tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114890232024-03-12T21:39:28.165-07:00My world through a shutterThere are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer. ~Ansel AdamsLorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045098831467422060noreply@blogger.comBlogger262125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489023.post-20251862343044207492011-09-28T17:32:00.000-07:002011-09-28T20:36:26.125-07:00I'm moving!!!<div>And you know what that means... lots of packing, rearranging and unpacking again.<br /><br />I'm moving my blog to the address below...<br /><br />http://mylifeaslori.wordpress.com/<br /><br />Stop by for a visit?! I think you're going to like what you see!!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0px currentColor;" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/293/D369CB933B90C5C6625057360F29C216.png" /> </a></div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045098831467422060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489023.post-57570007475019018122011-09-17T08:03:00.000-07:002011-09-18T16:30:54.199-07:00What my soul has been thinking about...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmELRB3Qhyphenhyphenm-6O-JO0oxDsSN2-pCe1laPPDgwehLVHnhfAZ8ENFh_iTfcvX8DQAjHGB_8I_OLotZ7zgjI92fifkg7soCY4YqcETukL6PvuemaJ1ZeRfu11i_AdjiniiQcyooM7uA/s1600/friends2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653347724358625042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmELRB3Qhyphenhyphenm-6O-JO0oxDsSN2-pCe1laPPDgwehLVHnhfAZ8ENFh_iTfcvX8DQAjHGB_8I_OLotZ7zgjI92fifkg7soCY4YqcETukL6PvuemaJ1ZeRfu11i_AdjiniiQcyooM7uA/s320/friends2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>Over the past few months I've had this “picture” pop up in my head a few times: Two friends (walking or standing) content to have found friendship in each other, trusting the other... the part that stands out is the fact that these friend's elbows are interlocked.<br /></div><br /><div><br />Stop for a minute and think about that. </div><br /><br /><br /><div>When was the last time you stood next to a friend, and simply just stood there, interlocked at the elbows? Was it at a wedding? Was it your sister? Your best buddy? How old were you? 5? 37? Were you laughing? Smiling? Crying? Was it comfortable? Uncomfortable? Too close for comfort? </div><br /><div><br />Or would allowing someone to get that close be considered “invading your personal space”?<br /><br />That's me. I have a great need for my own personal space. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I consider you a uniquely special individual if you are allowed into my personal space. For your own personal reference, my personal space consists of a 3 foot circumference all the way around me. I realize that makes me sound like a jerk. I apologize in advance. And I’m working on that. </div><br /><br /><div>Can you tell I'm a little protective of my personal space?<br /></div><br /><div><br />Well, this “picture” keeps coming back to me. And I'm still not sure what it is supposed to mean. Is there some deep personal meaning I should be taking from this?<br /><br />If I could for a minute, let me give you a little background... I'm a tom-boy. I remember that as a kid I would have much rather played outside (or played board games or created something) instead of "playing dolls" or "dress up" or pretending to be a princess. That said, I had more BOY friends than GIRL friends. I can count on 1 hand the number of girl friends I had growing up. And admittedly, I cannot recall if I ever locked elbows with any of these friends.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, I had a lot of fun times with friends. Look at my childhood and teenage pictures and you'll see I enjoyed time with my friends. There were a lot of good memories. But... the elbows? Really?! That's just too close!<br /><br />So what does this reoccurring “picture” mean? I'm not sure. Is it a sign that I need to have more close girl friends? Maybe. Is it a sign that my friendships would benefit from more intimacy? Maybe. Is it a sign that my soul is hungry for more of these friendships? Maybe.<br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /><strong><u>First time this “picture” hit me: </u></strong></div><br /><div>It is about a friend I will refer to as “Christie” – she knows who she is. We've known each other for a couple years. We've enjoyed a fun road trip together with other girlfriends. We've laughed and cried and gotten in trouble together. We get each other's odd (and sometimes rude) sense of humor (admittedly, that's kinda scary). I was looking forward to spending time with her one weekend, several months back. Since then we have started a weekly (almost) Bible study. Have we yet walked around with locked elbows? No. But I would say we have established a great friendship. I would do anything for her.<br /><br />I told her about the “picture”. At least I tried. I stood there in front of her, attempting to explain. Then, in a moment of wondering if she was understanding me, I grabbed her arm and locked elbows (as if physically showing her was going to make her see the same picture?!). She looked at me weird.<br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /><strong><u>Second time seeing this “picture”</u></strong> </div><br /><div>I think it just happened in passing. I cannot recall that there was any friend in mind, specifically. But there it was again. What is the meaning of this picture???<br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /><strong><u>Third time seeing this “picture”</u></strong> </div><br /><div>When running into someone I would call an "acquaintance", I will call her by her initials “A.P.” My friend – I believe you will know who you are when reading this description: We've only spoken a handful of times, at church. I'm an avid reader of her blog. From what I can tell, her blogging policy is "complete transparency" (which I LOOOOVE). She shares her hopes, dreams, disappointments, greatest joys, etc. Her writing is very candid – which is so inspiring! Her regular posts have made me laugh and cry. </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>But are we “close”? No. So why did I see that picture again? I don't know. Do I feel a connection with her tied to her blogging transparency? Maybe. Is that weird? Maybe. Is it meant for she and I to spend more time together? Maybe. Does this indicate that I have a hunger for transparency? Maybe.<br /></div><br /><br /><div><strong><u></u></strong></div><br /><br /><div><strong><u>Epiphany<br /></u></strong>Then it all came together when @revchico asked: “Some ideas satisfy the mind but not the soul and soon become obsolute. What is your soul thinking about today?” </div><br /><br /><div>Without even stopping to think about it this is my response: “That longing to have close personal relationships with Christ and other Christians. To be true and honest and vulnerable and supportive and full of grace towards our family in Christ.”<br /></div><br /><div>But let me expound on that a bit more, if I might: That answer doesn’t even touch the surface of why my soul is thinking about. I want so much more than that. I want true community. (After all, we were made for community.) I am longing for true ‘til-the-day-I-die relationships. I am longing for friendships that are loving, supportive and forgiving. I am praying for TRUE godly friendships… where we can support each other, hold each other accountable (without hurt feelings), serve each other, enjoy a good belly-laugh with each other and simply sit in silence together. I long for friendships where we can cry together, be mad together (if the occasion calls for it), go to bat for each other and celebrate life together. I want us to grow together, become better friends and individuals because of each other, and live life together.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>I want the absence of religious beliefs. I want the absence of judgmental attitudes. I want the absence of mistrust. I want the absence of past hurts haunting our futures together and individually.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>More than anything I recognize that I need to get out of my own way and just be sincere and true and authentic. And what a thing to ask of my friends (and myself): to be sincere and true and authentic. Talk about trust… what a humbling thought. After all, I have often failed at this. Why would anyone trust me enough to be vulnerable with me?! </div><br /><br /><div><br />All we can do, each of us, is take the first step…<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div>Walk with me? Tell me about yourself, your dreams, your fears, your hurts, your joys… and please bear with me. I might mess up at some point. And because of that I’m going to need your support and love and forgiveness.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>Who’s with me? </div><br /><br /><strong><u>EDITOR’S NOTE:<br /></u></strong>In response to the above blog a friend asked “But some of the things you want absent are the very things that make us who we really are ;-)”<br /><br />So let’s take another look at what I said:<br /><br /><em>“I want the absence of religious beliefs. I want the absence of judgmental attitudes. I want the absence of mistrust. I want the absence of past hurts haunting our futures together and individually.”</em><br /><br />So to my friend who asks the good questions: I completely agree, 100%!!! I guess instead of sharing the “What I don’t want…” message what I should have said is more like this:<br /><br /><em>“Even if we still fall into our ‘resounding religious beliefs’, revert to our judgmental attitudes, fall into our patterns of mistrust or even by allowing past hurts to haunt our futures together… let’s support each other to be healthier, more trusting, more forgiving individuals/family members/friends. We’re still going to fail. And when that happens we’re still going to need good friends by our side.”<br /></em><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/293/D369CB933B90C5C6625057360F29C216.png" /> </a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045098831467422060noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489023.post-12930299177699452612011-06-07T08:07:00.000-07:002011-09-17T08:08:21.460-07:00Wine tasting in Paso RoblesOn Memorial Day we packed up the car and headed north ... final destination Pismo Beach. Other stops included: Santa Barbara, Arroyo Grande, Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo and of course Paso Robles...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigz5AyYcx5IlqCxIx6YKQ9sZ8AowtwG5PdyNSE6d9Z_sRfw6szphDZfTGfZirMoLKWTKYmIM0a7Z-xIVwOgellRAlQ6OV77weeU72gcunDUqU2ac3vzKlnivEX2N6Vj1sgumCt/s1600/blog_0189af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616956096141737122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigz5AyYcx5IlqCxIx6YKQ9sZ8AowtwG5PdyNSE6d9Z_sRfw6szphDZfTGfZirMoLKWTKYmIM0a7Z-xIVwOgellRAlQ6OV77weeU72gcunDUqU2ac3vzKlnivEX2N6Vj1sgumCt/s320/blog_0189af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Every now and then I get a longing to drive through these rollings hills where I once lived... my childhood full of memories of beach days, camping trips, playing with frogs in the creek and that sweet feeling of surrender... so we made it happen! After MUCH deliberation we planned our trip... and wouldn't trade it for the world!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqdZiosRzuP7aO_4hMGJWXmmjZ4o2DuyDQh0_HrmS_gJlHlNC__sFIm_YV2fMoZItUQlsUaaE0gwjR-pDkt7MTaimUW0fITxogrnmhAx-RlfEQJzEXnhIVdbASNFntobACiKzj/s1600/blog_0190af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616956092397166322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqdZiosRzuP7aO_4hMGJWXmmjZ4o2DuyDQh0_HrmS_gJlHlNC__sFIm_YV2fMoZItUQlsUaaE0gwjR-pDkt7MTaimUW0fITxogrnmhAx-RlfEQJzEXnhIVdbASNFntobACiKzj/s320/blog_0190af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAoxcth42kwj6LZChmRiWkB0A5-rUrFYyo24wJjbGINXpXZ38KIXZ_Itkp0Gdno1jYE9PeTyRmmtmDuKVApbV9xzMrPW6My7u9r-N8IceiOLPF_S9QT2Ibct2R-LdYZ19ZEwj/s1600/blog_0192af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616956085679034498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAoxcth42kwj6LZChmRiWkB0A5-rUrFYyo24wJjbGINXpXZ38KIXZ_Itkp0Gdno1jYE9PeTyRmmtmDuKVApbV9xzMrPW6My7u9r-N8IceiOLPF_S9QT2Ibct2R-LdYZ19ZEwj/s320/blog_0192af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />So today I am finally getting around to blog about our wine tasting tour through Paso Robles...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdTpzh2GsydJMG0OS6vTlaXyjvlc2gHGd2C26DNwDAxIDc0BfKNLjb4aggo-jBnOd6QyeAenQZiITzpumXIVz0ftnq5F0ert28ypqDx7s45i6u3_BzFRRmXFg1i1UXNZSGFWW/s1600/blog_0195af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616956081045654802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdTpzh2GsydJMG0OS6vTlaXyjvlc2gHGd2C26DNwDAxIDc0BfKNLjb4aggo-jBnOd6QyeAenQZiITzpumXIVz0ftnq5F0ert28ypqDx7s45i6u3_BzFRRmXFg1i1UXNZSGFWW/s320/blog_0195af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />We parked downtown Paso Robles and waited for the <a href="http://www.hoponthewineline.com/">The Wine Line</a> bus to pick us up. How does The Wine Line work? Well, like a true tour bus...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99JS1JCTBDhcg1JgFlgrv0k6ssonUSzBqp6gMksagV_wv-fkaP82Er5itB7Ggcc6xIGzlmhUk7EMILJSh79Oa74dunMNEGkiFQBy2PNadKCTBtVMPMCs-s-icrjIvLLBXBBTN/s1600/blog_0197af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616955571463539330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99JS1JCTBDhcg1JgFlgrv0k6ssonUSzBqp6gMksagV_wv-fkaP82Er5itB7Ggcc6xIGzlmhUk7EMILJSh79Oa74dunMNEGkiFQBy2PNadKCTBtVMPMCs-s-icrjIvLLBXBBTN/s320/blog_0197af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Of course you can check out their website for the full story.<br /><br />Lori Jean's version? Riders can hop off the bus at any vineyard or tasting room, hang out for a while, and then hop back on the bus when they're ready to move on to the next stop... and for the record, they are THE best way to experience Paso Robles' vineyards!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqGD56jx70efnQ98CapHkEAS1TvkOx8b4fx5PSGdlXb3v2p4fs-txxmmNArFNKXmubrcfZ-R0sAfNJ6WKJg0E5CWTxTZXj1KRiaiYb-Yw2WUGwFaJ_kCyoA4IIgcZWnIsw7uZ/s1600/blog_0326af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616947674574646082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqGD56jx70efnQ98CapHkEAS1TvkOx8b4fx5PSGdlXb3v2p4fs-txxmmNArFNKXmubrcfZ-R0sAfNJ6WKJg0E5CWTxTZXj1KRiaiYb-Yw2WUGwFaJ_kCyoA4IIgcZWnIsw7uZ/s320/blog_0326af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Since we'd never been through wine country in Paso Robles before we let them suggest which vineyards we should stop at and in which order. There was 1 additional couple on the bus with us... and we all just tagged along and enjoyed the day together. Afterall, we do love talking to strangers, meeting new people and finding out what we have in common... it was a perfect day!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdLj0F1EFw1K9L3YqvriPjMpNgo5im3JtvHp7I1wTkbm3sX1kMLyHz5X36Y2fzLyYuO6LHEtYzmj-jDi0CHz0I8_sG-syG-Zzjqx7X7CAtCm7-Mc0FHwMc_VpbRhe0HBFwM8v/s1600/blog_0324af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616965725517061362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdLj0F1EFw1K9L3YqvriPjMpNgo5im3JtvHp7I1wTkbm3sX1kMLyHz5X36Y2fzLyYuO6LHEtYzmj-jDi0CHz0I8_sG-syG-Zzjqx7X7CAtCm7-Mc0FHwMc_VpbRhe0HBFwM8v/s320/blog_0324af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Come with us on the pictorial review of our tour... ?<br /><br /><br /><strong>How wine tasting works in Paso Robles</strong><br />As we visited various vineyards we found each vineyard has a different deal on prices for tasting. One place gave us 5 free tastings, another let us try ALL 10 of their wines for $3 and others were the standard $5 for 5 tastings. And yet another waived the tasting fee if we bought a bottle of wine.<br /><br /><br />You see, the proprietors want you to taste their wine in hopes that you'll buy wine (and buy a lot of it). Obviously they don't make much on selling tastings... they make their money by selling wine. (And sending people like us home share pics and talk about how great the wine is, friendly the vineyard staff is and how priceless an experience it all was!)<br /><br /><br />We started at <a href="http://www.castorocellars.com/">Castoro Cellars</a> ... where we learned they are currently bottling the "Coastal" brand for Trader Joe's. (note to self!)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXgsgcuMEL0IJuPYjCA5TYYTjnwSrVscYZN4JLtmqnNE4v36fOx5B2H3pWu0kO5726dn66xniwnYHpufbc4YzsTjhrDz_oUMfWcwNwV-O-L76hsazigw71sIHqf1CUoUF63Jk/s1600/blog_0199af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616955562664704386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXgsgcuMEL0IJuPYjCA5TYYTjnwSrVscYZN4JLtmqnNE4v36fOx5B2H3pWu0kO5726dn66xniwnYHpufbc4YzsTjhrDz_oUMfWcwNwV-O-L76hsazigw71sIHqf1CUoUF63Jk/s320/blog_0199af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The vineyard and grounds look like you'd expect a vineyard to look like. There is a long walkway up to the tasting room, rolling hills of vineyards, a large patio with chairs and tables placed strategically to enjoy the view, bundles of California poppies and lavendar speckling the planters and large empty barrels sitting about.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUajQB5MQ3t2l-iDEt5yk1IgRLm0op8YPzOqghpgq8-Ve8KCQeM-ogVwQ5GXeiFs0-14kTNRgSZCzhVIfKSsq-lRvYkc4YlqN_zNXdCPb88gBk18azAMlHYiEeYdAch87VXNA/s1600/blog_0200af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616955550366237138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUajQB5MQ3t2l-iDEt5yk1IgRLm0op8YPzOqghpgq8-Ve8KCQeM-ogVwQ5GXeiFs0-14kTNRgSZCzhVIfKSsq-lRvYkc4YlqN_zNXdCPb88gBk18azAMlHYiEeYdAch87VXNA/s320/blog_0200af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQyw2fki_czoEszAl5FHIixoOa-JLloi9NaS3Eupei9zN1YA8zLSOdgYFZ_E0azz055_2IISJZPlVc8WlQjtPR7qRDGdMhkMe7QBnx8QoPbsvCgNneJWRulnx4KBOLUY70_4h/s1600/blog_0201af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616955545785462418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQyw2fki_czoEszAl5FHIixoOa-JLloi9NaS3Eupei9zN1YA8zLSOdgYFZ_E0azz055_2IISJZPlVc8WlQjtPR7qRDGdMhkMe7QBnx8QoPbsvCgNneJWRulnx4KBOLUY70_4h/s320/blog_0201af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGc99vg86LTf1mBNN9wUAtqgUFIf8waErTD15Yt5YtzST3BDNlCRBumDO3f2fKa7Jmb2axBdVo1EUxNPBgY3z4DPp3JwANh-eWXDfZjdr8ErDT5mvuM-j3eTiiaPhVIlWvOaf/s1600/blog_0203af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616955543423008274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGc99vg86LTf1mBNN9wUAtqgUFIf8waErTD15Yt5YtzST3BDNlCRBumDO3f2fKa7Jmb2axBdVo1EUxNPBgY3z4DPp3JwANh-eWXDfZjdr8ErDT5mvuM-j3eTiiaPhVIlWvOaf/s320/blog_0203af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufS_sjY_yR9aMHt9EP2ayH2oPNqEtrloRnUZ_KxvQZMoqytDqNHG-Xi-ujQGVMyuFBkXjwxTGiR-DCRCxh98TB37XHrPIRRU259oVOvZUznPL954weBXqRJD4JAT0YPo0QKer/s1600/blog_0205af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616954879695736114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufS_sjY_yR9aMHt9EP2ayH2oPNqEtrloRnUZ_KxvQZMoqytDqNHG-Xi-ujQGVMyuFBkXjwxTGiR-DCRCxh98TB37XHrPIRRU259oVOvZUznPL954weBXqRJD4JAT0YPo0QKer/s320/blog_0205af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The tasting room was as comfortable as my imaginary italian aunt's home ... the walls painted in warm yellow tones and rich cabinetry... sofas and chairs and a big fireplace. Our Wine Line Guide was right... this was the perfect place to start!