Old grumpy face.

Our cat Riley could be the star in the book...a Tail of Two Kitties,  he would be the evil cat in the story.  Notice the spin off of ...ATale of Two Cities.   We are still, after over a year of having a cat and dog in the house...still trying to get Riley to accept our dog.  He is just outright stalking the poor dog.  

I haven't been posting much.  Just kinda of got lost in all the things happening in life.  Some good, some just busy things.  I'm hoping to be a little better with my blog.  

I'm looking forward to the boutique that my quilt friends and I are having..we have been putting in a lot of extra sewing time.  I hope to post some pics soon of some of the items I've made.

My goal every day is to head to bed sooner, but lets face it, I'm a night owl.  I think I take after my great Aunt Elizabeth, one of my fav aunts.  I remember getting letters from her saying, well, it's time I sign off now, it's 1am in the morn.   I thought wow, she stays up late...well so do I now!  Haha.

Great news is the addition of our Grandson, ,born a month premature, but doing great.  His name is Ezra Leo......middle name from his Great Grandpa.

Well. More later.

When the World Sees Red

This is a picture of a beautiful Sunrise in April

A prelude to the hot , dry summer

Amazing that Beauty

and

Tragedy are so closely

Hand in Hand

The Kaiya-nator!

The Look!  Miss Sticky Face!

 The Curls

 The Hungry Munchkin

 The girly girl!

Grandpa ssays she's unbelievably SWEET!

Just what I needed today, some sweetness! 

Let the World be for now

I just needed a moment or two of sweetness!

Just Sharing

This is a picture of my Mom from her younger days.

There is just something special in this picture.

I'm not sure of her age when this was taken.

but I love her smile and her eyes...

I just feel happiness blossoming from her!

That old homesick feeling

Have you ever felt homesick for something that is a wish in your mind. A time or place that doesn't really exist or belong to you. A place for gentle tranquility to relax and enjoy. I envision a lovely garden respite, with a hammock or swing in the sun or shade depending on what is needed. The sight and scent of flowers dressing up the garden for you to enjoy. An interesting book in hand that wraps your mind with the story, making you not want to stop reading. Off to the edge of the lovely garden is a beach of glistening sand and gentle waves calling you to come and wet your feet, walking along the edge with the waves slapping and tickeling your toes. A place to listen to the birds calling back to the waves, luring you mind and body into a place where you can think only about the loveliness of the day...that is what I am homesick for....but in my mind I go there ...I am there now..

I am so frustrated with trying to use my iPad to post on my blog. I can't get pics I have taken to post , and I can't get linked photos to post. I love the convenience of my iPad for most things, but it sure has disrupted my blogging. I seldom turn on my regular computer any more. So..I guess I need to figure out how to be more creative with my blogging.

Recently I received a list called a Bucket list by email from a friend.  It was interesting to see how many of the things on the list I had done already.  And realized, that many of the things I hadn't done...I really didn't care about.  Here's a sample.  If it is marked with an X, that means I did it.  blank means NO

