Finale!

"The Bachelor".....Finally Monday nights can go back to normal. Brad chose Emily. Tears and sobs for Chantal...she fell in love with Brad, he didn't feel the love. I was shocked at his choice. I was sure it was Chantal. There. always seems to be a twist...kind of like real life.

This show has been crazy to watch. Ups, downs, whackos, sincere sweethearts and real people on a "reality TV show." Still, I've watched!.Some friends have watched along with me. We laugh

Jason & Molly
Ryan & Trista
Roberto & Allie
Brad & Emily????

Still in question... Brad & Emily. Isn't it funny that so many doubts and adjustments since the show ended months before airing tonight.

Isn't this the reality? Dealing with life in the real "real" world working things out, working toward compromise, dealing with personalities, logistics, work, bad hair days and all.

How can it be considered "reality" when their love blossoms on exotic islands, jungle habitat, fine foods and housekeepers, evening gowns and sparkling jewels?

I knew I loved Biff on one of our first dates.  He changed a tire for a couple when we realized they were totally inept. Love bursts in on the scene or taps us gently on the shoulder in the wildest ways....seeing and feeling the little things about someone. Not necessarily while all is flowing smoothly. That's the easy part.

Its the big and little challenges, the knowledge and security that my Biff will tell me when I have tomato sauce on my chin or lipstick on my teeth. That's reality and true love for me!

Yes!

Spring. Little hints appear. Sunshine or not, 44 degrees at 4 in the afternoon? I'll take it! Longer daylight hours? I'll take it! Kids outside playing spring season sports? I'll take it!

Yes! I'll take it all! Once again, I ham reminded that change is good. To everything turn, turn, turn...there is a time and a purpose untouched heaven! Amen! Woohoo! Hallelujah! Hooray! Yay! Yes!

Magic

One of my greatest pleasures has been working outside in the yard...moving rocks, raking, planting, creating. Over the years we've created some beautiful, rambling stone paths with big stones and river pebbles. Peaceful and unstructured.

Though the giant rocks are in random spots, each one has been very special to us... and the other kids on our road. Our kids may be in high school now but they still wait for the rumbling school bus on the "school bus rock!" Another rock has hidden little playmates over the grammar school years, "The Spy Rock." Major undercover work and missions have been accomplished. The largest rock of all, "The Globe Rock," was originally an overwhelming climb but with a bucket of chalk and hours of chalking had the rock evolve into The Globe Rock!

Along the "natural" path created with flat, sturdy stepping stones there are lightly colored river pebbles. Years ago I sprinkled sparkling glass stones and clear glass marbles. Just for fun. Also for fun, I told all of the kids that they were magic! It's years later with many new neighbors and smaller children. They still wander along the path gathering and collecting and spilling and counting and sharing their newly acquired sparkly magic stones! Today the first little hunter and gatherer has appeared ....it must be spring!

Really!

Today. Here in Connecticut!

It's Not Lipstick

Fitz. Parking lot of grocery store. Quick dog walk. Fitzy found someone's "leftover" McDonald's litter. Feeding frenzy ensued. Daisy managed a few bites too. Lots of onlookers...who probably assumed I was the litterbug. Oops. At least she didn't get my lipstick.

Alien Kitties

Open bottle of water. Bent over to pick up box. Water glugged out of bottle, splashed onto other assorted items that had fallen to the floor.

Oops #1

While talking on cell phone with old college friend...grocery cart bumped into giant stacks of paper towels.

Oops #2

Oops #2

http://www.zumba.com/us/about/ REALLY. Really. http://bicycling.about.com/od/trainingandfitness/gr/spinning.htm REALLY. Really. What was I thinking?

Really?

REALLY. I took my first spin class today. I walked the dogs for a really good walk. I went to my Zumba class. Really. Really. What was I thinking?

http://m.designsponge.com/category/diy-projects This is a fabulous website for decorating ideas... lots of fun and easy do-it-yourself projects. Fun. Creative. Clever. Not Martha Stewart clever....where we need a groundcrew to orchestrate the whole complex project! Just fun with easy to read/understand instructions. I don't think it will surprise you to know that I'm not that great with following directions!

