Weekend Getaway

This past weekend Bry, Steven, Aisling (Steven girlfriend), Audrey, Ben, Alyssa and I (oh, I cant forget Roddy my dog)got to stay at the Ingrem (Ben’s grandparents) cabin. From the minute I stepped out of the car I knew it was a beautiful place. All I could hear was the rushing river just 15 or so feet from the back door and the faint sound of humming birds. It was a very peaceful moment. As I stepped up to the door I was met by this sign.

And welcomed I felt. 

It was a wonderful time. We spent time talking, the kids played games (we played once with them but different games) and we went for a hike. The hike would have been better if it wasn’t so stinkin high. According to Ben we only made it a quarter way up the mountain. The walkto the starting point of the mountain was mile and then some. Audrey had a pedometer and we did a total of 3 miles that morning. That was good enough of me! My son-in-law “ Mr. Superman Ben” made it all the way up and back in time for lunch. I don’t think he was even gone an hour. I think we all could have made it up that mountain but Audrey and I took turns carrying  Alyssa and that extra 18 pounds took its toll on us. And yes we are both way out of shape. Something we both shared on that mountain.  I was also afraid we’d slip, fall and land on Ally. I wasn’t about to let that happen. Brywould stop and check on us and ask to take Ally, but the two of us were finished. When we caught up to the others they too were finished. Poor Steven got blisters on his heels and his girlfriend was sore from a biking accident she had earlier in the week. Bry could have went on but wanted to be sure we made it back to the cabin safely. We all told Ben (who wanted to finish and who had climbed the mountain many times before) we would come a lookin for him if he wasn’t back in 2 hours. But like I said earlier he was back sooner then we all expected him to be. I would love to have his energy back again! I did enjoy the little hike we took though.

 

But my most favorite time was spent by the river with my family. Oh, the sound of that river! If only I could bring it home with me. I had to get a 20 second film clip on my camera to bring home to remember. But when I downloaded it to my computer it looked wonderful but the sound….it sounded more like white noise. So sad! That’s okay, its all stored in my head. A weekend of memories I will never forget.

Thank you Kesler and Ingrem family!  Thank you for the moment of peace.

Oh, yes Roddy loved it too!

Back yard fire pit

Ienjoy sitting out by a fire, talking, listening to my son play his guitar and roasting marshmallows. I’ve wanted to add a sitting area out in my back yard for years now. If I had known it would cost so little to do, I’d a  done it  years ago. I added it this week. I spent three days (only because it kept raining on me) cutting out grass. Tonight I get to use it with a few of my favorite friend. Just wish they all could have been here. I can’t wait! (just need to add chairs…soon.)

WoooHooo Kris Allen Won!

I let out a loud scream when I heard his name! I’m so happy for him!  The judges all had him marked as runner up and I think he believed it too. Thank goodness America didn’t listen to the judges! I even think he out sang Adam through out the whole finale. That boy can sing! I can’t wait to see what God has in store for him.

I said I would no longer watch American Idol if Adam won, I guess I can keep watching now.

We should dance!

I love the whole concept of dance. One of my favorite television shows is “So you think you could dance”. I love every dancer that tries out. Yes even the people the judges say should not or can’t dance.  Who are they to tell them they can’t. When I was little I would turn on the radio, close my bedroom door and dance. I can remember wanting to dance like Ginger Rogers and making my best attempt to do so. Why behind close doors because my brother would make fun of me. It’s for that very reason I stopped dancing. I went to school dances but would stand and watch, knowing I could dance like them but was too afraid.  Now I’m thinking how sad was/is that! Why would we stop doing the things we love because people laugh at us. The Bible tells us in Psalms 149: 3  “Let them praise his name with dancing”. Yet, when I go to a concert or church almost everyone stands so still. So worried people will see them, laugh at them. Okay maybe it’s just not in them to dance. But why? Have they forget that  we were made to praise Him with dance. At times I too become a stiff person. The joy of the Lord just build up inside me, just dieing to get out. But I would hold it in. Worrying about what others will think. What kind of praise is that? How does my Lord feel when I do that? Then I tell myself what are you doing! The good Lord gave you  legs, arms, hips and  a head to worship Him.  Then I dance! I believe we were born to dance. Every infant I see dances to music when they hear it. It’s not taught, it comes naturally. When I see my granddaughter dance to the music it just bring  so much joy to my heart. I could only imagine the joy it bring my Lord.

LETS DANCE!

How will my garden grow?

It’s been a very long time since I’ve grown a garden. When Audrey was little ( I can’t  remember how old she was.  I’m going to guess around 7 or 8 years old maybe younger) she wanted to grow a garden. My parents always had a garden and I can remember when I was little the rows and rows of corn that seemed to go on forever. So when we bought our home I knew I wanted to try to garden. But it wasn’t until Audrey asked to grow one that I made  my first attempt. For  the first time gardening we decided to do square foot gardening. It was something fairly new and I thought it would be the best choice for us. So we planted, it didn’t grow real well but it was small and Audrey enjoyed picking fresh veggies she had planted and enjoyed eating them. We didn’t plant again for many years later when she was in high school. She asked and I let her do her thing.  I myself had no desire to do it. From what I remember she got some lovely tomatoes. Now I’ve decided to plant again. I planted things I knew I’d like and things I knew Audrey would like. She can’t grow a garden at her apartment and she had said to me if she could buy some things for her to plant. But I had everything she wanted. Now I just have to wait and see if I’ve done everything right. I can’t wait to see my rows and rows of corn. I looked today and saw my radishes are sprouting! I think I’m going to love this gardening stuff. If it goes well I may plant again next year, just not in this spot. This is were my pond and waterfall is going. I just didn’t have the money to start it this year and didn’t want to look at dirt.