X  Shot a gun
X  Gone on a blind date
     Skipped school
X  Watched someone die
     Visited Africa
      Visited Canada   ( I would like to do this)
      Visited Hawaii  
      Visited Cuba
       Visited Europe  (I would like to do )
       Been on the Alps
      Visited South America  (not even interested)
      Visited Las Vegas  (drove through on a train once , does that count?)
X    Visited Mexico
X    Visited Florida
X   Seen the Grand Canyon  (on the train again, just going through)
X   Flown on a plane
      Served on a jury ( I was called up, but it settle out of court)
X    Been lost
X   Traveled to the opposite side of the country (been to both sides)
X    Visited Washington, DC
X    Swam in the Ocean  (one of my favorite things to do)
X    Cried yourself to sleep
X    Played cops and robbers
X    Played cowboys and Indians
X    Recently colored with crayons  (thanks to my granddaughter Kaiya)
       Sang Karaoke...(not at a bar, but with my cousins)
        Sang a solo or duet in church. (in grade school we sang for Mass, but it was usuallly more than 2 of us
X    Pain for a meal with coins only
X    Made prank phone calls  (is your refrigerator running, well you better go catch it..actually just
                 did this one to my brother one night on FB, and actually got him with it!  haha
X  Laughed until some beverage came out of your nose
X  Caught a snowflake on your tongue   (should add made a Snow Angel)
X  Had children
X   Had a pet  (lots of pets)
      Been skinny dipping
X    Been fishing  ( my brother and I used to go to a creek by our farm  .  also Fish Day at the Ikes
                     I loved to go with my Uncle Ben fishing
X    Been boating
X    Been skiing
       Water skiing
X    Ice skating
        Been camping in a trailer /RV
X    Been camping in a tent
X    Flown in a small 4 seater airplane...(actually I think it was a 2 seater)
       Flown in a glider
X    Para sailed across the water (YES, did this at Okiboji  and it was wonderful)
X    Flown in a helicopter  
       Flown in a hot air balloon   (love to watch them, not sure I want to fly in one)
       Walked on a glacier. 
X    Drive a motorcyle (just for a short distance, but I did it.  My cousins dirt bike
       Been bungee jumping...NEVER EVER EVER WANT TO DO THIS
X   gone to a drive in move  (oh yeah...the best)
X  Done something that you could regret for the rest of your life...(who hasn't)
     Visited Asia
     Rode an elephant
X  Eaten cookie or cake for dinner
      Been on TV  (I haven't but 2 of my daughter's have.  I've been in the newspaper though)
      Stolen any traffic signs
X    Been in a car accident
       Donated blood...(I'm a big chicken)
       Gone Curling
        Tattoos

Dog Years

So our dog , Johnny Cash is approaching his 1st birthday in May.  In dog years I think that means he's 7 years old.  Easier for me to think of him as 1 year old.  Life with Cash, as we call him is definitely a lot more active.  Here are some of his favs:

1.  Any squeaky toy...but his fav squeaky toy is his little brown football (we have 3 of the same toy)  luckily only 1 of them still squeak.  If this toy is missing, he is as excited as a little kid with a new toy when it is found.

2.  His favorite outdoor toy is an old brown basketball that the girls used to play with.  He loves it when I kick it and he chases it down.  He will play with this ball by himself also.

3.  His Number 1 favorite of anything is....believe this or not, ROCKS...he loves to dig them up, carry them, lick them, throw them, run after them,   anything to do with rocks...he loves.  Sometimes he sneaks them into the house.  He refuses to put the rock down before coming in the house.  Funny dog.

4.  We always joke that Chelsee is his puppy...the person he loves to play with most.  He is absolutely overjoyed when she comes home from college.  When she leaves he will stand at the top of the stairs and looks out the window and cry...a real low moan...like this...."moe  moe...moe  moe ...wooo  wooooo...it is so sad and touching.

Cash's Bad Habits...I don't think I can list all of them.

the ones that drive me crazy the most are...licking, slobbering...smelling  ABSOLUTELY   EVERYTHING!

Cash brings us a lot of fun and joy, he is a great companion for walks,  and I can tell him absolutely anything, and he does not judge me, or mock me.  He will mostly listen with those wonderful brown eyes of his.  He will even give a hug (which Chelsee taught him) when you need one. 

I will have to say that Cash is a super intelligent dog.  He was very easily house trained.  NEVER messes in his kennel...we always take him out of the kennel for that.  Probably the biggest nemesis in his life is our housecat Riley.  They absolutely HATE each other. 

Oh yes Mr. Cash, you have enriched our lives. 

Downton Abbey

My favorite television show, and yes I have both season 1 and 2 on DVD. It's about a family in Edwardian England. Great stories, wonderful clothes. This show takes me to another time and place, and givEs me some relaxing time.

Fairy Tales Do Come True!

Alexa, Kristin, Chelsee, Amber & Kaiya on our Great Disney Adventure!

Chelsee, Me, Kristin & Amber.....Finally...Disney Realized!!!

