Fave Kind Of Day

Today I woke up to stormy weather outside.  

 Images courtesy of Google Images

www.luhy.wordpress.com

I love a good storm once in a while.

Today you might say that storms are my favorite kind of weather.

(Tomorrow it might be sunny, snowy or foggy, I just never know.)

Image courtesy of Google Images

www.thestormtrack.com

We must all face stormy weather in our lives, what you do during this time shows your true character...

Here's  to hoping that God grants you the courage to weather your storms with grace, compassion, dignity.

The Best Things

In life are free, aren't they?

I am thrilled that once again my eastern bluebird friends have chosen my bluebird house to lay and hatch their little family.

Off to get them some meal worms!

I'm Waiting!

To My Dear Friends, The Lilacs,

I just want you to know I am very eagerly awaiting your arrival in my yard. 

I have prepared my house for you, washing vases, making sure the house is neat and tidy, dusting...

I even changed out a chair for you, my cream one with violet flowers painted on it, is now also waiting with me.

Like a kid waiting for Christmas morning I am, 

I would call it delicious anticipation.

I check on you each day to see your progress.  A gentle spring rain and you are almost there.

So come soon, my friends,

I miss your delicate scent, your sweet blossoms, your gentle nature.

I welcome your arrival!

Until then~
Kate

What's A Mom To Do?

What's a mom to do when she is in Dallas for the weekend and her oldest daughter is going to prom in Minnesota?

Well, the mom calls her sister, of course!

Sweet Bluebird went to prom for the first time this weekend.  Big Fireman and I were devastated that we both had to work.  Since we both were not going to be home, of course the pre-party pictures ended up at our house.  

Luckily Libbie saved the day and came to take plenty of pictures and help the girls get ready.  I am fairly certain she also became the official  bountonniere-pinner-oner.  (Yes, I made that word up.)

Here's my girl and her date.

(Not a boyfriend, just a date)

A funny story about the date.  

Bluebird is a junior in high school.  Her freshman year, Big Fireman and Bluebird were walking around at school.  This boy comes up to Fireman and talks about how he is best friends with Bluebird.  As we have never heard of this boy before, Big Fireman is thoroughly checking him out.  (Big Fireman is quite intimidating in person if you don't know him.)  The poor boy starts backtracking and talking how they are besties in homeroom only, not boyfriend/girfriend besties.

The poor boy still appeared a little scared of Big Fireman, but they went on their way.  Well, when Big Fireman gets bored, he likes to torture our kids.  So later, when Big Fireman spots the boy quite a ways from him, Big Fireman yells down the crowded hall, "Hey, what are you doing for prom your senior or junior year?  I might let you take my daughter!"

Of course Sweet Bluebird has been mortally embarrassed about this ever since...

And of course, we never let her forget it.

So this spring we are in Florida over spring break and she gets a text message from the same boy-

"Will u go 2 prom w me?"

She texts back-

"Yes."

Now the boy is a smart one, he texts back-

"And they said I couldn't find a hot date for prom!"

And the girl is a sarcastic one (just like her mom...)

She texts back-

"I already said I would go with u, u don't have 2 kiss up 2 me!LOL"

AAAAHHHH, a match made in heaven...

Another long story if you can indulge me.

Did I ever mention how Big Fireman gets bored and likes to torture our kids?

Well, at work he hatched out this whole plan.

He and his cop buddies were going to hang out and be on hand to greet all the boys at our house before prom.  They were going to park as many cop cars in the driveway as they could and sit out on our front porch and clean their hunting guns.  Big Fireman and his friends were all excited over their own version of the prom party until they all realized they all had to work that night.  Their plans went down the drain...

(Sweet Bluebird, you have to thank God for that one...)

Well imagine my surprise when this little guy shows up in cammo bearing his own arms on all the pictures.

Just like his daddy!


Thanks B (that's Lib's nickname) for saving the day and taking the pictures! 
Go check her out here!

Another of my Friday Faves

Today I am going to make you guess what one of my favorites is.  

I'll give you a little clue...

Need another clue?

That one might not help so much...

Okay, okay, here's another one...

Surely by now you kind of have it figured out...

But just in case...

Got it now?

I know you recognize this!

You guessed it!  

It's my garage/estate sale, flea market, and the occasion dumpster diving car!

This baby has the worlds biggest trunk.  I can practically fit an entire sale in it.

Luckily, I don't.

Well, usually...

But sometimes, if it's really good...

Just kidding.

I mean, my husband might read this!

Enjoy your weekend!

Another Visitor

I am still amazed at all of your comments on my skunk friends.

(Thankfully, I outsmarted them.  They are now living back in my ditch, where they belong.)  

But I just wanted to show you another friend I had come spend the day with us last summer. 

 

I went out first thing in the morning to get some weeding done.  This little guy was perched on a day-lily.

He seemed in no hurry to go anywhere, so we started talking...  

(Luckily I am very good at stimulating conversation...)

I think he liked our conversation as he stayed there, so I decided it was safe to go in and get my camera.

He was still there, so I went back in to get Nature Girl.  It was love at first site with those two!  

The day wore on and our new buddy cheerfully stayed in the day-lily.  Nature Girl and I pretty much lived in the garden that day, we wanted to see what he would do.  He was just content to stay there.

