coff-a-cuppe

Feliz Navidad

2011-12-05T18:46:00.000-08:00

A day off today, and I felt busier then if I had worked, trying to cram into the day multiple appointments. The last one on deck my son and I loaded into the car and headed off to take him to the dentist. I am a sucker for Christmas music and as soon as local stations start playing the festive tunes my radio dial is set and stays there until the holiday is over. As I hit the road I recapped the day thinking about all the things I should of or could of got done. It did not help that I was over tired as my son had spent half his night awake requiring nebulizers and chest PT for a severe asthma flair up. We were up early in the morning and in the doctors office, then waiting at pharmacy for new meds, a quick lunch then we were off to his planned dentist appointment. My son was feeling better and now my deli ma was dinner and praying for a good dental appointment (just to clarify it was a terrific dental appointment, the teeth all looked good)... The song "Feliz Navidad" came on the radio and almost as if on cue the both of us started singing along. We sang louder and I turned the sound up, at traffic lights cars next to us must of though we were nuts, or maybe they were jealous that we could take 3min out of our day just to enjoy and have fun. when my son was a bit younger he loved the song and would sing along as loud as could be. Brief, fleeting moments in time but memorable. I am certain that his day of singing a silly old Christmas tune with mom will end soon, embarrassment taking over. But for now I will take the stolen moment in a hectic day and sing my heart out with him. "Feliz Navidad"

The Value in a tennis ball

2011-11-27T05:24:00.000-08:00

For just a $1.99 I get a can of three. Three beautifully clean, slobberless tennis balls. I bring the new can home forgetting about it... Eventually the 11 year old boy in the house finds the can and cracks the lid. Meanwhile at least three rooms away the two year old active dog hears the crack of the lid, her ears go up in curiosity, I imagine she is thinking "what was that"? Then she hears the slow melodic rhythm of bounce, bounce, bounce... The canine is quickly on her feet off to investigate the all to familiar noise. She finds the boy bouncing the fresh new tennis ball. Excitement sets in! The two quickly rush outside. The boy throws the ball pretending he is pitching for the major leagues and the puppy fetches happily bringing back the ball, tail wagging. The two are outside for a good long time eventually succumbing to hunger and finding their way back inside for dinner. As night falls and the puppy sets in to retire on her dog bed she snuggles her new tennis ball in close almost like a child with a teddy bear. Not a bad investment for $1.99.

Defying gravity

2011-10-17T09:08:00.000-07:00

This past week we took an amazing vacation. I did something that has been on my bucket list for a long time....
Last Wednesday the sun high in the sky, the air warm I stood on a dock, the song "try defying gravity" from the Broadway play "Wicked" played over and over in my head as my stomach fluttered anxious for what I was about to do. Not only was I going to do it but I was taking along my 10 year old son for the adventure. He looked just as excited and I wondered what was going through his head was he also prepping a soundtrack for this milestone to bookmark this moment forever. We climbed aboard that boat and were given quick instructions- "was it that easy?". We were strapped into our gear and stood at the back of the boat, my husband our official photographer at the front snapped away. Our boat fired off and the instructor let out the parachute, a picture of a skull and crossbones (how fitting and a sign that my father the wanna be pirate was looking down with approval). "Lean back the instructor" says. My son and I lean back and slowly the parachute pulls us away from the boat... The boat moves forward and we move higher in the sky. Like two birds soaring without a care in the world enjoying the bright clear sky. To say it was amazing would not do it justice. For this mousy girl it was an experience of a lifetime and to share it with my son what a gift! We stayed up in the sky for about 20 minutes wordless just taking it all in. When it came time to land the boat pulled us in easing us slowly and safely to the back no bump no thud just as easy as walking down the block. It was then once on the boat when my husband asked "well how was it" that my son grabbed me and hugged me and said "it was awesome, can we do it again"! And that is the story of my Para sailing adventure!

Honk

2011-10-02T17:29:00.000-07:00

Usually our mornings start with the crow of the Rooster waking us up pretty early, not so much the case today. Instead we heard "Honk, Honk"....
We have had a lot of critter visits lately, wild rabbits, groundhogs and wild turkeys but did not expect to find this big ole goose hanging out at our house today. She/he has been around all day hanging out in the big rain puddle at the end of the driveway. This afternoon she made her way out back where she/he went and hung out with the chickens. Not sure where she came from my husband has gone around to some of the farms in the area and nobody has claimed her. Gonna try again tomorrow because it appears she is making herself at home and is going nowhere.

2011-09-12T08:51:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in a long while. Suppose Im finding myself lost in summer off climbing trees with my kid or taking day trips with my husband. Its been a good summer, feel like I'm relaxing for the first time in a long time. Having lost a significant amount of weight over the last year I fell like taking on new challenges and new adventures that I never would have dreamed possible. This time next month I have a big adventure planned and I cant wait... stay tuned for more!

adventure on the lake

2011-08-03T18:58:00.000-07:00

Personal milestones hit this summer! A year ago when I met with my doctor he asked me where I wanted to be a year from now and my response was "water skiing with my son". A year ago that was a scary thought, as my weight had tipped the scales and just small day to day tasks were a hassle let alone the idea of water skiing. Well next week I have an appointment with that same doctor and I look forward to walking into his office and announcing that this looser (that would be looser of pounds) water skied!! As the thrill and adrenaline of getting up on the skis pulled me forward so did the emotion of actually reaching my goal. It was a thrilling experience and not only did I get up on the skis so did my kiddo! I am so loving this summer:)

The worlds best dog!

2011-07-18T06:32:00.000-07:00

While I suppose the title of this post would cause great debate, as all dog owners must imagine they have the worlds greatest dog living in their household, in our small corner of the world we believe our lives were graced with the presence of the worlds greatest dog, Miss Oreo!
12 1/2 years ago my husband and I then without kids were settled into our home, things going well we decided it was the right time to get a dog. A woman at work had a dog unexpectedly have puppies (accidents happen) and was desperate to find homes for the little canines. Sadly my husbands work had him out of state at the time, so he could not go with me to see the dogs. He told me to go pick one out but had one condition, that I pick the friendliest dog or the one who approached me first. That all said I drove out to the boondocks where this co-worker lived and as I drove up her long dirt driveway out came running this tiny little black and white fur ball eager to great me. I was told that she was an escape artist and had gotten out of her pen several times. There were 7 other puppies and I had my pick of my the litter. Assorted colors, hair lengths no two puppies were alike, tough decision but my husbands request to take the first dog to great me echoed in my head, so it was the Houdini dog/ escape artist that I picked. As I drove home with her I panicked thinking what have I done? If she is constantly breaking out of her kennel then I probably have picked the trouble maker of the litter. When my husband came home it was love at first sight. We named the little black and white fluff ball Oreo (I know not very original but it fit). Oreo grew, and grew, quickly becoming a very large dog topping out at a big 80+ pounds. We learned she was part Chow and part hound dog, beautiful and unique this gentle black and white giant colored our world. When my son was born, she became a second moma. Not letting the cat near him she would chase them away. When he cried she would wake me. When he learned to crawl and walk she tolerated and seemed to love him climbing all over her. When he toddled around outside and would start to wonder she would chorale him back. Halloween she would pose for silly pictures. His first day of school she would see him off and welcome him home, always tail wagging. When he learned to read she would allow him to lean against her and read aloud, his own little four legged audience. She was part of the family, and we were just smitten with her! Sadly Miss Oreo was laid to rest this weekend and our hearts are broken. There will never be another dog like her and we are blessed to have had her grace our lives. I will miss those big brown eyes but I suppose it was time for her to move on escaping on to heaven somewhere near the "rainbow bridge".

delicious vacation

2011-07-10T11:58:00.000-07:00

We just got back from a fabulous vacation! Sun and fun! my entire family got up on water skis including myself and my 10 year old, talk about confidence booster! I hate that first 24/48 hours after vacation when the memories are fresh and echo loudly. It is tough to fight the urge to turn around and go back, the real world and daily routines flying fast at you to quick to duck and cover. Coming off a vacation high, we walk around the house like drones dreading tomorrow when the daily grind returns. I have to try to remind myself that did I not have the daily grind, then the vacation would not have meant as much. In trying to explain it to my son who didn't understand why the great week couldn't continue, he summed up my explanation simply, "its kind of like having ice cream all the time, you eat to much and you don't want it any more, but you have it once in a while an its delicious." So I salute my "delicious", wonderful vacation, may the sweet and scrumptious memories carry us to the next serving.

peonies please

2011-06-27T16:49:00.000-07:00

So as my baby gets older I am finding myself with more time on my hand. This weekend he went camping with a friend and left his poor parents alone with an empty nest. My husband and I had a lovely evening day one and day two what did we do.... Weeded the garden, is that not square or what? As square as that may sound, I am finding myself with a new love, a new hobby, gardening. This week my peonies took bloom and they are just stunning, it is a shame they only bloom once a year.

The're Back!

2011-06-17T18:07:00.000-07:00

The birds are back and the babies are ready to fly! This is the sight outside my bathroom window. We have been watching them since mom settled in, and today they finally took flight and the nest is now empty, waiting for new tenants next spring.

Hot dog?

