P.S.

Yes, me again!  Has anyone else joined Google +?  I think we can create a circle of friends.  Do any of you use gmail for emails?  I don't use it much but since we signed on here to blog it seemed it might be fun to get more involved.  So far I haven't found any other of my friends on Google +, meaning all of you.

This picture is the Pt. Reyes Lighthouse at Pt. Reyes National Seashore.  I choose this picture because I wanted you to see those steps going all the way down.  I finally got to get down there last fall.  I may have mentioned before in a post here or at eHarlequin!  Going down is a piece of cake, coming back up is a whole different story, but I did it.  This yet another lighthouse I have visited.  I've posted a total of 3 different lighthouses.  

I got my walk in.  It was way warmer than I thought.  Not good, I really have to start getting up & going much earlier.  I got much to warm while I was walking.  It is taking me awhile to get in that mode.

Bye for now!  I need to go read.  I'm very close to the end of a book.

Donna M

Happy Monday, 4/30/2012...

Good Morning Everyone,

Yes it is still morning here as I start this post.  I'm going to go for my walk once I finish the post.

The above picture was taken from the winery with the garden, the pool & fountains are to the right of this picture.  The gardens are behind where I took the picture.  I've only tried one panorama picture with this camera, something I need to play around with!

Margie, you are right these gardens would be beautiful for a wedding but I don't believe they have them there.  There is no place in the garden for chairs for the guests.  There are numerous wineries in both Sonoma & Napa counties that have created wedding venues.  There are a lot of very beautiful places around here to have a wedding but they cost the earth!  I think one of the wineries charges something like $8,000 just to use the facilities.  That fee does not cover any other cost of having the wedding there.  I worked with someone that had her wedding at one when she told me how much it was I almost had a heart attack!  Crazy in my book.  I have actually attended a couple of weddings at some of these locations.  It is really beautiful.

Amanda, glad to see you stopping by.  Hope you get caught up.  I'm happy you have a job to go to.  Maybe it will be a good week.

Trudy sent me an email last night.  I answered & asked where she is as she has not posted here recently.  She is having some kind of trouble with her laptop & accessing our blog.  Hope she gets it solved.  She said to tell you all she is still kicking!!

These are the gates into the winery with the gardens that I have been posting.  This picture was taken either Christmas Day or New Years Day as it is rare the gates are closed.  The wineries are open almost everyday except for those major holidays.  I've been trying to take pictures of gates as it is interesting seeing all the different types.  Some of the gates are very ornamental like this one but still functional & others are very plain, only functional.    As I've said before it is such a beautiful but diverse area.

I'm going to sign off & go for my walk.   Hope you all have a wonderful day.  Read a good book!

Happy reading,
Donna M

Sunday Night

Just saying HI!   I started reading posts on Friday, still not done.  Will try to finish up tomorrow.  Been a busy week.  Sandi - love the new pic up top. 

Hope everyone had a good weekend.  Bummed tomorrow is Monday and back to work - sigh.  Why couldn't I have been one of those 48 Septa employees that just won the lottery?

Amanda

Sunday Afternoon

Hi Everyone

DonnaM, What a beautiful place for a wedding.  I love the pictures of the gardens.  So beautiful. 

Cady,  Now that the library is open I can put a hold on the Quick and several other books I've wanted.  I have a story about my airbags.  This was many years ago.  My father had a meeting out of town and he was running late but his car was not starting so he asked if he could borrow my car.  He left and stopped through Mc Donalds for breakfast sandwich.  There is a place on the road that you have to stop and cross traffic to get to the main road.  My dad was in a hurry and all the cars were stopped but he bumped the truck in front of him.  It was just a tiny tap but the airbags exploded and his sandwich went flying. He showed up at work and asked to use my aunts car...she worked there too.  I asked what was wrong with my car and he told me to go have a look.  Both airbags had exploded due to the tap being in just the right spot for the sensor.  I could see this tiny little dent on my license plate.  The adjuster could not believe it. 

Mary,  Happy Birthday to Jacob.  How old was he?  Good luck on the floor shopping. 

I didn't make it to the new library opening as early as I wanted so the book I was hoping to get was gone but I did get the newest J.D. Robb which I had missed due to moving.  This new library is at least five times, maybe more, bigger then the old one that was on that site.  It is two stories.   It was so beautiful and huge.  The lower floor is for kids and the check out section.  I'm sure there was more but I went upstairs to the adult section.  I was a bit disappointed that I will have to walk up the stairs and all the way to the back of the second floor for fiction and romance but I guess I could see how they would want computers and stuff like that in the center.  There are so many books and still several areas that are empty for future books.  There must have been over five hundred people there and I went late so who knows how many were there for the opening. 

It's a lazy day today.  I'm going to start Celebrity In Death.  It seems like forever since I've read an Eve and Roarke book. 

Hope you are all enjoying your Sunday.
Margie :)

Good Afternoon to All,

I hope Everyone is having a good Sunday.  Mine has so far been very nice.  I had a walk, decided to go to the Farmer's Market in the town of Windsor which is about 5 miles south of where I live.  Ours starts next Saturday, can't wait!!  I got some fresh beets, lettuce & some Butternut Squash ravioli & a Fish Taco that I ate for lunch.  The Farmer's Market in Windsor has really expanded there are more food vendors, order & eat there, more craft type booths & more vendor's selling cheese, meats & other types of food beside veggies & fruit.  Not to much in the way of fruit yet, that is later in the summer.  For dinner I am going to have the ravioli & a nice fresh green salad.  Yummmmm!

Mary it sounds like you have had a busy weekend.  I'm sure Jacob's party was a lot of fun?  I'm glad you are enjoying my pictures.  There is really an unending supply!!

The picture above is the bridge over Lake Sonoma which has formed from a dam built by the Corps of Engineers for flood control.  I worked out there the year they finished the dam.  It was a long process as somewhere in the evolution of building it the environmentalist stopped the whole thing.  The Lake is used for recreation by boaters, water skiers, fishing, jet skiing, etc.  There are several campgrounds around in different areas of the lake.  The pictures I posted at another time of an old barn & a tree are taken way up the road after you cross this bridge.  I'm just trying to share with all of you what this area looks like in different seasons & all the diversity of Sonoma county.

This is from the overlook where I also took a picture of the bridge.  This is looking out at a very small portion of the Dry Creek valley.  If you look close you can seem the roof on a few buildings which might be some wineries or just homes.  It is obviously spring as it is all green!

Later!
Happy Reading,
Donna M

Sunday

Hi everyone!

You have all been busy with the pictures, etc. I had several posts to catch up on. It has been a busy few days. My brother arrived Friday night and we stayed up late chatting. Yesterday was Jacob's birthday party. We had a great time. Jake got a lot to building sets so we were all joining in the fun. He also got a scooter and a new bike. He is doing real well with the scooter already. My brother left this morning so I will be hanging around the house today doing laundry and reading. I am almost finished with Rainbow Road which I really like. I will probably read The Witness next. I was surprised to get it so soon. I must have been near the top of the request list.

Margie--I love the pictures of your house! You have been busy with the gardening.

