Sadie Loves Weekends

We laugh at Sadie during the week when we get up early and get ready for work. She is usually sleeping at the foot of our bed - and she completely ignores us. I guess she remembers one of the few times she had to go outside and is afraid that unthinkable situation will happen again - or maybe she just doesn't want to get up so early herself. Whatever the reason she will not even acknowledge a scratch behind her ears. If she could make herself invisible - she would.

Weekends are completely different. Richard usually gets up first - and after awhile she will follow him out to the kitchen. She doesn't seem to mind getting up if it is her choice. Then . . . she decides I need to be up too and she comes back into to wake me up. After that she usually follows one of us around the house or yard - with an occasional nap somewhere nearby.
Today she has settled herself on the bed near me as I am cleaning the bedroom and working on taxes. I really do enjoy her company.

Reading Every Chance I Get

I need to post something - just so I stay in the habit. I have had my nose stuck in a book every chance I get this last week or so. I am always reading something - but I am in one of those moods where that is all I want to do. - My crochet hook sits untouched, I have a doll that I made that needs to be dressed, and a bracelet that I simply need to find a bead to finish it off.
I am just starting "Eclipse" by Stephanie Meyers. I am enjoying this series much more than I thought I would.
This is a picture of my new Scentsy wax warmer. These are wonderful!!! Jennifer just started selling them. There are small cubes of scented wax that you melt in them. They smell so good and I think there are 80 or more scents, and . . . they are so much safer than a candle -(there is a small 25 watt bulb inside.) They sell a huge variety of burners. Then as if that isn't enough - this particular one when turned on gives you these hearts on the wall - how happy is that!!! (I get excited over small things.) Check out Jennifer's website to see what they are all about.
https://www.scentsy.com/21124
It is my lunch break - so I better take advantage of the time and read.

Up and Ready to Go!

Saturday morning and I have been up since 6:00 - I have already been to the gym to work out, done two loads of laundry, and finished a page in my journal. What is wrong with this picture? - I don't usually sleep in much later than 8:00 on the weekends - but up at 6:00 and I worked out??? I was supposed to have watched this little pixie this morning . . . (She reminds me of a little flower bud in this picture.) . . . as it turned out - Jennifer did not have to go into work. So I am up and ready to go and no baby to watch. It does feel good though - to have a head start on everything this morning. Although - I just sat down with a cup of coffee - and if I pick up a book - that may just be what I do all day.

Where did this week go? I have been reading every chance I get - and I tend to lose track of time when I do that. I finished "Edgar Sawtelle". It was OK. It took sort of an unexpected twist that kept me interested enough - but there were times I felt like it just went on and on. After that I was in the mood for some easy reading. A friend had recommended "The Shack" - which is an easy read. I have talked to people that did not like it - but I did. And now I have to see what all the talk is about. I started and am just about finished with "Twilight".

The weather turned damp and cold again - just like February to tease you a little bit with some sunshine and warmth - then let you know that it is still winter. I can't seem to get warm this morning - so a hot cup of coffee and a book sounds much better than doing laundry. Although . . . it would be very good for me to get some things in order in my house that have been frustrating me. So what to do with a full weekend ahead of me . . . ?
Make a list - (I am one of those people). And actually by making a list - I will probably try to get everything done on the list (including the reading)- which will probably leave me feeling very satisfied with my weekend.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!
This is such a fun holiday - but then I think every holiday is fun. I do believe in romance - I am a hopeless romantic. But Valentine's Day isn't really about romance to me. (Oh - he has to remember - it isn't like I would let him off the hook on such a holiday). I have been married for 27 years - through ups and downs, good times and bad - I don't really need a holiday to know that I am loved and don't really like to make too big of a deal out of it in that aspect. I probably did more when I was younger, but not so much these days. I get much more excited when I get some silly little surprise from him on a random day - just because he feels like it. Valentine's Day for me is a great day to make heart shaped pancakes, watch silly romantic movies that make me cry, give my kids a little something to remind them that I love them, and if romance finds it way into the picture - I'll take that too. ~ It is a holiday made for "Ooola"

I mentioned something that was inside my Ooola coffee mug the other day - this bracelet. I love it!
"Love is what you've been through with somebody." ~James Thurber, quoted in Life magazine, 1960

All You Need is Love!

Saturday night Richard and I went to see the "Classical Mystery Tour." This band plays music by the Beatles - if that isn't obvious - and they are backed up by a symphony orchestra.

Ever since Saturday I can't get this out of my head . . .

All you need is love,

All you need is love,

All you need is love -love

Love is all you need.

2-8-1959

Dec. 1960

It feels like I have been celebrating my birthday for a week - ever since I opened the package that Amy and Sue sent me - but today I am officially 50. I have been excited about this milestone birthday - I look at pictures like this and think of everything between then and now, and I realize that life is truly a blessing - no matter what it throws you. (I am loving the little coat I have on in this picture - I am thinking that my mom probably made it.) . . . and I am holding an ear of corn? - this picture was taken at my Aunt Hess' farm. I think there are other pictures of me through the years standing by a tractor - what better way in Iowa to show how much one has grown. : )

"The man who views the world at fifty the same as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life." ~Muhammad Ali

Ooola

This was on my desk when I got to work this morning - a birthday gift from the wonderful girls I work with. There was also something special inside - but I haven't taken a picture of that yet.
"Ooola" started as sort of joke with some friends at work. Marcia had a cold and I made a comment that I hoped I didn't catch it - she sort of waved her hands around me and made a joke that I was protected. I thought it was funny and we repeated the gesture for a couple of days with others for whatever reason. A few days later I started calling it "Ooola" - but it has since come to mean a lot of different things. If someone is upset or sad - we comment they need some ooola.. If someone is in a great mood and being silly - they are full of ooola. A fun flashy ring or rhinestone t-shirt for example would be considered to have ooola. - Just a fun word I made up to cover all the kind . . . caring . . . happy . . . fun . . . silly . . . thoughtful things we all share. It even caught on with the my boss. He has a beautiful salt water aquarium in his office - the day he added some purple fish - he referred to them as ooola fish. We have a lot of fun with it. Just a silly word - but it has a lot of meaning to me. So this wonderful mug from my dear friends means the world to me.

"Friendship isn't a big thing - it's a million little things." ~Author Unknown

This and That

I forgot to include a picture of these button flowers with my 50 fun gifts post - I thought they were so cute that I found a place to stick them right away. My Aunt Sue made them. They are so FUN!!! I am definitely going to have to make some of these.
I watched Lily for an hour or so Friday night. She was not herself at all - she wore herself out crying - poor little thing. My friend Michelle was visiting and we took turns holding her. I loved the way their hands looked together.

What could be better when ordering Chinese food - than having it come in PINK boxes? I get excited over little things - always have.

"So many tangles in life are ultimately hopeless that we have no appropriate sword other than laughter." ~ Gordon W. Allport