Change Is Good.

After many years of looking at the same color of beige on my craft room walls, it was time for a change!
 Off came over 10 years of photos , momentos and reminder notes. Funny...I don't remember what the
notes were supposed to remind me to do?

  It was very hard for me to remove the first piece. I really got choked up!  So, my hubby came in and yanked down one and said "There....now take down all the rest!"  Easy for him to say....he isn't emotionally attached to my wall 'art', so to speak! 

  So, through the tears, I removed the items one by one. Family photos that always made me smile.

All my nieces and nephews were so little back then. Fun family gatherings of the past. Some folks in the photos are no longer part of the family....some new ones have been added. Pictures of my hubby and I when we first met, our first vacation, cards that say 'I Love you'...just because. Pictures of my Mom...we sure miss her alot. xo A funny card that my sister Terry sent to me years ago...still makes me laugh! Our First Anniversary card, my dads dogtags from the navy,  a picture of my hubby and his buddies at one of our parties when they were all still' invinsible'...so they thought, a shelf filled with foreign coins, one of my dogs puppy teeth, old dog licenses, sea shells from the many beaches we visited and dried roses from special occasions. Yes, every item was a memory.  I balled my eyes out for 30 minutes while I removed every last item from the room. I think I even pulled a few heart strings of my husband as I called him in to read old cards and look at old pictures.

I felt like I was moving away or something? But, I am not going anywhere....I just don't like to pack up memories.
I wanted to paint the walls a color that would motivate me. The winter blahs have caused me to do nothing creative this season. It was time for a change!  I picked a shade of  'green apple'. As I was painting, I should of been wearing sunglasses. Lordy, was it bright. I kept thinking, someone should really of stopped me from choosing this color! I kept going and completed the room.

  The following morning, I awoke to a soft apple green shade on the walls. It dried down to something I could actually live with. Thank Goodness. The green really does'nt show up in the picture, but it is bright when the sun shines in!
I need to shop for a new lamp. I put the old torchier lamp out by the road with I sign on it 'Free' and it was soon on it's way to a new home.
Maybe now I will pick up a paint brush. I came across an old Victoria Magazine from the 90's filled with pages torn from magazines through the years that I had every intention of watercoloring someday. Now's the time I guess? Time to pull out all my ancestry paperwork and finish unanswered correspondence to relatives in England and frame some updated photos for the walls.
 A new fresh start for the Spring! ....change is good.

'GLASS HALF FULL'

I have nothing to post at the moment so I thought I would share this wonderful video! You will need to click my 'ipod' music off to the right first.
We all have to learn a little something from this couple! ...And there are a few more to view of them on youtube also. Enjoy!

Second Blossom Has Bloomed!

ONE FLOWER~SO MANY VIEWS

 I do not have a green thumb as far as houseplants go. This is a 'Slipper Orchid' that I acquired from a Waterfowl Show I was at this past October. I nursed it under a antique glass closhe until it began growing another flower. And look what I got out it! A stunning flower that I just can't stop photographing!

 There is another blossom that will be blooming soon too!

One beautiful plant with endless angles to shoot!

Temperature: Paphiopedilum are divided into two temperature groups: warm and cool growers. The attractive mottled-leaf types come from the temperate zones and do best with a night temperature not below 60 degrees F. (preferably 65 degrees F.), and a day temperature of 75-85 degrees F. The solid green-leafed types come from the higher, cooler altitudes. They require a night temperature of 50-60 degrees F. and a day temperature of 70-80 degrees F.

Water: Paphiopedilum must be kept constantly moist or damp, but not soggy. Check frequently below the surface to determine the need for water. Normal watering intervals are between seven and ten days.

