The Miracles of Photoshop....

View from my own backyard

Rotten Mood!

Rotten Mood Reason #1

I awoke this morning to my constant cold. It retreats long enough for me to forget about it and then returns with a vengeful sneak attack when I'm not expecting. Darn sneaky cold. Justin says I'm trying to cultivate a super virus and that each time it returns it is gaining strength. I can't help but imagine a swirling vortex of germs (imagine what a germ might look like here) back building for some great crescendo of sniffling, sneezing, aching, coughing, stuffy-headed, fever tornado! It's not a pretty sight. If I had the strength I would whip up a batch of crock-pot chicken noodle soup. So yummy and soothing when I am sicky.

Rotten Mood Reason #2

Last night was the first time it has snowed in a while. I mean in a significant, measurable way. It has been so cold that we are still looking at the same snow that fell like three weeks ago. I'm so over the sub-zero temperatures. That being said, most people who know me, know that I don't wear coats. Not in years! Coats are bulky and limit my range of movement in a car. They make me feel claustrophobic. However, a coat probably would have provided some type of padding, when I fell down a flight of steps last night. Fell is putting it mildly. As soon as I stepped onto the porch, both feet slid forward and my body clumsily jutted backward until I was flat on my back, looking star-ward. I then proceeded to bounce down the stairs like a human bobsled. My purse flew to the right, and my keys were tossed into the air like confetti as I bounced to the bottom. It took us nearly 15 minutes to find my keys which landed in the bushes 5 feet away. Needless to say, my backside is covered in scrapes and bruises! As is my pride!

Rotten Mood Reason #3

Our fridge is dying. The freezer no longer freezes fudgicles and every few hours it leaks a cup full of water on the floor. Normally, I would be delighted to add a new appliance to my kitchen, but not right after Christmas! Not right after we just bought a new television. Not when property taxes are due next month! I was hoping it would last long enough to be replaced by a shiney, new, black, side-by-side Whirlpool I have been dreaming about from Sears. No such luck!

Heard Enough?!?!?! Tired of my whining?!?! Here's one more for the road.

Rotten Mood Reason #4

I just opened our gas bill. The envelope was curiously bulky. Not a good sign. Verdict: We should invest in natural gas. We would be rich beyond our wildest dreams. Although- seeing this bill is incentive enough to walk across the room and turn the thermostat down a few degrees!

A funny face....

Photography of any sort is relatively new to me. I never had a lot of interest in photographing anything until the last couple of years. I credit my initiative to Marie, as I was always a fan of the pictures she takes. She's such a talented photographer. Photographing my family has become a great hobby of mine and you can find evidence of it in nearly every roomof my house. This picture of Lily is a hoot!! Who can resist that "smile" face????

Sometimes I see pictures on Marie's blog and I wish I had them for our family album. We lead such busy lives that we don't get to always be part of the fun. Anyone who wants to borrow photos from my blog is welcome to do so, although I will point out that they don't print very well beyond wallet size. If you want to be on the photo distribution list, leave me your email address in the comments and I will gladly send them to you in jpeg format.

Saturday Night At Mor Mor's House

We had a wonderful dinner at Mor Mor's house tonight. I love photographing Lily, as she is the most photogenic child on the planet. Just look at these pictures and you'll see why this little girl melts our hearts.

Guilty!

Honey Dog...what did you do now???

Self-Portrait

I wanted to try out my new tripod. Much as I hate to have my photo taken, I was too excited about my new "toy" to wait for a more photogenic subject to become available.

26 Years Old

This year you had to work on your birthday again! I took the day off work so I could run you to the BMV for new license plates and out for a birthday lunch celebration. Despite the fact that you were so tired from work that you could have face-planted in the snow without hesitation for 8 hours, you were a good sport and ran the errands with me. You enjoyed the Chinese buffet luncheon, although I was sorely disappointed you didn't let me coax our server into singing you a rousing, broken-English version of "Happy Birthday". Oh well, there's always next year;)

I think you were surprised this morning when I dove out of bed at 7:30, ran past you without a word, and straight in to the bathroom to brush my teeth. You stood outside the door as I was furiously brushing asking me if "I remembered what day it is?" "Of I remember silly", I teased. "It's the day your license plates expire." I swung open the door only to see that dejected look on your face- which I promptly wiped away with a big [non-morning breath] birthday kiss.

Happy Birthday Sweetheart! You are the most special person in my life. I can't imagine a single day without you in it. I know this is a cliche and chic-like thing to say, but I could never love you as much as I did the when we first met...

I love you so much more!