Donna M--keep the pictures coming. I have also gotten away from buying Harlequin books except for Mira and a few favorite authors. I tend to like the longer books and once you get away from the Harlequins it is hard to return.

Cady--I hope Maggie's tooth is ok. Glad the car light was not something to worry about. I am glad to hear you liked The Witness. I have that new Quick book on reserve. I haven't read her for a while but this one sounds good. Let us know.

This will be a catch up week for me. We have more shopping for the house to do. Don and I are planning to go floor shopping again and decide now and get it done. The laundry has piled up and some other things around the house. But I will be doing my reading too.

I hope everyone has a good week. Are we doing a mom book for May?

Mary

This is one of my favorite wineries to go visit & take pictures.  They tend to be snooty in the tasting room but you can roam the garden & look out over this pool with fountains without going in the tasting room.  I only go in to use the restroom!!  I'll post some of the garden pictures along with my message.

Margie, we did not stay on that little island with the lighthouse, you can't.  We stayed in the town at a motel close to the water.  It is just a very small town but I have been visiting there since I was just a very young little girl. We walked out completely on dry land not in the water.  You just have to pay attention to the tides & what is happening so you can walk back on dry land!!  It actually a very small bit of land so once you are there it doesn't take long to be ready to come back.  The day my brother & I walked out there the museum was closed.  We stayed maybe a half an hour or a bit longer.  Walked around as much as we could & visited with each other.  My sister in law stayed in the parking lot with their dog because the dog was not able to walk down some stairs or something.  It was several years ago & I've kind of forgotten the problem.  Thanks for sharing the pictures of the house & the flowers.  I love the roses.  They are just blooming here also & so pretty.  When I am out walking I also "stop to smell the roses".  You are going to have so much fun over time getting the yard & house the way you want it.  I hope you enjoyed the new library.

Cady, I rarely order books from Harlequin anymore.  I just seem to have gotten away from them but I do still read MIRA, HQN & Blaze books.  Usually I'm able to get them at Target or Wal Mart.  Glad your light on the car is nothing serious.  Hope Maggie's tooth is okay.  If I remember correctly both my girls chipped a tooth but it may have been a permanent tooth.

Here is a picture in the gardens at that same winery.  It is just so beautiful at any time of year.  However I think these were taken in the spring.  I applied for a job there once but they hired someone else.  It would have been in the office not the tasting room.  Here is one more of a water feature.  So beautiful.  There is a gazebo near this waterfall & pond.  A couple of times when I needed an escape I went out there to sit in the gazebo & read.  It was wonderful!

Donna H, yes I walked across that bridge to the Pt. Bonita Lighthouse.  I had the two younger grandkids with me.  It was summer & a bit busy so we had to wait until they said we could go across.  They did not allow to many on that little bridge at one time.  It has recently been replaced.  Now, I need to go see what that new one looks like.  You are out over the water & rocks but it is a short bridge.  Heights don't bother me so I was fine.  I just wish they had been time to stop for pictures but others were waiting so another day!
I just finished reading Sunrise Point and am sad to leave Virgin River until the Christmas book comes out.  I'm looking forward to it already.  Your towns garage sale sounds like fun.  There is one every year on the coast at Half Moon Bay.  One of my friends has a daughter in that area & she goes every year to sell things she had weeded out.  I'd like to go but it is a little to far & lots of traffic from the bay area.

Since I finished Sunrise Point I'm not sure what to pick up next.  I have lots of choices.  After reading something that you loved & could not put down it is hard to choose the next.  If it isn't the right one I feel that I am somehow cheating the author of the book I choose.  I have two library books I just picked up & several books I have purchased so I have lots of choices.  It has to be a different type of book.

See you all next time.  Enjoy the rest of today & all of tomorrow.
Happy Reading,
Donna M

DonnaM - Pretty photo.  New Orleans is a great town, I would recommend going out to some of the plantations near the City.  When we went recently, we saw the Laura Plantation and Great Oaks (I think that was the name).  I really enjoyed the Laura Plantation, but I think that was because the tour guide was great at that one and only okay at the other one.

DonnaH - it is a challenge to get the books at the stores.  That is the reason I started loving getting books from eHarlequin.  Now that the discount is only 20%, I am going to limit my book buying there for when I want Medicals I think.  My car oil light has to be reset, but it is interesting that the dealership tries to get you to come in prior to it coming on. 

Margie - What pretty roses.  Gardening is a constant project.  I hope you have a good time at the library opening.  I just stopped by my library today to pick up the new Amanda Quick and there is a ton of construction now on my route to it.  I guess it will be a long summer. 

The light on my car is for the airbag.  Hopefully, it won't go off on me while I am driving.  :)  Since I just got the new Quick book, that will be my reading today.  We are going to a friends for dinner tonight, so it should be fun.  Hope everyone has a great Saturday.

Cady

I wanted to share a few pictures of the house.  The front needs some plants but it will have to wait for a while.  We've been planting in the back.  The back only had roses and a cherry tree.  The roses started to bloom a month ago and they are so big and beautiful.  We've added the other flowers.   Hopefully they will all take and get big to fill a lot of space,  We planted daisy bushes and some purple plant (can't remembe the name) to do that. 

 

The side yard is fenced off from the back.  This is good because we are focusing on the back right now.  The side yard is almost as big as the back and my sister wants to put a above ground pool in.  So it is a good thing it has a fence with a gate to get into the side.  This keeps Gavin out now but we will still put a padlock on it. 

 You can see a pile of rubbish in the back there.  That is the start of my dump pile. 

The lavender flowers are called Blue Birds.  They look so beautiful right now.  There was a bird taking a bath but I couldn't get closer without scaring him away.  I took all those weeds out that you see in the planter and it looks so much nicer now.  The grass/weeds need to be mowed!  That bench was in the front yard and they left it so we put it in the back.  It is sturdy and just needs some black paint on the wrought iron and a painting or staining the seat to make it look like new.  Another project!

Yikes it is after midnight!  I told myself I would go to bed early tonight because I have a lot to do tomorrow.  I want to get up early to go return some stuff.  I also want to go to the opening of a new library.  I go to the one a town over because ours is awful.  Anyway, they have been in a temporary building while the new library was being built and tomorrow is opening day.  I'm really curious about how it will look.  I hope they still put the romance books together in one place like before.

DonnaH, That sounds a bit like the sale we went to last week.  Some group at the school rented about 5o spaces out to people.  We were out so early that not all the vendors had set up yet but we got our little table and I'm happy.  We don't have a WalMart in town...that's the next town over...but we have a KMart.  So when I am in need of a Harlequin, that is where I go.  I hate when they don't stock the new books.  Sometimes I've had to go back several times before they are set out.  Target doesn't carry them anymore.  One of the things I like about ordering direct from eHarlequin is that I can usually get all the books I want and get the next months books too.  I haven't ordered from there in a while because of being so busy.  I also used to love the 30% discount for those of us doing the challenge. That was a great deal.   Now getting the books at a discount store is better because they are usually 25% off which is a better price then online.   I just have to find them on the shelves!

