Happy St. Patty's Day!

Top o' the Irish to you!

I'm not Irish... for years I thought we were. Until my brother and I actually met our half sisters and learned of our actual heritage. It's been 8 years since we each got an email and made the trip to Texas to meet the girls. It's been something that has been wonderful in my life... to have such wonderful big sisters who are so loving and care so much. They might not have been raised with us... but we are all so much alike that it's just uncanny sometimes!

Not much is new here around this little cottage. DH has been working some crazy long hours. I have been to see a pulmonologist. I will be going for lung function studies and blood gas work in the near future. He changed my inhaler and also gave me a rescue inhaler for the Spring. I will also be going for another CT scan with contrast in June to check the size of calcification's on both of my lungs. It seems that my body grows these things... I have one at 4 cm on my right lung and one at 5 cm on my left lung.

Along with the above mentioned calcification's... I also have one on my heart and one on my spleen. Anyone see any kind of correlation, since I have had cancer twice and the Pulmonologist also was concerned about a mass I have on the left side of my neck where my thyroid used to be. He was very emphatic that I mention it my Endo Dr. when I see her to double check my last ultrasound results.

Thursday was an errand day for me... did some grocery shopping. It was so beautiful out... 54 degrees! Mild and sunny... when I walked Punky before going into the house, I saw 4 robins having a feast on the lawn. I was so excited by that little notion of Spring! And then it snowed yesterday... all day! We got over 2 inches. DH just left for work and said that it had started snowing again! When will all this snow end and bring Spring in bloom??? I am so ready!

In fact, I am going to start doing some tole-painting on some clay pots to go out by our front door. I have done this style of painting in the past... and I am looking forward to doing a little collection of them for our side yard area. It will keep me busy during the snowy and rainy season ahead.

That's all I really have to share for now... I need to get some laundry done and a little house work as I have a technician coming in the morning to set up a lovely CPAP machine for my bedside. (Oh... how glamorous is that???)

Thanks for reading. Have a blest day!
~Suzanne

Contemplating

This has been a rather tough week for me...

We ended up rehoming Sophie Jean and it has broken my heart. I miss her big, goofy face and her sweet, tender kisses and her big, clunky paws that left bruises on my body. I cried all the way home.

Punky-dog has had a few issues this week... she decided she was upset with us for taking Sophie Jean away. She left more than one "warm little gift" in several places on Sunday and Monday. Thank the good Lord above that I have one of those handy pet steam carpet cleaners! She's settled down and is enjoying being the only dog in the house again. (She's NOT spoiled... at all.   ahem.)

I've been having issues with being cold, not being able to move when the cold air hits me... causing some crazy stiffness and pain in both of my knees. Add the stupid neuropathy in my feet trying to settle into my bunion... and it makes being "mobile" much harder. It makes it hard to walk the dog, and to really get anything done.

I haven't had much reason to go out... we did most of our grocery shopping on the weekend, altho I did have to go and get DH's prescriptions for him Monday night. I am just wondering what has changed that I am feeling all this pain?

I have also been contemplating the desire to get into my craft area and paint. I have several ideas that would like to do... I just hope I don't go blank when I get in there. (I often find that I do go blank once I sit down to start! It's frustrating! More than a little aggravating, no?)

I have been also contemplating working on my cookbook again. It's a project that I started almost 3 years ago and I would like to finish it. I know that I need to work more on discipline and also that ability to cook and photograph the recipes to make an eye pleasing book. It takes time and creativity... and I need to just work on a section at a time.

I've also been contemplating why it is that when I try and go to sleep at night, I find that I am thinking of crazy things such as recounting all the places I lived when I was married to my first husband. Isn't that nuts??? Or laying awake thinking of some of the crazy things I did in my 20's while I was married to that man and how difficult he made life for us. Crazy, crazy, crazy!!!

Thanks for reading... have a blessed day!
~Suzanne

Dreaming of Days Gone-by

Last night, both DH and I went to bed at a reasonable hour. We had gotten our lunch bags prepped and we both feel asleep right away. I slept fairly well last night... but early this morning, I kept having a continuing dream... I kept dreaming about my old job from 10 years ago.

I used to work at a small community college... doing support services for 2 different programs. I totally loved my job and often think about what my life would be like if I still worked there. (Of course I wouldn't have met DH and married him if I were still there.) I worked with a drop-out retrieval program and also an early childhood education assistance program that was state funded. I loved my teen moms and their babies... and I adored my pre-schoolers. My assistant and I had developed an extensive read-along books on tape library... and I had such a great time with leading songs and buying small manipulative's and stickers and soft toys for my little kids.

I don't remember all the books we had... but sometimes, some of those animated stories will have lines that stick inside your brain... and pop out at some of the silliest times... like when I'm sleeping. I woke up this morning thinking about my little office, tucked into the end of the hall of a house we used as an office. I mainly used my desk to stash stuff I needed quickly... and I used the basement of the house the other program owned for their office to store some of the bigger things we had and our many storage totes for books. My day was spent going all over campus... accessing 7 different buildings during my day and having to park at each of them... in a 12 passenger van. I amaze myself when I think about driving that monster sized van and getting in and out of all kinds of crowded spaces... always with someone inside, needing to get somewhere, and I had a certain amount of time to get there and back again. It was a challenge and I loved it.