Love~ Pickle

Just a cute face!

Happy 21st Birthday!

Happy Birthday Dustin! I love you so very much! I am so blessed to have you in my life. I had such a good time taking you out for your 21st birthday. I wish so many great things for you and I hope this year is filled with loads of fun!

Love~ Heather

Cheers! and Happy New Year!

May each year be better than the last!

Songs of the Season

I love Christmas music. I have nearly 100 different songs from iTunes to prove it. But which ones are my favorites???? Hmmm....If you go by play count on iTunes, the results of the poll suggest I love Frank Sinatra singing "The Christmas Waltz". If you ask Justin, he would tell you my favorite Christmas songs are sung by the great Burl Ives. Who doesn't love "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer" or "Silver and Gold"? Although, " A Holly Jolly Christmas" is quite nice. But the truth is that my all-time favorite, can'tgetthroughtheseasonwithouthearingitsong is "Winter Wonderland". Yup. Without a doubt. Tonight, I was feeling a little blue and the most magical thing happened!!!!!!!!!! A large group of carolers passed through my neighborhood!!! They paraded up and then down our block singing merrily of j-i-n-g-l-e bells, and frosted window panes despite the fact that it is warm enough to stand outside and grill. I stood on the front porch watching as many of my neighbors came out to enjoy the sounds of the season. Now I think presents and twinkling lights are wonderful, but tonight I got that old Christmas feeling. The one that makes your stomach uneasy with excitement and your mind wiz with anticipation. What a delightful Christmas present from these singing strangers.

SIGNS OF THE SEASON!!!

THE COOKIES AND CANDY!!!!

THE SNOW!!!!!!

THE DECORATIONS!!!!

HAVING MYSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS!!!!

Listen to me rant...

I am excited. Christmas butterflies and all. I worked very hard on some of my presents this year and I can't wait to give them. I am still waiting on several things to arrive on my doorstep from eBay. Surprisingly, almost every gift I am giving this year has some tie to eBay or the internet. I forget when I changed over from a regular store shopper to a confirmed online bargain hunter. At any rate, it surely beats dragging my poor body through any more stores. I used to love seeing all the holiday shoppers bustling around with holiday decorations in every window. Anymore it is just a contest to see who grab the most "stuff". And people fight over stuff. Right out in the aisle with everyone watching. Kids fighting in a playground have a better grasp on reality than these people. I saw two women screaming at each other over the last remaining child's table and chair set. Apparently having Dora the Explorer emblazed on the table top was a necessity for both of these women, and let me just say- neither of them were backing down.

You can't even walk through the mall without being bombarded with a dozen foreign, sales people offering to exfoliate your hands in the middle of mall or accessorize your cell phone. I despise that. If I need accessories, I'll call on you- not vice versa! So, I'm standing in returns at Sears and some lady cruises up with her flat shopping cart loaded down with what I can only guess was a snow blower and blasts it into one of my tendons. I will say, had I not cried out in pain/surprise, I don't think she would have even noticed. I then stated the obvious, "you hit me!" to which she replied, "oh, it's so crowded in here." Is that a backhanded apologie? or none at all? You be the judge! So, I like the internet cause it's easy on the tendons.

I love to wrap Christmas presents. I could do it for hours. I like making those neat creases and folds with Scotch tape. Actually, I will share a little secret here. I love the smell of scotch tape. Always have. It reminds me of our school library, where I spent the majority of my last two years in school. Smelled just like scotch tape.

So, I don't have any pictures to post. I have been too snug in the house since my steps have disappeared beneath a shelf of snow. I can't find my winter boots and my latest sneakers actually don't have a back in them. They're slip-ons. I don't wear coats or hats but boots I cannot forego. I hope the mailwoman is wearing snow shoes, because that is the only way she's getting to my mailbox!

Strangely Calm for December 13th.

