turn and eventually you had 3 of us!

Shortly later, we bought our first house and you enrolled into the Police Academy. I remember the meticulous care you invested in being responsible for having a gun. You systematically cleaned it, laying all the tools in a row with a small pile of cotton cloths. I can still smell the gun metal and powder residue. As I sat there watching, you lectured about gun safety, which struck a fearful respect in me for a lifetime. I felt pride when seeing you in your uniform, your shiny badge and hat. And then later when you became the City's first Motorcycle Officer. You are special and very courageous.

I was right there when you shined your shoes, when you built brick walls for landscaping, when you poured cement and used your table saw, I watched you a lot. What you did with your hands fascinated me and I never got bored. I guess what I'm remembering the most is all the time I spent just simply hanging out with you. I don't remember every exact conversation but I do remember thinking you were the smartest, most talented daddy in the whole world and I was lucky to have you.

I am still lucky to have you...I love you daddy!

Happy Father's Day

wallpaper

2010-06-19T12:00:00.000-07:00

If you are someone who takes pictures with their phone, or perhaps you have a family member who sends pictures to your phone, if you choose to save them, you are able to use them as your phone Wallpaper.

And with that said...what someone chooses to use as their wallpaper says something about them...yes?

My nephew Cedar is my internal wallpaper. I love seeing his sweet little funny face everyday. He makes me smile and we all need more of that :)

What have you put on your internal Wallpaper?

busy-ness

2010-06-15T20:35:00.000-07:00

Time is zooming by. Angela moved in, we've had house guests, and summer has turned up the heat...literally. Last week I was caught off guard with 100 degree weather and suffered some heat sickness. We're still mapping out our landscaping, been to a few nursery's and purchased some fabulous Monrovia.(Flower Carpet Roses) Those are going in this week along with some lawn. It is all so time consuming and with Angela here I find myself a little dysfunctional and just want to spend every minute with her...

She has me sewing dresses for her trip to Thailand. I haven't sewn for years, but it was something I often did for her when she was little. (Oh the Holiday dresses I made!) We went absolutely banana's picking out material(first picture) and now I just hope I can get them all done before she leaves. This week she is with my sister(boho girl) and she is snuggling with Cedar and marinating in the sweetness that is my sister's home. So, while Ang is away...

...this is where you can find me :)
either that, or with dirt under my nails that hopefully will bring some beauty to this ol farm.

~weekend outlook~

2010-06-04T13:20:00.001-07:00

be grateful for produce

mourn our recent losses

turn losses into gains

nurture the newlings

put vitamins into the ground

take breaks to breathe in the beauty

give thanks to the Lord...
for so much more than this

landscaping frenzie

2010-06-03T11:41:00.000-07:00

I'm putting everyone around here to work on some landscaping and stealing some idea's from my neighbor. I have some crazy "full sun" very hot area's right next to "full shade" area's and my brainstorming has me running around in circles!

Help! Do you have a favorite plant that has worked well in your yard?

Do share :)

faerie princess

2010-06-01T12:45:00.000-07:00

We went to a wedding this weekend and this little faerie princess captured every ones heart. She is the grand daughter of one of our best friends.

A very quick change of clothes...striking a pose...

performing her rose petal duty for the day...

ready for a nap in Papa's arms...

Weddings are always joyous occasion's and probably the best excuse for a party with old friends. But, getting to be the faerie princess for this celebration is right up there in the top 10!

puppies & apples

2010-05-30T13:26:00.000-07:00

These are the adorable cupcakes that my daughter's co-worker made for her last day of work. Puppies because our entire family are dog lovers and apples for her journey in becoming an educator. How cute are these? What culinary talent she has and obviously Angela is going to be missed.

the arrivals...

2010-05-29T11:59:00.000-07:00

The baby girl is here and it begins ;)

We've opened up a Wood Pecker Hotel...

The Mourning Doves are back for round 2...
Someone needs to teach this bird how to make a proper nest!

Now this is where I'd want to sleep...
if I were an egg?

And yet another pair of Finches call this farm home.

Their moving in from every angle :)

surprise!

2010-05-27T20:40:00.000-07:00

If you took a peek into my window you would see a momma preparing for her baby girl chickadee to move back home..."What?" You heard me right, my 25 year old daughter is temporarily moving home...for part of the summer :)

She is leaving the Big(San Fran)City for 3 months to take a long (out of the USA) 6 week vacation and plans to live here, back at home, until entering the credential program in the Fall, at San Fran State. So, after 4 years at UC Davis and 3 years of working for the man, she has decided to follow her mom and dad's footsteps and become a teacher. A couple of weeks here and there, all added up together, she will be home for about 6 weeks and we couldn't be more excited.