Back to those books on tape... again, I don't know the name of the book or the what it was about... I just remember a line... that will come to me in stressful times... a pouty, scared voice that says, "I don't want to do this.... " I had that voice in my head as I went to work today. It came into my head again when I printed the book for my new location and saw just how much money I have to collect this month... and I can't even touch $200,000 of it. With that kind of number... I'll never hit 8%, no matter how good I am.

I dreamt about some of the people I worked with... dreaming about funny situations and all the laughter we shared over the course of each day and some of the situations we'd find ourselves in. Sometimes, you couldn't help but laugh at what our kids would do... or laugh so we wouldn't cry at other situations. I would love to go back and work that job... even though my knees would kill me for all the climbing in and out of the huge van everyday. (Actually, the van is no more... we had to upgrade our vehicle to meet federal standards and we bought a 24 passenger bus... that meant I needed a CDL with 2 years of experience, which I didn't have.) When I shared my dream with DH, he said we could move back there someday! By then, everyone I  knew will have retired~lol.

Thanks for reading about good memories... be blessed!
~Suzanne

My Bender...

I've mentioned this before... I have a real weakness for Mexican food. Those wonderful trips to Chipotle Mexican Grill... are some of my favorite days. Those trips don't happen often, but I love them when they happen.

It seems as tho I have been on a mexican food bender this week. Twice this week, I've made Cilantro-Lime Rice. The first time I served it with Hawaiian style meatballs and then again with Taquitos on Tuesday... along with some jalapeno poppers. Last night, because it was storming and pouring down rain, we went to Wendy's where I ordered the Baja Salad and a side of chili with cheese and onion. See a trend, here?

Last week, I had lunch at Taco Bell twice... and had Chalupa's both times. Everytime I go to the store... I bring home a small container of pico-de-gallo... I love it with chips or nacho's for lunch.

As I mentioned this "trend" to DH... he laughed and said, "Well, we know you can't be pregnant." Then he said, laughingly, "Maybe it's your Thyroid?" We both laughed at those ideas... because we know I can't have kids and I don't have a thyroid! lol
I told him that I must be missing my Mom... she loved mexican food as much as I did. I guess it's just my way of grieving for her. Ole`!

Time to get my shopping list done and figure out what's for dinner tonite.
Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

Weekend Recap!

I've been M.I.A. again! I just got wrapped up in household stuff, and garden stuff. And I wanted to make a wonderful dinner on Friday for DH after having him out of town for the whole week.

I don't know what happened to Thursday... I think that was a day spent out west of here. Friday, I do remember! I got up early and got my to-do list and went to Wilkes-Barre and did my grocery shopping. I then came home and fixed a fabulous dinner for DH. Steaks on the grill... Panzella salad, sauteed zucchini, and a fabulous lemon creme pie with white chocolate curls. It was all sooooooooo good.

Then on Saturday, we woke up early and I whisked DH away for a fun drive even farther west than we've been and went to an air strip for a "piper cub" fly-in. We were able to walk the flight line and check out the planes. We went to a great piper air museum, met some really great people, and had some good "carnival" food. We were wind-burned, sun-burned, and loving life!

We decided to take back roads home and came across a wonderful Amish area. I wasn't fast enough with my camera and didn't want to drive back, but we came across a farm that was being plowed with a 6 horse draft team... it was a beautiful sight. We came across several other Amish homes, one who was a woods craftsman and he was working a beautiful Windsor bow back chair. We also went through a state forest all on gravel roads. That was a fun trip and we enjoyed the views. When we finally hit pavement again... we came across the swimming area of the state park... complete with a wonderful sandy beach, volley ball court and roped swimming area.

We continued on to back roads into the town of Lewisburg. There is a great restaurant and gift shop with greenhouses there. (There are also tons of antique shops as well, but we weren't headed that way.) We had a wonderful dinner with prime rib and a very good salad bar and dessert, too! We had such a great day. It's one that we will remember for a long time.

Sunday, being Father's Day, we went for brunch at our favorite hotel. We go there for brunch often and for Father's Day, they really put out a great spread. We spent most of the day at home, doing a few things that needed finishing. DH decided to get the weed eater out and work on the over-growth along the stream. He's not completely done, but it does look good out there. At least now he can get down to the banks and start cleaning out the blue-bells that are starting to become overgrown.

After all that work, we were rewarded with some of the local Doe's coming down to feed. They love the berries that grow along the stream and they love the greenery that grows on that side. As soon as it was barely dark, they came to drink in the stream. It was lovely to watch them... we were out there for well over an hour... and of course we were treated to a great light show by all the fire-flies as well. So beautiful... I love that time of the day, as the grass and the trees sparkle with so much light.

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

To Honor My Mother

Today is Mothers Day... I want to wish all those Mothers out there... blessings, and warmth and love for today. I recently lost my mom... and I was asked by my family to write some memories to share. What is written below is what I sent to be shared... my memories of growing up with my Mom.

Memories of Mom…
Some of my earliest memories of Mom… was that she was very, very busy… always.
She would spend hours with Nana and Auntie or her sisters… or she would be involved with something at church… and I would spend my time at Nana’s or Auntie’s. I have fond memories of stories in the front bedroom at Nana’s and lots of laughter coming from that room when Mom and Titi and Carolyn would get together to have girl talk… and the sunlight streaming across the hallway as we sat outside the door.

