Yes it is a Monday.
I had to send the exceptionally beautiful pink, double knit, vintage Hanbury suit back to www.plaidponyvintage.com because it was a bit snug on the shoulders. It fit like a glove every where else but the sleeves on the jacket where about 2.5 inches too short and I felt like I was going to lose circulation in my arms because my shoulders are so broad...oh well, it wasn't meant to be.
As I type I am avoiding the treadmill, the laundry, the kitchen, and the floors. All which are on my list of things to do...on Monday.
On Monday I always miss my husband since someone has to work so i can keep up my habits. I often tell him he should be mean to me on the weekends so that I won't miss him so much on Mondays.
In a few weeks it will be even worse as the kids will all be in school as well.
The good news?
Monday only comes once a week.
And Friday is only 4 days away.
Monday, July 31, 2006
Last Monday of the Month
Friday, July 28, 2006
"Gimpy" is Born!
This was my project for this week. The hubby named her Gimpy because her right front leg is a tad bit shorter than the rest. She is made of linen (a couple of linen napkins that had major yellow spots). Her mouth is a little funky but for my first try I don't think she is all that bad.
Next I will try to make one out of wool felt. Maybe in Grey?
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Why?
Why do I want to bake, even in the middle of the summer?
Why does summer have to go by so fast?
Why did I buy another watermelon today?
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
This is the pink vintage suit that I have had my eyes on for some time now. I am hoping it arrives on time for the Promotion Ceremony on Friday.
I am also planning on wearing it for a wedding in a week and a half. I was asked to be the Wedding director.
I think that if anything says officers wife or wedding director it's a vintage pink Hanbury suit with a string of pearls.
Or maybe it just says Beaver's Mom.
Either way I like it.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Getting Ready
In preparation for my first full year of teaching music to preschoolers I have been planning lessons and researching songs that tell stories as well have good rhythm and movement. I have been researching and planning a curriculum based on research that I have read that says music set to quality literature opens a whole new world in the preschoolers brain and leads to success in other arenas of cognitive and developmental growth. In other words, teaching music to preschoolers can be a stepping stone to helping math and reading skills later in the school-age years...Plus they like it and so do I.
All this to say, I am organizing the curriculum for the year. I looked up the music for some old folk songs, since there are so many of those that tell great stories. One that I looked up was Clementine.
Having only grown up singing the first and maybe second verse I didn't realize there was a whole story. It goes as follows: (my personal favorite verses are 6 and 10 )
Monday, July 24, 2006
The Weekend in Pictures
Saturday: A visit to our states capital and the Natural Science Museum.
Sunday: An afternoon on the river.
La Vida Dulce
Friday, July 21, 2006
Photo Friday
In an attempt to get my kids thinking and being creative (and to keep them from watching TV during the heat of the day) I allowed them each to use the digital camera for 15 minutes.
We entitled the assignment Red.
They were told they could photograph anything they wanted as long as it had the color red as the main focal point. I thought they did pretty good. Even though they both came from their sessions with a gillion pictures of Kona.
They have both decided that next Friday they want to do the color Blue.
Happy Weekend!
A Letter From The Dog
Dear Blog Readers;
I don't have much time, as Kellie and her pups are all doing a special photography project right now, but I am distraught so I sneaked into a room I, of all things, am not allowed to be in and logged into her blog. My hope is that you might be able to help me.
Today I had a haircut.
Obviously my very sweet Master as never heard of a professional groomer.
I was having a lazy morning after my walk. Just laying on my cozy blue bed, when all of a sudden I was hauled out to the driveway given a wretched hair cut and then, to make matters worse, a bath!
To say that I have been butchered is to be very nice. It actually looks like I have the mange. I had visions of the scene in " Mommy Dearest" where the little girl pup gets all her blond hair lopped off...Only I must say my Master was very gentle. Only it probably would have been better if she had just beaten me. At least I would still have my beautiful shiny coat.
The funny thing is while she haphazardly clipped away she kept telling me how much cooler I would be without all that hair...But then under her breath I thought I heard her say something about the ridiculous amount of hair that is floating around her house. I'm a dog...I can't help that my beautiful mane is thick and vivacious. Don't hate me 'cause I'm beautiful.
Please, if you love animals or have a shred of humanity, do not allow my sweet and very generous Master to get near me with scissors again. Remind her that although she cuts her sons hair and waxes her very own eyebrows, that she cannot, under any circumstances, add dog grooming to her list of talents.
Tell her to stick to making stuffed bunnies and playing the guitar.
My master's oldest pup took some pictures of me today and I am unable to post all of them now because of time constraints...Oh, and also the shame is almost more than I can bare. I have included the one above so that you can see how miserable I am. I am trying very hard not to mope...But I have had a bad haircut. Even my Master should understand that.
