June 30, 2011

THURSDAY THOUGHTS - Father's Day, Babies and Braces

Sorry I skipped a week in there...where does the time go? 
Father's Day was a lot of fun this year.  I was able to visit my Dad and give him his card personally.  I loved the way the card turned out so much I made another one for my shop.  We picked up a rotisserie chicken and I made a yummy peach, onion and basil salad (from one of the recent Martha Stewart mags), and some cheesy fried potatoes for dinner.  It was a lovely day.

I did a good job on planning ahead for Hubby this year.  Since he's been a daddy for 12 years I decided we should tell him 12 things that we appreciate about him and match a gift to that.  The kids and I took some large tags and added what we appreciated to the front, decorated it all nicely, and then on the back I had them write specific things in their own words and handwriting.  I tied each one of the tags to its coordinating gift and we gave them to him throughout the day.  The kids loved bringing him the presents!  It actually got to be a battle between them as to who gave him the last present and who got to go next.  Here's a picture of the pile of gifts with their tags attached and the father's day card I made for him.
 


Here is what we came up with:
  1. Protector - Band Aid variety pack and liquid bandage
  2. Mr. Fix It - Teal blue duct tape cuz, ya know, duct tape fixes everything
  3. Helps With Homework - Study Smart aromatherapy spray purchased here.
  4. Watch Us Grow - Watermelon and radish seeds with decorative planters
  5. Cooks For Us - A badly needed oven mitt
  6. Plays With Us - Fender guitar picks in a lovely blue marble pattern
  7. Hard Working - A mean looking and sharp weeding tool
  8. Smart - A Mensa puzzle book for smart people 
  9. Silly - Silly string canisters
  10. Brave - A Navy Seals documentary
  11. Takes Us Places - A Cyclaws remote controlled car
  12. Just Being You - A framed photo of him and the kids
He's a great daddy and I think he really enjoyed the surprises!!

Last week we watched my niece.  It had been 10 years since we were responsible for a little person.  My daughter did a FABULOUS job taking care of her.  She just loves, loves, loves playing mama, and I know she's going to make a great mother one day.  My niece is extremely well behaved and all in all we had an excellent week.  If the weather had been nicer we would have ventured out more but we had a good time hanging out at home.

My daughter got her braces on this past Thursday.  She did great during the 90 minute ordeal.  Her teeth hurt quite a bit for a couple of days and I found out that children's ibuprofin no longer works with her so we switched to adult.  She had a hard time swallowing the pill but she managed and they worked.  She also talked Dad into buying Culver's on his way home from work...strawberry shake...score!

Lastly, our little chickaroo is now 4 weeks old and has gotten to be just a bit smaller than a football and almost entirely feathered.  The feathers around her neck are a lovely golden yellow - so pretty!  She is in the chicken coop full time and loves any human interaction.  She has chosen to find some pretty high spots to settle into but seems unsure of herself.  She also loves it when we cup her from underneath and let her legs dangle.  It is amazing how much you can become attached to a chicken.  Her three mates will be coming in August sometime.  Until then she rules the roost, literally.

Until next week...

June 24, 2011

FABULOUS FINDS: Elephant Punch

I *love* this elephant punch and want it sooo bad!!  Isn't he the most adorable thing?
You can purchase it here for $8 or explore Samantha's shop here.

June 17, 2011

YUMMY - Sea Salt and Caramel Cupcake

Just enjoyed one of these babies from Sweet Impressions.  The guy said it had complex flavors and boy was he right!  My first time enjoying this type of flavor and it was quite yummy!  Reminded me of a pretzel.  Now my Friday is complete.  *sigh*

FABULOUS FINDS: Rooster Print


I love Joojoos artwork, especially this rooster print ($25).  You can check out more of her work on Etsy.

June 16, 2011

THURSDAY THOUGHTS - Nobody is perfect





















I had such a great weekend celebrating my niece's first birthday!  She is so cute and I've adored spoiling her!  We played ladder ball and bocce ball as well.  It was the perfect weather for a get together! 

I have been feeling good and have been working my way toward writing again.  I promise to share some of my writing soon.  I have so many emotions that just need to get out on paper.

I had a meeting with my mental health med doctor on Wednesday and I told him that I've had a week or two every month that I just seem so down and feel like crying at the drop of a hat.  I know this is due to some wacky hormones...perhaps perimenopause because my cycles have not been as predictable as they once were.  I am frustrated because I have no reason to feel this way and yet I do.  He tells me that it is part of my genetic brain chemistry and will always be there, no matter what.  I just have to be okay with some ups and downs once in awhile.  It is my analytical brain that is not okay with this...it's just not right!  I am so fortunate and loved...I have no right to feel this way.  My coping mechanisms are all working and I have treated myself to a half hour in the sunshine, an afternoon coffee or even some clothes shopping to get me through those days.  I think what frustrates me most is that I feel great most of the time and just wish it stayed like that, knowing that nothing in my life has changed to make me feel so blue.  These are many of the thoughts I'm planning on turning into future character development for one of my stories. 

The protesters are back in action at the capitol setting up tents along the outside of the capitol square that has been dubbed "Walkerville."  It is loud.  Horns blaring, drums pounding, car horns honking, people chanting.  It is enough to give me a headache, and it has seriously cut into my walking around at lunch time.  I don't want to be anywhere near all of this, especially when the crowds have gathered.  I don't have the answers, but I really do not believe the protests that have been taking place are effective ways of finding an agreeable solution no matter what your party affiliation. 


