House Warming ~

In the country, down the road from our friends home.

This last Saturday, Charlie had to go to Oakdale to our friends home they bought a few months ago and install a panel over the kitchen stove that he finally had time to finish. I went with him for a quick visit while he installed this panel. Charlie and I brought a house warming basket filled to the brim for a nice family night at their new home; game, movie, pizza, candy, popcorn, soda, etc.. They have been without a computer and television for two months and just now got their phone land line.

As Cathy showed me everything Charlie has remodeled in their new home and explained to me the "before and after", I couldn't help feel proud of him and also in awe. I shared with her that Charlie has been wanting to remodel our master bathroom and I have not been... well, agreeing with him on some issues. I told her, after seeing what he has done, I needed to trust his vision and just let him have full reign. Later when we were all in the kitchen chit chatting, Cathy shared with Charlie what I said to her. I couldn't help but laugh and say nervously, "Cathy, that was supposed to be between you and I. Charlie, will not let me forget I said that now." We all know Charlie and had a good laugh.

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I grabbed my camera and took some pictures of what Charlie has done.


The backsplash behind the stove cooktop.


Initially, the kitchen floor plan was non functional. Charlie revised the whole kitchen.


The backsplash behind the sink and between the bar countertop.


The Master bedroom granite shower with a built in bench.


Charlie put in the glass tile window over the master bedroom sunken bath tub. Our friends want Charlie to come back and redo the tub and bathroom floor later in the year.

Okay... just so you know, this is one of the issues we do not agree about. Charlie wants to put on the shower exterior wall ( roughly, give or take ~ floor to ceiling, to let in light), these glass tiles. That would mean that anyone in our backyard would be able to see an image of a person taking a shower. Uhhh... I don't think so! Diandra and I both stand firmly on this one. He can have his way on everything else.

;)

I don't know what he is thinking?


The master bedroom counter and one of the sinks.


This is where the wood and tile floor meet.

Kindred Spirit ~

This is what my fortune said...

Kindred Spirits are two people that make a special connection by sharing a bond that has joined them by the means of an experience that has drawn them together on a higher level of consciousness. This connection can be from the same experience at the same time or two separate experiences similar in nature.

I was able to meet with someone who means a lot to me this last Friday. We were reacquainted through facebook. I had seen her profile picture on a list of a mutual friend. If you know anything about fb, you know what I am talking about. LOL! I was so happy to see her face there!

I have often thought about her throughout the years and have always wanted to let her know how much she meant to me. When I was younger, I felt like she took me under her wing and cared for me. She cared about everyone because that is simply part of her character. She is the real deal; genuine. When I had met her, my parents had just split up and it was like she just sensed I needed a little more love than the rest of the kids.

Susan was always a positive role model for me in more ways than I can explain, though I'll attempt to address a few: in the way she goofed around with her husband and kids and how she also stood up for herself, in how she was always there for people if they needed her to be; but not in a busy body kind of way. She put her family first, cared for her parents and people around her. When I would see her out and about, her face would light up when she would see me. I always felt loved and wanted when I was with her and when I walked away from our meeting.

I recently went through some boxes of my children's keepsakes from when they were little. I came across cards from Susan when I was pregnant with my son Rob. I found her cards of encouragement, at a very lonely time in my life, reminding me I was not alone; she was there if I needed her.

I sent her a message on fb, letting her know how much she meant to me and what an impact she made on my life. Her kindness not only affected my life and how I treated the people that God put into my path, but it rippled into how my children treat people in their life.

Long story short, she sent me a message back and we e-mailed each other catching up with what has been going on in each of our lives. Susan let me know that she was going to be flying into California and we were able to get together at Starbucks on Friday. As we drank our iced tea and Caramel Macchiato, we learned we both had a lot in common. As we said our good-byes, she wanted me know, how much my initial message meant to her; so much, she framed it.

My husband and I went to a little Chinese restaurant in the little town I live in. I shared my visit that I had with Susan, with him over dinner. It came time to open up our fortune cookie. I smiled as I read mine to Charlie through teary filled eyes. He reached for my hand and said, "You already met yours today at Starbucks."