2011-05-31T17:19:00.000-07:00

So the warmer temps are here, my windows are thrown open airing out the house, my husband is tuning up the lawn mower, my neighbor is washing his car, I am dragging out patio furniture and my son is begging me to go for a hot dog? For weeks now he has been begging me to go for a hot dog, so for dinner one night I make the poor boy a hot dog, but he is not satisfied he wants to go to the vendor in the park. I am initially upset and defensive, wondering what this hot dog vendors hot dogs have that mine don't, after all the boy only drowns his dog in ketchup regardless of where it is prepared? He struggles with trying to explain to my why it is so important only stating "its just better". It isn't till later one afternoon when my husband also expresses a desire to "go for a hot dog" that it dawns on me. Much like the first pitch at a little league game, or the opening day of the ice cream shoppe after being boarded up all winter a hot dog is that rite-of-passage for my son, that tradition of celebrating spring into summer. For the last few years when the temps would rise we would go for long walks or bike rides in the park and end the day with a hot dog from the vendor. Its not the hot dog he wants but more the time we had just before getting the dog. He wants to continue that tradition! With wakening up from winter I have been so busy that the park has just been pushed aside, and not important, but what the boy could not tell me was that it was important not the hot dog but the time. So this weekend yes we went for a hot dog, and the boy did drown his dog in ketchup, insisting it was the best hot dog he ever had.

My Easter Peeps

2011-04-26T11:40:00.000-07:00

Its springtime. Last year we decided to raise chickens, well we survived the first year with all chickens good and healthy and giving us lots of fresh eggs. This past week my husband came home with six new chicks, so cute and fluffy, they are giving the new kittens some competition.

So sweet

2011-03-27T16:03:00.000-07:00

I am reminding myself to savor these sweet little faces for soon enough these wee ones will be curious and invading every inch of our home. One week old the kittens have opened their eyes. Are they not the sweetest...

Luck of the Irish?

2011-03-17T16:19:00.000-07:00

I had box's in every room with comfy blankets tucked neatly inside. I wanted to give Pudding multiple choices of where she might go to give birth. I did what all the cat books said? This morning when getting ready for work she anxiously followed me from room to room and seemed a bit unsettled, I had a hunch today would be the day. So when I caught a break at work I raced home to check on her. I looked in every box, I looked in every closet but no queen and no kittens? Till I notice the lump on the bed that I had made neatly this morning. I pulled back the covers and there she was purring, and nestled on her tummy three little kittens, cute as could be. So lesson learned, don't knock yourself out to make a cat comfortable they are going to do what they want maybe even take over your bed, second lesson if you take in a stray don't delay take him or her to get fixed as soon as possible, third lesson, life is beautiful even if its a trio of kittens born on St Patrick's day.

2011-03-13T17:52:00.000-07:00

I have not been very good about posting lately. I have been guilty of having my nose buried in a book all winter long. They say reading is good but if you fall deep into the pages of a good book, (at least in my world) housework and other priorities get neglected. So I could argue its not really all that good. Im just kidding of course. I have gotten pretty creative about finding time to read, going so far as to reading while walking on my treadmill, which doesnt work so good when you are trying to do a mile in under 15minutes. I read at my kids basketball games at halftime, or practice, while waiting to see the doctor, or standing in my kitchen while cooking dinner I sneak a page or two between stirring the meal. My book is always in my purse,along with my camera, which must explain why my shoulder hurts after carying my purse for more then 20 minutes (again could be an argument for why reading could be bad). So anyway thats why I have not blogged, I am guilty of being a bookworm.
The latest update on Pudding the promiscuous Cat... Her belly is getting bigger, I suspect she is due to have her kittens anytime. Tonight as she lay sleeping we watched her belly and could catch glimpses of the little ones growing inside kicking and moving. My son is thrilled and amazed, and is praying he is home at the time of delivery to be a witness. To get ready we have been watching kitten births on line. I dont care if its a human, elephant, horse, dog or Cat, it is so exciting, and I am giddy with excitement. Tonight I post a picture of the Diva cat, evidently the cat who has no issue being promiscuous is camera shy...

and the tail/tale keeps growing....

2011-02-21T11:18:00.000-08:00

This stray we have taken in, now affectionately called "pudding", should be the star of her own TV drama, call it "my nine lives". The saga begins when this emaciated cat destitute, shows up on the humans doorstep begging for help. The stupid humans, alright lets change that to "the loving humans" feed the destitute cat, saving her from starvation. The cat is standoffish, guarded, she has a secret to hide... and alas as the drama unfolds the loving humans discover that the mystery cat has secretly gone off and had kittens in the woodshed. She hides the kittens so no one may hurt them and it takes the loving humans months to catch them, finally doing so on the eve of a bitter blizzard that is about to grip the region. After catching these beloved kittens they discover one is blind and in need of serious medical attention. They take the kittens to a shelter where they can get the medical attention they need and find good homes. They decide now that pudding has warmed their hearts and is now part of the family! This folks is where you would believe that our drama would have a fairy tale ending, but no this is a soap opera.... They take Pudding to the vet to get her vaccinated and fixed to avoid any further scandal. The vet is a friendly kind man who after examining Mrs Pudding has some difficult news to share with the family... Cue dramatic music here... Pudding is pregnant yet again!!! Who is the father of this felines babies, will this feline who mysteriously rolled into town ever stop causing trouble for this loving family, will the new scandal cause the other cats to shun her... there is only one way to find out! stay tuned for the latest episode of "my nine lives"....

end of a chapter

2011-01-30T16:47:00.000-08:00

This last fall a stray cat showed up on our doorstep. Initially she was to shy to let us near her, so we left her food and would talk to her eventually gaining her trust. When she did finally let us pet her we became suspicious that she had kittens. After following her one day our suspicions were confirmed tucked away in our woodshed she had two beautiful kittens. The kittens were even more skittish then momma and for weeks we attempted to catch the little felines. Over the last three months it has drove me batty trying to win their trust but these kittens were just becoming to wild. I have been obsessed with trying to catch them to find these two beautiful cats a good warm home. One of the kittens also needed medical attention as she/he was born with a bad eye. Well finally in what can probably only be described as a great comedy my son and I were able to lure the kittens into the nice warm kitchen with a warm wood stove and lots of food, and presto we had them. We kept them inside for a week, we fed them and most of all we loved them. Soon these little wild felines were domesticated loving cats ready to find good homes. Last weekend my husband took them to a cat shelter where they are getting the medical attention they need and awaiting adoption to loving homes, and momma cat well lets just say its tough to type when you have a cat laying on your lap...

He will be coming around the mountain

2011-01-23T08:59:00.000-08:00

My husband has started getting patches of gray hair for a while now, something that I have delighted in rubbing in his face. The tables have recently turned and he has had the opportunity in giving some of that grief back. He now has been pointing out the new patch of gray hair that now grows from just behind my right ear. I have heard jokes and silly tales that moms of boys go "gray early", well if such is true then after this nail biting weekend my small gray streak is soon to grow into a full head of silver hair. My son has taken up snowboarding, and while I don't want to sound like a mom boasting, he is good, real good. He gets on that board and is a natural, getting far to comfortable and now starting to perform tricks and stunts that make this mom gasp and sick to her stomach. I keep a list of orthopedic surgeons stored in the back of my head, certain that this new hobby of his will no doubt result in at least one trip to the ER. Do all moms of children who love extreme sports have these thoughts rolling in their head, or do they have more confidence in their kids? I am elated that he has found something he loves and I smile inside watching him grow at it. I don't want to hold him back from it, but I sill hold my breath every time he is up on that mountain, only breathing when I finally see him come to the bottom still standing on his own two feet!

Goodbye cousin

2011-01-09T16:39:00.000-08:00

When I was little, despite being separated by 4 states my cousin and I managed to be thick as thieves. When we did get together it usually meant bunking out on my grandparents pull out sofa, laughing into the late night, stealing snacks from the fridge, and making pinkie promises to always be Best buds, best cousins. I have a shoe box of letters she mailed when we were apart. One such letter describes how she told her friends at school she had another sister,(that would be me) that was being raised in another state by her Uncle. It was a lie, it wasn't right but I felt so proud that she would call me her sister. Over the years being states apart we grew apart. I cant even begin to describe the differences in our two communities/cultures her from the city me from the country we took different roads, made different decisions. It hurts now to think about how far we drifted apart. No fighting, no disagreements, just two people moving on in different directions. After loosing my father I thought about her often and had tentative plans to go see her this spring. Sadly however there will be no reunion this spring as my dear cousin only a month older then myself passed away unexpectedly this week. It has been a tough weekend. I have spent a good part of my weekend sitting on my bed the box full of letters, and albums full of pictures, the sweet memories and echos of us planning pranks to play on my sister and her brothers, discussing boys, our futures... I will miss you Bridgett!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T16:50:00.000-08:00

Its a new year! While I cant complain about the last year which brought some amazing opportunities as well as a healthier me, I am so looking forward to this new year to come. Already, we have some exciting plans ahead! So very sadly we could not stay awake until midnight last night. Instead we set our alarm for 1145pm, took a cat nap and then when our alarm went off the family all climbed onto the couch to join Dick Clark in the count down and to toast in the new year and exciting things to come:)

surviving the blizzard of 2010.

2010-12-27T16:30:00.000-08:00

The inside of my house is looking a bit like lego land. Santa brought one good little 10 year old boy lots of legos. Legos are a boys best friend when your going to be hit with a blizzard that keeps you trapped inside for nearly 2days. This evening is the first time my husband and my son have ventured out to finally tackle the shoveling and snow plowing, now while my son will consider legos a his best friend, today my husband will consider his new snow plow his best friend. Luckily we have not lost power so the heater in my chicken coup has kept my chickens nice and cozy. My son got a head lamp for Christmas and he just went out to feed the chickens excited to try it out. I myself have been enjoying a good book and lots of warm coffee. The only ones really disappointed are the dogs who normally love to play outside in the snow, they have decided its just to cold and windy and would rather stay snoozing by the fire. Maybe tomorrow we will go out and play, but not today, we will stay inside and wait it out.