<br /><br /><br />While I had been wine tasting once or twice at local tasting rooms my hero-of-a-hubby has not. So we asked for the beginner's tour at our first vineyard stop. The friendly wine steward took her time to help us become comfortable with the "in's and out's" of tasting. She explained "how" flavors work, how to taste, how to ALWAYS ignore the first sip and to judge the wine off of the second taste.<br /><br />She was patient with us, funny, knowledgable and excited about 2 particular wines that we couldn't wait to taste!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVP55wt75JlgKRhDTivFsKq22pdpSvd0ZpTqU1WSz4a8z-xvqN8zPD8XYKwjlZSbsyd8XULpFuWQWmawZu3ohEES08ab3n6mGyimhNYX_CsFUph5nMICkJM5iRBElHmoq27sw/s1600/blog_0209af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616954866367109554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVP55wt75JlgKRhDTivFsKq22pdpSvd0ZpTqU1WSz4a8z-xvqN8zPD8XYKwjlZSbsyd8XULpFuWQWmawZu3ohEES08ab3n6mGyimhNYX_CsFUph5nMICkJM5iRBElHmoq27sw/s320/blog_0209af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />We tried 5 wines for FREE and bought a 2007 Zinfusion (this was not her favorite - but it WAS in our price range). Perfect way to start the tour!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodTaU-MH-S0dsNlvco6Jss5LVR6OdZN_yotAoBoTYnEvG0deKoJngmH-2ayJ4MDq_QxDCExWdMBhr_aRcfzR2hj7fMOJ1IXUo4dM9KwOkLZilYUtsmKazl88EELvaZXVcCOyE/s1600/blog_0206af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616954876308547426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodTaU-MH-S0dsNlvco6Jss5LVR6OdZN_yotAoBoTYnEvG0deKoJngmH-2ayJ4MDq_QxDCExWdMBhr_aRcfzR2hj7fMOJ1IXUo4dM9KwOkLZilYUtsmKazl88EELvaZXVcCOyE/s320/blog_0206af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygVylPXiNcfiQmbet2y24_xCCrOctxmJQMmYGEIyDSaQxtTPFKhGHeXXgtDbKrMjbb19bs4dbcN_eSBKWGTtSrYpt6QMTcGoY2XuMSw-_pOmV9gsBBUbm-r7QvAlXB4RRsdcc/s1600/blog_0208af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616954874394803122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygVylPXiNcfiQmbet2y24_xCCrOctxmJQMmYGEIyDSaQxtTPFKhGHeXXgtDbKrMjbb19bs4dbcN_eSBKWGTtSrYpt6QMTcGoY2XuMSw-_pOmV9gsBBUbm-r7QvAlXB4RRsdcc/s320/blog_0208af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I took a gander through their shop and stopped briefly in front of the syrups, jams, marinades, etc.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFJPVEG8jdttKUhDxL9vnvMJkfHfF0BGXQdGcGUrPivhn4pQpa8-0MsDtXoFo4-fVCuOiCMnU3gfPyWC8tP8FNwdquvcgASoqJZRmtEP41ji1y_Vu9USiESWh3iFGmgfPTf0O/s1600/blog_0211af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616954860053289458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFJPVEG8jdttKUhDxL9vnvMJkfHfF0BGXQdGcGUrPivhn4pQpa8-0MsDtXoFo4-fVCuOiCMnU3gfPyWC8tP8FNwdquvcgASoqJZRmtEP41ji1y_Vu9USiESWh3iFGmgfPTf0O/s320/blog_0211af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I could literally sit here all day... but alas, this is the just the beginning. We had several more hours of this.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHwSWUt5ihq6SyAeXXg1PTboIOjX5ZTA5TIxwz7A6YwUnWfH6IiSEeGVd_XElabw2phOWsf7DaIOhiaSi7JpWLcy8LffTE8upbJ5RRkVolqh7i3LEFjVB1ItCdLPdY8P1lqJG/s1600/blog_0212af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616954224315088690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHwSWUt5ihq6SyAeXXg1PTboIOjX5ZTA5TIxwz7A6YwUnWfH6IiSEeGVd_XElabw2phOWsf7DaIOhiaSi7JpWLcy8LffTE8upbJ5RRkVolqh7i3LEFjVB1ItCdLPdY8P1lqJG/s320/blog_0212af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />So I kept walking...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmpgz0oGoxqFmn3MNPVD7XnCFgf1SLlawi8b0NcR_wI15-yCh4a3UkMX1JDPyRmOEFgV8Qe1Nl3YQmFv2fyI3cu4QP6U_uIooobRcSADO_AnU0L7T8z2FcgvwoybqOb5icrWcT/s1600/blog_0214af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616954218958574034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmpgz0oGoxqFmn3MNPVD7XnCFgf1SLlawi8b0NcR_wI15-yCh4a3UkMX1JDPyRmOEFgV8Qe1Nl3YQmFv2fyI3cu4QP6U_uIooobRcSADO_AnU0L7T8z2FcgvwoybqOb5icrWcT/s320/blog_0214af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Afterall, this is just the first stop!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfKb0ikzaQZePwGBHWPfEUerP-wDX1mcRMIn8pTOov0oS7aV8x9v3k3NobX0PbFc3IAkVKxGDUsRmUr4t55NfiVO6sHY4_B_qxumat9943hU1AMz2y5sKqA__uK6DHRt_e_5H/s1600/blog_0215af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616954210118013250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfKb0ikzaQZePwGBHWPfEUerP-wDX1mcRMIn8pTOov0oS7aV8x9v3k3NobX0PbFc3IAkVKxGDUsRmUr4t55NfiVO6sHY4_B_qxumat9943hU1AMz2y5sKqA__uK6DHRt_e_5H/s320/blog_0215af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />We came, we tasted, we conquered! Time to hop back in the bus and move on to vineyard/tasting room #2...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1sYe5YMFjGfzBD-kJioAJohkjRA7wfziMkyOTV32ab4_J4ixudhhsghdKhTRY9X0ls_Cl3UKmb9104bgyieC0_moGvNXZ-85QnrYksoH9e_OU6K6HPQQ6tccxUNIscF2pwmfr/s1600/blog_0217af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616952902741006930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1sYe5YMFjGfzBD-kJioAJohkjRA7wfziMkyOTV32ab4_J4ixudhhsghdKhTRY9X0ls_Cl3UKmb9104bgyieC0_moGvNXZ-85QnrYksoH9e_OU6K6HPQQ6tccxUNIscF2pwmfr/s320/blog_0217af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />Tasting #2 at <a href="http://www.zenaidacellars.com/">Zenaida Cellars</a> - surrounded by yet another awe-inspiring view from the patio...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjE5KSBRl_5TM2hZUlu_QoyzgvaXI6vg_lTG8IX86GC_OToUcyf4IkY9Fh3HICPTovyRKp5SuMlAIH7P4pSU5ZkdN8VURqkERpwuBCy6MOjUvY6kVpmjnuatyINquilK3pFhe/s1600/blog_0219af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616952898735984642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjE5KSBRl_5TM2hZUlu_QoyzgvaXI6vg_lTG8IX86GC_OToUcyf4IkY9Fh3HICPTovyRKp5SuMlAIH7P4pSU5ZkdN8VURqkERpwuBCy6MOjUvY6kVpmjnuatyINquilK3pFhe/s320/blog_0219af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />This tasting room had a completely different feel to it... dark black-brown painted cabinetry, antiqued gray-tan walls, blue neon lights hanging from the ceiling. Just felt a bit more "cool" and updated, like a downtown loft.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1RGG2ndln2GaORiRc9JactFKoVglG-Urr2Bk8k6g8xAImqPD6yFk22g_p04zWoGhIusOI8ZcJbr9_MTZRy-fsxmpJaTMzs6z3F5mVv3JYI_USsdo0nflmu4GmMAEfXvSI-z2/s1600/blog_0220af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616952884249885042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1RGG2ndln2GaORiRc9JactFKoVglG-Urr2Bk8k6g8xAImqPD6yFk22g_p04zWoGhIusOI8ZcJbr9_MTZRy-fsxmpJaTMzs6z3F5mVv3JYI_USsdo0nflmu4GmMAEfXvSI-z2/s320/blog_0220af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUTwRVZYeZFfGaUH4SmhCcpkZBFvJcx-Rhf602Mlu1qiMuJMT9vLOJXjRiFVVqMG6aybAGtCD5tXbdEw5cRTZwCLmu8TF9meTolbqqe1nF2YhW8I1Fj_6C4YiHQwNhW2PcY_P/s1600/blog_0222af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616952879164852338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUTwRVZYeZFfGaUH4SmhCcpkZBFvJcx-Rhf602Mlu1qiMuJMT9vLOJXjRiFVVqMG6aybAGtCD5tXbdEw5cRTZwCLmu8TF9meTolbqqe1nF2YhW8I1Fj_6C4YiHQwNhW2PcY_P/s320/blog_0222af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYewSNJ_GhdApmULmRqqUGKwedX4TY3EuELJrKnLFwRJlB_Bc5GgnP9kFHsDKdvLw6NAU_PI-M3737Jl7qBuR882rhUwIZHvHBsWuUo_-ZAhGYeodza9T4a6sKJWg9NPfFgNw/s1600/blog_0223af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616952876885572914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYewSNJ_GhdApmULmRqqUGKwedX4TY3EuELJrKnLFwRJlB_Bc5GgnP9kFHsDKdvLw6NAU_PI-M3737Jl7qBuR882rhUwIZHvHBsWuUo_-ZAhGYeodza9T4a6sKJWg9NPfFgNw/s320/blog_0223af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />We enjoyed 5 wines for a small fee... and took home their Zc Red. While my hubby was paying our bill I took the opportunity to stroll around their property a bit...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Saxokayn468NzkD73TF4scvbQByoJqSEBWFzJbb64SEXwb7H857pcat2yHqlZkFyIz1qp7zACj6Lb2tJXBPuxX-nO9lDoLS2qvM9vnX-rGIKGZORz1idvW4H-InesgX4BIjZ/s1600/blog_0224af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616952204900516866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Saxokayn468NzkD73TF4scvbQByoJqSEBWFzJbb64SEXwb7H857pcat2yHqlZkFyIz1qp7zACj6Lb2tJXBPuxX-nO9lDoLS2qvM9vnX-rGIKGZORz1idvW4H-InesgX4BIjZ/s320/blog_0224af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEzgGSZ1oPrLKYVGKyuv1M-MiACSxcM0O6SFV37E3zY14Z7zZvjqwlkNDakieYoqPiN5CSspFMExXEm0aam3NNPwiKS0B_gnMDcyStEWhKx1XXMe8CntTDVhe6nTSvlhcmRJZ/s1600/blog_0225af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616952194200703922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEzgGSZ1oPrLKYVGKyuv1M-MiACSxcM0O6SFV37E3zY14Z7zZvjqwlkNDakieYoqPiN5CSspFMExXEm0aam3NNPwiKS0B_gnMDcyStEWhKx1XXMe8CntTDVhe6nTSvlhcmRJZ/s320/blog_0225af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFLYrwGDVdz54k8ob87CJBEWjVO_LVgF33VAdfq0_WkzDdG5BUnHrqIn_SVSiVE4S5Cgc9AhO9mx5eftp-0qB3QxKssIkF3G1zdKZYCNQCweqd8-yCw1sUW1DPEKsZIkyCjmN/s1600/blog_0226af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616952187210762802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFLYrwGDVdz54k8ob87CJBEWjVO_LVgF33VAdfq0_WkzDdG5BUnHrqIn_SVSiVE4S5Cgc9AhO9mx5eftp-0qB3QxKssIkF3G1zdKZYCNQCweqd8-yCw1sUW1DPEKsZIkyCjmN/s320/blog_0226af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7rVb0Hzgp6ZvM491w_0uKVy_JLdeEcGIP70CdpOposHrxNGJy66Dasi82RAEBjuVvahvr-uaD9j5PNajfz8HwNo-Yv_3MZnpuq3awgNfK5v9v4Rvi2MLYGXv3WkzcDZNJfQ5/s1600/blog_0227af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616952186208213218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7rVb0Hzgp6ZvM491w_0uKVy_JLdeEcGIP70CdpOposHrxNGJy66Dasi82RAEBjuVvahvr-uaD9j5PNajfz8HwNo-Yv_3MZnpuq3awgNfK5v9v4Rvi2MLYGXv3WkzcDZNJfQ5/s320/blog_0227af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XNqxqE-7HBYJX0Zw7DaX3RhOm4FqSBKXWEhBDbmEaSg2nwrjEN6WwC-eJkAskeUP8GZqQWr0Ytpap6Z96WMvulXzrleSfbdkmzoc1iHlJpnql5f-FcEvhtj3Xab6XqWVeyon/s1600/blog_0229af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616952176968038402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XNqxqE-7HBYJX0Zw7DaX3RhOm4FqSBKXWEhBDbmEaSg2nwrjEN6WwC-eJkAskeUP8GZqQWr0Ytpap6Z96WMvulXzrleSfbdkmzoc1iHlJpnql5f-FcEvhtj3Xab6XqWVeyon/s320/blog_0229af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxQDcvvpaTuxW_hCRhoSCynAjXx55KI0kxk2L5Y1AYgSLGkMCWqmtEobcSLcdTw_ntno2PiiiOM7SaPms76hMIe3ariWcZgSDAfe9PsWZp-TejoITOPKxR5DOClyp_-Gp9o_i/s1600/blog_0230af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616951557359606898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxQDcvvpaTuxW_hCRhoSCynAjXx55KI0kxk2L5Y1AYgSLGkMCWqmtEobcSLcdTw_ntno2PiiiOM7SaPms76hMIe3ariWcZgSDAfe9PsWZp-TejoITOPKxR5DOClyp_-Gp9o_i/s320/blog_0230af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4m0zgcrlzVReF-tT5FthCs1tMaHNJcL3IIZSfD6I3mW1LL9bFBt5X9T0-txTybVw3MAlKVqJpp3C2b1vZR1unX6lLOyL8tbDk3aN1dVtdcbxxYwOyieR9pXfVufHRkldMsqL/s1600/blog_0235af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616951549913866434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4m0zgcrlzVReF-tT5FthCs1tMaHNJcL3IIZSfD6I3mW1LL9bFBt5X9T0-txTybVw3MAlKVqJpp3C2b1vZR1unX6lLOyL8tbDk3aN1dVtdcbxxYwOyieR9pXfVufHRkldMsqL/s320/blog_0235af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJbUNmGkw84wTGFiSMw3x-fVRiDW87m7doc1XHP8uhBkSsrvCHHN-lmIU9AZ0fLHXjJ4Mf5NmwDOXTCgegV8VzUdIyER3wFM2PmNZPN8mY2XY2Olf7ca__pBif4GWSvQ7iwlJ6/s1600/blog_0236af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616951542722962274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJbUNmGkw84wTGFiSMw3x-fVRiDW87m7doc1XHP8uhBkSsrvCHHN-lmIU9AZ0fLHXjJ4Mf5NmwDOXTCgegV8VzUdIyER3wFM2PmNZPN8mY2XY2Olf7ca__pBif4GWSvQ7iwlJ6/s320/blog_0236af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />And you guessed it, again I found that I wanted to sit here all day!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOR4kh_7WEBIpkcqNlCgFa9ygEhmwMtisG_MZ2K62TnNiEgg2CSlzOQ7xcNQaXq9qeQ7ql4s6yT05RuV6QW5KGjLrPnA9_UzlV2f4SxbkN38jabY3E3G2Cje29bff3bwV3ETvQ/s1600/blog_0237af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616951541783862226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOR4kh_7WEBIpkcqNlCgFa9ygEhmwMtisG_MZ2K62TnNiEgg2CSlzOQ7xcNQaXq9qeQ7ql4s6yT05RuV6QW5KGjLrPnA9_UzlV2f4SxbkN38jabY3E3G2Cje29bff3bwV3ETvQ/s320/blog_0237af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZ9U2EyhalvraPnTx2zIGLbFdrB3GB4uX0VzrbeM9UU5jlExrvyigB7Lm0QnKdq0VpPV7O1SYUOK1lOpmNkIbvR3JJvreR3DRunq6jQ876tniq69WrORlUwAgAWiXcupV6CG3/s1600/blog_0240af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616951428763080306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZ9U2EyhalvraPnTx2zIGLbFdrB3GB4uX0VzrbeM9UU5jlExrvyigB7Lm0QnKdq0VpPV7O1SYUOK1lOpmNkIbvR3JJvreR3DRunq6jQ876tniq69WrORlUwAgAWiXcupV6CG3/s320/blog_0240af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />But no sitting was going to be done quite yet. I just couldn't... afterall, it's only noon! We've got some more touring and tasting to do! Let's get a wiggle on...<br /><br /><br />Tasting #3 - (admittedly, my favorite stop of the day)... <a href="http://www.aronhillvineyards.com/">AronHill Vineyards</a><br /><br /><br />We drove up, climbed out of the van and saw <em>THIS</em> view...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOij4fmRLrtPsCvBFH8q23i5v_S5MqufSd09LKuIEXKLNJrZDGu3MFzCIuQXM5LuhrEWj3bXC9puSbqIjJ5L9srKyBj-S6mKjdDwzYCGWoXRt1g4-dTeTOrbJSGIoK9wnfx8nH/s1600/blog_0276af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616949185235491602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOij4fmRLrtPsCvBFH8q23i5v_S5MqufSd09LKuIEXKLNJrZDGu3MFzCIuQXM5LuhrEWj3bXC9puSbqIjJ5L9srKyBj-S6mKjdDwzYCGWoXRt1g4-dTeTOrbJSGIoK9wnfx8nH/s320/blog_0276af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Now <strong><em>THIS</em></strong><em><strong>?!</strong></em> THIS is where I was going to sit for a while.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP8YPtT-oY3rmHI7GTqjB10itarcn5yoFZoTuU9CqsYc1cyJY_xBZglaJs4-V3FmfsYFgHeZTsUzDk6uYELkKhHTiDmfOmoNVJt0_J0MeHQEoR8Tl_ntH_oXCQaQWUB9YNRl70/s1600/blog_0243af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616950502022329122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP8YPtT-oY3rmHI7GTqjB10itarcn5yoFZoTuU9CqsYc1cyJY_xBZglaJs4-V3FmfsYFgHeZTsUzDk6uYELkKhHTiDmfOmoNVJt0_J0MeHQEoR8Tl_ntH_oXCQaQWUB9YNRl70/s320/blog_0243af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I mean, can you blame me?! Look at that view! It was a perfect 71 degrees outside with a slight breeze and we were among fantastic company!<br /><br /><br />Our Wine Line guide brought out the pre-ordered lunches (sandwich, potato salad and fruit) as we were treated to a remarkable wine tasting affair.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilRMTbWrhQWdAg4lP-0NbUT-IPFwGwEB_WeuWCaXKuKV4N3SfEnzxvKxqMk1cV0mXqloMWoTBHDKrFY9AoUIfXu6UTYTEosZPEDt61-1pvSiq3nvIO9FKSy1YDq8K6mPWJRYuH/s1600/blog_0248af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616950497583162194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilRMTbWrhQWdAg4lP-0NbUT-IPFwGwEB_WeuWCaXKuKV4N3SfEnzxvKxqMk1cV0mXqloMWoTBHDKrFY9AoUIfXu6UTYTEosZPEDt61-1pvSiq3nvIO9FKSy1YDq8K6mPWJRYuH/s320/blog_0248af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />It is apparent that Judy, the proprietor of Aron Hill Vineyards, is in love with what she does on a daily basis! Not only did she personally deliver our tastings and talked to us about each wine... but she had a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye that showed me she has found her passion in life and is living it outloud!<br /><br /><strong><em>Can I tell you how much I love that?!</em></strong><br /><br /><br />We sat, enjoyed lunch, enjoyed 5 tastings and took in this view...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-o4T36G9o4Qx_3iM0m6tULBwl0q9h4tdvjbFF9LdEPv8hHEb7iAvCugQrYVL2352njhVX_zkGEvC6ZapF-2l_TtRfhwSi9h2LoqLwIJHTtYusLjLbK09tFnxm4iUCJJ5Hd_6/s1600/blog_0250af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616950488018578834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-o4T36G9o4Qx_3iM0m6tULBwl0q9h4tdvjbFF9LdEPv8hHEb7iAvCugQrYVL2352njhVX_zkGEvC6ZapF-2l_TtRfhwSi9h2LoqLwIJHTtYusLjLbK09tFnxm4iUCJJ5Hd_6/s320/blog_0250af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />We didn't rush to get up and Nic, our Wine line guide, talked to us about the history of this region, how certain aspects of the wine industry work and his personal travels.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3qRi1a9csBOpWObB4SHK3cItAAkpeL8gDsz3QjK1pYfZfkIyHDc7W72HpuinkrkhwLJpAPN7PCpMWvs2Av5Sz8nH86_IbeWrRQfmeZ2hR3mP7nhyphenhyphenrfOvwCTKGMqxD_KvceKO/s1600/blog_0252af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616950483652309106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3qRi1a9csBOpWObB4SHK3cItAAkpeL8gDsz3QjK1pYfZfkIyHDc7W72HpuinkrkhwLJpAPN7PCpMWvs2Av5Sz8nH86_IbeWrRQfmeZ2hR3mP7nhyphenhyphenrfOvwCTKGMqxD_KvceKO/s320/blog_0252af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4g2ZglvDus9xWyeA9JQzuiL1wTe7fnQY6WK5E7dd02NuLF9IuoStBRXeWjkn5IunnbvVBy6hWlI3dpmo7DRFfA7Md-huSlEqgY5gCKVCV9TpyXN30S61K5bZfSj8_fhv-9MdI/s1600/blog_0259af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616950475387348386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4g2ZglvDus9xWyeA9JQzuiL1wTe7fnQY6WK5E7dd02NuLF9IuoStBRXeWjkn5IunnbvVBy6hWlI3dpmo7DRFfA7Md-huSlEqgY5gCKVCV9TpyXN30S61K5bZfSj8_fhv-9MdI/s320/blog_0259af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />We brought home a bottle of the best wine we'd tasted all day, Judy's 2006 Primitivo and two pieces of her stemware.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vMNc3cNs0wn5MpIeYyuaV1NDuAutC03iMUjQVs7eptUqad1zhEgwN0jGJDHAqHMOdh44JiqTqkh713FShx88Tf4dllYjX4msduBBnuetuf5apDw9-CQMxuixtkHkJFot8V-C/s1600/blog_0265af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616949200833561954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vMNc3cNs0wn5MpIeYyuaV1NDuAutC03iMUjQVs7eptUqad1zhEgwN0jGJDHAqHMOdh44JiqTqkh713FShx88Tf4dllYjX4msduBBnuetuf5apDw9-CQMxuixtkHkJFot8V-C/s320/blog_0265af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />We helped ourselves to a self-guided tour of her new tasting room (it opened less than a month ago), which included her new shiny (and fully-stocked) chef's kitchen where they will soon start preparing/selling food for lunches, etc. I noted she had a few panini presses and said "Oh - we'll be back!"