My city girl has never lived in the country before and I have a feeling that just like myself, it just may creep into her blood too. And...we happen to be planning all kinds of landscaping this summer, so the help will be greatly appreciated...

and so will the blessing of her presence :)

all beak and no bite ; )

2010-05-26T17:38:00.000-07:00

My succulent "Parrot's Beak" is in bloom and yes, I really am that corny (title). I am told that I take after my father, but Den and I are convinced that we really are dorks at heart. The word here in Northern Cali is that a big storm is moving in tomorrow and bringing a ton of rain with it. Where is our beautiful you don't even need a sweater Spring at?

But what am I doing complaining about the weather when our Ocean's are being poisoned with muck and no solution is in sight...why?!

tic toc tic toc tic toc

2010-05-25T11:38:00.000-07:00

Above my kitchen pantry hangs an obnoxiously huge clock (hubby had to have it :) I also have a small grandfathers clock that noticeably tic toc's in the background noises of my home. It makes me very aware of what time it is and there are days that seem to run in fast motion. And then I have a day when my body says, "I'm demanding you to stop."

Since I am a girl who struggles with being told what to do and the fact that I always end up accomplishing things the hard way, stopping doesn't come easy for me. Oh, I stop...but I do so reluctantly and often have a 5 year old temper tantrum in my brain. I read somewhere that Lady Gaga was recently tested for Lupus and when asked about the results she said, "No comment." Maybe I can give her a call with some advice? ;)

When I'm done acting like a child I obey the rules and rest. I've been resting the last couple of days. I don't announce it to my Universe I just do it, but I will say that time...literally time creeps so incredibly slooowww and the "tic toc" of my grandfather's clock increases in volume and sometimes hurts my ears. Every now and then I purposely stop it from ticking...and when my husband finds it halted the next day and I hear him say, "I just wound this sucker up 2 days ago!" I just smile and keep that little secret to myself...

...at least until he reads this :)

gluten free decadence

2010-05-23T10:52:00.000-07:00

This gluten free chocolate mousse pie was adapted from a regular recipe. Rather than crushing Oreo cookies for the crust, gluten free chocolate cream cookies were used. The mousse part has no unfriendly ingredients.

Add a few sliced strawberries, a dollop of cool whip and "Voila" Sunday dinner dessert perfection...enjoy!

i heart containers

2010-05-21T17:27:00.000-07:00

I found this treasure at my local nursery, an aged wooden box with a chalkboard front. Sitting inside is a succulent called a lotus vine, or "Parrot's Beak." This plant flowers all summer and are most unusual looking. With bright orange, yellow and red, it really does look like a bird beak. I can't wait for it to bloom and you know I'll post it here ;)

Our Uncle Richard and hubby's Mom are in Australia right now for a 6 week vacation. The post cards are coming and it sounds like they're having a great time. While we are swooning with 70-80 degree weather, they are freezing down under. They are being spoiled by the folks there and eating yummy foods. Some day I'll go too...

treasure hunt discussions...

2010-05-19T00:24:00.000-07:00

We can't stand it...when mom and I get together we talk about family.
Cedar Cedar Cedar...we miss the funny faces you make

We miss reading books to you and the way you smell in the morning.

We didn't even get to see you ride the BUG car...boo

We miss your beautiful Mommy, my sis & Gran Marmie's daughter...
kiss her for us xx oo

And we think you look adorable in your Canada hat. Can auntie dd have one too?

Today, we missed the treasures we have in our family :)
Tomorrow, we will show you the treasures we found :)

girl's day

2010-05-18T05:42:00.000-07:00

So happy to be spending the day today with my Mom. So thankful that Dad let's her come and he takes on the responsibilities of home. We don't do very much pre-planning...just let the day unfold, go where we want, each moment a surprise that usually involves a green tea frappuccino and coming back home with treasures...

so many treasures ;)

Zeus's poem

2010-05-16T05:09:00.000-07:00

Zeus loves dirt
Zeus loves water
Zeus loves dirty water
and he loves loves loves
to get dirty

silly dirty puppy

Then, the silly dirty puppy ran through the door around daddy's legs and got dirt all over the house...

hello...silly dirty house!

saturday views

2010-05-15T14:36:00.000-07:00

I spent most of today perched by the back door watching for the parents of the baby dove I saved this morning...I feel terrible, let me explain.

