CH is for Charlotte . . . and chalkboard

I've been wanting a large chalkboard and Richard finally got around to making me one. 

I think I will be sharing it with Charlotte . . . all the more fun!  

Home . . .

This is a picture of Main Street in the small town in Iowa where I grew up.  I took this picture about 3 years ago when I was there visiting my family.  I lived here until I was 18 and moved away in 1978.  I moved away to go to college . . . lived in Florida and Connecticut for awhile and finally landed in California.  I have lived away from this small town for 37 years . . . I have lived in the town where I live now for 28 years . . . many more years than I spent in my hometown,

This small town holds so many memories of my youth and very much shaped who I grew up to be. When I am there . . . I realize what a great place it was to grow up and I sometimes regret having moved so far away. It will always be home to me.  

November 2nd . . . Collected

I am a collector of many things . . . most of which I don't need.  When I was younger I collected specific things . . . Raggedy Ann & Andy stuff, bears, I think I went through a unicorn phase.  :)  I don't really collect anything like that now, but I seem to have become the keeper of many things. 

 I like so many things and also have a lot of hobbies . . . so I have collected so much "junk" . . . as my youngest son likes to call it, but as they say. . . One man's junk is another man's treasure.

I tend to surround myself with items I like and find beauty in . . . it helps to make my house a home . . . that is important to me. 



Home Again

My flight home on Friday was good . . . it just took a little longer than expected.  We were boarded and in line to take off when they announced that something was wrong with the plane and we headed back to the gate.  They then determined that whatever it was could not be fixed so we got off the plane and were told to go to a different gate.  That plane and recently landed . . . we waited for the passengers to get off and for the plane to be cleaned . . . and . . . the captain announced that the AC was not working and we would not be boarding that plane.  We were then told to go to another gate.  We waited for the next plane to land, for the passengers to get off, and for the plane to be cleaned.  We finally took off at 12:45 AM instead of the original time of 8:55 PM.  I landed around 1:45 in the morning.  I can only say I was happy to get off the first plane and wait as long as necessary -  if everything wasn't working as it should be.  I was even happier to get home.  I think by the time Richard and I ate and talked . . . we finally went to bed around 4:00 in the morning.

So yesterday was not a day to work and get things done.  We decided to go out for awhile instead.  There was a grand opening that Richard had been talking about.  I honestly can't even remember the name of the place . . . just that they were supposed to have a great selection of craft beers. 

I tried the Cool Beanz Coffee Porter . . . Richard went for the Lagunitas Lucky 13.  Both were pretty good.

We walked around . . .

 . . . took some pictures . . . ordered some Chinese food to take home.

He says that he is happy to have me home . . . I am happy to be home. 

Now to enjoy and make the best of the summer we have left.

Tonight . . .

Just for today . . .

Outside my window . . . It is dark and I can feel the breeze blowing through the window.  I was just outside and watered the garden . . . it is a beautiful summer evening! 
I am thinking . . . drinking coffee this late at night was not a good idea, but then I love being up half the night.
I am thankful for . . . a job that allows me to have summers off from work. 
From the kitchen . . . Dinner was baked potatoes, fresh green beans, and the one large ripe tomato from the garden. 
I am wearing . . . my favorite cut-off shorts and a blue t-shirt with peace signs all over the front of it.  (PEACE . . . LOVE . . . SUMMER!)
I am creating . . . a big mess (I brought a lot of work home with me . . . it is everywhere.)  I am also working on some doll bodies. 
I am going . . . to try to spend more time this summer doing what I want to do rather than what I have to do.  I also plan on enjoying life while I do the things I have to do. 
I am reading . . . "The Paris Wife" - by Paula McLain. It is about the love affair between Ernest Hemingway and his wife Hadley.
I am hoping . . . to get up early and go for a walk/run.  But then I have had some coffee - it may not be all that early.
I am hearing . . . the sound of my husband snoring.  lol . . . I guess I have gotten used to that over the years - most of the time I don't even notice.
Around the house . . . all is quiet.  Sadie is curled up asleep next to the bed. 
One of my favorite things . . . is the cathedral window quilt that my grandma made.  Each piece is a different fabric.  I have it on the foot of my bed.  It is beautiful.
A few plans for the rest of the week . . . and the weekend . . . play some tennis, finish a couple of dolls and celebrate Father's Day with my family.
From my picture journal . . .



Lily "Bug"

Lily "Bug" - showing me how her toy elephant matches her outfit. I cannot believe how much she has changed in just two months. She is cooing and laughing - and what beautiful smiles. This one little person sure has had quite an impact on everyone who loves her.
These are not very good pictures of my vanity - but I like how it turned out. I have the netting pulled back with some clothes pins at the moment - but I may "cute" that up a little - maybe with some flowers and ribbons, or possibly some beads. But then I also like the simplicity of the clothes pins alone.

The lights are great. If I had just used a regular string of lights - it would have been much brighter and I don't think it would look as pretty - but these give off such a soft pretty light. I love it!

I am, looking forward to tomorrow being Friday and the upcoming three day weekend. THREE DAY WEEKEND!!!

Tickled Pink

A couple of years ago Jake convinced me to make a drastic change to our Christmas tree. I had always used the ornaments that we collected over the years, and the priceless ones that the boys made when they were little. I intended on eventually giving those that belonged to the boys to them to get started - and then starting something new. As usual - Jake was able to convince me to make a change even though I hadn't planned on making one. I told him at the time that I would do something different - but I got to choose. I chose PINK - even though the rest of my Christmas decorations are more traditional - I am loving the pink tree.

Jake and Kasey gave me this pink pig the other day.
Every pink tree needs a pink elephant . . .
. . . and a pink Cadillac
A small angel bear with gold wings and a pink bow looks down at all that glitters.
And one of my favorites - a pink dog from Victoria's Secret.
This tree is really fun - and now I am always on the lookout for pink ornaments or anything that I can make into an ornament.

"The perfect Christmas tree? All Christmas trees are perfect!" ~ Charles N. Barnard

Sunshine!

This is what we were looking at last weekend. It had been over 100 for a couple of days - then things cooled down about 30 degrees and it rained - so the pool wasn't quite as inviting. Once in in the last six years it has been warm enough to swim and raining at the same time.
This weekend it was a little warmer. Not warm enough for Jennifer and I to go swimming - but great for laying in the sun. I am so looking forward to this summer. . . . .
. . . . . and this view.
Summer afternoon - Summer afternoon... the two most beautiful words in the English language. ~ Henry James

Osage - way back when

I found this photo online of my home town -back in whatever year it was. Some of these buildings are probably still there. I will have to notice next time I am back there.

I am having a nice relaxing weekend. We went to a cigar show yesterday and then have a birthday barbecue for a friend of my sons. It was a good day. It was a hot day!!! - but a good one.