What is it?

What is it? Take your best guess. 

When Nana goes shopping...

When Nana goes shopping

The wee babes get spoiled.

New dresses and shoes

New puzzles and books

So come for a visit and stay for some days

Because Nana and Papa are ready to play!

A Bit Nostalgic

Today I am feeling a bit nostalgic about Colorado Springs, where we lived for a decade. It has a huge fire there, burning out of control. Our old neighborhood has been evacuated and homes have been consumed. I know that my friends are safe. Thank God. But the whole situation causes me to pause and think and remember. I am sad. I am worried. I am glued to the computer for any information about my friends, their homes and businesses.
So in your going in and going out, will you pause to pray for not only my friends in Colorado Springs, but for all of the people of that city and the firefighters who are trying to minimize the devastation?

My Messages

Whenever I go out walking, I look for heart shaped rocks. For me, they are a message from God about how loved I am and how God is in control of everything. I consider them a special message just for me and I love the reminder.

Today I am thinking and praying for some friends of mine who might need a reminder about how loved they are and how God is in control of everything.  I am thinking and praying for my friends in Colorado Springs who have cars packed and on stand by to be evacuated in case the fire is headed toward their homes. And I am thinking and praying for friends here who need encouragement in the face of life changes.

June 24, 2012

Look Who Came To Visit

We have some visitors for the next couple of days.

Miss Ellie loves some corn on the cob. No more cutting it off the cob for her!

Little Audrey naps.  Why is it that holding sleeping babies, makes the adults sleep also? Yes, it's  almost noon and I have had a nap too!

Hydrangeas

The hydrangeas in my yard are getting ready to bloom. I love hydrangeas. I love the colors of them. I love how the colors change during their bloom cycle. I love how they grow well in shade. I love how they grow well in acidic soil and that pine needles actually help with the blue coloring. And I especially love that deer don't eat them! Each year I add a few more to the garden. Wouldn't a field of these look lovely?

Wacky Wednesday, Part 2

What do you see today? This tile reminds me of Michelangelo's Creation of Adam.

I also see a screaming worm. Your turn...

Monday with My Girls

I spent Monday with my little girls.

Vivi  loves Papa's Secrets

Little Audrey sleeps like a little boxer. The hands are usually up  against her head.

Maybe she feels the need to protect herself. Sometimes big sister's loving can be a little  rough!

Ellie loves her technology. She is calling Papa.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to:

The first man I loved, my daddy

To the man I will love eternally, my husband, who is a great dad and papa

To my two son-in-laws, who I love to pieces and are great dads

And a happy father's day to my brothers, my father-in-law, and my friends who are dads!

Rating Movies

I rate movies by how many tissues I use. I like movies that make me laugh and cry.  Last night we watched  "We Bought  A Zoo".   It was a 4 tissue movie. I cried because the mom had died and the characters are figuring out how to move on with life. That will get me every time. And I laughed. My favorite line in the movie occurred when one of the zoo keepers was in the cage with the lion. He turns to the lion and says. 'you don't want me. I am too full of scotch, and bitterness and impure thoughts.' ( Somehow it was funnier in the movie at 1:00 a.m.;  when you are caught up in the characters and the action. ) I loved the movie, if you haven't seen it, rent it. I recommend it.

How do you rate your movies?

P.S. The record for tissues is 13 for watching "One True Thing". I was a wreck!

Beat The Heat

Hot summer days are upon us and to stay cool at our house we have a batch of bourbon slush in the freezer at all times.

The original recipe was given to me by my sister-in-law. Here is the original recipe:
7c. water
2c. strong tea (if you use instant tea, add water; otherwise they taste like sand! Sorry Meg, I couldn't resist!)
1 large can of lemonade concentrate
1 small can of orange juice concentrate
1c. sugar
1 c. bourbon or 1-2 small cans of rum
Makes one gallon. Freeze for 12 hours.

I am forever tweaking recipes. My sister loves rum slush. I like bourbon. Here is my version:
7c. water
2c. strong tea
1 large can of lemonade concentrate
1 large can of orange juice concentrate
1c. sugar
2 large cans of Jack Daniels
Makes one gallon. Freeze for 12 hours.
I like to pour diet Pepsi or Squirt over mine.

These will cool you down. P.S. Orient the fan so it blows on you!

Color

Color makes me happy. Does it do the same for you?

L to R : Kangaroo, Wide eyed frog, Frowning Woman in a Long Dress, Pig's Head and White Dog.

Wacky Wednesday, Part 1

What do you see?

Every morning  I study the tiles in the shower while I am bathing. I look for hidden objects in the patterns. Weird, I know. It seems I am always searching for images. I don't really know why I do this. Could it be that I read too many "Where's Waldo" or "I Spy" books to the girls? 

For the next few Wednesday's I will be posting pictures of my bathroom tiles and you can play along with me. Let me know what you see.

The following tile is an easy one. Already you spy the white dog in the right hand corner. Then towards the center you will see  a woman's dress silhouette and it you look closely her face is above and she is frowning. It wasn't until I converted the picture to black and white that I also can make out a kangaroo, a wide eyed frog and a pig head.

I will circle the items and show you tomorrow. Wacky & Weird. Yes that about sums up my personality!

The Many Faces of Miss Vivian

It's the photo booth of Miss Vivian.

Did I mention she has a new tooth and another one ready to break through any time? Yes she is so big!

Isn't She Lovely

On Sunday, Little Audrey came home from the hospital and was greeted by her adoring fans.

Of course she slept through the whole fanfare.

Audrey and Audrey

Auntie Meg and Audrey

Ellie checking her little sister.

Miss Vivian doesn't seem to mind the new baby!

I am tired of being wallowed by all these people that love me!

My Heart Grew Three Sizes That Day

My third granddaughter arrived. Miss Audrey Elizabeth arrived on June 9, 2012 at 2:10 am. She weighed

 6 lbs. 14 oz. and is 19 inches long. She has strawberry blond hair and blue eyes. She is adorable!

Daddy with his little girl.

  

Mommy and Audrey

Miss Ellie checking out her new baby.

Feeling a little unsure about her.

Checking out her features. She has eyes and a nose....

I am still a baby too, right?

Little Audrey.

How Fast Can You Pack A Bag?

On Tuesday at 3:45 pm, we made a last minute decision to go to the coast for our anniversary. We had to leave for Sacramento at 4:30. I packed that bag really fast! We also packed lawn chairs, a cooler and some picnic supplies for the beach. Here is how we spent our anniversary:

On Wednesday, we left Sacramento and drove to the Russian River Valley to do some wine tasting. We found some great wineries  and it wasn't even the last one of the day. My favorite winery: De La Montanya. I liked every single wine there.

  Hop Kiln Winery, I love their barns.

We drove Hwy 1 to Fort Bragg. Yesterday we spent the day at the beach. We soaked in the salt air, the waves crashing, the sand, and the sunshine. We reminisced about the past and tried to plan for the future. 

I love everything about the beach.

The Shells

The Flowers

The patterns in the sand....

More Shells

Tide pools

The waves

The views

And this man. I love him. He knows me inside and out. He spoils me. And he knows the perfect way to spend our anniversary! So thanks Babe for the past 31 years and here is to many more. I love you!