About 5 days ago, Zeus the farm dog, came tromping out of the orchard with a baby bird in his mouth. I was mortified but also understood that baby birds often fall out of their nests and since we have hundreds of trees we are bound to come across one here or there. While I was eating my breakfast I saw something fall off of the roof. Investigation revealed a baby mourning dove on the ground and it just sat there looking scared at me. Zeus was loose, so I ran to get the ladder, scooped the baby up and carefully placed him back into his nest. I did everything very fast and didn't even think about putting gloves on first. My husband told me that my smell was now on the baby dove and his mother would reject him. I remembered being told that as a child. So, my vigil began...

The parents showed up both cooing and paced back and forth on my roof.

Finally, they both flew to the nest and the momma stayed with the baby. She has been cooing all day, something she normally doesn't do. Dad returned now and then, but something doesn't feel right.
*sigh*

I replanted a couple of ficus trees with Baxter's help...

and snapped a few more house finch photo's during my vigil.
(all taken through a window...a dirty one ;)
I count 4 beaks...

momma finch...

momma feeding babies...

proud momma finch and daddy finch...
(they take turns feeding babies about every 30 min)

better view of beautiful daddy finch...

Hey...your nest looks like poop! ;)

Finally, a cactus I've owned for about 7 years bloomed today for the first time!

Gotta end with a flower...today has been rough!

the reason is beauty...

2010-05-14T20:02:00.000-07:00

oh prickly cactus...how I love thee

your blooming is brief, but oh so beautiful

and a little more growth from baby birds

you guys are so adora...uh...little ;)

keeping it current

2010-05-11T17:09:00.000-07:00

First of all let me say that I am still enjoying the homemade gluten free granola. Breakfast never tasted so good...Greek yogurt rocks!

And then, a "thank you" to my mom, who keeps me draped in ponchos, whether they're in style or not. I heart ponchos! You're the best mom ever ;)

Momma's big and small

2010-05-10T11:46:00.000-07:00

We have babies...

To get an idea of how small they are, the bolt head in the upper right corner is approximately one inch wide....teeny little baby birds.

My Mother's day was celebrated from Friday through Sunday and also included a "Girl's Night" on Saturday evening. We had a small party with my daughter's best friend and her Momma. The house to ourselves was necessary because the giggles were a plenty and the food divine. We were 2 very proud momma's :)

mama lovins

2010-05-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day

To each and every
sweet pea :)

friday yumminess

2010-05-07T19:43:00.001-07:00

a daughter that makes mexican casserole...

homemade granola waiting for fresh fruit and vanilla greek yogurt...
breakfast heaven!

puppies dashing for ANYthing that falls on the floor...

adorable Vera Bradley Happy Mother's Day purse from said daughter...
see? total.yumminess.

silly beautiful

2010-05-06T12:12:00.000-07:00

This silly beautiful girl is coming home to her Momma tonight to spend the weekend with her. The first thing I do when my children walk in the door is hug them tight and sneak in a big sniff of their neck. It feels very primitive and I love that she still smells the same since she was my baby girl. So, there will be a lot of cooking, shopping, snuggling, giggling, puppy playing, walking, bubble baths, movie watching...and loads and loads of laundry to be done. (she saves it for weekends like this ;) SO glad I passed down the laundry gene to her!

today

2010-05-05T02:43:00.000-07:00

Have you told someone that they are a rare individual?
Have you said I'm sorry?
How about I love you
or I need a hug

Do they know that life is better because of them?
You value their opinion
Thoughts of them fill your heart
and make you smile

Just do one thing from this list
or you can choose to do them all
I bet your day will be a little brighter
and someone else's will feel extraordinary

lost & found

2010-05-04T00:08:00.000-07:00

~Today my childhood best friend and I found each other. We ended up lost because we both have moved around quite a bit. Mutual friends of ours connected the dots and the next thing you know, emails were exchanged with questions to make sure we were indeed the right Darlene and the right Cindy.

Tomorrow we will hear each other's voice for the first time in years and remember our shared past. This is the friend that I played all day long with, giggled relentlessly with and got into trouble with. We went on each other's family vacations, made perfume with flower petals and shared boyfriend crushes...and so much more.

I have a small knot in the center of my stomach and my anticipation levels are off the chart. I am 49 years old and feel silly for feeling this way.

At heart, I think we're all still just little children. Little children who are trying to survive some very adult lives.

weekend work

2010-05-02T04:59:00.000-07:00

My job is to ride this good Ole boy around our 20 acres and pick up any fallen branches...both big and small. Then I move them over to the burn pile and watch it grow bigger. We only actually burn once a year. Hey, it's not easy maneuvering around the trees with this haul!