Our house on Douglas Street, was actually quite small for a family of 6… there was really only one bedroom and 1 bathroom… the girls were in a converted garage and Brian was out in the sunroom and I was tucked into a cove between the kitchen and the sunroom. Mom had an old singer sewing machine with a wood cabinet and flip-top table. She kept it tucked into a closet just outside the bathroom and across from her bedroom. She would let me play on the sewing machine while everyone else was getting ready, to keep me out of the way. (I got carried away one day and ran the needle across my thumbnail, she took very good care of me, but would only let me play on her machine when Dad wasn’t around.) That was also the house where I discovered that little kids cannot climb on nightstands like stairs… I was only 5 when I tried it… and broke the globe on her bedside lamp. I don’t remember my punishment… but I felt bad about that a very long time.

When I was a little kid… we went to Hollywood to the Pantages Theatre to see a matinee of “The Sound of Music”. It was a really big deal… and it was even more special since she bought us the soundtrack… and she would play that for me on the stereo on Sunday afternoons, so I could dance and sing in the living room. I was around 6 because we lived on Panorama Drive by then. Robbie told me that recently Linda and Preston had played that soundtrack for Mom and that even as she was in her own world… she still kept time to the music and enjoyed it so much. We did a lot of Disney movies, when we got to go… and we loved to watch Walt Disney every week after we all got baths… and she made popcorn and lemonade for us. (That was a special treat!)

When we moved to Mt. Shasta, she found life was quite different than living in So. California. Mom always took pride in how she dressed for church. It was hard for her to be in a small town in the 60’s where Ladies were supposed to wear nylons and she found “gals” who wore bobby socks and housecoats to church. She had a favorite dress that is still one of my favorites of hers… it was a black sleeveless sheath dress with a rolled collar. It had beautiful bright flowers in the print… yellows, pinks and red geraniums with green leaves and a few little bright blue flowers for accent. She had the most amazing enameled pin and clip earrings that went with that dress and black patent pumps. I can still see it hanging on the door of her closet at that house.

Living in Mt. Shasta, she was involved with the youth group and would spend weeks planning for all the kids in the “district” to come for a weekend of playing in the snow. She would cook and make casseroles so that everyone would get fed well while they were staying at our church. She even ended up playing nurse when one of the kids was injured and they stayed at our house. She also worked, very hard, for many of the wealthy people in that little town. She worked for doctors, dentists, publishers and mill owners. She did what ever she needed to do; to provide the things she felt were needed to keep her family together. She always worked hard. She sacrificed for her family… always putting us first.

Earlier memories:
The dining room on Douglas Street… how the chairs were curve-backed and round seated with little pleated skirts and brass nail heads. They were perfect for making forts and playing racecars… Mom would let us drag them into the living room and play on them all day and into the evening. I also remember Thanksgiving there with Nana and Papa and the Aunts and Uncles gathered around her table with candles and her cornucopia filled with plastic fruit, we all loved to take the grapes and squeeze them.

She also let us drag the cushions off the sofa and lay them on the floor so we could tumble on them. She would let us disassemble her living room after dinner and she always put it all back after we went to bed. We never woke up to a messy house. There was also a huge bookcase in the foyer between the living room and the kitchen. There was a Worldbook encyclopedia set that we all used… I loved to spend hours going through the Atlas and looking at the maps.

The kitchen on Douglas Street seemed huge to me… and I loved sitting at the bar to eat dinner but was always afraid the partition that separated the 2 sides would come crashing down. Mom always seemed to have a woodstove in every house we lived in… and that little dining area was no exception. It had a little woodstove in the corner and during the wintertime… it was the only heat for my little nook or Brian’s area on the sun porch. She would stoke it up at night and sometimes it would still have embers left in the morning to heat up the kitchen while she made breakfast.

I remember breakfasts at the little bar… plain omelets on toast, French toast and applesauce or everyone’s favorite… French pancakes with melted butter and sugar. We would get up on New Years morning and she would make waffles while we were still in our jammies watching the rose parade on black and white TV. And one of my most favorite dinners sitting at that bar was her homemade tostadas. She’d fry the tortillas and put the meat and refried beans on them and place them in the oven to stay warm. She’d place a large brown grocery bag on the oven rack to help absorb the oils from the tortillas… I can still see the bottle of La Victoria taco sauce sitting on the bar and remember how good it tasted with the fresh lettuce, tomatoes and cheese served on her lazy susan so it would reach all of us.

Mom loved pretty clothes when she was younger… and she always loved shoes. One of my first memories of playtime was the huge dress-up box she had for us. There weren’t just girl clothes in there, but also police uniforms, cowboy outfits, farmer clothes… she had lots of great stuff. She also gave me a pair of high heels that I wish I still had. They were stiletto style with an open toe and brass nail heads on the sides. They also had fabulous rhinestones and sequins in a floral pattern across the top. I loved those shoes… and would wear them constantly. I was also fascinated with horses because of Robbie’s friend, Joyce. I learned that if you took those shoes and placed them inside golashes and ran up and down on the street, it sounded just like horse’s hooves. I also found out that if you did too many times, you would put holes in the heels of the golashes. Mom never got too mad… she usually was too busy to be mad long and if she grounded you… it also meant she couldn’t do anything either.

She was an amazing woman with many talents… she was a good mother and a fabulous grandmother… she had a way with each grandchild that made them each feel so special… and nothing made her happier than getting to fix them their favorite breakfast while sitting at her round oak table with the little red lantern lit in the middle. She loved to watch movies with them on Friday nights with a huge bowl of popcorn… that popcorn tradition is still carried on through the generations even now.

