"Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come."
-Jeffrey R. Holland

Father's Day 2010

I was 21 when Jim asked me to marry him. 21! What did I know about choosing a husband, a father for my children, a leader for our home? Not much. What I did know was that I was in love with a strong, take charge kind of guy, with a kind heart. Looking back now, I know that he made family his priority, even at that young age. He honored his mother and had close relationships with his sisters. He loved to be with his nieces and nephews and loved them as if they were his own children. I didn't appreciate or even realize those things then because I had stars in my eyes. I appreciate them now.
He has been with our kids every step of the way. He set high standards for himself as a father, I think because he grew up without one. He wanted to make sure that our kids knew how to handle a hammer, mow a lawn, change a tire, paint a room, build a campfire, set up a tent and so many other things. He was stern, pretty scary when he was angry, but a big softy underneath that tough exterior. I have seen him cry his eyes out over issues that we have had with the kids over the years, but he has remained faithful that everything will work out according to God's plan. I know for a fact that he does not go to sleep each night until he has prayed for each one of his children. It is also a fact that if the kids need help with something they always go to Jim. He is a man of action and gets what they need done. They know that they can count on him.
So, I may have not been old enough or wise enough to make a life choice at 21, but thank God (literally) someone else was watching out for me (us). Happy Fathers Day Jim.




Just the right mix of strong, manly man and soft hearted teddy bear.


Whether on his toes, or in his arms...a girls first dances should always be with her Daddy.

Never too tired for a wrestle,

or to give some good advice.

There was always room on his lap. There still is.

A wonderful provider for our family. Even when money was tight, we always had a summer vacation.

Supportive of every new adventure.

His watchful eyes always on alert...no matter how old the kids are.

Never afraid to show his goofy side.

or lend a strong shoulder.

He is never happier than when his children are all around him having fun. Happy Father's Day Jim!

Love,

My Dad

I have lived more years without my Father than I lived with him. That does not matter, I still think about him every day and miss him being here just as much now as I did 28 years ago. Happy Fathers Day Daddy.

Random Thursday

I got nothing...no camera, nothing going on. It's going to be a snooze on the blog for awhile cause all I can do is write about the day to day and that's pretty much always the same.
Today is Thursday and it seems to be heating up here in CT. Okay by me, if it's summer I like it to feel that way. Spending my days in the frigid atmosphere of WSMG, I welcome the steamy ride home, with the hot leather seats in my car and the windows closed. Really...it's feels good! Anyway, this is just one of those days that I really don't want to go to work. Most days I am good to go and just don't think about it. Today, I want to stay in my pj's, read on the front porch, catch up on laundry, weed the garden, clean my bedroom, cook a good meal for my family...well you get the picture. I miss my kids. Our work schedules have us just passing by each other and if they go out after work to the gym...I am asleep when they get in. Home is calling me and it's calling me LOUDLY.

Last Sunday Jim and I attended the christening of our new great niece Ariel (my sisters' first granddaughter). It was our first time meeting this little cutie pie. What a beautiful baby, and she looked so precious in her long white christening gown and crocheted Mary Jane shoes. I got to spend a bit of time with her and I laid her down on the couch and had the best time making her smile. Nothing compares to coaxing a smile out of a tiny, little bundle.
I brought along my camera, but unfortunately I dropped it in the parking lot on my way in and only got one blurry shot. :( I think that I need a new camera. I am putting it up here anyway just cause I want to.
So much fun to be with my family again!

Jim and I with Nicole and Ariel. This looks like it would have been a great picture!

