Blossoms are Calling

The DC area is in the midst of an explosion of pale pink and white blossoms on this last day of March. The warm sun is lighting the profusion of flowering trees and bulbs everywhere--this is the most beautiful time of year in this area. I certainly have spring fever as I gaze out of my office window and sigh--but at least tomorrow brings the freedom of the weekend.

Happy Birthday Mom!

We recently travelled to Connecticut to celebrate my Mom's birthday. We had a very nice dinner out at a restaurant called La Vita Gustosa (the tasty life) and then came home to open presents and eat cake. We all had a great time, and most importantly were able to celebrate Mom and recognise in a small way how much she does for all of us. Love you Mom!

Bridal Shower Recap

Last Saturday was Laura's Bridal Shower that I hosted at my house. I had so much fun preparing for it: making the favors, planning the menu, organizing the games, decorating the living and dining room, etc.


Favors: Heart Shaped Tea infuser and a tin of loose leaf tea, custom printed M and M's in pink and cream that say "Laura's Shower" and "March 11, 2006"

Menu: Tea, Sparkling Pink Lemonade, Chambord Champagne Cocktail, Tea Sandwiches: Cucumber Mint/Chicken Rosemary Pate/Ham and Watercress, Sugar cookies, Cranberry Scones, Fresh Strawberry Tarts, and Lemon Cake.

Games: Mad-Lib, Kitchen Powder Guessing Game, and Advice Q & A game.

We had really beautiful spring weather, Laura had many presents to open, and we all had a fun tea-time celebration!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

We like to celebrate with green cable sweaters here in the office!

Motivation

"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error of shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause..." ~Teddy Roosevelt

flowers and ambitions

Do you ever play the day dream game of what you would be if you weren't what you are now? Especially the if I had unlimited time and money I would be a.....

A few things come to mind when I let my mind wander in these day dreams; of what I would do with my unlimited time, money, and energy (hey, it is a dream).


~I would grow the most amazing landscaped gardens. They would be a haven, a place that you could find tranquility and beauty and quiet. There would be paths of slate lined with manicured hedges of lavendar and boxwood surrounding islands of peonys, buddlea, phlox, and dahlias. There would be an arbor weighted down by clematis and wisteria over a stone bench. Shady corners filled with the cool green varigated leaves of hosta would give way to sunny patches filled with herbs and blooms. The sound of sighing wind, trickling water, and sleepy birds would permeate the air.

~I would be an accomplished hostess. One of the virtues that a Christian is to practice is hospitality, one I would like to work on more. Opening my home and preparing food for guests is a wonderful experience. Especially the cooking part. I love preparing food, it is truly a form of art.

~Weddings. I love everything about them; there is so much promise, anticipation, beauty, and love in a wedding. If I ever had another career (other than being a mom) it would be a wedding planner. I enjoy being involved in all the minute details of the event--the flowers, the dresses, the traditions, the parties! Even soothing frazzled nerves of brides-to-be.

Isn't it fun to dream? And to have these things to work toward...because someday they may come true.

A Day in My Life

Recorded here so I can look back someday and compare.

5:45am Alarm goes off
5:50am Drag self out of bed, dress for work, pack lunches
6:30am Get in Car
7:45am Get to work
5:15pm leave work
6:00pm meet Bill at Metro
6:45pm get home
7:30pm eat dinner
8:00pm clean up after dinner
8:30pm exercise
9:00pm play with piggies, read
10:00pm shower, get ready for bed
10:45pm Bed

Primavera

A bird calls, a green shoot breaks through the dead leaves of fall, a bud swells on a tree. The earthy-wet scent of the slowly warming ground faintly tinges the air. A fresh sense of energy stirs creatures wild and tame.




Even though snow fell yesterday, Spring is starting to make her appearance. It is exciting to think of the end of the winter. As a lover of gardening and the outdoors, I start getting a real case of cabin fever about this time of year. I long to spend my evenings after work and my weekends walking outside, taking hikes in the mountains, and exploring local parks. And gardening! Just to walk down the rows of flowering plants at the local garden center is pure delight. It is so hard to choose just a few to come home with me. I have been enlisted to help a few friends with their gardens this spring--we will have so much fun!

Spring--this season I am anticipating with a great sense of elation.