((( Wednesday Blogger 5.31.06 )))

Challenge:

Special family plans this summer, we all have them.
What are yours?
What are you doing that you consider SPECIAL this summer?
What are you anticipating?

Well I don't know any specific plans yet since we haven't really made any. But I do know that it will involve lots and lots of WATER! We're hoping to get up to the lake most every weekend this year, but usually life has a way of getting in the way. And I think I'll finally give up my nagging for a pool. Years back we had an above ground swimming pool and Keith snivvelled over having to do all the work with it and swore we'd never have another pool. I did finally get him to agree that if I win the lottery and could pay for cabana boys that it would be ok to get one.

So over the weekend an online friend put up a blow up pool in her backyard, I think for the grandkids. I called Keith in to show him a picture of said pool and asked if maybe we could get something like this. He looked and pondered a bit, then sighed and said "I suppose that even with that pool you'll still want the cabana boy won't you?" Gotta love that man! I dream of the day when cabana boys can roam free and there is a pool in every backyard. ;)

Along those lines I went to Kohl's during my lunch hour today and bought a new swimsuit - a bikini!!! BAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! I am going to have so much fun saying I have a bikini again. It actually is a shorts bottom and a top, so no belly skin is showing, but it's two pieces and therefore a bikini. :)

New Mercedes!

Nope, I didn't buy a new car. But while out reading blogs yesterday I did find somewhere (sorry I can't remember where to give credit!) that you can download a new Mixed Tape every 10 weeks at the Mercedes-Benz site. I read that it's "coffeehouse jazz" music, but never having been to a real coffeehouse before (I'll go out on a limb here and assume Starbucks doesn't count!) I can't really comment on that. But I did download it last night and listened on the way to work and do like it. This is the kind of music I like to have on in the background at home while we're having dinner or while I'm just relaxing and knitting or cross stitching or such. Cool find!

In glamour news, Lynne' went to her first Mary Kay party on Monday with some friends and had a blast! I'm sure the consultant had a blast as well because my daughter spent some big money. But she looked absolutely gorgeous and now has all the skin care products she'll ever need as well as everything necessary for a night on the town - which is a little disconcerting for me to think about. ;)

I'm down to only 8 rows remaining on the 5 Hour Baby Sweater and know it will be finished tonight. Good thing as tomorrow we cast on for the lace knit along! I'm really excited about this as I love to knit lace and the pattern looks exquisite.

~ Elizabeth

Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart. - Khalil Gibran

Great 3 Day Weekend!

WOW - what a fabulous 3 day weekend! This is the first time in a very long time that Keith and I didn't go somewhere on a long weekend and it ended up being really nice. Did some cooking, some cleaning, some shopping, some scrapbooking and some knitting - can it possibly be any better than that?

Saturday was our monthly scrapbooking get together and while I only stayed about half the day I still had a great time. Always great to be with friends and I did actually get some cards made and more pages in a "home" album I'm working on. Came home to dinner that I had started in the crockpot that morning - beef burritos (I'll post the recipe at the end) - that was really quite good.

Sunday was church, then Keith and I went to a new to us very large home store here in Dallas - big enough there's even a Starbucks inside! We got lots of redecorating ideas and are starting to narrow down projects for around the house. After leaving there we had lunch and ran some errands together - just a really nice time spent enjoying each other. When we got home we grilled burgers (one of our favorite meals!) and watched the Nascar race together. Very low key day, but just nice.

Sunday I met up with some ladies at the Starbucks in Barnes and Noble for some knitting. No people pictures, but we did get a project sharing picture! This was so fun for me as I already knew and liked 1 of the gals and 2 of the ladies I "knew" from an online group and had never met before, but it felt like we'd known each other forever. Love making connections like that and we all decided that we need to do this more often. Good times....

After getting home Keith and I headed over to James and Loni's apartment to see Vanessa's (Loni's sister) new baby, Amaylie. She was 3 weeks old yesterday and the little toot just did not want to wake up! She did decide she was hungry towards the end of the visit and I got to feed her. What a joy to hold a tiny baby and watch them. You just can't help but marvel at their itty bitty fingernails and toes. :) However, poor James and Loni were both quite afraid of her!

