Sunshine Girl

MINI Love

I went to the mall today and there it was, the one I've been dreaming about.

Do you think Glenn would believe me if I said it followed me home?

Springtime in Texas

I've been reading a lot of blogs lately written by friends up north, and I'm hearing a lot of complaints about how spring is late in coming this year, north of the Mason Dixon. I hate to rub it in, but other than a general lack of rain - well, okay, it's a pretty severe drought - we're doing pretty good down here in Texas. As a matter of fact, I just couldn't resist grabbing my camera tonight and taking some pics of the backyard. After a lot of hard work by Glenn and I over the last couple of months, it's quite a pleasure to be out there right now.

If you're reading this and you live in Texas, you'll know that this euphoria is going to be short lived. In about 7 days it's going to be in the 90's here, and then the heat won't let up until late October. So we enjoy Spring while we can, during her fleeting visits.

For now we've got some intense color going on out there:

Overall, it's a pretty soothing place to be, especially at dusk, with a glass of wine and a good book. 

And let's not forget a good dog.

Sentimental Surprise...

I am definitely one of those people who woke up this morning, heard that the royal wedding was over and done with, and heaved a huge sigh of relief. If you had asked me, I would have told you that the huge fuss and incredible expense was nothing short of criminal, and that I really could care less about the whole thing.

Apparently I was wrong. 

Watching the footage just now, I cried like an idiot. Don't ask me why. I guess I'm just a sucker for a good love story, and like it or not, I'm enjoying the fairy tale. So much so, that Prince William's salad plate sized bald spot didn't bother me one bit as I watched him put the ring on Kate's finger. 

I think what did it for me was the post-wedding royal kiss on the balcony. It was just so "happily ever after", it was like the endings of all of my favorite Disney movies rolled into one glorious smooch. I guess it's just that, all these years, that kid has had my sympathy vote - after his mom died, having to live with Charles and Camilla couldn't have exactly been a picnic.

Ever since November, and the royal proposal, I've been avoiding the wedding hype as much as I could. We all know how these things usually end...with laughable tabloid stories and embarrassing accusations. 

But just for today, I think I'll put the daily cynicism of life aside, and enjoy the fantasy. There's time enough for reality tomorrow. Best wishes, you crazy kids. Someone hand me a Kleenex.

Thinking About Self-Respect...

I came across this little exercise on the pages of a wonderful book that I'm reading, "37 Days" by Patti Digh. Here are Patti's words:

In her book Turning to One Another, Margaret Wheatley asks a compelling question: "Am I becoming someone I can respect?" At lunch each day for the next thirty seven days, ask yourself that question. If the answer is no, you still have the rest of that day to change it to yes by the actions that you take or don't take. This daily questioning is how change really occurs in our lives. Use it to become someone you respect, lunch by lunch.

I like this idea. It's a daily check-in that also leaves room for improvement when you're having a not-so-good day. What a great habit to cultivate. And you know what they say about habits, at least in Spain: "Habits are at first cobwebs, then cables."

 

Bloopers

Looking through my photos this morning I noticed a few recent pics that won't be making it into the photo albums or scrapbook pages, but which are just begging to be showcased anyway.

Here we have Chris, on the phone with the nice lady from AT&T, just after realizing that he has inadvertently burped into the telephone:

Next up we have Chris and Kristen, out by the pool. I have no idea what she just said to him, but the look on his face is...interesting.

And finally, I offer up our family, on our best behavior...

Picture perfect, I would say.

 

Summer Rocks, Doesn't It?

 

Marge the Looneybird, and Mandevillas

 
 

The Beat Goes On...

I came home from the grocery store yesterday afternoon, and couldn't find Glenn. I scouted around in the yard, thinking he was cleaning up after yesterday's storms, but no. He was upstairs, sticks in hand, headset on. This is confirmation to me, that he likes his birthday present. Made me happy. I guess it's true, we all "wanna be a rock star", deep down. 

A Fresh Start

In some ways, I’m a great blogger. From time to time I write some really profound essays, that have been known to make grown men cry and dogs howl. Usually I don’t have a problem with writing; no, my problem is that I typically have pretty long lapses in between my blog posts. I think that as much as I love writing and telling stories, life can get in the way sometimes, and there are times when I tend to feel uninspired and dry.  

 

In an effort to boost my output just a bit, I’ve enrolled in Shimelle’s “Blogging for Scrapbookers” 15 day challenge. She offers some great daily prompts and lots of positive encouragement. Even if no one else is actually reading my blog, I’m looking forward to at least recording my thoughts and memories while they’re still fresh in my head, and the energy is still flowing around the thought, event or idea that I’m writing about. It’s great mental exercise, and who knows, someday my family might be interested in what was going on in my head.

 

Life is flying by with every tick of the clock. So many moments have passed without being recorded; so many stories have gone untold. Here’s to fresh beginnings.

 

So without further ado, here are a couple of pictures from last Sunday, which happened to be Mother's Day. It was a very nice day, for the record.

 

See you tomorrow. 

Christmas Fox

I bought this fox over the weekend. Couldn't pass him up. The sheep were an afterthought. I have named him Philemon, and I trust that he will not eat the sheep for dinner. The funniest thing about this guy, is that he's dressed, well, he's dressed for fox-hunting. Glenn thinks he's creepy.