<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6R85_cD2_KNTEIXcLZeO8fjEnAP-99ULXe3Fn3Bvke2LJwfrE3umYyqlRHy_OAUqUlbnziygUMinQBtkm7W6Fg1o002tyqLPo0ithfUKBrWgyNfWREjCRR24glmlQnoRWFKHh/s1600/blog_0268af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616949191801040530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6R85_cD2_KNTEIXcLZeO8fjEnAP-99ULXe3Fn3Bvke2LJwfrE3umYyqlRHy_OAUqUlbnziygUMinQBtkm7W6Fg1o002tyqLPo0ithfUKBrWgyNfWREjCRR24glmlQnoRWFKHh/s320/blog_0268af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Let it be known - the tour could have been over at this point. My expectations had been greatly exceeded and the rest of the day paled in comparison... (sorry in advance to the next 2 vineyards, I'm just sayin'... )<br /><br /><br />Tasting #4 at <a href="http://www.normanvineyards.com/site/index.php">Norman Vineyards</a> ... known for their Monster Zinfandel. We brought home 2 bottles...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXw8nZWp4vuXrs2n_-qq_DFBAX7nZEKTwQsgkIxsGAwK2zmNLF5VJeLsULg3loAn-dA4xJO9hrHjMoOti7VLJm4sJUL2m5eIsVgdhYcZdr2LpXD4l8mt3ltaof1GW6dq3dz3GW/s1600/blog_0278af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616949183951034338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXw8nZWp4vuXrs2n_-qq_DFBAX7nZEKTwQsgkIxsGAwK2zmNLF5VJeLsULg3loAn-dA4xJO9hrHjMoOti7VLJm4sJUL2m5eIsVgdhYcZdr2LpXD4l8mt3ltaof1GW6dq3dz3GW/s320/blog_0278af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXPQQl-WroqYk4KuRnYfnhuNTG7Zyom_rcezDFRcppz7BMnMfWg9yOyU4yZCxGV12l32umOCLEXx-cj0GukgT0cu3JcS2W-bQq1tI9hkd0HaLcExdEQzIedNWm-tsBlvk5ELRX/s1600/blog_0280af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616949172281718914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXPQQl-WroqYk4KuRnYfnhuNTG7Zyom_rcezDFRcppz7BMnMfWg9yOyU4yZCxGV12l32umOCLEXx-cj0GukgT0cu3JcS2W-bQq1tI9hkd0HaLcExdEQzIedNWm-tsBlvk5ELRX/s320/blog_0280af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcaB6KjFu_gZ-nbfIZYQF-gF5lqINH3Ix9jSkSGkQYKDT1g_DqjOwvzfcxXj8eujTgRxpViEqUUgMtTKqCJc2DleX2cqPoiRyeGJhiMSLK1jOKenelGKillFOGOXntkQGP2Qr/s1600/blog_0288af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616948574549224450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcaB6KjFu_gZ-nbfIZYQF-gF5lqINH3Ix9jSkSGkQYKDT1g_DqjOwvzfcxXj8eujTgRxpViEqUUgMtTKqCJc2DleX2cqPoiRyeGJhiMSLK1jOKenelGKillFOGOXntkQGP2Qr/s320/blog_0288af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />It was obvious they were cat lovers (that's neither a good or bad thing) ... not to mention the company logo.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHbdjM5_73N4Dsmm2iUnhfXhRylaNVgVbq8rAjQGO-vJ_W-ejIYc6PWJ9JFIpY6Mqc5KuXJ_PSsQnMhopcZGp3dP4SNYCnW9p3nAdPtB8j0RD2GSEjNl1xRGpcnDx6cQK1_n7/s1600/blog_0292af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616948565579391986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHbdjM5_73N4Dsmm2iUnhfXhRylaNVgVbq8rAjQGO-vJ_W-ejIYc6PWJ9JFIpY6Mqc5KuXJ_PSsQnMhopcZGp3dP4SNYCnW9p3nAdPtB8j0RD2GSEjNl1xRGpcnDx6cQK1_n7/s320/blog_0292af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I enjoyed strolling around their property with my camera, and of course with the cats following every move...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGssnoMQkIfuJd0uEM0ALV_QU1R5gss3iory0YV-bh2RVVTWyKe73U0WaT12xk4KCkdodE8cVPg0FtPTji-uC5un4yj7BsP448-y0nsWVBSODUjhUGZolyGaJGIKJPY7jsttsW/s1600/blog_0293af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616948560949146418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGssnoMQkIfuJd0uEM0ALV_QU1R5gss3iory0YV-bh2RVVTWyKe73U0WaT12xk4KCkdodE8cVPg0FtPTji-uC5un4yj7BsP448-y0nsWVBSODUjhUGZolyGaJGIKJPY7jsttsW/s320/blog_0293af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdOVEN5_zMKa_t7Z3WUxA_H3ru3JE2astldL8eg4q82hM_ZnHpm0KiAEz-UjteEF2YK6yR54Jl6In-70iorVtPLch4uTMkOkjDhl8qCfzbTiysD2dFpON0lk2OrCnFNkt-iLS/s1600/blog_0294af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616948544785604466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdOVEN5_zMKa_t7Z3WUxA_H3ru3JE2astldL8eg4q82hM_ZnHpm0KiAEz-UjteEF2YK6yR54Jl6In-70iorVtPLch4uTMkOkjDhl8qCfzbTiysD2dFpON0lk2OrCnFNkt-iLS/s320/blog_0294af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9ualmrQvaFwc-bbl09cvgiVxlZRWhhP5y9JDHqZS6JgIKySStAOzTvnrV-eTncj7scB85DdW8P9ut05yxpEQS1FKlZDQww7lP8-YRIOq-2HU_pWeQMJr-Rv0vLLvAuhskZIl/s1600/blog_0299af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616948538612873554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9ualmrQvaFwc-bbl09cvgiVxlZRWhhP5y9JDHqZS6JgIKySStAOzTvnrV-eTncj7scB85DdW8P9ut05yxpEQS1FKlZDQww7lP8-YRIOq-2HU_pWeQMJr-Rv0vLLvAuhskZIl/s320/blog_0299af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkjf01DFGYwliwGpafxXg57X1PVu-nMFthRs2WFmbcN_U5KUUKd7cEmkqHI0sfta1OUPTLk1c0OlFkk5z8xHNQfTkXi-htUFrqVOElo3cq6svY28C9qiwNbdluAoHdjC5gtV-/s1600/blog_0312af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616947699087657170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkjf01DFGYwliwGpafxXg57X1PVu-nMFthRs2WFmbcN_U5KUUKd7cEmkqHI0sfta1OUPTLk1c0OlFkk5z8xHNQfTkXi-htUFrqVOElo3cq6svY28C9qiwNbdluAoHdjC5gtV-/s320/blog_0312af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG33OyhQJ15qnaRCel_gEz_mluLnJxVyULnl0ViYTRkrhDyWdZt8I6Jud76G0o0AnscgZwBdeOFKao0WxfUv72oHM29GHaeAZyjmOrp2UPtFPuvRRubjZ_X9Vv_Dm4kIlMsz_x/s1600/blog_0315af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616947692691816674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG33OyhQJ15qnaRCel_gEz_mluLnJxVyULnl0ViYTRkrhDyWdZt8I6Jud76G0o0AnscgZwBdeOFKao0WxfUv72oHM29GHaeAZyjmOrp2UPtFPuvRRubjZ_X9Vv_Dm4kIlMsz_x/s320/blog_0315af.jpg" /></a> <br /><br />And it was time to get back in the bus... <br /><br /><br />Tasting #5 at <a href="http://www.rottawinery.com/">Rotta Winery</a>... the oldest family-owned winery in San Luis Obispo county.<br /><br /><br />As soon as I walked in I wondered if I was on the set of "Will & Grace". Why? Our wine steward was the spittin' image of Karen! Rather weird and comical all at the same time... but I didn't say anything to her until the end.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0V2x9Gb5PaB3E8TZAWOD5ukyk0s1sR8wu_8i2VE6r9-am-Rw6Cr8TA8X5BLH1naex5u46YLKIYMSmmWxohaZI7O3eEvoyFwNzK4HUzXWaSmUH-djovD9CbhL-NlTZB3DYZI_/s1600/blog_0327af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616946989640643026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0V2x9Gb5PaB3E8TZAWOD5ukyk0s1sR8wu_8i2VE6r9-am-Rw6Cr8TA8X5BLH1naex5u46YLKIYMSmmWxohaZI7O3eEvoyFwNzK4HUzXWaSmUH-djovD9CbhL-NlTZB3DYZI_/s320/blog_0327af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />On one end of the bar was a group of 3 guys who had obviously been drinking (oh, rather "tasting") for a good portion of the day (and one who smelled pretty ripe, I might say)... these boys were "good ol' boys" and were giving the wine steward quite the trouble. But it was all in fun... <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJcdKscbQsvcJzifxQvqXlf2VjkD3c1BU4zFbnT95R8G5QrJpD4NzXj74FO9WAUyMPuQURZaVHOJylyzQchYk6DZSaJPyKpm-c78uQkMKZkw1cSU-PI7GuZuEDvB8A2Iq_VB1H/s1600/blog_0331af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616946982067875410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJcdKscbQsvcJzifxQvqXlf2VjkD3c1BU4zFbnT95R8G5QrJpD4NzXj74FO9WAUyMPuQURZaVHOJylyzQchYk6DZSaJPyKpm-c78uQkMKZkw1cSU-PI7GuZuEDvB8A2Iq_VB1H/s320/blog_0331af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Here we enjoyed a taste of each of their wines (I think a dozen of them?) for $3! Yes, only $3. We were definitely feeling our wine at this point... <br /><br />Look at all those awards! They wanted us to TASTE what made them so good!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7RvvU_DPq1orpih7VGB6YVx4RAt14PU-G-TjhAT1Af1oLXeKIPwrjoAR-_kG3TjGsU9CkU4tpi0P398Lo-NTdDc1oyM7KswghrvGMpiuIv-ZUe3tn8afXggVMMaXu_u12SDSl/s1600/blog_0339af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616946978188389442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7RvvU_DPq1orpih7VGB6YVx4RAt14PU-G-TjhAT1Af1oLXeKIPwrjoAR-_kG3TjGsU9CkU4tpi0P398Lo-NTdDc1oyM7KswghrvGMpiuIv-ZUe3tn8afXggVMMaXu_u12SDSl/s320/blog_0339af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Ugh... it was now about 4:30 pm and we had been "tasting" since 11 am. Phew... I needed to sit down again (while I'm on that subject - why don't these tasting rooms have chairs to sit in?!)... but the tv show look-alike was keeping us on our toes! <br /><br /><br />We brought home the 2007 Estate Zinfandel... she explained that this was the reason we came in today. And she was right! It's pretty darn fantastic!<br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWdklgLztbFT3R4EaYXofMnramR6EZSW4muKxCjK85T-KlyJ1Xp1KhA7QcojwysfvD6hz8KY-8QdYVLzuI7nEPk_wDXTZP3SE_KkkRVmAl45zdzhoKJkXBNZeKPp85uE1JtiL/s1600/blog_0325af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616947681725485874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWdklgLztbFT3R4EaYXofMnramR6EZSW4muKxCjK85T-KlyJ1Xp1KhA7QcojwysfvD6hz8KY-8QdYVLzuI7nEPk_wDXTZP3SE_KkkRVmAl45zdzhoKJkXBNZeKPp85uE1JtiL/s320/blog_0325af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />As we said our goodbyes at Rotta I asked the wine steward if anyone had ever mentioned her uncanny resemblance to Karen of "Will & Grace"... she laughed out loud (just like Karen, of course) and said "NO - but I love it!" <br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O0H5YffQXXY/TfNnghoINgI/AAAAAAAAIGc/yGC5r"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616946968741295618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdP4r8DfWDGeN_1sWKQ0mQ3pIK0le67ca3VhemUuR0q-2FaQqVYaKzQw4AJxeGQD-U4hzcOvCCTWybEcGFBppTYan-0Gh7s0L5NJFzKsnY7Z4XTp9m837DyyOgyhQh-gbew1OC/s320/blog_0346af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />Then we hopped back in the bus, rehydrating with WATER and took the leisurely drive back into town... and our thoughtful and helpful Wine Line driver dropped us at a dinner locale downtown Paso Robles, just about a block from where we had parked. We slowly ate dinner, drank WATER and chatted over the favorite's of the day, how we were impressed with the whole experience, etc. <br /><br />We eventually walked back towards the truck and made our way back to our hotel in Pismo Beach. <br /><br /><br />We talked about how glad we were to have been able to experience this, and dreamed about how soon we can come back! We are glad we toured Paso Robles for our first wine tasting tour together... it was a complete experience!<br /><br /><br />(And we have half of a case of wine to prove it! Sheesh!)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PUOZc2hM1ZNV21WnIiTB6vlvY7rs4qlDn8th41kF-vayvrfTDY2MOitpz-aX_vZNAOTn-BMfrqPUa2YTqvNkM_Ny56eoUKiom3xjWuiaNWmN03vAjID7m6QxZyaEJDOygVoC/s1600/blog_0353af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616946965515489378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PUOZc2hM1ZNV21WnIiTB6vlvY7rs4qlDn8th41kF-vayvrfTDY2MOitpz-aX_vZNAOTn-BMfrqPUa2YTqvNkM_Ny56eoUKiom3xjWuiaNWmN03vAjID7m6QxZyaEJDOygVoC/s320/blog_0353af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Best part of it, my hero-of-a-hubby and I haven't gotten away (just the two of us) for quite a number o years. We relished in the opportunity to reconnect, dream and relax together. What a treat...<br /><br /><br /><br />And I leave you with this... <br /><br />“When wine enlivens the heart, may friendship surround the table.” - Oliver Wendell Holmes<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />life is good...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/293/D369CB933B90C5C6625057360F29C216.png" /></a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045098831467422060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489023.post-61693518316126942242011-05-02T17:26:00.000-07:002011-05-02T17:38:56.884-07:00on today's news of Osama's demise...<strong>Mixed emotions today… </strong><br />Is the news of Osama Bin Laden’s death cause for celebration?<br />Is it relief that I feel? That a global terrorist can no longer wreak havoc?<br />Is it sadness I feel? That the world is rejoicing in someone’s death?<br /><br />Whatever it is… we all lived through the horrendous, scary, life-altering attacks on 9/11. Most of us remember exactly where we were when we got the news of the first plane crashing into the Tower. We were speechless as we watched the second plane fly into the second tower. We cried, we got angry… we all dealt with that day in or own ways.<br /><br />And now this… we’re all processing the news of OBL’s death in our own way, in our own timing, according to our own perspective and through our own filters. <br /><br /><br /><strong>What if?</strong><br />We happened to be watching Fox News when Geraldo made his giddy announcement “Osama bin Laden is dead!” The inappropriate nature of his response immediately brought up a check in my soul. <em>::: Is he really celebrating someone’s death?! :::</em> Next he said something like “This is the greatest night of my career!” <em>::: Is he really making this about him?! :::</em> And the longer we watched the more I knew I couldn’t keep watching. As a Christian, it didn’t feel right to be victorious in someone’s demise, no matter how evil he was.<br /><br />What if Geraldo had reacted differently? Imagine… what if he had delivered a message more like this: “US Military forces have seen to it that FBI’s Most Wanted global terrorist can no longer plan mass murders and kill any of our loved ones. Following the President’s orders, he has been taken by force and did not survive.”<br />Would the tone of last night’s news have been a bit different? Maybe. But we will never know.<br /><br />Instead we will react to this news, feel emotions and process it the only way we each know how to… and that looks different for each of us.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Do me a favor?</strong><br />If someone blogs / tweets / updates their Facebook status or starts up the water cooler conversation with a point of view that doesn’t necessarily match your own belief system please remember that their words are more about how THEY are processing this emotional news than how they think their 436 readers or co-workers SHOULD be processing the news. Please, please… don’t turn their point of view around to attack that person for their beliefs or morals… and please don’t argue with the person… that’s what got us here in the first place. <br /><br />If you do anything in the next few months, as our country processes these changes, please be gracious and allow your fellow American citizen, family of a service member and/or family member of someone who died in 9/11 to process this in their own time, in their own way.<br /><br />That’s why we’re here… to be with each other, help each other, stand beside each other… not tear each other down. <br /><br />And that’s just my two cents on the topic… <br /><br /><br /><br />But I can't help but wonder how God views all of this, because of a verse I shared a few months ago. We may never know...<br /><br /><br /><strong>Psalm 11</strong><br />For the director of music. Of David.<br /><br />1 In the LORD I take refuge.<br />How then can you say to me:<br />“Flee like a bird to your mountain.<br /><br />2 For look, the wicked bend their bows;<br />they set their arrows against the strings<br />to shoot from the shadows<br />at the upright in heart.<br /><br />3 When the foundations are being destroyed,<br />what can the righteous do?”<br /><br />4 The LORD is in his holy temple;<br />the LORD is on his heavenly throne.<br />He observes everyone on earth;<br />his eyes examine them.<br /><br />5 The LORD examines the righteous,<br />but the wicked, those who love violence,<br />he hates with a passion.<br /><br />6 On the wicked he will rain<br />fiery coals and burning sulfur;<br />a scorching wind will be their lot.<br /><br />7 For the LORD is righteous,<br />he loves justice;<br />the upright will see his face.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/293/D369CB933B90C5C6625057360F29C216.png" /> </a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045098831467422060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489023.post-14247634242877632172011-04-13T16:13:00.000-07:002011-04-16T06:40:06.967-07:00Garden report: I'll soon be in iris heaven<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGG6GewnO77-HfYOOvEhuHLSQQeLZ3Z9KNhxsb1DqgHoIrEw_TsDvYy3wYvI_bau31QUzmOQsvMGBdsKT43IEXYvGjJDqZBRS5osIHff79WxdZ8oUnfPPyioG_jTDev910GwTqA/s1600/blog_0016af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595229212781580722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGG6GewnO77-HfYOOvEhuHLSQQeLZ3Z9KNhxsb1DqgHoIrEw_TsDvYy3wYvI_bau31QUzmOQsvMGBdsKT43IEXYvGjJDqZBRS5osIHff79WxdZ8oUnfPPyioG_jTDev910GwTqA/s320/blog_0016af.jpg" /></a> <br /><br />Spring brings daily surprises... and so I think I'm outside more during spring to expect and watch for those surprises. Hence, the season is fighting with Fall for my devotion as "favorite season" (not that us Californians experience much in the way of 'seasons'). Completely understandable, right?!<br /><br />So, I've learned a lot about the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_(plant)">iris</a> in the past 5 months. Several months ago I participated in a plant swap and received about a dozen iris rhizomes with one of the nicest "complete strangers" I've ever met. Now, wishing we had stayed in contact... <br /><br />Ayway, I decided to do a blog post on the life cycle of an iris... <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44pr8is28wuVyxqKI1rG9geYIlSJqT62U2mYzPW05739pDuQZXXBbY8vngrzGzuC4QaqIjEb_mWunxZR4wYglClc4BMgPLs5aLgwZfHdO1Xb50L1udcXvUoRkKrACHSXYzufseA/s1600/blog_0024af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595213881281458706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44pr8is28wuVyxqKI1rG9geYIlSJqT62U2mYzPW05739pDuQZXXBbY8vngrzGzuC4QaqIjEb_mWunxZR4wYglClc4BMgPLs5aLgwZfHdO1Xb50L1udcXvUoRkKrACHSXYzufseA/s320/blog_0024af.jpg" /></a> <br /><strong><br />What is a rhizome?</strong><br />Above is a picture of a spent iris plant. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhizome">rhizome</a> is "a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes may also be referred to as creeping rootstalks or rootstocks." All sorts of plants grow from rhizomes instead of seeds. And it's quite a rad process. (Yes, I said rad!)<br /><br />In the picture above you'll see that it looks dead and dried out. Well, the stock above the rhizome is, yes, quite dried out. The nicest-stranger-I've-ever-met probably cut off the blossom and left the green leaves on the plant to die. Once the rhizome blossoms, it's done blossoming for that season. With irises, each rhizome will produce one blossom per season. Depending on the variety of plant you can place the rhizomes very close to each other when planting, and it will make a dramatic effect in the springtime.