tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36076860218441712882024-02-19T05:57:51.196-08:00My Pocketbook and Mesometimes tidy, sometimes messy, but always full. just like life.my pocketbookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05072185382116199105noreply@blogger.comBlogger140125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607686021844171288.post-12326291457745257952011-09-29T14:52:00.000-07:002011-09-29T14:55:16.881-07:00subway art<div style="text-align: center;">there are so many takes on subway art. and i had not yet tried creating my own. and lately my craft groove has been dormant (along with my blogging groove). but today i gave it a try. a sweet friend is having a birthday...a big one. so i decided to make her some subway art with the places and things that are most meaningful to her and her family.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtAS013XSEn2ebYMYZC_VRUgKf7QdsOIbhyphenhypheniI1BtGCBlrgcO6TNG67fLFbhzI6sv52f-eDjfm20TGd9SZpsL7AZKqtvQRLxOYbuQhYZUz-X_3Yx7VqxGuWUwUZ3vMbUta5T3ol17EUxSn1/s1600/Subway+Art+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtAS013XSEn2ebYMYZC_VRUgKf7QdsOIbhyphenhypheniI1BtGCBlrgcO6TNG67fLFbhzI6sv52f-eDjfm20TGd9SZpsL7AZKqtvQRLxOYbuQhYZUz-X_3Yx7VqxGuWUwUZ3vMbUta5T3ol17EUxSn1/s400/Subway+Art+002.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">what a fun project. </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">now i need to start one of my own. how about it ball's? give me your favorite family traditions, memories, places. i'll see what i can come up with.</div><div style="text-align: center;">and don't tell me nothing.</div><div style="text-align: center;">geez.</div><div style="text-align: center;">you know we did stuff.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" style="border: 0px currentColor;" /></a></div>my pocketbookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05072185382116199105noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607686021844171288.post-87805538695463078562011-09-13T11:44:00.000-07:002011-09-13T11:52:38.004-07:00vintage paintings<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpg9zSd2bmkcQM4y1EdrPkyPAkMUAPoOnw3tFEgLZyMwRo_AChDcV4GT61HCYkZ3mzqCnYXsFJSoFmg83FwY1b6hBG5EKTMROrEUiRSwYHW_exVuM8-F-kLOXOytb8B7ShyphenhyphenxNdIiM7Wn8/s1600/005+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpg9zSd2bmkcQM4y1EdrPkyPAkMUAPoOnw3tFEgLZyMwRo_AChDcV4GT61HCYkZ3mzqCnYXsFJSoFmg83FwY1b6hBG5EKTMROrEUiRSwYHW_exVuM8-F-kLOXOytb8B7ShyphenhyphenxNdIiM7Wn8/s640/005+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">these two small original oil paintings hung in my grandmother's house. they were a gift to her from my mother. i love these two paintings. they are quaint, sweet and vivid, and, in person, have dimension and layers. they make my heart smile.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCSu0DnZ75vXDPJKfoq7ci3-YfYolQ7uXvWeMMt6qj2lH3onMh-vnqg4bayhH0h2WZle_xSBoz7avu91HyMBjN1zTcCqXRK3bBtyDUXVNIfbhiz1CzDS31TH5KUP6Y8LevS683p5nV_DgX/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCSu0DnZ75vXDPJKfoq7ci3-YfYolQ7uXvWeMMt6qj2lH3onMh-vnqg4bayhH0h2WZle_xSBoz7avu91HyMBjN1zTcCqXRK3bBtyDUXVNIfbhiz1CzDS31TH5KUP6Y8LevS683p5nV_DgX/s400/008.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">my mother purchased them from the artist, eric linnell, in 1945. she was on her way to work (her very first job) at wanamaker's in philadelphia. the artist was sitting outside of wanamaker's on the sidewalk painting them. still in their original frames, they measure only about 5" X 6".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">they were lovingly handed from daughter to mother.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">they hung in my grandma's house until she died in 1977.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">after that they hung in my mom's house.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiteqr5ACF5mOum7s-TySxDAptI3IPR2wCmmX7_VTqKriyUFBJheJ41eHBhgkzGwPbKDCKelt9tEw5pDGDxF76yW1AdWeJFH5KgSfmWffPhtK_LHmpoR0yAYPqqBKEugpTRsFk7chnIy9Xk/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiteqr5ACF5mOum7s-TySxDAptI3IPR2wCmmX7_VTqKriyUFBJheJ41eHBhgkzGwPbKDCKelt9tEw5pDGDxF76yW1AdWeJFH5KgSfmWffPhtK_LHmpoR0yAYPqqBKEugpTRsFk7chnIy9Xk/s400/005.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>i've had my eyes on them ever since i can remember.<br />
(so much so that i put my name on the back of them lest any of my siblings get any ideas that they might be going to their homes.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
recently they came home with me and they now hang in my house.<br />
<br />
i see them every single time i enter my home.<br />
<br />
love.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" style="border: 0px currentColor;" /></a></div>my pocketbookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05072185382116199105noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607686021844171288.post-89242361951334403102011-09-03T18:13:00.000-07:002011-09-03T20:27:28.785-07:00a gumball machine<div style="text-align: center;">i needed a gumball machine. on a stand. not that i was anxious for 10 grandchildren to be running around my house chewing gum and leaving it wherever....</div><div style="text-align: center;">no, i needed a gumball machine because this little girl is a sassy, i'll say hello if i want to, kinda gal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZEw0W_4jA0fyryHR556h3cFhqCwQJUjCNGrdZVOekl57XMwwYkBRJdVT_L8V9YVrDNg1f_Oentxgnjk5euVFoqGCRngrHRQvpccTPc7uHi_JJ3ZuKmm5pB7_yQ9TMDyJnlmZ1nMwYPC7u/s1600/Elise2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZEw0W_4jA0fyryHR556h3cFhqCwQJUjCNGrdZVOekl57XMwwYkBRJdVT_L8V9YVrDNg1f_Oentxgnjk5euVFoqGCRngrHRQvpccTPc7uHi_JJ3ZuKmm5pB7_yQ9TMDyJnlmZ1nMwYPC7u/s320/Elise2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">i needed a bribe. so when she comes over i can get some loving.</div><div style="text-align: center;">yep, i needed a gumball machine.</div><div style="text-align: center;">like this one. because miss sassy will do just about anything for gum.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3LoDbn_cPNqBF8xMNl9mec8OMG4U87SOnsK-7oTfi71nAscQSrmRXVNJ_nIzW4d2H3HTUWDAJEnqkSTKQ6BbgyGN3b03etr9_PkBCDRx2BG47QiHsWrkNtpEYtNMsvleb8rNhZeC475v/s1600/GumBallMakeOver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3LoDbn_cPNqBF8xMNl9mec8OMG4U87SOnsK-7oTfi71nAscQSrmRXVNJ_nIzW4d2H3HTUWDAJEnqkSTKQ6BbgyGN3b03etr9_PkBCDRx2BG47QiHsWrkNtpEYtNMsvleb8rNhZeC475v/s1600/GumBallMakeOver.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but every gumball machine i found was red and black. and i wanted black and white.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">so out came the paint. spray paint. one of man's greatest inventions. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QpArCkTkGmNxm3rgyMydwZoDHjYDJDiAHZPmazWxTfGjY2L0iOd98wcNOrHgnp1WPYNexCcKeIzU_mQKdB_Mq93asBhEuHGSo4xrAnOHdu4mhvdhZSAWF60TTRS-iLO00xmYK3RrT07J/s1600/GumBallMakeOver+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QpArCkTkGmNxm3rgyMydwZoDHjYDJDiAHZPmazWxTfGjY2L0iOd98wcNOrHgnp1WPYNexCcKeIzU_mQKdB_Mq93asBhEuHGSo4xrAnOHdu4mhvdhZSAWF60TTRS-iLO00xmYK3RrT07J/s320/GumBallMakeOver+%25283%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0gtKDr03NnE1tHnSMlT6CZryQQl0tFL8scmP2tzNIDI6d3jQjRH6LH_ujTDdTqv2IPeXz_yKJ8dtYQqZEVjtz3Ozy0nzklg2hhWk6YscxFGvZ8i-OJZ3PKsooKHFPJtqQmGZ06hHNB4eA/s1600/GumBallMakeOver+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0gtKDr03NnE1tHnSMlT6CZryQQl0tFL8scmP2tzNIDI6d3jQjRH6LH_ujTDdTqv2IPeXz_yKJ8dtYQqZEVjtz3Ozy0nzklg2hhWk6YscxFGvZ8i-OJZ3PKsooKHFPJtqQmGZ06hHNB4eA/s320/GumBallMakeOver+%25284%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">here she is. all ready.