Wish me luck!

Happy Birthday Alyssa!

Happy Birthday my sweet little granddaughter!  I can’t believe a year has gone by. I love you so much and am soooo blessed that God gave you to us!   I can’t wait to here what you’ll call me when you start talking more. So for now, grandma loves you! XXXXOOOO

Picture: Alyssa after enjoying her 1st birthday cake.

Birthday Girl

Alyssa will be 1 on Thursday but Audrey had  her first birthday party on Saturday at our house.  My good friend Jeanie made thesebeautful butterfly cake. (you can read more here) And I should mention the BEST tasting cake I have ever had! She is an amazing cake designer!

 Alyssa had fallen asleep about 20 minute before we got to the cake, so she wasn’t quit sure about it at first, but once she got a taste of that chocolate she was in heaven. She loves chocolate! It was finger licken goooood as you can see. And she’s not giving you the “bird” it’s just that goooood. We all had our fingers in our mouths that day… and today… and probably tomorrow.

  

Audrey (Ally’s mommy) did a fantastic job with the decor’. She spent hours upon hours creating butterflies. She made some with paper and she painted and died fabric ones.  She also made a pinata that I was in total awe of. It was way better  then a store bought ones. She’s so talented, I just don’t know were she gets it!  I guess I rubbed of on her just a little bit. I had to add a little something to the decor’ so I made two butterflies from sheets of foam to greet guess as they arrived.

You did an AWESOME job Audrey. Alyssa is going to look back and see how important she means to you. You can see more of Alyssa’s birthday pics (here).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALYSSA JAYDEN!  Grandma love you soooo much!

New piece to my livingroom

I visited my favorite furniture store the National Hotel Liquidator. You can find some great stuff for cheap. I found this chaise lounge. I just love them. I had one back in mid 8o’s but had no room for it in the apartment so I stored it at my moms house. A few years later we moved into a house we found to rent a few blocks away from my parents. When I asked my mom if she still had it and she didn’t. I was sad.   Now some 20 years later I got another one. It’s not as wonderful as my last one, but it’ll do. I’m not so sure I like how it fits in my living room but I like it and it’s going to stay. But I think I’ll reupholster it. Maybe in a red orange. I think that will work nicely. And I really need to get some curtains up, my family art up on that wall and a new carpet AND SOON!

Bathroom remodel (completed)

It’s finished! I know you’ve been waiting for some time now to see it, so here it is! I have to apologize for the pictures my flash on my camera isn’t working (grrr) so I did my best to light the room. It really isn’t this dark in there and the whites are very white. The Caribbean blue is more true to color in the darker pictures.  If you see my before picture  (bathroom remodel part one) you’ll see its quit a change.

I just love the way it came out! I was a little scared about painting the cabinets black but them told myself its only paint. I’ve always loved the look of old glass bottles and knew I wanted to display some somewhere in my home. It was a challenge for me to find green bottles but then remembered an antique mall in Northglenn and knew I’d find something there and did. Steven told me the other night that the bottle to the left of the picture looked like a bong. I said What? Then Bry turned around and said you know he’s right, it does. Well, all I see is a pretty bottle and that all the previous owner thought too. Because it had candle wax on it and in the bottom of it had dried up flower leafs. That’s what I say it is and I’m sticking to. hehehhhee. I still need to find one more interesting  green bottle to add to my collection. Let me know if you see one anywhere.

I knew I wanted something on this wall  but wasn’t sure what until I looked back in my collection of vines, branches, tree art I have saved on my computer. The minute I saw it I knew it was going on my wall. I made a stencil and traced it on, then went to town with the black paint. Boy did I have fun with this! Then I knew it needed one more thing, so I found a candle holder at my favorite hobby store, Hobby Lobby. You would think I found it in the candle section but I didn’t I found it in the out door garden section. I painted it black and added a  green candle for a little extra splash of color. I love this wall!

My friend Joan  introduced me to this artest work a few years ago. The artist Steven N. Meyers takes radiographs of nature. I just loved his work but could never afford to purches his work. Then one day in 2005 I came across a calendar. I bought it and knew it would be hanging in my home somewhere. Now 4 years later six of the prints decorate my walls.  I think they look great!  You’d never know they were calendars if I hadn’t told you. Now where do I put the remaining six, hmmmm?

I knew I needed to have a towel rack but I didn’t want to stick to what was traditional. Just because companies say its a towel rack doesn’t mean you have to use it. I found these handles at Hobby Lobby as well and thought how great they would work to hold my towels.

My shower door is a mess. It had hard water stains that I just couldn’t get off. When I use a product to remove it, it damaged the etched glass. So I decided to keep them but cover them up. I looked for months to find a curtian I liked. I even shopped for fabric and found nothing. I even thought about painting my own until I came across these curtains (not shower curtains) at OverStock.com. They worked perfectly. I sewed the two panels together then dressed it up by adding a valence made with a black bed sheet. I cut and sewed a long tub and gathered it along two shower curtain rods. If you look back at the towels you’ll see I took the extra fabric I cut off the curtains and beautifed them. Now they look like I spent way more on towels then I did. A great money saving tip. 

I hope you enjoyed the tour of my remodeled bathroom. Now I’ll be moving on to my bedroom…stay tuned….

Again, sorry for the poor quality pictures. I guess you’ll just have to stop by and see the real thing.

Can you believe the resemblance

Today as I was visiting my parents, dad was watching one of his favorite westerns. When I saw Clint Eastwood I had to take a second look. Hugh Jackman looks just like him! They could be twins or should I say doppelgangers. I’ve alway loved them both, handsome and great actors. Well, Hugh now has an some idea of whats to come.