Butterfly

2010-11-29T14:05:00.000-08:00

So now are we not only a home to 2 dogs, 6 chickens, a house cat, ( and also currently feeding a stray and her kittens) we are now also home to two monarch butterflies. My son and husband recently spied two caterpillars which they claim they rescued. We then had the joy of watching these caterpillars spin a cocoon and eventually hatch to, two beautiful monarchs. From what I understand they usually fly south for the winter, but its now to cold and they would never survive the journey. So now my husband and son have taken them under their wing (pardon the pun) and have become caregivers feeding them nectar and what ever else they need.

no bones about it

2010-11-14T14:04:00.000-08:00

no bones about it that's one humongous raw hide my Girl Oreo has. Took her a few tries to get it out the door, and then she went into the back yard and buried it. One day later my other dog unburied it, and today Oreo buried it again, its one vicious cycle but amusing to watch nonetheless.

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T09:52:00.000-07:00

Gone trick or treating:)

blue eyed kitten

2010-10-24T12:18:00.000-07:00

So as I mentioned before we had a stray cat have kittens in my wood shed. It is so fun to watch them! We plan on trying to tame them and find them good homes, but as of yet they have been hard to catch as they are to afraid and wild. Last weekend we rented a have a heart trap and were able to catch one of the kittens, only to later let her back out with momma as they evidently are younger then we originally though and are still nursing. The one kitten we caught was a beautiful little kitten but sadly I believe she is blind in one eye, she has a one big blue eye with no pupil. She is playful and does not seem effected or bothered by it, although to look at it, it first appears a little disturbing. It was a good conversation to have with my son about why we are sometimes born different or with birth defects. He has fallen in love with little unique beauty and I am not sure how we are ever going to give her up. My goal was to not name them thus not getting attached but we have found ourselves affectionately calling her "gum drop", I guess because she is sweet like a little gum drop:)

fairy houses

2010-10-17T15:18:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid I loved to play in the woods behind my fathers home. He lived on a little peninsula on a lake so you didn't wander to far before you hit water. What I loved most were all the old trees growing in unusual shapes up from the edge of the lake or into the damp boggy woods. It was an enchanted land I would imagine. One time my sister and I found two dead twisted tree roots just laying in the woods, we imagined that a unicorn had shed its horn. We took turns taking those twisted roots to school show and tell, and tried to convince our classmates it was a genuine unicorn horn. We would take old ply wood and build forts around trees that grew in a cluster, then we would sit and wait watching for wildlife or better yet fairies to emerge. Like I said it was an enchanted land, that was long forgotten once we lost our youth. we are now preparing to sell my fathers old home and have had to spend a lot of time out their renovating. Today my little one wanted to go for a walk in those woods, feeling a bit nostalgic I took him up on the offer but I told him we had a mission to see if the old fairy house was still out there. He rolled his eyes at the thought but as we walked through the woods amongst those twisted tall trees he turned and said to me "you know this could be a magical place". And sure enough right where I remembered it was the little "fairy house", but sadly no-one was home they must of all been out enjoying the fall foliage;)

2010-10-10T15:17:00.000-07:00

While we are knee deep in tomatoes from my sons garden, not a single one of his pumpkins grew. Growing his own pumpkins might have provided him with some pride and bragging rights, maybe not having any pumpkins is a good thing. If we had grown more of our own vegetables we might miss out on going to some of the local farm stands, one of my favorite places to go in the fall. All the variety of local grown veggies, the homemade baked goods, the colors and the smells, it is certainly a New England must! Now excuse me I am off to make a stew from all the yummy veggies I either grew or bought at my local farm stand:)

stray cat strut

2010-10-03T13:07:00.000-07:00

A little over a month ago, we suspected we had a visitor of the critter kind, there were signs. Then one day she showed herself, this tiny little malnourished cat peered out from under our shed. So cute and so ridiculously underweight we took pity and left out a bowl of food. she was far to shy and skittish to let us near her. So every evening for the past few weeks we would take turns sitting outside with her while she ate. we have become attached to this little visitor, so much so we had to give her a name, and hence "pudding head" became part of our life. I was obsessed with this cat and worried about making this cat comfortable so she would learn to trust us so we could bring her into our warm abode this winter. Little by little we earned her trust, enough so she would let us pet her and love her but not enough for her to want to come into the house. Today my husband found her shivering and starving (did I mention this cat eats like a horse) so in she came. She made herself comfortable, that is until anyone went for the door in which case she would try to get out. I tried to convince her it was better in here then it is out there, but there is just no reasoning with a cat:) deafeated I let her out, but followed her because there was something that bothered me about this tiny little cat, her belly was full, could it be full of milk, I asked my husband. I followed "pudding head" out to our backyard and to our woodshed and in a flash I saw the little kitten run out from under a wood pile latch on to his momma, aka "pudding head" and then spy me and run back under the pile. "Pudding head" has kittens! So alas I am running a Maternity ward for cats out in my woodshed. I have no idea how many kittens as I am to afraid to move anything, so as not to cause an avalanche of wood onto the wee ones. So now I will sit and patiently wait for "Pudding head" to trust us enough to introduce us and while I wait I will wonder what to do with all these cats.

"would you, could you, eat them on a train"

2010-09-23T14:36:00.000-07:00

We recently took a train ride up Mount Washington, simply beautiful, and so much fun. The Bonus was that we booked a dinner on the train, while not cheap it was a blast. Nothing like a nostalgic train ride an someone else doing the cooking!

???

2010-09-13T14:58:00.001-07:00

Where did summer go? It feels so much like fall today, and as much as I love fall I am not ready to embrace it! The leaves are still green, there is still plenty of veggies in the garden to be picked, my geraniums in my window box's are a blushing pink. There are lots of birds in my feeders that have yet to go South. So what gives? Leave it to my kiddo to come up with the answer... "Mom it is just a dress rehearsal for Fall, the big show comes later" :)

Its an Egg!

2010-09-05T15:17:00.000-07:00

We are so very excited this weekend, not because its a three day weekend and we are having so much fun. We are excited because yesterday my son went out to feed the chickens and he found an egg. Finally, our beautiful hens have started laying! Seems like such a mundane thing to get excited about, but around here you would think we just won the lottery!

My girls

2010-08-22T17:09:00.000-07:00

"Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened."

my new love!

2010-08-15T14:55:00.000-07:00

I have been stalking my new love for months now. I would go and just stare at my love, wondering if it was meant to be, wonder if I could make the commitment. After all its been a long time for me. yesterday I told my husband about my new love and surprisingly he was supportive and agreed that I should go for it. So today we went and got my new love and brought her home, isn't she just beautiful! I have been out riding most of the day with my son having a blast,(I don't think its possible to forget how to ride a bike), I definitely can commit to this new partnership.

What to do when boys have had to much sugar?

2010-08-08T14:48:00.000-07:00

Went to the fair, and my son had his once a year treat of "Fried dough". I know lots of sugar, lots a fat, but what fun is a fair if you are not going to indulge in traditional fair cuisine? He only ate half the dough and by the time he was finished he was bouncing of the walls. So whats a mom and Dad to do? Well the answer was just around the corner, the "hamster ball" as my son called it! Brilliant!

2010-07-24T16:25:00.000-07:00

My husband and Son attended Star Wars in concert this week. Not me, not my thing, but I did enjoy the energy from their excitement. Before the show there is a small display of original movie props and characters to pose with. All night while I sat home my husband kept texting me these random pictures of my son at the concert.

Deluxe Accommodations

2010-07-18T16:06:00.000-07:00

This past spring we took the plunge and got some baby chicks. While they grew under their heat lamps, my husband and son set of on a "father/son" project building the coup. Well its nearly finished and the chickens are all moved in and my son who somehow thinks he is the "chicken whisperer" says "They LOVE it!". It is beautiful, my sister jokes and calls it the chicken mansion. It looks more like a little potting shed or cottage, but its just perfect. Its still minus a few details, we are scouring flea markets this summer looking for the perfect vintage light to hang above the door, and the fence is still not up, (although when left out on their own the chickens don't roam far from the safety of the coup). Anyhow we are loving raising our chickens and expect them to be mature enough by the end of summer to start giving us eggs!! Looking forward to future breakfasts in our little home.