Light: Place in any bright window but protect from mid-day sun. Leaves should be a medium-green color. If they are too pale or yellowish, the plant could be getting too much light. (Approximately the same light intensity as African Violets is preferred.
Feeding: Good results may be obtained by using a high nitrogen fertilizer (25-9-9) all year round. Feed once a month at one-third of a teaspoon or less to a gallon of water. Paphiopedilum are sensitive to fertilizer burn.
Repot: Paphiopedilum should be repotted every two to three years with a fresh, well draining potting medium, such as fine-grade orchid bark or Orchid Mix. It is important that the base of the growth be potted no deeper than 1/2" in the medium

Running like the wind!

With orders from the Vet, We have been taking the girls running daily in a field by our house. Our older Golden, Iris, needs to shed a few pounds. Willow, my 2 year old English Golden, eats like a horse and never gains a pound! And she never stops running either! Willow really does wear me down.
The weather has been terrific around here lately! They run for about 15 minutes, running like the wind from one end to the other. With tongues hanging, they are exhausted and in turn rest for the remainder of the evening...much to our delight!

It's in the air.....

Yes, the summer is coming to a close. It was as though it 'never was.' The heat was unbearable!
 Our pool furniture took flight during a wind storm & a 6 foot table of smoked glass landed in the  deep end of our pool causing us to close it for 3 weeks in order to replace the liner!

  Then the hurricane hit!...closed the pool so we wouldn't have to clean up the mess or damage the new liner that was just installed.  Then we reopened it, why?... Not sure? Now we will be closing it this weekend....Yep...'The summer that never was." Not one single pool barbecue was had....not one! Not one Marshmallow was picked either! (...for those of you who know the story!)

   So, here we are at the end of the season. Holding on for dear life to the small bit of warm sunshine that comes our way. The garden is quickly going to sleep, with only hints of color to view. 

  Soon, we will make our seasonally move to our downstairs family room to be cozy and warm by the wood burning fireplace." Our winter cave."

But don't be fooled... My hubby Tom has not watched that huge 60" big screen TV I bought for his birthday last October since April!

 It will be like his birthday all over again! Which is right around the corner.

Yet, I still wish we could have a replay of summer, have more evenings with the fireplace lit,
enjoying music by the moon.

 More fun days, shared with family and friends. missed those this year.

It has been awhile!

 Wow, I haven't posted in a long , long time! I am not even sure if I have the time
to start this up again?
The picture of the clouds above were after a stormy late afternoon yesterday here in Connecticut.
I have never seen any clouds like these before, so of course I was clicking away on my camera!
 They are known as Mamma clouds~ Very, Very cool looking!

Mamma Clouds- Also called mammatus, these clouds appear as hanging, rounded protuberances or pouches on the under-surface of a cloud. With thunderstorms, mammatus are seen on the underside of the anvil. These clouds do not produce tornadoes, funnels, hail, or any other type of severe weather, although they often accompany severe thunderstorms.
And here is a video of the Pups swimming and enjoying a Saturday afternoon to the Max!

Bird watching...

Lazy sunny afternoons....

Tuckered out!

liitle.....BIG...this pic cracks me up. : )

She's not this small anymore!

 Iris has not had this much excercise ever & she is tuckered out! We used to think she was a very active dog....then we threw a puppy into the mix.

  Willow is growin' like weed. And let me tell you...this pup has kept us jumpin'! I am exhausted! Lol!
But, everyday she turns a new corner and something about her changes....today, she is sleeping on my lap.
Lol....she has never slowed down long enough to do that! :)
  Iris has been  mouthed and wrestled with for weeks now and has never once lost her cool with this pup. KUDOS to you Iris! That's my girl!
 She is never far from Iris' side.

Take er' down!

Last week we had to take down one of our many peach trees. They are all coming down one by one....it will just take me some time  to part with them. They were planted by Tom's father in the late 80's and have all become quite pathetic looking. The largest is lit for the holidays and I don't think that i could ever part with that one..I love that tree!
 Our friend Steve dropped in and helped out. We chopped it down in no time!
I am feeling very 'exposed' in the front yard now....but, it will grow on me.

 Then  I chopped & chopped until I turned the stump into a bunch of toothpicks until I could get it out and plant grass over.

Fun in the Sun!