Twelve short days before Christmas and I am strangely calm.
Worried about presents? Nope.
Worried about schedules and appointments? Nope.
I seem to be getting everything wrapped up early this year. No more stress like years before. I took my staff out to Hibachi for their Christmas dinner and we all exchanged presents. We had our Christmas dinner with Bj, Marie and Lily last weekend. I made all my cookies and candy early this year and they have already been distributed and likely eaten by now. Justin and I decided to each buy for our own families this year, so I only have a few more things to buy and wrap. I stood in the middle of Target, with hundreds of busy shoppers flooding around me and I couldn't think of a single thing I needed to do. So I went out for pie. Merry Christmas to me!! Meanwhile, if you are on Justin's list, I am sorry. You were not necessarily naughty this year, but your presents might suggest otherwise. He is finding out that there are certain people who are mighty difficult to buy for. I might take mercy on the poor sap and suggest a few places where he can buy them gift certificates.
As for Christmas day, it will be unlike any I've known since becoming part of this family. Justin has to work Christmas Eve and Christmas Night. So having him in a functioning state is nearly impossible. He insists on spending Christmas morning with his Mom, so we are meeting there after which we are going our seperate ways. He is going to bed and I am going to my parents. Maybe that's why I'm not very excited about Christmas this year. Most of Justin's Ohio family is moving out of state after Christmas, so I don't think he is very enthusiastic about Christmas either. I think he will finally understand long distance family life. My family doesn't live in another state, but there is 75 miles of highway that separates us. That's a buck fifty on the old odometer altogether and 2.5 hours traveling time. Next year, I think we are going to boycott Christmas traveling like my in-laws. No hustle or bustle or early morning attempts to cram thirty presents in your truck/backseat. No worries about being late or early. Just chillin' on the couch, watching old Christmas movies and snuggling. Sounds like a nice Christmas to me........

A Left-Handed Debate

A few weeks back, I was at dinner with Justin, Karen and Lily. We were eating and I remarked that Lily was left-handed. This seemed apparent to me as I have been watching her for the past several months feed herself and reach for things with her left hand. It was at this point in time that I was informed Lily is not actually left-handed. (?) She then proceeded to pick up a crayon (the nice lady at Parasson's gave her) and colored a picture with her right hand...and then when that hand became tired she switched. Who can say?!? Only time will tell. Lefty or Righty, we love her just the same, and it is certainly interesting watching her grow up into who she will become.

Happy Birthday to ME!!

And Elizabeth Dillow.

26 and downward spiraling towards 30. Bahhhh!

Happy Thanksgiving! and some note worthy snow and other ramblings...

November 22, 2007

Thanksgiving Evening

A nice dusting of snow settled over our little corner of the world today. It was perfect weather for a warm, family gathering. My house is glowing with Christmas lights already, I can hardly believe the season is already upon us. I'm going to celebrate this Christmas differently than ever before. I'm going to turn out all the house lights and sit down cross-legged on the floor and watch the tree lights twinkle. I used to do that. All the time. I'm going to use my Grandma's rolling pin and make lots of cookies and candy. My Grandma believed that cookies could make anything better. Anytime I would throw a fit or get hurt she would offer me a cookie. Come to think of it, Grandma fed me an awful lot of cookies. I blame Grandma for my thighs and bum! (haaa!) But, I digress. Baking has taught me a lot about patience. She believed in decorating for Christmas out of enjoyment. I definately like that. I had so much fun putting up my tree. But patient with Christmas lights, I am not. I ended up tossing last years remnants for crisp new sets that twirled around the tree with ease. It may sound wasteful, but I think I'll continue to throw out my Christmas lights each year as a present to myself in the coming year. The point of my rambling, is that I expect this Christmas season to be filled with the kind of peace you feel when nothing is wrong. Do you know what I mean? No worries, no hangups, no itchy demands- none of it! Just satisfaction with your little place in the world. This holiday season forget about mountains of gifts, do something good for others, and find a little peace on earth.

Something Funny

My niece Lily loves to repeat everything ANYONE says, so we are all very careful not to say anything that might sound...inappropriate coming out of a two-year old mouth! That being said, I never imagined that we would repeat something she said. Lily loves to jog/shuffle around in a circle chanting "I'm so fast, I'm so fast" over and over. I suppose if you hear this everyday it's not as funny, but for us it was a riot! Today when Justin got home from work he fell asleep on the couch. I came downstairs around 10:00 to send him to bed. He got up off the couch and as he was going up the stairs he turned, looked at me and said "I'm so fast, I'm so fast" and finished jogging up the steps. I nearly fell off the couch laughing! What can I say? Simple things amuse simple people.

Wait 'Til You See How Much Fun We Had On Saturday!!

I met Karen and Lily on Saturday for a day of dancing and fun. We had loads of fun and I now have a newfound respect for my sister-in-law. By the time Lily's naptime arrived we were both ready for a nap!! Lily is overflowing with energy and I can't imagine how Marie makes it through the day without passing out on her feet! I did not make it past Lily's naptime and fell asleep on the bed next to Lily's. The next thing I know I'm waking up disoriented and look over at Lily who squeals, "Aunt Heather are sleeping? Please read kitties!!". (Lily has a book at Mor Mor's house about kitties.) All-in-all it was a fun day and I can't wait to do it again!