Beef Burritos

Ingredients:*
1 1/2 - 2 lb-London Broil
1 Envelope Taco Seasoning Mix
1 Med White Onion, diced
1 Can Ortega Diced Green Chilies (not drained)
Flour tortillas
sour cream
diced tomatoes
shredded cheese

Put onion in bottom of crock pot, pour Chilies over onion. Rub taco seasoning over both sides of meat and place in crock pot. Cook on high about 5 hours or on low about 8 hours. Remove meat to cutting board, and shred using 2 forks. Return meat to pot and mix with onions, peppers and liquid. Serve in flour tortillas with guacamole, sour cream, tomatoes and cheese.

~ Elizabeth

Each new friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born. - Anais Nin

Optimism and Hope

Sometimes in life it's just good to slow down and look around.

Today started the same as all my days do: I took my coffee and my Bible outside in the backyard for my daily reading. After my reading today I became very aware of the world in my backyard. The birds were quite vocal, a beautiful breeze kept me cool and rustled the leaves in the trees and to top it off the cardinals from the nest next door kept landing on the fence for me to watch (the photo is the fence they land on, even though I was unable to catch them in a picture!). It was one of those God moments that I will always treasure and all because I didn't rush right into the house to get ready for church. Taking the time to enjoy the splendor of God's creations that are ordinarily taken for granted.

The sermon at church today was on optimism and hope and we were challenged to think of things that make us hopeful for the future:

• The quiet love that Keith and I share
• James and Loni's marriage
• The birth of Melissa and Vanessa's babies
• The number of young people that were commissioned today at church that will be leaving Tuesday for a mission trip to Kenya
• Butterflies
• The two high school and one college graduate that are in my family
• The freedom of religion and worship that we enjoy
• Walking the dog every morning
• The love and laughter of my friends

I hope to never become so busy in my day to day life that I fail to notice and appreciate the small things. For aren't the small things more often than not what see you through?

~ Elizabeth

"Life is what's happening when you're too busy to notice." - Wayne Muller

TGIF!

How 'bout this yarny goodness? I had a slight meltdown yesterday morning, so during my lunch hour I headed to Woolie Ewe for some R&R. I picked up some JaggerSpun Zephyr in the ruby and suede and had a hard time not petting it all afternoon at work! This is 50% silk and 50% wool and just feels fabulous. One of my online and crossed over to real life knitting groups is starting a KAL (Knit Along) on June 1 for a lace scarf that is simply gorgeous, so one of these colors is destined for that. And as I was on my way to the back of the store for new needles the store owner casually mentioned the new Destiny circs by Lantern Moon. Oh wow....*swoons* Love these needles and I know they will be so pleasurable to work with.

In other craft news - I went to Punch Club Tuesday night and we made Explosion Boxes. I, true to form, am not finished with mine yet, so no pictures. ;) But I do have cropping planned for part of tomorrow, so tonight I'll be packing my stuff and really need to make a couple of cards and get them in the mail.

Last night was another work in the yard night and I think we're almost finished cutting, chipping and shredding. Very tiring, but I think it's just looking so good out there. Once the clean up part is finished we'll hopefully put together some sort of master plan for the backyard so we'll know what to work on. One of my favorite times of the day is having my morning coffee and Bible reading in the backyard and feeling the breeze and listening to the birds sing. I can only imagine how much nicer it will be when the surroundings are even better.

Hard to believe that this is a holiday weekend as I think we'll be sticking around here rather than going out of town. Keith has to work some, so I've made plans each and every day with friends! I'm really looking forward to it and to getting some things done around the house as well.

~ Elizabeth

Having a special friend is a true blessing, and evidence that you, too, are special. - Lynne Gerard

Sandals, Sunglasses and Starbucks

Back from a fantabulous lunch hour! It was good, then bad, then great.