As the youngest… I did have some time as the only one left at home… and Mom and I were left to our own devices… and I discovered that she could be very funny. We would spend time sitting on my bed talking and suddenly, we would be laughing and not be able to stop. We would just look at each other and crack up, and start all over again. Mom liked to sing and I remember singing in Christmas Musicals with her… and she would bring warm lemonade for us to sooth our voices in rehearsals. She loved to sing. She loved music and she loved to dance.


Even in her later years… she was always a worker. I recently shared with (DH) that my first Christmas at Leather Loft, we had a big break in… I got a call at 12:30 in the morning to go and oversee the clean up. She came down to the store at 3:00am to check on me and bring me “Charlie-dog” to protect me as I waited for the glass crew to finish up. She worked tirelessly at the Love-Inc clothing bank… in the cold… taking Dottie-dog with her to keep her company and be her second set of ears to alert her if someone was nearby. She was so upset when Dottie-dog ate rat poison that she didn’t know was being put down… and rushed her to the vet. She saved my little dogs life. But we all know… she was just doing what she always did… taking care of all of us.



She really didn’t like a lot of fuss… she really enjoyed the simple things in life. She loved ice cream on cold nights. She loved chocolate and Mexican food. She enjoyed a good shopping trip to Goodwill or Salvation Army… always happy with her “good finds”. She loved her kids… she adored her Grandkids… and was thrilled with her Great-Grandkids. She wanted nothing more than to be in a simple little log cabin in the woods with a wood stove, her round oak table and her family to make good, wholesome food for… everyone feeling loved and happy.

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne



I love you, Mom... hope you're having a great time up there with Lizzy's Mom, and Sandy's Mom and Julie's Mom too! I miss you... please come visit in my dreams.

Prayerful Waiting...

Yesterday... I was able to spend some time on the phone with my half-sister, April. It was so wonderful to talk with her and partake of her wisdom. She gave me great strength and understood my point of view... it was refreshing! Even though my heart is very heavy and I am missing my family, I know that soon my Mom will transition from this world and will be in heaven, dancing and singing and praising God with his Angels. Last night... I could hear my Mom singing one of her favorite songs in her soft soprano voice in my head. She loved the song "When We All Get to Heaven"... and I could hear her clicking her tongue on the chorus. It gave me great hope as I know when it's my turn... she'll be there to greet me... singing and dancing.

Anyway... I just want to say Thank You to April... for her kind words. For validation of my feelings... and giving credence to my point of view about life, death, family and processes.

It was a tough night for me... my sister Robbie sent me an email with pictures of my Mom. She is small and frail and drawn. As I await further news... all I can do is pray for peace and love to carry her over... and peace and love within my family.

Thank you for reading... be blessed.
~Suzanne

Nine/Eleven...

I am remembering those who sacrificed and gave all... those who were innocent victims of terror, and the loss of innocence in America... that it "would never happen here."

I am grateful for those who serve in our military so that we retain the rights and freedoms we have in this Dear Nation of Ours. I am honored to say that I have many family members who have served, or are serving now in the military, or work in the hard jobs of police officer or fire fighter or first responder.

We all remember... and will never forget!

God Bless America!

Ummm... I Forgot!

Part of my little "drama" of not feeling well... is that I forget stuff! It's gotten to the point, that if I am cooking something... I cannot leave the room if it's something like boiling eggs and I need to set a timer once they come to a boil. I cannot remember what I am doing!!!

I also no longer feed the dog... because I cannot remember if I did it or not! I also can't remember if I answered email, paid a bill, or returned a phone call. It's gotten bad! I can remember who is on my prayer request list... because that's one of the things I do when I wake up in the middle of the night and can't sleep... I go back through my prayer list and pray for folks who are ill or in the hospital or had surgery, along with my family and friends.

I also forgot that I asked for prayer about John's job... that it was a huge meeting and that we may have to move again... well... Thank you for your prayers, first of all! And... the outcome of the meeting? Well... that was merely a "big-wig" that had been left out of the loop by his people about the performance of my husband and his company at several "Big Brown" sites... and that because my husband keeps very detailed records of his work tickets and emails detailed accounts of his site visits... he was able to supply his Top Service Manager with all the detailed information for all the sites he has serviced for "Big Brown" in the last 3 months. Mr. Big-Wig is now satisfied with the work done at those sites. We can rest easy that the contracts will remain in place and we do not have to move or look for other work. (Phew!)

Thank you for your patience... is there any other questions or issues that I have overlooked or forgotten about? Please let me know! In the meantime... I will be wandering around here, looking for my memory!

FOR TODAY (April 20th, 2009)...

Outside my window... it's cold and rainy. The weekend was lovely!

I am thinking... of all that DH got accomplished, he worked so hard!

I am thankful for... for a hardworking husband, how he embraces all the plans, dreams and ideas I have and helps me accomplish them.

From the kitchen... plans for dinner have been started, maybe some homemade bread or rolls as well.

I am wearing... the usual uniform... jeans, t-shirt and cardigan... and slippers.

I am creating... ideas for a deck area, planters... and place to sit and watch the fire flies at night!

I am going... into town to price lumber and building supplies this week. I have lists... many, many lists!

