What's New(s)?

So… life keeps up its hectic pace…

Spring finally got here to the Upper Midwest, but it's been cool & wet & seriously lacking in Sunshine

:(

I like kitty's attitude toward the weather:

Yep, curled up in a ball with her head tucked into the corner of the couch…

Word is that we're supposed to be getting some nice warm temps starting tomorrow… like 70s & 80s for at least a week or so… YES!!

As for me, at least the weather was cool while I was cleaning up the gardens… about 35 heaping wheelbarrows full of "junk" hauled into my woods to rot away, replaced by 73 bags of fresh mulch - and the cleanup is finally done!!  I've also planted some annuals and a few other new things… if curious go check out my gardening blog for the latest happenings.

Picture above shows a portion of my Iris patch today, only about a month late…

I've also been busy in my studio, especially when its been raining - rain makes gardening a little too cold & messy… Below is a new form I came up with, I'm not sure what I'm going to call it yet, at the moment I'm calling it "Lattice".  Deep rectangular frame, "lattice" is attached to the inside of the frame but way at the back, stone setting is on top of the lattice.  If curious about what's been happening in the studio go check out my art blog.

I'm once again fighting the "battle of the bulge"… so I've been experimenting with an idea my doctor suggested…

This is breakfast… almost exclusively vegetable… starting the day out "light" calorie-wise.

What else has been going on???  Well… Jeff had his first summer band concert at Como Park Pavillion.  The band was awesome (as usual) and while they were practicing / warming up I got to take a leisurely walk around Como Lake… the following are some pictures I shot while on my stroll…

A couple local boys...

…grabbing some fast food...

An interesting tall shrub… would love to know what this is… it was about 10-12' tall and had these pretty little blooms.

This interesting little plant, the leaves remind me of rosemary & the flower looks like a tiny rose… anyone know what this is?

That's all for now… life is busy but good… until next time!

Life's Rough...

My kitty loves to sleep… as she's aged she sleeps even more… I almost caught her in a cute sleeping position (but, oops I woke her up)… she'd had her head tucked into the arm of the couch sleeping on her back…

Such a fluffy lazy beastie… and ready to go right back to napping...

Yep, caught her in a big yawn… what can I say, I'm easily amused!

Feeling Spoiled!!

Yes, Spring has finally Sprung in Minnesota… that means I'm busy (the gardens have sprung up quickly), but I'm also feeling quite spoiled!!

Tuesday was the first really warm day of the year - 90s & dry & very pleasant - so Kitty & I decided to hang out on the deck...

No need to work hard that day… just enjoy the warmth… and kitty here was enjoying a belly rub as well… such a sweet kitty!!

On Wednesday I decided it was time for a change… I'd been wearing my hair the same way for quite a while (a couple years) and decided I wanted a change… I'll be growing back my curls after Summer… just wanted something super-simple for the warm weather ahead…

I've been spending lots of time out in my gardens, doing the first run at the flower gardens - cleaning and mulching… this is a long process because my gardens are extensive, and my neighbors always notice / appreciate how much time & effort I take…  I'd been talking to one of my neighbors earlier in the day, helping him look through the plants in his yard (he's new in the neighborhood), and later he brought me lunch (he'd been grilling while we were looking at his plants) figuring I could use a good lunch since I'd been working so hard - such a sweet thing to do… and yummy too!!  Thanks Alex!!

Today I prepped my last lesson for the season for my Young Adult group that I work with at church… its always hard at the end of the season (we break for summer), especially since I know not everyone will come back… but then next year will bring new people… still… I am praying that this group of God's faithful will have a blessed Summer.

Family…

We've had relatives in town, Jeff's Dad & Stepmom (Ken & Susan), and we've been busy doing stuff & getting caught up… quite a bit has happened since my last post…

While Ken & Susan were here Jeff & I had our choir concert… it was actually a choir festival - 5 local choirs joined together with a small orchestra at a large church in the area.

I took pictures from the Soprano section (one side of the front balcony) - this picture is looking across the Alto/Tenor sections to the Bass section (Jeff's over there) on the other side of the front balcony.

The Orchestra was front & center...