Listen ~

Listening
to your heart,
finding out who you are,
is not so simple.
It takes time for
the chatter to quiet down.
In the silence of "not doing"
we begin to know

what we feel.
If we listen and hear
what is being offered,
then anything in life
can be our guide.
Listen.

time flees ~

Wikipedia:

"But meanwhile it flees: time flees irretrievably, while we wander around, prisoners of our love of detail."

The meaning is sometimes used less colloquially as: "Meanwhile, the irreplaceable time escapes," expressing concern that one's limited time is being consumed by something which may have little intrinsic substance or importance at that moment.

Charlie and I got away for our 24th anniversary. It was time well spent and spectacular!



I came upon this Sundial and immediately thought of my sweet friend Sheila.


A beautiful garden table.


Terracotta pots waiting to be used.


Pansies basking in the sun.


Sea glass ~


In the truck, waiting for Charlie.

I will periodically send photos of myself with little love notes or what I am doing at that particular moment to my kids, letting them know I am thinking about them.


Waiting...

Sending a fish kiss to my kids. A lady was in the car next to me and I didn't want her to see me taking this; she seen me anyways. I am sure she thought I was crazy... News flash ~ I AM!


And waiting...

*all photos taken with my cel phone.

Your Laughter ~

"Take bread away from me, if you wish,
take air away, but
do not take from me your laughter."

Excerpt from Your Laughter ~ PABLO NERUDA

As I was sitting on the couch watching The Grammys, Charlie was sleeping while laying back in his reclining chair. It was when Beyonce was performing, I started laughing uncontrollably. I couldn't help but imagine, as she was on her knees of the stage, whipping her head around, around and around AND around, how funny it would be if her wig (well... I think it is) flew across the stage. While I was laughing, I felt someone looking at me and looked over to see that it was Charlie. I giggled as I apologized to him for waking him up. He smiled at me and said, "Baby, do you know how it makes me feel to hear you laugh? I love it." I thought that was so sweet and yet, I felt so bad at the same time. I didn't feel like I deserved what he expressed to me about how it makes him feel to hear my laughter. I had to explain to him what was making me laugh. He looked over at the television and seen her whipping her head everywhere and looked back at me with a crooked little smile that told me he gets me and said, "I don't care... I love it when you laugh."

My Weekend ~

My weekend started Friday with taking the girls (our chi's) to get their nails clipped. The main road where our Veterinarian's office is located has a beautiful walking path that I have admired for quite some time. I thought that it would be nice to take the girls for a walk after their appointment. As I was taking in all the sights, I noticed there were signs attached to the old fashioned street lights. I started to panic as I read, "Failure to bring a bag to pick up feces may result in a $50, $100, $200 fine." Well, needless to say, my plan to take the girls for a walk was not so well-thought- out, and was cut short. Note to self; put poop bags in trunk of car. After Charlie and I ate dinner, we moved my armoire that I didn't need anymore over to Rob and Nessa's place; she needed some closet space desperately. Later that night, I watched one of the CD installment's to the first season of The Third Watch (one of my favorite Television shows that ended several years ago).

Saturday morning, I ran some errands and went grocery shopping. It was absolutely crazy/busy with people shopping for the Super Bowl and I could not wait to get home after trying to get through lines! It took me 3 1/2 hours! I was able to take a much needed nap in the afternoon for staying up so late the night before.