I am reading... nothing but research for all the things on my many lists!

I am hoping... to find great prices on the things we need... to have a great outdoor life this summer.

I am hearing... light traffic on the road, Nolli-dog - as he shakes himself awake and his dog tags clank.

Around the house... only light dusting to be done, some housekeeping in the guest room from the mess I made last week with unpacking shopping bags.

One of my favorite things... is the laundry area and all the work that has been done to get it into shape for our use. It's in the basement, dark and dreary... but we have plans!

A few plans for the rest of the week: to come up with a price list for decking, a price list for barrels and planters, and an idea of what to plant where...

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

I am remembering Columbine... and how it changed the face of our nation and how we view issues with kids and guns in our schools. I was working in education at that time... with high risk students. We also lost one of our girls to gun violence when she went to Seattle to visit her friends and was shot during a gang related shooting as someone innocent in the car. So sad and tragic. My friend Marla, had also just moved not far from Littleton... and I felt fear and anguish for her and her family. It could have happened back home... I knew boys that played with guns and had fantasies of blowing things up... funny, but they are now Marines... and do that for real! Columbine was the first real-in-your-face live on-tv tragedy where you couldn't believe what was really happening, and it made you want to hug your kids a little harder and closer each night.

Thanks for reading... be blessed!

~Suzanne

Sweet Sunday Love

I've written about how DH and I met once before... but a dear reader has asked to know how we met... It's very simple and sweet. We met at church. My good friend and yardsale buddy, Mary had decided to take on a boarder to help make ends meet. She had done it in the past and with electric rates in Maryland taking another 86% jump, she felt that she needed a cushion.

She put the word out with her friends from a few other churches in the area... she was looking for a male boarder. It took about 3 weeks for her to get someone. John had called her and set up a meeting, but didn't make it. He called her again, and rescheduled, but again didn't make it. The third time, she just about turned him down cold, but he explained that he had gotten called out to work both times and didn't have her number with him when it happened. He asked her if he could come over directly then to see the room and talk with her. She told him, ok... come now!

He went to her house, saw the room, and sat and talked with Mary and her husband, Rob... telling them about his job, and how he needed to find a place quickly. He moved in that night. He even had a good deal of his things in his work truck. That was on January 9th. On January 13th, he came to church with her. She introduced us at greeting time... he had a nice smile. I looked like a wreck, I had been crying... my Dad had died the day before and I was grief-stricken.

Mary invited me back to her house after church... she cooks a great breakfast on Sunday morning... we always went to the early service. So... I went to breakfast. We had pancakes and bacon and eggs... she makes great buttermilk pancakes! And we sat across from each other and started to talk. We talked for 3 hours, in between eating, doing dishes, and figuring out what to make for dinner that night. I finally went home... did some stuff around the house and got ready for the week ahead. I do remember that Mary had mentioned coffee house at church the next Saturday... I asked John if would like to go and he said, "Yeah... that sounds like fun." So I made arrangements with him to pick him up on my way.

Mary had given John my phone number... but he misplaced it. So... I asked if I could have his number... she said she'd ask him, and he said it was fine. He had gone out of town for work... and was staying at a hotel somewhere up in PA. I called him on Wednesday night to ask him if he still wanted to go to the coffee house... he was excited about that. So... on Saturday, I stopped at Mary's to pick him up... and we went to the coffee house to enjoy the music. We had a great time, we even danced in the Conga Line! After, we went to the Double T diner for a snack. We talked for a few more hours and realized that we needed to get home to sleep so we could go to church in the morning. I made it to early service... and he was there. I sat next to him... and then went to Mary's for breakfast again. We got "grilled" about coffee house and how the evening went. It was fine... we had a nice time.

Later... over the phone... I learned that John loves theatre... and there was a small theatre company in Annapolis that had a production under way... while I was on the phone with him... I went and booked tickets... We had our first official date scheduled for January 20th! It was no big deal that I did the booking... and we went out to dinner first. John was still feeling uncertain, because he didn't have a lot of money at that point... I told him, "Look, if this is going to work, You're going to have to relax and enjoy the evening... I asked you out... and I have no problem paying... there will be other nights that you can pay for... if this works out."

He relaxed, and enjoyed the evening... which was really a huge interview! We discussed so much over dinner... and while waiting for the play to begin. And it was a magical night... we ended up having the best seats in the house, we had a great dinner, and I brought him back to the house for a quick introduction to Nolli... who barked at him at first and then settled right down. We also had our first kiss that night... and we knew that something special was about to happen... that God was doing a great work. In the days ahead, we would each seek and receive confirmation that we were each whom God had intended for the other.

That's Sweet Sunday Love.... in it's truest sense!

Thanks for reading... be blessed!

~Suzanne

More Pictures...

We had such a nice day, that day... the weather was warm (8o degrees with mild humidity and then outrageous thunderstorms later.) The wedding was at 2:30. Liz and I got up and got busy with errands and took a couple of trips over to Dale and Gwen's house (our host and hostess).

When we finally had ourselves basically ready, with 1 more trip to Safeway to pick up the cute pink cup cakes... Liz pulled out on to the road from my housing development and headed west. She wasn't paying attention to her speed... and she went "speeding" right into the radar trap that is always set up on Sunday mornings. (oops!) The officer flagged her over... and she stopped... pulled out her license and insurance... and proceeded to cry her way out of a ticket!