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsRj3MJDnNuNTJV_F3YcAg-CcW_4nqCmxLKCCF5gdn3O9wluMkk_FVoOoq_t3He4GRxXO5oQDRarqk38b6hwGWTtQyesvhkn6cVZP_3gc_6ZEEE1aeVrxWHiR3Q7GVxOfxo4ZOS1WAynh_/s1600/GumBallMakeOver+%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsRj3MJDnNuNTJV_F3YcAg-CcW_4nqCmxLKCCF5gdn3O9wluMkk_FVoOoq_t3He4GRxXO5oQDRarqk38b6hwGWTtQyesvhkn6cVZP_3gc_6ZEEE1aeVrxWHiR3Q7GVxOfxo4ZOS1WAynh_/s400/GumBallMakeOver+%25286%2529.JPG" width="271" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">so come on over elise. this nana can't wait to get some leelee loving!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QpArCkTkGmNxm3rgyMydwZoDHjYDJDiAHZPmazWxTfGjY2L0iOd98wcNOrHgnp1WPYNexCcKeIzU_mQKdB_Mq93asBhEuHGSo4xrAnOHdu4mhvdhZSAWF60TTRS-iLO00xmYK3RrT07J/s1600/GumBallMakeOver+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QpArCkTkGmNxm3rgyMydwZoDHjYDJDiAHZPmazWxTfGjY2L0iOd98wcNOrHgnp1WPYNexCcKeIzU_mQKdB_Mq93asBhEuHGSo4xrAnOHdu4mhvdhZSAWF60TTRS-iLO00xmYK3RrT07J/s1600/GumBallMakeOver+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"></div>my pocketbookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05072185382116199105noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607686021844171288.post-24964092316801583122011-08-19T07:31:00.000-07:002011-08-19T07:32:28.686-07:00i want to live here!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoYrrlYHXiRt8XcLtGO0I2s04ymFq9ZY2dWIfzFklv4XwzcUm6xN3w1br5zD_IG7HN-b2vuke1W0RJJYmnmWjV3cCUv_pSULh9gtp8Q-kygHNtHJXPw8EfrhkmUJhPFj-QvoxSF-ACnj2/s1600/Blog+Pics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoYrrlYHXiRt8XcLtGO0I2s04ymFq9ZY2dWIfzFklv4XwzcUm6xN3w1br5zD_IG7HN-b2vuke1W0RJJYmnmWjV3cCUv_pSULh9gtp8Q-kygHNtHJXPw8EfrhkmUJhPFj-QvoxSF-ACnj2/s640/Blog+Pics.jpg" width="528" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Tracery Interiors, </span><a href="http://www.atlantahomesmag.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: xx-small;">Atlanta Homes Mag</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
yummy light, monochromatic, windows to die for, and worn, rustic wood to warm it all up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but alas...i live in the desert.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">why? why? why?</div><img align="left" src="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" style="border: 0px currentColor;" /><br />
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my pocketbookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05072185382116199105noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607686021844171288.post-44903698231202203762011-06-17T17:30:00.000-07:002011-06-17T17:30:59.087-07:00biscotti di prato recipe - piu delizioso<div style="text-align: center;">biscotti di prato because it originated in the italian city of prato. it's a love acquired no doubt from my italian heritage. and hands down this is the best biscotti recipe ever. it comes courtesy of my niece (hey, sarah jones!) who got it from the mother of the owner of a little coffee shop she used to work at.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwR3FFHhpPtT4aruw4Q1uWM9STXTQBn8ktGSWUDHu6FPfLVHj6gbgDJ_t6oCu22bxBFEBHaju0L73kHyXXRt5kNhO548I-HohVNEZ4yPIL0Ib7EWLcDQsjb1mfj8KjqqylGuKt8rk3IsP/s1600/Biscotti+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwR3FFHhpPtT4aruw4Q1uWM9STXTQBn8ktGSWUDHu6FPfLVHj6gbgDJ_t6oCu22bxBFEBHaju0L73kHyXXRt5kNhO548I-HohVNEZ4yPIL0Ib7EWLcDQsjb1mfj8KjqqylGuKt8rk3IsP/s200/Biscotti+001.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jDns-VXdw-lnv2aUwmGY_epyr9R8sJWYYOYtgQJa-ccgRxe_B4KADBs3-0JrRjVOKx3J8kNtEcCvvVXu6AGZAB-ArnzTH4z6AvfTJmwtW7xDb5g6voWR0AAQI_Xhu1cp7MCwUFS0AYmf/s1600/Biscotti+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jDns-VXdw-lnv2aUwmGY_epyr9R8sJWYYOYtgQJa-ccgRxe_B4KADBs3-0JrRjVOKx3J8kNtEcCvvVXu6AGZAB-ArnzTH4z6AvfTJmwtW7xDb5g6voWR0AAQI_Xhu1cp7MCwUFS0AYmf/s200/Biscotti+002.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>here's the recipe<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">biscotti di prato</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">cream 1 1/2 sticks butter</div><div style="text-align: center;">add 1 1/2 cups sugar</div><div style="text-align: center;">beat and add 6 eggs (save 1 egg white for top)</div><div style="text-align: center;">add:</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 - 4 tsp anise extract (i use 4 very generous tsps. it is, after all, anise)</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 tsp of vanilla</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 cups minced nuts (walnuts or pecans)</div><div style="text-align: center;">4 cups flour</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 tsp salt</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 tsp baking powder</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 to 1 1/2 cup chopped craisins (you can omit these)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">cream mixture together. shape dough into 2 loaves. paint with egg white</div><div style="text-align: center;">baked on greased cookie sheet 35 - 50 minutes (yep, you gotta watch it)<br />
<br />
to quote wiki..."these cakes are large <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biscuits" title="Biscuits">biscuits</a>, made dry and crunchy through cutting the loaf of dough while still hot and fresh from baking in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oven" title="Oven">oven</a>"<br />
so don't forget to slice and twice bake (or they won't be biscotti!) about another 10 minutes.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnChtGkPNqkYMwlgql9zd8EuQjNtjLsgfwuo1UblTi-QSsShB7kLyQj9PWc-iHDRGRFXYGJbyhWqHZFoHEKheFmYkyBv-vzD588ogt0LE_F52IQo0XdmpPq12MB2dkaqPAwbcWoDj5M4wz/s1600/Biscotti+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnChtGkPNqkYMwlgql9zd8EuQjNtjLsgfwuo1UblTi-QSsShB7kLyQj9PWc-iHDRGRFXYGJbyhWqHZFoHEKheFmYkyBv-vzD588ogt0LE_F52IQo0XdmpPq12MB2dkaqPAwbcWoDj5M4wz/s200/Biscotti+003.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oNu6T59YRVcoDp7MrSzhtituFnq3dS4egdxtZQPtispgM8mIr4KefErxOOiyUPTpU4Ex-YIxlq9h_0LomrPPq8b5HtEMytaXAYI3Jj9BtmX6gyJHbw9J69rbWII9g3D2c0goHwv1L6H4/s1600/Biscotti+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oNu6T59YRVcoDp7MrSzhtituFnq3dS4egdxtZQPtispgM8mIr4KefErxOOiyUPTpU4Ex-YIxlq9h_0LomrPPq8b5HtEMytaXAYI3Jj9BtmX6gyJHbw9J69rbWII9g3D2c0goHwv1L6H4/s200/Biscotti+006.JPG" width="150" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">delizioso, squisito, prelibato.<br />