~Zeus~

and a girl has to have her loyal farm puppy!

Update: we also planted 33 new trees replacing ones that have either fallen or died...not an easy job!

gift giving for wives 101

2010-05-01T05:40:00.000-07:00

When hubby asked, "What do you want for your birthday?"
I said, "A book about birds."
He bought me 5...
(I know what he was thinking..."I'll just bring the store to her!")
of which I chose these 2

Then Hubby says, "Don't you want something else?"
I reply, "Of course! I want a basket for my bike."
"What do you mean a basket?"
"You know, a basket (I point to the one on our shelf) to put things in."
"You don't need a basket."
"But, I want one."
"Where are you going to ride your bike that you'll need a basket?"
"We live in the country, I'll ride my bike everywhere and I need one for my camera."
So, he gets me this basket and I am One Happy Girl!

How cute is this? It has a flat back, is removable, has this handy little handle and is very roomy. All I'm thinking now is..."I can't WAIT to use this!"
I say, "Oh put it on my bike right now!"

"You can't ride your bike in the country. It's too dangerous to ride a bike in the country. There are all kinds of dogs and fast cars, holes in these old roads..."

"But...you bought me a basket and..."

Husbands, don't buy your wives something that you never intend on letting her use!

Chapter 1 of "Gift Giving for Wives"

*let's just say that he has a very good point and I need to find a safe public trail to ride on...while looking oh so cute with my basket toting bike ;)

taza mania

2010-04-30T05:20:00.000-07:00

Look what showed up on my front doorstep today!
Yet another great headband from Taza...this one from my baby sis.
I could seriously get addicted to these...
The adorable flowers are made from zippers, no doubt!
This is outrageous talent...ingenuity even...
Oh, this has the potential to get me into deep trouble!
m u s t b u y m o r e...eek!

visualize being whole...

2010-04-29T05:37:00.000-07:00

He's One Mans View From Lansing, KS his name is Jack and he wrote something profound that really spoke to me on this day, as I was dealing with an annoying migraine:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
#694 A Secret Scrolls Message

From The Secret Daily Teachings
It is important to remember that it is your thoughts and feelings together that create with the law of attraction, and you cannot separate them. Also remember that it's your feelings that are summing up your overall frequency and telling you what you are creating in this moment.

So how are you feeling right now? Could you feel better? Well then, do what it takes right now to feel better.

May the joy be with you,

Rhonda Byrne
The Secret... bringing joy to billions
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It really stopped me in my tracks and made me think about what I was thinking about, "Oh bummer, guess I won't be doing much today." And I admit that laying down in a dark room with a pillow over my head was my original plan...until I read his post.

I went through some pictures and found one that really spoke to me. A picture of myself during a happy more healthy moment in time. A joyous occasion (Sissy graduating from U.C. Davis) and we were all on cloud nine. The weather was perfect and we had dinner reservations that we were going to share with a few other families whose daughters had also graduated.

I studied this picture and imposed the feelings of that day into my brain. "This is me, I am that girl and her happiness is my happiness." I purposed this brain exercise over and over again. I am expecting to be this girl in the morning...

Mark & Momma Darlene: Angela's Graduation

Including the fact that I was 6 years younger...(that works too...right Jack? :)

bistro 234

2010-04-28T11:31:00.001-07:00

photo taken from bistro 234 site

Yesterday my husband, our son Mark and I celebrated my birthday by going out to dinner at the Bistro 234. It was a slow Tuesday night so we received plenty of attention. We sat by the window at the table with the 2 blue chairs across from one another. Hubby sat in the green chair next to me and we both faced Mark.

He was our entertainment :)

One year ago I would have described Mark as being on the quiet side and very serious, now he is animated, funny and full of stories. As a child, I saw this side of him mostly when just he and I would get away together, but he has grown into someone very sure of himself and happy...he is SO very happy. It was difficult to chew my food because I was smiling the entire time he chatted away (while I was trying to eat a spinach salad...not so pretty!)

His present to me came wrapped in brown paper without a card, just felt tip marker writing on the front wrapping that said, "I love my mom...from your son Mark!" I looked over at him and said, "Well it's good to know that this isn't from any of my other son's!"

Will he always be my miracle boy? I still...still catch my breath every.time.I.see.him. That reaction only deepens my appreciation since almost loosing him. On the way home we happened to pass by the accident site since it is just down the street from where he lives. I asked, "Does it bother you to see this place?" His response was serious, "Yes, yes it still does and feels like just yesterday, even though so much has happened since. It has made me who I am today...and so have you, mom and dad."