I just sat there... looking cool as a cucumber in my little head piece, holding both of our bouquets, dressed in jeans and a white tee-shirt. She told him and I quote..."We're on our way to her weddin' and we're late and she's not even dressed yet! Look at her! And look... see... our dresses are in the back seat!" She was really wailing! The officer leaned into the car and looked at me, looked at the dresses and all of our stuff... and asked where the wedding was... I answered, "It's over the bridge" and he asked, "What time does it start?" And Liz answered, "12:30!" (It was then just 12:18! hahahaha!) So... he said..."Please, just slow down, and have a nice wedding." I said thank you... and off we went. (She was doing 48 in a 35 mph zone.)

On to more pictures~

The kiss!

Being presented as Mr. and Mrs.! What is up with my face?

John is on the phone with his Dad!

Dale... our Host... wore his redneck wedding shirt!

Some of our friends having lunch and visiting...

Enjoying some of my favorite Sparkling Pink Lemonade!

This is John's brother... we both couldn't believe that 1.) he actually came and 2.) he wore this!

John and his best man, Tom. (Also known around these parts as a$$hat.)

Hugs from friends...

Let's blow this pop stand and get outta here!

We were given a little honeymoon gift to a Marriott property... who said we needed to have a certain document before checking in... (which our friend Christy had given them already!) and because of their oversight we were upgraded to a concierge suite on the 10th floor... which was fabulous!

The next day... we were heading off to Annapolis to spend the day and stopped at home to drop off my bags... and discovered just what a jealous witch my roommate had become. (Let's just say that she made the first 18 days of my married life a living hell... it became her job to harass me as we prepared to move to PA. John left the next day to be up here and only come home on the weekends. My roommate actually taped a 30 day eviction notice on my door! How's that for being happy for me??!)

~Did I tell you also that I had to find a new dress the day before... because mine had a mysterious stain down the front of the bodice?

~That's the basic story of our little wedding... it was originally planned for mid-August or September. We had hoped that I would have been able to work those extra 2 or 3 months and save more money to do what we wanted... but this turned out just fine. My friend Char couldn't believe that we did all of that work and coordination in just 3 weeks. It helps if you know where to go to get the stuff you need and have a great hostess like Gwen to help put it all together!

Thanks for reading... be blessed!

~Suzanne

Thank You, Lizzy!

My Maid-of-Honor-Forever... sent me her memory card from her camera. It contained some of our wedding pictures. There were some really wonderful pictures (and a few that make me cringe). We went to Target on Friday... (after taking care of Nolli and making sure he was comfortable) and went through the pictures and printed them out. Anyone care to see a few pictures of our wedding? (We will be married 10 months tomorrow!)

Rings and Roses

The two of us waiting for the ceremony to begin... I was missing my Mom right then.
The arch we were married under ...
The beginning of our wedding...



Exchanging rings...

Our unity candle...

This picture actually shows all 3 candles lit... it was breezy and they wouldn't stay lit!

Tomorrow I will show a few more pictures of greeting our guests and the little reception we had... this was a small wedding of 36 people... planned in 3 weeks! For us... it was more about the commitment we were making to each other than all the expensive clothes and flowers and cakes. We wanted the day to be about us... pledging to spend the rest of our lives being each other's friend, helpmate and life companion. We knew it was more about love and life than having the perfect shade of pink for something that wouldn't matter, years later. (Although, the bakery did screw up our order... it was a scramble 2 hours before the wedding to come up with an alternative... and it became gourmet cupcakes done with pink roses.)

Thanks for reading... be blessed!

~Suzanne

Was It Something I Said?

I noticed that my following has dropped? I guess I'm not a.) interesting b.)funny or c.) doing a giveaway. I am a.)real b.)honest and c.)snarky (sometimes). That's me... honest, real and not afraid to admit when I am being witchy, cranky or a snot! I am down-to-earth and very casual, don't worry about too much fall-out in most things. If you want to not follow any longer... it's okay... it's really ok, cuz I know that I am never going to be a "pioneer woman" or a "domestic diva" or anyone else...this isn't a Mom-blog... I'm just gonna be me!



Ok... on with the post! I have a friend in Maryland, who has an 8 year old daughter. She had her tonsils out this morning. She's already home! This brought back memories of my own tonsillectomy. My... how times have changed! I remember being around 4 years old. I don't think my Mom really prepared me for the procedure. I was scared crazy. And I remember being in one of those big stainless steel metal cage beds. (It was really an oversized crib!) I think I was in the hospital for 2 or 3 days.



One of my most favorite treats as a kid was Welch's grape juice... loved that stuff! (I still like it now, but it's so full of sugar, I get heartburn from it.) My Mom brought me a regular sized bottle of the stuff to have during my stay. I asked for a glass of juice... but that's not what I got. I think it was orange juice and not my beloved grape juice. It was supposed to be in the fridge at the nurses station... and I think someone on the night shift drank it all! (I'm not knocking nurses, nor nurses who work nights.) I just never got any of that juice!



Anyway... my recollection of that adventure is that it was not a great time had by yours truly. And when I came home, my Mom had an event at church... probably a bridal shower for my cousin or my oldest sister. That left me at home with my Dad. I was hungry when I woke up. So... him being my Dad, gave me a bowl of cereal... shredded wheat to be exact. He couldn't understand why I couldn't get it down. My Mom was furious with him... and I was upset that I made her furious at him... she was certain I was going to have issues with my stitches and brought me a Popsicle to suck on... while she went and made me a milk shake with tiger milk added.