p.s. i'm back...i think. </div><img align="left" src="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" style="border: 0pt none;" />my pocketbookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05072185382116199105noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607686021844171288.post-90589979251584225332011-04-12T13:25:00.000-07:002011-04-12T13:25:50.450-07:00winter solstice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">it's no secret. i hate winter. that season of dormancy, darkness and cold. motivation escapes me. not a single fiber of my being is alive. my time is spent curled up in a ball trying to keep my bones warm while my spirit plummets. seasonal affective disorder. it's the winterizing of my soul. as the daylight wans i teeter into that dark, cold abyss. my soul falls dead asleep without feeling or hope. nature uses this time to rest. to reflect, rejuvenate, and replant. i am now, slowly, taking my cues from nature. and as the days begin to lengthen and the light begins to brighten i find myself waking up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYU1LK2jhAUBpWXpYCZ5kZIm9qWVOZVwAbqzp8bh44e1I1OSXETu4XVP5a7i_qMgEN0oHsk3yMWHxDc_T_QebFQcvAXxg0fF0SOACJGSKJeYDPilWfAoBA8K1LC5cbwmIRTtAPqUodulTM/s1600/Easter+Centerpiece+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYU1LK2jhAUBpWXpYCZ5kZIm9qWVOZVwAbqzp8bh44e1I1OSXETu4XVP5a7i_qMgEN0oHsk3yMWHxDc_T_QebFQcvAXxg0fF0SOACJGSKJeYDPilWfAoBA8K1LC5cbwmIRTtAPqUodulTM/s640/Easter+Centerpiece+005.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> and for this i am grateful.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" style="border: 0pt none;" /></a><br />
</div>my pocketbookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05072185382116199105noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607686021844171288.post-83912853756081530592010-12-28T10:59:00.000-08:002010-12-28T10:59:56.917-08:00turn out the lights the party's over<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7dUB8Mea85TN4ZFuy1WrOmaDI6s_Hr8ovNiEaQvEyvqr7Fm6nxxzq_oiGwKPEEL3li0WxfbXZgjsJMoow88ER5SMwGulVXVpyXyP5iRQMqUq6wIerQBmoJ7yYan4UDC7oVrtSlzJgR-y/s1600/End+of+Christmas+2010+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7dUB8Mea85TN4ZFuy1WrOmaDI6s_Hr8ovNiEaQvEyvqr7Fm6nxxzq_oiGwKPEEL3li0WxfbXZgjsJMoow88ER5SMwGulVXVpyXyP5iRQMqUq6wIerQBmoJ7yYan4UDC7oVrtSlzJgR-y/s400/End+of+Christmas+2010+003.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">done. finito.</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">because about now my beloved christmas decor has turned into christmas clutter.</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">i need to get back to normal.</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">whatever that is.</div><div align="left"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></span></div></div>my pocketbookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05072185382116199105noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607686021844171288.post-26092853990115867912010-12-26T22:14:00.000-08:002010-12-26T23:32:14.343-08:00christmas 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjajH5c16tHVVIGXIeBA6ZM0kyF5SZ2U8KSswFyN1JGRvsziE4AMJNTrIcWLBo2ToXJllaMBsdSK4vu4go0SzAVmnMKv0b1DY23KxVY8kJNT8S5ARwiVFF-SxeLI7sxV6WhXw_45UElTaNT/s1600/Christmas2010+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjajH5c16tHVVIGXIeBA6ZM0kyF5SZ2U8KSswFyN1JGRvsziE4AMJNTrIcWLBo2ToXJllaMBsdSK4vu4go0SzAVmnMKv0b1DY23KxVY8kJNT8S5ARwiVFF-SxeLI7sxV6WhXw_45UElTaNT/s400/Christmas2010+004.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">at carrabbas. before the nutcracker ballet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2s5O9CFerAdRLJjCCf3Z21dis4wxcoqcH9xoWGyc_QmyG9_OoOCTZH3w7-C_ewhBlL44nOV6eEdWxYogiB_vBdPVj8k_386IbktXNeC23Uubowv42saZYj0HqtX1tIC73IOK-wNrGONJ/s1600/Christmas2010+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2s5O9CFerAdRLJjCCf3Z21dis4wxcoqcH9xoWGyc_QmyG9_OoOCTZH3w7-C_ewhBlL44nOV6eEdWxYogiB_vBdPVj8k_386IbktXNeC23Uubowv42saZYj0HqtX1tIC73IOK-wNrGONJ/s400/Christmas2010+011.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">christmas eve dinner. prime rib. might have to be a new tradition.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tLG-eyQpffDi9S1vj55cyOoi-CiD-W7Qsx456e2Dyw9RF6XPnIlXx90E19Xm8DNvotkyfIFLXbB7bodGVhEKbR182VOhQG1c0Y2r15MC8yBGI05D7GSn_RaDc885ZShHoTloaEw_Uki5/s1600/Christmas2010+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tLG-eyQpffDi9S1vj55cyOoi-CiD-W7Qsx456e2Dyw9RF6XPnIlXx90E19Xm8DNvotkyfIFLXbB7bodGVhEKbR182VOhQG1c0Y2r15MC8yBGI05D7GSn_RaDc885ZShHoTloaEw_Uki5/s400/Christmas2010+014.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">its christmas morning. where are those bouncing ball? we've got presents to open!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxjSXUj75vkWtuT1CHGhnbVRrvI2eucNPT3uAua0Fn5hk5PrMA7wu7tcw1GXwBobE0YCSVrzltADxDZ_gWMC2yk4AK_RjJ3a4IwK3H_Rya4X9jqGSpEAtqEJGryNu2GUpyDOajVnQkZ-6/s1600/Christmas2010+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxjSXUj75vkWtuT1CHGhnbVRrvI2eucNPT3uAua0Fn5hk5PrMA7wu7tcw1GXwBobE0YCSVrzltADxDZ_gWMC2yk4AK_RjJ3a4IwK3H_Rya4X9jqGSpEAtqEJGryNu2GUpyDOajVnQkZ-6/s400/Christmas2010+015.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">happy will. and apparently bumpa likes little people too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBcSwnrPLmkdjpilXMaDdgHXeBWw33KbGzCIRBuq8pZufTEzxWgtxepdFu3RorweAH0U40OXgGzeQmuFyj04zKwSHqqnla2U8Mb74_6U0fKL0Hy1lXTzA8A9Nh87vWb9XAC6tgeWyyHB_7/s1600/Christmas2010+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBcSwnrPLmkdjpilXMaDdgHXeBWw33KbGzCIRBuq8pZufTEzxWgtxepdFu3RorweAH0U40OXgGzeQmuFyj04zKwSHqqnla2U8Mb74_6U0fKL0Hy1lXTzA8A9Nh87vWb9XAC6tgeWyyHB_7/s400/Christmas2010+016.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">drew was happy too...but was still looking for that nerf recon. (yes, he found it.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTHVtxgXlozd-YERhpyM7ANxI2oMklWNTiGStsWCUvbXrCMYbE21d6eCL5F_9XoS0XEXx03S1K9jOXY_8p6SBh3ygN1upbxXF6U6aPgphCIcfANiWWw7KnmYmoPQlZ0s15HK5dxgGHfpv/s1600/Christmas2010+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTHVtxgXlozd-YERhpyM7ANxI2oMklWNTiGStsWCUvbXrCMYbE21d6eCL5F_9XoS0XEXx03S1K9jOXY_8p6SBh3ygN1upbxXF6U6aPgphCIcfANiWWw7KnmYmoPQlZ0s15HK5dxgGHfpv/s400/Christmas2010+017.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">wessie got to building right away. cool stuff.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxhD_EaejmTy76lAwe0p3Ylx60PgwqPljvsXptOsuXxyX6w1OJh_g0LkhcSlL3jzJgrLvfg-ASTlTe1P-Gr80KbLSIwgNj0Cj_WpikadjKwsTa_k7s7T0iiVqC9EWn8QPoqPI36Li3T4k/s1600/Christmas2010+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxhD_EaejmTy76lAwe0p3Ylx60PgwqPljvsXptOsuXxyX6w1OJh_g0LkhcSlL3jzJgrLvfg-ASTlTe1P-Gr80KbLSIwgNj0Cj_WpikadjKwsTa_k7s7T0iiVqC9EWn8QPoqPI36Li3T4k/s400/Christmas2010+019.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">geez nana...clothes...that all you got.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFf32jihH1vhZpvlD-lyK_JkuDhwpMvmHvZYrRaIuHs1RMPGPgNDpGdIulWEuE5V0Sp4H5JEs95L6ZYElm4PSnGvgf2rXEzVVYlmy2CLrCXi2G_HWi4YKY4OFOKIPuwYmnjT4DICCtDOv/s1600/Christmas2010+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFf32jihH1vhZpvlD-lyK_JkuDhwpMvmHvZYrRaIuHs1RMPGPgNDpGdIulWEuE5V0Sp4H5JEs95L6ZYElm4PSnGvgf2rXEzVVYlmy2CLrCXi2G_HWi4YKY4OFOKIPuwYmnjT4DICCtDOv/s400/Christmas2010+021.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">yea skechers twinkle toes rock!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6aeda07L9z6k5f2WtxdgJSh9ET7fPSNAYsGuI6UjjMQwYqBm55tp3ud2m5gQ6GKnCvVbzyr2u21xq6gJ90BA31xGUWZuS8aJUcZGtv7VTvGSA8a_t-8u5g5eEbq_Y9ZWcep-7bLgGQFdo/s1600/Christmas2010+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6aeda07L9z6k5f2WtxdgJSh9ET7fPSNAYsGuI6UjjMQwYqBm55tp3ud2m5gQ6GKnCvVbzyr2u21xq6gJ90BA31xGUWZuS8aJUcZGtv7VTvGSA8a_t-8u5g5eEbq_Y9ZWcep-7bLgGQFdo/s400/Christmas2010+020.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">elise was happy...she hadn't found her clothes yet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">now if we could get the rest of those bouncing balls home from michigan,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> we could wrap this christrmas thing up.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">cause this nana has cooked her goose and needs to cuddle.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8DwGJHylHSShr52TJ8YWNlyq0C-cHXKMZX7KYQ8MtxzCAj9H5gFs1rSH39rpx_wCoPpyYB36az8dMoPt1MXMGQ6Ww_liwO_HFZfGuFs2_1F8HwwsycY6gOkAoBX20K0K4_T-8d6bqSwf0/s1600/Keurig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8DwGJHylHSShr52TJ8YWNlyq0C-cHXKMZX7KYQ8MtxzCAj9H5gFs1rSH39rpx_wCoPpyYB36az8dMoPt1MXMGQ6Ww_liwO_HFZfGuFs2_1F8HwwsycY6gOkAoBX20K0K4_T-8d6bqSwf0/s320/Keurig.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">with this. (since the boy i live with went hunting...again.)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">but i'm not complaining cause this keeps me nice and warm too.</div>with sleepytime herbal, lemon zinger, mandarin orange spice, cozy chamomile, peppermint, white hot chocolate, double chocolate, cafe mocha, and caramel apple cider.<br />