Tears fell down my cheeks and my shaky voice said, "Thank you honey." His hand reached around from the back seat and landed on my right shoulder, a tender squeeze.

Totally Yummy Moment...
I had a great birthday :)

blue peeps

2010-04-27T04:53:00.000-07:00

This beautifully perfect home that resides on top of one of our pillars was created by a very small House Finch couple. It took them 2 weeks to get it just right and now momma finch sits atop these 4 teeny eggs. They are no bigger than your pinkie finger nail and the nest is the size of a tea cup saucer, something my macro lens distorts. I love that their eggs are blue and have tiny black specks. The nest is quite deep and hides the momma completely when she settles in. Northern female house finches are brown with black and white feathers and the males have a bright red head. They both have red beaks and we have them here by the hundreds. This momma leaves every now and then, I imagine out looking for her man to tell him to hurry home with lunch or dinner. I look forward to hearing the sound of little peeps sometime soon :)

*male finch picture not taken by me

auntie dd~cedar~gran marmie

2010-04-26T00:30:00.000-07:00

the way he smells
draws me
into his world
the way he feels
satisfies
a deep need
the way he loves
is like
no other

On our last morning together Cedar, Gran Marmie and I laid down together on the blanketed floor. We snuggled close and relished in the moment... 3 touching heads, 3 generations, 3 hearts very much in love. It felt so peaceful and right, something planned long ago that suddenly gets to be shared in the now.

Cedar is adopted and that word feels clumsy in my mouth. He belongs to us, is such a perfect part of us, that life feels so complete with him in it. His old soul resonates with ours, his sense of humor came from those quirky parts of our family and we flow so freely all together.

Cedar,
I am yours
you captured me
in your tiny hand
and my heart melts
in your smile
Thank you
for choosing us
and gracing us
with your love.

many snuggles ahead,
auntie dd

poppies

2010-04-25T12:22:00.000-07:00

pure gold
abundantly scatterd
sharing sunshine

wholely cow...

2010-04-24T13:53:00.000-07:00

On my way home from my dad and mom's yesterday there were cows everywhere...

~Happy California Cows~

a deeply serious cow dude...

blond cows have more fun...

this calf's lunch was lip smackin good...

our shade trees have that decorator's touch...

this is one VERY pregnant cow...oiy!

this calf played hide and seek with me...i won :)

no milk here ;)

chillin...

2010-04-23T00:18:00.000-07:00

"Good morning! :) Generally, I wake up singing and have a smile on my face. It's time for lunch, but I just love this view out Gran-marmie's back window...b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l."

to the right...

and to the left...it's a sight to see and it rained everyday!

"Here I am waiting for my Auntie dd to play a fish game with me. The pole has a Velcro tip and each fish is made of felt and has their color written on their sides, so now I get to play and learn too."

"I'm really good at this...out came 2 fish...pink and red."

"And at the end of the day, we all kicked back, ate ice cream and watched 'American Idol' I love Momma Sox/Crystal!"

week at mom & dad's...

2010-04-21T23:37:00.000-07:00

boho mommie and elfin babe start their day with bathing.

Proof that wood elves do indeed exist :)

And prefer hairdo experiments

boho mommie feeds avocado to the babe

Mmmm..."i want to do it myself"

Now it's time to play ball!

He is sooo cool in his monkey jammies, loving his new ball and watching his favorite cartoon...Miss Spider

And another day begins all over again...

We have all felt grateful for this precious time together. We have had some fever cranky teething baby...random worrisome medical issues and difficult family tender situations, also going on. But the light that radiates from this child's face melts our minds towards peace.

they're coming

2010-04-19T05:33:00.000-07:00

and I'm packing my bags and going to mom and dad's to spend time with all of them. I can't wait to munch on Cedar and nuzzle my sis. I am bringing my camera and computer, so we can share some captured moments and post while we are there.

I'm SO excited...

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee :)

the package

2010-04-16T19:14:00.000-07:00

Oh, admit it...when you drive up and see that little brown box just waiting there on your doorstep...you get a tiny bit excited ;)

it's not your birthday
it's not Christmas
but it sure feels like a present

Mmmm...little treasures that make me smile :)

Rene Furterer Dry Shampoo ~ I heard it was the best, smells good and works great for those 'in between' days when you can't wash your hair.

L'Occitane Extra Gentle Shea Butter Soap ~ I love the "Milk" soap and after using this, I promise you will never go back to your old one. There are other great scents, like Lavender & Verbena, which are also divine. The bars are so big that I cut them in half, so they last a long time.