2010-07-05T15:54:00.000-07:00

I'm here, just been busy! So much to do and so much going on this summer. I suppose being busy is a blessing. We unfortunately will not be traveling far this summer related to appointments and commitments that have to keep us close to home. That being said, it has been great finding adventure in our own back yard. This weekend, totally unplanned, my husband and I both ended up with the same day off. We vowed not to spend our day surrendering to home improvements or running around doing errands getting nowhere fast. It was to be just a day for our small little family of three. We debated all week what to do. We are in the midst of a heat wave so whatever it was would have to be cool. The obvious choice was the beach, but this morning we woke up and decided that's where everyone would be! We tossed around a few ideas not finding any that stick, then my husband through out "how about lobstering". I thought he was crazy dreaming and my response was a sarcastic "yes, lets get on our imaginary boat and go Lobstering". Trust me he said and he was off to the computer with phone in hand. A few calls later and he was hollering "pack up and get ready we're going lobstering". So a day trip it was, we piled into "big red" (that's my husbands truck) and off we went to beautiful Boothbay Harbor Maine. We boarded the lobster boat "the sea swallow" and went out as they pulled in their catch, participating and learning a little about the lobster business.

zip

2010-06-19T17:05:00.000-07:00

took my cutie to the new Zip line park. Shy, but fearless he tackled the zip line. I thought I might loose my lunch watching him take that first jump... I'm very excited about this new park, I hope its a success!

first concert

2010-06-13T16:30:00.000-07:00

My sister and I took my son to his first concert this weekend, we had so much fun! It was pouring rain and our seats at Gillette Stadium were out in the open but that did not dampen our spirits(pardon the pun). Keith Urban, Dixie Chicks and top it off with the Eagles, not a bad first concert for a kid!

the view from my bathroom

2010-06-05T15:06:00.000-07:00

In my bathroom there is a small window way up high, not quite sure when the house was built why this odd window was put in? When you look out the window you only see another wall of my home. As of late I would look out the window and sigh a depressed sigh thinking about all the painting that needs to be done this summer. Recently a pair of birds started building a nest up on the exterior light outside this window. They built the nest months ago and seemed to abandon it, however much to our delight they are back! They are back, they have nested and now we fight for the first class seat of looking out my tiny bathroom window and watch mamma bird come feed her little flock. This picture was taken from the bathroom window, enjoy the view and pardon the peeling paint!

Gardening

2010-05-26T16:05:00.000-07:00

We are having fun getting back to basics around our house. The chickens are getting big, to bad it will be a while before we see any eggs. We are gardening this year after taking a break last year. My son has requested to plant his own garden. This weekend he started it, and has been out there every evening watering it and checking its growth. Sadly or maybe happily I must report that the garden looks better then mine, maybe he has his grammies green thumb, it must evidently skip a generation??

Beautiful Music

2010-05-19T16:34:00.000-07:00

I love that my son chose to play the violin. He came home one day and asked if he could learn to play. He has a wonderful music teacher who has taken on the task of teaching any third grader who wants to learn the violin. Like most parents I was skeptical about his choice, certain it would loose its appeal in weeks...however much to my surprise and poor dogs ears the violin endures. A few weekends ago my son participated in a music camp fundraiser where kids (who play string instruments )from area schools all got together for a day to rehearse and then put on a concert at the days end. There were 5 different orchestras and depending on your level of experience determined what orchestra you were in. My son obviously participated in orchestra I. Let me tell you, when you hear the few kids in his class play they clearly sound like beginners but their hearts and best effort is there. when you put 140 beginners together something different happens, the music blends and is magic. They seem to feed and be inspired by one another and there was a beautiful harmony that made for a beautiful concert that I was proud to attend.
I am thankful for music teachers who often have to fight to keep the music in schools alive. Music programs are often underestimated, overlooked and usually the first to get cut during budget cuts.
What I saw at that concert was confident, inspired, dedicated and well behaved kids and the value of that is priceless..

cooking up conversation

2010-05-10T17:57:00.000-07:00

I love to cook, but not a forced lets make dinner cook, I sometimes get inspired at bizarre moments/ hours. Tonight I was putting away dinner when I discovered some ground sausage in the fridge quickly approaching its use by date. so at 8pm I decided to cook up an awesome breakfast for tomorrow, throw it in the fridge and heat and eat in the am- LOve it! My son in his PJ's comes strolling in ready for bed, (after a chaotic morning when I could not get him out of bed we had agreed tonight he would be in bed by 8pm.) My son waiting for his tuck in, sees the culinary chaos going on in the kitchen and says "can I help, i love to cook"? I overlook the time and allow him, he gets his old step stool and starts sauteing the onions. As he sautes and I chop, he tells me about his day, about how the new kid made a bad choice and pinched so and so, about how he is learning all about Einstein and a little know fact that Einstein played the violin. We are Deep in the throws of conversation and good cooking when dear hubbies nose gets curious and leads him to the kitchen, he samples the cuisine, adding spice not only to the pot but to the conversation. A moment meant to be thrifty, and creative turns into a great family moment. No rushing to feed hungry mouths, just cooking up some food and conversation!
*** (On a side note my son promises to jump out of bed in the morning because he is looking forward to eating our breakfast!)

highs and lows

2010-05-08T18:26:00.000-07:00

Its been two long weeks full of highs and lows. Why is it one can go for months with nothing uneventful, or remotely interesting happening and then all of a sudden bam, it all hits you at once like a speeding train. No secret my father died 5 months ago to the day. As if his passing wasn't difficult enough it has been a painstaking task trying to settle his affairs. Finally getting the courage to clean out his house, sort through his things, fix up his home to sell... it just goes on an on making closure next to impossible. This week we sold his beloved boat- his dream, it was to big and massive for either my sister or I to keep and maintain, so up for sale it went and with in a week someone else bought his dream. I have mixed emotions about this, while it is one step closer to closure, I cant help but feel that I just lost a piece of him all over again. Tonight out to dinner with some family I mentioned we sold the boat, forgetting that I had not yet told my son, I watched him also loose all over again. He cried as he told our company about all his good times on the boat with his grampie. Tonight when I tucked him he asked if he would ever stop missing him, I told him it is a blessing that he even has the memories that make missing him possible...
So I will continue on this journey of mourning, enduring the highs and lows.

To my Nana who worries about me putting such 'personal stuff out there"- its cheaper then a therapist. ( Gonna go now, I am very excited Betty white is on SNL- who doesn't love Betty White)

Victory

2010-05-02T10:29:00.000-07:00

Every year my son competes in a local fishing derby held for kids 15 and under, its a lot of fun and holds a lot of history for me as my father used to take me to the same derby when I was a kid. This year preparing for the derby we discovered my sons reel was broke, so last night we quickly ran out to replace it. Very emotional when he picked a red reel "just like grampies". My father passed away 6 months ago, when he was alive one of his favorite things was to take my son fishing, he talked with great pride about his own pole he had nicknamed "big reg". somehow after my fathers passing big red has come up missing, we figure its sitting at a friends but its bitter sweet as he had bequeathed his pole to his only grandson. So that being said it was somewhat of an honor when my son picked a red reel like his grampies, and just like grampie he gave the reel a prominent name, he named it "Victory".
So today my son took Victory to the Derby, he cast his line... I was prepping my camera for pictures when I heard my son holler "V-i-c-t-o-r-y" He with no assist from his mother or father had hooked and reeled in his first fish! Beaming with pride I snapped picture after picture, all the while thinking he didn't do it alone, his grandfather was there!

for goodness snakes!

2010-04-16T15:59:00.000-07:00

My son has been learning about debate in school. One of his recent tasks was to write a convincing letter to mom and dad convincing us the pros of getting him a snake for a pet. My son is a smart cookie though and knows that his mother is a tad bit freaked out by snakes. So he told the teacher "SNAKE was a bad word in his house" and could he instead try to debate with us the pros of getting another dog.---- boy do I love that kid!!
If you could see me you would see that I am smiling from ear to ear:)

chicks

2010-04-10T15:36:00.000-07:00

We live in an old farmhouse that has been a labor of love. What our little farmhouse has been lacking though is the creatures that make it a farm. Well I am happy to say that this week we took a small step and got some baby chickens. I am so excited! I know nothing about raising chickens, so my nose has been buried in books learning all that I can. Right now the little peepers are in the house keeping warm, I love wakeing up to their little "peep,peeps"! Soon as they are strong and big enough we will move them outside. My husband and son are getting in some father son bonding over building the coup and you cant argue with that! I do think they have had about enough of me though, all week I have been going around the house sing "green acres" or yelling "I don't know nothing about raising chickens" (basically mocking the line from Gone with the wind "I don't know nothing about birthing no babies" ). Oh well, stay tuned for updates in our adventures in raising chickens!

The conversations of boys and Their Mom Troubles

2010-04-03T09:54:00.000-07:00

This week by chance I had the fortunate experience of overhearing one of my sons conversations with a friend. It was by accident, my intention was not to eavesdrop but alas I had the joy of overhearing one of the funniest conversations..
This week my son had a concert at school, he had to arrive an hour early so I took him into school, I went to hug and kiss him goodbye in a room full of kids and he instantly got embarrassed. I left him, but realized I forgot to tell him where to meet me after the concert, I went to go back to the music room and I overheard him with his friend.
Friend: "Hey friend, you got 'MOM TROUBLES" dont you"
Son: "You said it dude"
Friend: "Boy, you don't have to tell me about mom troubles, I got the worst mom
troubles there ever was, my mom made me wear this tie"
Son: "Yikes!, mine is not that bad, I just think she loves to embarrass me"
Friend: "Yeah, I think they are all like that"

I still laugh about it it. "Live to embarrass him"! He just better wait until his next baseball gave, I'll give the boy "MOM TROUBLES".