I do remember having lots of ice cream... and lots of soft scrambled eggs with cheddar and cottage cheese and peaches. My Mom... she was a good nurse!



Thanks for reading my little walk down memory lane! Be blessed!

~Suzanne

Oh!... I will more than likely do a give-away when I reach 200 posts. Sorry, but 100 came and went before I knew it! Stay tuned... I'm still deciding on what I want to do for a give-away! ;)

Our Road Trip... Details!

Where do I begin? I suppose at the beginning~ We were up early to hit the road...we needed to be at our destination by 10 and it's was about 175 miles to go! We left about 15 minutes late... no big deal. Then I became ravenously hungry about 40 miles away. We stopped at the Golden Arches so we wouldn't lose any time. It worked and we were on our way.

We didn't really have any heavy traffic until we hit Hunt Valley... and we were in the thick of it when we got on to 695. We both remarked about the same time that we didn't miss the rat race feel of Baltimore. We got to our destination about 4 minutes late... and sat in the back. (We went down for a funeral for a dear friends mother.) No one really saw us as we came in... and when my friend got up to do her Eulogy for her mother... she did a little head bob, like she wasn't sure of what she was seeing... that we were sitting in the back of the chapel. When the service was over and we were waiting for the family to say good-bye, we were able to visit a few friends that we hadn't seen in a long time.

When my dear friend came out to the foyer... she immediately stopped and pointed and said, "You did see my head bobble... that I was trying to not lose my place??? I couldn't believe I was seeing you, that you came down to be here!" It was great to give her some support and let her know that I appreciated all that she had done for me when I needed support, so of course I was going to be there for her. We later went to the luncheon held at the church... it was so nice to visit with friends... and to see "foes" that were reacting to our presence as well. (Yes, I was highly amused! More on that later!)

In between the funeral and the luncheon... we were able to go over DH's work office and freshen up and he was able to pick up materials for his truck as well. We then went down to Trader Joes to do some shopping... and for me to pick up some Sparkling Lemonade! (Yummmm!) We got various kinds of things that we don't always find up here or at a much lower price than here. I feel like our larder is full and we have so much to be happy about! We were able to enjoy fabulous croissants for brunch and great french baguette with our dinner last night. Our dear neighbor Miss J took care of Nolli for us... and I took her a great little goodie-bag of sparkling lemonade, some shallots, organic green tea, and some blood oranges.

Well... I need to go and get DH's lunch done for tomorrow and put the rest of the laundry away. I cannot wait to share more with you.... my dear friend Nita called me tonite after I came back for Miss J's to tell me how good it was to see us! That is truly heart warming! Liz called me today as well... God is good and blessings are flowing!

Thanks for reading... (to be continued!) be blessed!

~Suzanne

FOR TODAY (March 16, 2009)...

Outside my window... it's good weather... 60 degrees with high cloud cover

I am thinking... about all the people we saw on Saturday... Friends and Foe!

I am thankful for... full cupboards, my friends, and a new stove to be delivered this week!

From the kitchen... we have so many choices after going to Trader Joes! I even managed to get some fresh sugar snap peas for dinner this week!

I am wearing... jeans, a hot pink knit top and a pair of birkenstocks.

I am creating... nothing at this moment...

I am going... to do laundry today.

I am reading... my bible, blogs and Coastal Living magazine.

I am hoping... to continue to make our little nest comfy and cozy and "organized."

I am hearing... my DH working on his getting his truck organized, and the tv in the background

Around the house... we still need to get that dresser painted, laundry needs to be put away and dinner to start in a little while.

One of my favorite things... memories of this last Saturday... I can't wait to share them with you!

A few plans for the rest of the week: To go to the library, to clean the stairway and our new stove delivery!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

When we went to visit our dear friends, Mary and Rob... she had these chargers and this adorable bunny waiting for me! I love bunnies and I love these chargers too! Friends are such a blessing... and these wonderful gifts have come to a good home!

Thanks for reading... be blessed!

~Suzanne

Just a Quick Note...

Hi! I'm back... our little road trip yesterday was wonderful... sad at times, but still sweet and wonderful. We went to a funeral for a dear friend's mother who had finally passed after a long and difficult struggle with an injury as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Miss Helen was a trooper and keep up such a wonderful spirit in spite of all the pain and constant set-backs. She knew that Jesus was gonna meet her at her final reward and she spent the last 8 months getting her family ready for that day and it showed as her children were able to eulogize her and give her such a nice tribute.

After... we did manage to get a few things done that we wanted to do... and still catch up with friends. I have lots of stories to share... and this trip truly touched our hearts and bonded us even deeper in love for each other and what we have.

I am exhausted... DH is exhausted... and we have really taken the day off. We've slept in, had a wonderful brunch and been as lazy as we want to be today after a hectic week of travels and late nights and hard work. I'll be back tomorrow to share! I promise!

Thanks for reading... be blessed!

~Suzanne

Simple Woman's Daybook:

FOR TODAY (March 2, 2009)...

Outside my window... the snow is coming down steadily.

I am thinking... that I hope John gets home by 1 and who is reading my blog from Centralia and Pe Ell??? =)

I am thankful for... my hardworking husband and all that he does for me!

From the kitchen... I am contemplating French Onion Soup for dinner.

