No Sun, But No Rain... I'll Take It!

We're happy that spring is here, even if we haven't actually got any sun yet. Today it at least didn't rain for a while. I went for a walk and let the cats out while I did a little spring cleaning out on the patio. Here's today's images.

~SPRING!~

All I can say is that I am super excited for spring to be here! Now I just wish the rain would stop. Despite the gloom, the cleaning has commenced, plants bought, and we have even pulled the BBQ out a few nights.

He Makes Me Laugh

(I totally stole this picture off of someone's blog for this post)

I was just complaining to J that the strays around our apartment keep destroying the catnip plant I am trying to grow for our cats.

He says, "Well you wouldn't leave a pot plant on the streets of Oakland, it's the same thing."

And he is right. It has been knocked over 4 times in the last 5 days. No matter what I do they are after it. I think I am going to have to start over and have it in a hanging pot.

For My Home-Girls

So many women that I know are dealing with a lot. I admire you all and this post is for you! You are all so strong and inspire me. I wish I knew how to be of more help to you all. Today in RS the teacher read the following poem to the class. After the initial wave of guilt rolled off, I saw it for what it was. Just the kind of reminder I needed. Yep, I need to learn to sort life. We all must learn to prioritize and then not feel guilty for what we can't do! Here are our categories: Best, Good, Ok-IF-There-Is-Time, and Not-Worth-It.

The Girl in a Whirl
by ‘Dr. Sue’
(a.k.a. Vickie Gunther)

Look at me, look at me, look at me now!
You could do what I do
If you only knew how.

I study the scriptures one hour each day;
I bake,
I upholster,
I scrub,
and I pray.

I always keep all the commandments completely;
I speak to my little ones gently and sweetly.

I help in their classrooms!
I sew all they wear!
I drive them to practice!
I cut all their hair!

I memorize names of the General Authorities;
I focus on things to be done by priorities.

I play the piano!
I bless with my talents!
My toilets all sparkle!
My checkbooks all balance!

Each week every child gets a one-on-one date;
I attend all my meetings (on time! Never late!)

I’m taking a class on the teachings of Paul,
But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all …

I track my bad habits ‘til each is abolished;
Our t-shirts are ironed!
My toenails are polished!

Our family home evenings are always delightful;
The lessons I give are both fun and insightful.

I do genealogy faithfully, too.
It’s easy to do all the things that I do!

I rise each day early, refreshed and awake;
I know all the names of each youth in my stake!
I read to my children!
I help all my neighbors!
I bless the community, too, with my labors.

I exercise and I cook menus gourmet;
My visiting teaching is done the first day!

(I also go do it for someone who missed hers.
It’s the least I can do for my cherished ward sisters.)

I chart resolutions and check off each goal;
I seek each “lost lamb” on my Primary roll.

I can home-grown produce each summer and fall.
But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all …

I write in my journal!
I sing in the choir!
Each day, I write “thank you’s” to those I admire.

My sons were all Eagles when they were fourteen!
My kids get straight A’s!
And their bedrooms are clean!

I have a home business to help make some money;
I always look beautifully groomed for my honey.

I go to the temple at least once a week;
I change the car’s tires!
I fix the sink’s leak!

I grind my own wheat and I bake all our bread;
I have all our meals planned out six months ahead.

I make sure I rotate our two-years’ supply;
My shopping for Christmas is done by July!

These things are not hard;
It’s good if you do them;
You can if you try!
Just set goals and pursue them!

It’s easy to do all the things that I do!
If you plan and work smart, you can do them all, too!

It’s easy!” she said …

… and then she dropped dead.

We can never do it all so lets find where the HELP KEYS are in our lives.

Thanks to all my wonderful family and friends who are always there for me!

He Makes Me Laugh

Ever since we got married and started living together J and I have done this little thing when we are trying to come up with something to eat. Well today when we got home from church and were both in the kitchen trying to find lunch it started again. You see, we haven't done any real grocery shopping in about 2 weeks, so you might say the pickin's were slim, but there was still good food to be had.

Me at the fridge picking one random thing from each shelf: "How about I make you a corn tortilla with yogurt and pickles?"
J: "Um, no."

It went on a while and we had a good laugh. I ended up having broccoli soup left over from last nights dinner. Very good and very healthy.