"singing in the rain"

2010-03-29T14:45:00.001-07:00

Its cold, damp and raining today, however My heart is warm and I'm smiling at watching my little one put on his fathers galoshes and raincoat to take the puppy out. There is something so wonderful and whimsical about seeing little ones in bright "sunshine" yellow raincoats on the grayest days. I'm channeling Gene Kelly and thinking about joining my little one and go "singing in the rain"

Wordless Wednesday

2010-03-24T14:51:00.001-07:00

Holy Cannoli

2010-03-16T14:31:00.000-07:00

Spring, Spring, Spring! Love spring, if I made a list separating my likes and dislikes of spring my likes would run on for pages and pages, but... there would be a few dislikes. Number 1 being ROAD CONSTRUCTION. Currently the road I live on is under going a 2 year road expansion thanks to the governments great stimulus Package. I am happy for the jobs it creates and the money/revenue it generates into the local economy, but good golly do I hate the tie up in traffic. Let me explain, I work locally and often between clients I use my home as an office, so I am in and out all day long. I travel anywhere from 50-100 miles a day. So when I approach a construction site and the flagger turns that slow sign to a STOP, I cringe thinking about the precious time. I have for the last month thought there was a conspiracy (yes I know that make me sound like I have a big ego), that every time they see my vehicle approach they get a good laugh at making me stop. I stop and I wait, and I wait and I wait. If the flagger was a lip reader I'm sure he/she would not be impressed with what I am saying in the privacy of my car. This week the construction tripled with three different work sites set up along the road. I would get through one ,and was convinced that the flagger I had just left called the one a mile down the road to alert "she is coming turn the sign to stop". Sometimes I have to laugh at my paranoia, Im sure its all coincidence that every time my kia approaches they make me stop, but yesterday as a good faith gesture I tried my hand at bribery...
A busy day in store, schedule tight, I approached the first site and bam.. the dreaded flagger Stops me. I laugh thinking "oh yeah this is how its going to be", then I look over at the seat next to me, ah a box of cannolis. Thats when I did it, in good humor, I rolled down the window and offered my "enemy" (the flagger) a cannoli, surprised and impressed he took the bait, but alas the sign stayed on stop, and every time that day I approached it turned to ... STOP. So the lesson of the story is "Don't waste a good cannoli on bribing construction flaggers" :(

almost spring!

2010-03-07T11:15:00.000-08:00

This weekend has been a perfect weekend! We got a small sampling of whats to come with spring. Everyone has spring fever including my old lazy dog Oreo who has traded in her warm seat next to the wood stove for sunbathing in the warm sun. The TV has been left off, traded in for bike riding and tossing the baseball back and forth in the backyard. Winter coats and boots remain in the hall traded in for fleece hoodies and sneakers. My husband is even considering firing up the grill, I believe burgers are on the menu. Next week we spring ahead and I cant wait!

The Blahs...

2010-02-25T09:53:00.000-08:00

Today I have the Blahs... It started yesterday around 2pm when my body decided to tell me that It had caught the stomach bug going around. I believe Im over the worst but today as I recover I feel like a mac truck ran over me and then backed up and did it again. Its pouring rain out, and I mean pouring.. it could be worse and I can deal with the rain but today it just doesn't help. My husband is off to work and my little one off at school. On any ordinary day I would cherish my time alone, but today on this rainy lousy feeling day I wish they were here. I keep watching the clock waiting for it to strike 3pm when my little one comes home and recounts his day. Im thinking about baking him some great after school snack but Im not certain my stomach can handle the smell. In any case I just long for his company, his little smile to pick me up from my Blahs..

"over the river and through the woods..."

2010-02-16T14:44:00.000-08:00

This past weekend we attended a fund raiser, not only was it for a good cause but the price of admission got you a beautiful horse drawn sleigh ride through the woods. While I have no pictures of my family and I, these are some of the beautiful horses that carried the sleighs.

Nothing says I love you like Whale Wellies...

2010-02-14T09:41:00.000-08:00

See my Valentines day gift I got from dear hubby. They are the cutest, Wellies I have ever seen. They have little whimsical whales on them. They just make me smile. What is even better is the man picked them out himself!! I was so shocked and excited, they are 100% me. When everyone elses flowers wilt and waistlines expand from chocolate I will be "singing in the rain" in my cute new Wellies. He has come a long way from our first Valentines day (almost two decades ago) when he bought me on of those enormous balloons with the stuffed animals inside, he went and opened the car door, and out the balloon drifted, up, up and away.... I can can guarantee the only place these boots are going is walking.. I love them! Happy Valentines day hope your feet and you heart are warm and happy!

"Winner, Winner, no chicken dinner"

2010-02-06T14:33:00.001-08:00

A quick run into the store the other day before a meeting at work. I was in a big rush, but had to stop and buy dish detergent so I could tackle the growing mountain of dishes after work.
The lines were crazy long with only two lines open. I waited, my agitation and fear of being late growing.
Finally my turn, the clerk scanned my item and went to hit the total button on the register when the red light above her began to flash... "now what" went through my head when the clerk and the nearby manager began to holler "We have a winner, We have a winner". All eyes in the crowded store were on me......."What did I win" I asked excited. The enthusiastic manager pulled my receipt and like a game show host announced "You have Won a free bag of Cotton balls"............. As much as my spirit was crushed in that moment I think I truly crushed the clerks spirit when I asked her if "I could instead choose door number 2"........ And my husbands thought on this "Big Win" is that I now can at least say "I have won something" !

The Dream is gone.........or is it??

2010-02-03T14:48:00.000-08:00

When I was little I worshiped "Wonder Woman", I wanted to be "wonder Woman". That awesome ? figure flattering corset, the gold bracelets the knee high boots and top it off with the crown/headband. "Wonder Woman" was a fearless hottie, and that's what I wanted to be. Well reality is I'm short, my butt is big, my boobs sag, my thighs chafe, I am not the size 2 beauty that Miss "Wonder Woman" was. I can be insecure, grumpy, short tempered and sometimes even confused, defiantly not the secure go-getter "Wonder Woman" was. Alas I am no Wonder Woman, it is a dream I must forget... Or Do I???
On a recent trip to the park with my son and two dogs, We walked a long distance, we returned to my vehicle and my 12year old BIG dog decided she ached to much from the walk to be able to jump into the car to go home. My son began to panic when she stubbornly lay on the ground letting us know she had enough. Getting dark and cold she would not budge. We pulled, we bribed and we coaxed but she just could not do it. Then with super human strength (or maybe it was my starving stomach driving me) I went over to my 100lb four legged baby and started to lift her up. My son began to cheer, "you can do it Mom, your a super hero", and with that I did it, I lifted my poor aging dog into the vehicle and off we went. So there it is, Some have their 15 minutes of fame, but for me its my 15 minutes as a super hero!
**as a side note no animals were injured, My sweet dog is fine, we have just made her walks a little shorter and thanks to a good vet she is on a good arthritis med that seems to help her weary bones***

Happy birthday New england Bloggers

2010-01-27T14:14:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday New England Blogger s! (http://ebogie.blogspot.com/2010/01/happy-birthday-new-england-bloggers.html) Part of the celebration is for each blogger to write something about their New England experience or State. Like a kid with a looming homework assignment I have been struggling with what to write. I am not computer savvy to download a slide show of my state or upload pics from the internet.So I will do what I do best and thats ramble on and on, and maybe just maybe I will contribute a little something.
I live in Maine where it snows and it snows and its cold in the winter. I hate winter! Every winter I beg my husband to move to warmer climate then he says "if we move then in summer you will hate the heat, or be worried about Tornadoes or hurricanes" (why is it husbands have an excuse for everything?). I am a home care nurse, I drive to some bad rural areas, and you see this is another reason why I hate Winter, driving! I have family in the the South, they like to make fun of us hicks up here, most recently a friend in the south was shocked that I was able to see the movie Avatar in 3D, her reply was "you actually have 3D all the way up there? (its a good thing she is far away to avoid my pummeling her). I digress, anyhow these relatives in the South recently got some snow and ice, and guess what, their world ended. Schools shut down for days, no one went to work, and they dont have people who plow their driveways or snow blowers they HAD TO SHOVEL!! I loved it and it has made me think that winter is not so bad here, because us Mainers have learned to keep going, adapt, survive. Without winter there would be not spring, no contests to see who spy's the first Robin, no apple blossoms, lilacs, No Mud which is a vital rite of passage for every toddler to run throght the mud with his/her goloshes. There would be no need for LL bean or sleigh rides, no appreciation for hot cooco, or wood stoves.....all of these things that in our coldest season bring feelings of warmth and happiness. So I think I will re-evaluate my hating Maine winters they are not so bad in fact "they are 'Wicked' good"

?preteen

2010-01-13T16:25:00.000-08:00

Love my mailbox. Love to open it everyday excited to see what it holds, usually disappointed to find bills, but occasionally there is a jackpot of fun catalogs to drool over, a letter or card from a friend and sometimes that anticipated book I ordered from amazon. Today however shock of all shocks.... I got something about dealing with "my preteen". Stop the presses, I don't have a preteen do I? Making dinner the brochure had me rattled. A million little things to do, I had to stop all and Google preteen and sure enough the defined ages for preteen is age 9-12. Gulp, that's a hard reality to swallow. Going to stop this post now and go hug my "tween" before you know it he will be a "teen".

Aloha!!

2010-01-03T12:55:00.000-08:00

Trying to embrace the snow this weekend, although truth be told I'm dreaming of warmer climates. Went out and built a snowman with my son which was a blast, my son named him "Jake".

So far so good.....