DonnaM, that is a really great picture of the bridge and light house.  Also, the picture of the island lighthouse is beautiful.  I have to admit that it does kind of freaked me out a bit (actually made my stomach flip) when I read what you said about walking over to it when the tide is out.  I love to look at the water and even put my toes in at the beach but I am really pretty scared of the ocean.  Walking cross just makes me feel nervous even just looking at the picture. 

I remember watching an old Lana Turner and Donna Reed movie called Green Dolphin Street.  It's about two sisters in love with the same man.  He is away and writes to have the sister he loves (DR) come marry him...but he accidentally writes LT's name instead of DR.  The DR character is devastated and runs to this island like the one in your picture. There is a convent there that is cut off when the tide comes in.  She stays too long and ends up trapped there and the nuns take her in. Then she decides to become a nun.  The thought of getting trapped like she was gives me chills!  How brave of you to stay the night there.  I'm a wimp!  I don't care how pretty it looks.

Mary,  I like that your book, Girls Night, had an older h/H.  Now that I am older, I really don't like when the h are under 20.  I really prefer them in their late twenties, thirties and forties.  When I stopped reading to do the painting, I think it was because I had to choose where my money was going to go....books or new paint and paint books.  That hobby was so fun and really completely took over all my time. After I started reading again, I couldn't believe I had actually given it up. 

Cady,  I think gardening has become a mandatory hobby for me now with the house.  But I find that I am enjoying it.  But if the yard was mowed and the weeds came out all by them selves I would like it so much more.  Sooo sorry to hear Maggie chipped her tooth.  I hope it was not painful.  Were you able to get your car checked?  It must be so frustrating seeing a light on a new car.  I hope it all works out so that it is something simple to take care of.

I still haven't started a new book but, since I will be going to the library tomorrow, I'm going to try to get the newest J.R.Ward book called Lover Reborn.  I have been waiting since book two or three to read his book. The online catalog says they have it so I hope that it is still on the shelf when I get there.  

It is suppose to be really beautiful here tomorrow.   I hope you all have a good one too. 
Margie :)

Happy WINDY Friday!

Margie, the picture of the baby hummingbirds is amazing!  I saw a hummingbird nest once, but there were no babies in it. 

Our town started having these "group" garage sales a couple of years ago mostly just to advertize our nice little town.  They also make a bit of money on the side -- they rent out tables if you don't have any, and also set up "booths" in the rink if you'd sooner have your sale there instead of at your house, and you rent the "booth" for a few dollars. 

I finished "The Lawman's Legacy" by Shirlee McCoy.  A nice, quick read.  Mostly enjoyed it, but the h was a little stupid in a couple of places, but nothing that I couldn't handle. . .  Now I'm reading "Sunrise Point" by Robyn Carr.  I looked for it first at Walmart because that's where I usually get the best deals.  Wasn't there.  So I went to a couple of other places and couldn't find it.  Finally had to pick it up from Coles for full price.  Drove across town back to Walmart, and she was just putting it out on the shelf as I got there.  Darn!  Could have saved myself 30%.  She told me it doesn't matter what day the books are released, she puts them out on Thurs evenings or Fri mornings. 

Donna M -- and you walked on that bridge?  Cool!  That would be so fun!  I love lighthouses!  That's a good picture of you -- I like your haircut.  It's almost the same as mine -- nice and short!

I've managed to upload a few pictures to my google (picasa) account, but have yet to figure out how to get them here. 

I love the picture of the rocks in the water.  Is that another lighthouse in the distance on that little island? 

Cady, I'm game for a book about a mother for May challenge -- Sunrise Point has a mother for an h -- oops, but it's still April, and I'll probably be done it before May.  Oh well, I'm sure there will be others.

Oh yikes -- warning lights on new cars, chipped teeth -- not a good way to start the day!  Hope the fixes aren't too bad.  Our "service engine" light comes on our car if we don't get our oil changed at a dealership -- seems only the dealerships can re-set the computer. . .

No wonder I'm getting peckish -- look at the time. . .

Happy Friday to Everyone,

This picture is at Crescent City, CA., just 20 miles north of where my long time friend Pat lives  It is also near the California, Oregon border.  This was a beautiful sunny day there as you can see.  You can only reach the lighthouse (now a museum) when the tide is out or by boat.  If you walk out there you have to be conscious of the tide coming in or out.  It is possible to get stranded out there!  My brother & I walked out there once when we got together in the town for their annual Crab Feed.  Sadly they are not doing it anymore.  It was a fun reason to get together for a short visit.  A couple of times we stayed all night in a motel.  Since all three of us have to be more budget conscious now we haven't done anything like that.  I do see them though.  I hope "you all" don't get tired of the coastal pictures because I have a very ample supply of them!!  :-)

I don't have a whole lot to say as there has not been much going on.  I've been reading, going for my walks, doing things like dishes, laundry, watching TV or DVDs.  Just the normal everyday stuff!  The DVDs I watched Wednesday night were both on the Grand Canyon.  Now that I've been there I enjoy those even more because I can imagine the feeling of being there.  One of the best descriptions would be immense.  It is hard to really know that until you experience it.  Yosemite is the same way, you have to see it to appreciate all the pictures you've seen & the descriptions.

Trudy, where are you?

After spending so much time researching & planning my trip for last year I'm getting to the point where I need to start working on something else.  I really want to go see my friends that live in New Orleans but not sure I will be able to manage that this year.  This is one of those years where I need to replace things.  I bought new towels after the first of the year but I'm not real happy with the quality of them, the color is lovely.  It is one of those things that you can't tell until you've washed them & used them some.  I had to put new tires on the car before I went to Oregon.  Big expense that I'm now paying off!  That is something I was pretty sure would be necessary this year.  The tires had been on the car since I had it so I cannot complain.

Cady, you mentioned a warning light on in your car.  When I bought my car I drove it off the lot & headed to the gas station.  I filled it up & at some point over the weekend a light came on that put me in a bit of a panic because it didn't indicate what the problem was.  It lit up when service was closed.  I called first thing Monday morning & of course they said bring it in it is probably nothing.  They had forgotten to tell me that when you put the gas cap back on after getting gas you have to turn it 3 clicks to seal it.  When you don't a light comes on!!  I was very relieved.  Hope yours is minor.  They just had to reset the computer.  No charge of course!!

Everyone enjoy the weekend.  It is lovely here & will be all weekend.  Hope your is wherever you are.
Happy reading,
Donna M

Friday

Okay, I have been reading the posts, but there are way too many for me to reply to and I didn't take notes.  I know bad me. 

Things here have been ok.  My new car had some strange light come on, so I have to take it in next week - it is under waranty, but it is going to take about three hours.  Luckily, Mike can pick me up.  Then Maggie chipped her tooth that she broke last year, so we have to go in and get it fixed again.  Ugh.  So I am working from home on Monday and Friday next week, my office will wonder if I am ever there.  :) 

With regards to crafts, I have found myself burned out as well.  I use to really enjoy cross-stitch, but with the kids, I am now sticking to either gardening or reading.  As for reading, I read the new Nora - The Witness and like Sandi, really enjoyed it.  I also read a Catherine Mann Sil. Desire, it was okay.  Was hoping the new Amanda Quick would be ready for me, but since it isn't I will either read another Amelia Peabody mystery or the Tracy Grant one that I got from Amazon. 