Buxom Lip Gloss ~ in "Dolly" by Bare Escentuals. It's just the right hint of shade/shine and gives you a tingling cool sensation.

OPI Nail Polish ~ in "Curve-aceous" a fabulous red and there are O so many colors to choose from. These are long lasting and quick drying. OPI also makes drying drops that minimizes waiting time (yay :) you can find them here.

These products came from Sephora and they always throw in a few samples with your order. Reading the reviews helps with trying new things and the site offers "how to" video's.

Hope this was helpful...now go shopping and have Fun!

seeing rainbows

2010-04-15T05:48:00.000-07:00

I wake up every day and see these rainbows :)

They are everywhere I look.

I couldn't get away from them if I wanted to...i don't want to.

They are a few of my favorite things...la la la

Yes, I start everyday with a promise...

How could this not be a good day :)

chim~pan~zeeeee

2010-04-14T05:38:00.000-07:00

The best part of my day was getting a phone call from my son Mark. He sounded so hopeful and sometimes he can talk for hours, about anything and we both end up doing a lot of laughing.

When Mark was born and the nurse handed him to me I thought he looked like a baby chimpanzee. He was cute, had big round dark eyes and his thick black hair stood straight up from his head.

Mark was born with acute asthma and has suffered horribly from it throughout his life.

Tomorrow he is doing his 5th day of clinicals at a local hospital. He has seen a lot of pretty serious stuff and already experienced life and death situations. As a Respiratory Therapist he will get to work with children in the Pediatric ward. Mark's professor is excited for his interactions with both the children and their parents because he is a walking testimony that people with severe asthma can go on to live active productive lives. "This alone will bring hope into their situations" he said.

And isn't that what we all aspire to be to one another...?

HOPE...?

That our biggest actions or our smallest gestures will bring hope to someone else? As his parent you can only imagine how good it was to hear him excited about doing things for people that not just anyone can do. I couldn't do it. He is 28 years old but when I look at him I still see my little monkey boy.

I don't like to complain but the last couple of days have been extra hard. I refuse to let lupus define who I am or cause me to loose hope about my life..."always move forward" I say to myself.

The best part of my day was getting a phone call from my son Mark...and he gave me hope.

sicky girl

2010-04-13T05:48:00.000-07:00

lupus hit

the bull's eye with me today

so much pain and inflammation

it's got me down...physically that is...

; P blah!

hold on

2010-04-12T00:44:00.001-07:00

Today it rained hard for 5 hours and the wind blew twisting and turning the trees. Upon inspection we found almonds all over the ground, shook loose before their time. We are new at this and it's easy to take things personal.
It causes anxiety and worry for my husband, something I think only time will decrease, nothing like a few seasons under your belt to dispel useless fretting. We came upon this one tree that was different from all the rest surrounding it. Green leaves had been perfectly removed from their stems and lay in small piles at the base of its trunk. It looked intentional and that alone gave me a creepy feeling. Hubby made some calls and received no tangible answers.

I read this today by Mary Oliver and such peace entered my soul...

~The Trees~

Do you think of them as decoration?

Think again.

Here are maples, flashing.

And here are the oaks, holding on all winter

to their dry leaves.

And here are the pines, that will never fail,

until death, the instruction to be green.

And here are the willows, the first

to pronounce a new year.

May I invite you to revise your thoughts about them?

Oh, Lord, how we are all for invention and

advancement!

But I think

it would do us good if we would think about

these brothers and sisters, quietly and deeply.

The trees, the trees, just holding on

to the old, holy ways.

surroundings

2010-04-10T11:15:00.000-07:00

We had some very long time friends come to visit the farm yesterday. They are the parents of one of my husbands childhood buddy's and people who have been in our lives for the last 38 years. We love them dearly, like a second pair of parents. They are probably some of the most conservative frugal people I know and we were extremely excited to give them the grand tour. (did I mention that they too have a farm?)

Room by room we shuffled them throughout the house...
we showed them the chartreuse green room (my studio)
the periwinkle blue room (the guest room)
we moved on to the very red kitchen
and of course, the highly visited
garden green laundry room
the rest of my house is a deep warm tan
not a white room in sight.