2010-01-01T10:13:00.000-08:00

Last night my husband wimped out and decided he was to tired to ring in the new year so off to bed he went. My son and I being the brave, fearless adventurers we are vowed to stay up and help "Ryan Seacrest" ring in the new year. Snacks in hand all cozy we took our places..... Then somewhere around 2am my son wakes me up and says "Mom wake up, we missed it", both of us had fallen asleep before the clock struck midnight... Oh well got to give us credit for trying!
We currently are in the midst of a three day snow storm (the jury is still out on the severity). This morning we surprised our son and took him snowboarding. I was certain before the trip was over we would end up in the emergency room with someone breaking something. I had to close my eyes as my son descended down the hill for his first run, It was only once my husband started jumping up and down cheering that I learned he had amazingly made it to the bottom of the hill without a single fall. Yay!! I started watching, each trip down he got braver taking on the jumps off to the side! He made it look so easy my husband decided to give it a try. Taking his place at the top of the hill snowboard locked on his feet, my husband slowly started down the hill, his knees buckled and his arms began flapping like some crazy bird, then smash... Down he went on his derriere. No harm, no injuries except maybe his pride. He made his way back up the hill then watched as my son "showed him how its done". Poor hubby... thanks for the laugh. 2010, So far so good!

So long Santa..............

2009-12-28T13:38:00.000-08:00

While I have tried to teach my son the true meaning of Christmas, I have always taken some delight in keeping with the "Santa tradition". There is something magical and warming watching little ones get excited. Every year I figure it will be the last year, certain that some "know-it-all" kid will spoil it for him. This year he turned 9 and much to my surprise he still anticipated Santa's arrival, leaving milk and cookies and being careful to leave enough carrots for the reindeer. With all that has happened to us in the last month, it felt good and wonderful to feed off his excitement. When he woke in the morning thrilled that again mysteriously the jolly man had snuck in and snuck out undetected. With Christmas over and a wrap, my son sat next to me "I knew he would come, some kids say hes not real that its really moms and dads, but I know he is real". I wondered if his being naive will get him picked on in school. I asked him "did he want to ask me something"?, he looked frightened like I was going to give him crushing news- "just tell me he said" then he covered his ears and closed his eyes, and that's when I told him--- Linus in Charlie Brown was wrong there is no "great pumpkin"!!--------- I just could not do it, I could not crush his spirit, he has had a great loss this month with loosing his grandfather and I just could not tell him. He laughed, so hard and told me "well I knew that, I know the truth about the OTHER thing too but we don't need to say it out loud do we?". And that is where we left things, sitting side by side silent on the couch enjoying our beautiful lit tree..........

2009-12-24T16:53:00.000-08:00

"cat in a trap" and finding the holiday spirit

2009-12-17T15:14:00.000-08:00

With my father now put to rest, I am trying very hard to move on, but its not easy when everywhere I turn there are reminders of him.
Finally this week we were able to catch his stupid cat. I call the cat stupid as a term of endearment because that's what he called it. My father was not a cat lover, he was without a doubt 100% for team dog. However about a year and a half ago his neighbors home foreclosed and they carelessly packed up and left leaving behind a cat to fend for itself. Well this cat found his way to my fathers doorstep, and my father caved and began feeding the cat. He begged us to come get the cat "I don't want it" he would say, however everyday he had some exaggerated hilarious story about the "stupid cats" antics. Despite his complaining we new he was smitten with this cat, especially when we found out that the cat loved to take boat rides with him (my father lived on a lake). How many cats love to take boat rides let alone go near any water. (Just to clarify for any Pita people, this cat would follow my father on the boat and was not forced, my father would drive and the cat would sit in the seat next to him and catch some rays-I regret never getting a picture) It wasn't long before my father started letting this cat that he now named "BUB" into the house, and he would stress over buying gourmet cat food or finding the right cozy blanket for a cat. My father needed the cat as much as the cat needed him. When my father passed we could not get near the cat who was outside at the time my father was transferred to the hospital. Day after day my sister would leave food, but unable to approach the cat or leer it in. finally in a last ditch effort we left a "have a heart" trap hoping to get the cat. My husband went out the first night to check it (my sister and I to afraid other critters might find there way in), and my heart melted when my husband called and said "hope someone is ready because I have one really angry cat in a trap". So the cat is now with my sister and she says he is 100% love, and so affectionate and happy. So with finally catching this cat I feel I can move on. Decided to finally put up a tree, which thrilled my son, I'm slowly finding my way through the grief and finding a little Christmas magic -My father would have wanted it that way!

"Goodbyes"

2009-12-08T18:00:00.000-08:00

Trying to hold it together has been tough this week. My father at only age 59 got ill and rapidly declined. In a decision that is unfair to make for someone of such a young age my sister and I had to make the difficult decision to make my father comfortable as life saving measures were to big a gamble and being dependent on machines was not my fathers wishes.
It is difficult when your world shuts down, and all around you life goes on, people continue shopping, buying there lattes, putting gas in there cars, laughing at jokes. Making that drive to the hospital the last few days I wanted to scream at the people in the cars near me, stop it! stop and pay attention he is really sick! To these innocent strangers I wanted to scream!
It is tough to take those phone calls from well wishers wanting updates, reliving over and over the grim details, and just when you think the tears have stopped, a flood of emotion erupts as you try to console the person on the other end that its the right thing.
I second guessed myself several times wondering if the right decisions were made, but that was just spinning my wheels and got me nowhere. (just to clarify, the RIGHT decisions were made)
I met many of my fathers friends that I did not know prior to this event, who came and shared there wonderful stories. Stories that I had never heard- without knowing these people made me laugh when I Really needed to laugh.(discovered my father was quite the prankster). I also learned the name of my fathers friends, for years I only new them by there nicknames, like "bonehead", "no toes" "butt head".... you get the picture (don't ask about "no toes its a long story")
I promised my father to bequeath his favorite fishing pole "big red" to his only grandchild, the fishing pole he taught him to fish with.
I met some some Amazzzzzzzzzing hospital staff who when you are at your lowest they are at there best to keep you afloat and going.
The hardest thing of all this week was saying goodbye. I do believe we were granted a gift in having an opportunity to say "goodbye" to say "I love you", but that does not make saying "goodbye" any easier.
"I love you Pop, come visit me in my dreams"!!!

Bad luck ;(

2009-12-02T18:30:00.000-08:00

Serious and focused she cocked her head to one side looking on intensely at the puppy starring back. We giggled and laughed when she started barking at her reflection, eager for the little puppy in he mirror to come play. She soon became impatient and irritated at the dog in the "looking glass", and began jumping and barking louder, eventually charging at the mirror. Crash!!! The mirror fell off the wall crashing into a million little pieces, our puppy unharmed, the puppy in the mirror not so good! Now is that 7 years of bad luck in human years or dog years?

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T05:17:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving

"Hold on tight"

2009-11-22T14:56:00.000-08:00

Today my baby turned 9!! Very exciting time around here! Yesterday a family member called to wish him early happy birthday wishes and asked him "what he was looking forward to about turning 9". My sons response about melted my heart... he said "I cant wait for mom to come in my room in the morning and say 'happy birthday 9 year old'!" Evidently my yearly tradition of going into my sons room and wishing him happy birthday with his new age, has become important to him. Who new something so small and mundane would mean so much, its funny what kids value sometimes.
In any case while it excites me that he is growing, it also aches. Last night as I tucked him into bed and hugged him goodnight, I hugged him hard and tight, he giggled and yelled "your smothering me" what he didn't know was that like his tradition of morning birthday wishes, I have a secret tradition of hugging him tight the night before his birthday, it was the last time I was going to hug/hold my eight year old, and a year from now I will give my 9 year old his last hug as a nine year old, and two years I will hold on tight to my 10 year old.........I love him so much!! Happy Birthday 9 year old!!!

"Someday"

2009-11-18T13:16:00.000-08:00

years ago my son received a beautiful book from his grandfather called "Someday is not a day of the week" written by Denise Brennan-Nelson and Illustrated by Kevin O'Malley. It is about a little Beaver named Max who is so eager to do things with the grown-ups in his life, like build a fort or go fishing. Unfortunately the Adults are all to busy and caught up in there daily routines that they tell him "Someday but not today". Little Max consults his calendar, only to find that "someday" is not a day of the week or on the calender. With this knowledge he takes it to the grown-ups which is very sobering. The Adults quickly make time for little Max and all is good.
Although it is a kids book I think the message ideally is for the adults. I don't know how many times I have caught myself uttering those same words to my son "Someday"! Or even to myself!
Recently I had my son pull the book off his shelf, because with the holidays coming and so much to do I want to be reminded about not getting bogged down in commitments, chores and work and remember to take time for the little things that are important, be it a small little walk with my son or snuggling on the couch with my hubby... just don't put it off till "someday"

Things I learned this week!

2009-11-08T14:21:00.000-08:00

Not a very eventful week. No great photos, no great stories.... just ho-hum! I did learn a few things though,Like for instance when walking your growing puppy never hand the leash to you son who is on roller blades... when I finished tying my shoe I looked up to see my son shooting across the parking lot being pulled by the anxious critter, (luckily a man out jogging caught my son by his hood- scary but when over the funniest thing I ever saw)!
Another thing I learned was that men don't do getting sick well, or at least my husband doesn't, he has a cold and you would think the man was dieing, I need to plan a girlfriend getaway for the times he is going to be sick!
A third thing I learned is that the wind at my house is strong enough to knock a port a potty over. Road construction crews left a port a potty set up in front of my home and this week it got windy enough to knock the disgusting thing over, I'm thankful no one was in it, and I am thankful that when they saw it knocked over they removed it- so no more port a potty on my front lawn!! (and yes it was the wind that knocked it over, not this disgruntled home owner.)

Happy Halloween

2009-10-31T17:06:00.000-07:00

Hitting the neighborhood tonight with my son in his not so scary costume. This year he went for the laugh, dressing as the Travelocity Roaming Gnome.