Adelita is in the coop now.  I felt so wrong the first night she was out there instead of in our garage.  I just hated that feeling of insecurity from the separation.  It is amazing how attached you can become to a chick!!  She continues to grow so much and is nearly all feathers now.  This pic here was taken a couple days before her 3rd week with us.  I love her little tweets.  :o)

Until next week...

June 10, 2011

FABULOUS FINDS: Chinese Jug


I love this Miratis Chinese Jug.  So elegant!  Cost is £110.00 - haven't done the conversion but my guess is it's a lot.  I have expensive taste.  *sigh*

June 9, 2011

THURSDAY THOUGHTS - fun times and a joke

We had a fun week celebrating two of my nieces' graduations and visiting with friends and family.  We played ladder ball, frisbee, ate and chatted.

We went to the Mallard's opening game (my first time there).
and spent lots of time with Adelita.  We tried letting her walk around in our bathroom and she was too scared to move.  We put her outside in her coop for a little while and she seemed to enjoy that but it was too hot for her and we brought her back inside after about 30 minutes.  She is losing her fuzz and getting lots of feathers.
She loves to follow our hands when we play with her and even plays a little Peek-a-boo.

It is summer here now, 80's and 90's and very humid.  I broke down and turned on the air.  Bad thing is with all of the dramatic weather we have had a lot of thunderstorms.  We are currently in our basement under a tornado warning as I type (Wednesday night).  My daughter packed up a basket full of stuff.  She is funny.  Hubby came home just minutes after we came downstairs and he brought the dog down with him.  He said "I can't believe you didn't bring him down here,"  (He has never wanted him in the basement before.)  So, it's a cozy evening sitting in the basement.  Whee!

UPDATE:  No tornadoes last night but the pressure in my ears changed twice, freaked me out.  Lots of tree limb damage around Wisconsin but everything is fine in our yard except for my peony bushes are completely flattened.  They looked awesome too. 

And a joke I received in my in box this morning made me LOL. 


Skinny Dipping

Ron, an elderly man in Florida, had owned a large farm for several years.
He had a large pond in the back.
It was properly shaped for swimming, so he fixed it up  nice with picnic tables, horseshoe courts, and some orange and lime trees.
One evening the old farmer decided to go down to the  pond, as he hadn't been there for a while, and look it  over.  
He grabbed a five-gallon bucket to bring back some  fruit. As he neared the pond, he heard voices shouting and laughing with glee.  
As he came closer, he saw it was a bunch of young women skinny-dipping in his pond.  
He made the women aware of his presence, and they all went to the deep end.  
One of the women shouted to him,  "We're not coming out until you leave!"  
Ron frowned,  "I didn't come down here to watch you ladies swim naked or make you get out of the pond naked."
Holding the bucket up Ron said,  "I'm  here to feed the alligator."


June 3, 2011

FABULOUS FINDS: Antique Lavender Bottles

The more favorites I've been identifying I realize that I am a lover of all things French Country.  It is much different than my current house style (read neutral & traditional).  I hope to start collecting things here and there, now that I have a better idea of my loves.

I love these bottles paired with the antique green table - so pretty!  Cost $24 per bottle, and there's only one left!  *sniff, sniff*

June 2, 2011

THURSDAY THOUGHTS - they grow up too fast!

Happy Birthday to my niece who turned one year old on Wednesday!!  I can't wait to spoil her in person!

This past week we celebrated Memorial Day weekend.  My mother-in-law came up to stay for a few days so we had fun visiting, watching movies, and just relaxing.  We also had a lovely meal at one of my favorite places...Outback Steakhouse.  The last couple of times I've gone there I've ordered the Tilapia with Lump Crab Meat and it is super yummy! 

Sunday was mostly rainy so we waited for the weather to clear before heading out to the Brat Fest.  We finally got there around 7:00 PM and it was cold enough that we needed a light jacket.  We had brats, roasted corn and, of course, funnel cakes.  We sat listening to the music for awhile but with the clouds gathering overhead and the soggy earth beneath our feet we decided to head back home instead of waiting to see if it would stay dry for the fireworks they had planned.

Monday we went to the Memorial Day parade.  The kids got a haul of candy, pencils, and even a toothbrush this year.  I enjoyed the bands, the bagpipe players, the top hat whistler guys and the Clydesdale horses the best.  We spent the afternoon enjoying the weather and visiting with a friend.  This day it was in the 80's and so hot and humid we could hardly believe the difference 24 hours could make to our temperature.  The rest of this week is supposed to be wonderful weather so we are all happy about that.

Tuesday we have had our baby chick for one whole week and it is amazing how much she's grown.  My daughter named her Adelita (Ah-dah-lee-tah).  Her feathers are growing in and she's practicing flying in circles.  It was only a few days after we'd had her that we noticed a new, more social sounding chirp.  Now she has a light "tweet tweet" when we are around and a louder, deeper and whiny sounding squawk when we leave.  Here are some photos of her at @ one week old.


Wednesday Hubby and I enjoyed a nice lunch at a local Mexican restaurant and then we went to my daughter's school for a little skit they prepared as part of their class work.  I'm sure I'm somewhat biased here, but she did the best of everyone in her class.  At least she knew her lines and expressed them with some emotion.  Most of the kids needed reminders of their lines. 

Lots of stuff going on over the next few months.  I am trying hard to get the blog to have a daily post but it will take me some time to get there.  Until next time...

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...