I am still very loyal to her though as evident in the last picture. Although there is a bit of revenge in the submission of this photo...She isn't wearing make-up and she hates to be kissed on the face.
Thank you kindly,
Kona
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Water, Water, Everywhere!
Some people have pools in their yard, some run through sprinklers. Some go to the beach.
Some people can swim right in their own living rooms.
www.frommytexaswindow.blogspot.com
Send her some blogger love...She needs it.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Desperation
The Teacher Appreciation chocolate (see Gratitude post in May) has finally ran out.
The only thing left was the Raisinets.
And you know how I feel about raisins.
It's true what they say: You can make anything good if you fry it... or roll it in chocolate.
It is true desperation when you eat raisins for the sole purpose of a chocolate fix.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Summer Crafts
The kids and I enjoy doing Arts and Crafts during the summer. Especially crafts that could be considered artful (not just another thing to collect and quietly throw away) and could be given as gifts.
Secretly, I enjoy hauling out the sewing machine from time to time....Especially when the supplies are scraps and things I already had in the closet.
I found this great pattern on the internet at www.weewonderfuls.typepad.com
If you are "arts and crafty" you should checkout her site. Another great site is www.littlebirds.typepad.com I enjoy her photography as much I enjoy looking at her handmade creations.
Yesterday the kids and I spent the morning sewing bunnies together and what follows is our final product. The kids did the face details (with a tad bit of help) and I did the sewing that required working with machinery!
Monday, July 17, 2006
Junk Mail
Some of you may have heard me say this before:
I LOVE MAIL!
Of course when it is bills or junk, it isn't the greatest, but I love cards and letters...and honestly any pretty colored paper. Included in this great love is e-mail. I love to receive it. Especially when you comment on this blog. (That was a paid political announcement.) Comments are mailed to my e-mail account.
But the junk mail I got in my snail Mail box yesterday really takes the cake. What came in the mail yesterday is un-acceptable. Especially because it came in a large coupon pack that got me all excited because sometimes they send you samples that are actually good. But yesterday my hopes where dashed and my love for mail was trampled on:
Need I say more?
Friday, July 14, 2006
True Confessions
It is yet again time for another true blogger confession:
I ate an entire watermelon.
Yes, all by myself.
No, not in one sitting.
I bought it on Monday and cut it into cubes.
I finished it yesterday.
I think that beats my own record.
Than I went back to the store and bought another one.
Perhaps a new addiction?
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Laziness
I have a serious case of the lazy's today.
I would love to lay down on my bed and read a book...Through my eyelids.
I have actually accomplished a fair amount today. But I have a feeling this afternoon is shot.
What I really need is a Grande non-fat Vanilla Latte on the rocks from Starbucks but, alas, the closest Starbucks is far away and I'm too lazy to get into the car.
Perhaps a good workout would be just what I need to boost my energy. But than that would require changing into workout clothes and shoes. Indeed, a paramount production.
As I type my fingers have to stop every fourth word or so...Just to rest.
My eyelids keep trying to close and they don't want to open again.
A cat nap might be nice...But I am afraid it will turn into a luxurious lion size snooze that will make the afternoon too short.
But now that I have written about it I might get off this computer and try to shake off this silly sluggishness.
Or I might just crawl in bed.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Blogger Birthday!!!
As a blogger, and person who likes a good reason to celebrate, I wanted to take the time to tell you that many things in history have happened on this day. It seems that July 12 is a day of new beginnings and amazing feats! Let me share some with you....
1864 - My Husbands hero, George Washington Carver, was born. He invented Peanut Butter
1923- Harry Houdini, while suspended upside down 40 feet in the air, escapes from a straight jacket. Maybe not a beginning to speak of...But maybe the beginning of people realizing he was one fry short of a Happy Meal.
1933- Congress passes 1st. Minimum wage law. 33 cents an hour!
1960 - Etch-A-Sketch goes on sale (shoulda bought stock in those)
1962- Rolling Stones gives first public appearance. 10 years before my time.
1976- TV Game show Family Fued premiered with host Richard Dawson. According to family legend I'm related to that guy. It's my only claim to fame so I'll take what I can get.
1982- The movie E.T. broke all box office records surpassing $100-million in ticket sales. How many of you saw that one in theater? I did!
1984- Geraldine Ferraro becomes first woman major party Vice President candidate. You Go Girl!
1985- Singing in the Rain opens at the Gershwin Theater in NYC.
2005- This blog, La Vida Dulce, is born with a post on Blueberry picking!