2009-10-28T16:33:00.000-07:00

I have been struggling this week to find sanity. I have let to many external factors, things not in my control upset me. For instance the craziness on my road as they prepare to spend stimulus dollars to widen it, the constant noise from sun up to sun down, the view out my front window once a splendor of mighty maple trees now torn up, the workers port-a-potty now my view. A crazy work schedule as flu and cold season takes hold... you get the picture.
I don't even like me right now, I can't even imagine how my family feels about my constant complaining.
I forget sometimes to stop and think about what is good in my life, which is odd, because I consider myself a "glass half full" girl.
So here I am tonight in my warm house, my comfy cloths, my little one practicing "Hot Cross Buns" on his violin, husband washing the supper dishes, I am admiring the lovingly made wall hanging from my mother hanging in front of me, thinking about rapping myself in one of her quilts later with a good book..........ah life is good!

TRICK or treat?

2009-10-22T14:55:00.000-07:00

This is totally random but I don't really have much to say this week so here goes...I am a shameful mother, I love to play practical jokes and make things fun even if it means sometimes scarring the pants of my kid. This week I was sitting on the floor of our living room trying to finish up some last minute work on my work laptop, I always have my cell phone nearby, as I was still on call for work. While I was sitting the new pup came along and sat beside me sitting comfortably on my phone. My son walked into the room and I don't know what possessed me but I said "oh dear I think the puppy ate my phone". The thought of this is quite believable because new puppy will chew or eat anything not secured high above her reach. My son panicked, and quickly started dialing my cell phone from the home phone. Then from beneath the puppy just under her belly the phone started to ring sounding to an eight year old like it was in her Belly. My kid stood in disbelief, then ran for the phonebook yelling we need to call the vet now. At that moment I could not have planned it any better the dog stretched and belched. I quickly removed the phone and hollered to my kid never mind she coughed it back up. yes its shameful of me, yes its disgusting behavior you might expect of an adolescence, but boy was it funny. Of course I did set the record straight later so he would not be telling tall tales at school.

Is it worth it?

2009-10-14T16:52:00.000-07:00

Oh sweet puppy! A 2 mile walk followed by play time outdoors with an energetic 8 year old boy, yet you puppy choose to pee the minute we walk back through the door, why? Oh sweet puppy its bad enough to pair up socks, but with you stealing them away its next to impossible. Oh sweet puppy I'm late for work and can't find my shoes, the four legged bandit strikes again. Oh sweet puppy with you muddy paws.......... Oh sweet puppy with you little wagging behind, big brown eyes, and excitement when an 8 year old boy gets home from school, falling asleep together after hours of play, Is it worth it? Absolutely!

wordless Wednesday

2009-10-07T13:39:00.000-07:00

Gonna jump on the Wordless Wednesday bandwagon.......

Charlottes Story- the beginning anyway

2009-10-03T14:44:00.000-07:00

Nearly 11 years ago my husband and I got our first dog, Miss Oreo. She without a doubt is the sweetest, kindest and gentlest dog you will ever meet. My son came along and she earned the nickname "little momma" because she would watch over him as he played, quick to bark if he started to wander, or come wake me when he woke. She tolerated his terrible twos, allowing him to use her as his personal horse or step stool. She was/is just all around love. In the last year she has slowed down, content just to sleep as she ages and her bones have started to suffer from arthritis. Still eager to participate her stamina is limited. This is where are decision to add another dog to our family comes in...
For two years now my son has begged for a puppy. He is dog obsessed. Every week he brings home a different library book about a different dog breed. Initially against the idea after a while it came to light what this dog really meant for my son. He is an only child, and we live in an area where there are no other kids his age. With Oreo aging he has lost his playmate. So the decision was made. We planned on getting him a puppy for his birthday in November. Not really wanting to pay for a dog from a breeder, I began stalking web sites of animal shelters within a 100mile radius but puppies in this area are rare and the odds that we would get one specifically for his birthday were little. Until an article in the paper about our local shelter getting puppies from over crowded shelters in the Midwest where they have a high kill rate. I called my husband at work and we agreed I should go pay a visit. The shelter was crowded with people wanting to get a glimpse of the little cuties, I couldn't get close enough to see. I called my husband and told him how crazy it was, we both felt we should fill out an application for a puppy and see where it got us. I filled out an application, the assistant read me descriptions of the dog as I could not see them. On mere speculation I picked a dog named Amy. The assistant told me to wait she would have the manager review my application and check references with my current vet. Within ten minutes she came back and told me the dog was mine I could pick her up Friday. I asked if I could meet her, so they led me to a private room and brought her in. I'm not gonna lie and this will sound sappy but I could not stop crying- she was perfect, she was going to be the perfect addition and the perfect best friend for my son.
So this Friday I brought he home, hid her in my room. Picked my son up after school, he immediately came home and took Miss Oreo out as he has always done. I hollered out to him what about the other one, "what?" he said and that's when I let her out. She immediately ran to him. He looked shocked, and was at a loss for words. Eventually as he took it all in he asked me "is this for real"! The two were smitten "is she mine?, can I name her, cause she looks like her name should be Charlotte" -So Charlotte she became. I was crazily snapping pictures of the meeting and he went over to Miss Oreo (the older dog) hugged her and said "I have enough love for you both"...... And so our new adventure with Charlotte begins

U2

2009-09-23T16:43:00.001-07:00

This is what I did this past weekend. Went to Boston to see U2 in concert! I had the best time, it was amazing, worth every penny!!!!!!Can you spot me in that crazy crowd!!!

U2.com > News > 'Back home in Boston.'

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curtain rods in the land of make believe

2009-09-19T12:51:00.000-07:00

Lost: 1 curtain rod, last seen on the night of Sept. 12Th.... This past weekend as the temperature fell outside, I got the seasonal urge to clean, not just any clean but get ready for, oh dare I say it.....WINTER. Anyhow this cleaning meant washing all my curtains, blah a boring task but ah well it has to be done. When curtains were all washed and ready to be hung I found myself mysteriously short one curtain rod. Kind of like that darn missing sock from the laundry but ordinarily not something you loose. I tore my house apart looking for this curtain rod, but alas it was not found. Defeated and in need to hang my curtain back up so as not to give my neighbors a show, I went to the store today to replace lost curtain rod. Happily the curtain is hung back in its place and privacy is restored. So why the title "curtain rod in the land of make believe", well just as I had guessed, about an hour or two after I hung my curtain, there in my yard is my little one, playing pirate, with his sword, the lost curtain rod. Go figure......

The Clydesdale

2009-09-11T18:24:00.000-07:00

No complaints about this summer, while the weather started out a bit rocky it did not stop us from having many new experiences and adventures. One of our most memorable was our first ever trip to Virgina (and hopefully not our last), loved it! So beautiful, so much to see and do. one of my sons most talked about favorite memories is captured in this picture, when he got what he called a "kiss" from one of the famous Budweiser Clydesdale horses.

"The Tree"

2009-09-03T18:30:00.000-07:00

over 13 years ago my husband and I purchased our first home, an old house, requiring much TLC. We were drawn to the charm old houses have, not to mention the history. We were also young and stupid, thinking that we could do all the work ourselves, but that's another story for another day.
One of the key charms that drew us in was the large maple standing in the front yard, a big "ole" Maple tree, that over the years has developed the unimaginative name "The Tree". We love this tree, my husband in particular who will spend one weekend in the spring and another in the fall, fertilizing this aging but beautiful tree.
We had a "tree doctor" once pay a visit to the tree, and he guessed it to be OVER 200 YEARS OLD! That's a lot of history. That's a lot of little boys (and girls) hanging from low limbs like monkeys, a lot of birds nest nestled safely amongst the branches, a lot of leaves to rake, but a lot of leave piles to jump in, a good amount of shade over the decades, and a lot of back drops for photo ops. 200 years of past and hopefully many years of future. Unfortunately the great stimulus package passed by the government has put "The Tree" in harms way. For whatever stupid (although I'm told there is a purpose) reason some of the local money is going to widen our road. As a result we have had to give up some of our land to "immanent domain" We are loosing many maple along the roadside (most likely offspring from "the Tree) and we are told if the roots interfere with the project other trees will come down as well. We are 80% sure the tree is far enough back that it will avoid any execution, however, in the next few weeks if you hear about a crazy family of three chained to a tree, well you can no doubt guess it will be us trying to save "The Tree".

3d grade

2009-08-27T14:21:00.000-07:00

My not so "wee one" started the third grade this week. This year he was a little more focused on "the first day outfit." Of course his usual wardrobe staple of jeans and tee-shirt, but this year he could not wait to put on the new sneaks. It was funny to catch him primping in the mirror. He by no means is stuck on his looks, just pays a little more attention, for sure by the end of the day he was covered in dirt.

sweet moments

2009-08-22T14:28:00.000-07:00

I think the title explains it all. As my baby gets older those cute tender moments seem to fade away. Not that every moment isn't precious and a gift, its just that those "little kiddo" moments seem to be fading away as he grows into the young man he is to be. I find myself staring in awe at how big he is getting and how mature. I am ambivalent,wanting him to grow and in the same breath wanting him to stay little. In any case I was allotted one of those, now rare "how sweet" moments this weekend. After a long hot day I walked into my living room to find my little (ok not so little) one fast asleep on the living room floor with the dog. Ahhhh.................

castaways

2009-08-11T14:07:00.000-07:00

Today we took to the coast and found the solitude of the ocean. I had a blast watching my little one take to the water like a fish, his confidence in the water this year makes me a proud momma (not to mention reassures me the swimming lessons paid off!). I always love it when I figure out where his mind is and what kind of imaginary game he is playing. Today he was a castaway stranded on an island. He tried to catch minnows for his dinner and shells to catch rain water to drink. It was all very amusing, we were on "Gilligans Island" and I had myself a little professor, to bad we don't have any coconut trees in the state, I bet he could do a lot with a coconut shell (insert smile here!)

sk8er

2009-08-03T14:01:00.000-07:00

My little one was super excited this weekend, took him rollerblading and according to him he "was really good at it".
Loved seeing him successfully tackle a new challenge even if it means he has to grow up and need me less.

sticky bun

2009-07-31T13:59:00.000-07:00

I'm always up for a good laugh, even better if I can capture the moment with a photo. Its no secret in my house that my husband and sons most favorite food/sweet in the whole world is sticky buns. I am thankful there is no cinnabun in close proximity otherwise.... This past weekend my husband and son got up early to take trash to transfer station. My husband decided to treat my son to a sticky bun from local coffee shop as a Thank you and I guess a father son thing? Anyhow can you believe the size of this thing. Guess you had to be there, I don't know who was more excited the big kid or the little kid, anyway that's all I got this week.