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSuN_sdONOGgvOZtRsjSKDaWgF9uRw8nPK1p_48mZhvciJrNG0SGoc7BE7TbaSsOcFw84XRDJgvefrwNMhxM7NHfA16CVJKHF2QN9nWUUgPNxHdSuMJK6tnllRBIx2itCnlYNuGQ/s1600/blog_0025af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595213877629283538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSuN_sdONOGgvOZtRsjSKDaWgF9uRw8nPK1p_48mZhvciJrNG0SGoc7BE7TbaSsOcFw84XRDJgvefrwNMhxM7NHfA16CVJKHF2QN9nWUUgPNxHdSuMJK6tnllRBIx2itCnlYNuGQ/s320/blog_0025af.jpg" /></a> <br /><br />Before I placed the donated rhizomes in the ground I trimmed off the dead leaves (from the top of the rhizome) and the dead roots (from the bottom of the rhizome). And while the rhizome itself looks dead (because it's brown), it's just dormant. <br /><br /><strong>Do I have a viable rhizome?</strong><br />On the contrary, you'll know when a rhizome is dead if it's soft and very mushy to the feel when you pinch it in between your thumb and forefinger. If it has held it's shape and simply looks brown - it's probably still viable. So clean 'er up a bit and put her in the soil! That's her happy place! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGldPn4CmuAxqmME4079NCoymGrwQtwD02juLgnxwc4LVno6-GokxmcE6Hv1eaa7SH4_uJjEYkZ4gCL5p5E94awy2-V0hJFTqOzbWOkTBI3GiFVOzJUBQpz-5SC4y7k5HNykf2w/s1600/blog_0026af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595213873306296722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGldPn4CmuAxqmME4079NCoymGrwQtwD02juLgnxwc4LVno6-GokxmcE6Hv1eaa7SH4_uJjEYkZ4gCL5p5E94awy2-V0hJFTqOzbWOkTBI3GiFVOzJUBQpz-5SC4y7k5HNykf2w/s320/blog_0026af.jpg" /></a> <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiii4eXBPA-tmKWKMIWPtVTt4BO31QPDD9jfZgk-IfKoRw3iUZZICMv51KzeXTh4Hh_M6DEz3ygNbGWa7EQ7IgqdqoYCaYNhXXOcwABWNyBWP0avyKI6NtQ14U_TAab2Huc5X_O6g/s1600/blog_0027af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595212372630901250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiii4eXBPA-tmKWKMIWPtVTt4BO31QPDD9jfZgk-IfKoRw3iUZZICMv51KzeXTh4Hh_M6DEz3ygNbGWa7EQ7IgqdqoYCaYNhXXOcwABWNyBWP0avyKI6NtQ14U_TAab2Huc5X_O6g/s320/blog_0027af.jpg" /></a> <br /><br />In the picture above you'll see that she's all cleaned up and getting ready for the party... <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqByKQdvo-l160pOxw0ed0lY7xc4i7XmgNkha3llbrqezYn9l5kcYB5HNqInXZSXyimvB-wA7P9we9EtyDOUizhbIJk7Vg2A94_vh8UkdK5SiCHhFtk1IQy2-sirLB2N43Gobd6w/s1600/blog_0029af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595212367630761026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqByKQdvo-l160pOxw0ed0lY7xc4i7XmgNkha3llbrqezYn9l5kcYB5HNqInXZSXyimvB-wA7P9we9EtyDOUizhbIJk7Vg2A94_vh8UkdK5SiCHhFtk1IQy2-sirLB2N43Gobd6w/s320/blog_0029af.jpg" /></a> <br /><br />And in the above picture you'll see, in the middle at the bottom of the picture, that this one is already starting to send up a shoot!!! (See it curving out from the rhizome?!) I better get this gem in the ground!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCG3BsDvhUySwmkkZtS6VydrZPQOAUHK6uD_QE0i1KxK_cK97BdPGMWxkR9yKMEhJG-MLT6FLLNDhA0MrY9k9Kxz-vGBmeHaXbHFoH3wSSQ_SEeh6o9YXAm-rSyOGMpIRvaDTyg/s1600/blog_0030af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595212361203128290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCG3BsDvhUySwmkkZtS6VydrZPQOAUHK6uD_QE0i1KxK_cK97BdPGMWxkR9yKMEhJG-MLT6FLLNDhA0MrY9k9Kxz-vGBmeHaXbHFoH3wSSQ_SEeh6o9YXAm-rSyOGMpIRvaDTyg/s320/blog_0030af.jpg" /></a> <br /><br /><strong>This Spring I planted 3 types of rhizomes...</strong> <br />- The donated rhizomes ... I don't know yet what kind of irises they will produce<br />- Dutch iris ... that will produce a very bright purpleish/blueish flower. <br />- Bearded irises ... that will produce a pink flower with ruffly edges.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8JNt8Cnc8URYU9a_G5SFpBKsNIbmVfwZbq4E1Yvuai4OvsRqeS5vQe81wP-D_eMuPfpy-rwBx1RfFGn6TUxKYWfAWuer2tI2rTvpIobNqWCPgJLosboxRD_FNQq4x3TKHPfD-YQ/s1600/blog_0031af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595212356081222466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8JNt8Cnc8URYU9a_G5SFpBKsNIbmVfwZbq4E1Yvuai4OvsRqeS5vQe81wP-D_eMuPfpy-rwBx1RfFGn6TUxKYWfAWuer2tI2rTvpIobNqWCPgJLosboxRD_FNQq4x3TKHPfD-YQ/s320/blog_0031af.jpg" /></a> <br /><br />Another note on rhizomes... they come in all shapes and sizes. And the longer they've been in the ground they'll have grown more nodes (mishapen growths around the original portion of the rhizome). As you can see in this picture, the Dutch Iris rhizomes are very small compared to the donated rhizomes which look like they've been around for quite a while!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4g8eJPt1AEMKyn50R6gJXMxScoXVZ-ujlHvNE-JDcUkske6ImNpxaS3GQ9kfX3fb5cdbP1v1jpg4C9VdhVBFgi3vM2i1gGM1KGEFBaJAn6gu7lL4_oNX66qSvTLlDLK096hgNQ/s1600/blog_0032af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 224px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595212350334955042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4g8eJPt1AEMKyn50R6gJXMxScoXVZ-ujlHvNE-JDcUkske6ImNpxaS3GQ9kfX3fb5cdbP1v1jpg4C9VdhVBFgi3vM2i1gGM1KGEFBaJAn6gu7lL4_oNX66qSvTLlDLK096hgNQ/s320/blog_0032af.jpg" /></a> <br /><br />The bearded iris blossom is much larger than the Dutch Iris... and the rhizomes are larger as a sign of it. Interesting, eh?!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCcGpj50qd1nddxCFPVPGe2wPrS0un_KDNY6fMqjdbFeZajRd8aWMJ_h8wMXulTD8q-TTHWJSdCWTZEW1dV66HudbVXtBuRGAUn7XGCwt8jwV1VV17CpXpExnbquTkM6o7fQorWA/s1600/blog_0037af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595229846762978530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCcGpj50qd1nddxCFPVPGe2wPrS0un_KDNY6fMqjdbFeZajRd8aWMJ_h8wMXulTD8q-TTHWJSdCWTZEW1dV66HudbVXtBuRGAUn7XGCwt8jwV1VV17CpXpExnbquTkM6o7fQorWA/s320/blog_0037af.jpg" /></a> <br /><br /><strong>When/How to plant iris rhizomes</strong><br />I'm planting these three in a pot instead of what is in the ground in the yard. I got these planted late, so not sure they'll blossom. But, hey... why not try?! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnH6lDb8H1mCTk1JAmJrMex6FrUgdxOa-a3wLPZrHLAAzFQ4p2RW6pZpTKFVM6ABfEVkFCg21UvZO0bs3YaEYE2XQruc71XffHXtepokIJUIQecIBzrRKqPMkxlk4Fk6Q9ute3RA/s1600/blog_0038af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595229841219041714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnH6lDb8H1mCTk1JAmJrMex6FrUgdxOa-a3wLPZrHLAAzFQ4p2RW6pZpTKFVM6ABfEVkFCg21UvZO0bs3YaEYE2XQruc71XffHXtepokIJUIQecIBzrRKqPMkxlk4Fk6Q9ute3RA/s320/blog_0038af.jpg" /></a> <br /><br />Rhizomes apparently don't like to be wet. (But they do need soil and water to grow.) <br /><br />This pot of rhizomes will sit in the direct sunlight for several hours a day. Plant the fatter end of rhizome down in the ground, with the thinner end up. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgpK2HaCh6AfuHMUHKOf2YY79wFr1mL-f_-oejHgcb67jAK-QbJiIJ8yRZi4zw8TE12LHQe9eD4C2G427PTVVwRwH6SCuK6ayOU4l64qTeUdO9GQB8rj1sFjzJ-wV_jVoDbrKSw/s1600/blog_0039af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595229834325759778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgpK2HaCh6AfuHMUHKOf2YY79wFr1mL-f_-oejHgcb67jAK-QbJiIJ8yRZi4zw8TE12LHQe9eD4C2G427PTVVwRwH6SCuK6ayOU4l64qTeUdO9GQB8rj1sFjzJ-wV_jVoDbrKSw/s320/blog_0039af.jpg" /></a> <br /><br />Top with some more soil and give it some water. Place it in a nice warm/hot location with lots of sun.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwyugpo2TD64OtkL4fW2sOQg5KLB5g8e2wpHiCwhOo47IMJe_HkQbRqgMJ3sJ_VYytuYlJCinFjYOMhlTVgq7GqmHO6vEuQhNGSoe2x5YE01bNpPfOh4K3GPSoBet3fxIjF4maw/s1600/blog_0041af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595229822920880930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwyugpo2TD64OtkL4fW2sOQg5KLB5g8e2wpHiCwhOo47IMJe_HkQbRqgMJ3sJ_VYytuYlJCinFjYOMhlTVgq7GqmHO6vEuQhNGSoe2x5YE01bNpPfOh4K3GPSoBet3fxIjF4maw/s320/blog_0041af.jpg" /></a> <br /><br />Some websites/books/people will tell you that it's best to let the rhizomes just BARELY sit in the soil and they'll be fine. But we have cats and creatures in our back yard that sometimes move things (and even walk away with things)... so I'm securing mine a bit more down into the soil. The soil will settle in around the rhizomes and expose a bit more of the top over the next week or so... <br /><br />From what I read elsewhere there really is no wrong way to do this when it comes to rhizomes. They shoots somehow naturally know how to find the sun... it's an amazing thing! And so beautiful!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5biffdv4gBR019X5N78os83U2wAD5GEx8O4KZeM-d2wOM1QDdqhUIqnDGotF_7Dv949MPgjRumPzAj6iKQYix_ZOWO4G7Ci_lyyMnocZ2YJFeR2yTqkXMKNEjmcFIAyJkGR1RWQ/s1600/blog_0042af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595229814636259266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5biffdv4gBR019X5N78os83U2wAD5GEx8O4KZeM-d2wOM1QDdqhUIqnDGotF_7Dv949MPgjRumPzAj6iKQYix_ZOWO4G7Ci_lyyMnocZ2YJFeR2yTqkXMKNEjmcFIAyJkGR1RWQ/s320/blog_0042af.jpg" /></a> <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_5NHMaLxVsykSES7PcCAQUg3bU5cKEy47G41hOXpyxDA6Bbd5MdZyiLwdwo3SGIpWae6bLxxWXfxYSCGiRVfgxty_E8nVQLR1n1Y5fMYP1Fc3PESsDQ0avPZbQ9QTKf16XmIDg/s1600/blog_0013af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595229229220594546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_5NHMaLxVsykSES7PcCAQUg3bU5cKEy47G41hOXpyxDA6Bbd5MdZyiLwdwo3SGIpWae6bLxxWXfxYSCGiRVfgxty_E8nVQLR1n1Y5fMYP1Fc3PESsDQ0avPZbQ9QTKf16XmIDg/s320/blog_0013af.jpg" /></a> <br /><br /><strong>Fast forward</strong><br />And this is what the shoots from the larger rhizomes (donated and/or bearded iris) look like several months later. These have not yet blossomed, and I do not yet see buds growing up from the rhizome. I think they are late to blossom because I planted them a month or two later than usual. And we've had an extra cold winter... anyway, soon... I hope to see buds and blossoms very soon! (And yes, of course, I will keep you posted when they do.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjll2dHNtfwKKW5Gyt-k20zH7CL8SJZr4CmBdewUT7318s305t8eiqZLGujyF2Pe6hQDlTvhD6rQe_2KBfAHr0oZtoXn-lDurGGMxzbwKzESLU_3sD7Ney68VzLW4zXTc6E33Irzg/s1600/blog_0014af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595229220584430530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjll2dHNtfwKKW5Gyt-k20zH7CL8SJZr4CmBdewUT7318s305t8eiqZLGujyF2Pe6hQDlTvhD6rQe_2KBfAHr0oZtoXn-lDurGGMxzbwKzESLU_3sD7Ney68VzLW4zXTc6E33Irzg/s320/blog_0014af.jpg" /></a> <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGG6GewnO77-HfYOOvEhuHLSQQeLZ3Z9KNhxsb1DqgHoIrEw_TsDvYy3wYvI_bau31QUzmOQsvMGBdsKT43IEXYvGjJDqZBRS5osIHff79WxdZ8oUnfPPyioG_jTDev910GwTqA/s1600/blog_0016af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595229212781580722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGG6GewnO77-HfYOOvEhuHLSQQeLZ3Z9KNhxsb1DqgHoIrEw_TsDvYy3wYvI_bau31QUzmOQsvMGBdsKT43IEXYvGjJDqZBRS5osIHff79WxdZ8oUnfPPyioG_jTDev910GwTqA/s320/blog_0016af.jpg" /></a> <br /><br />In the meantime, the Dutch iris are getting ready to blossom! YAY!!! The green leafy shoots popepd up a couple weeks ago. That show is then followed by the little buds... which will take a couple weeks to completely grow to height and then blossom. <br /><br />This little bud, the first little bud, just made my day!!! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQWukqBDDwcvToEQm-EggO8o_Jo-zT6ZqweSM7_pbiRZQrBH2BL8QH-mt_oNpAjusoZF4HhYuOesNktbw5goMeOD7WgEOqQUHYkX6mnarrln3FPOOQtfbrff9L7zUMs7KVFQ5cg/s1600/blog_0017af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595229211438178962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQWukqBDDwcvToEQm-EggO8o_Jo-zT6ZqweSM7_pbiRZQrBH2BL8QH-mt_oNpAjusoZF4HhYuOesNktbw5goMeOD7WgEOqQUHYkX6mnarrln3FPOOQtfbrff9L7zUMs7KVFQ5cg/s320/blog_0017af.jpg" /></a> <br /><br />I can't wait to watch their show of beauty in the next couple weeks! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNaDhgaNe1E0DAysLE8lDSepKHuHZXIQxF1QwmRIWcyvdrtbxwvyPbRqUqFVMxVlx10eM7ODFppCSylHgIa_5sWpIocrLAa4hRVxy-dM2X9dKZXt9c_Wr_uzzCh4hNRJNImyeGg/s1600/blog_0018af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595229203715683298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNaDhgaNe1E0DAysLE8lDSepKHuHZXIQxF1QwmRIWcyvdrtbxwvyPbRqUqFVMxVlx10eM7ODFppCSylHgIa_5sWpIocrLAa4hRVxy-dM2X9dKZXt9c_Wr_uzzCh4hNRJNImyeGg/s320/blog_0018af.jpg" /></a> <br /><br />And above is showing how I clipped that first flower... I cut the blossom about an inch above the ground and left the green leafy part in tact. The leaf will continue to collect "juice" from the sun and continue to feed the rhizome. They will naturally die off and at that point I'll clip them back to 1 inch from the ground as well.<br /><br />The rhizomes will then stay in the ground, hibernating... waiting for their next show, next Spring sometime! <br /><br />Oh, the cycle of life!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />life is good... <br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/293/D369CB933B90C5C6625057360F29C216.png" /> </a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045098831467422060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489023.post-66646060810851139022011-04-10T19:03:00.000-07:002011-04-10T19:48:03.984-07:00Tip for home - natural aphid repellantWith spring comes aphids... and with aphids come a vengeful Lori Jean. So I'll share with you what I do to rid my peaceful escape of these monsters. <br /><br />But first, what are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphid">aphids</a>? According to Wikipedia they are "among the most destructive insect pests on cultivated plants..." Here is a close up image from Wikipedia... in real life, "they vary in length from 1 to 10 millimetres (0.04 to 0.39 in)". <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCS7823qtEJs1q3XlalhyWF0duH5dWXFzDuEKA1Fw5JkwkdridM78YKJmQTlBBkNZUfZn-dqnRgKCh7jxTizkFKA-u9ld4a_eYSkU7T3PkiDBDXEj68_lyFNonHvO0d6i5xg8Dvw/s1600/wikiaphid.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 220px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 220px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594147068385354018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCS7823qtEJs1q3XlalhyWF0duH5dWXFzDuEKA1Fw5JkwkdridM78YKJmQTlBBkNZUfZn-dqnRgKCh7jxTizkFKA-u9ld4a_eYSkU7T3PkiDBDXEj68_lyFNonHvO0d6i5xg8Dvw/s320/wikiaphid.jpg" /></a> <br /><br />And when I spied aphids on my beautiful rose bush I just about screamed as I ran inside and Googled "natural aphid repellant". Thank you <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_11696_make-own-aphid.html">ehow.com</a>!!! I made the home remedy and want to share it with you here. This is how easy it is... <br /><br />Here's what you need - a spray bottle, water, dish soap and cooking oil. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg30i96bu3GQ4kTj2nwPO__LbIYmqpaItWd1OQZI_hLi4QqOJK-zMrtbgM9VsHVOKzfZBwhtgtoRQqpzeiEK993knvhOIIk51jh07sdF8iiV9rLaHB5dj1KV5SIkjdlc1N6dPHdA/s1600/blog_0006af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594142475668330130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg30i96bu3GQ4kTj2nwPO__LbIYmqpaItWd1OQZI_hLi4QqOJK-zMrtbgM9VsHVOKzfZBwhtgtoRQqpzeiEK993knvhOIIk51jh07sdF8iiV9rLaHB5dj1KV5SIkjdlc1N6dPHdA/s320/blog_0006af.jpg" /></a> <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSeLEreUAWrHRlo3h5gt_BZQEgNSZyFbQu3zEc0Dxfbd2_uXgsYoMkeoOKa-H5CzzFJBjNGiC3IPHcPqU1kjLDdpHGku3hWi0NNchw2cL7Gm6cNm6yP0iZw2nRbWQAy5ihMSBQxA/s1600/blog_0007af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594142474353497042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSeLEreUAWrHRlo3h5gt_BZQEgNSZyFbQu3zEc0Dxfbd2_uXgsYoMkeoOKa-H5CzzFJBjNGiC3IPHcPqU1kjLDdpHGku3hWi0NNchw2cL7Gm6cNm6yP0iZw2nRbWQAy5ihMSBQxA/s320/blog_0007af.jpg" /></a> <br /><br />Mix together 1/2 tablespoon of liquid dish soap and 1/2 cup cooking oil. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfKch_ueb26PiLqxJOYB5PbhX2DKAAa6OZLcuwtpm7nUfNTJBOiVSND5z_uTJOMjwzcfsNxz4l-vylvAW4dmoG03ugxQteUBJ13RNICS3PM68r1K8cS6drnIMPWnqr_vvmE4P9g/s1600/blog_0008af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594142462743012082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfKch_ueb26PiLqxJOYB5PbhX2DKAAa6OZLcuwtpm7nUfNTJBOiVSND5z_uTJOMjwzcfsNxz4l-vylvAW4dmoG03ugxQteUBJ13RNICS3PM68r1K8cS6drnIMPWnqr_vvmE4P9g/s320/blog_0008af.jpg" /></a> <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywlxxVw5p7zDeVuWKlT9W86YEy9uG85opSIFISvIjOOWV5HRjen7lcTCDzHfiEXmr0tZiwrrc34Ra28I2pGi3pMHYO315rqbDtiUhyphenhyphenYd2CLyiynnMy2RZEE6a2-Ep2AosFW0ebg/s1600/blog_0009af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594142123670842754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywlxxVw5p7zDeVuWKlT9W86YEy9uG85opSIFISvIjOOWV5HRjen7lcTCDzHfiEXmr0tZiwrrc34Ra28I2pGi3pMHYO315rqbDtiUhyphenhyphenYd2CLyiynnMy2RZEE6a2-Ep2AosFW0ebg/s320/blog_0009af.jpg" /></a> <br /><br />Blend 2 1/2 teaspoons of the soap/oil mixture with 1 cup of water in a spray bottle, shake well to combine. <br /><br />Then waltz back out to your backyard, whistling all the way, warn the enemy with a direct order and spray the heck out of those aphids... Feel free to use a good portion of the mixture in that spray bottle to spray the buds (taking as many direct shots to those aphids as you want), spray the leaves, spray the stems, spray the plants next to your rose bush... fill that bottle back up if you need to... you get the point! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOKbQynOIDeOyLae3N1RB-LQSROi8JjzO_CGo9rrgmBiTfmTMW_JkLuKeroRfm5RDhnAae8uX22M81NWxlBo2D4eELzyUYj5PklLMgrizM1fwxOJhvBxawtfdAaD4WtGgFzwTNw/s1600/blog_0012af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 255px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594142116228880018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOKbQynOIDeOyLae3N1RB-LQSROi8JjzO_CGo9rrgmBiTfmTMW_JkLuKeroRfm5RDhnAae8uX22M81NWxlBo2D4eELzyUYj5PklLMgrizM1fwxOJhvBxawtfdAaD4WtGgFzwTNw/s320/blog_0012af.jpg" /></a> <br /><br />Below is an out-of-focus shot of the poor, unsuspecting rose bud... this rose bud did nothing to deserve this attack. And couldn't do anything to protect itself... Lori Jean to the rescue! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vnei8BXYiv1sRunaKMSDCx9sWqioFO9aRZp08jKKZOTx7yEiT0SMg8v8rZntpPcgTBbkQSqUdsRQg6T1bfV1r15nWirpcdI4jNULFwghcTy0ybr9ItCJGLyViqcMVRXy404wbA/s1600/aphid1af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 253px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594142109556629250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vnei8BXYiv1sRunaKMSDCx9sWqioFO9aRZp08jKKZOTx7yEiT0SMg8v8rZntpPcgTBbkQSqUdsRQg6T1bfV1r15nWirpcdI4jNULFwghcTy0ybr9ItCJGLyViqcMVRXy404wbA/s320/aphid1af.jpg" /></a> <br /><br />In 12-24 hours the aphids will have literally disintegrated... they are soft body insects, and since they don't have much of a defense system the liquid seeps right into their body and robs them of what they need to live. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2ll8J3Wk-P2qUfMPMs2KlEM5_i3nde2j-qwn9D-jtbpLLezJeJDSlt4FyQt9T3RxC2MepP-z56CssG9PjBFcYyi87suXj8AODq-PyqLtiUWF78Mx80mSj9uvMa2qviAcWv7nZA/s1600/aphid2af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 253px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594142105680673890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2ll8J3Wk-P2qUfMPMs2KlEM5_i3nde2j-qwn9D-jtbpLLezJeJDSlt4FyQt9T3RxC2MepP-z56CssG9PjBFcYyi87suXj8AODq-PyqLtiUWF78Mx80mSj9uvMa2qviAcWv7nZA/s320/aphid2af.jpg" /></a> <br /><br />Gladly I will report ... because of my quick response time (and in a few more days) I'll have another one of these... <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70DxTr-L7Bx_TO7EePvaj7nwjGQfkVkTVmPGATGtwMDzzF6R9To6E9V5Pq9lSMJPCOiYl4lhI71fl1lqxs68aD9RoG5ebGhl9IHKypC44A-6QrruRQZe-s77IvCcOsZVQ0ABOlg/s1600/roseblossomaf.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 252px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594142479277420114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70DxTr-L7Bx_TO7EePvaj7nwjGQfkVkTVmPGATGtwMDzzF6R9To6E9V5Pq9lSMJPCOiYl4lhI71fl1lqxs68aD9RoG5ebGhl9IHKypC44A-6QrruRQZe-s77IvCcOsZVQ0ABOlg/s320/roseblossomaf.jpg" /></a> <br /><br />Hope it works for you as well... <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />life is good... <br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/293/D369CB933B90C5C6625057360F29C216.png" /></a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045098831467422060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489023.post-70725208664727768342011-04-02T06:18:00.000-07:002011-04-02T07:09:25.128-07:00Spring has sprung...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxbDu0OdDLBQWCmLR2jZ3JVt2kucD_0TvoGtTuDPBApASCK-EFv2-yK9YnZAMv0h7JZemtXZrlx_f1daFkwmwQo9Y8KIDWh3KvR9X3b8fJ2fsMita4wdHNZN5J0YoR0hA7OKnMEA/s1600/orangeblossomaf.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 252px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxbDu0OdDLBQWCmLR2jZ3JVt2kucD_0TvoGtTuDPBApASCK-EFv2-yK9YnZAMv0h7JZemtXZrlx_f1daFkwmwQo9Y8KIDWh3KvR9X3b8fJ2fsMita4wdHNZN5J0YoR0hA7OKnMEA/s320/orangeblossomaf.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590978808083973362" /></a><br /><br />I am beyond happy that spring has sprung... for this one reason: the smell of orange blossoms. Other than cinnamon rolls baking in the oven, this is my forever favorite scent! My neighbor has an orange tree that peeks up over our fence line... and for that I'm grateful.<br /><br />I spend more time in my backyard during Spring than summertime, just because of the orange blossom scent... <br /><br /><br />Plus, it's kinda pretty-lookin' back here... we've worked hard over the past year or so to slowly build it out. And now it's almost come into it's shape...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFTaOy4sQRFjA8J7iOiBYcPZyV3Z2f_oz96eGFF8-79dh1k5qEC4vwrBhHjx-23QrUJaC75ssESYNRvatV3Zt3DaW0jHYdVTgfPloha9wr6a8_knFoIM6Y16uWEF7AjUh5dY3rQ/s1600/blog_0119af.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFTaOy4sQRFjA8J7iOiBYcPZyV3Z2f_oz96eGFF8-79dh1k5qEC4vwrBhHjx-23QrUJaC75ssESYNRvatV3Zt3DaW0jHYdVTgfPloha9wr6a8_knFoIM6Y16uWEF7AjUh5dY3rQ/s320/blog_0119af.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590977291201609426" /></a><br /><br />Several times a week I get to retreat to the backyard with my clippers and a book ... this is what I'm enjoying.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dlZTuFE6YezI-CQpgzoCjavjPi_5Oz46P9OSATjLUOTo9omJFwoOWwxqUCCclzsLdQgyj2xMUSfdIyL3EruE9V5dShyphenhyphenfNmK1SU9w_xpk_VipUhCsUD0Ghs2oQ0uwUhx3wTZ4nA/s1600/blog_0121af.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dlZTuFE6YezI-CQpgzoCjavjPi_5Oz46P9OSATjLUOTo9omJFwoOWwxqUCCclzsLdQgyj2xMUSfdIyL3EruE9V5dShyphenhyphenfNmK1SU9w_xpk_VipUhCsUD0Ghs2oQ0uwUhx3wTZ4nA/s320/blog_0121af.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590977286681238658" /></a><br /><br />The above plant is a milkweed... it attracts butterflies. I like butterflies...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvWhziMTmtSVi4p5Rz61qkE0GCWnCK04OP8RAzqNhjC9i4ZOk7RfJPpWnR0F2WSCdpAiCFURnISu7VtESU2joUGbLRtj7IxjI0P3DqiU3zCuFLJ1i2Fnk2aY050Cretoc1pU7ng/s1600/blog_0125af.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvWhziMTmtSVi4p5Rz61qkE0GCWnCK04OP8RAzqNhjC9i4ZOk7RfJPpWnR0F2WSCdpAiCFURnISu7VtESU2joUGbLRtj7IxjI0P3DqiU3zCuFLJ1i2Fnk2aY050Cretoc1pU7ng/s320/blog_0125af.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590977282850143074" /></a><br /><br />Here is where I sit with my book, feet kicked up on the chair to my left... enjoying the noises and scents and beauty of God's creation... <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJToDaQRagWSa_6MyAv2IeC47DDtMZMr4laPiHGXrkrKuvPnjYGpIuYCdnZDxZyzIOx4sUkfv1auNgTeFskcK_xpSnZF7SqZYnW4Lp-xt-PzfTpHgYjwzh6lGNWxFBtMzELw2Lg/s1600/blog_0126af.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJToDaQRagWSa_6MyAv2IeC47DDtMZMr4laPiHGXrkrKuvPnjYGpIuYCdnZDxZyzIOx4sUkfv1auNgTeFskcK_xpSnZF7SqZYnW4Lp-xt-PzfTpHgYjwzh6lGNWxFBtMzELw2Lg/s320/blog_0126af.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590977274868297666" /></a><br /><br />We have a small patch of grass, and a large flower bed, size proportionate to importance!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXaDB36e9V46LxvDNc_VyBtetYfkKoOTTlURsLS0GFTGfOFdhVr4DX1z7UrGOXJ0LjLnWF7EHLcaYECkQX3US_Ta_fqpFw72gbl-uJddxLvuRq6ntVCUZ7u7g26ZgCak8R-NFrdw/s1600/blog_0129af.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXaDB36e9V46LxvDNc_VyBtetYfkKoOTTlURsLS0GFTGfOFdhVr4DX1z7UrGOXJ0LjLnWF7EHLcaYECkQX3US_Ta_fqpFw72gbl-uJddxLvuRq6ntVCUZ7u7g26ZgCak8R-NFrdw/s320/blog_0129af.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590976734486575170" /></a><br /><br />And two different types of scented geraniums... rose-scented (above) and lemon-scented (below). They look totally different from each other... and on their own they don't really smell... until you rub your thumb and fore-finger against the green leafy part. And then the scent stays with you for a while... so refreshing! Thank you Creator of Heaven and Earth for creating such an amazing gift!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0tgO2svb2r_L50IsCrRCkCVHUbGeLHfcR8s0DdGmXa9oLcCS6NXVDfkHN6IjZHyBKuZVfiOUYuBPQb-vPP2-d6ck3Fdc8fl74cJU-Oy7WhS8rkTm42ZkK9Ud7AL9e8tPii_PXWg/s1600/blog_0144af.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0tgO2svb2r_L50IsCrRCkCVHUbGeLHfcR8s0DdGmXa9oLcCS6NXVDfkHN6IjZHyBKuZVfiOUYuBPQb-vPP2-d6ck3Fdc8fl74cJU-Oy7WhS8rkTm42ZkK9Ud7AL9e8tPii_PXWg/s320/blog_0144af.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590975640521771266" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXljr-NXGTHFyODBLy1ajZJ9hOzHI6bZZGvsUWbeKevmPso4sX2W3Ln9wHerCEDA-B8ePV5TD8qHr9w4JE4FMxid42SRWZEUhJ_meQ1LEOVbVEv2ucoV2JkkU1UnPId9aoEkdbBQ/s1600/blog_0130af.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXljr-NXGTHFyODBLy1ajZJ9hOzHI6bZZGvsUWbeKevmPso4sX2W3Ln9wHerCEDA-B8ePV5TD8qHr9w4JE4FMxid42SRWZEUhJ_meQ1LEOVbVEv2ucoV2JkkU1UnPId9aoEkdbBQ/s320/blog_0130af.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590976730277693602" /></a><br /><br />Take a stroll with me into my little place of retreat... <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUM_POYY3kjSy7PhliIri6GVopNQOHK9ehVOBxDJhB_b-rppoSk9ByL0GfE8QHRoOFPkePNOb5l0yQRszFJaciHcbdPDyrePtCdmKjYsWhqcDDh4hgni4IgC9RrQs_cPZn-vLSw/s1600/blog_0131af.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUM_POYY3kjSy7PhliIri6GVopNQOHK9ehVOBxDJhB_b-rppoSk9ByL0GfE8QHRoOFPkePNOb5l0yQRszFJaciHcbdPDyrePtCdmKjYsWhqcDDh4hgni4IgC9RrQs_cPZn-vLSw/s320/blog_0131af.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590976724558029266" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBRyMyuZWlASBNWyIy-JPLSkEirTGw8bacb8PPG5QOkG7Qowe3VY2CVcT0touY0nam2K5nKY2Q57iRCTttM8vgmLKMlQvIkFray4qew_UCo59By6RiSLebwz1-L1g_fLVSWHsog/s1600/blog_0132af.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBRyMyuZWlASBNWyIy-JPLSkEirTGw8bacb8PPG5QOkG7Qowe3VY2CVcT0touY0nam2K5nKY2Q57iRCTttM8vgmLKMlQvIkFray4qew_UCo59By6RiSLebwz1-L1g_fLVSWHsog/s320/blog_0132af.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590976717732295874" /></a><br /><br />There are weeds and tools not organized into their right places... but I don't care. Some of the original plants have died. But there's no rush to make it perfect. It is what it is... and we'll pull weeds, and prune and water and make things grow and enjoy the space we've been given. We'll invite friends over to sit and talk and look and sniff and enjoy... <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuNRUk4AjxIVceIBrW0-_U7s7f0B0lYyBzkUOuNVvsbcfaSuvsIoT5MIh-NYNIBJF6PPjJS0cPDX9iuTvyUvaBjsP19GVw_Lin1NmdDHOGw4VuxRfOajvR_fM_ipPaUnpXq1G3A/s1600/blog_0133af.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuNRUk4AjxIVceIBrW0-_U7s7f0B0lYyBzkUOuNVvsbcfaSuvsIoT5MIh-NYNIBJF6PPjJS0cPDX9iuTvyUvaBjsP19GVw_Lin1NmdDHOGw4VuxRfOajvR_fM_ipPaUnpXq1G3A/s320/blog_0133af.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590976712780497938" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2zq7MIfs2tsB9-ZrOIZzOcLJzX_qK4xXB9oTb8kmkWeMMXVOKAygT6WgiuO__mZ9qMOYAXS1rd9XjUsQtvk3nYb-VMYFIoUB8oQhiKVqvlJeL89iDn0oU9oWV-aHMkO3ELy6yyA/s1600/blog_0134af.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2zq7MIfs2tsB9-ZrOIZzOcLJzX_qK4xXB9oTb8kmkWeMMXVOKAygT6WgiuO__mZ9qMOYAXS1rd9XjUsQtvk3nYb-VMYFIoUB8oQhiKVqvlJeL89iDn0oU9oWV-aHMkO3ELy6yyA/s320/blog_0134af.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590976156942481138" /></a><br /><br />We'll watch as the wind carries the grasses to and fro... <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPySic_bFkwQ-DrtTTf_04Uf4KfNQG35hLadUg_yd7cJl3EvFSK2RF-CvnCiMQs59fN94sFDwun_Bt_7dZftP2E3S-1_1WZMoUpU8XCB0SGYcsxfXn6lW2zsvyTiNzYidQTPI0yw/s1600/blog_0135af.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPySic_bFkwQ-DrtTTf_04Uf4KfNQG35hLadUg_yd7cJl3EvFSK2RF-CvnCiMQs59fN94sFDwun_Bt_7dZftP2E3S-1_1WZMoUpU8XCB0SGYcsxfXn6lW2zsvyTiNzYidQTPI0yw/s320/blog_0135af.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590976150376022882" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvyvoZV2EZIiSOo5spGEAUR4WGR57OUtgW7Yw0PsGSdGWoXpI18pn8TlWIloOjUy54i21pKb0DCqi18FE45HEU92l9w1-M0fUk_4ZPXXEolvBYKBZvwgyZ1TOQ3WGRCW56EPOOgQ/s1600/blog_0137af.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvyvoZV2EZIiSOo5spGEAUR4WGR57OUtgW7Yw0PsGSdGWoXpI18pn8TlWIloOjUy54i21pKb0DCqi18FE45HEU92l9w1-M0fUk_4ZPXXEolvBYKBZvwgyZ1TOQ3WGRCW56EPOOgQ/s320/blog_0137af.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590976146841665954" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAnDjyy12fO83nug2dgzBAVTlkYjFt_2J1eshBfFhZ_j07MKe-Y61B1WhNPqNMY3JOA854U5waa4B3sPrbSWBEXn-xaPs1Z8oqq5dQ-mIq3BOijIaj0JEBlBLeqLOUG74E4Veaw/s1600/blog_0140af.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAnDjyy12fO83nug2dgzBAVTlkYjFt_2J1eshBfFhZ_j07MKe-Y61B1WhNPqNMY3JOA854U5waa4B3sPrbSWBEXn-xaPs1Z8oqq5dQ-mIq3BOijIaj0JEBlBLeqLOUG74E4Veaw/s320/blog_0140af.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590976142083420210" /></a><br /><br />We'll peek at the plants and watch for new blossoms...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMFf_s2pyOMDtoBwXfC6kWklw0wY2OiWym8pZmODvRQlkZFpuxVkxFNrgMG0YnGqFM23WMFi3-cXEqKz0HavqNfgLecjmkCiDYtkqXBqALInBpZoDvJ7gOMGj-oKYJf4esmT0bA/s1600/blog_0142af.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMFf_s2pyOMDtoBwXfC6kWklw0wY2OiWym8pZmODvRQlkZFpuxVkxFNrgMG0YnGqFM23WMFi3-cXEqKz0HavqNfgLecjmkCiDYtkqXBqALInBpZoDvJ7gOMGj-oKYJf4esmT0bA/s320/blog_0142af.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590976126871705858" /></a><br /><br /><em>Fast forward</em> to 3 weeks from now (below)... we'll watch as God's beauty again unfolds.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1d5YKj-wmdivzWP2z-sLN8Ib9VHF7m6ebHS9S_1NCVXMVyi7hnL-fH8F4XnH-zlXPJKqTI_g4MoRcfxSI2CoNY6DwMQcNwIHq0BeyxFazsvyCt9_-xqKPKi8oZuuVebk9Un51Q/s1600/roseblossomaf.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 252px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1d5YKj-wmdivzWP2z-sLN8Ib9VHF7m6ebHS9S_1NCVXMVyi7hnL-fH8F4XnH-zlXPJKqTI_g4MoRcfxSI2CoNY6DwMQcNwIHq0BeyxFazsvyCt9_-xqKPKi8oZuuVebk9Un51Q/s320/roseblossomaf.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590982366093440210" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8MijtKgH5U9ePrunS932-r1m1z0gcifssb5JIpPnplvW02aj6kcNY1GgqeoOW41ZiWDxVRXBUELkv9V54y-yjGXxVcurWOEHdeBuHogyQeTbfiTjDz5Yclzxipb65aEOEYvTHKg/s1600/blog_0146af.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8MijtKgH5U9ePrunS932-r1m1z0gcifssb5JIpPnplvW02aj6kcNY1GgqeoOW41ZiWDxVRXBUELkv9V54y-yjGXxVcurWOEHdeBuHogyQeTbfiTjDz5Yclzxipb65aEOEYvTHKg/s320/blog_0146af.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590975634971165490" /></a><br /><br />And before we return to our 'to do' lists and the errands and the cleaning and the cooking, we'll take a step back and enjoy the full picture... we'll breathe in deeply and get one last wiff of orange blossom. And we'll be content... <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcG299_gSnh6lnDxC3uXWdb_gh5xHvxFtsneNMBz1cPNQyRhvP1IlPbyt7nARLJOs8Jq4CDyDR2oKlEU4b-bpMZyVBdVrHB6Je8U5sPTLq3cd_1E7Oq0QuomAo-AqdcSrGnmz4A/s1600/blog_0159af.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcG299_gSnh6lnDxC3uXWdb_gh5xHvxFtsneNMBz1cPNQyRhvP1IlPbyt7nARLJOs8Jq4CDyDR2oKlEU4b-bpMZyVBdVrHB6Je8U5sPTLq3cd_1E7Oq0QuomAo-AqdcSrGnmz4A/s320/blog_0159af.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590975628932698818" /></a><br /><br />Content... so content. <br /><br /><br />“We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.” - Frederick Koenig<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />life is good... <br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/293/D369CB933B90C5C6625057360F29C216.png" /></a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045098831467422060noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489023.post-26613533166443631982011-03-31T13:59:00.000-07:002011-03-31T17:13:30.611-07:00my life is quieter these daysI no longer carry my phone w/ me everywhere… expecting THE phone call at any moment. <br /><br />I no longer wake in the middle of the night and look at my phone … to see if I missed THE phone call. <br /><br />I no longer jump to answer the phone when it rings… thinking it’s THE phone call. <br /><br /><br />I no longer drive 30 miles south a few times a week… and no longer get to have Saturday morning breakfast with my Grampa. <br /><br />I no longer have that extra quiet time in the car… to process the daily grieving and think through the family issues related to Grampa’s end of life. <br /><br />I no longer spend extra money on gas… and yet in a heartbeat I’d spend it all over again for one more trip south to see my Grampa. <br /><br /><br />Having family around more often over the past few months has been cathartic. <br /><br />Even in the hard times we were laughing… that’s just how we roll. <br /><br />The laughter with the family will resume… once we come together again to spend time with each other. <br /><br /><br />Until then... it's quiet these days. <br /><br /><br />So in the absence of the phone ringing (and long conversations with family) and the long drives and the enjoyable & necessary family time… I now catch up on "reading people and meeting books". <br /><br />These were just a few of the things on my ‘to do (eventually)’ list… and now my time has been freed up a bit so that I can resume checking off the list. This week alone I have taken 3 naps, finished 3 books I was in the middle of and have actually made dinner every night... <br /><br />Other items on my 'to do' list: scan in old family slides, host a girls’-only dinner in the backyard, enjoy my Saturday mornings at home (my favorite time to be at home – if you know me well you know I protect this time as much as possible), etc. <br /><br />Life resumes… but now without Grampa. <br /><br />And while I miss him dearly everyday I’m kind of jealous that he has been reunited with Gramma. We love you both and know that you have smiles on your faces once again… <br /><br /><br />life is good... <br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/293/D369CB933B90C5C6625057360F29C216.png" /></a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045098831467422060noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489023.post-28913018697048511152011-03-24T16:45:00.000-07:002011-03-24T17:03:07.253-07:00How {GREAT} Thou ArtI remember lying on the floor of my childhood living room with big puffy headphones on. There was a record playing and I was reading the lyrics inside the tri-fold record liner, the notes on the producers and the musicians and the history on the company who produced this record (in case you were wondering, my favorite albums as a kid in the early 1980’s were <em>Bullfrogs and Butterflies, Music Machine: Fruit of the Spirit, Ants’hillvania, Sir Oliver’s Song</em> and <em>I Am God’s Project</em>). I even hung up the a poster from inside the album cover of <em>I Am God’s Project</em> on my bedroom wall.<br /><br />I just cringe thinking at how I most likely sounded while I was belting out songs (with headphones on – so the rest of the household couldn’t even hear the music). This would go on for hours, I’m just sure of it. Oh the joys of childhood…<br /><br /><br />If it wasn’t already obvious, I’m going to let you in on a little secret: music has always been a big part of my life.<br /><br />But it wasn’t just “white noise” to me. It’s much more than the sound of the music that I love. It’s about the lyrics and the meaning of that story, the vulnerability of the writer coming through… it’s about the feeling of the music, the emotion behind the soul singing.<br /><br /><br />So this morning when I was diminished to tears at the lyrics of this classic hymn I wasn’t surprised. Crying, joyful/thankful tears, I sat at my desk (at work) and paused. This is a song I have sung a thousand times (at least). And this morning I am reminded of the significance of those lyrics.<br /><br /><br /><strong><u>How Great Thou Art<br /></u></strong>Lyrics ~ Carl Boberg, 1859 - 1940<br />English Translation ~ Stuart K. Hine, 1899 -<br /><br />Stanza 1:<br />O Lord my God,<br />When I in awesome wonder<br />Consider all<br />The works Thy Hand hath made,<br />I see the stars,<br />I hear the mighty thunder,<br />Thy pow'r throughout<br />The universe displayed;<br /><br />Stanza 2:<br />When through the woods<br />And forest glades I wander<br />I hear the birds<br />Sing sweetly in the trees;<br />When I look down<br />From lofty mountain grandeur<br />And hear the brook<br />And feel the gentle breeze;<br /><br />Refrain:<br />Then sings my soul,<br />My Saviour God, to Thee,<br /><strong>How great Thou art!