Looking out at the audience...

It was a great time, and the crowd seemed to love it!!  We did 5 pieces as a "Mass Choir" - all the choirs together.  Each choir also did 3 pieces each, and quite a wide variety of music was performed.

A couple days later we were able to get together for dinner with Tim & Marta (my son & his wife) - it was good for them to get a chance to spend time with Ken & Susan.  The following pictures were taken at dinner...

Ken talking with his hands...

Susan modeling some of my jewelry...

Tim & Marta… Such a sweet pair!!  Love Those Kids!!!!!

Today was quiet… and gave me the chance to rest & enjoy a quiet Mother's Day. Tim is out of town with Marta's family, though I did get a call from him before he left town… I'll get to see him again soon, Marta doesn't get to see her parents as often (they live further away)….

Jeff & I had planned to go for a picnic & walk in Como Park, but it was too cold for a picnic… Jeff had gotten some nice deli meats/cheese and we'd picked up some bread (I didn't even make the bread this time), so we had some nice sandwiches at home… We decided to go for the walk anyway, and it was cold & windy - the only things that saved the walk (for me) were seeing some adorable little birds (too quick to get a picture) that I still need to identify and seeing a family of turtles sunning on a fallen tree…

How many do you see… there are at least 13 in this photo…

A closer look at some of them…

A really close look at one clump - there are at least 2 juveniles & 7 adults in this clump alone, but the juveniles can't be seen at this angle…

After freezing at the lake we came back home… and I've been drinking coffee & going through some old music - trying to find a song to go with some curriculum Jeff & I are working on… no luck yet… but listening to some great music anyway :)

Later Jeff's going to fire up the grill & cook dinner… yep, I'm taking it easy…

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mom's out there… hope your day is Blessed!!

Just call me "Grace"

Actually, if you call me by my name (Annette) you are… it means something like "Graceful Walk"… Now, I learned long ago I don't fit the meaning if you're speaking of a Physical walk, if that were the case my name would be "Klutz"… but if you're talking about a Walk with God that's marked by Grace, well that suits me just perfectly!!

I'm wearing this today in honor of Valentines Day

Today being Valentines Day I have a word of advice to all you romantics out there, if you're going to "fall" & "kiss" make sure it's not with pavement… Ouch!! So what did I go and do yesterday?  I did just that!!  I was on my way back from my (empty) mailbox when suddenly I found myself kissing the driveway… it just kinda happened, it wasn't planned, if it were love I'd say "love hurts"… but it wasn't love that caused this "fall" & "kiss", it was ice… Ouch!!

It all happened so quickly I don't even remember the actual falling down moments, just the moment my chin contacted the pavement… after which my first thought was "I must not have a glass jaw because it didn't knock me out"… in case you think I'm exaggerating…

Isn't that just lovely?

This is not even 24 hours later… I also tore up the side of my left hand, scraped my right nostril, scratched up my glasses, injured my chest (I think I fell on my right fist, not sure)… the part that's bothering me the most is the chest - if I just happen to move the wrong way it really hurts… so I'm being forced to be a bit sedentary (thus sitting at my computer & blogging)…

By the way, did you see the earrings in my chin photo?  They go with the necklace & I'm wearing them today too… I'm bummed that I can't do much without hurting, I'm itching to get down to the studio and work on a few things… and I've discovered that typing is painful (I'm a 10 finger typist) when I type letters with my left pinky (torn up near the tip)…

Tonight we have dinner reservations, I'm so glad that where we're going has covered parking & I won't be out walking on the ice… I did get back out to the mailbox yesterday… I made myself drive around the block so I could drive right up on my driver's side - yep, decided I wasn't going to walk out there again until it's not so icy…

It snowed last night, only a couple inches so hubby decided not to bother to shovel this morning, neither of us thought they'd bother to plow this time… we were wrong!!  But guess who's also not going to go shovel snow off of ice… that's right, I'm claiming my right to be lazy (I am sore after all)…

Well… I think I've beaten this topic to death… I think it's time to pet the lap-warmer (a.k.a. Oreo) then go downstairs & make myself some lunch…

My sweet little girl Oreo...

