Willow Tree

In the backyard of my parent's home stands this majestic willow tree. I don't know that my mom would think of it as majestic, but it certainly defines their backyard. I remember being with my friends and swinging from the branches many days. Then my own children had their time to swing from it's branches. Now my grandchildren are enjoying the same old tree.

Once again I can't take credit for this picture, thanks again J for uploading all these fantastic shots.

This tree certainly gives off an energy that is uplifting. I love the inspiration that surrounds it.

Extra Hour of Sunlight

Time to Spring the clocks forward. What do you think? Here is my list of pros and cons. Add a few of yours if you care to comment.

Pros:

1. I know it is almost opening day for baseball.

2. It was established in 1916 for some war effort, and now it is a law, and I do follow laws and rules...but, hasn't that long since passed?

3. I know it is almost opening day for baseball.

4. Summer is coming soon.

5. Baseball spring training is here!

6. The sun is beautiful.....look at that ray of sunshine today.

7. A trip to spring training is sounding good.

8. I can actually walk without freezing my tush off!

9. Did I say it is almost opening day for baseball?

10. Only 20 days to opening day of BASEBALL!

Cons:

1. Less sleep

2. Less time to get ready for work....really!

3. Less sleep

4. It is dark in the morning.....really!

5. Less sleep

6. Giving up an hour of sleep is hard on my body.....Really!

7. DID I SAY LESS SLEEP.

8. Naturally your body wants to go to sleep when the sun goes down and wake up to it. On daylight savings time you do neither.

9. Life is always an adjustment to circumstances...why do we have to add one more?

10. I'm sure my kids (although they love to sleep) and grandkids (they never sleep) manage just fine, but I am an old lady and I kind of like the idiom: "Early to bed, early to rise, makes this girl healthy, wealthy and wise!"

My Neighborhood Was FLOCKED

What a beautiful Sunday Morning. Look at the blue, blue sky and the perfectly flocked trees.
Here is a look at the neighborhood street. It was breathtaking to see the sky so blue and the trees so white with fresh snow.

The first thing I thought of was my dad with the vacuum out in the front yard flocking our Christmas Tree. Oh it was an experience to remember! One particular year I remember the bag of flocking went sailing down the road because Dad was sick and tired of the vacuum plugging up. Trying to fool Mother Nature....was not easy back then.

Today We Celebrated Dr. Seuss Day!

We always celebrate Dr. Seuss birthday in March. This is a copy of the page we put in our portfolio this year. Each student got to wear the HAT

Smiled big because of that.

TO DR. SEUSS Theodore Geissel,

friend of my youth provider of wisdom,

laughter and truth

Yertle the Turtle,

the Cat in the Hat

The Grinch and the Lorax

and creatures like that

all taught me lessons

I'll never forget and I thank the good doc

I ain't forgotten them yet

Strangely named felines and odd colored fishes

If I ran the circus and other fun wishes

they led me to wonder about what I would be

when I got much older like a hundred and three

Would I ever like Green Eggs and Ham

Would I ever dislike that Sam I Am?

I found that the world was a funnier place

And his stories put many a smile on my face

And now I'm grown up and have kids of my own

and I read the good doc when I have them at home

and pass on the lessons I learned at his knee

though I'm not that much older just thirty and three.

A friend sent this poem to me in an e-mail...I don't know who to give credit! Some people are just so darn creative.

Copper Bell Rain Chain

After the movie Nina wanted to drive by a new store Homebase. We did a track race through the place, it had some amazing ideas! The picture above was one of my favorites, so I came home did a little research here is what I found:

Copper Bells Rain Chain

Rain chains ('kusari doi' in Japanese) are hung from the corners of your roof, attached to the gutter system to guide the flow of water gently to the ground; they have been used in Japan for hundreds of years.

Years ago, people used rain chains to guide the water into large barrels to catch the water from the roof for household purposes and gardening. Rain chains are a beautiful alternative to traditional downspouts. They guide water visibly downward to the ground.

This is known as an "open" waterflow system. Rain chains also sound great! Using our gutter attachment piece, rain chains are easily installed for an efficient and beautiful waterflow system.
These exclusively designed, pure copper bell cups are breathtaking! They feature a folded lip at the top and hand hammered accents.

Saturday Girls Trip

Spending time with friends is always a great way to avoid the "Winter Blues". Today was one of those lucky days in my life when I got to spend time in the company of three very close friends. These great ladies always provide me with a uplifted energy and renewed spirit.

I am very passionate about food, I am not a connoiseur in any form but I do enjoy a good meal. Fine dining would always be my choice and exactly my cup of tea. We had lunch at "The Garden Restaurant" in Salt Lake City....what a view and yes the food was fabulous. Look at those beautiful smiles. I have been blessed with some really good friends throughout my life. I am very happy to have these 3 in my life today. Where would I be without their understand hearts, gentle words of encouragement, and simply always being there.....day or night!

After lunch we saw the movie "Bonneville".....did they get the title from the Salt Flats?

We all enjoyed the experience, maybe we connected with one of the characters, or maybe it is just our age. The story is about a recently widowed Arvilla ( Jessica Lang ~ maybe Nina and LeAnn), who is accompanied by her friends Margene (maybe Nancy) and Carol (of course Lynette), on a trip from Pocatello to Santa Barbara. Arvilla takes her husband Joe's vintage Bonneville and heads towards Santa Barbara to deliver Joe's ashes to his recentful daughter, Francine. En route, however, a series of offbeat adventures leads the women on a journey that will change their lives and show them there is more than one way to keep a promise. Her friends, life-of-the-party Margene and goody-two-shoes Carol, volunteer to go with her for moral support. Expecting to fly, they're surprised when Arvilla picks them up in her '66 Pontiac Bonneville convertible, and shocked when she cruises serenely past the airport and hijacks them on a reluctant road trip that becomes the ride of their lives.

The movies theme of warm hearted friendship, self-discovery, and the memories that make life worth living is what we are all seeking.

I have been extremely lucky and truly blessed indeed to have these women in my life. Thanks girlfriends for your gift of friendship. I'll do a road trip with you any day!