I think Mary suggested reading a book that somehow involves Mothers.  I think that is a great idea. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend.  Our only plans are to sign up for Summer School on Saturday and then the kids and I have the last Sunday School on Sunday and Mike has a golf outing. 

Cady

Thursday evening

Hi eveyone!

Donna M--I love seeing pictures of my online friends! You are right about the library tiring me out because I don't do that sort of work everyday. It is pretty physical but different from normal housework.

Margie--I understand about getting burned out with crafts of hobbies. That happened to me with stenciling years ago. I did lots of it in the house when we first moved here--big jobs like walls. It was time consuming and although I enjoyed it I soon got burned out. My other crafts like x-stitch I don't do much anymore because it is hard on the eyes. I will always sew as long as I can because I enjoy it and making kids clothes is fun. Reading is my passion (other than my family) and always has been. I can't see me ever not reading a lot! That is cute that Gavin likes the word 'awesome'! Lauren used to love 'wow' too.

Sandi--I hope you are feeling better. I enjoyed your pictures. I would like to visit the Riverwalk someday too and San Antonio in general. I've never been to Texas.

I finished Girls Night last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was sweet, sexy, funny and irresistable. I loved the h/H together and the fact that they were a little older (h is 38, H is 42.) I am now reading Rainshadow Road and it is good so far. I actually did some housework today! My youngest brother is visiting this weekend so I cleaned the room and bathroom he'll be using. It will be good to see him and he will get to go to Jacob's birthday party. He is living in Virginia right now so we don't see him much.

Have a good evening!

Mary

Hello Everyone,

Not sure this is too exciting!  A picture of me!  One of the grandkids took this the same day I took that picture of the Golden Gate Bridge.  I didn't get a chance to compose myself!!  Somehow it is never much fun having your picture taken.   :-)  This is at the Pt. Bonita Lighthouse.  I'll post a picture of the bridge you have to cross to get there!  They just recently replaced the bridge.  I'm looking forward to going down to check that out.  Hopefully on a sunny day!

Here is the bridge!

Yesterday I was feeling bored with my own company, just one of those kind of days.  I called a friend of mine I haven't seen or spoken with in awhile.  We chatted on the phone awhile & then I ended up deciding to go see her.  I picked up some lunch for us & we spent the afternoon chatting up a storm, filling each other  in what has been happening in our lives.  Her husband passed away unexpectedly last August. He was in his 40's, a bit younger than she is.  She is doing so well.  She has joined a grief group which seems to be helping her a lot.  We met through our workplace, hit it off right away which has led to a wonderful friendship.  She is the type of friend that is always there when or if you need her.

Sandi, I loved the pictures of the oaks.  They look similar to the ones we have here in my area.  The shapes always fascinate me.  I do have one I took some time ago that is similar to the ones you posted.  If I ever ended up in San Antonio I would love to visit The Riverwalk.

Mary,  maybe your days at the library tire you more because you are not working on a regular basis.  Of course that is not true because we all know that keeping up a house with everything we do, laundry, cooking, cleaning, etc. we are working a great deal.  I imagine shelving books does wear a person out because you are bending, stretching along with some lifting.  However, I know you enjoy your days there.  That means it is a good kind of tired.

When I went to visit my friend yesterday I also stopped at Target to pick up something I needed but did not ad to my list so forgot it!  Dryer sheets, I like the ones I get there for two reasons, price & scent.  Since I was there & knew there should be some new books on the shelves I checked out the book section.  No surprise to any of you!!  I got Robyn Carr's new, just out from the Virgin River series & the first book in a new series by Roxanne St. Claire.  These are both authors I love reading.  I also had a book come in the mail & got a DVD from Netflix.  Such a good day!

Margie, that is a lovely picture of the baby hummingbirds.  They are such beautiful creatures.  That is a great shot.

I need to go get the laundry out of the washer & into the dryer.  After that lunch, then a walk once the clothes are out of the dryer.  It is breezy & cool, great weather for a walk.

Enjoy the day, find time to read,
Donna M

Hi Ladies

Thanks for the sweet comments about Gavin.  He is a real joy to me.   

Sandi, I'm glad you are feeling better.  I've always love the way Oak trees look.  The trees in your pictures are so beautiful.  I'm excited that I was able to post some pictures so I'm curious as to how you get add the finished date on there?

DonnaM,  Loving all your pictures.  We also felt some humidity here a couple of days ago but it is gone now. I used to get paid every week and now it is bi-monthly.  That took some getting used to so I'd hate to have to wait an entire month.   

DonnaH, Why is the town having such a huge yard sale?!  Sounds like fun.  I used to use a scroll saw years ago because I was into painting so I understand what you mean about being able to spend hours on that craft.  Mostly I loved the painting part and I could spend hours in my garage painting.  That hobby took over my reading hobby and I stopped reading for a long time.  Looking back, I can't believe I did that because I was a huge reader.  Then I got burned out on the painting and picked up a book again.  It is great that you have time for both of these fun hobbies.

Mary,  I think Gavin will be accepted and it will be really beneficial for him.  It's funny the favorite words kids will keep repeating.  Gavin used to love us to say "Wow" when he would build a big tower with his foam blocks.  He'd say it too.  Then one day I said "that is so awesome".  I repeated it a couple of times but he wouldn't say it.  Then my sister and I were talking while he continued to build with us saying an occasional Wow.  But then one time he was looking at us and saying oh sam.  He kept saying oh sam and we just looked at each other.  I said who is Sam?  Why is he saying Sam? Duh! He kept looking at his tower and back at us saying that and we finally figured out it was Awesome.  I corrected him and he said it right after that.  Now it is his favorite word every time he does something good or thinks that something is cool.

I finished The Raven Prince.  I really enjoyed it and will read more by this author.  I'm not sure what I want to read next.  I got a few books from a friend so I will need to go through those to see if anything appeals.

Here is a picture I took last year.  It is two baby hummingbirds in a nest.
Have a good Thursday!
Margie :)

Wednesday

I'm glad you like the header.  I'm still messing around with things.  Some things I can change and decide I don't like and delete, but this is stuck there at least for the time being.  I would like to get it somewhat stretched out, or something....maybe a second one on the other side.  I'm still messing with it.

I went home sick today because I now have a cough, and when I get to coughing I sound like a smoker whose been chain smoking for a long long time!  I wanted to go to the doctor and make sure it was just a cough, and not the start of something worse.  She gave me an inhaler and changed my cough med, but I won't fill the cough med because it's a liquid, and I have such trouble getting liquids down.  I'm already coughing less with the inhaler, so I'm good taking my other cough meds, and the inhaler.

While at The Alamo we saw a bunch of really old live oak trees.  I thought I would share two of the pictures that I took.  I used my phone, and I don't have Donna's ability.  I think my brother stole all the artistic talent for our family!