Until next time & hoping your life isn't bumpy…

Happy Cat & a visit from Bambi...

 I'm middle-aged, and sometimes I get chilled… my kitty Oreo is 13 in human years (that's about 90 in cat years) and has been begging for the fireplace to be turned on a lot lately, so I got her a little heated kitty bed… she loves it!!

Jeff & I have been up to our usual stuff… church, bowling, date-nights… nothing particularly stunning to talk about, so I'll wait until there's something more interesting to mention.

I've been busy in the studio lately… this picture was actually taken upstairs in the kitchen, the clay-looking stuff is Jett Set, it has to be warmed in water to soften - thus being in the kitchen.  These are the earrings, I'm also doing a pendant… not done yet (my hands/arms got sore setting the stones)...

Last weekend had a bit of quiet excitement, we had 5 visitors… right out in the woods behind the house!  This picture was of the most active one (spotted first).

There are 4 in this picture…

All 5 are in this picture, but its hard to see them…

There were bunnies as well… so I guess you could say we were visited by Bambi & Thumper… but we've always got bunnies, the deer were the special guests.

Reflections...

I'm having a very blessed day!!

I think sometimes our lives get so busy that we miss appreciating the blessings that we have…  I know I've been way too busy lately, and that at times I've been even a bit overwhelmed.  Today has been at a more relaxed pace, and its a much appreciated "breather" which gave me time to reflect.

Thank You Lord for the blessing of Family...
Today I got to have lunch with my son Tim, we had such a sweet time visiting, I always enjoy his company!!  I am looking forward to getting to spend more time with Tim and his wife Marta around the holidays.  :)
My husband Jeff has been very sweet & understanding about some health problems that I'm battling, that makes the battle bearable, and makes me realize what a dear man I'm married to!!
I've just recently been to visit extended family in California, and I'm never sure when I'll get to see family since we're spread far & wide, but its nice to have the chance to see some of the more distant relations!

Thank You Lord for the blessing of Friends…
Today I stopped by to visit a friend and bring her gifts for her new baby, friends are such a blessing!
Tomorrow I plan to spend time with another precious friend, and spend some time in prayer with her, that should also be a time of blessing!

Thank You Lord for a warm comfortable Home & nice Neighbors…
As the days cool, and Winter is fast approaching, I really appreciate having a warm home to live in.
I appreciate having a spacious kitchen for all of my cooking & food experiments. I have a lamb roast for tonight's dinner, and the makings for a pumpkin apple pie… I can't wait to get things cooking and fill this home with wonderful scents that will greet Jeff when he gets home.
I appreciate a warming fireplace (kitty appreciates it too).
I appreciate the nice friendly neighbors that I have, we watch out for each other - what a blessing!!

Thank You Lord for Health…
This one is tougher for me to say, but even though I'm struggling with my health I'm still able to do just about anything I'd like - that's a real blessing!

Thank You Lord for the Beauty of Your Creation…
I love looking out my windows at what remains of Autumn, and look forward to seeing the first snow make the world look bright & clean again - but I'm in no hurry, I'm appreciating the "now"…
I love the single Day Lily bloom that opened a few days ago, way out of season, her sunny yellow color just cheered me up on a hectic day!
I love the birds who visit my feeders, I love the bunnies & the deer despite the fact that they eat my plants, and I even love the squirrels who have been troublesome this year but are amazingly entertaining.

Thank You Lord for Music…
The church choir is already preparing for our Christmas Concerts, such fun!
As I was out & about today the music playing on my local Jazz station was energizing, and later the music on my local Classical station was soothing.

Thank You Lord for Time…
Time to spend working on Bible Studies.
Time to pursue new hobbies like metalworking.
Time to do experiments in the kitchen.
Time to spend with the wonderful people you've put in my life.

There's so much more… I am a very blessed person!!

Thank You Lord!!

The Big Celebration...

I'm having a Big Birthday, actually I already had it (yesterday), and I've been enjoying the many blessings in my life!!  It's my Big 5-0, so I'm giving this birthday the Royal Treatment!!

