September Acres

We spent last weekend at the mountains. It's spring, but there's still a touch of snow up there. A beautiful sight. But at home, in the desert, spring means the cactus are in bloom. Like this one below. Excuse all the garbage around the cactus. This one is tucked in the back of the yard near our fence. LM found it today. The blooms will stay open for just a couple of days so you need to make an effort this time of year to find them. Quite beautiful. We are actually expecting what is being called a 'winter storm'. How is it a winter storm on April 1st? It was 90 yesterday and tomorrow we are expecting to be in the 60's. Maybe even some rain. Speaking of April 1st... that means April fool's day. Let's just say I could live without 'celebrating' this day. I don't find most of the jokes funny at all. That's just me - some say I am boring. Maybe so, but please don't play any jokes on me. It's a busy, busy week. Lots of ch...

Today I took my taxes to my accountant for the first time EVER. I have always done my own taxes. Even before Turbo Tax. Even when I graduated from the 1040A to the 1040, with itemizing. Why pay someone to do what I can do? What I like to do? I love doing my taxes. I find it very challenging. I don't always like the results but I like getting there. I do taxes for my family (all that will change with new laws). I would do them for you if you asked. I love it. (I am sure there is therapy for that.) So why did I take them to be done this year? Well, like so many other people (especially moms), I try to do too much. There's only 24 hours in a day but sometimes I think there is more (or should be.) So, I am letting go. Of a lot hopefully. The first of those things is my taxes (and yours). Take me off your mailing list, Turbo Tax. I am done. Maybe not forever but at least for this season of my life. We all talk about saying 'no' more. But how often do we ...

Disclaimer: I mean no offense to anyone. This weekend LM asked me what a Democrat was. Hmm, I knew I needed to explain this in a way an 8 year old would understand and not in a cynical, 40 yr old way. So I said: "A Democrat is someone who believes that the government should help out people who need it, like the poor, and use taxpayer money (I explained what this was) to do it. They believe that everyone is entitled to have certain things (I didn't elaborate on what those things were). And she said, "Oh, like Robin Hood." YES, indeedy, just like Robin Hood. (I am sure this isn't the definition according to Webster, but I thought it explained it in a VERY broad sense).

Today is the third anniversary of my uncle's death. He was only 55 and had a heart attack so it was not at all expected. He was my dad's youngest brother. ' Lamby ', my grandma used to call him. My cousin (his daughter) posted on her facebook page the fun things she remembered about her dad today. There were lots of fun things to remember. He was just 'one of those people', who was raised by 'one of those people'. My dad is also 'one of those people'. My grandma did a good job with her boys. Everyone likes them, they are caring, find the good in everyone, always there to lend a helping hand with no strings attached and never asking for anything in return. Luckily, my husband is also 'one of those people'. My husband and uncle were close and that always made me happy. One of my relatives commented on my cousin's post by saying that 'his patience was unlimited'. I have never heard anyone say that about anyone but it ...

Alice, if you're reading this I could really use your help for a week or so. Or longer. Spring cleaning is coming up you know. Salary dependent on experience (we know you have a lot and there's only one child here so it would be like a vacation). Call me!

When we moved to AZ ten years ago I figured we wouldn't have a fireplace. I mean, who needs a fireplace in Arizona? So I was thrilled when we found a house with not one but two fireplaces. We use the one in the living room quite a bit in the winter. The one in the master bedroom, not so much. For some reason, someone thought the mantle in the bedroom looked good just stained a dark stain. I have never liked it and have always wanted to change it. For ten years. I finally did it over the weekend. Here's the before with just a bunch of junk scattered about. And here's the after. Painted mantle and more thoughtful placement of some accessories. I painted the mantle, the mirror and the frame hanging in the middle (hard to see in the photo, not so hard to see in real life) the same color as the wall. I have no idea what color the wall is but I kind of like it. It's an off white but it has a bit of a pink tint to it. It took me several attempts to have the color mixed proper...

And you shall receive. Yes, it was 80 degrees here today. Just what I was looking for. It's going to cool down a bit this weekend which is okay since we have our hockey tournament here this weekend. I am the committee head of the tournament (my husband volunteered me for it) so the rest of the week will be busy getting ready. We should have about 500 or so people attend over 2 days. I started a new book today while LM and her friend were in the pool (yes, you heard that right - the water was only 60 degrees so they didn't stay in long) and playing out side. So far it is good. I am ready for some light reading. I have also been busy with a little redecorating and hope to post the before and after this week. Hope you'll come back to check it out...

It has been cold here. Not Canada cold, but Arizona cold. And cloudy and windy. This weather is not the reason we moved here. When it gets cold here it feels way colder than the temperature would indicate. It goes right through your bones. I don't love it. So yesterday I said 'I am ready for summer'. I said it out loud. Summer here means 105 plus degrees for 2 months straight. It means swimming all day, every day. I means wearing flip flops. It mean lots and lots of sunscreen. It means fun summer hats. I means super cute sundresses. It means drinks with little umbrellas. It means hours in the library with LM to cool off a bit when swimming gets old (and it does). It means cooking on the grill every night. It means popsicles that you have to eat fast before they become juice. Yes, I am ready. And I said it out loud...

My husband got a new bag for his hockey gear this weekend. This afternoon he and LM were moving his stuff from the old bag to the new one. She was putting all the paper trash (old schedules, etc) in a trash bag for him. He handed her an envelope which she opened. Guess what is was? A thank you note. One I gave him to give to his friend Jim. Thanking his family for the baby book. For LM. In 2002. Yep, it had been sitting in that stinky bag for 8 years. I am sure they have forgotten by now that they didn't receive a thank you for their gift. But I won't forget. I have heard the stories about the guys who forget to mail the thank you notes after the wedding. I guess I am married to that guy...

I am in total LOVE with this little rabbit from Pottery Barn . Isn't he just so sweet? I still have my St. Patrick's Day decorations up so I have time to order this cutie before I decorate for Easter on the 18th. Guess I should get the chick too, don't you think???

Even though it's only Wednesday, it feels like a Thursday to me. Don't ask me why. I don't know. I usually only feel 'off' like this when Monday is a holiday (ie. President's day). For whatever reason I feel 'off' this week. Maybe I am still reeling from February (frankly, March has not started off a whole lot better but I'll spare you the details.) Little Miss and a few of her girl friends had to stay after class today to talk to her teacher. Well, really the teacher talked to them. Apparently, the girls are being girls and being one's best friend one day and then not the next. You know, drama. The whole talk was instigated by one of the moms. Her daughter has been coming home crying because the girls are being mean. This is the same mom who called me up to tell me she didn't want LM playing with her daughter because she and her husband thought the girls needed a 'break'. Now she seems to be upset because the other girls don't wa...