Went to Target for odds and ends and bought the cutest outfit. I got a pair of brown drawstring capri's that might wrinkle too much, so we'll see. Then on around the corner I had to check the shoes - and I lay full blame for this new addiction on my sister-in-law Michele and my friend Dawn!!! :) I got a pair of brown sandals with little kitten heels and there's 3 strips of leather - brown, light brown and a turquoisey blue - they are so FREAKING CUTE!!! Then what's a woman to do but go and get a top that just happens to be turquoisey blue. I will be one stylin' babe when I wear this tomorrow - LOL!

Got the rest of my boring list and headed outside, only to discover that I lost my sunglasses somewhere in the store - sob! I loved these! I've left my name, but I'm not going to hold my breath, so now I have "buy sunglasses" on my new list. :(

So then I drove down the shopping center to Barnes and Noble to get the new issue of Creative Knitting, but they didn't have it. Again, what's a woman to do but visit the Starbucks??? I got the new Bananas & Creme Frappuccino Blended Creme? YUM! It reminds me of a banana shake, but not nearly so heavy.

Good times.....

~ Elizabeth

((( Tuesday blogger 5.23.06 )))

Random YOU:

Fave hair style you ever had: I'd have to say the one I had right before this one - and this one was supposed to be like the last one! When I had my hair done last November I absolutely loved it, so when I went to her right before the wedding for cut and color and brought the picture of what she'd done in November I figured I was set. She wasn't able to do it though, so hopefully next time it'll work out!
Fave song on the radio you just love right now: Jesus Take the Wheel by Carrie Underwood
Fave tv show: Lost!
Fave musical artist: This changes a lot, but probably Michael W. Smith right now
Fave thing to eat for supper: anything Mexican
Fave movie: Tough one - probably either Sound of Music or Ghost
Best date you ever went on: Our first date - which was a blind date! We ate at Taco Bell and played miniature golf at Putt Putt. :)
Your most fave friend: Good one - no way I'm answering THAT question! LOL!
The best Christmas present you ever recvd to date: Five years ago Keith gave me a dog collar and said that after Christmas we'd pick out a puppy together, which led to Joe the Wonder Dog! Besides the fact that I love that dog, I know that it was a very thoughtful gift because Keith really didn't want to get a dog.

Yard Work

Last night was a yardwork night, so more sore muscles today! Keith, Lynne' and I cut down some treelets that had sprung up along the back fence and cut back some of the other shrubberies as well. It started out I was just going to prune a few baby branches and next thing I knew Keith was there with a chain saw and Lynne' brought out the chipper shredder and we were going full blast! Joe of course had to do his part and had a blast carrying sticks and branches around. Poor thing was exhausted by the time we went in though. Sometimes he forgets he's an overweight old dog!

So after taking a quick shower I sat down to watch CSI Miami and during commercials would go in the living room to watch the Mavs game with Keith. While watching CSI I picked up my baby sweater and knitted on it and really wanted to just keep knitting as I was thoroughly enjoying it. But I'm really trying to keep an eye on my arm and not hurt it again to where I can't knit at all. I got to the point last night where I'm now working on the sleeves and the fronts and back are on holders and it really looks like a convoluted mess - LOL! Looking forward to seeing how it all comes together.

By the way......the Dallas Mavericks won the game and advance to the finals now! :)

~ Elizabeth

Despite the gardener's best intentions, nature will improvise. - Michael P. Garafalo

5 Hour Baby Sweater Beginning

And I finally did some knitting again! Since I knew we were heading to the lake, which means car time, I auditioned a few projects on Friday before finally settling on this one. This is the 5 Hour Baby Sweater and I'm actually using some of my stash for it - just some pale pink worsted. I *adore* knitting and it felt so good to be doing it again. However, even after this little bit I could feel the carpal tunnel in my right arm acting up. The job I have uses a mouse - exclusively - for 8 hours a day, which is also the same tendon (?) that my knitting uses, so quite a problem. However, my mom came up with the brilliant idea that I try teaching myself the continental method of knitting since that way more of the knitting stress maybe would be on my left arm and work stress on my right arm! So when this sweater is done that is my next project - probably a baby blanket knit continental style.