and if this mormon momma gets to feeling edgy <br />
she's got her eye on the butter toffee, hazlenut, raspberry chocolate truffle decafs.<br />
thanks again babe...i love it. but you should know if you keep up this hunting pace, <br />
my new keurig will be getting the best of me.</div><div style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>my pocketbookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05072185382116199105noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607686021844171288.post-8952604166969443592010-12-20T19:31:00.000-08:002010-12-21T07:09:43.810-08:00christmas baking<div align="center"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>UPDATE: i'm out of biscotti...i'm out of pizzelles.</em><br />
<em>mom, can i borrow your pizzelle maker?</em><br />
<br />
is finally done. 8 loaves of biscotti, 3 sheets of toffee, 7 pumpkin spice jar cakes, and about 18 dozen anisette pizzelles.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_QF1R7z_M-SeVuPH-pslbpGyxePhS1aIJhEdnUqfRxNEXM04GAIzQbxZLDi0mlo0wbXME3aFg4FmjMS9eZ328MZl7M24N6IeJAbPyY03cqe9mZwqZhyphenhyphensqwznVMdGntHcCSI7TTvAZybT/s1600/Christmas2010+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_QF1R7z_M-SeVuPH-pslbpGyxePhS1aIJhEdnUqfRxNEXM04GAIzQbxZLDi0mlo0wbXME3aFg4FmjMS9eZ328MZl7M24N6IeJAbPyY03cqe9mZwqZhyphenhyphensqwznVMdGntHcCSI7TTvAZybT/s400/Christmas2010+019.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we are in sweet overload over here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">except for elise. we can never get enough of her sweetness.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLemQfgSri9FTpK4rLD4n-qK3A7Pt4S199Yuw4lQxuMfHYUH-Xz54ncefRO4WS1QALQKVKF8CfNGMEl6a14KI8BBSlgrgmmADBUSgtmbCCCamtiT6lgRTHUVLcCj2t7PUyN06ugzJROdb/s1600/Christmas2010+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLemQfgSri9FTpK4rLD4n-qK3A7Pt4S199Yuw4lQxuMfHYUH-Xz54ncefRO4WS1QALQKVKF8CfNGMEl6a14KI8BBSlgrgmmADBUSgtmbCCCamtiT6lgRTHUVLcCj2t7PUyN06ugzJROdb/s400/Christmas2010+024.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
while baking she says to me, "nana, you're cute".<br />
yep, full of sweetness and sass that one.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>my pocketbookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05072185382116199105noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607686021844171288.post-44597009982457136702010-12-10T08:10:00.000-08:002010-12-10T08:15:59.494-08:00additions<div style="text-align: center;">i wish i could be one of those bloggers who posts everyday but things have been busy around here. real busy. and all this busyness has included a couple of new additions.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">addition number one is by far the most beautiful, enchanting and heralded addition to come into our lives, well, since the last most beautiful, enchanting and heralded addition.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>introducing</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMXP-sMsjCUpqOZ-bso_-KGav3oxcCE0L_FIyl2J9dbGRe6S2IwHq9cQEClFH1fBiW-4jUKjIA3yDyldc4NNatA8474Gt58a5CjOHlmfNEYe1hSpLfqjsNYz4b6qnbn_c4D6hO8G1Hd20/s1600/Natalie+Olivia+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMXP-sMsjCUpqOZ-bso_-KGav3oxcCE0L_FIyl2J9dbGRe6S2IwHq9cQEClFH1fBiW-4jUKjIA3yDyldc4NNatA8474Gt58a5CjOHlmfNEYe1hSpLfqjsNYz4b6qnbn_c4D6hO8G1Hd20/s400/Natalie+Olivia+006.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><i><b>natalie olivia</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">natalie came into the world on tuesday, december 7, 2010 at 4:43 pm.</div><div style="text-align: center;">7 pounds and 11 ounces of pure joy.</div><div style="text-align: center;">i am most blessed. she has filled my heart during a time i was afraid it was breaking.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">and while natalie and mom and dad were resting in the hospital</div><div style="text-align: center;">this sassy little creature spent the night with me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQ04xOYQCYhiGxDZYKKBPlNeh1fLnCfBYpa_rjjhcmJ_lsFRaT73U2UmmtFMQiTdy2ASr3LgviqM-82ijVcNq8Pb5Bg3rHBoHvt4XOiCsJbtSDORxrgj_3LQj_hq_1hNTQYXKXPEwg3RQ/s1600/Natalie+Olivia+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQ04xOYQCYhiGxDZYKKBPlNeh1fLnCfBYpa_rjjhcmJ_lsFRaT73U2UmmtFMQiTdy2ASr3LgviqM-82ijVcNq8Pb5Bg3rHBoHvt4XOiCsJbtSDORxrgj_3LQj_hq_1hNTQYXKXPEwg3RQ/s400/Natalie+Olivia+015.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">she let me take two pictures and then proclaimed,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"ok nana, that's enough".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">during all this busyness i was drooling over christmas ball wreaths. i had to have one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">i liked the more abstract ones best. i didn't want my balls all lined up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(in contrast to the days when i needed all my "balls" lined up and the boy i live with gave me some telling advice..."all your 'balls' are swimming on different ponds. get used to it".)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">so i made me a christmas ball wreath. and my balls are not all lined up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKbInLPHDUTNdetF02CplYelFea-H88P9k6jI2MGIyL3MQ6BG4C6t5a0fvhykMl1p5s2YQOw5LJotD5ba_m5V1A5ZW6osFw1Ody_u6TVakUZYEoN5r1xW2IExmq1wpSkQIHxvAd_NsBVu/s1600/SilverBallWreath+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKbInLPHDUTNdetF02CplYelFea-H88P9k6jI2MGIyL3MQ6BG4C6t5a0fvhykMl1p5s2YQOw5LJotD5ba_m5V1A5ZW6osFw1Ody_u6TVakUZYEoN5r1xW2IExmq1wpSkQIHxvAd_NsBVu/s400/SilverBallWreath+003.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJjcj5yiLL92QUg4rpR5hkcG_4koMLZxhpf8WZ3EiW2ArHAz6vWxm5ncYOM9Uv13VTYZBKjMJEFiYNhDbvhBeaV2nw3Ae06coqes45p7xhHNlY4ImsGy0-kc5PZuH6cLFvI6IkDKsruM1e/s1600/SilverBallWreath+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJjcj5yiLL92QUg4rpR5hkcG_4koMLZxhpf8WZ3EiW2ArHAz6vWxm5ncYOM9Uv13VTYZBKjMJEFiYNhDbvhBeaV2nw3Ae06coqes45p7xhHNlY4ImsGy0-kc5PZuH6cLFvI6IkDKsruM1e/s400/SilverBallWreath+011.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">additions are a very good thing.</div>my pocketbookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05072185382116199105noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607686021844171288.post-48519845117783207852010-11-28T10:29:00.000-08:002010-11-28T18:10:28.847-08:00not quite the same<div style="text-align: center;">decorating for christmas 2010 has been a struggle. i love this time of year. celebrating the birth and life and ministry of christ and making my home reflect my heart has always been a joy for me. but this year my dad is facing his final journey. much of my time has been spent pondering all he did and gave and sacrificed for his family. my dad is a remarkable man. he is tough and stern. right is right and wrong is wrong. principled and strong, he is passionate about many things. he loves deeply.<br />