The next two photos I'm going to share are total opposites!  One is the inside of the bowling center, and one is while we on a riverboat cruise.  We rode the boats on The Riverwalk.  We had never done that before so we were looking for a time killer, and decided that the $8.50 price wasn't too bad, and we'd give it a whirl.  They need to use it like a taxi service because I didn't realize quite how big The Riverwalk area truly is!  I think they could make a fortune selling day passes to go from the mall, to the restaurants and back again!

Ok...That's it for me for now.  Let me know if there's anything you want to add/change to the blog.  I'm up for attempting, but making no promises that it will happen!

Sandi

Wednesday evening

Hi everyone!

Today was library day and I am pooped! There was a lot of shelving to do and that is always tiring. I do enjoy being there and chatting with the other volunteer and the library ladies. The supervisor is awaiting her first grandchild any day now so it is fun talking with her and remembering. I like the new header also.

Donna and Donna H--I have lived near mountains most of my life. We live east of the Appalachian Mt's here but I went to college right in the middle of them. It was interesting to see the Rockies when we travelled out west--they are different from ours here.

Donna H--I love to sew new clothes but do not like doing alterations. I don't have the patience anymore.

I am almost finished with Girls Night. Today I brought home two books I had requested from the library and still have another library book I haven't read yet so I will be reading those next. Donna H mentioned a May challenge and I did have an idea. Maybe something about mothers or women doing something special for other women. Think about it and let us know what you think.

Have a good evening!

Mary

Wednesday, 25, 2012...

Good Morning Everyone,

What a cute picture in our header.  Sandi, did you ad that?  I really like it.  Thanks.

Donna H, the mural sounds wonderful & a lot of work.  You must be very talented.  I hope you will be able to share a picture of it with us when it is done.  I love the mountains also having lived my whole life on the west coast there have always been mountains in the distance.  Mt. St. Helena is kind of a joke as a mountain as it isn't very high.  I grew up seeing the Siskiyou's, the Cascade's and as an adult have seen the Sierra's, the Wasatch Mountains & some of the Rockies.  When I first moved to this area people would mention mountains & I just couldn't see any.  We do have some coastal range in the opposite direction of the picture I posted but they aren't very high.  The Donna Alward book sounds good.  I think I have read a couple of hers but she is not one of my "must read" authors.

The book I am reading now is one I picked up at the library sale on Saturday.  It is an older Linda Brown book that is very good, hard to put down.  I'll say more after I finish it.

It is cloudy, humid & looks like it could start raining any minute.  Due to the humidity it is warm & due to the cloud cover dark!  I am feeling a need to go buy some books that just came out.  They are all favorite authors. I've been restraining myself from spending money as I just got my monthly money last week.  Getting paid once a month is still a challenge.  I try to keep a stash on hand for those months I don't manage well!!!  Sometimes there is just to much month & not enough cash.  Oh, sorry to sound like "poor me".

Just for fun here is a picture.

This is such a famous landmark I'm sure I don't have to tell you what it is.  If you look closely your can see a portion of the Bay Bridge at the left of the picture, sort of under the Golden Gate.  I took this from the Marin Headlands when I took the grandkids from Oregon there.  As you can see it was typical summer with some fog in that area.  You can also see a small portion of San Francisco.  The Golden Gate is celebrating its 75th Anniversary this year.  It is slightly older than I am!!!

I will close for now.  I hope you all have a wonderful day with time to read.
Donna M

Hi Mary

Hi Mary,  I guess you were posting while I was still typing. 

I finished "The Last Real Cowboy" by Donna Alward today.  It was great!  She treated another delicate topic with great dignity, yet the angst between H and h was still there.  I'm going to read "The Lawman's Legacy" by Shirlee McCoy now.  It's #1 in the Fitzgerald Bay series from Love Inspired Suspense.  I've got them all but the last one.  Hopefully I'll have it before I finish them all.

I have to phone a company that we do business with and give them tar tomorrow.  Along with my last cheque to them I sent a request to cancel a standing order I had.  On Friday it will be a whole month since I sent them that cheque and that request.  In the mail yesterday I got a letter saying that they had received my request and I could consider it done.  But they haven't cashed my cheque yet.  They obviously got the request, so where's the cheque.  That is so maddening!

I forgot to mention a couple of messages ago that I had finished the April Challenge with Donna Alward's "How A Cowboy Stole Her Heart".  Excellent reading!  She treated the topic of breast cancer superbly. 

So what are we going to do for May? 

I think it's time for bed.  I'm starting to see things -- not really, but my stupid computer is changing back and forth trying to save this post, or something. 

A little yesterday, a little today

I did take some notes yesterday, but didn't have time to reply, so here are replies from yesterday, and today. . .

Donna, the mural for my granddaughter will be of a horse rearing -- about 4' x 6', with bushes, trees, and meadow grasses in the background.  The background will pretty much cover the whole wall, which is 8' high x 10' across.  I'll take a picture of it when it's done, but it will be a while yet.  So far all I've got is the horse pencilled in.  He will be what I think is called a sorrel -- reddish brown with a black mane and tail. 

What a gorgeous picture of Mt. St. Helena!  I love mountain scenery!  Must be because I've lived on the prairies all my life.  {;-)

Cady, I agree with you on the quadding.  I can see it being fun if you're careful, but all too often alcohol is part of the mix, and then it's just plain stupid! 

Amanda, what a great deal on that dress!  I'm making my granddaughter's grad dress -- not the same dgrd as I'm painting the mural for -- and it's costing about $60, and that's getting everything 1/2 price.  My daughter paid for the materials, I just need to sew it. 

Got it put together far enough along to fit it today.  Now I need to take the bodice off the skirt, take the bodice in about 3", and make the skirt 2" shorter.  *Sigh*  That's why I would never make a good seamstress, I just don't have the patience for it.  I can stand in front of my scrollsaw for hours and cut tiny holes into pieces of wood, or stand with my nose about 10" away from a wall, painting all day, but don't ask me to sew something.

Margie, you need to come up here for May 26th -- our whole town is holding a garage sale. . . 

We don't have insurance for glasses, so the whole cost is on us.  I should have had new ones over 2 years ago, but it just doesn't seem like it ever gets to the top of the list.  I've got a tooth that broke off, too, that I need the roots pulled.  Now that is at the top of the list.  I've been wearing glasses since age 10.

Our yard needs lots of work, too.  We've accomplished a lot, but it still needs tons more stuff done.  We've got 1 1/2 acres to work with, so lots of room for trees, walkways, ponds, etc.  I'd like to make a mini-golf course in the back, but I'm not sure I'll ever get it done.

Gavin is a very handsome boy!  He'll be breaking hearts before you know it. 

Sandi, I loved Redwood Bend, too!  You say Sunrise Point is out now?  Well, then.  Thurs when we go shopping I'm definitely going to look for it!  Isn't that just so frustrating when you work so hard on a nice long post and then you lose it all.  Days like that you just feel like throwing things!  At least I do. . . 

Well, I've got a board meeting tonight, and Hardy just came in to tell me the pork chops are almost done (he's BBQing) so I'd better hike off for now. 