This is what J made himself.Corn tortillas with tuna, mayo, whole grain mustard, cheese, and he topped it off with a heavy sprinkling of sage. (I KNOW RIGHT?!) When he pulled a spice bottle out of the cabinet I said, "Ick, that's not cumin is it?" He says, "No, cumin doesn't go on fish, it's sage!" Like that is so much better. Considering what he makes himself, I am not sure if it is a complement any more that he thinks I am a fabulous cook! At least I know he will never starve. We had a good laugh. I guess we each have our quirks, and I am just so glad I don't have a food-picky husband.

On the topic of weird food... my grandmother use to make me peanut butter and sweet pickle sandwiches, and I always scraped the pickles off. Never could stomach that one. Dad would eat chips with his ice cream. Not something I do but I can understand it because it isn't totally unlike dunking your fries in your milkshake, which is just yummy.

Does anyone have any weird foods or combos they like? I would love to hear it, but just know I won't be telling J. He doesn't need more ideas!

He Makes Me Laugh

J labeled the packs of pork for me that we were freezing. This is what I pulled out for dinner last night. When you have a headache and really aren't in the mood to make dinner, it is amazing how just a little thing can perk you up.

March Trip to The Ranch

So, as I said before, we went to the ranch to see Dad for his birthday. We had a very nice time. I made him a cake and he BBQ up some steaks. We skyped with Mom, R, J, and B-man in Indiana as well. Monday J and I went snowshoeing, and Monday night Dad took us to a China buffet for dinner then to a movie. We wanted to see True Grit but we couldn't make the showtime so we saw 'I am Number Four' instead. It was great to spend time with Dad.

So here are the pictures from the weekend.

Snowshoeing

While we were out we crossed paths with Dad.

J checking out how his snowshoes work.

We stopped at the barn so I could say hi to the ponies.

The ever friendly Luke

New horse Solomon

Benjamin, another new horse

We always enjoy our time at the ranch. Thanks Dad, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Bucket List #5: Snowshoeing

My family has lived in ideal snowshoeing country for 13 years now. I have always wanted to go, but never have. This "weekend," while visiting Dad for his birthday, J and I snowshoed around the little lake. It was beautiful out, and the conditions were just right.

We had a very nice time. I will post more pictures from the weekend later.
Click here to see my "Still in my 20's Bucket List"

What's Next

Ok, another bit of randomness for you. Ever since we moved here this has bugged me. It really does make me wonder, what will 'they' think of next?!

Imagine this. You have errands to run. What do you dread most and has the worst lines? The Post Office right?!

And the next place you hate to go?
The gas station.

So please tell me what genius -cough- came up with this one?

That's right folks! They put a Post Office IN our Shell station! No, they aren't even separated by a partition. The same person that rings up your fuel and gum mails your important documents, just at different registers so you have to wait in line twice while he goes back and forth between the two.

I have only used this place once, even though, I drive past on my way to and from work, and the other Post Office is out of my way. The one time I did go I went in to buy a stamp and mail a birthday card, it was late so I wanted to be sure it went out that day. Another lady and I waited in line together so long we did the whole life-story thing and become best friends. She ended up giving me a stamp and offered to mail the card for me, just so I didn't have to wait anymore. The only thing I can think of that might be worse is if they combined a Post Office with a fast food joint. I already have a hard enough time telling what the postal worker is saying.

What's Next

So I haven't posted any 'What's Next' kind of posts in a while, but I found this bit of randomness today and I found it humorous.

You know how in TV shows/movies people are always getting captured and thrown into the trunk of a car? I think the Chevy car designers watch a lot of TV and have really wised up. Or maybe this was a real problem for them? (Kid safety I am sure) I just took this picture of the mechanism on the inside of my trunk.


The handle is glow-in-the-dark by the way. I love how the little guy even looks like he just bounded out of the trunk and is fleeing for his life. There needs to be a shady guy in the drivers seat though. It got me wondering, what demographic this car was being market to that Chevy felt the need to add that extra feature. (I am going with thugs, mothers, or thug type mothers.) And what does that say about me that I have this car?! You know, there have only been 10 or 12 times that I have really considered throwing someone in my trunk, good thing it never got that far or they would have escaped me! Gasp! Ha ha ha ha....