his lessons have served me well and taught me much.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">this year my dad probably won't be able to make the trip to my home to enjoy our traditional christmas festivities and to share in the love we have for each other...<br />
a love and a legacy that has grown and flourished, in part, because of a man i call dad.<br />
but daddy, i don't want you to miss anything. you will always be a part of my life.</div><div style="text-align: center;">so here is a little bit of christmas 2010 at the ball home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-tCcyxazgrdATWHZWQETaRvX0flAVyuzYJdyhihSE0DTqz80H92oLwplPH448GhnCXcEfuSMNuDsRjw7eqVv5Ca_XLToaQK8Z-KKhc-BceKhAscZ72DqB5Dxuix8QXCDAVciop3jpoBQ/s1600/Christmas+2010+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-tCcyxazgrdATWHZWQETaRvX0flAVyuzYJdyhihSE0DTqz80H92oLwplPH448GhnCXcEfuSMNuDsRjw7eqVv5Ca_XLToaQK8Z-KKhc-BceKhAscZ72DqB5Dxuix8QXCDAVciop3jpoBQ/s400/Christmas+2010+002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2Hi3tDl53tL2kFW8pCOujXCEiJbcwnVhtp6CbtQvKVmf50gZLPmsPZzx4p_uM_q5TD6o6IbMgiY9AaYvtKsxI0QfyfKFw4RRXVxpHorJaOmjNiUOuqX0CiYinKFKBxWGwBV8buVAp3Yq/s1600/Christmas+2010+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2Hi3tDl53tL2kFW8pCOujXCEiJbcwnVhtp6CbtQvKVmf50gZLPmsPZzx4p_uM_q5TD6o6IbMgiY9AaYvtKsxI0QfyfKFw4RRXVxpHorJaOmjNiUOuqX0CiYinKFKBxWGwBV8buVAp3Yq/s400/Christmas+2010+012.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAUGEDOIel8J6BSssleZVypd4lNk4d0Di6KtG7vJAR0HZ61MdV8wJ9BNioskhlvzpuc0ZlUklWVYcy8yHft2BslMWS8PgL8nFtjBdPWqnrr1oGc9200E9ebvmORLRJTpoMvql06qSsca0N/s1600/Christmas+2010+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAUGEDOIel8J6BSssleZVypd4lNk4d0Di6KtG7vJAR0HZ61MdV8wJ9BNioskhlvzpuc0ZlUklWVYcy8yHft2BslMWS8PgL8nFtjBdPWqnrr1oGc9200E9ebvmORLRJTpoMvql06qSsca0N/s400/Christmas+2010+018.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJ7eN81u6j5yarPgAiTrt3cOEE4yN3Dv6LsjRnHIYs3CFzCOXkBkDlNZZnCBO8OPgZcmmA9cC5XCyVQZRQbn9N4IQ7KDw61wcQ-HsiVqr066GyE_FaB6_kEV3Pq-WEG-4AJhvS1ROtwm5/s1600/Christmas+2010+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJ7eN81u6j5yarPgAiTrt3cOEE4yN3Dv6LsjRnHIYs3CFzCOXkBkDlNZZnCBO8OPgZcmmA9cC5XCyVQZRQbn9N4IQ7KDw61wcQ-HsiVqr066GyE_FaB6_kEV3Pq-WEG-4AJhvS1ROtwm5/s400/Christmas+2010+016.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" border="0" height="99" src="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" style="border: 0px none;" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>my pocketbookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05072185382116199105noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607686021844171288.post-77587935046389897212010-11-24T11:40:00.000-08:002010-11-24T11:42:59.097-08:00siblings<div align="center"><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></div></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59Inl3rlbQTPJQ_cRy-cFaJif_4V5xjDgNh-KjIvSY7BJrHJWJbNSA8zOlYPL9x5wG_xLL0nOzU1JrTvyd1X_aRGwy9Ix6vtc3DNjabv0wdFjPHtyf2DEme3qfvRqMDmuevdku8tN2UTs/s1600/Siblings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59Inl3rlbQTPJQ_cRy-cFaJif_4V5xjDgNh-KjIvSY7BJrHJWJbNSA8zOlYPL9x5wG_xLL0nOzU1JrTvyd1X_aRGwy9Ix6vtc3DNjabv0wdFjPHtyf2DEme3qfvRqMDmuevdku8tN2UTs/s640/Siblings.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
the first time in a very long time that my three siblings and i had a chance to get together...just the four of us. no spouses. no children. not that their spouses and children aren't wonderful...they are. <br />
but it was so nice to just have us.<br />
and while the occasion that brought us all together is a sad and painful one,<br />
i am so grateful for the time we had together.<br />
i love you bobby.<br />
i love you charlie.<br />
i love you jo. <a href="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>my pocketbookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05072185382116199105noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607686021844171288.post-27536826808701860452010-11-11T18:56:00.000-08:002010-11-11T18:56:07.320-08:00headed out<div style="text-align: center;">in the morning. to here.</div><div style="text-align: center;">chick trip 2010</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdBkWt1KrMy6k9rtIMlLfX05ISJ72fxpMnfZk-Xcjws9BA37IA9-gwmHpKdcfvncKYTria1UcrJEE2tsM_VjCOuY2bzP0Y57lzZRZfhlFWEv2LlDopxRnKRphcRpBqHlbDjiNw2ZmEWwg/s1600/Indio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdBkWt1KrMy6k9rtIMlLfX05ISJ72fxpMnfZk-Xcjws9BA37IA9-gwmHpKdcfvncKYTria1UcrJEE2tsM_VjCOuY2bzP0Y57lzZRZfhlFWEv2LlDopxRnKRphcRpBqHlbDjiNw2ZmEWwg/s400/Indio.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">just outside of palm springs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3Ly-4YNHN0COwmTJaPlFwoNWt1Ws67zwsTfpvtdvl3uK_bmwRD7CAKISS1uW42kLfW5uQSd0Rk5Fck4ZRAqj9auB3OKbTAya2JF1ArXuylzjPvAOWH5z7WIKbx_mK3x6QQekoAhVMeZf/s1600/DonnaDebMe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3Ly-4YNHN0COwmTJaPlFwoNWt1Ws67zwsTfpvtdvl3uK_bmwRD7CAKISS1uW42kLfW5uQSd0Rk5Fck4ZRAqj9auB3OKbTAya2JF1ArXuylzjPvAOWH5z7WIKbx_mK3x6QQekoAhVMeZf/s400/DonnaDebMe.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">to laugh, eat, shop, cry and laugh some more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">because that's what best friends do.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and these two girls are the best.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">to quote donna, "i'd clean sewers with these two."</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>my pocketbookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05072185382116199105noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607686021844171288.post-9897321355528611352010-11-08T07:42:00.000-08:002010-11-08T07:46:10.327-08:00can't stop...<div style="text-align: center;">gathering ideas and planning my christmas decorating . because while thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday (much less stressful) i A.D.O.R.E christmas decorating. here are some pics of the ideas i would like to incorporate for my christmas tablescape. can't wait to get started.</div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFXIaS-1AhaNDSQJk8GCYnmC-304mfziiZNSmg_vPOQocmfp2g5nfPFfcYBMhHJy0ozsotkyZnVa_pk7DQcUtzyl-vuuCGmwG_7c6SAVg6jzRIm2ubGO_yL2N-qEaRM-KdXsQkWgQ5hRZ/s400/glittertrees.jpg" width="272" /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(from <a href="http://www.iheartnaptime.