The summer weather is upon us and so it begins!

This is our friend Connor starting off the season by jumping into 68 degree water! Burrrr!

Why don't kids feel the cold??

 Our weekend mornings are filled with yardwork and the afternoons are filled with Fun In The Sun!

Certainly one of my favorite pastimes for sure!...we wait all week for it.

 Here, my brother- in- law Scott coaxes his grandson  Talan to jump from the side of the pool for the first time, again and again and again. Yeahhhhhh Talan!

 

  My hubby bought me a tent! I have been asking for one so that I can camp out in the yard. We don't have a screened in porch ,  this is the next best thing. Lol! Camping is not 'up there' on my list, yet since I am only outside our bedroom window,  I erected my tent and gave it a whirl!  Iris and I had a nice evening, fireplace lit, I roasted marshmallows & slept under the stars....until we got rained on @ 4AM! I did'nt have the rain top on.....because you can't see the stars that way? The next night , I was smart.....I put it on.

Learning to be patient....

Willow has been in our lives for almost two weeks now.  Our days our exhausting ,yet entertaining!
She certainly has 'Spunk'! Ain't no flies on this pup! And she is keeping us on our toes!
  Iris has'nt had this much activity in a long time & finds herself hiding here and there around the house,  just to get a moment of rest.

  Tom says, Willow moves around the house like a tennis ball...bouncing from one end to the other, on the move constantly. She loves the outdoors & tastes just about anything she can get into her mouth without one of us catching her at it.  She stopped dead in her tracks the other day to watch a flock of geese fly directly over her head. Wish I had a video of that!

  We are all falling into a daily routine which still needs a bit of work, but we'll get there for sure! As for sleep...It's lacking lately.

  These two are quite different in size ,but don't tell Willow that! She is BIG in Attitude and that makes up for it, let me tell ya! These two roll around for almost an hour every morning! Iris has been so gentle with her. Her mothering instincts have come out and  she is quick to keep Willow within her sight out in the yard.

Willow's teeth are truly  like  little razors,  but Iris tolerates  every chomp, bite and tug without ever reacting negatively. Amazing me each day.

  We borrowed a great corral type device for her to be in when we need to have her 'contained'...which she quickly learned how to climb out of 'ever so quietly' and Whallaa! There she is, by my side. Leaving me wondering, 'how did you get out of there?'  So now she has an entire room (our second kitchen) to herself and we have dubbed thee 'FORT WILLOW' ! She knows it's her space is now napping ...Thank goodness. A moment of rest.:)

She now weighs 20 pounds and counting!...

Missing you Mom.

My Mother's day Surprise!

To my utter amazement, my husband surprised me with this fabulous little girlie!

I have named her 'Willow' & she is 10 weeks old.
I have waited sooo long for her. Since we lost our German Shepherd  'Mako' a few years back, I have longed to have a second dog in house once again. We miss her very much.
  Well, my wish came true this weekend!
My friends Mary & Sue were in on the surprise all along & happily hid  the puppy over their house until Tom was able to lure me over for a visit. He drove all the way to upstate NY to pick her up. Our retrievers play together, so it's not unusual for the dogs to get together for good run.
 When I turned around to see Sue holding this beautiful little pup, my eyes watered up. I was green with envy at the thought that they had gotten another golden!  Once she said it was not hers, I asked, through my tears..."Then who's puppy is it?" 
  Behind me, my husband stood grinning from ear to ear! She was mine!
 I was shocked & elated!
 Over the years, I have been known to bring a puppy or two home without discussing it with Tom first. It never went well. Those puppies were quickly returned by the next morning. It just was'nt the right time to bring another dog into the house.  Can't say I have'nt tried!
 Now, I have another beautiful Golden and she is here to stay! Lol. Thank You Mary and Sue for being part of the fun & capturing the moment.  Willow loves all her new toys!

 

Thank you Tom for my wonderful gift! I love you very much! You're the sweetest husband in the world! xo

View all the pics here. :)