And yes, Joe loves to be in pictures....

The Lake!

Oh what a fabulous weekend we had! This picture was NOT this weekend, but taken a few years back. Poor Joe is not as young as he used to be, so he didn't get to ride this weekend and had to stay at the cabin. This was the first time the boats had been in the water for awhile, so no sense in trying to keep up with the dog as well. But the happy news is that the boats started right up and a good time was had by the both of us. I will mention though that I also am not as young as I used to be and am sore today!

One of the funniest things about riding is that I rarely am able to ride the jet skis without crying - in a good way. I will preface by saying that I cry easily (one of my friends calls me a wienie!), but when I get out on the lake I am so oftened just filled with such thanksgiving on all that the Lord has done for us - the cool water, nice breeze, awesome birds and beautiful plants. I truly believe that He loves to see us have fun and enjoying His creations.

I did see another Golden on the water, even if Joe the Wonder Dog didn't get to play. We were zipping around the cove on our boats and saw this blow up boat with a motor on the back pass us by - with a Golden sitting just pretty as you please in the front of the boat with his ears blowing in the wind! So fun to see this dog just so filled with joy!

And of course one of the most special things about road trips with Keith is that we have some of our best conversations. We've made some tentative plans for our future and I'm feeling it baby! Do I need to mention as well that we usually stop at Starbucks on the way home, too??? ;)

~ Elizabeth

"...as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us" - Psalm 103:12

UNO!

We had the best evening last night! James and Loni came over to show us the movie they took on their honeymoon (post about that soon!). Looked like they had a fantastic time and it was oh so beautiful up there. We then adjourned to a local hamburger joint for dinner, then came back and played a rousing game of Uno, which was a blast! We laughed and yelled and laughed some more. These are the times that make life sweet. :)

~ Elizabeth

Cards are war, in disguise of a sport. - Charles Lamb

Starbucks and Target - Does it Get Any Better???

This just in - the Banana Coconut Frappuccino from Starbucks! Recognize the red cart? The only thing better than Starbucks is having Starbucks at Target! I did ask though and so far this is NOT taking the place of my beloved Blackberry Green Tea Frappuccino - WHEW!

Since I decided that The Container Store wasn't in my immediate future (yeah, I'm finally starting to drive less due to gas prices) I headed to Target and found the plastic shoe boxes there for $1.29.

The funniest thing is that my shopping took a little longer than I anticipated and I considered getting Taco Bell (inside our Super Target) and bringing it back for lunch, but stopped myself since it's so unhealthy - while taking a big drink of Starbucks!!! Yeah....I see the irony here. ;)

I don't often talk about my health on the blog because I really and truly do not want health issues to define me. But yesterday I had my "every 8 week" appointment with my rheumatologist. He has upped my prednisone and the bright side is that it usually gives me a manic energy and now I can get some things done. The "dark" side is that it makes me eat like a horse. But the bright side is that maybe with the extra energy I can do more walking, which the doctor highly recommended due to the arthritis getting worse. So this morning Joe the Wonder Dog and I added a quarter mile to our daily walk. Problem with that is that towards the end he is panting and snivveling over being tired. I imagine that he'll work up to the longer distances eventually, but he is sure letting me know about it in the meantime!

~ Elizabeth

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. - Psalm 100:5

Chocolate and Crop Pants

Today for lunch was a Walmart run. I actually was looking for plastic shoe boxes so that I can start organizing my closet, but the only ones they had were a really pretty brown tint, which I was afraid would come off looking more stained than tinted. I see a Container Store visit in my future! The picture is to brag about my health filled dessert purchase - hey...at least I got the dark chocolate so that I can get the health benefits - LOL!

I also got a really nice pair of black crop pants that I LOVE. They fit very pretty and have a black and tan "string" belt. I'm very pleased and they only cost seventeen something! Also got two tan tops to wear with them, so an entire outfit for under thirty bucks. Today for work I"m wearing my "uniform"...so called because I wear this pair of black pants and this top every single week. I suppose I can still wear my uniform top with the new crop pants to have a part new, part old friend outfit.

