It's That Time Again

Mid-October.

The aspen are golden in the mountains. Mornings are crisp. Days are shorter. Colors are richer.

And my favorite girls are a year older wiser and more delightful.  Happy Birthday to the October contingent!

Birthday Girl

It's someone's birthday.

She's related to me. She can't sleep when someone else keeps the light on and reads. She talks in her sleep. 

(I made sure her future husband knew all these things before they got married.)

She's also friendly, funny, nice singing voice, fairly intelligent, decent cook.  

I'm pretty lucky to have her for a sister. 

Happy birthday, Pooh!

Nothing Cuter Than a Baby Chick

or four.

After ten days they no longer fit in the bunny basket. Just look at those long legs!
We named our four Buff Orpingtons, who will grow up to be buxom beauties, Sophia Loren, Carole Lombard, Rita Hayworth and Marilyn Monroe.

I know I'm not the only cousin who's begun raising backyard chickens--who else has named their girls?

Spring Roundup

Just a few photos to show what's been happening around here.

First, we finally put up Grammy's shelves from Christmas (only took two and a half months). Still needs tweaking, but it sure fills up the wall nicely.  And so easy to prop up Gram's collection of original watercolors (courtesy of my MIL).

Then there was the paver issue at her house. The builder fixed it out of the kindness of their hearts even though they said it wasn't their fault. Yes, it's true...we previously hired a gopher to come excavate just so we could produce a sinkhole so Lennar'd have to fix it. Gram said it was an interesting feeling to slowly sink down when she was wheeling out her trashcan.



This sofa may look familiar to someone in the family. 

I discovered this clone at Goodwill. How much?

What a bargain, eh? (Yeah, watched too much Olympics and picked up a Canadian accent.)

Spring is slowly arriving here in Reno.  My favorites are the striped crocus. Take thirty shots and one is bound to be acceptable.


I fell in love with this French apron hook.  I'm slowly gathering supplies to build my own. How hard could it be? I need one because...

I keep making aprons and I have no place to hang them in our kitchen. My shirts are enjoying freedom from grease and tomato sauce stains.


Lastly, my sweet sister-in-law's father passed on to join his wife in heaven this last weekend.  It doesn't seem all that long ago that we were all together in Paso for our nephew's graduation...

Grammy and I both thought we heard J's mom laughing with delight when he got there.  We miss both of them.

Lucky Thirteen?

Teenager and trouble all begin with T. Coincidence?

This computer system crashed soon after. Coincidence?


Tigger is thirteen today and tonight there is also a full moon. Coincidence?



This snowman disappeared shortly after this photo was taken. Coincidence?

You be the judge.

All kidding aside, the teenage years are an amazing voyage of discovery as our children become young adults.  The seas get stormy sometimes and parents frequently become seasick, but it's worth sticking it out for the destination is delightful. 

Happy Birthday to our favorite teenager.  We cherish the music (well, maybe Kharma doesn't fully), the laughter, the conversations, and watching you as you grow up into a remarkable young man.

Our Year in Photos

Just some of the people and events that made 2009 special...enjoy!