At Long Last

I purchased all of my plants for this summer 2 weeks ago. I planted all of the flowers immediately, but have not had the time to get the tomatoes/herbs in the ground. Saturday dawned cloudy and cool and so I was inspired to get outside and get the job done. Fortunately for me Zachy doodle had prepared my little 6x6 foot space last week. Thanks Zach! The soil was soft, dark and loose...perfect. While I was planting I was thinking that you could call my little plot a "salsa garden" or a "brushcetta garden" cause it's got the goods for both and then some.
Years ago someone gave me a big basket of potted herbs (parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme) and I have been hooked on planting them every year since. In addition, I put in cilantro and basil, a few tomato plants and a jalapeno pepper plant. My little patch fills up quick so I need to be pretty careful with my choices. I also popped in a few chive plants a few years back and they come back every year. I stuck the thyme in with the flowers a couple of years ago cause it is a flowering perennial herb and the delicate white flowers look so pretty in my flower bed.
It felt great to get outside and get dirty. It look forever to get the dirt out from my fingernails and scrubbed off of my knees (no gloves or knee pads for me) .
I can never have enough parsley, so I put in 24 plants...12 curly and 12 flat leaf. I chop it in to almost anything that I make. It just brightens things up. It stays green pretty much until the first snow. I have been outside on Thanksgiving cutting parsley and rosemary for the stuffing and turkey. I cut back the chives while I was out there but they will come back in a week or two with fresh new stalks. They are a great replacement if you need a mild onion flavor in a dish. I also use them if I need some scallions and don't have any and of course yummy on a baked potato. The basil (in the forefront) looks pretty bad. It has already been nibbled at by some pesky animal and all the rain that we have had has turned it a bit yellow. I sprinkled some natural deer and rabbit repellent around the edges after I was done planting to keep them away.

Our flower garden. This happens every year on it's own. We just clean out the dead stuff from the previous year, mulch and presto...by June it looks like this. You can't see it in the picture, but up by the wall there is a big lavender plant. It starts blooming right around now and in full, hot sun it smells wonderful. If I could only plant one thing it would be lavender. When I walk out in the morning I smoosh a few flowers between my fingers and I can smell it all morning long. It is a natural stress reducer...really.

The morning glories are just starting to grow up to the lattice. Pretty soon their blue and purple flowers will send me off to work each day.

Jim picked out these hanging baskets this year. They are beautiful in person, but require alot of TLC.

There are so many buds on this hydrangea this year. I can't wait to see the end result!

This is where you will find me on any sunny morning or balmy evening. My favorite summer spot. My book is on the table waiting for me...gotta go

New Car

Kate has been saving for months to buy a car. Her savings account grew and grew. By mid May she felt that she had enough to start her search. She officially started car shopping 2 weeks ago. She scanned all of the used car ads and really had her heart set on a Volkswagon, stick shift. She and Jim set out to look at and test drive a cute little Jetta. She really loved it. She called our friend Rob (car expert) to ask his advise and he gave her some bad news...automatic tranmission Jetta's are known to have some engine problems. Then he gave her some good news. He had a friend who was selling a VW Passat. It was a few years newer than the cars that she was looking at and it was a standard. Also...it was well within her price range. By Thursday...the car was officially hers. She is so excited and I am so excited for her. She took me for a spin in it last night and it is the perfect car for her. Happy Driving Catepillar...be safe!

Family Day

Along with Jim's Aunt Jackie, Jim and I headed out to upstate New York on Saturday for a family picnic. In my usual style, I brought along my camera but never took any pictures. Jim however had the smarts to fish out the camera from my bag and take a few shots. He gets a ton of inspiration from our great nephew Alex, who put on an impromptu show for us of songs and dance moves. So cute!

We got to meet Aunt Jackie's first grandbaby, Wyatt. Cutie pie! Linda and Taylor were here from Texas and it is always so great to be with them. Mid afternoon Kate and Zach showed up. What a big surprise! They didn't need Zach at work so they jumped in Kate's new car (more later) and made the 3 hour drive so that they could see everyone. The first picnic of the summer, family all around, chubby cheeked babies, lots of laughter...it does not get any better than that.







Horseback riding

Zach took a spin on the horse too

Kate too

Alex has a love affair going with Kate's legs...so funny!

The show begins. Tom and Alex...knuckles

Itsy bitsy spider

On the way home...back over the Hudson. Such a great Day!

Moving Day

John and Cassie officially have moved out of their cozy Brooklyn apartment. Saturday was move out day. John's best bud Roger K. helped them load up the truck. Then they all drove out to Long Island and unloaded all of the things that John will need this summer. They arrived at our house Saturday night and after a good night sleep and a hot breakfast, headed out again for Cassie's parents. Hopefully these cuties will not be apart for long.

So long 28 Maujer Street....