The Calm Before the Crazy

It's the weekend!!  Finally....with so many things running through my head for what I would like to do on the weekends......it's hard for me to sort it all out.  So many things that need to be done, should be done, and I'd really just like to do.  Often the last option wins out for me and thus the explanation of why my house continually looks as though it's been ransacked.  Maybe this weekend will be different.....and I'll choose to do the important things like clean up, and organize??  Right now, I have a dining room table disassembled on my living room floor, loads of laundry to do, a kitchen counter that is so covered in miscellaneous stuff that you cannot see the counter top....(just as well....it needs a scrubbing too) not to mention a mountain of laundry to wash, fold and put away.  Also need to pick up some primer and paint and do a little painting before the cabinet makers come back to finish up a little job in my laundry room.......which I must say I am enjoying immensely.........although the down side is that it makes me feel like redoing my whole house.  Hmmmmm I think I may need to make a list....I find this usually makes me feel a little more in control.  

Before the craziness begins.....I'm having a calming morning moment with my little cuppa chocolate Ovaltine, a coddled egg, toast and some fresh fruit. That was nice. Let the craziness begin.....

Retro Cute Kids

My mom sent me some photos the other day in an email.  Some were cute....some were not.  That, I suppose is a matter of perspective.   Never the less, this one.....I deem to be more on the retro cute end of the scale.......so I am sharing it with you.  This was taken in our front yard......and we had us some really sweet rides....don't you think?  This is very early in my bicycle riding career, so this particular bike does not stick in my memory, but I sure do remember my brother Patrick's bike.......it was much cooler than mine!  Although.......I'd think it was pretty cool to own the bike I'm on in this picture if it came in a big girl size now:)

99 Things I might Have Done??

It's a damp puddly day here.  There are still tiny pockets of winter left here and there....but mostly the trend is warming and raining now and again.  The perfect kind of day to relax with a movie and bit of knitting......hmm I do have a little project that needs some finishing off.  So I'll find my cozy sweater (it's still a bit coolish out) and leave you with this little Meme I spotted from over at Merry With Children. Ginger has already curled up for a relaxing afternoon.  Never having done one of these before.........here goes.....

99 Things Meme

Bold: Indicates the things that I've already done

Italics: Indicates the things that I'd like to do

Plain Font: Indicates the things that I haven't done and don't want to do

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band. (briefly)
4. Visited Hawaii. 
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity. (I'm not broke yet so I guess I can afford it)
7. Been to Disneyland/world. (I've been to both and we're planning to back to to DW this fall to take Ike)
8. Climbed a mountain. 
9. Held a praying mantis. 
10. Sang a solo. (Fortunately not since I was a kid in a Christmas Concert.......and twinkle twinkle to Ike at bedtime....if that counts)
11. Bungee jumped. 
12. Visited Paris. 
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea. (love lightning storms....but never been at sea to watch one)
    
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.  (lots of things.) 
15. Adopted a child. 
16. Had food poisoning. 
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France. 
20. Slept on an overnight train. 
21. Had a pillow fight. 
22. Hitch hiked.
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill.  (not that I can recall)
24. Built a snow fort. 
25. Held a lamb. (Softest thing ever.......I want one now!) 
26. Gone skinny dipping. 
27. Run a marathon. 
28. Ridden a gondola in Venice. 
29. Seen a total eclipse. 
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset. 
31. Hit a home run.  
32. Been on a cruise. (Have only been on day cruises....if that counts)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person. 
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors. 
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language.(But probably only enough to get myself in trouble)
    
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied. (So far so good)
    
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person. 
39. Gone rock climbing. 
40. Seen Michelangelo's David in person. 
41. Sung Karaoke. (Badly......very , very badly)
    
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt. (We were lucky enough to also catch some less frequently erupting ones as well)
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant.  (When I'm in a big city I'm far more likely to give a street person a meal than money)
    
44. Visited Africa. 
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight. 
46. Been transported in an ambulance.  (Air and land)
47. Had your portrait painted. 
48. Gone deep sea fishing. (been deep sea fishing but just watched)
49. Seen the Sistine chapel in person. 
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. 
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling. (never scuba...but loved snorkeling)
    
52. Kissed in the rain. 
53. Played in the mud. 
54. Gone to a drive-in theater. 
55. Been in a movie. 
56. Visited the Great Wall of China. 
57. Started a business. 
58. Taken a martial arts class 
59. Visited Russia. 
60. Served at a soup kitchen. 
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.( Over the years I'm sure I've bought more than I ever sold)
62. Gone whale watching. (Seen whales while out on the water a few times....but never actually went on a paid outing)
    
63. Gotten flowers for no reason.  (I had a boyfriend who bought me flowers every Friday because his father buys flowers for his mother every Friday to this very day....isn't that nice?)
    
64. Donated blood. 
65. Gone sky diving. (neh) 
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp. 
67. Bounced a check.
68. Flown in a helicopter. 
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy. 
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial. 
71. Eaten Caviar. 
72. Pieced a quilt. 
73. Stood in Times Square. 
74. Toured the Everglades. 
75. Been fired from a job. (twice now....both times on cut backs...not for showing up to work drunk or anything exciting like that)
    
76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London. 
77. Broken a bone. 
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle. (Speeding........well it seemed fast to me)
    
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person. 
80. Published a book. 
81. Visited the Vatican. 
82. Bought a brand new car. 
83. Walked in Jerusalem. 
84. Had your picture in the newspaper. 
85. Read the entire Bible. 
86. Visited the White House. 
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating. (only a fish if that counts)
    
88. Had chickenpox. 
89. Saved someones life. 
90. Sat on a jury. 
91. Met someone famous. (met Prince Phillip for a Duke of Edinburgh award)
    
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby. 
    
95. Seen the Alamo in person. 
96. Swum in the Great Salt Lake. 
97. Been involved in a law suit. 
98. Owned a cell phone. 
99. Been stung by a bee.

Copy the list over to your own blog and change the answers to suit you:)  Have a great day!

Where Did 2009 Go??

Where does the time go?? It's always hard to believe that another year has blown by. Well it has happened again, and here are a few photos from this past year to say goodbye to 2009. We are very lucky to have such a wonderful life........ to get the opportunity to see and do the things we do, and to know the people we know. Sometimes life happens so very fast, and it is good to take a moment to slow down to reflect and remember the good things, and the beautiful things that we so easily forget about in our daily rush.

We've had quite a few nice trips this year with the 'new to us' Westfalia which does lend itself to a meandering and slow holiday....hopefully next year it will see even more use.......before Ike gets old enough to think it's not cool to travel with us:) I think the plan is to travel through Vancouver Island or the Oregon coast, maybe we'll do a bit of both......

We are having such lovely winter weather now...............we really aught to get out and enjoy it more. This thought has prompted snowboarding lessons for Ike and a new set of cross country skis for me.

Christmas Holidays saw us driving through some gorgeous scenery with ample time to spend time with friends and family. When we complain that those darned mountains are in the way.....we need to remind ourselves that many people travel 1000's of miles just to see and experience them......

Goodbye to 2009..........I hope to make even better use of 2010. Best Wishes to everyone for a Happy and Healthy New Year:)