Everyone have a good evening!  {:-)

Tuesday evening

Hi everyone!

Donna--I know what you mean about recalling your own children growing up when watching your grandkids. Jake's language is very good. He picks up words that Lauren and the adults use but he does have favorites. Actually is one of them. He uses it correctly which blows our minds. Jake is a wonder to me. Even though I grew up with brothers, I raised a girl and watching how different he is fascinates me. When Karen needs advice about boys she talks to her mil who raised three. Lauren is a lot like Karen was growing up. They have very similar personalities--type A!

Sandi--you are a good mom helping Richard out. It is true they are still our kids no matter how old they are and they sometimes need our help. Jacob will be 3 on the 30th! Hard to believe--they grow up so fast. I would have been crying too if they were making holes in my walls and floors. When we first moved in here we had to have a french drain put in the basement. They had to jack-hammer around three walls. I would not want to go through that again.

Margie--Gavin is a cutie and so grown up looking! We had an old Joann Fabrics but I hardly ever went there because it was out of my way. I did a lot of online shopping with them. But this new store is only about 5 miles away and I am thrilled to be able to shop in a nice fabric store again. I hope that your sister is able to get Gavin into the early ed class. It should help with his speech. Kids develop at different rates but I can understand that it would be stressful for your sister. I will keep a good thought for him and you and your sister.

I am still reading and enjoying Girls Night. It has some serious stuff going on but the humor has me LOL! I love the hero--an Italian with blue eyes (just like my dh!)

Have a good evening and happy reading.

Mary

Tuesday, April 24, 2012...

Good Morning to All,

I love coming here seeing all the posts & everyone's pictures & book covers.  Keep it up.  Thanks for all the comments & compliments on my pictures.  I am enjoying sharing them here which gives me the chance to show off what this area looks like.  You can probably tell that mostly I love the area.

Mary, I'm glad your shopping trip was successful.  Computer problems are always frustrating.  Glad you are able to post again.  That is an interesting new word for Jacob.  I loved watching my girls learn new things.  It was so long ago that you tend to forget.  Bringing back some good memories of their childhood was one of the best things about grandchildren.  I was amazed at what I would remember.  You mentioned Haunting Beauty was intense.  I'm like you, I want something very light after reading an emotionally intense book or one that has a gruesome crime.  The one I am reading now is not at all what I thought it might be!!  It keeps our reading interesting.

Sandi, you are a good Mom helping Richard over a rough patch in life.  Somehow even when they are adults we tend to step in when possible.  I am looking forward to getting my hands on Sunrise Point.  I love Robyn Carr's books.  I wonder how many more Virgin River books she will do. By the way, I do print up some of my pictures.  I use Shutterfly to have prints made.  I've also done a photo book & some Christmas cards through them.  The one thing I don't like about digital cameras is that people rarely send me prints anymore, just emails with the pictures!  I recently put up a bulletin board so I can put pictures up on it to look at.   I thought this would be fun as I can change them whenever I want.  The bulletin board is right here on the wall by my computer so I can see them often.

Margie, so glad you are catching us up on your life.  Your nephew is really a cutie.  What a happy little boy in that picture.  Sounds like your garage sale/flea market turned up a good bargain.  I love finding a good bargain in a retail store or a garage sale.  In my area we have both TJ Maxx & Marshall's which are good places to find "deals".

I'll leave you with this picture for today.  :-)

This is a picture taken of Mt. St. Helena the higher peak in the distance.  It is a landmark around this area but is actually in Napa County not Sonoma County.  This is from a frontage road that is the old highway before the freeway, 101, was constructed.  

We are getting rain!  Everyone have a good day.

Happy Reading,

Donna M

Yesterday I had this super long post written. I wrote it in Notepad, and then cut and pasted. That worked, but then I was trying to add book covers, and while I used to be able to get them where I wanted to in the post I couldn't yesterday, and somehow I did end up deleting everything! I was so upset, frustrated, and whatever other adjectives you would like to insert, and just didn't have the energy to start over!

Trudy, did I mention about when they tore up our foundation to fix a leaky/broken pipe? They couldn't give me an estimate to the cost because they couldnt' get the camera to go around a corner that it should have, so they said it would be between $3000 and $5000. They started the jackhammering and found a leak that they had no clue about, but couldn't finish hammering there as it was a support beam or something, so they moved on to another spot. They dug down and foud the broken pipe, and still couldn't get the camera to go through, so decided the only way to do that was to move to another room and jackhammer the foundation. Fortunately the only issues were the first two spots, but we had 3 spots to fix! Then a few weeks later I was making dinner and the kitchen floor was wet! One of the spots was near the kitchen so I thought uh oh! They didn't get it all. Nope couldn't be so lucky! It ended up to be a broken pipe in the sink that meant they had to cut into the dining room wall! I burst into tears and the plumber felt so bad that he offered to do it from the kitchen side, but wasn't sure he could. I said no go ahead, but cried the whole time! Especially because he said he wouldn't fix the wall when he was done, so I had this vision of a huge hole in the wall, but he did put the drywall back..just not the tape and bedding that should have been done. Now 6 years later we've finally replaced the flooring and fixed the hole in the wall! LOL!!!

It's funny, but I drive 30 miles or more to get to work, so I don't really think about that as being a long distance! However, since I don't like salad I don't know if I would go that far for it, unless I really wanted to be part of the group fellowship.

Donna you have a real talent for photography. Do you ever blow up any of your pictures and frame them? My brother does photography and has a website for his pictures. He does this thing called painterly so that the photos almost look like oil paintings. I brought several of them back from mom's with me. One got cracked (the frame) on the flight, and I need to get it fixed. Now that Richard is moving in I really need to figure out where to hang them, as I've been storing them in his room until we were closer to having all the renovations done.

Cady, I let Richard pay for the hotel room, and I picked up food/gas/and a few souvenirs. I also picked up the tab for a couple of shirts and ties for him for work, and fronted the bill for a couple of new suits for him for work. We went to the outlet mall and the suit deal was 2 for $160 and he couldn't afford it just now, but how do you pass that up?

Here in Texas we call it 4 wheeling too. One of my employees is really into it, and even bought a kiddie size one for her son last year for Christmas. I think it's slightly dangerous and don't really see the fun of it especially with the cost of gas! However, I know it's really popular, and in fact think my sister's family loves it.

Donna, did you enjoy Redwood Bend? I think Sunrise Point comes out today. I might have to stop at the bookstore on my way home. I've read it, but I need a print copy that I can send to California for RWA and signing! Sunrise Point is my favorite this year. We get one more Christmas story. Can't wait!

Mary how old is Jacob going to be? Actually is a pretty good word! Yesterday one of my 2 year olds was walking the hall with the teacher, and another 2 year old came in and he said, "Hi, Ayat" I was impressed because Ayat could be a hard name.

Margie, I was having issues with my glasses too, and had to wait until the insurance would cover the frames and the lenses. I got my new ones as soon as I could! Yesterday I noticed that Brian's are really crooked. The insurance probably won't cover much, but he can't go like that for another 2 years, so I think he's going to stop at the optometrist on Saturday and get new ones. We can get yearly exams, so he's already done that this year, but was waiting on glasses as like we just discussed the insurance issue, but I said forget it, and go for it because they're so bad now!

