Welcome 2012!

Happy happy New Year to each and every one of you!!

My six month break from blogging was the start of a six month break from "me" stuff.  I stopped blogging, writing, working in the sketchbook, spinning, knitting, scrapbooking, and crocheting.  I didn't stop reading books, but every other thing went by the wayside except the very much needed focus on other priorities. We even stopped our Sunday grandson / grandmother trips to the game store for role-playing games.

Sounds like things were pretty quiet, yes?  Well, during that time we:

• had our annual family vacation at the beach which was wonderful as always. We took the puppies, and they both loved the ocean. After three days, though, Jack Junior got very very ill. He cried out in pain, was unable to walk, had urinary problems, and slept rolled up in a tiny ball. Mr. Bryant took him home the very next morning to get pain medication from the vet, while I stayed and took pictures and loved the time with the fam.

  

• said goodbye to Ama as she went off to Portland. Mr. Bryant laid out her driving trip across the country, and we even found a cabin in Yellowstone for one of the nights of the trip. The drive took her to the Arch in St. Louis, Colorado to see friends, Yellowstone, Coeur d'Alene, and the Columbia River Gorge. 
• said Goodbye to Shannon and John and family as they went off to new adventures in Virginia.
• put all the puppies on a new diet. 
• watched the puppies grow like weeds!

• took Jack Junior to six vets and finally to NC State Veterinary School, where they diagnosed the infection that was crippling and killing him.  We got him started on a three to six month course of antibiotics and noticed immediate improvement in his condition.
• continued to take the puppies to Obedience Training. 

 

• flew the cats across the country to greet Ama in Portland.
• learned the incredible blessings of being members of the Leonberger Community. 

 

• had a fabulous family Thanksgiving in the mountains hosted by Mr. and Mrs. McFadden.

 

• had another wonderful Christmas hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Hanson.
• went to an amazing New Years dinner with our very dear friends.

In addition to all this, I interviewed for a new job or two, adjusted to a restructure at work, and did my best to support Mr. Bryant while HE adjusted to a restructure at work.

During all this time off from "me," I thought I was doing the right things, doing the things that needed to be done, paying primary attention to the other people in my life in the best way. But as I look back at the last half of the year, I can see that I was less centered, less thoughtful, and frankly, less confident.

I am grateful to have learned this lesson, which I think I really knew but allowed myself to conveniently forget.  Taking care of "me" is important, and changes how I interact with the world at every level.

I can't say that I am sorry to see 2011 go.  Although it wasn't the worst year it also wasn't the best.  And sometimes, that's exactly the inspiration needed to go forth and know this New Year better, man! (with a nod here to our friends, the Muppets!)

Here is to the most wonderful year yet.  Welcome 2012!

Thursday, 13 Things about the New Old Truck

1) We had been looking for months to find ADR his birthday truck, and finally just gave him the cash. In less than 5 days, he found the old truck of his dreams! The truck was in a small farming town north of where we live, and had never been out of the small community where ADR found it. Only two other people had ever owned the truck, and now, ADR gots it.

2) ADR Absolutely Loves It. Happy Birthday, baby! Super & I are so happy you are happy.

3) SRR Absolutely Loves It, and Loves that ADR Loves It. How totally fabulous!


4) It is a 1966 pick-up truck, and that is the same year Jay D was born. When Mrs. Hanson saw the pick up truck, the distinctive style brought back tons of memories of those days. The last time it was titled was in 1979, the year ADR was born.

5) GMC made the pick-up truck, and it has pretty darn much original stuff on it & in it. The Custom logo was a factory option (like a Limited) and therefore has a little bit of finishing and trim that are standard.


6) It is pretty fun to drive, and is a V-6 engine. Super nice and very cool.

7) The shifting is "3 on the tree," and ADR had to call someone for help before he could drive it home. :)

8) The pick up truck bed is a long bed, excellent for hauling all kinds of things. The long bed is made of wood, lined with a heavy rubber mat.

9) ADR got a 1966 license plate and will be licensed to run with that plate, a "Year of Manufacture" plate.

10) Pinky loves to ride with ADR, and lays down on the long front seat - because he can! In fact, everybody likes to ride in the pick-up truck.

11) Mr. Bryant and ADR hauled their first load in it this past weekend, and that is something!

12) People stop ADR when he is driving the pick-up truck - in the parking lots, in his driveway, they pull up beside him - all to tell him - "Man, I like your truck! Cool!"


13) And Ms. Jaya Pearl? She likes to climb in the bed.

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants Here

A Charleston Quick Trip

Two very VERY beautiful people.

I got to take a trip to Charleston with some of the most beautiful people I know.

It all started with Rosie's birthday, and wanting to do something grand. Before the discussions went very far, we had set up a quick weekend trip to Charleston and off we went - me, Steph, Ama, and the kids. We zipped down on Friday and back on Sunday and filled up every single moment we had with nothing but fun!

We stayed right in the historic district and though we all agree that we need to take a longer weekend for our next visit, staying at the corner of Market and Church streets was an excellent place to be.