For as long as I can remember my two youngest daughters have asked me, "why did you take Amber to Disney and not us?" When Amber was not quite 3 years old we went to California for almost a month, and visited Disneyland a couple of times. It didn't matter to Kristin & Chelsee that they weren't even born yet, they just knew they did not get a Disney trip. Well, I'm so happy and glad to say that a dream of mine and theirs became a reality. We headed to Orlando in January. We were a weary bunch of travelers by the time we arrived in Orlando late Thursday night. Amber, Alexa & Kaiya, Kristin, Chelsee, and myself. We were all ready to go early Friday morning for our much anticipated trip to DisneyWorld. Amazing would be the word I would use to describe our trip, and I would go back in a second. We had such a wonderful time. The trip the Disney was beyond expectations.

On our second day we did a half day trip to Epcot, and Sunday was a trip to Sea World. More adventures to come!

Magic Kingdom

Seeing the Magic Kingdom Castle lit up at night was breathtaking. The castle actually changed colors. It was so beautiful against the early evening sky.

Simply Magical

The Princess's and Prince's all showed up to dance!
Kaiya was amazed and loved the show that featured Mickey & Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Captain Hook & cohorts, Peter Pan, Cinderella & Prince, Sleeping Beauty & Prince, and Snow White & Prince. Beautiful costumes.




Captain Hook tried to get Donald over to the "dark side"





Mickey & Minne were all about friendship & love

Snow White & Prince Charming make a lovely couple

Minnie convinced Donald that there is hope in the world, and he should be happy.

Donald Duck was in a grumpy mood until Minnie talked to him!

Let good win

Sometimes a day

can hold a lot of challenges.

Someone recently said to me that they felt like whenever something good happened to them, it seemed something bad also happened and it cancels out the good.

I know exactly how they feel. But I am going to try and put a turn around on this thought for a moment.

I think the GOOD cancels out the bad...let the positive Win. Here's my mathematical proof, it's pretty simplistic thinking.

Good. 4 letters

Bad. 3 letters

Good has one more letter than good, giving it more value...GOOD Wins?.i value the GOOd more than the bad.

So my goal is to try and remind myself of the good things that are happening in my day, and not let the bad win...

All Ears

M - I - C - K - E - Y M-O-U-S-E!

I can't imagine a trip to Disney without

getting a set of EARS!

Love these that Kristin & Chelsee chose.

More ears to be added soon!!!

Tribute to Alexa

How can the time go by so fast?

Seems like only yesterday that we fell in love

with our sweet Alexa.

16 years ago in Feb she joined our family

and entwined our hearts forever with hers.

She can bring a smile or a laugh

Or a SURPRISE

at any time

Happy 16th Birthday Alexa

We LOVE you!

pictures courtesy of Kristin the photographer in our family!

Daydream Believer

Hey Hey we're the Monkees...Wow, I don't think I can count the number of times I sang that song. Sad news to hear about an old favorite of my preteen years Davy Jones passing away today. His DayDream Believer song has always been a favorite of mine, along with many other songs he sang with the group the Monkees. Funny how hearing a song, even if it is just in your head takes you back to another place and time. The memories rush in, bringing a smile or a moment in time that is forever embedded in your mind. thanks for the memories Davy!!!

I've made a plan and commitment

It's a new year...so I need a plan to move forward to making my life and the lives of my

family easier and less stressful. I am committed to making changes to simplify my home. We have lived here since 1982, which means a pack rat like myself has accumulated a lot of things. When your stuff becomes overwhelming and not enjoyable it's time to SORT it out. I am NOT getting rid of things that are family or strong sentimental value...or family history. However, I am going to sort through my craft area and pass on what I no longer have need . Through over twenty years of being a 4-H leader I have a lot of craft things that I no longer use...time to pass them on. I also plan on going through my closets. So wish me luck with my adventure. I also want to paint and re arrange rooms ..update room decor and colors....so it's going to be a long busy year. Wish me luck, and if you have any advice...let me have it!

I've Been Nudged

I've been nudged
I've been reminded
Get thee to blogging!!!

Sometimes the words flow
Sometimes the words are non exisitent
But ....keep thee blogging

I love to blog,
but have not been inpsired

So here's to inspiration
and
Blogging
YEA