For me, it is always fun to see reactions to my choice of colors. People either love it, or hate it and always feel compelled to use words like

interesting
fun
wow
(the hate it group)

beautiful
creative
wow
(the love it group)

anyway...yesterday, while my friends eyebrows were raised, I remembered this quote:

The purest and
most thoughtful
minds are those
which love colour
the most.
~John Ruskin~

I don't know about the pure and thoughtful part
but I do love color :)

What wow color do you have in your house?

good cheer

2010-04-09T05:04:00.000-07:00

Since my back door guests trek through my laundry room I have to pay more attention to it than usual. In the past, my washing machines were in the garage, or at least connected to it, not in this house. I have a large window with a pane just right for african violets. Years ago, I used to collect them, but they are very fussy and I couldn't keep them alive. So far...these 3 are surviving...

This bit of fabulousness I found in a garbage heap at the back of a garden center. It didn't have a price tag on it, so the checker asked me if,
"$10.00 was okay?"
..."Um, sure" I replied...with controlled outer calmness and cheerful inner squealing :)
(right now my mother is saying, "Of course!" my dad is thinking it "looks" like garbage and both of my sisters are turning a little bit green ;)
People who know me are convinced I have shopping Angel's.

That's not what my husband calls it...hee ;)

flower girl

2010-04-08T05:39:00.000-07:00

The sun is shining and it's about 70 degrees outside. This kind of weather makes me feel like wearing flowers in my hair besides planting them.

This adorable headband is one that I purchased from love taza and I just think it's fabulous. There is a beaded cluster of 3 at the top and one little flower tucked in behind your ear...

...how cute is that! The band part is black lacy elastic which does not even budge all day long.

Hmmm...now all I need is a Red one to go with my new Sloggers :)

p.s. that is not an additional flower under my ear...just some really cool unplanned camera flash trick thingy

sloggers

2010-04-07T04:50:00.000-07:00

With my back turned toward him, he enters the room and says,

"Honey, I got you these really comfortable shoes!"

Hmmm...? What is wrong with this statement? First of all, my husband thinks I have waaay tooo many shoes already...second, he only just ran a quick errand at our local Orchard Supply Hardware Store...and third, he knows my shoe size? This was all way too exciting!

They are called Sloggers, sort of like Croc's, but Sloggers claim to be more comfortable with a special removable insole and comfortable they are! Made for gardening, I think I would wear these shoes most any day (unless I am with my daughter ;) My husband also got a navy blue pair for himself...you know...farm shoes! You just slide your foot in and off you go. Then he made the mistake of telling me that they also came in Red.

"No, I love the Green, but now I need them in Red too!"

You can be sure that that will be the last pair of shoe's I get from him ;)

casualties

2010-04-06T02:59:00.000-07:00

A storm came through yesterday, high winds & more rain right after flooding the orchard...not so good. The entire time my husband kept going out into the storm in his galoshes and rain coat.
"There's not a whole lot of good we can do at this point" I said.
"Or we can focus on the other hundreds that stayed put and tell them, "Good Job!"Right honey?"
At least we only lost one :(

So today after things dried up a little we went on a farmers trek of the property. I kept saying, "Good Job trees!" and "Thanks for hunkering down!"
He would look over at me and smile while shaking his head. "Silly girl...do you really think that helps?"

"Wholeheartedly!" I replied :)
and I just kept on thanking those trees for all of their hard work.

the gathering

2010-04-05T11:32:00.000-07:00

Writing yesterday about moats and castles reminded me of a certain beach vacation we took in 2002. My husband had gathered all the kids in the area and decided to take on the monumental task of making the best sand castle ever. Those kids dug all...day...long, retrieved countless buckets of sea water and even posted a guard when construction halted for break time. What you see here is the front wall and a toe headed Jack peeking out over the top.
This was how impressive it was from behind! The walls being the simple part, those boys dug a hole to China and by the time they were done, they could all stand inside and be completely hidden. Everyone passing by that day stopped to admire their handy work, my husband giving the boys all of the credit. It took the entire day and I bet many of the parents enjoyed the free babysitting :)
Here was the hard part and a lesson in being a responsible human being... Before dark, my husband told the boys that the Castle Fort had to be torn apart and filled in, lest anyone night walking might fall in and get hurt. That lecture was met with great resistance and a lot of moans and groans, but in the end they all agreed to doing the right thing.

The next day, all the same boys got together and decided to start a new Castle Fort. The digging began and they all petered out in less than an hour...

...this time, the fore thought of knowing that they would respectively have to destroy all of their hard work took the Umph out of this day's project.

I often think about that sunny long day, the hard lesson learned and wonder if any of those boys would go on to be the "initiator's" of other Castle Forts...saving the moral until the end of the hard days work...of course ;)

a farmers Easter

2010-04-04T10:18:00.000-07:00

The flood gates were opened today...