It's kind of a bummer to go to Walmart at lunch instead of Super Target simply because I don't get to splurge at the Starbucks inside of Target! The Target near my work isn't a super and there is no Starbucks, so really what's the point. ;) And actually I needed to buy some hair goo at the styling place inside of Walmart (cheaper than buying it at my salon), so that's why Walmart won over Target.

Love and Starbucks

My wonderful husband stopped at Starbucks on the way home from work and brought me this - a Venti Blackberry Green Tea Frappuccino! I really adore this drink, though I did learn Saturday morning that not everybody does. My friends and I always meet at Starbucks before making the hour drive to our class and I had just received this drink when some of the others arrived. We passed it around, everybody tasted it and they all decided it was too sweet for them. Since I also love sweet tea I suppose it's no wonder that I love this sweet drink as well.

I thought last night about how the little things like this drink have made our marriage so wonderful for 26 years. NOT that this drink is the key to a happy marriage, but the fact that he thinks to do things like this are part of the key. Then of course it made me think of the kids and their wedding and my prayer is that they too will find a marriage like what Keith and I have. Ours might not be as flashy as some, not as daring or action packed, but what it IS is filled with caring and love. An example of not flashy or action packed would be the rest of our evening last night. We went to CompUSA to get a new mouse for my laptop, had dinner at Bennigan's, then did some shopping at Sam's before coming home. The rest of the my evening was paperwork - bill paying, filing, etc. As we were getting ready for bed, Keith asked me how my day was and I replied with all sincerity that I loved it. Honestly, time spent with him is good no matter what we are doing. My life is very full. :)

~ Elizabeth

God's love for us is not a love that always exempts us from trials, but rather, a love that always sees us through trials. - Unknown

Happy Monday!

Another Monday, which means another week just waiting to be filled! We had an awesome weekend and the weather was just perfect for everything. Yesterday for Mother's Day Keith, Lynne' and I went to the Dallas Arboretum for the first time and discovered what we had been missing. Absolutely beautiful place and it was filled with young children toddling barefoot through the perfect grass and families having picnics under shade trees. We even saw the most precious little girl chasing a butterfly! At one point we were walking along and there was a man playing the piano and you could see families playing and laughing and Keith remarked that it just seemed like Utopia - and he was right. At that precise moment there were no other cares in the world at all.

Of course I had to take my camera and play with the macro function and was thrilled to see the bee on the flower. Sometimes I've just got to wonder about my head when I get excited over BUGS - lol!

After leaving the Arboretum we drove by to see where Keith works, then drove by Lynne's work. Might seem boring to some, but I'm glad I finally got to see the buildings. Since we all seem to spend the better part of our waking day at work, it's great to have a visual aid.

And Saturday was our monthly scrapbooking class in Whitesboro and as always I *loved* it This theme for this book was the home and it's turning into one of my favorite books, though of course I didn't finish it during class. ;) I was particularly pleased to find that I'm feeling my creativity again after this class! I think this evening I'll be finishing the book, then make some cards that I need to send out. Some day I'm hoping to have some cards created and waiting rather than waiting til the last minute.

One of the best parts of the monthly class though is the ride there and back - and of course lunch! We laugh so much and have so many conversations going at one time. Good times....

~ Elizabeth

Happy Thursday!

I know that things are returning to normal routine when I start posting Joe pictures again! This dog is so funny with the things he lets us do. Last night on the way to Bible Study I was talking - again - about being a world renowned photographer and Keith actually agreed that it was possible. Of course he then pointed out that people across the globe would love seeing pictures of Joe the Wonder Dog!