Charlie and I were invited by one of his clients to a Crab feed Saturday night. The tickets cost $150 a couple! We felt flattered that he asked us and very blessed at the same time, and we accepted his kind offer. I was a little nervous though, because I had never been to a crab feed before. I don't know why, but I always envisioned these functions to be a drunken chow hall episode; kinda in an unruly sort of way. We drove with our good friends whom we've known for years and who are also friends from their childhood (that is how Charlie actually met his new client!). Let me just say, I thoroughly enjoyed myself! It wasn't how I visioned it to be at all. We mingled at Charlie's clients home for about thirty minutes and then headed to the Crab Feed. When we got there, on one side of the building, there were ordure's laid all out elegantly on broken pieces of granite. We drank wine, ate and chatted while listening to some live music. On the way to our table, we (with the other couple we were with) were introduced to all of Charlie's client's acquaintances. We sat down at our table and dinner started with the white or red wine of your choice, a green salad and then seasoned vegetables, pesto parmesan pasta and bread. Then the endless galvanized buckets of marinated crab and shrimp came, came and came. I thought our stomach's were going to burst! We ate our desert consisting of dark chocolate brownies and blueberries drizzled with chocolate syrup and coffee as we listened to the winners of the raffle and silent drawing being called. When it was time to leave, we headed back to Charlie's clients home and sat around their long farm dining table. We were all busy talking about our kids, politics, the economy, education, construction, the school system, relationships, and sharing things about our family, our hopes and dreams and having such a good time, we had not realized it was close to 1:00 in the morning! I had the BEST time! It was really, really nice! Have I said how much I enjoyed myself?!! :)

We watched and enjoyed the Super Bowl on Sunday. Rob and Nessa brought drinks. I made a huge veggie tray with hummus, bowls of chips and dip spread out on the counter in the kitchen. Diandra's contribution was home made fudge with walnuts (so good!). Charlie had some ribs going in the rotisserie oven I got him for Christmas.

I had a good weekend! I guess this weekend has come to mean so much to me because it was the first time since Charlie got cancer that the weight of it all wasn't heavy and lingering in our minds; making it feel lighter. It just felt really good to be with family and friends. I feel very blessed!
:)

More sharing below ~
My whisk broke and I had to replace it a year ago. My daughter found one that is very much like the one I had, if not better. I like this whisk so much, I have included it with my birthday, bridal shower or wedding gift giving. Check out this Fabulous heart shaped whisk.

I found these recently; Wonderful 95% Recycled Totes. Beautiful!

Charlie and I are getting ready to take a hike and I saw a man on The Fisherman's Wharf on our last trip to Monterey with one of these; The Pet Pouch to keep your best friend snuggled close to you. I love it and so do my chi's!

We Love & Want To Be Loved

"I am one of the searchers. There are, I believe, millions of us. We are not unhappy, but neither are we really content. We continue to explore life, hoping to uncover its ultimate secret. We continue to explore ourselves, hoping to understand. We like to walk along the beach, we are drawn by the ocean, taken by its power, its unceasing motion, its mystery and unspeakable beauty. We like forests and mountains, deserts and hidden rivers, and the lonely cities as well. Our sadness is as much a part of our lives as is our laughter. To share our sadness with one we love is perhaps as great a joy as we can know - unless it be to share our laughter.

We searchers are ambitious only for life itself, for everything beautiful it can provide. Most of all we love and want to be loved. We want to live in a relationship that will not impede our wandering, nor prevent our search, nor lock us in prison walls; that will take us for what little we have to give. We do not want to prove ourselves to another or compete for love.

For wanderers, dreamers, and lovers, for lonely men and women who dare to ask of life everything good and beautiful. It is for those who are too gentle to live among wolves."

~James Kavanaugh

Sharing Some ~

It's hard to believe that the weather forecast is calling rain for the next four days. At the moment the sky is so blue with some scattered fluffy clouds that make you wish you could jump from one to the other. Could the ground hog be wrong?

I am enjoying my Medical Terminology class so far and my first test is tonight. My teacher informed us that with learning 350 words, we will be able to put over 1000 words together and should also know them as well by the end of this semester. I better buy a bottle of Ginkgo Biloba!

I have been squeezing as much as I can out of the last of this Winter season by watching rented movies and playing board games with my family. I also made my first butternut squash soup from scratch and it was so good! I smashed an avocado and added a layer of that to my turkey, lettuce, tomato on a toasted Winter Berry nut bread. The soup/sandwich combination complimented each other so well and I might add, was so satisfying to my mind as well as my tummy! Have you noticed that when you have a colorful rainbow pallet before you when you eat a meal, it really does make a difference! In all of those colors, your body is getting all that it needs. So when you eat, keep in mind... COLOR! COLOR! COLOR!

Before you know it, Spring will be here and the weather will be inviting us out to enjoy the earth's awakening from a Winter's sleep and the new birth of blossoms.

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