Harmony

2009-07-23T14:58:00.000-07:00

Most weeks I live for Friday, that last hour of the work week, thoughts racing about weekend plans... I don't dislike my job, (well maybe the paperwork). I love working with people. On even the busiest or craziest of days I will have at least one patient teach me something even though it is my job to teach them. I have learned so much about different cultures, beliefs, values... The stories I could tell (the stories I cant tell because of confidentiality). while I became a nurse to make some sort of difference, (when we are young seems like we are anxious to save the world) what I did not realize was the difference it would make on me. I could not even put into words the growth I have had over the last 10-15 years. Any good nurse can tell you not the stories about how many lives they saved but rather the stories about the patients that left some impression on them.
Recently I was telling a patient this who was lonely and wanted to talk. She asked me if I liked what I did?, I started telling her that most days I loved it, that I loved that everyday meant a new person, new experience. She wanted to know if working with people different from me and my beliefs every bothered me? It was a funny question but I told her that no, I had no issue with being respectful of others beliefs . That is when in a most heartwarming touching way she took my hand and said "good for you, If we all sang the same notes there would never be any Harmony". Can I just tell you that it is moments like these that make me love my job make me proud to do what I do. What a beautiful thing to say. What a beautiful way of seeing the world.
"If we all sang the same notes there would never be any harmony"

Fearless

2009-07-17T07:28:00.000-07:00

It makes my knees weak and my stomach churn every time my kid takes on a new "adventure". For instance the day he hollered to me from outside, I went racing out thinking the worse only to find he was hollering for me to see he had climbed to the Tip Top of the tree.
On vacation last week we went to Bush Gardens. I took comfort in the fact that I was sure he would be to short to ride some of the crazy coasters, no such luck, the kid grew over winter and was able to get on two of the four coasters one of which went upside down, and loop de loop. It was without a doubt five of the longest minutes of my life, I could barely breath with thoughts of being the 1100 o'clock news story about amusement park disaster. yeah a bit morbid, but I'm one of those mothers who worries a bit much, much to my relief he survived coming out the exit hollering "That was Awesome, I wanna do it again", (Ugh....).
Later in the week the boys went tubing. This year my son decided he didn't want dad to go with him and he went alone. Again my heart went in my throat and stomach quaked every time he gave the thumbs up indicating he wanted my brother-in-law to "go faster". I have decided that if he is this adventurous at 8 years old, I am doomed, as he gets older I am told it only gets worse.

benifit to driving

2009-07-14T13:55:00.001-07:00

I was not overly excited about driving over 600miles(600 miles each way)for vacation, but I was unable to find any last minute flight deals. My husband was thrilled about taking his baby BIG RED (his super big, red truck, not to be confused with my fathers longtime fishing pole also named big red). Traffic over the holiday week was gridlock, and I swore I would never drive To Maryland again, that is until I unloaded our little souvenir and discovered that traveling with a big truck does have its benefits......... During our week long stay, it only rained once and even then only a few hours, but a good time and excuse to take our activities indoors and go antiquing. That's when I found my new (OK, really its old but new to me) whitewashed corner cupboard. Something I had wanted for a longtime, had considered building one, but to many other projects at the top of the list, and here it was in front of me for pennies. I would not be able to even buy the lumber to build one for what this was going for. It was a perfect fit in the back of BIG RED, and now it is a perfect fit in my dining room. And as I grumbled about the traffic my husband was quick to remind me that had we flown we would not have been able to buy my big souvenir/corner cupboard.

VACATION

2009-07-11T11:09:00.000-07:00

Just got back from a terrific vacation starting in Maryland with family then on to Virgina to Bush Gardens and Williamsburg then back to Maryland for more fun. In the past we have flown, however this year my husband wanted to drive his new truck. Lets just say they should make a bumper sticker that says "My marriage survived gridlock traffic during the holiday weekend"! Anyhow here are some of my favorite pics from Williamsburg.

2009-07-03T06:32:00.001-07:00

Have a safe and happy 4th!

2009-06-27T17:35:00.000-07:00

Oh so beautiful peonies!

2009-06-22T16:53:00.000-07:00

ugh, I am so tired of the rain. We have been stuck inside for days, and while indoor activites are fun we are anxious to get out and climb some trees.

2009-06-19T16:12:00.000-07:00

not much to say, working hard, and getting ready for our big vacation/road trip. I have had my suitcase out for weeks now ready to pack. (yeah I am pathetic). Its been nothing but rain, and rain is in the forecast for the next 6 days- blah. I am hoping for good weather for our trip, otherwise we may need to be traveling by boat instead of car.

picture perfect

2009-06-13T14:46:00.001-07:00

It went from beautiful weather to raining(insert sad face here). Decided to finally play with my photoshop elements 7 I got for my birthday, (I have so much to learn). Anyhow here is what I did with a picture of my charming boy who is finally feeling better!!

Running

2009-06-09T17:57:00.000-07:00

Never cared much for the movie "forest gump" thought it a bit silly that this man would run and run . Today I'm feeling a lot like forest gump, feeling like I need to run and keep running to deal with recent pain. (This is a bit funny to picture in my head, as I by no means like to run and I doubt seriously they make a sports bra big enough to prevent me from getting black eyes. ) I wish seriously I could run until it didn't hurt anymore, until things were normal again, but I guess that only happens in the movies. I hate it when family hurts, I hate it when I cant fix things, I hate it when I cant even find the right words to provide some kind of solace. Maybe if I had a magic wand like in Cinderella, I could"bibity boppity boo" things to perfect but again I'm pretty sure that only happens in the movies. A good cry maybe, a warm hug? don't think there is ever an easy fix perhaps just time and support I don't know. Just felt like writing, I think writing helps anyhow, that's how I feel today, hug someone you love tight for no reason at all. I will be back later, for now I'm going for a jog.................

2009-06-07T16:06:00.000-07:00

With my kiddo feeling a little better today , we ventured out to Portland Headlight. It was a beautiful day and it felt good to get out after a week of being stuck in the house only going out for doctors appointments. Hopefully later this week we will know what is going on with his little body. Today did bring some comfort to see him acting as his usual self.

First Robin (yes I know its late in the year)

2009-06-01T13:23:00.000-07:00

Journaling reads;
My grandmother used to say that "spying a robin or robins was a sure sign that spring was soon to come." So at the near end of every winter we would watch for the little birds and excitedly call my grandmother to let her know "the robins are here!" A tradition that as a kid became like a game to see who would spot the first one. Even now, as an adult I pick up the phone to let her know, "The robins are here, springs coming!"

funny, "had to be there" moment

2009-05-29T19:52:00.000-07:00

I LOVE those "had to be there moments". You know, the ones where the joke really is only funny to you and the others there at that moment. The ones where two years from now you can just look at that person involved and say remember that time... and then just erupt in spontaneous laughter. I seem to be having a lot of those moments with my son lately, possibly because he like me can find the silliness in random things, (or maybe I have the humor of a second grader?). Anyhow today we had one of those random belly laughs.
Getting home after work and school, my son snacking on gold fish asked if he could walk across our busy street with me to get the mail. looking hopeful for me to say yes, I decided to let him. (We live on a busy road and I usually don't let him cross with me). On return from the mailbox in a puddle (3 days of rain leaves many puddles), we spied goldfish crackers that my son had dropped. It was kind of surreal, and at the exact moment we both looked at each other and exploded in laughter, which grew louder when my son said "I guess I set the fish free and returned them to nature". It was funny, guess you "had to be there".

the rewards of spontaneity

2009-05-23T18:18:00.000-07:00

The only plan for this holiday weekend was/is no alarm clocks. So with little expectations we awoke this morning with my husband suggesting we let someone else cook breakfast. Off to a hearty breakfast we went..... with our bellies full our next plan, just drive see where the road takes us. Antique shops, flea markets everyone found treasure (a later post maybe). A good history lesson for my little one who loved to ask "whats this for, what did they use that for?"
Next stop a little railway village, where dedicated volunteers keep history and passion for the railroad alive. For a few dollars we had a wonderful train ride, but the "cherry on top" was when both my son and husband were asked if they wanted to sit up in the engine and help. I don't know who was more excited the bid kid or the little kid....... anyhow it was a lovely day, a day with no plans a day with no expectations and it was just perfect.

silly

2009-05-18T10:25:00.000-07:00