I believe it's pl1492 that mandates that all children between the ages of 3-21 with special needs should get service, so your sister has the law on her side should he qualify. I had Brian tested because of his speech, but he didn't qualify. It was funny because I remember them telling me he was way ahead, and I had to hold him and play with him throughout a lot of it, and he was so hot feeling to me. When I got him home I took his temp and it was like 103! I couldn't help but wonder how advanced he might have been had he been feeling better! Now, of course I have a much better idea...never thought he would be as smart as he is!

Check your spam folder for emails from the fabric store. If they have a website go there and see if you can sign up again for emails.

Finished on 4/22/2012 

Congrats on being able to get the book cover up, and Gavin is a handsome dude!

Finished 04/21/2012    

On the way to and from San Antonio Richard and I listened to Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets. I finished reading Catching Fireflies by Sherryl Woods.

Here is a pic of Gavin at Christmas.  He is getting so big.  It is hard to get him to sit still and smile for the camera so I got lucky with this one.

Book picture (I hope)

I'm going to try to post a picture of the book I'm reading.    I think I did it!

DonnaM, I love the pictures.  The vineyard is so cool.  The one of the rose looks like one in our back yard.  We have about six huge rose bushes and they are all blooming with beautiful flowers.  One is a blue bird.  They are a lavender color that have a dark fuchsia edge that fades away when the rose bloom becomes bigger.  Then it is just a pretty lavender shade.  The yard only had rose bushes and a cherry tree so we got busy planting lots of flowers and bushes and now if is looking nice.  The front yard still needs some curb appeal but it is decent and clean so it can wait. 


DonnaH, 240 is an awful lot of ladies to feed!  My church as similar functions and we've hosted a few with other Churches attending but never that many.  I think the most has been about 120 ladies.  It is a lot of work.  You all must do a great job to have them all come out like that.  I know what you mean about the hardcover books.  They look great on a shelf but they are not easy to hold.  I hear you too about the glasses.  I've worn glasses since I was four years old. This past year I've been having trouble reading.  My sister rolls her eyes at me when I put the book at arms length and try to find the right spot.  She works at an optometrist office and tells me to just get transition lenses.  My insurance only covers new glasses/lenses every other year so in September I will probably be trying to getting some. 
Oh...and I have to say that your four hour nap sounds lovely.  I love taking naps on a Sunday afternoon. 


Amanda, Wow what a fantastic deal. I love when that happens....which is not very often.  I remember getting a blouse at Khols for $3.00.  I knew it didn't fit me but I figured it was so pretty and it might fit my aunt.  Turns out it was only $1.00 but when I checked out.


Cady, We will be taking advantage of the one day early entry so we can get to fantasyland and toontown before it gets too crowded.  I know he is going to love it.  What is great is that mommy can get on with him.   But he is one who will need some space too.  He is going to need a lot of rest time so I am getting us rooms right across the street from the entrance to Disney so it is easy to go take naps and get in the pool.  He is a bit delayed in his development and isn't speaking like he should.  It has been stressful for my sister.  She is trying to get him into an early education class and should know something by this week. 


Mary, We didn't get to the movies this weekend after all because we got busy on Saturday and Sunday was a lazy day.  You are so lucky to have a Joann's in your town.  I love that store.  I can't sew like you but I can make a straight stitch.  I need a new thingy that holds down the fabric by the needle.  I loaned the machine out and it came back without it.  She said everything was there when she returned it and I didn't want to make her feel bad so didn't pursue it.   I recently got three summer tops but they are too long for me.  I always have to hem tops. I'm short and chubby! I went about a month ago to get my dad a foam pad for his wheelchair.  Forgot the thingy.  The girl asked if I wanted to receive email coupons and mail newsletters so I signed up and got 40% off the foam.  But now I am realizing that I haven't received any emails or anything in the mail.  She must have lost my info!


We ended up waking up early and decided to go to a yard sale a couple of blocks over but, when we went around the corner, we saw a bunch of people setting up a flea market at the elementary school.  (It is nice to have the school so close.  Hopefully that is where Gavin will go to school.  It is so close.  We headed over there.  We wanted to find pots/planters for our yard.  Somehow we missed two of those kinds that have three levels to hold pots.  Other people got them from areas we checked first.  Don't know how that happened.  But I got a great wrought iron side table that had a glass top.  It was heavy duty and only $7.00.  That was all we found but it was fun looking.  


I will need to take a few pictures of the house and remember how to get them onto my computer. 


I just started The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt.  She is new to me.  A friend got the book at a library book sale and really enjoyed it so she passed it on to me.  So far I am liking the beginning.   I'm going to try to post the picture but not here.  I don't want to loose my whole post!


Margie :)

Monday evening

Finally I can post again! I downloaded some updates for Microsoft on Sat. evening and the computer has been wanky since then. Looks like things are settling down again. Sigh...

We did go shopping on Sat. We went to Toys R Us for a gift for Jake and Don enjoyed that part. He loves toy stores and he is the one who found the perfect gift. Also, a new JoAnn Fabrics store opened last week and we went there for some notions for me and he needed some canvas for a project. I am thrilled to have a new fabric/craft store here again! Didn't go our for dinner but the shopping trip was a success.

We did not get the snow they got in western PA (actually near Somerset) where they got 18 inches! We did get rain here and the cold temps. Crazy--last Monday it was 90 and today it is in the 40s.

I am enjoying the pictures being posted. Please continue!

Donna M--glad you enjoyed Hot Zone. It is one of my favorite books by Catherine Mann. I really liked Hugh and Amelia together.

Donna H--I agree with you about Donna Alward's books. She is a wonderful writer who has a way with difficult emotional issues. I have read How A Cowboy Stole Her Heart and loved it. I have most of her books but still have some of them I haven't read yet. Glad you liked Birthright.

Cady--usually Don is difficult to shop with but as I mentioned Sat. went well. He does not like shopping for clothes or shoes however.

Amanda--congrats to your Flyers. I am not a fan but my dsil and his brothers are. The Phils are struggling right now. It is hard to watch.

Trudy--I would be venting too about the cost and the intrusion of fixing the a/c.

I finished reading Haunting Beauty. I did enjoy it but it was baffling at times and you really have to pay attention to all that is going on. It did have a great ending though which was hard to predict. I will read the next book in the series because it is about the twin brother of the heroine from HB. I am now reading a book I found at the library in the p/b section called Girls' Night by Stef Ann Holm. I've never read her but it is a fun book. I needed that after HB which was very intense.

I also finished making a pair of shorts for Jacob. I had planned to make him some pjs but he told me "actually, mom mom, I need shorts." Actually is one of his new favorite words. :-)

I hope you all have a great week and happy reading!

Mary

More experimenting...

Yes its me!!  Or is it I?  Just wanted to try posting a book cover to see if I could.  Got it!

Sandi, I went back to read your instructions.  Obviously I did it right.  Now if I can just remember to do this when I post about a book.  Thanks for the help.