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.iheartnaptime.blogspot.com</span>/</a>)</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OZjcd1Sgj5W3G4BkyP5eA_KYCF8Yu9TNsGINw5c-nbqkYs4VXLGn5IIr4xsXxUa8oLWG1c7OOd-eK0pVOeHAkbKCNdYdg4DGfaDdSmqKFDBE1aN1FtcbOQCFjXQ1dCPXtsI1Q32GKEjr/s1600/aluminumreindeer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OZjcd1Sgj5W3G4BkyP5eA_KYCF8Yu9TNsGINw5c-nbqkYs4VXLGn5IIr4xsXxUa8oLWG1c7OOd-eK0pVOeHAkbKCNdYdg4DGfaDdSmqKFDBE1aN1FtcbOQCFjXQ1dCPXtsI1Q32GKEjr/s400/aluminumreindeer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6agX6PB-SNoyAGz-yWMp-ruz7Bvrh3cUH4qmPnttbwVjzY9rQpV5UNlF_do03QzA9o9K0JLU-d_G6Of67CIG19cbGUAtk23oQQXb0kqGNo70esuyxAhKtNSLIma7ySDaU4H2eNbv_IEo/s1600/glitterbirds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6agX6PB-SNoyAGz-yWMp-ruz7Bvrh3cUH4qmPnttbwVjzY9rQpV5UNlF_do03QzA9o9K0JLU-d_G6Of67CIG19cbGUAtk23oQQXb0kqGNo70esuyxAhKtNSLIma7ySDaU4H2eNbv_IEo/s400/glitterbirds.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(reindeer and birds from <a href="http://www.potterybarn.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.potterybarn.com</span></a>)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">i want to start right now. but my kitchen is only half painted. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and this weekend is<em><span style="color: blue;"> palm springs</span></em> with my besties.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">curse you menopause. it's all your fault that i can't stay focused.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>my pocketbookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05072185382116199105noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607686021844171288.post-43312218920651797442010-11-06T15:13:00.000-07:002010-11-06T15:13:17.343-07:00update<div style="text-align: center;">i <em>loathe</em> painting. it's still not right.</div><div style="text-align: center;">i should have gone to disneyland.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>my pocketbookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05072185382116199105noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607686021844171288.post-89716944177379441422010-11-06T10:35:00.000-07:002010-11-06T15:11:09.423-07:00while the cats away<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Q_jrk7Ju-ZT_2rb_rYlLkxWr29bc7qsS_i4E1J8t6oR954druscQwR1igXdM6H2UiIhiE4ahCRXiBbn1ju6pW2txmpGQBiXOZkh-Yerf1p8qWTVfV4tP9PtCS3srxANjOzXg9tHHw9uP/s1600/MyBoys+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Q_jrk7Ju-ZT_2rb_rYlLkxWr29bc7qsS_i4E1J8t6oR954druscQwR1igXdM6H2UiIhiE4ahCRXiBbn1ju6pW2txmpGQBiXOZkh-Yerf1p8qWTVfV4tP9PtCS3srxANjOzXg9tHHw9uP/s400/MyBoys+001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">i L.O.V.E. it when my boys go off together. trampling in the wilderness. chasing the big one. sitting around a campfire telling remember when stories. patting each other on the back. eating soup that i made just for them. makes me feel all warm inside.</div><div style="text-align: center;">it's their own male bonding time.<br />
and over the years their male bonding time has given me plenty of opportunities too.<br />
girlfriend time, sleeping in time, chick flick time, shopping time, and best of all...<br />
daughter time.<br />
why one time when they went hunting carrie and i left them a note on the kitchen table.<br />
'gone to disneyland', it said. 'see you when we get back'.<br />
now their latest hunting trip hasn't taken me to disneyland.<br />
but that doesn't mean i'm sitting around whining and crying in my diet coke.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXYaXxjVUk8fCVjgDbVnC5TJdyS13RHvyONPboMduaQKN4WZUIkaXyivyHd6R7iel5X8Z5cs78num687zxXqBk5MnFgAUlSIUdtX0gSRdk9rLfchjVRw-bsYvjU2Jvo7AVjdRBsA8D-Bj/s1600/KitchenPaint+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXYaXxjVUk8fCVjgDbVnC5TJdyS13RHvyONPboMduaQKN4WZUIkaXyivyHd6R7iel5X8Z5cs78num687zxXqBk5MnFgAUlSIUdtX0gSRdk9rLfchjVRw-bsYvjU2Jvo7AVjdRBsA8D-Bj/s400/KitchenPaint+005.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
no sireee. let the fun begin.<br />
painting the kitchen.<br />
because while i love the kitchen cabinet redo from last year,<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhot-By3NHBFvVU_fj0Fmso2-ic5fN0aVw6wHiUQuizztfXmi2SFtZ5engPaNAMfsSNVplKq4TIOSgjd-vbo1nDb7IokJxrCzSMD_z6Uf9iPk5LDr7prwL710SQ1VfhgdA3ZRd2dEkhDDL5/s1600/KitchenPaint+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhot-By3NHBFvVU_fj0Fmso2-ic5fN0aVw6wHiUQuizztfXmi2SFtZ5engPaNAMfsSNVplKq4TIOSgjd-vbo1nDb7IokJxrCzSMD_z6Uf9iPk5LDr7prwL710SQ1VfhgdA3ZRd2dEkhDDL5/s400/KitchenPaint+003.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
i hate the way the cabinets look with the current color of my kitchen walls.<br />
a nice, soft swiss coffee background is just what they need.<br />
<br />
so thank you, my boys, for giving me a free weekend.<br />
i hope you are enjoying your male bonding time.<br />
and that pot of soup. it's filled with love. <a href="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>my pocketbookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05072185382116199105noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607686021844171288.post-26895870061268987392010-11-02T11:43:00.000-07:002010-11-02T11:49:26.487-07:00my new strategy<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsL1c4PqHs6PoVVoG9VA0GHt4usla9tlbPl5oYeOc78h8mSm4S4JGnDYq1PWhaVy3Ptt28dEbIh7-kfdWfCfQRkabQSydFTypk6H6rTL6wtkK2wKU6-pvZjqIYJ7wIeoiXpQypWU-ky33i/s1600/tightjeans+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsL1c4PqHs6PoVVoG9VA0GHt4usla9tlbPl5oYeOc78h8mSm4S4JGnDYq1PWhaVy3Ptt28dEbIh7-kfdWfCfQRkabQSydFTypk6H6rTL6wtkK2wKU6-pvZjqIYJ7wIeoiXpQypWU-ky33i/s400/tightjeans+005.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">wear skin tight jeans...no breathing room.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">should equate to no eating room.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">because in 2 weeks my 2 skinny besties and i will be heading out to our annual</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">palm springs weekend.</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">i can't help that i'm the oldest.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">but dang, do i have to be the fattest.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">i'll let you know if my new strategy works.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">for now, i'm in pain.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">tight jean pain.<a href="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>my pocketbookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05072185382116199105noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607686021844171288.post-75775722881445635442010-10-28T20:35:00.000-07:002010-10-28T20:35:24.137-07:00i think my ocd is showing<div style="text-align: center;">i can't stand it when the "header" end of my sheets is wrinkled. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5R8XULvVsUFBkCVQMhIvrU3fe3PKfFel2gFy661zrahVYP7IISv8tHRKW_BkpqUPtHS-vlY7HizWRAdwXeY68AI4Ah_dBpGHb0HsmKxTuKrvPwZiv8X7meGWazgqrVBJflaIzKPf3gyHy/s1600/ocdsheets+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5R8XULvVsUFBkCVQMhIvrU3fe3PKfFel2gFy661zrahVYP7IISv8tHRKW_BkpqUPtHS-vlY7HizWRAdwXeY68AI4Ah_dBpGHb0HsmKxTuKrvPwZiv8X7meGWazgqrVBJflaIzKPf3gyHy/s400/ocdsheets+007.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">see that big wrinkle. it's tragic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">so every week when i wash my sheets i end up ironing the header.