Charleston is one of our favorite places and is even more wonderful when there is time to leisurely walk through the galleries, tour the old homes, examine the museums, and learn more about this place and its colorful history.

Our first day we walked down streets and looked at sites on our own. This is my beautiful family outside of the Circular Church on Meeting Street. [Later on this trip we were in this graveyard at night (yes, it WAS spooky), and we learned that the graveyard was established in 1681, making it one of the oldest cemeteries in Charleston.]

We strolled down the cobblestone streets and walked through a memorial park where the mother of Andrew Jackson was honored.


We came out on Broad Street and walked past famous shops, homes, and restaurants, and eventually turned up East Bay street, passing by the old Farmer's and Exchange Bank.



Love the interesting building designs and details!

We had lunch at Sermet's Corner on King's Street where we have eaten many times before, and were not disappointed. We did some shopping for dress-up clothes and shoes and found Steph a wonderful dress at White House Black Market. Asa was not happy with the book store, though, and so we vowed to find another one over the weekend.


The next day after a fantastic breakfast at Toast, we walked through some of this historic areas of the city on our way to The Griffen for a Butterbeer. We strolled out on the River Walk, past toddlers playing in the fountain.



We could see Fort Sumter to the right down the Cooper River, and the amazing Cooper River Bridge to the left.


While almost right across from us was Patriots' Point, where the USS Yorktown rests.


We took a break from all our walking with our scheduled Carriage Tour.


Of course, we had to agree to abide by the rules before the tour began....

Our guide was great, giving us a new perspective on Charleston with his stories and a more intimate history about the homes, people, and events of historic Charleston. We all admired unique architecture of the houses, administrative buildings, churches - and even the layout of the city.

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist

As we came down Legare Street we approached the Cathedral of St. John - and in all my trips to Charleston I had never passed it, nor had I ever heard the story about the Cathedral's fire and reconstruction. I had; however, been by Two Meeting Street and heard the history of this lovely home that has now been transformed into an incredible Bed & Breakfast.

Two Meeting Street - a Very Fine Bed & Breakfast destination

Other architecture and sites that we saw on the Carriage Tour below....

Mills House

Just like the houses in Charleston, the porch of our house is painted Haint Blue.

***

After the tour we walked back to the hotel and changed into our dress up clothes to make it to our dinner reservations at FIG. We all recommend you go there. It is fabulous!

After dinner we zipped back to the hotel AGAIN and changed clothes (again!) for our Ghosts and Graveyard Tour. Excellent and busy busy day!

Some exhausted kiddos!

We got up early Sunday and had a fabulous Happy Birthday Amanda Gift Exchange and Breakfast at Joseph's. We has to wait in line a bit for breakfast, but they gave us coffee and juice and that made everything a-ok.




After filling up and celebrating, we walked through the market and then headed to the Exchange and Provost Dungeon, taking the tour there.

Waving goodbye to Charleston from the balcony of the Old Exchange

Once done, we stopped back by the hotel for final check out and packed in the car for home - but not before stopping at Blue Bicycle Books for Asa to find something special to read on the way. :)

Birthday Boys

Mr. Hanson and Mr. Rentschler, kicking back.

We took a Saturday to celebrate our wonderful birthday boys. It had been a really busy week and we had not had any time to buy groceries or make wonderful picnic foods, so we got up super early and made our grocery list. After running to Trader Joes and to the regular grocery store, we had to make salad, cake, and burgers, and pack everything up for the party.

As you might imagine, we were running late.

By the time we got the car packed, it looked like we were heading off for weeks. Good Grief.


We had drinks and paper goods (plates, cups, napkins), folding chairs, bathing suits and towels, wonderful turkey burgers and condiments (cheese, ketchup, mustard, pickles, lettuce, fresh cut tomatoes), a yummy Asian Noodle Salad (recipe from the Pioneer Woman), and a Texas Sheet Cake. We were off to the lake at a good clip. When we arrived most of the family was already at the picnic site. We took three picnic tables to hold all of our wonderful goodies!

As we got things unpacked, we realized that three of us had brought different styles of salad with pasta! Good Grief! Each salad was yummy and different, but we had not expected that we would have a Tale of Three Pasta Salads to tell!

Mr. Bryant got the grill going and we chatted and munched on snacks as the food got ready.

Ryan took the kids down for a quick swim, and by the time they got back to the picnic area the food was ready.

Loaded Turkey Burgers, a family specialty

I can't smile, the sun is in my eyes!

ok, I'll try cause I love you.

Yum Cake!

Mr. McFadden and Mr. Bryant kicking back.

The lovely Mrs. McFadden and Mrs. Hanson

After yummy lunch and happy birthday singing, and the awarding of the gifts, Rosie and Ryan had to skip out to work. Mr. Hanson got a new Kindle and some books (among other things) and Mr. Rentschler got a new wheel barrow and the $$ to buy and Old Truck (among other things)!!!

We all shared more stories and laughed at most of them, and eventually Stephanie and I hung out with the kiddos at the lake for another cooling dip.

It's hot out here!

We had a blast! Thanks for the great excuse to have a picnic, gents. And Happy Happy Happy Birthday! We love you!