Thanks "You All" for letting me have all this fun with our blog.  It kind of reminds me when I was first at eHarlequin which opened up a whole new world for me & gave me some new friends I would never have known.  The Internet can be a wonderful thing or you can play & waste time.

Yes, I did read this book.  The next one will be out soon.  Robyn Carr is a must read/buy.

Bye again, see you all tomorrow.
Donna M

Wow, it was very busy in here over the weekend.

Trudy - I didn't think you were overventing about the AC. The thought of the money and the hassle would have had me venting as well. :)

Margie - I bet Gavin will love Disneyland. Luke was 5 when we took him the first time. His only issue was he was much happier in the stroller than if we carried him. It is a bit overwhelming so I think he liked his space. Like Amanda, I would love to see pics of your new house. It sounds like it worked great having you all live together.

DonnaM - Sunset Bridge is the final one in the trilogy. I discovered like you after I had read it. Never ended up going back and reading the first two as I felt like I knew the ending. I did enjoy the book though.

Sandi - How great that Richard is responsible enough that he is willing to pay for the hotel room. Even if you end up paying, you can feel good knowing that your son stepped up to the plate. How did the trip end up going?

Mary - So did you get dinner after shopping? Taking Mike shopping is always annoying. We went this weekend, but I went one way with the kids and he another and just meet at the check-out, worked better.

DonnaH- I always get my hardcovers from the library - hate spending that much on a book and truthfully, like you, prefer to read in pb. As for Quadding - I think down here it is called 4wheeling - or at least it is in the midwest. I had a friend get paralyzed doing it in highschool, so I stay away from it. Too risky for me.

Amanda - What an awesome deal. I can't believe some of the formal dresses out there, can't imagine what it will be like by the time Maggie is there. I heard on some poll that kids spend a $1000 on prom. That seems outrageous. Hoping you don't get called for Jury duty tomorrow.

Not much happening here, went to a Bucks basketball game on Saturday - the kids had a promotion through school, so we only had to pay for the adult tix. I couldn't believe how few people were there. They are out of the playoffs, but jeez b4 the kids we use to go quite a bit, it was never this empty. Yesterday, Maggie went to see Chimpanzee with her girl scout troop and then Luke had a birthday party. Great, as each had something fun planned. Of course, not at the same time, but still they both enjoyed. Read another Amelia Peabody book, they are fun, not real serious reading, but the unique locale (Egypt) combined with the focus on archeology, makes it a fun series. Have requested the third book in the series. Have the newest Nora from the library - haven't started it yet, either tonight or tomorrow.

Cady

This old barn is out one of my favorite back road drives.  I like going up this road as it is up above Warm Springs Dam/Lake Sonoma.  I worked for a company that did soil testing for the Corps of Engineers the year the dam was finished.  Each time I go I see something I did not notice before.  This picture was taken on Christmas Day.  I know to some that might be a strange day to be out taking pictures but my daughter was working which means we celebrated the day before!  Remember she works in a hospital.  Anyway, it is a great time to be out & about as the wineries are all closed so there are no tourists & very little traffic anywhere.  I'll post more later from that little excursion!

Amanda I love the picture you posted.  Great mood from the lighting of the sun behind the cloud.  I was wondering about you since you hadn't posted for awhile.  Hope your computer doesn't freeze again.  After watching news this morning I was wondering if you or Mary got any of the spring snow in Pennsylvania.   We were having really warm weather but thank heavens Mother Nature cooled it down.  Today is foggy or overcast, sometimes it is hard to say which!!  We have some rain coming in on Wednesday & Thursday.  Great job on the price of your daughter's dress.  I do love a good bargain.  At most of today's prices even $25 is a good buy.

Donna H, the Dessert & Tea sounds lovely.  I hope it turns out well.  I'm not surprised that people would drive 30 miles for a lunch.  I drive over to the coast to go for a walk!!  What kind of a mural are you painting for your granddaughter?  

I finished reading Catherine Mann's book Hot Zone.  It was very good.  I liked how she developed a love story between two people with unhappy pasts during a natural disaster.  Now I have decided to read one of the books from my trip to the library sale.  It is an older Linda Howard book.  The sale is great for older books or ones you missed somehow when they came out.  There are several new books due to come out by some of my favorite authors.  It seems they tend to come in bunches!

Nothing much new or different with me.  I'll sign off for now.  Here is another picture to leave you with.  It was taken the same day as the other one, in fact from the same place.  You can see that old barn in the background.  The light was beautiful.

Just an average Sunday. . .

You all have such great pictures!  Donna, I like the one of the vineyard, it looks all geometric.  And Amanda, is that a sunset picture?  I'm a sucker for sunsets over water.  {:-) 

Oh yes, Amanda, 30 miles to come to our salad supper was common.  We usually served 28 to 30 salads, not just green ones but any kind you could imagine.  There were fruit ones, hot ones, cold ones, ones with different meats in, several different kinds of potato salads, you name it, we had it.  All we served with the salads were buns, and then a light dessert, like a dish of ice cream or something similar.  We decorated the church hall up fancy, and had a good program.  Of course, the fact that it was free counted for a lot, too.  Our ladies group consists of about 40 ladies who actually participate, and help with the work load.  Last year we had 240 ladies there.  Our hall capacity is 180.  The fireguys were not happy, which is why this year we need to do something to cut down on the people just coming for a free meal.  It's supposed to be a community outreach, not free dinner for the whole county.

So we changed it to Dessert Night, with age restriction of 13 -- also because there were a lot of women who brought their 2 and 3 yr olds, which just made it bad for everyone around them, and they wouldn't sit still, and they wasted food, etc. etc.  We also are enforcing RSVP, so we can plan ahead a little with the desserts.  We're having 4 different fancy desserts, and we're having several different types of teas, all served out of fancy china.  Very hoity-toity. . .  }:-D 

I finished reading Donna Alward's How A Cowboy Stole Her Heart.  I think I talked it about it before.  It still amazes me how someone can be so talented with words as to handle such a delicate topic as breast cancer with the candidness that she does.  I have not yet read a book of hers that I haven't loved, and this is the second time I've read this one.  I've re-read several others of hers, also.  I'm starting on her new one, can't remember the title, and it's in the other room, and I'm too lazy to go get it. 

We have to be in town at 7:30 tomorrow to get our grandkids up and off to school, as dd goes to work at 6:30 and sig. other leaves at 7:40.  When the little guy's off school, we would have him all day, but tomorrow he has school, too, so then we have other things to do until they get off at 3 p.m. -- like visiting Oma, or Hardy works at the compound for his brother, or I work on the wall mural I'm doing for Laura (my 13 yr old grd).  Stuff like that.  I'm almost done a crocheting a baby afghan for Valerie's little one, Evvie.  It's round, with 8 arms, like an 8-sided star.  I'll take a picture of it before I mail it to her, and maybe I can get it posted here.

Well, even though I did have a 4-hr nap this afternoon, morning comes early, so I'd better see if I can get a little more sleep tonight than I did last night.  I was up until 2 a.m. doing laundry yesterday as the clothes I wanted for today were dirty. . .