lovely days

beautiful weekend.

 babies.

friends. 

cupcakes.

still recovering...

sweetness

my favorite moments

are the spontaneous ones.

on waste

opportunity.
don't waste it.

from here

be the person you want to be.

every day.

this and that

highlights from a busy day.

we were invaded by two dogs and a carebear.

 we whipped out some delicious breakfast cookies.

and we climbed an immense mountain of laundry.

this was only half of it...

gettin' there...

I am thankful for a lawn that needs mowing, 

windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing

 because it means I have a home.... 

I am thankful for the piles of laundry and ironing 

because it means my loved ones are nearby. 

 ~Nancie J. Carmody

Healthy Breakfast Cookies

1 banana

1/2 cup butter

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats, quick cooking

1/2 cup all purpose flour

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1 t baking powder

1/2 t baking soda

1/2 t cinnamon

1/2 t salt

1/2 cup macadamia nuts

1/4 cup craisins

1 baking apple, peeled, cored and chopped

Mash bananas and mix with butter and brown sugar.  In separate bowl mix dry ingredients and then mix with banana mixture.  Add the nuts, craisins and apples last.

Spoon onto greased cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.  Remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Yum!

happy list

41. dishes

credit

42. laundry

43. windows

credit

44. toilets

credit

45. home

all these things i take for granted
(and even grumble about)
 mean that i have a safe and healthy home.
now that is something to be very thankful for.

surprise gift

i LOVE surprises.

i mean really, really LOVE.

but i rarely get them.

yesterday the girly-girl got a 

birthday package from her cousins,

and tucked inside was a gift from my sister-in-law...

for me!

there was much squealing and dancing around.

and the girly liked her gifts too.

here is what she sent

isn't it adorable?!?!?!

i have always wanted one of these

and have been dreaming up tons of ways to use it.

thank you, thank you to my lovely sil!

it's definitely going on my happy list!

how does your garden grow?

with all the planter boxes built,

the kids and i finished planting today.

isn't it beautiful?

the herbs: rosemary, thyme and two sorts of lavender

strawberries

tomatoes

yellow peppers

and lettuce (from seeds).

as you know, i like to fly by the 

seat of my pants with new projects.

so, we are starting small this year with our little deck garden.

i'm sure we'll learn a lot and perhaps expand next time!

it's a challenge and a joy to have little hands helping.

but i know that the kids are making wonderful memories

and learning so much by getting their hands in the soil!

we are looking forward to watering the plants

 and watching them grow!

this day in history

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

more precious with each passing year.
happy birthday, darling girl.

fun day sun day

it was sunny and warm

and lovely so the kids and i 

visited the children's museum.

they have a lovely rooftop playground.

today was not so sunny or so warm

but it was a good day.

full of pre-birthday festivities:

grandparents, a couple presents,

pizza and despicable me.

somewhere in the midst of all the fun,

we found time to start our deck garden.

the hubs made this cute planter box

using this tutorial.

it turned out really cute and is the first of four 

we are going to build and fill!

this one is filled with a few herbs:

rosemary, thyme and two sorts of lavender.

more planting soon.

but not tomorrow...

tomorrow is a big day!

the great thing about kids

(or one of them) 

is how flexible they are

they just roll with the punches

and find fun wherever they go.

yesterday, after dropping girly at the bus,

we headed to the library for storytime.

we were half an hour early,

so we decided to take a stroll around the building.

my kids discovered, with new eyes,

a group of sculptures they 

had seen many times before.

they were absolutely captivated.

they sat on the animals.

hugged them.

held their hands.

kissed them.

and told them how adorable they were.

to see how loving and nurturing they were 

to those animals and to one another

filled my heart with absolute delight.

what an amazing treasure these little ones are.

and how much they have to teach us.

also, today is my sweet nephew's 6th birthday!

got it here

happy birthday to a wonderful, fun,
smart, out-going little man!
we love you!

happy list

36. sunshine

credit

37. our backyard

38. baking

39.  morning snuggles

40.  my "6 until sunday" girl