My hubby made sure things went according to plan. If you look carefully(click on the picture), you can see Zeus dashing through the waterfall...hee hee!

The entire house was surrounded with water. It was just like having our own personal moat...

...and that would make this place a castle
and I the queen :)

Thank goodness we didn't have to hide any eggs this year...

Happy Easter

feeling the distance

2010-04-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

Why is it that even though I may already live a plane ride away from my sister, that when she goes on vacation...I am missing her and feeling the distance? I have heard others say that it is the same for them...

hearts connected know

when the distance between them

grows even farther

*taken from Bellingham Wa.

i miss you neecie...

who knew?

2010-04-02T14:08:00.000-07:00

this will be our first crop

and I'm feeling rather fond

of these fuzzy creations

who knew an almond started out fuzzy?

not me..and off to the side, not in any good vantage point

is this beauty, that from a small distance
almost looks on fire!

I have a dogwood tree...

I have a dogwood tree?

I have a pink dogwood tree!

who new?

there is so much exploring left to be had around this place...

eggs...not for Easter

2010-03-31T10:51:00.000-07:00

At the top of the pillars that surround our house are perfect little landings that are safe from the wind and rain. There have been a few mourning doves hanging around and I could hear their "coo coo coo" singing throughout my day. Little did I know that one of them was looking for an apartment.

Well, this beautiful cutie checked right in and I have been watching her faithfully sit very still and quiet. No more singing, just keeping her eyes peeled for any signs of danger. I noticed that a few neighboring birds seem none to happy that she is there. Every time I passed the mudroom door I checked to see if she left at all to search for food and finally this afternoon...

I quickly grabbed a ladder and snapped these before her return. Two softly pink perfect little eggs lay in a nest made from the twigs of our almond trees. My heart was touched and I thought of Easter, God's faithfulness in caring for us and the son He willingly gave up.

I feel lucky to have taken these pictures. I admire the steadfast duty of this little momma and her two baby doves. Maybe I'll even get to see the chicks after they hatch. I'll keep looking...

watching gladiators

2010-03-29T14:24:00.000-07:00

Here I am in the passengers seat driving to San Francisco. Going over this bridge is always exciting but our plans today are much more interesting than usual...today we get to watch a bunch of strong sweaty men beat each other to a pulp and enjoy it. They call it Rugby...I call it Watching the Gladiators!
This is what a bunch of them look like from behind, now just imagine them turning around and charging with the goal of making sure you don't see the light of day...yikes!
This is our daughters boyfriend Jon...not driving our tractor today, oh no, he has an entirely different agenda on this day. Don't ask me to explain the rules of Rugby, but I can tell you that they huddle together and that's called a "scrum" the ball goes everywhere, there's a whole lot of tackling, a lot of bruising, some blood and these guys don't wear protective gear!
Oh, and one of Jon's jobs is this lifting thing, which is nothing like ballet ;) Nope...when these superhero's are done, they shed very small costumes and all their weapons are nonremovable.
At the end of the ordeal...there are always pretty girls hanging around that don't mind a little sweat...well, sort of.
~Jon and Angela~

We also had the privilege of meeting Jon's parents, who were lovely, friendly and very warm. That was celebrated with a clink of champagne and going out to dinner to a Peruvian restaurant. Amazingly yummy food, a few laughs and gratitude that we both have some pretty awesome children. I took some pictures to capture the event and look forward to more in the near future.
~Angela and her Momma~

little mr. funny face

2010-03-26T11:42:00.000-07:00

So sorry I couldn't share my planting yet. Truth is, I wasn't feeling well enough to start the task, but hopefully I can get out there today. Instead I am sharing something really special and hilarious about my nephew Cedar. This is at the core of his being and it is such an endearing part of him.

Cedar likes to do things with his eyes closed. If he builds a tower with blocks, he'll dismantle it and then rebuild it with his eyes closed...smiling the entire time at his accomplishment. Then he will open his eyes and laugh because he had so much fun doing it. If he pushes his cart on a new course, he'll retry that course with his eyes closed and giggle.

This is all very grand and wonderful but that's not all...Cedar likes an audience! So he does this hilarious peering at you while his eyes are closed and I was lucky enough to catch it with my camera...even though I am a little out of focus. You get the idea...and doesn't he look a little like Mr. Magoo when he makes this face? Every other time he is just being Mr. Adorable and if I'm not laughing when I'm with him, then I'm trying to steal a kiss!

p.s. Mr. Magoo is a very old cartoon character and I realize that I just gave my age away by mentioning him :)

p.s.s. Who wouldn't want to kiss Mr. Magoo?