Our Bible Study was awesome again. We really didn't talk about the DaVinci Code specifically last night, but used it as a jumping off point to talk about the Canonization of Scripture. Very interesting and we also had one of the men in our congregation give us a talk about "The Gospel of Judas", which he'll finish telling us about next week. It's the first time I've heard this man speak and it was quickly apparent why he's so highly regarded in our church. He has a Ph.D. in some word that I've never heard before (which is why he has the ph.d. and I do not!), but he said it basically means he knows a lot about old documents. We just learned so much last night and I love that. Maybe Keith is right and I need to take a college course to make my brain actually do some thinking again - I loved it!

I received a package of hobby stuff in the mail night before last and as I was putting it away last night it struck me at how long it's been since I've played with my toys. No knitting, no scrapbooking, no quilting, no cross stitching and know what? It's ok. Our crafts and hobbies shouldn't distract us from real life, but should enhance our life. For a few weeks I wasn't feeling well and did nothing, then the wedding just made me float and smile and not concentrate, so now it's ok to start playing again! Hopefully I can get my focus back before Saturday because I'm going to a scrapbook class with friends!

~ Elizabeth

When I said, "My foot is slipping," Your love, O Lord, supported me. - Psalm 94-18

Coconut Candles!

Now that real life is coming back into the mix I've been doing a little surfing. My find of the day, except that I can't remember where I found it or who makes it, is coconut scented candles! I absolutely have to get some!!! I *love* coconut scent, mostly because it makes me think of suntan lotion and that makes me think of being at the lake. I was so happy last summer when Avon came out with a coconut scented body wash, but unfortunately it was a limited edition type product and is no longer available. Smells definitely are a comfort producer for me.

Cakes and Catching Up!

More wedding! The cakes were made by Marcy, Loni's sister, and they were absolutely gorgeous. The groom's cake was strawberry cake and chocolate frosting, topped with chocolate dipped strawberries made to look like tuxedos. The sides of the groom's cake was done in basketweave and she did the strawberry theme because she knew that James loves chocolate dipped strawberries. James and Loni picked out the topper for the wedding cake and I am still just in awe that Marcy made this!

Very difficult to come off the super happy high of the last few weeks and try to get back into routine at home and work. I also need to catch up on a few other newsworthy items on the blog:

My cousin Melissa had her twin boys last week! The babies are doing well, but are staying in the hospital a bit longer since they were born early. So very happy for them and for the new grandma and grandpa!

And in addition to James becoming a husband on Saturday, yesterday he became an uncle! Loni's younger sister Vanessa had her baby girl Monday afternoon and mom and baby are doing well.

This Thursday night a very dear girl is graduating from high school and unfortunately neither of us could get off work to attend. We've known Kari since she was born and in thinking about her graduation this week I also keep thinking of the little girl she was. She was such a cute baby and now has grown into a beautiful young woman. I am so very proud of her. :)

~ Elizabeth

Introducing The Bride and Groom!

The wedding and entire day was simply wonderful. It honestly could not have been more perfect. :)

~ Elizabeth

Almost a Wedding!

We are in the final stretch towards the wedding and I am so EXCITED! I'm sitting here at work and just want to clap my hands, giggle and jump up and down in my seat. It is such an enormous blessing to see my son marrying the woman he loves and even more of a blessing that we love her as well. I found the Lego bride and groom picture on the web because I didn't want to post any real wedding stuff pictures and give anything away before the event. :)

One of the really cool side benefits of the whole thing is all the phone calls. I get teased a lot by my family for my love of talking on the phone and when you're planning a wedding you get LOADS of phone time! I am having a blast talking to family and friends that I haven't talked to in some time. The thing is, I can easily talk an hour on the phone with family and friends and then if they call back later in the day I can easily talk another hour. So imagine these people that I haven't talked to in awhile! There are still several that I haven't gotten hold of yet, so I know that I get lots more phone time to look forward to.

~ Elizabeth

"The miracle of love is like the miracle of a flower, it thrives upon the sunshine of a smile...it entwines itself around the heart. Its roots are secured in the memories of yesterday and its petals breathe the promise of joy-filled tomorrows. To be loved is to know happiness and contentment. To give love is to know the joy of sharing oneself. It is through the miracle of love that we discover the fullness of life."