<br />How great Thou art!<br /></strong>Then sings my soul,<br />My Saviour God, to Thee,<br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">How great Thou art!<br />How great Thou art!<br /></span><br /></strong>Stanza 3:<br />When Christ shall come,<br />With shouts of acclamation,<br />And take me home,<br />What joy shall fill my heart!<br />Then I shall bow<br />In humble adoration<br />And there proclaim,<br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">"My God, how GREAT Thou art!" </span></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><br />But the real story is in the full story of the writer of this song... and what inspired this song.<br /><br />For more on the story of the writers and the inspiration behind the song:<br />Click on this link - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Great_Thou_Art_(hymn)">Hymn: How Great Thou Art</a><br /><br /><br /><br />life is good...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/293/D369CB933B90C5C6625057360F29C216.png" /></a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045098831467422060noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489023.post-75476620711784373172011-03-22T17:28:00.000-07:002011-03-22T17:55:34.887-07:00Working {for the Lord}<strong>Colossians 3:23-24 </strong><br />“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”<br /><br /><br />As someone who has dedicated a good portion of her free time serving various ministries in various churches I have struggled to truly “unpack” a Sunday morning message from Pastor Sam at <a href="http://www.missionhillschurch.org/index.cfm?i=1187">Mission Hills Church</a>. <strong>Let it be known… it’s taken me about a year to unpack this one (in fact, just over a year). <em>And it has been life-changing… </em><br /></strong><br />Here’s a synopsis of what Pastor Sam shared:<br /><br /><ul><li>In Colossians 3 the Apostle Paul confronts a common belief, and yet it is a muth. This false belief has run over into the church environment. The common myth about serving God: “The church is my primary place of service to God.” </li><li>He goes on to urge that churches have “tended to communicate (consciously or not) that the best place for church members to exercise one’s God-given abilities is within the institution of the church (within the four walls of the building). Often it is communicated that getting involved/plugged into the church means that to some varying degree you must take on an additional part-time job in service to the church. This belief that “you are only serving God when you are serving the church” is a tragic mentality. This mentality leads to burn out, to individual despair; to stress in the family… the tragic list goes on. When in all reality we spend more time outside of church than we do within those “four walls”. </li></ul><p>It’s simply not true that we only serve the Lord within the four walls of the church building… only one day a week. Every minute of every day God uses the skills He has built into us to serve His kingdom. This goes for at home, at work, in line at the grocery store, on Facebook, etc… when we work for the Lord we are working for Him in every minute of our lives. And He has given us the strengths and abilities to do just that.<br /><br /><br />But before I go on, please allow me to digress for a minute and share this: I recently learned a bit more about myself. (Confession: I think, deep down inside, I already knew this). I was given the opportunity to take a strength deployment inventory. I’m not sure if I can do much justice in an explanation of what it is, but I’ll give it a go. By answering questions of how I would respond in certain circumstances, and in certain environments, the results show me what motivates me to respond (and how I respond). This test revealed for me what I think I already knew. However it gave credence to what I was feeling and thinking. The results helped to ground me a bit more and guess less about what drives me.<br /><br />I have often felt an internal struggle about whether or not I should 1) be more focused on administration/detail-oriented projects (an obvious strength of mine), or 2) to analyze details and work solo to solve problems (which I love, love, love), or 3) to work more closely on a team and truly connect with others. So, what did this inventory confirm for me? That the aforementioned struggle is just that… a struggle. But it showed me that it is also natural… due to my motivations. My motivations show that I’m able to move in and out of each of those areas, as the need is evident.<br /><br />So, let me get this straight {I’m not really confused}: I’m just able to be flexible?!<br /><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:130%;">Aaannnd…</span></em> we’re back to the topic that brought us here in the first place. </p><p>As Pastor Sam unpacked the message from Colossians 3 (verses 23 and 24) I put my pen down and just listened… and thought. And the following realizations flooded my mind…<br />- I know this: God created me for His glory<br />- When God created me He gave me specific strengths (and unfortunately some non-strengths too)<br />- He has gifted me … ME!<br />- God is entrusting me with something that only I can do for His glory<br />- What am I waiting for?!<br />- Have I REALLY never thought of it this way before?!<br />- I’m 30-something years old and JUST NOW realizing this?!<br /><br /><br /><em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">And if all of that wasn’t enough,</span></strong></em> Pastor Sam shared the following quote from an author I had yet to read: <em>“The place where God called you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meets.”</em> Frederick Beuchner<br /><br /></p><p>What does this indicate to me? That what I LOVE doing is what God created me to do. I love solving problems. I love analyzing things, putting puzzles together (literal and figurative) and the critical thinking part of life. Question: What makes me happy? Answer: Making a difference by utilizing the skills given me.<br /></p><p><br /><br />And to drive it all home Pastor Sam urged us into more contemplation with these tidbits:<br /><br />“If the church teaches us anything… it should be to see all of our lives as lived under the watchful and caring eye of the Lord Jesus. And that to live out of our new identity is His goal for us – in every place that we go (every sphere of our life: homes, work, etc). There is no corner of creation that is not under Christ’s supervision. And there is no station in life that He has not blessed and redeemed as a place of meaningful service to Him. If you are not prepared to serve Christ in your homes and workplaces you are not prepared to serve Him here at church.” – Sam Paschall<br /><br />“Our families are to reflect the life of God himself. We want to work as if we’re serving the Lord himself. He wants to remind us how to work. Work heartily. And lastly, He wants to remind us what it is we are working for.” – Sam Paschall<br /><br /><br />Come to think of it… you should just go listen to the message (that is, if you're into that sort of thing). It’s on our church website. Under Sermon Audio, search for Sam Paschall or the name of the message <strong>“The New Self at Home and Work”.</strong> You might learn something completely different from it than I did. And if you did, I’d love to hear what that is.<br /><br /></p><p><strong>Note to Pastor Sam </strong>… I love your teaching style. You’re philosophical and yet goofy. You’re deep and yet easily easy-going. And I believe God has gifted you in a way that is going to bless so many lives in your day-to-day ministry… not just in your “job”. Thank you for your service to our church, the students you minister to daily and in the way you love your family. You’re pretty cool.<br /></p><p><em>Lastly, thank you for introducing me to Frederick Buechner. I’ve now read 3 of his books, with 2 or 3 more to go… </em></p><br /><br /><br /><br />life is good... <br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/293/D369CB933B90C5C6625057360F29C216.png" /></a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045098831467422060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489023.post-71369020851056634602011-03-22T16:02:00.000-07:002011-03-24T16:46:30.444-07:00Gramma's Pearls of Wisdom<div align="center"><em>Several, several months ago I received a card from Gramma Helen.</em></div><div align="center"><em>Inside of it was a bookmark... </em></div><div align="center"><em>a bookmark I've kept close by, in fact right in front of me</em></div><div align="center"><em>It is propped up on my desk at work</em></div><div align="center"><em>I read small portions of it daily</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em>May I share it with you?</em></div><div align="center"><em>I love my Gramma Helen!</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><strong><em><br /><br /><br />I’ve traveled paths you’ve yet to walk<br /><br />Learned lessons old and new<br /><br />And now this wisdom of my life<br /><br />I’m blessed to share with you<br /><br /><br /><br />Let kindness spread like sunshine<br /><br />Embrace those who are sad<br /><br />Respect their dignity, give them joy<br /><br />And leave them feeling glad<br /><br /><br /><br />Forgive those who might hurt you<br /><br />And though you have your pride<br /><br />Listen closely to their viewpoint<br /><br />Try to see the other side<br /><br /><br /><br />Walk softly when you’re angry<br /><br />Try not to take offense<br /><br />Invoke your sense of humor<br /><br />Laughter’s power is immense!<br /><br /><br /><br />Express what you are feeling<br /><br />Your beliefs you should uphold<br /><br />Don’t shy away from what is right<br /><br />Be courageous and be bold<br /><br /><br /><br />Keep hope right in your pocket<br /><br />It will guide you day by day<br /><br />Take it out when it is needed<br /><br />When it’s near, you’ll find a way<br /><br /><br /><br />Remember friends and family<br /><br />Of which you are a precious part<br /><br />Love deeply and love truly<br /><br />Give freely from your heart<br /><br /><br /><br />The world is far from perfect<br /><br />There’s conflict and there’s strife<br /><br />But you still can make a difference<br /><br />By how you live your life<br /><br /><br /><br />And so I’m very blessed to know<br /><br />The wonders you will do<br /><br />Because you are my granddaughter<br /><br />And I believe in you</em> </strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><em><div align="center"><br /><br /><br />Did I say "I love my Gramma Helen" yet?!</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">life is good... </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/293/D369CB933B90C5C6625057360F29C216.png" /></a></div></em>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045098831467422060noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489023.post-21454625116919788302011-03-01T18:03:00.000-08:002011-03-23T16:18:31.059-07:00After the storm...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgH9_RmK2-M7c18obQqnKW006Ge3JZOLU5g7GDjQ5eWddLBNTgPPgRprIdVH3yTtpJDC3rvR86sABI5vEJ0o_C2Gxgjef6d4GCNSvw3nmHzMnOhhsd_mydZDCWWZhD-acWkZQVw/s1600/blog_0059af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 106px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587075829911641986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgH9_RmK2-M7c18obQqnKW006Ge3JZOLU5g7GDjQ5eWddLBNTgPPgRprIdVH3yTtpJDC3rvR86sABI5vEJ0o_C2Gxgjef6d4GCNSvw3nmHzMnOhhsd_mydZDCWWZhD-acWkZQVw/s320/blog_0059af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />San Diego County has been under a deluge of rain, hail (and in some parts even snow!) and more rain. So this is what I could see from a few blocks down our street. If you don't know our locale in Southern California you may not understand how unusual this is.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlgUpw57S-07Dj5-ZfFaAMvzvWDEJMa_VJ1KiFsylFpzOisk5iONID7LkdnzH8zgpE2zVSDxF1JkGW8Vjai_I8iaPsE2Pl13B7jXgfwwr8dtZMhIdwPAiPzR1TzQEN4Cm4zwMSg/s1600/blog_0061af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 106px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587075820763550034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlgUpw57S-07Dj5-ZfFaAMvzvWDEJMa_VJ1KiFsylFpzOisk5iONID7LkdnzH8zgpE2zVSDxF1JkGW8Vjai_I8iaPsE2Pl13B7jXgfwwr8dtZMhIdwPAiPzR1TzQEN4Cm4zwMSg/s320/blog_0061af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />If you hadn't guessed, this is highly unusual. Our average temperature this time of year is much warmer. And that snow level there? That snow you see is down to around 2000 feet! Unheard of in these parts.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGu6MNW2h8MgEK6GPeVXktYQALf5JFaFrdo_jJjNqMSovNHyN77cMjm1z1WLlDtHbHEF9pYEhq2BFKZAn-X9ee9oJLThws-ClCyPID_U5VLo9qF3d0gccC7FMVk_DLxC1GuzFMIA/s1600/blog_0063af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 190px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587075810579965794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGu6MNW2h8MgEK6GPeVXktYQALf5JFaFrdo_jJjNqMSovNHyN77cMjm1z1WLlDtHbHEF9pYEhq2BFKZAn-X9ee9oJLThws-ClCyPID_U5VLo9qF3d0gccC7FMVk_DLxC1GuzFMIA/s320/blog_0063af.jpg" /></a><br />So crazy... so, so crazy!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaS1foZIAcyn3976ktSMZJQ2kzPYNprjvzGWjxtMiGAPkqI1vmk3BpNAuUFSvh4jqooLnSq_-E5c5x8r1HuOaanFTOfzbk_EFAdLhIVDqrr1RQ1HoVvyp6wNfI_se_EbkRIACDAQ/s1600/blog_0066af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 110px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587075805828752050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaS1foZIAcyn3976ktSMZJQ2kzPYNprjvzGWjxtMiGAPkqI1vmk3BpNAuUFSvh4jqooLnSq_-E5c5x8r1HuOaanFTOfzbk_EFAdLhIVDqrr1RQ1HoVvyp6wNfI_se_EbkRIACDAQ/s320/blog_0066af.jpg" /></a><br />To see local freeway signs AND snow in the same glance... so crazy!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eItdlEV9YW3dSzHO3vVQUxBeBR5ORBtPHGSHv_-PM-S6lQB2h2WfvZUoQgzI3Z23uoYxx45tkO6VF-566nLHNvKkEoaj8bvCE1HmviU8Uv8Lh0de-UZn4NACfSZJtHMrk98Gag/s1600/blog_0071f.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 166px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587075805440788130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eItdlEV9YW3dSzHO3vVQUxBeBR5ORBtPHGSHv_-PM-S6lQB2h2WfvZUoQgzI3Z23uoYxx45tkO6VF-566nLHNvKkEoaj8bvCE1HmviU8Uv8Lh0de-UZn4NACfSZJtHMrk98Gag/s320/blog_0071f.jpg" /></a><br />An added benefit? Lake Hodges (a local reservoir) is now overflowing. I seem to recall that the last time this happened was over 5 years ago. What a treat!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0zCW5fcTWF3VxGJHNV1MNtouPh4uURLvOcgjK3SIu7WKAwWN-AxoKcVirOLKYpXG8xQb8NHIAUn3Jeu96wp170syw4oz6YAJ7R2XSJiG4T4MHTZK2aw4G1zE-vAF6bByNIf_6A/s1600/blog_0079af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587075412366070082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0zCW5fcTWF3VxGJHNV1MNtouPh4uURLvOcgjK3SIu7WKAwWN-AxoKcVirOLKYpXG8xQb8NHIAUn3Jeu96wp170syw4oz6YAJ7R2XSJiG4T4MHTZK2aw4G1zE-vAF6bByNIf_6A/s320/blog_0079af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLftGpAnWPUy3Ex_BLq56CHidEf40P-1c0jW3nJ0LOI7CFVsNhRqAMQFp7HhBWrzAUntlRR0GBP_qPJ7m_krsWZsudYh7WRKnAUaWm6P5BrIkJGCpY091t5zpTMl6EiHDpJfa3uQ/s1600/blog_0080af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587075406361585170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLftGpAnWPUy3Ex_BLq56CHidEf40P-1c0jW3nJ0LOI7CFVsNhRqAMQFp7HhBWrzAUntlRR0GBP_qPJ7m_krsWZsudYh7WRKnAUaWm6P5BrIkJGCpY091t5zpTMl6EiHDpJfa3uQ/s320/blog_0080af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />So I took the long (and scenic) road home so I could drive by the Lake ... and of course stop and take pictures! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrnmJCsHZzSVGykuY0ChGcbQjiWioFFnu-tIrDOVvs969L8zrCDcz7EyXLgrh07y1QwzmrlwmvrfwmVGEVdxfG0YrwFRlVkR-wtuEZy0YAkgwZmmrQnOTmvP4peLBVgI1ZIhS3Q/s1600/blog_0082af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587075402027397154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrnmJCsHZzSVGykuY0ChGcbQjiWioFFnu-tIrDOVvs969L8zrCDcz7EyXLgrh07y1QwzmrlwmvrfwmVGEVdxfG0YrwFRlVkR-wtuEZy0YAkgwZmmrQnOTmvP4peLBVgI1ZIhS3Q/s320/blog_0082af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhpvaiCQVdO5IoW2j72c71d9tEi4frT2LaRRdfzBbW62oqIs5_S7bbnSkyvJyr2FT72Tbenpkf03ScmvnPCVubTL_j_M-lsSZCXaXtf06JxFInmDMQOwErWXTWWPaCNEBRVEFGQ/s1600/blog_0086af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587075392535519506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhpvaiCQVdO5IoW2j72c71d9tEi4frT2LaRRdfzBbW62oqIs5_S7bbnSkyvJyr2FT72Tbenpkf03ScmvnPCVubTL_j_M-lsSZCXaXtf06JxFInmDMQOwErWXTWWPaCNEBRVEFGQ/s320/blog_0086af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgia9_0uMz-aLvtG-DpPr4oq2FN99k8PnwCXgKXBmGpuoW3O4zHGfDnMdZQYr9FhrTpgvXjLxLxvUJT5264lj5EIXgQCJOOaSHx634pOa96S23SJ637fdAEfTLGZxaQkNsUJdLuaA/s1600/blog_0115af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587075387151984034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgia9_0uMz-aLvtG-DpPr4oq2FN99k8PnwCXgKXBmGpuoW3O4zHGfDnMdZQYr9FhrTpgvXjLxLxvUJT5264lj5EIXgQCJOOaSHx634pOa96S23SJ637fdAEfTLGZxaQkNsUJdLuaA/s320/blog_0115af.jpg" /></a><br />We sure are blessed here in San Diego County. We don't get MUCH weather... but when we do we appreciate it.<br /><br />Actually, I should say <strong><em><u><span style="font-size:130%;">I</span></u></em></strong> appreciate it. (Some of my friends, and even my husband, whine when it rains.) But I welcome it!!! In fact, I'm gleeful it's going to rain again tonight!<br /><br />Literally <em>gleeful...</em><br /><br /><br />weather or not, life is good...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/293/D369CB933B90C5C6625057360F29C216.png" /></a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045098831467422060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489023.post-67415078319679889552011-01-23T16:47:00.000-08:002011-01-23T17:12:00.343-08:00He loves justice...<div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;">Lord, you know my internal struggle today... </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;">the spiritual battle... my plea for justice... </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;">Why do violent people get to keep being violent to the innocent... violence continues to happen to those who cannot speak for themselves. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;">Why, God, why?