First I had the blessing of time with family (see my earlier post on the multi-birthday get together with the kids).

Second I had the blessing of time with friends.  I had a lunch out with my girlfriend Patsy (not pictured - I keep forgetting when we get together because we just talk our heads off)…  Then a couple days later (Monday) I had dinner with my girlfriend Ann (below).   The weather's been so nice we were able to have dinner outside… and we chatted so long it was pitch dark by the time we left.

Ann posting to Facebook about dinner...

A nice lady at the table next to us took this picture for me.

Tuesday it was a high class version of Pizza & a Movie with my sweet hubby Jeff - Punch Pizza & Verdi's Nabucco.

Wednesday (my actual birthday) was filled with all sorts of fun activity….  First there was a visit from a garden friend… he was hanging on the screen door going out to the deck and he stuck around for quite a while, so I was able to get these nice pictures :)

I went to one of my favorite garden centers with a Birthday coupon for a free rose… smells even better than it looks!!  (Thanks Bachmann's!)

In the parking lot of the garden center I took a picture of these colorful trees… it was the most beautiful Fall day… sunny & in the 70s… Thank You Lord!!  What a Gift!!

My art class started back up after Summer hiatus & I was able to finish these two pieces...

Kitty left me a birthday present… um, yep, kinda gross… but when she chooses to puke on the floors instead of the carpet (its off-white) I consider it a gift ;)

Wednesday was finished up with a nice dinner of homemade soup at home (Yum!), and playing Scrabble with Jeff (he won both games, oh well)...

That's it so far, that's right, I'm not done celebrating yet… come back in a few more days & see what else I did to celebrate!!

I've been wished so many nice wishes & heard from so many dear ones that I'm amazed… this has been the sweetest Birthday I've ever had!!

Summer coming to an end...

As I look out at the woods behind my house & see leaves starting to change colors & fall to the ground I realize Summer is coming to an end.  The change of seasons isn't bad, each season has its own beauty & blessings, it's just a change… and I look forward to each change, since each brings new activities, new foods, new sights… and of course new challenges.

As the challenges in my gardens come to a close, the challenges in homework start up… This Fall I will be doing double-duty again in teaching, I will continue to teach the Young Adults fellowship & will assist with a Women's Fall class as well… Kitty likes this… she goes from watching me through the windows (as I putter in the garden) to being by my side in the Office as I work on my homework…

Oreo likes the Office Chair… the one that normally sits at the computer… but I gladly sacrifice it to her for the company - it can get very quiet when I'm here alone studying…  I loved the way she was curled up in this photo, with a paw reached out toward me… It's not unusual for her to reach out & touch me gently with a paw to remind me that she's there...

She was sleeping so soundly… she's getting older, she's 12 now, and she sleeps more than she used to… but she's still a very healthy cat (according to her Vet she's quite young for her age)… she's always been sweet & docile, and that's not changed… She's got the softest fur I've ever felt on a cat, she's wonderful to snuggle with!!

(Can you tell I like my cat??)

Ok, where was I?  That's right, Summer coming to an end…. so as its ending of course we're trying to get to all those Summer activities we hadn't gotten to yet, or hadn't gotten enough of yet…

We went to yet another outdoor concert, these are coming to an end… this time we saw Classic Brass Inc.  This group has as one of its members the conductor of the band Jeff is in… Jeff was excited to see his conductor play Trombone (Jeff's main instrument).

Picture as we drove to the Apple Orchard...

We also went for an early visit to an Apple Orchard (a typical Fall activity), no Sweet Tangos yet (perhaps next week)… but we picked up some tasty cooking apples…  Right after we decided to go over to Stillwater, its a town along the St Croix that's very picturesque (but I didn't take pictures this time)… we mostly wandered down the main street & in and out of Antique shops…

To end our Summer with a bang we went to ValleyFair, a local amusement park (no pics here either)… we had a ton of fun riding roller coasters (they have several) & other adrenalin pumping rides… I had forgotten how much I enjoyed this sort of thing…

Today is Labor Day, and today we're simply hanging out around the house… we're going to rest a bit before Jeff goes back to work…

Goodbye Summer!!  See you next year!!