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdTPAiMPJOIwDCaPhj3596jmgZkcGveGQgS2a78ibGY500o_OwQdVFG8OvWHuASQDX3AnoIEd-1aiHzMnzM-5lt5UfKkDKBJbUi04s-z_gIlW6bamNdefAaYEx5wyB9SZ8P_rEt9wgpO5N/s1600/ocdsheets+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdTPAiMPJOIwDCaPhj3596jmgZkcGveGQgS2a78ibGY500o_OwQdVFG8OvWHuASQDX3AnoIEd-1aiHzMnzM-5lt5UfKkDKBJbUi04s-z_gIlW6bamNdefAaYEx5wyB9SZ8P_rEt9wgpO5N/s400/ocdsheets+009.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">but i do it when it's on my bed.</div><div style="text-align: center;">makes me feel less neurotic.</div><div style="text-align: center;">you know as opposed to putting up the ironing board.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>my pocketbookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05072185382116199105noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607686021844171288.post-49702163553064553742010-10-21T21:28:00.000-07:002010-10-21T21:31:21.074-07:00check it out!<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">my dining room side chairs (you know, the ones decked out with roosters and other farm animals) make-over made it <a href="http://betterafter.blogspot.com/2010/10/once-upon-time.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BetterAfter+%28Better+After%29"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">over here</span>!</a> and the story she tells about them...it's not my story. but oh, so accurate.<br />
thank you better ater. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">can i just say sweet.<a href="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>my pocketbookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05072185382116199105noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607686021844171288.post-42817577246721928852010-10-20T07:08:00.000-07:002010-10-20T07:08:39.395-07:00my panties are all bunched up<div style="text-align: center;">there is much in today's world i don't understand. some of it i'm just fine with. but some of these modern day behaviors have me either chuckling to myself or shaking my head. sometimes i even seeth.</div><div style="text-align: center;">for instance.</div><div style="text-align: center;">initialism.</div><div style="text-align: center;">lol (always thought it was lots of love), omg (what's wrong with 'heck'?) bff (cute if you're 12), lmao (if it were only that easy to get rid of my 'a').</div><div style="text-align: center;">these are the chuckling, head shaking ones.</div><div style="text-align: center;">but then there are the 'other' ones.</div><div style="text-align: center;">wtf (really...) and fml (a sign that therapy is needed).</div><div style="text-align: center;">please america. if you are under 20 go ahead. initialize.</div><div style="text-align: center;">if you are anywhere in the adult world, articulate.</div><div style="text-align: center;">with decorum and respect please.</div><div style="text-align: center;">maybe then our rising generation will have something to rise to.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>my pocketbookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05072185382116199105noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607686021844171288.post-22246271060191522322010-10-04T20:44:00.000-07:002010-10-04T20:48:40.415-07:00finishing touch<div style="text-align: center;">i finished the burlap pillows.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNXpmGOS9JgGIR1XnVkJw4ELW4rhVPbdhugFwskCDgFBK-SXsbR_M9kbwMCB2n6rVgKrzMIIPaRT8I2sqOxscJp2_PonMOhgsqEoAVd6VKVFLa9AQKGavJjB6fwGRPmsA0MS_NeUjX2me/s1600/chair+pillows+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNXpmGOS9JgGIR1XnVkJw4ELW4rhVPbdhugFwskCDgFBK-SXsbR_M9kbwMCB2n6rVgKrzMIIPaRT8I2sqOxscJp2_PonMOhgsqEoAVd6VKVFLa9AQKGavJjB6fwGRPmsA0MS_NeUjX2me/s400/chair+pillows+004.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">i'm liking the texture. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWZ1-p1RXcVwnJe5CmTvl90AUmTtuk8iGE1EwCGsUB_oxDcwQUYN8YidrXhDJ52YHW8ndmtMuBBG_iLfp1lEdIKBdZYaJ6BF20lxFPg6gTRvAEFCIbv4sIv1EbxrnQnUBePGcQBcgbrIp/s400/chair+pillows+003.JPG" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and the best part of these little pillows...i didn't have to buy a thing. i had looked for a pillow insert that was the size i wanted, about 8" X 16". couldn't find that size anywhere. but all i needed to do was check my pillow stash.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">there it was. the average pillow. 16" X 16". so i cut it in half.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">oh how i love upcycling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">p.s. no bathroom jokes allowed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" style="border: 0px none;" /></a></div>my pocketbookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05072185382116199105noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607686021844171288.post-56377345218062314132010-09-30T19:39:00.000-07:002010-09-30T19:42:47.919-07:00at last<div style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">finally...my chairs are reupholstered. and i couldn't be happier with them.</div><div style="text-align: center;">here they are before.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYgJtQ8ktstQrJMNl7ka45FSW4PiOYItB6BAFxNUO3BUrIl2UlrLfvGtj8byoWBWqqf5Fy3krg1Li7qX9kesYBYbLe_9Cr4Mo6tCW4E2mWH3jDcgudh_MiSuHhx-8ngWNr8bRsmgJjBl6/s1600/RoosterChairs+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYgJtQ8ktstQrJMNl7ka45FSW4PiOYItB6BAFxNUO3BUrIl2UlrLfvGtj8byoWBWqqf5Fy3krg1Li7qX9kesYBYbLe_9Cr4Mo6tCW4E2mWH3jDcgudh_MiSuHhx-8ngWNr8bRsmgJjBl6/s400/RoosterChairs+001.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">during</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFvE4mpLx3txlSub-IdAISixznhuVNzXn01R-YsrDAhi0X1qwcBf8jlBRm8b29bxUbQzh5oQ-sigYQdDdBTKZN52zyjRMfCEArnPIPtZicTHcddn9Y4fK7D3AZpra-b0xjEzceFSkxzJ5/s1600/HalloweenDecor+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFvE4mpLx3txlSub-IdAISixznhuVNzXn01R-YsrDAhi0X1qwcBf8jlBRm8b29bxUbQzh5oQ-sigYQdDdBTKZN52zyjRMfCEArnPIPtZicTHcddn9Y4fK7D3AZpra-b0xjEzceFSkxzJ5/s400/HalloweenDecor+003.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and after</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFZDphw8IO3EA8jluxR_qtUbHnzM6VyDMnyI0mxkyoucvnbbx8-V9R8ciRob748SKba6PlkrLh8z8ERWw8isW-efiUW59kBXY0Aj9iE6nJYC1K2Xia3CiYjKZkfc2cjmlGSzXhxsCPxVk/s1600/Chairs+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFZDphw8IO3EA8jluxR_qtUbHnzM6VyDMnyI0mxkyoucvnbbx8-V9R8ciRob748SKba6PlkrLh8z8ERWw8isW-efiUW59kBXY0Aj9iE6nJYC1K2Xia3CiYjKZkfc2cjmlGSzXhxsCPxVk/s400/Chairs+009.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">now i'm off to make some little burlap back pillows. i think they could use the texture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">that and i love burlap.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></div>my pocketbookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05072185382116199105noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607686021844171288.post-54246793410112549392010-09-17T20:50:00.000-07:002010-09-17T20:52:00.419-07:00why i love the internet<div align="center"><div style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">because i get a kazillion ideas. and it gets my brain going. and ideas flowing. why sometimes it even gets my heart pumping. i could peruse design and decor and crafting sites all day long. and because of the many hours that i spend blog hopping i have seen some amazing stuff. so amazing that i have done something i have never done before. decorate for halloween. ok, maybe not 'decorate'. more like tablescape.<br />