</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;">This I know:</span></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;">I am here to worship and honor you... </span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;">so how can I worship and honor you in seeking</span></em></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#333333;"><strong><em>justice for the repeated injustices?</em></strong> </span></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"></span></div><p><span style="color:#333333;"></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;">This is my plea ... today more than ever:</span></p><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;">What can <strong><u>I</u></strong> do to honor You today, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;">to honor the legacy of the life at risk,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;">to honor the love instilled in the family name... ? </span></div><br /><div align="center"><strong><u><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"></span></u></strong></div><br /><div align="center"><strong><u><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"></span></u></strong></div><br /><div align="center"><strong><u><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"></span></u></strong></div><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#333333;"><u>Psalm 11<br /></u>For the director of music. Of David.<br /></span></span></div></strong><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;">1 In the LORD I take refuge.<br />How then can you say to me:<br />“Flee like a bird to your mountain.<br /></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;">2 For look, the wicked bend their bows;<br />they set their arrows against the strings<br />to shoot from the shadows<br />at the upright in heart.<br /></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;">3 When the foundations are being destroyed,<br />what can the righteous do?”<br /><br />4 The LORD is in his holy temple;<br />the LORD is on his heavenly throne.<br />He observes everyone on earth;<br />his eyes examine them.<br /></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;">5 The LORD examines the righteous,<br />but the wicked, those who love violence,<br />he hates with a passion.<br /></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;">6 On the wicked he will rain<br />fiery coals and burning sulfur;<br />a scorching wind will be their lot.<br /><br />7 For the LORD is righteous,<br />he loves justice;<br />the upright will see his face.<br /></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;">:::Lord, I pray you lead me in your way everlasting... I pray you order my days, direct my footsteps and rein in my sinful desires. I'm broken. I'm hurting for those who hurt. :::</span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#333333;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#333333;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="font-size:180%;color:#333333;">What would you have me do?</span></em></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/293/D369CB933B90C5C6625057360F29C216.png" /></a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045098831467422060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489023.post-387192943124397832011-01-17T13:11:00.001-08:002011-01-17T13:49:01.523-08:00Life is full of lessons...Today's lesson: the item at the store known as the "all-purpose eraser" (another company calls it the "magic eraser") can be used OUTSIDE too!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAf1uG33ywfe-zxbKiyyNB4t9r13Oa_-YY9swpOWKhautvrSwv9WTpjzblFzTRR2sFEKQF3X2aAtJ_GGzz2x4jn2p5fXZ6MkPk9QJYKOQUGsimYa2yfAbpHcbBVtioPWcYYGCcVg/s1600/blog_0015af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 304px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563266123434609538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAf1uG33ywfe-zxbKiyyNB4t9r13Oa_-YY9swpOWKhautvrSwv9WTpjzblFzTRR2sFEKQF3X2aAtJ_GGzz2x4jn2p5fXZ6MkPk9QJYKOQUGsimYa2yfAbpHcbBVtioPWcYYGCcVg/s320/blog_0015af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Today I learned it can help remove paint scuffs on cars! (ahem)<br /><br /><br />There HAD BEEN a 3 inch x 6 inch "scuff" of white paint on the wheel well of my car ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfpbh4DsmhKT8AXjaRSf6DWuLfGgamcCtNWckJ1FXxqu0gjgjNVDb2zPOYA7exwoEu5yLOaN3NbS9YdVzhu5WiYwosog-Ms6T5uShXM_Nc-wwU6YPtrp1S4uY6V1CLrCJz9ovjQ/s1600/blog_0021af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563266114906035778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfpbh4DsmhKT8AXjaRSf6DWuLfGgamcCtNWckJ1FXxqu0gjgjNVDb2zPOYA7exwoEu5yLOaN3NbS9YdVzhu5WiYwosog-Ms6T5uShXM_Nc-wwU6YPtrp1S4uY6V1CLrCJz9ovjQ/s320/blog_0021af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />But THANKS to the magic eraser, it's no longer there... (ahem)<br /><br /><br />Now, if I can just get <em><strong>THIS</strong> </em>scuff off before the hubby gets home from work... (ahem)...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGaIxSfeoh95aYpo_QMmYc6qkUb54-PaflUhCKoP99fR6Bmmo9YVTaRFXc9Q4ZFPVdiaWLPQXTfTsLGh7H2eD0De5t5MDzf7-MffET4_AA_HmVDqmR9NAav20CrUT-TTBtugobZg/s1600/blog_0020af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563266119972126626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGaIxSfeoh95aYpo_QMmYc6qkUb54-PaflUhCKoP99fR6Bmmo9YVTaRFXc9Q4ZFPVdiaWLPQXTfTsLGh7H2eD0De5t5MDzf7-MffET4_AA_HmVDqmR9NAav20CrUT-TTBtugobZg/s320/blog_0020af.jpg" /></a><br />In all seriousness, this product will only help your paint job if it's merely a "flesh wound"... if the "wound" runs deeper than that (if there is paint scratched off your vehicle) then it will not help your problem, obviously. </p><p>Follow the instructions on the back of the box, add a little elbow grease and this really will work magic in your life.</p><p></p><p>Around the house I also use it to clean door jams/tile grout/door knobs, to remove scuffs on furniture/wood cabinets/appliances and to remind my house who is boss around here.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />life is (mostly) good... (especially when you can get scuffs off cars)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/293/D369CB933B90C5C6625057360F29C216.png" /></a> </p>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045098831467422060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489023.post-38110871088513533762011-01-17T09:33:00.001-08:002011-01-17T10:08:21.780-08:00History cannot be changed...Several weeks ago PublishersWeekly announced in this <a href="http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/45645-upcoming-newsouth-huck-finn-eliminates-the-n-word.html">article</a> that NewSouth Books plans to release a newer version of "Huck Finn" along with <em>The Adventures of Tom Sawyer</em>, that (GET THIS!) replaces the "n" word (as well as the "in" word, "Injun") with the word "slave."<br /><br />Like so many other aspects of our world, this company is attempting to re-write history. It cannot be done. <br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-oKkuW-HJ4VrHMheQZYtUqDb_FWU_zL9HaH-TdScmjNqcwq6d7S5danag2sq_j2uXJGYhTuwbnlPMpzguzbJxMfSbJVs7zSwhyphenhyphenIXxfHy0yKEy7P9-zCN6YysbeZ467h6o9ir-Q/s1600/MTwain+Huck+af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 269px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563209383675406914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-oKkuW-HJ4VrHMheQZYtUqDb_FWU_zL9HaH-TdScmjNqcwq6d7S5danag2sq_j2uXJGYhTuwbnlPMpzguzbJxMfSbJVs7zSwhyphenhyphenIXxfHy0yKEy7P9-zCN6YysbeZ467h6o9ir-Q/s320/MTwain+Huck+af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />What they don't know is that this WILL NOT change history. They might try... but it won't happen. They might try to gloss over what that time in history looked like... but it won't happen. They might try to show that society was a kinder/nicer loving folk... but it won't happen.</p><p> </p><p>Mr. Alan Gribben, a so-called Twain scholar, can justify this change however he sees fit. But it still won't change anything.</p><p> </p><p>The reality is that today our society is still reeling from that hatred and ignorance and fear ...<br /></p><p></p><p>Espcecially today, on a day to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr, I think about the disservice done to our humanity... and I applaud his courage, his positive attitude, his willingness to put his life and the life of his family and friends at risk for the greater good. </p><p> </p><p></p><p><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;">Thank you for your willingness to fight for the right thing, Mr. King.</span></em></strong></p><p><br />"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." - Martin Luther King Jr.<br /><br />"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." - Martin Luther King Jr.<br /></p><p>"The time is always right to do the right thing." - Martin Luther King Jr.<br /><br /></p><p></p><p><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/293/D369CB933B90C5C6625057360F29C216.png" /></a> </p>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045098831467422060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489023.post-65094882260289819932011-01-02T13:52:00.000-08:002011-01-17T14:31:10.800-08:00Happy New Year!!! Welcome 2011...To ring in the New Year my sweet hubby and I got to run off with each other and reconnect. What a treat...<br /><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-T9ecPvDE0Pvf5s7GVhV_GycJD2gT692pT8E9vhPgLhEMrqjHGcfO1JzEXMrQY7RLWPdu5XsYVsxTGY8KpoLRldy2t8r-vrlXuHQj1mvCYdPmcngR8h25p8znzrZRob2qxtaYg/s1600/blog_0001af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563276704111036642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-T9ecPvDE0Pvf5s7GVhV_GycJD2gT692pT8E9vhPgLhEMrqjHGcfO1JzEXMrQY7RLWPdu5XsYVsxTGY8KpoLRldy2t8r-vrlXuHQj1mvCYdPmcngR8h25p8znzrZRob2qxtaYg/s320/blog_0001af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />We stayed at Rancho Bernardo Inn... our room looked out over the 10th green. We flung open the patio doors and let the sunshine in... what a lovely day!<br /><br /><br />This was our view...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgE1sX26ebuIr2ncSTrEi-UiBxFYJFvEvvkVElw_BWqxb0YwRZwc4AIxh2r4it1RHhOY5KP1orZR2p0nAxDQhg2hN-lmNX6od7b9aQMCoPE_YjLLWVdk1s9NhKWstobDL0gpvWQg/s1600/blog_0003af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563276698839763010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgE1sX26ebuIr2ncSTrEi-UiBxFYJFvEvvkVElw_BWqxb0YwRZwc4AIxh2r4it1RHhOY5KP1orZR2p0nAxDQhg2hN-lmNX6od7b9aQMCoPE_YjLLWVdk1s9NhKWstobDL0gpvWQg/s320/blog_0003af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />Later in the evening we took a stroll around the property... and THIS was our view.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPC7aTFcTReOTuD7mZ8eZAvP-wbMUlQD9f_dPYfzwpXoBtSOBz5PGY5RNXYkJ89R85THCa1szrlS3mP6gkztxnSu9ILca8KueR-CRBVSIN74kiAgmlW5o3DQvhDsUgmCtDv3wJA/s1600/blog_0023af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 253px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563277381301800610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPC7aTFcTReOTuD7mZ8eZAvP-wbMUlQD9f_dPYfzwpXoBtSOBz5PGY5RNXYkJ89R85THCa1szrlS3mP6gkztxnSu9ILca8KueR-CRBVSIN74kiAgmlW5o3DQvhDsUgmCtDv3wJA/s320/blog_0023af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />We enjoyed a scrumptious dinner at the Veranda ... have I said yet how much of a treat this was?!<br /><br /><br /><br />And for the rest of our time... this was the serene vista from the front door.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pcNnllFi61Rx5CfUdAi5yNk5CN7lbn9EGFmlInQganWzS-YZtWew2kSuAqcLeF_N2ZhumdgwtGR00gvdIMLig80lJ_WqBTCPzEI1vIfZJRq6h6AE6SJQM0GS5B15_vhRNRgg8Q/s1600/blog_0004af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563276690796921570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pcNnllFi61Rx5CfUdAi5yNk5CN7lbn9EGFmlInQganWzS-YZtWew2kSuAqcLeF_N2ZhumdgwtGR00gvdIMLig80lJ_WqBTCPzEI1vIfZJRq6h6AE6SJQM0GS5B15_vhRNRgg8Q/s320/blog_0004af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2puA4dVtaTUOUs628EHrygetGabTE4dDMd6xrH_QtBtrRgB43cE4lwMV0AMUADMuLDHi7__J34CAaR6DRUAsor8xt4euJPnIy_veXAmyAn9Sfk9QHeSmo_idTsDxXVBoOJUxeA/s1600/blog_0006af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563276409881616098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2puA4dVtaTUOUs628EHrygetGabTE4dDMd6xrH_QtBtrRgB43cE4lwMV0AMUADMuLDHi7__J34CAaR6DRUAsor8xt4euJPnIy_veXAmyAn9Sfk9QHeSmo_idTsDxXVBoOJUxeA/s320/blog_0006af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_VhUIghM4MbTlHcDEaiD1HqfJhcytCEOoVtz9zliFmed7ASgLIIgfgQiFwMn700a0lj99uAnHbip8-dL3xKysH7oqD4iz2pCTUOBD7nxfRn6pyMO9S42sRH9u6z5RhK5tNyRuDQ/s1600/blog_0008af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563276403884401890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_VhUIghM4MbTlHcDEaiD1HqfJhcytCEOoVtz9zliFmed7ASgLIIgfgQiFwMn700a0lj99uAnHbip8-dL3xKysH7oqD4iz2pCTUOBD7nxfRn6pyMO9S42sRH9u6z5RhK5tNyRuDQ/s320/blog_0008af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Our suite was perfectly sized. With a desk and an ottomon and two chairs... perfect for reading by the patio doors in the morning!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJjEJ6e9s3xu98rURcwPLvFzhZFOoMLJeFdA0cjX-nq2-BCwjzNgnOSa3PJf3XA8WY9pU0IFl-ainICppbfNj1GnRt4KgRoAWQ9INJE6gGbck3YygeeGTfS1pWY-eJYMZ2ycdG-Q/s1600/blog_0009af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563276395871237170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJjEJ6e9s3xu98rURcwPLvFzhZFOoMLJeFdA0cjX-nq2-BCwjzNgnOSa3PJf3XA8WY9pU0IFl-ainICppbfNj1GnRt4KgRoAWQ9INJE6gGbck3YygeeGTfS1pWY-eJYMZ2ycdG-Q/s320/blog_0009af.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRNTZypRQMVPZ_mJ9Uein2XvQvA2JLKICmmhzpOhYoiE5foFSLwhwzeZXPpk5BXbHUp9RHup-Nr2l_SAv88OKp9cmnERvH7KgGd8tdT8J1JBOsDDNTs6_i6CPK2DCRNVMULv_gyQ/s1600/blog_0010af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563276392985220114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRNTZypRQMVPZ_mJ9Uein2XvQvA2JLKICmmhzpOhYoiE5foFSLwhwzeZXPpk5BXbHUp9RHup-Nr2l_SAv88OKp9cmnERvH7KgGd8tdT8J1JBOsDDNTs6_i6CPK2DCRNVMULv_gyQ/s320/blog_0010af.jpg" /></a> </p><p>Granted, he was "on call" as "manager on duty" for the night... but I wasn't complaining! I say, let's do this more often! I am one lucky girl... </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7SHX_74exivHWOXeoLtNaQgp_QPL1sBY_sHK_LaHYTnxUOmSex9mbL79zb77mxTqUVZQIFcX3NHoSWpE4sm7xRmw9BjEkoBYLpXf-tb2e_d2y0UVcc1WWlO0lTt8KVRVp0rjeQ/s1600/blog_0011af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 224px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563276385378907778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7SHX_74exivHWOXeoLtNaQgp_QPL1sBY_sHK_LaHYTnxUOmSex9mbL79zb77mxTqUVZQIFcX3NHoSWpE4sm7xRmw9BjEkoBYLpXf-tb2e_d2y0UVcc1WWlO0lTt8KVRVp0rjeQ/s320/blog_0011af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />life is good...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/293/D369CB933B90C5C6625057360F29C216.png" /></a> </p>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045098831467422060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489023.post-33884570992156641792010-12-24T16:05:00.000-08:002010-12-24T16:05:22.484-08:00The indescribable gift...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQGEu3d3Ay8SSPxaM093Epj7isCOX2ljWp_sbwDA82R4PxtIpGl4axIjxr4abR9klel8-tFM7tsdazvzUAD46ldPOd20yElj1iAMf79vmU5yofLqOueR8y84z553xTJ6flRuoyA/s1600/blog_0224af.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQGEu3d3Ay8SSPxaM093Epj7isCOX2ljWp_sbwDA82R4PxtIpGl4axIjxr4abR9klel8-tFM7tsdazvzUAD46ldPOd20yElj1iAMf79vmU5yofLqOueR8y84z553xTJ6flRuoyA/s320/blog_0224af.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554404037450663346" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtO0b5Ja9nVJQXEzzHHMDebMblXQejE6NPB4hqA0sj3qZFqwfDzPsc8PmwH6Oqre-gvqFnEhJ5suUmfz0_w6SV3dh_QSJetXG0QQ0g1j_iBTsRy-Usz3j2ENIMHIWvRLfwLh3Dg/s1600/blog_0223af.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtO0b5Ja9nVJQXEzzHHMDebMblXQejE6NPB4hqA0sj3qZFqwfDzPsc8PmwH6Oqre-gvqFnEhJ5suUmfz0_w6SV3dh_QSJetXG0QQ0g1j_iBTsRy-Usz3j2ENIMHIWvRLfwLh3Dg/s320/blog_0223af.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554404045247994626" /></a><br /><br />Enjoy some snapshots of what our house looks like this Christmas... it's a bit more dressed up this year than the past few years. And I'm happy about that...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNHhWd0gUJenC9YwqvZZmhs6Nckn5W72q20PAt1uv7nWe39uhWfkGQ4-rCveWI6K2JNG71-2LZ9ErT2juH73AWvDDJnEGx0kC9kvRE1DPyKchyphenhyphenmw0S0482eQrFgifaOqUJqn4XQ/s1600/blog_0218af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 224px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554315897716196914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNHhWd0gUJenC9YwqvZZmhs6Nckn5W72q20PAt1uv7nWe39uhWfkGQ4-rCveWI6K2JNG71-2LZ9ErT2juH73AWvDDJnEGx0kC9kvRE1DPyKchyphenhyphenmw0S0482eQrFgifaOqUJqn4XQ/s320/blog_0218af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />We "dressed" up the house a bit more this year because my parents were coming in for an early Christmas celebration. And if family was coming into town for Christmas that meant that the previous years' Christmas-ficus simply wasn't going to do. It was time for decking the halls a bit more...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg728Y5YVSY1fA_G0IqzumF-ME0qdC-itZTTmkPoOT5o0olZx_34G6iNwtlWZRhpSS9YftCt5Afj8nkzzTdkyNR5xWCOsK4a4_3ZD7rHqaAFxXLAaMC5UcU-NaCOZf7Z6fHwwutXA/s1600/blog_0190af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 224px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554342883179162994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg728Y5YVSY1fA_G0IqzumF-ME0qdC-itZTTmkPoOT5o0olZx_34G6iNwtlWZRhpSS9YftCt5Afj8nkzzTdkyNR5xWCOsK4a4_3ZD7rHqaAFxXLAaMC5UcU-NaCOZf7Z6fHwwutXA/s320/blog_0190af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />So, deck the halls we did...<br /><br /><br />Here you are looking at a sled all decked out with greenery and ornaments and shiny/glitzy things...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFE5doUpJLO-w4YAjhNeVaaFSSl51cf2_uBoV8_6bdVSg40OipfFeQGw8WbzSgvw-5FFegoFD-2wNW2koYCBRl1T3R2SojVoM-NkczHwDS-w0KDS5T4f8QZUBBMvXklOiVtwOadw/s1600/blog_0212af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554315909941279762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFE5doUpJLO-w4YAjhNeVaaFSSl51cf2_uBoV8_6bdVSg40OipfFeQGw8WbzSgvw-5FFegoFD-2wNW2koYCBRl1T3R2SojVoM-NkczHwDS-w0KDS5T4f8QZUBBMvXklOiVtwOadw/s320/blog_0212af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsrrKgEGvOGBN1EhkJppxnO5UGJcEglmQcS0Qv4kap3RW2fr7bfYUKoTR1HWZB7Rg3sSo40oSzppETrLa6qgyuVTOgbM9N9HTpY11wuVyboyQXRE3CvpPwXV4GQGgSU4uXvPMeg/s1600/blog_0213af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 224px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554315904753948130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsrrKgEGvOGBN1EhkJppxnO5UGJcEglmQcS0Qv4kap3RW2fr7bfYUKoTR1HWZB7Rg3sSo40oSzppETrLa6qgyuVTOgbM9N9HTpY11wuVyboyQXRE3CvpPwXV4GQGgSU4uXvPMeg/s320/blog_0213af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />And the kitchen table centerpiece, top view... we gathered up leftover branches at the tree farm when we picked out our tree. You'll see them all over the place...