I am wearing... drawstring jeans, my favorite OLD v-neck sweater with the holes, rag-wool socks and fur-lined crocs.

I am creating... a cozy and clean house... spring cleaning is underway and almost finished.

I am going... to research our new health insurance.

I am reading... lots of different blogs.

I am hoping... that Liz and Gary will still be coming up for vacation.

I am hearing... the stillness of the snowfall.

Around the house... Nolli is sleeping in His bed, the furnace is coming on, and I can smell lemon oil from cleaning the furniture.

One of my favorite things... my replacement monax platter from the flea market yesterday.

A few plans for the rest of the week: to clean out 2 more closets this week.

Here is picture thought I am sharing:

This is my sweet Mommy... taken this past Fall... she has dementia and no short term memory. I miss her very much. My sister tells me that they have found a new doctor for her... and he is running tests to check her med levels to be sure that when God does take her... it will be in His time and not because she was medicated. She has been very weepy and had a hard time walking recently. It's so hard to see her decline and it hurts my heart. Snowy days always make me miss her the most... because I remember her 40 years ago, living in the mountains of Northern California. When it would snow... she loved to bake cookies and make yummy soups and stews. And of course, the washer and dryer were always going!

Thanks for reading... be blessed.

~Suzanne

I've been Craftin'!

Once upon a time... very long ago, in another lifetime.... I use to have my own business. It was a crafting Co-op... and I had a couple of wood workers, a few dried flower people, a few antiques, some quilters and some decorative painters... that would allow me to fill several different booths at various gift shops and crafting malls, where I could "merchandise things" and it gave me time to paint and do a few things that I liked. (It was also the later half of the decade known as "Suzanne rarely ever slept.") I did pretty well... until the market became so glutted that I felt I couldn't continue. I stopped painting... sold most of my art supplies... and then I moved to a whole 'nother place and really didn't have the space or the time.

Fast forward to now... I do have a little bit of space. I do have a little bit of time... I don't really have much left in the way of art supplies. But I did uncover a really cool box of stuff left over from catering a wedding rehersal dinner before I moved. In it contained... ummmm.... 10 hydrangea candle rings that I used on the tables... (with some great hydrangea placemats and napkins) and some other cool stuff.

My wonderful DH took me to Wilkes-Barre... to get a few things to make some great little projects to decorate our house with!

Here we have (an over-exposed) Hydrangea wreath that I hot-glued this afternoon. I love how it turned out and it will be a great addition to our guest room.

I found this little broom in the bottom of the same box. The ribbon and flowers were also in the box... I had once fashioned these as tiebacks for a living room window... now they adorn this little broom to hang in the funny little spot between our door and the closet door.

And lastly... this vase was from Valentines Day when DH gave me flowers... and I really loved them... and I found some great silk tulips and a few other things to do an arrangement for my dining room table. I will eventually show them on the table, after I get the rest of the things put away from my projects. It was great fun and it's nice to know I still have the "eye" for design altho I see some "tweaking" that needs to be done on this vase arrangement.

Now, I guess I need to break out the paint brushes and buy some supplies... and see where it leads me!

Thanks for reading... be blessed!

~Suzanne

Quiet day...

That's what I am having today... a quiet day. I have tried to keep the tv off... and tried to get some rest. While it is a blessing that DH has had 2 night calls this week... it does take it's toll on me. (I don't know how he does it!) Both times, the calls came in around 9 pm. The first one was only 3 hours... but last night's call was for 5 1/2 hours... meaning that Hubs didn't get home until after 2 am... and he had to be up for work by 6:30. I only slept in 2 hour increments last night, and I am feeling very groggy today. Like I said... I don't know how he does it.

DH, before he met me... had a very precarious life... not life style... but precarious due to the people that came in to it and how it affected him. He is very protective and loyal by nature. His last girlfriend... was not a very good person... he had no idea of all of her past, until it was too late. By then, they had moved to a new house in the city... and the job that she wanted and was the reason they moved, soon ended. Because she was bi-polar, and started using drugs. DH got very use to having to stay up for days on end to keep the riff-raff from stealing every last thing he had.

He tells me of stories... how she would bring people in to the house... and she would have drug parties upstairs or down in the basement. That when he left to go to work... he didn't know what would be gone when he came back. And that he didn't know what he found that wasn't there when he left. It was awful for him... and it was a hard and costly mess to get away from. He still gets calls on his work phone from her drug dealers... those are listed as DNA... Do Not Answer... because you cannot block a cell phone number like you can a landline number.

So... tonight, when he gets home from work... I will let him clean up and crash... we will have leftover homemade chicken noodle soup... anything that is "pressing" can simply wait for now. Like I said... the night calls are really a blessing... and we know from whom all blessings come!
We are blessed with a simple life... and that there is no chaos here ( and we work hard to keep it that way!)

So... there are no funny pictures... no photos of the cute dog... just my words,
Thanks for reading! Be blessed.
~Suzanne

**** OK... this must be a BUMMER of a post... Sorry! I will do better next time. (Did I give y'all too much real life info? Just keeping it real... come on, everyone has a past! And some can be rather "colorful" or "precarious". Just be glad that I didn't write about my brother or his ex-wife, trying to raise 3 little boys so many years ago. (Trust me when I say that it was extremely crazy and chaotic!) I have lots of gray hairs from that time in our lives! ****