here's my dining room table decked out for halloween.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjTWUgQfY14t-KwlKBtwl6qarRlDKJYVQDr2RKsSkm2livdrxdic7r2To8-Otbx6wIwpvNxw4F6P2hfUEz3vZnxYiZ4BnFk-TzcZoBGVNeXBcAbFGEjqRB-XSjFHjGpzGwmpyFLhyphenhyphenRJKM/s1600/HalloweenDecor+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjTWUgQfY14t-KwlKBtwl6qarRlDKJYVQDr2RKsSkm2livdrxdic7r2To8-Otbx6wIwpvNxw4F6P2hfUEz3vZnxYiZ4BnFk-TzcZoBGVNeXBcAbFGEjqRB-XSjFHjGpzGwmpyFLhyphenhyphenRJKM/s400/HalloweenDecor+013.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDKuW5FAll131SPgZ8tdX4hq8Xmpy9DRyBAitjWH4Mi7VHi69EdAPkWKhl3ycWXoevPqQLzdpaHRHj00ebOSJy6JLpXYaOKBP_pT3C2S2b36LhX-bIGEgb5YWDrp-rXw-XS4paqN94_x7q/s1600/HalloweenDecor+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDKuW5FAll131SPgZ8tdX4hq8Xmpy9DRyBAitjWH4Mi7VHi69EdAPkWKhl3ycWXoevPqQLzdpaHRHj00ebOSJy6JLpXYaOKBP_pT3C2S2b36LhX-bIGEgb5YWDrp-rXw-XS4paqN94_x7q/s400/HalloweenDecor+014.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFHOkRaI7QFEDNsvyMns3Pht6fPlwuSrwm6cEHrtrfDVWDcevlczXfBQODRwNs0PCbi7XHlBrSIRpvEipSxiejpW51zI1aV8qBJj8j5SOZIdUokH_DR5F55aAzkhu20Miz8bteSjJf_-B/s1600/HalloweenDecor+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFHOkRaI7QFEDNsvyMns3Pht6fPlwuSrwm6cEHrtrfDVWDcevlczXfBQODRwNs0PCbi7XHlBrSIRpvEipSxiejpW51zI1aV8qBJj8j5SOZIdUokH_DR5F55aAzkhu20Miz8bteSjJf_-B/s400/HalloweenDecor+015.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbq6NAtXEh6bJ190ZUxgVHRlHo-DMP3r09YIIKOl-hA4GwQSUejTB1Yxi0yGP7kNXYaiZjCos2XHSewR6VuyMfjErvWEK72ljbIrRHYZNCmYwsHRStepfPB7lKgOedrJPYfsNXGNw0nzx/s1600/HalloweenDecor+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbq6NAtXEh6bJ190ZUxgVHRlHo-DMP3r09YIIKOl-hA4GwQSUejTB1Yxi0yGP7kNXYaiZjCos2XHSewR6VuyMfjErvWEK72ljbIrRHYZNCmYwsHRStepfPB7lKgOedrJPYfsNXGNw0nzx/s400/HalloweenDecor+016.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zHcv8c0-u2zSj7Qau8svQCra0NwJa594sSzwPbzmAL40F4jpVG30ljl4blNOU2P70uV71AS71ld0yDBsSgK6OLgLs4OAwnHQdMaYyAdi3zyN168UBzmNg-nreYEAxXjsVZzusIqUWQBh/s1600/HalloweenDecor+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zHcv8c0-u2zSj7Qau8svQCra0NwJa594sSzwPbzmAL40F4jpVG30ljl4blNOU2P70uV71AS71ld0yDBsSgK6OLgLs4OAwnHQdMaYyAdi3zyN168UBzmNg-nreYEAxXjsVZzusIqUWQBh/s400/HalloweenDecor+017.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">wish i could take credit for this spooktacular (yes, i amuse myself) idea.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but i can't. it came from<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://houseofsmiths.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">here</span></a>. check it out. amazing.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div><div align="center"></div>my pocketbookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05072185382116199105noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607686021844171288.post-79634939884859923542010-09-11T20:38:00.000-07:002010-09-13T21:25:22.096-07:00he da man<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMra81o0RV_WuAuZj9SU5nrTJc-uM-3z8Ou_OjctAThOWP-f9n2qeyTOeHK7Y6i6o6IKSm-i5Y5J9z7WKQlSfY9NbWCBMsHnGl84l8dtVgoXHVUATSWL6m15oK_r2GhAi3nT7GNAcJJC3S/s1600/Kole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMra81o0RV_WuAuZj9SU5nrTJc-uM-3z8Ou_OjctAThOWP-f9n2qeyTOeHK7Y6i6o6IKSm-i5Y5J9z7WKQlSfY9NbWCBMsHnGl84l8dtVgoXHVUATSWL6m15oK_r2GhAi3nT7GNAcJJC3S/s400/Kole.jpg" width="382" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> i fell in love with this face the very first time i saw it. he (and his brother...i'll tell you about him later) had been on a plane for 24 hours. his eyes couldn't have been bigger and the look of fear on his face couldn't have been more real. he didn't know that he had a family waiting. that he was loved beyond measure. and that he was ours forever. he had no idea that he was in for the adventure of a lifetime. neither did we.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">now he's all grown up. almost.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIj5q2JC8Nyr7bS40j9PVmg-kyjUxpWSNJ24UrtCde_aYgLAolp0j5pDxwR7-CvjDTaOKsPcXHqT-vz0SQSIu1CYvczVbyZKC35_N-z3jkMo-kbm99e-9j0QoDxqfBE-OIupbOHLBb52vm/s1600/KollJazzBandSept2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIj5q2JC8Nyr7bS40j9PVmg-kyjUxpWSNJ24UrtCde_aYgLAolp0j5pDxwR7-CvjDTaOKsPcXHqT-vz0SQSIu1CYvczVbyZKC35_N-z3jkMo-kbm99e-9j0QoDxqfBE-OIupbOHLBb52vm/s640/KollJazzBandSept2010.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> that's him playing the stand up bass with the cdo jazz band. and he plays golf. and he's in r.o.t.c. he loves to fish. he loves to hunt. he plays a mean cornhole. he's always happy. he's very loved.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> you da man koll.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" style="border: 0pt none;" /></a></div>my pocketbookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05072185382116199105noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607686021844171288.post-42956007700072127202010-08-27T19:49:00.000-07:002010-08-27T19:55:10.890-07:00why i store stuff under the couch<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">i have this funky angled wall in my dining room. it is only 31" wide. it used to house the pool cues but since letting go of the pool table and actually getting a dining room the wall has been bare. i have looked at several architectural pieces but just didn't find what i wanted. while vacuuming tonight i came across two old ceiling tiles that i forgot i had.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">bingo.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">i layered them and i knew right where they needed to go.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYl3rY-JBMDT9cHyaVScxaUGgxSvXL4TJ5BA5iimuS1GSvwl10DOh0h1cZ3LvcEAnEo0H9fW0Gw8YvPvxYoCWLbHiDNXqWxuEzN619vyaKgMqYqQ4hVQyXHQDnfL-8vrbbXRqx-oqX3ApS/s1600/WeddingRecption+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYl3rY-JBMDT9cHyaVScxaUGgxSvXL4TJ5BA5iimuS1GSvwl10DOh0h1cZ3LvcEAnEo0H9fW0Gw8YvPvxYoCWLbHiDNXqWxuEzN619vyaKgMqYqQ4hVQyXHQDnfL-8vrbbXRqx-oqX3ApS/s400/WeddingRecption+001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tMBJle5eh6O7KxKSsOwwFeHwodM583Hho9FujIkKCo-h6eNC1ByHxpi9E0Tdf51K8oGt0L84waQ8QsvV21WMEXb3iR4JYVczw17dnj0bV68YsmupyjCSJ9dSba8-YLtzzz2EAkzRMfFP/s1600/Dining+Room+(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tMBJle5eh6O7KxKSsOwwFeHwodM583Hho9FujIkKCo-h6eNC1ByHxpi9E0Tdf51K8oGt0L84waQ8QsvV21WMEXb3iR4JYVczw17dnj0bV68YsmupyjCSJ9dSba8-YLtzzz2EAkzRMfFP/s640/Dining+Room+(6).JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwsU-oFWYJVhCwCqxYMDJxoDzZzfvvIQyJI3JMhHDSXeLHhmiixY8bEc71Alho-EgnM7YCh1wiEgcyslH2NZDHsozXtXM-d7WHB5qnWlZdVgVumUjBfvf8CgaO8tB8S-JAGEr0Y8K1MdE/s1600/Dining+Room+(7).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwsU-oFWYJVhCwCqxYMDJxoDzZzfvvIQyJI3JMhHDSXeLHhmiixY8bEc71Alho-EgnM7YCh1wiEgcyslH2NZDHsozXtXM-d7WHB5qnWlZdVgVumUjBfvf8CgaO8tB8S-JAGEr0Y8K1MdE/s640/Dining+Room+(7).JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">i think they'll stay...for now.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Barbara%20Ball/sigfinalcopy.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>my pocketbookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05072185382116199105noreply@blogger.com1