"Old" Friends

I went to Boulder today.  I really don't get there very often, but I had a good reason today.  I met one of my "oldest" friends for lunch.  Now, she is not old at all!  She really is quite young!  She is one month younger than I am!  Anyway, we have not gotten together for ages and needed to catch up.  I remembered when we were 8 years old and played in the big snowstorm.  I came home and there was proof!  Here we are, circa 1972 (see, not the olden days!) with our snow man and little Kathleen.  Me in me orange parka is proof that I've always been a Bronco fan to boot!!  We grew up, did a stint of high school together, were room mates during summers when she was in college and our mothers were roomies for years.  We really did grow up together.  Amazing that we still look the same!  Well, maybe a little better!!

Me and my Mom

So I've been thinking about my Mom a lot lately.  It's not that I don't think about her often, just more than usual.  When she was alive, we would think about each other at the same time.  Maybe that's what's happening!  She's in heaven putting in a good word for me.  This is an old picture (when I had short hair and was much smaller than I am now.....) but shows how much we look alike. 

HI MOM!  Love you!!

Love a Latte

I love my morning latte.  Today, it loved me back!

Cool, hugh?

I Will Not!

Ten Things I Will Not Do in 2010....

Worry about not having a job

Eat more junk

Diet...(I'll eat better)

Talk about the old days

Avoid drinking wine

Cook with more fat

Spend time alone away from family

Miss any chance to hug one of my kiddos

Cry over missed opportunities

Miss 2009

Everyone Loves the Museum!

We spent yesterday at

The Museum of Nature & Science

The Numbers:

4 adults

6 kids under 11

1 baby with one stroller

1 packed lunch, mine ($1.50)

10 purchased lunches ($60)

7 cheap lunch toy prizes

7 milk cartons

3 packages of astronaut ice cream

and

2 tubs of "Moon Mud" (don't ask)

Turns out, New Years Eve is a big day at the Museum!

I think most of Denver was there with us!

It was a blast, and I can't wait to go back!

Happy New Year!!

2010 - May It Be

The Best Year Ever!

May you have safe travels,

joyous family times,

good health,

a job that makes you happy

and a good glass of red wine with your

sweetheart every chance you get!

Here's to the best year to come!

Winter...Gotta Love it!!

Here's the latest picture of my backyard.

It was 10 below zero the other night.

If you don't like the cold, move to Florida!

Or, you can wait until tomorrow when it will be 37 degrees!

Colorado in winter....gotta love it!!

Attention Mr. Blackwell!

I have a new entry for your top ten worst dressed.

If you were still alive, I know this one would make the list.

God love him, he tries.

At least his shoes and socks match the plaid shorts.

Tiger, eat your heart out!

Remodeling Lesson #3

Madden Addition

So I have designed a really nice addition for my house.  Four hundred square feet of Master Bedroom Bliss!  I do this for a living for goodness sake....I know what I'm doing!  I don't have time to do it for myself though, because I am too busy creating Bliss for other people.  I know!  I'll get quotes from my friends in the building industry.  It can't cost that much to have someone do it for me!  Right?  Wrong!

To make a long story short, after four quotes from my friends, I built the thing myself...during the dead of winter...in three months...$25,000 under budget.

Hire a Building Coach!  We will save you money!!

Remodeling Lesson #2

Baldwin Air Conditioning

So, there's a huge hailstorm.  Air conditioning condensing unit gets all banged up.  Insurance Company says they will pay to "comb" it.  I don't even know what that means.  Heating Contractor comes over to look at air conditioner.  "I need to see your furnace."  he says.  Okay, here's the furnace.  Contractor notices that the basement is not finished.  So the verdict to fix the air conditioner?  The furnace and ALL THE DUCTWORK needs to be replaced.  You have got to be kidding me.  Gives a $16,500 price.  He can get a NEW a/c unit for $2000!!  Good thing he called me before he did this work  It was TOTALLY UN-NECESSARY!  He decided to bag the whole thing and get a swamp cooler for $600.  It's dry here anyway.  He could use the humidity....

Hire a Building Coach!  We will save you Money!!!

Remodeling Lesson #1

 Dominguez Kitchen

One of my friends wanted to get granite countertops for her kitchen.  Her kitchen is not very large or complicated.  She had been given quotes for $6000 for granite countertops.  We were talking and she said she had $3000 saved.  I did a little searching and got her bullnose granite countertops with backsplashes installed for $3000. 

Hire a Building Coach!  We will save you money!

Gingerbread Project

Today, the fifth graders at church handed these out to everyone...

It was our Gingerbread Project and Alex's class did it.

We buy a gift for someone who can't afford one

and we get a yummy cookie in exchange.

This is what the Holidays are all about!

Let the Turkey cooking begin,

Overeat with all your kin.

Drink a glass of Holiday cheer,

Christmastime is almost here!

Great Book

I have a new interest in American History. Don't ask me why.  I could have cared less when I was actually supposed to learn this stuff.  Now, I just find it all fascinating!  My friend Susan read this a while back and I bought it fully intending to read it.  This was about 8 years ago....I am such a sad excuse for a reader.

I'm reading it now....Does that count?

Thanksgiving Dry Run!

I am getting ready to make Sweet Potatoes and Cranberry Sauce.  Just call it a dry run for Thanksgiving next week.  David, my brother-in-law, is a pilot and will not be home for the holidays. Can you spell b-o-n-u-s?  ANYWAY....David loves Thanksgiving so Dawn is throwing him his very own private Thanksgiving tonight.  I figure I can never have enough turkey and mashed potatoes with gravy, so why not?

Can't wait!

I hope she likes it!

I can't believe it, but after 2 years of designing and buying fabric and cutting 17 pieces for EACH block and ironing and sashing and batting and quilting BY HAND and washing and crying when it was finished I was so proud.....

ALEX'S QUILT IS FINISHED!

It's Winter Already......

Under This.....

is a whole lotta these.

Anyone for a yard cleanup party in a week?

Fair Maidens

Not wanting to be outdone by the kids.....
Always wishing I had a costume for the Ren Fest.....
Sewing for two weeks......
Odds of me ever wearing this again?
ZERO

(April looks terrific!
I should have picked a different pattern....)

Halloween 2009

Garrett the Bat

Garrett loves bats. "They eat bugs and candy corn. They sleep at the daytime and hunt for bugs at the nighttime. They sometimes eat blood, but not always." There it is.

Miss K the Snow Fairy

She is going to see how many different kinds of Fairies she can be. She's been an Ice Fairy, a Water Fairy and now a Snow Fairy (very appropriate due to the snowy Halloween this year...) I think she is going to sprout wings next!!

Alex the Fire Hydrant

She is seeing how many ways she can use the same Ace trashcan. She was a can of trash first (duh) then last year a flower pot (very cute!) and this year a fire hydrant. What will she come up with next? Tune in next year to find out! One creative kid....

Fall? What Fall!

My poor fountain! Just hooked it up....now it's frozen.

The playset looks like it came from the North Pole!

We eventually got a good 24" of the white stuff.
It's rare to get this much in October, but not unheard of!

We're ready, winter! BRING IT ON!!

Broncos Cheerleader!

Here She Is! Our Own Denver Bronco's Cheerleader!

Miss K is having an absolute blast being a Junior 
Denver Bronco Cheerleader.  She goes to fund raising

events, the blood drive, and lots of home games. She is 
really doing well with her dance and is just 
smiling from ear to ear when she comes 
home from a game.


I hate to admit it....


I'm Jealous!