It is with great excitement that I celebrate this one year of blogging. With almost 300 posts, I never thought I would blog this long...and I never thought any one would read it!
La Vida Dulce...
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
A Bird That Flies But Doesn't Sing
or Yikes! Here Comes a Rant!
So, this morning I am driving on the highway on the way home from taking my son to the dentist. As it goes, the dentist is my son's least favorite place on the planet. I do believe he would rather be whipped (and have bad teeth) than to go to the dentist, but this morning it was imperative that he finish out a root canal that he had started three months ago. I, also, would rather be anywhere else than in those hours before taking my sweet first child to the dentist. Truth be told it's hard on everybody and we all get anxious.
I tell you this only to elucidate my frame of mind this morning. I had a weepy son who is fearful of the dentist. So he would vacillate between wanting to be hugged and encouraged, to giving me the evil eye and treating me with contempt for passing on my "bad teeth" gene.
I thought for sure this morning would go a bit better than yesterday.
Yesterday I tried very hard to ignore the fact that The Girl pointed out not one but three whiskers growing on my chin. While I had the tweezers out I decided I might as well clean up the eyebrows a bit...And to my delight I found in the middle of my right brow a...Are you sitting down?...Grey hair.
This, of course, did not make my morning, but I thought that I might add insult to injury, so I pulled out my scale. I knew that I had had a lot of culinary fun in Arizona but I guess I didn't really realize how much...6 pounds worth. Too many tasty tortillas and pool side popsicles and not enough actual swimming.
I was hoping this morning would go a bit more my way...But I was crazy to think that a morning starting with an Endodontist is actually worse than spending a morning trying to figure out how to save enough hair dye each month to cover eyebrows and deciding that those extra pounds are probably just added weight from the new beard I'm growing.
The dentist is much, much worse; for both my son...and my pocketbook.
Ok...so back to the highway on the trip home from the dentist...I have a boy in the back who is still not happy and now is noxiously numb. His sister, although worried for her brother is more concerned we will not make our 10:30 pool date and is talking a mile a minute in an attempt to cheer him up. And my cell phone is dying and beeping like crazy but has fallen to the floorboard and I can't reach it to make it stop.
I merge to the highway exit where people are supposed to yield to me and this red car pulling a trailer comes barreling toward me. He sees me and I am unable to slow down because I have traffic behind me. He is smoking a cigarette in one hand AND talking on the phone with the other all while his radio is blaring. He nearly broad sides me. I speed up so that he doesn't hit me and I give him a look that says "HELLO?".
To which he very angrily flips me the bird....As if I am the offending party.
Whatever!
Perhaps tomorrow will start off better...I am sleeping in.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Home Again, Home Again! Jiggety Jig!
We have arrived from our home in Arizona to our home in the Southeast.
It's good to be here!
Kona had a blast while we were gone. When asked, she insists she didn't have any friends over (other than the neighbor who took her for walks and stuff), but that one dog made more mess than I thought humanly possible...Then again, she isn't human.
I just spent the last two hours sweeping, vacuuming and moping the downstairs in an attempt to get rid of 26 days worth of dog hair. It was seriously gross. But now that everything is clean I can relax.
The night before we left there was a magnificent sunset. That was to top off the day spent with my niece and an evening slobbering all over my nephew (those cheeks are delicious). We also had a great "kid free" steak dinner with my parents which was great... but not quite as good as baby Fil's cheeks. It was a great way to end our trip.
So, give me a few days to settle in and I will get back to regular blogging.
La Vida Dulce!
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Soaking in the Sun
It seems hard to believe that for 21 days I have been soaking in the Arizona sun. It is even harder to believe that in 3 days I will once again be back home. It's been a great trip! And since the hubby has joined us it has been even more fun.
One of the more spectacular sights here are the sunsets. We had the opportunity to see a great "sunset show" on July 3rd. We went to my aunt and uncles house for a great dinner with my my parents, my brothers and their families, and extended friends and family. The pic above is of me with my two brothers. Dan is on my right and Fil is on my left. I know what you are thinking: She is the oldest sibling? I know it is hard to believe, but I am in fact the oldest.
Below are a series of sunset pictures from that night.
We had a great time yesterday celebrating Independence Day. We had some friends over for swimming and eating and it was fun to hang out and relax.
We also got some great news while we have been here. That sweet man of mine has been promoted to Lieutenant Commander...Which means that from now on he might make me call him "sir". Actually, being the humble guy that he is, he has quietly acknowledged this great news while I have wanted to shout it from the mountains that surround our little valley. It's great news for him, which makes me happy.
So all is well in the desert...It's time to go swimming. I only have 72 hours left to perfect my Arizona tan!
La Vida Dulce!
