sam and celia

These two children are the light of my life. I am so thankful for every moment, both trying and peaceful. Motherhood is such a forgiving and fulfilling role that I am so very thankful to have. I hope, in the end, that I instill glory, appreciation, honesty, respect, and most of all love within my children. I hope they notice the smallest of life's pebbles as well as the redwoods. I hope they strive for success and are satisfied in their being. I am so thankful for new mornings and chances to look into my children's eyes and tell them both how very much I love them.

we make bread

It's our new weekend routine: making bread. We stay at home waiting for the risings, kneading, and baking, rather than run ourselves silly all over town. Some weekends it feels as if I don't even get the much desired time to relax, after all, I do work for the weekend!

I was craving honey wheat bread, so the husband and I hit the kitchen running. He's really the bread baker, but for this particular batch I had the honor of kneading and rolling. It's so therapeutic, that process is. I could knead away all of the world's worries! If only it were that easy...

So what's on the menu for this weekend's bread? Olive/Rosemary. That will be in between soccer and a five o'clock wedding. Actually one loaf will be part of our wedding gift. So here's to the nearing weekend, a little therapy, and of course some warm bread!

Happy Wednesday~

R.I.P.

Today was a very, very difficult day. Actually, this week has been an extremely difficult week. It's been one of those weeks that just leaves one feeling completely and utterly exhausted at the end. Well, this week ended by saying goodbye to my sweet, 14 year old dog, Pretty. I had all week to prepare, but still even in knowing how the day would end, I was still overcome with sadness and great loss. This pound puppy was the greatest, sweetest, loyal friend that I really could ever have asked for. I got her my second month of college and she has lasted through six moves through three states, two marriages (one divorce, whew), two children, college, careers, friends, cars, everything. She was ALWAYS happy to see me when I came home. She loved to be outdoors and roamed aimlessly, just sniffing the neighborhood smells. Her shedding was atrocious; once I filled a lawn bag full of her "fur." Really. One time she got 47 ticks at once while hiking. Once she hid under my little vintage white gas stove and it took me a couple hours to find her. She ran away twice. Was hit by a car once. Ate countless bags of trash (I'm sure!). She woke me when I had fallen asleep while boiling baby bottles and caught the kitchen on fire. Once she pooped in the back of my Subaru wagon when I was collecting creek rocks. She used to jump from the bed through the little sliding windows in the cab of my dad's truck (she was never a truck riding dog!). Lately, her breath could melt the hairs on your face and she was a panter, especially during dinner time. Once she ate an entire batch of fresh baked biscuits right off the counter. She was in love. Once. Mica was his name (and what a handsome Doberman he was!). To this day if I said, "Mica" she would go to the front door to greet him. She would do just about anything for a piece of cheese or a hot dog. She shredded my entire couch while I was in class back in 1994. ENTIRE COUCH. She would chew anything made of wood. Including the thousands of sticks she would bring home and gnaw away. Thunder storms terrified her; she hid in the bathroom. She hated to get her feet wet. Like a princess she would tip toe through the yard if it was raining. She avoided puddles like the plague. She loved car rides, especially in the back seat where she would poke her head out the window. She used to chase her tail. Clockwise and counter clockwise. She used to lay her head in my lap when I cried. She really, really was devoted to making me happy. And she certainly did that. For nearly 15 years she was MY dog. MY Pretty Girl. I already miss her. I miss her constant pacing around our downstairs- through the kitchen around through the living room, and through the dining room; she would do it ten or fifteen times a night. I miss her hot garbage breath on my leg while I eat. I miss her outside routine of front door to back door to front door and so on. I miss her brown eyes that became so cloudy you could hardly tell their color. I miss her soft ears and her skinny hips. I miss her all over. I miss her and it hurts.
So, this rambling of words is for whoever reads this to know her simple ways. Farewell, friend.

adios

Here is my farewell to SODA. My lips haven't touch the high fructose corn syrup since last week. Well, today, I had to go to our museum in town to photograph some of my student's work, which is in the annual student exhibit. On the way back to work I stopped to grab a fish sandwich and a *s*o*d*a and that's it! I'm finished. YUK. I am not liking how I feel; it feels like I ate a whale. And, I feel way too full. So, farewell coke, pepsi, etc. Today is the new day. Water is my new friend!
Adios!

Little Surprises

I got this really cool application for my phone, Camera Bag, and when I find myself without my Canon, it tends to do the trick. I happened upon this little circle of grass clippings on a walk through our neighborhood. It really made my heart smile. Really it makes me all sentimental and mushy about childhood. I remember fondly the times of running around the house making mud pies, "witches" brew, and crushing berries for the color. Even though I think those are fairly typical childhood activities, I think that it was the beginning of my need to make and create. I so hope that my children have intense and positive childhood memories that make them smile when they have children of their own.

Johnny and I drove to our Riverfront Park because we had heard that the tulips were at their peak. Wouldn't you know that I didn't have my camera with me? So, my little phone came in handy. What a nifty age we are in! Technology saves the day!

Have a great Tuesday, Cino de Mayo, wherever you are!

Spring Soccer

During the month of May, you know where to find us every Saturday morning...at the soccer field! Last weekend, two Saturdays into spring soccer, Sam scored his first goal of the season. He was the only one to score from his team, and actually the only one to score during the game; so, Sam's score won the game! After the game all of the kids celebrated by pouring their water bottle water over their coach's head. It was really very sweet. Wish for dry weather every Saturday, because I hate a sloppy soccer field! Our forecast for this Saturday is calling for rain. Egad!

*sam is showing his number to the ref...for the newspaper*

Spring time means snake time

I just love spring time, that lovely time of rebirth. Flowers, blue skies, warm weather and yes, snakes. We spent our spring break in Wisconsin and much to our surprise we had gorgeous weather. We drove to a scenic overlook and while some of us were climbing the rocks a garter snake was spotted. Mama Meg chased down that sucker like the tazmanian devil! We all took our turns "charming" it and it was the first time Celia had encountered the reptiles. She really was quite curious and did enjoy "petting" it. Sssssooo, here'sssss to a ssssslithery sssssspring!

My Aura Color...

Blue
"Spiritual and calm, you tend to live a quiet but enriching life.
You are very giving of yourself. And it's hard for you to let go of relationships.
The purpose of your life: showing love to other people
Careers for you to try: Psychic, Peace Corps Volunteer, Counselor"

So, does my aura color fit me? I do tend to hermit, but who can blame me? I love my home. I love my husband. I love my children. And, I am totally satisfied in my surrounds. The food at home is better than any restaurant in our town, and the wine is better, too. I am constantly behind my camera lens where I become highly sentimental and somewhat dark. I create and love to give my creations away, well, just placing them in their proper homes, so to speak. And, my career choice is a teacher, middle school that is. Trust me, there's plenty of counseling at the middle school age. Psychic? I really do have psychic tendencies, however most of the time I'm not that in tune with them. There are moments, though, that I do forsee and "read" happening. Maybe I just make them happen. Who knows? If my "aura" is blue and that's what blue means, so be it. I like blue. Blue skies are wonderful. The very first baby clothes I bought were blue. My daughter's eyes are an unbeleviable blue. My sweetheart looks terrific in blue. And every now in then, I find myself Tangled Up in Blue.

By the way, Turbines thrill me to the bone. I love the concept, the sound, and how the landscaped is strewn with the alien like forms. It gives me the feeling of oversize skeletons that whisper the world's secrets across the miles.