Sunrise ...

6:10 am 11/26/13
looking southwest from the backyard....

this was the view that greeted me when I let Annie outside this morning!

show & tell!

I found this little bird nest under our tree out back a few days ago. I am always fascinated by the intricacy of nature. I've decided this will be the perfect show & tell for our young niece & nephews when we see them on Thanksgiving.
Hugs,
Patty

yesterday's lemons...

yesterday afternoon life handed me a few lemons! but by 10 pm action had been taken and those actions led to a most wonderful morning today! How cool is that!
I ended up 2 places today that were not in my plans but as you can see it was all good!
My first unexpected trip took me right past North County Fair Mall so on the way back I stopped in and redeemed a $10 Godiva Chocolate certificate which yielded 2 free pieces of chocolate and left me only having to pay $5 for this box of chocolates! SWEET! After that I went to the Teavana store and used the balance on my gift card to buy 2 new teas... Spiced Mandarin Oolong that was 50% off! and a new White Chocolate Peppermint tea - can't wait to try them!
When I made my last stop on the way home I discovered I was right across the street from a big farmer's market! So I purchased avocados, figs, dried coconut, fresh bay and flowers. But most surprising was to meet a young woman who has recently located here from North Carolina. Her name is Maria and she was selling photographs. As I was looking at some of them I asked if she had anything local, she didn't but she asked me for suggestions since she is new in the area. After talking for a few minutes we discovered we both not only enjoy photography but we both sell Origami Owl Jewelry!
I have been blessed my entire life to have just the right people cross my path at just the right time & I give thanks for those blessings every day!
Hope your day will be full of blessings too.
Hugs,
Patty

lunch on the patio...

such a nice fall afternoon! Annie & I enjoyed lunch outside today. & I even got a picture of Annie looking at me! the trick was to go in the kitchen and turn the camera on then shoot from the doorway!

Hope you are enjoying your day too!
Hugs,
Patty

1996.....

The year 1996 was one with lots of things to remember! Stick with me here & you'll see it's all good stuff! & it ties to today!

My first memory is probably spending Father's Day at the hospital visiting my dad just 2 days after he had major surgery. He was doing fine, in fact flirting with all the nurses, receiving a lot of special attention & having a good time!

My next memory is the passing of my grandmother in August. Grandma was just 3 months away from her 91st birthday when she went to be with the Lord. She had been well until just a few weeks before her passing so it was a blessing she did not suffer long. I will always remember her telling me when she was in her eighties that it was going to be ok when she went to be with the Lord, she was ready and she had already lived more years on this earth than the bible said she was expected to. She didn't want me to be sad when she was gone.

Then in October my nephew Jason was born. He was one of those happy kids right from the beginning! He is seventeen now, a senior in high school and has a gentle, kind soul. He's an A student, a star football player, & a great big brother.

Then on November 1, 1996 Doug & I got married! We flew to Las Vegas on my birthday and got married in a civil ceremony at noon the next day. We went to the Hard Rock Cafe for lunch afterwards.

When Doug & I started talking about marriage in the summer of 1996 I told him I wasn't going to get married unless it was going to be a forty year deal! And I was serious! Well this is year # 17 so we are almost half way there! We have shared so many things, good times, sad times, the oh my gosh you didn't do that times and now I can't remember what is was like before we were married. We are so very blessed to have a life full of love and caring and sharing. So to my forever sweetheart, Thank You!
Hugs, Love & Blessings to all!
Patty