Do you twitter?

Everything I wrote vanished into cyberspace. I was on a roll. I even read it aloud to Biff before he trotted out the door. He called from the car to mention on random thing....***POOF***.....it is gone. GONE. And what caused the urgent call? Biff needed to ask me to pick up the mail from our overstuffed mailbox. Why was it overstuffed? you may ask. Because a snowplow knocked it over a few months ago. Well...not over. It was stuck in feet of snow. Stuck in a snowbank. UNTIL the snow melted. Then it fell to the ground. The mail was not delivered until the mailbox was standing again. Hence overstuffed. Thus, the phone call. insomuch as my blog writing was in progress, the blogpost was eliminated....somehow...somewhere. The end.

Don't Say Flood

Flood. That word. Hate it. Just do not use it near me. I have flashbacks. And flooding was only in our basement. Hate to be so dramatic when others have had bigger, more horrifying floods to deal with. However, in our life...this was big. Recovering from the flood. Not so much. Yes, we had the crews to clean. Yes, we got a new washer and dryer. Yes, our basement was cleared of all of the extras and accumulation....but, we basically lost our basement. Not lost. It's there....but....as Biff says,"We're going up next time!" The basement will not be occupied by teens the way we dreamed it to be. But it's o.k., it's all o.k. Just don't say flood. Please.

Daisy Dreams

Smile!

Sewing Machine

Mine? How can I tell. Paint. Our bedroom shade. Sapphire 4. Laura Ashley. How did bedroom paint get on the sewing machine? Oh never mind. That's not important. What is important is that I got the sewing machine out. To use. Stop laughing. Really. Wait til you see what I can do. Just wait. It has to be done soon. The machine is on the coffee table in the family room. It took me one hour to make a bobbin. After trying to get the paint off the relatively new sewing machine. Oops. Big job. I threaded the needle too. Another hour. I'm hopeful. Very hopeful. I'm motivated. Very motivated. To create. A pillow. Maybe a duvet for Grace. I'll start with the pillow. Actually, I have started. I turned it on. It moved. The pedal revs the engine. Thrilling. I have needles. Pins. Ha. Pins and needles. Even a little tomato pin cushion! Extra bobbins. Extra thread. No patterns. Why would that surprise anyone? Wish me luck!

Zumba Mama

Dog walk. Kids talk. Friends. Coming. Going. Driving. Zumba. Music. Dancing. Jumping. Sweating. Breathing. Water. Lots of water. Gulping. Walking. Talking. Driving. Grocery Store. Reality. Hungry. Shopping. Quickly. Groceries. Cell phone. Phone calls. Check out. Thank you. Thank you for packing. Out to car. Start car. Need heat. Chilly. Dark. Biff calls. Drive home. Kids. Dogs. Dinner. Dogs. Kids. Strawberries. One whole package. Lots of strawberries. Delicious. Biff. TV. Computer. Cats. Biff. Hair color! Desperate. We'll see. No gray. Wait. May be dark. Box said Golden Sunshine Blonde? OK? Maybe. Outside. Lasts for 28 shampoos. No roots. No gray. No hairdresser. Compromise. Yup.

After The Snow

Delightful. Sunshine and high winds. Walking the dogs. On the road. In the woods. Damp under foot. Leaves. Sticks. Branches. Tree trunks. On the trails. Across the trails.

The air is brisk. A brisk walk with the dogs always puts a smile on my face. Daisy and Fitz smile too. We occasionally slow down for a fresh scent. It's all new. Everytime. Every outing. For all of us. Outside. Outdoors. We see things differently. We have a new outlook. That changes everything. Change is good. Being open to change is better.

The Trail Less Traveled

Keep It Simple

These magazines exhaust me. The whole reason I read them is to relax. After scanning the covers, I'm exhausted. Every magazine has work for me to do...on my hair, on my thighs, my clothes, my house, my cooking, my "organization and my money.

Every magazine promises to make me better.....why can't I be happy as I am? Because they tell me I need to be happier, neater, prettier, thinner, healthier, ! It's no wonder I'm exhausted.

Shop Better

Get Unstuck

Love Your Body

Be happy!