(Incidentally, Nature Girl and I did a very thorough check for Thumbelina, we thought she had to be nearby that day.)

Late afternoon and he was still there.  By then, my house had been overtaken by teenage boys and I had no food left, so I decided I couldn't live out in the garden any longer.  The flower was beginning to tuck my friend in for the night when we took him out of his new home.

  And one of us kissed him, just in case he was actually a handsome prince in disguise. 

And no, I won't tell who did the kissing...

But shortly after, we put him safely on the ground and he hopped away.

I'm quite sure he went looking for Thumbelina.  I know she was there somewhere!

Wonderful Surprise!

I opened my mailbox the other day to the most wonderful surprise!  This girl, Tracy, from cottonpickincute sent me a box to-end-all-boxes.  I mean, the girl spoiled me rotten!

Sorry for the poor pictures, it's really hard to take good shots when one is dancing around.

I mean, just look at what was in there!!!

Look at the beautiful packaging! 

(Okay, I totally have to confess... My grandma used to save wrapping paper from Christmas, and then she would iron it for use at a later date.  Yeah- we totally made fun of her for that, even though we loved her dearly...  She was a wonderful grandma, but ironing wrapping paper to a kid is kind of out there.  Well, guess who is now not only ironing that original letter from the 1940's but going to make copies of it too?  Just a warning, never make fun of grandma!!!)

To totally understand and appreciate this package, you have to read here.  It's a tribute to my dreams...

Little did Tracy know that I was actually thinking I could resurrect a discus for my attempt.   Guess who was the champion discus thrower in the family?  ( Yes Libbie was pretty good also)

The fact that my abs look remarkably similar to that in the statue is purely a coincidence...

Adorable handmade owl, love those eyes!

And the details on these bookmarks, could they be any sweeter?  And does Tracy know how much I love to read? 

Can you believe the fabulous apron? 

(I snagged the pic from her site as she took a much better picture than I did.  Thanks Tracy!!!)

It was the most thoughtful package that I have ever received.  There was also a CD, some soap, the sweetest letter and a darling little bottle of lavender.  The details Tracy put into this package are stunning.  Gotta love that girl!  She sure knows how to make a girl feel special!

 

My Newest Friends...

Look what moved into my yard this spring.

 photo coutresy of Google Images get-rid-of-pests.com

Right under my bedroom window.

Not good.

I couldn't think of a way to get rid of them, so last night I very quietly opened my window and tried to coax them to find another  home.

I talked very sweetly to them.  

Yeah...

Let's just say that didn't go too well.

The only thing worse than having skunks move right under your bedroom window is getting your families underwear mixed up in the wash and not realizing it until it is too late.

Don't ask...

Apparently...

I have been slacking in my parenting lately.

On Monday I had  five Meyer lemons.

And I thought it was rather odd when on Tuesday I only had four.

But then, when I only had three?  I started getting suspicious.  

(I know, call me Sherlock...)

  I guess I need to teach my kids the difference between a Meyer lemon and an orange!

Because, who would want to miss out on this?

Sunshine in a jar!  Yum!!!

Recipe found here

I Come From..

A long line of dumpster divers. 

A long line.  

Sometimes it's not so great.

Like the time when our dad found a bubble mower in someone's trash and actually walked home pushing it.  Very embarrassing.

Especially when you are a teenager and everyone knows that is your dad snagging a lawn mower from the trash four blocks away and actually walking down the street with it.

And he is proud of his new find...

Mortifying actually.

But when he finds this?  

And you snag it out from under your mom before she gets a chance to have it hung? 

It's very cool...

 Especially when you were thinking that your room needed some sprucing up.

And especially when it had all the crystals with it.

Then being a dumpster diver is totally awesome!

  And sorry, mom, I do feel a tiny twinge of guilt.

But only a teensy, tiny bit.

Hardly anything at all, actually...

And when you see it hanging in my bedroom?  You will agree that it is the perfect home instead of your porch.

I just love recycling!

Friday Faves V

My Friday Faves today? 

Lines, of course!

Some great lines, on favorite, but ordinary, treasures in our home...

Hoping you cherish this beautiful spring weekend!

Look What Else...

I caught...

Baby Chicks

Finally, a use for my one lonely shoe.

There was an old woman, who lived in a shoe...

(Wait, I'm not old!)

 

My new babies have great taste, don't they?


And yes, Libbie, I am expecting you and the kids for a photo shoot tomorrow after Annie gets out of school.

I'm Back!

After spending a great week with the family, we are getting back to normal our regular routine.  I am back to cooking, cleaning toilets and being the taxi driver, and the kids are doing their thing.  Poor Big Fireman is back at work.  (I can't feel too sorry for him as he loves his job and it doesn't involve cleaning toilets...)

Thanks so much for leaving sweet comments on my last post.  It was so wonderful to turn on the computer and see all your well wishes.  Truly wonderful, you all are so sweet! I missed you, but we had a great week, it was fun to spend some family time together.  We don't get that as much as we would like with this crazy world we live in. 

I got a ton of emails asking about our Easter pictures.  Being the scatterbrained mom that I am, or rather, the mom of three teenagers who have to be threatened in order to have their picture taken, I will leave you with my lone Easter shot.  

I will warn you, it's not for the sentimental or the faint-of-heart.  

Look what I caught...

The EASTER BUNNY!

Happy Spring!