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6FL6IemyI151OGOBIhK6bY-7zWdcs42rzNfnhN2VGK5JVsu4nfuojwWS1mnsWZRMiLxql3B-roDPHIWXYhvweY7hMXOxZI_5xNaq3keRZyWKLL8DAkyfNLsFz12Hr3QlYIe5Jg/s1600/blog_0178af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554343289405293442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6FL6IemyI151OGOBIhK6bY-7zWdcs42rzNfnhN2VGK5JVsu4nfuojwWS1mnsWZRMiLxql3B-roDPHIWXYhvweY7hMXOxZI_5xNaq3keRZyWKLL8DAkyfNLsFz12Hr3QlYIe5Jg/s320/blog_0178af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Side view of the centerpiece...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wQCXAVLXRYX-GhI9zqib0g1py0ZFKOSP5o9ucfrCfFeGBhANRiDVQBgrF22aftGdece9L2ZseQJpAHFqv0_4BQ0Wp1FCNahsA5ZcZ9CcQuQHqzfzz8iFWgfmZFuvGoDd15OKgw/s1600/blog_0179af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554343284423210914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wQCXAVLXRYX-GhI9zqib0g1py0ZFKOSP5o9ucfrCfFeGBhANRiDVQBgrF22aftGdece9L2ZseQJpAHFqv0_4BQ0Wp1FCNahsA5ZcZ9CcQuQHqzfzz8iFWgfmZFuvGoDd15OKgw/s320/blog_0179af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Where the Christmas cards are perched and hung...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Q2TUWlii4bkUNgiQDMRhGzwhiaX4jU6bk1I-EJsioa7QktqGP3TpymAqZAjNq0WK3WGgW7y6JOgxn8Bz2cNNhBQJLussV52U2B8r9BOKFP-BfRSjm4m6pcK5dqdGruaeO08oPw/s1600/blog_0185af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554343280026210802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Q2TUWlii4bkUNgiQDMRhGzwhiaX4jU6bk1I-EJsioa7QktqGP3TpymAqZAjNq0WK3WGgW7y6JOgxn8Bz2cNNhBQJLussV52U2B8r9BOKFP-BfRSjm4m6pcK5dqdGruaeO08oPw/s320/blog_0185af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzsi6Di2LCq42_uadDV0Rad3W5bzyrUif-ERHvAVtzkZ8hkbQI7QsoFq40xELnKnLtkx1BWN6aXfLdA_1b2tFrACxYVKI66_pnwWQ6W-dMu9mK_oal0y8_GW3Y_mnwk1wjg7Qtg/s1600/blog_0186af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554342899880439890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzsi6Di2LCq42_uadDV0Rad3W5bzyrUif-ERHvAVtzkZ8hkbQI7QsoFq40xELnKnLtkx1BWN6aXfLdA_1b2tFrACxYVKI66_pnwWQ6W-dMu9mK_oal0y8_GW3Y_mnwk1wjg7Qtg/s320/blog_0186af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />The centerpiece by the front door.... pine scented candle...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggomzaU47xePBaKw_KA7wwG6oc4YxOot_3CqdUQPlOi_l5OMSjRNfs8FzmV-_ny0py7I-4YrFuIUG6DOHS9k2KN1dKKbq2Jguwm3yiFvZP080eRCR6ZL469hj8kZu5i7WgC9et2Q/s1600/blog_0188af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554342893450811746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggomzaU47xePBaKw_KA7wwG6oc4YxOot_3CqdUQPlOi_l5OMSjRNfs8FzmV-_ny0py7I-4YrFuIUG6DOHS9k2KN1dKKbq2Jguwm3yiFvZP080eRCR6ZL469hj8kZu5i7WgC9et2Q/s320/blog_0188af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />Garland over french doors... poinsettias, berries and lights...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dr3bLuATbxiJkyNAJxegXhkbs7qRBL1GF5PiuayUilq4BDQonTeei-M1DQ1bFJyJ1oZGZIEYURQHdx2hYxZtPF0hT8A5AUVxksE5LZcENs0xbo40qUvKjM4w_hXhkHGfG53qcw/s1600/blog_0195af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554342874645859010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dr3bLuATbxiJkyNAJxegXhkbs7qRBL1GF5PiuayUilq4BDQonTeei-M1DQ1bFJyJ1oZGZIEYURQHdx2hYxZtPF0hT8A5AUVxksE5LZcENs0xbo40qUvKjM4w_hXhkHGfG53qcw/s320/blog_0195af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Basket of cinnamon-scented pinecones, silk flowers, etc...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukYiS5RihrO8cSttkuqQrpxgI3J6fyrkFsWMonHlgsnan5atfFho_gocuy1XaTncrWlD1GhvP5Jxq5vZPRm-PkhZx2smGeXq8BimxyBVXd82WyqOfOUqas3bIeI6kinGl1s_tgQ/s1600/blog_0200af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 224px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554342871068948050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukYiS5RihrO8cSttkuqQrpxgI3J6fyrkFsWMonHlgsnan5atfFho_gocuy1XaTncrWlD1GhvP5Jxq5vZPRm-PkhZx2smGeXq8BimxyBVXd82WyqOfOUqas3bIeI6kinGl1s_tgQ/s320/blog_0200af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />And the manger... without the manger none of this would mean <a href="http://shutterbabelori.blogspot.com/2010/12/overjoyed-and-saddened.html"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">ANYTHING</span></a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrCRSP66OJ-ZccUivDX8g4pSdbJJpdS01z3O0Gsu_LAFA_2heemWC49FzcIzo6WODPBJt-309Xw20kipDNPzsMaj9PDg3OEo2pXIaJDzcE0dguqD9zt_OZFIwCvrVXwwedLWPnA/s1600/blog_0210af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554315912852566866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrCRSP66OJ-ZccUivDX8g4pSdbJJpdS01z3O0Gsu_LAFA_2heemWC49FzcIzo6WODPBJt-309Xw20kipDNPzsMaj9PDg3OEo2pXIaJDzcE0dguqD9zt_OZFIwCvrVXwwedLWPnA/s320/blog_0210af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35XZ71ndcc8vDEYxuSrMpFu9iSHQ7hbGYrwCiCrJJ3sDa06yPQ48DEbI3tbY9IvfdElpbmW3XVR-EGKRGk_Mg-XWSoYqOR0Xv1MmmExNk07ijFDqeJ63M0kHUYkOU_FdZE4S_Gw/s1600/blog_0204af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554315919339987730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35XZ71ndcc8vDEYxuSrMpFu9iSHQ7hbGYrwCiCrJJ3sDa06yPQ48DEbI3tbY9IvfdElpbmW3XVR-EGKRGk_Mg-XWSoYqOR0Xv1MmmExNk07ijFDqeJ63M0kHUYkOU_FdZE4S_Gw/s320/blog_0204af.jpg" /></a><br /><br />"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" 2 Corinthians 9:15<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/293/D369CB933B90C5C6625057360F29C216.png" /></a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045098831467422060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489023.post-16047055080727184172010-12-23T17:46:00.000-08:002010-12-23T17:59:17.343-08:00Overjoyed and Saddened<div align="center">The planning and rushing and standing in line and spending and all of that… </div><div align="center">the never-ending discussions of what to get for kids of certain ages, where to find great deals, whose name was pulled for the gift exchange</div><div align="center">and what in the world you are going to get for them... </div><br /><div align="center"><br /><em><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>It all saddened me so deeply today,</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>that I cried...<br /></div></strong></span></em><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Tears fell for hurting and lost people.</div><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Tears stung my cheeks for those who do not know</div><div align="center">{or choose not to celebrate} the real reason for this season… </div><div align="center">the birth of Jesus Christ, the most important reason we celebrate this season.<br /></div><br /><div align="center"><br /><em><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>My heart tore in two …<br /></strong></span></em></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">And yet this has been one of the most joyous Christmases I've had for a very long time: I had the privilege of spending time with my parents... something I haven't done at Christmas time in over 10 years! We laughed together, we cried together... we enjoyed precious time together. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /><br />But I come back to this... </div><div align="center">it does not matter that your children did/did not get the newest toy, </div><div align="center">or that they are/are not wearing the newest clothing fads. </div><div align="center">It does not matter that you couldn’t spend as much this year on presents. </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">It merely doesn’t matter…<br /></div><br /><div align="center"><br />What matters is… a babe was born in a stable. </div><br /><div align="center">Jesus Christ was sent to this earth by God the Father. </div><br /><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;">He walked among us</span></em>,</strong> lived a Godly example here on earth, </div><div align="center">shared God’s Great Commission, </div><div align="center">was mocked and beaten and eventually sacrificed His life </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>for ME, for YOU, for generations to come...<br /></strong><br /></span></em>This man who walked among us gave us the best gift we could ever, ever,<strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;"> ever </span></em></strong>ask for {and we didn’t even know we needed it}: </div><div align="center"><em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">He gave us His unconditional love, His forgiveness, a hope and a future.<br /></span></strong></em></div><br /><div align="center"><br />Click here for the <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%202&version=NIV">Story of the birth of Christ</a>, as told in the gospel of Luke<br /></div><br /><div align="center"><br />This year, more than ever, I celebrate Christ’s birth in a new way: by humbly serving Him more every day and searching out His will for my life. </div><div align="center">It is my pleasure to sit at His feet and listen.</div><div align="center">To sit in awe and be still with Him… with Him I can just be still.<br /></div><div align="center"><br />I wish you and your family the most merry of Christmases… </div><br /><div align="center">as we celebrate Christ’s birth together.</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;">From our home to yours, Merry CHRISTmas... </span></em></strong></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/293/D369CB933B90C5C6625057360F29C216.png" /></a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045098831467422060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489023.post-71985286288764585462010-12-23T16:43:00.001-08:002010-12-23T16:54:03.541-08:00At the starting line…<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pTXnFtqMLbREAfMaPZaJUlXEPmdv3QlL6_Z3rVgsDEr7NXHSORGFZSU1eEXnqRKd2Ogksv1utYDRKlQh6w9KIlaWihSVcgfsjFJowgq-7Ua3XW_OPPpEj_z1zLfDvjN8fZOFaQ/s1600/DSC_0688_0494af.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 158px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554043168585093858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pTXnFtqMLbREAfMaPZaJUlXEPmdv3QlL6_Z3rVgsDEr7NXHSORGFZSU1eEXnqRKd2Ogksv1utYDRKlQh6w9KIlaWihSVcgfsjFJowgq-7Ua3XW_OPPpEj_z1zLfDvjN8fZOFaQ/s320/DSC_0688_0494af.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><em>feeling anticipation</em> {but not anxious}.<br /><em>feeling excitement </em>{but not thrilled}.<br /><em>feeling apprehensive</em> {but not fearful}.<br /><br />deep in my soul… <em>I feel a stirring</em>. </div><div align="center"><br /><br />I sense a renewing, some change getting ready to take place. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">I can almost see God creating something new in me as I sit here and type. </div><div align="center">I so look forward to seeing what it is… to seeing that change happen before my eyes. </div><div align="center">I look forward to realizing that what I’ve been anticipating has come to fruition.<br /><br /><em>And yet somehow I know that’s a long way out… </em><br /><br /></div><div align="center">benediction:</div><div align="center">show me where you want me to go, Lord… </div><div align="center">I am your servant. </div><div align="center">lead your way in me and show me what you would have me do, </div><div align="center">who to serve, how to be YOU on this earth…<br /><br /><br />I’ll start with the first step… obeying you.<br /><br />I'm standing here at the starting line… <em>ready for the journey… </em></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/293/D369CB933B90C5C6625057360F29C216.png" /></a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045098831467422060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489023.post-59702858945924696752010-12-21T20:24:00.000-08:002010-12-21T20:44:22.118-08:00A {strong} challenge...Today I stopped in to read up on a blog I check out from time to time... and I was hit square between the eyes with a challenge...<br /><br /><br /><br />blog to visit: <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/2010/12/the-gift-of-strong-words/">Only speak words that make souls stronger</a><br /><br /><br /><br />I've now got this printable plaque posted in just about every room of my house, my office wall, the bathroom mirror, the truck, as a bookmark, in my checkbook (do I <strong><em>really</em></strong> still use a checkbook)... you get the point!<br /><br /><br /><br />As I contemplated this today several things were apparent:<br />1) Sometimes those words are loving/gentle words<br />2) Sometimes those words are direct/strong words<br />3) Sometimes those words are painful<br />4) Sometimes those words are tough to say<br />5) Most importantly, those words should be God's words<br /><br /><br /><p> </p><p>Will you take<em> MY</em> challenge? </p><br /><u>If so, do 3 things for me:</u><br />1) Read the above blog<br />2) Print up a few copies of the "plaque" and post it in several places<br />3) Contemplate on what it means to you, how you can act it out<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/293/D369CB933B90C5C6625057360F29C216.png" /></a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045098831467422060noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489023.post-77515769700568582752010-11-27T06:21:00.001-08:002010-11-27T06:52:47.489-08:00Thanksgiving... YIPPEE!!!Thanksgiving... how I've been looking forward to you. And while looking forward to you I was talking with my Grampa M last week... we chatted about the upcoming turkey and gravy, and all the fixin's. And he turned and looked at me, his eyes widening... and he exclaimed "YIIIPPPEEEE!!!!"<br /><br /><br />Thanksgiving... I think I might like you more than I like Christmas... (gasp!)<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqElW3qVF3sWAtQHlNuEbgr4T6BKKSWils1K6Xg_4IoSFE7BRHsNbDMlstYL67UpVps6w9VjLyVHPf0TyxWGfA2jORSe2fKB9xd67YX1Xj-fdnUp1DWgmSx93CSjKBFLLzTCFtQ/s1600/collageTDay2010txt.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 255px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544238188025005506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqElW3qVF3sWAtQHlNuEbgr4T6BKKSWils1K6Xg_4IoSFE7BRHsNbDMlstYL67UpVps6w9VjLyVHPf0TyxWGfA2jORSe2fKB9xd67YX1Xj-fdnUp1DWgmSx93CSjKBFLLzTCFtQ/s320/collageTDay2010txt.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bU24hVQocc3RBeFlx9LOWJq4VAk-PfoNDPEBpi4JkxDE-nP0LVeAbzk3yjCxRbKuyhxzh-QSGn-vM2TKQ2CKdEmYiUaijv9aFBySFlNmcAkwd_VLgeNjBnCYnqGX-xqtpIS_9Q/s1600/collageTDay2010txt.jpg"></a><br /><br />Extra time with husband, aunt and uncle, cousins and other family friends. Good food. Oranges and plums and browns and mustard colors. Music time. Cold weather (aka snuggly weather).<br /><br />Plus, there's still a lot to look forward to... more holiday baking, cooking and enjoying. I don't have to pack everything up and put it away right away. I will soon work on my Christmas cards (crafting and writing and sending). I will soon receive Christmas cards in the mail... <br /><br /><br />My heart is bursting with gratitude ... <br /><br /><br />We truly are blessed... we know it. We share it. We love life and all that God has given us. <br /><br /><br /><br />Life is good...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/293/D369CB933B90C5C6625057360F29C216.png" /></a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045098831467422060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489023.post-33380511849980561862010-10-24T07:57:00.000-07:002010-10-25T16:39:38.082-07:00Dreams...When it comes to dreams I don’t usually remember them (nor do I give much credence to their symbolism). And if I do remember them it’s because they are so outrageous and weird (like my mother ACTUALLY having 16 heads or that I won a Lamborghini) that it’s simply hard to believe.<br /><br />But this morning? This morning I had some dreams that stirred me to the core… that woke me with a start.<br /><br />The first dream was about someone I talk to almost every day. And as I visited with her at her home, I found she had been working endlessly to re-arrange and remodel her entire house. Yet, she had not breathed a word of it to me when we would talk on a regular basis. Was it me? Was I not asking her what she had planned for the day? Was I too caught up in my own problems/excitement/drama to ask about what’s going on in her life? Or was she hiding something on purpose? If so, why would she do that? (These are earnest questions… I want to know the “WHY” - why would she hide this? I want to know the “WHY” so I can fix what needs to be fixed.)<br /><br />The second dream was about a childhood friend who wouldn’t look me in the eyes. She was hiding her facial expression behind a book… literally. When she would talk to me she would hold a book up in front of her face. And later in the dream when I came around to talk to her about it, she was receiving comfort from a surprising source… someone who has been two-faced (very obviously acting/responding to one person a certain way while acting/responding differently to another person/group of people).<br /><br />Not to mention, this third person has been outwardly un-authentic … telling me what she WANTS me to know, rather than being real with me… even if it means disagreeing with my take on things. (And whoever said we all have to agree with each other?! What a boring existence that would be!) She has a different answer for every person she talks to. She is simply a mirror of the person she is having a conversation with. Why? Does she not feel confident enough to have her own opinion? Does she want to fit in so badly that she just agrees with everyone?<br /><br />But back to my thoughts on the 2nd friend… was she going to all of this trouble to hide something from me? Does she feel I will judge her? Does she feel I will belittle her? Why wouldn’t she come to me for comfort? Or have I offended her in a way that it hurts her to face me?<br /><br /><br />Did these dreams signify something in my life? Did they signify that my friends are hurting and that I need to pray for them, reach out to them? Or is it more of an internal thing? Do they signify that I have some work to do on myself so that I don’t cause these dramatic problems in my friendships?<br /><br />Should these dreams even signify anything to me at all? Am I reading too much into the dreams spurred on by the spicy food I had for dinner last night?!<br /><br />I sit here and ponder… praying for my hurting friends, any strained relationships, my own person. Through daily learning and an honest desire to better myself, I can be the best wife/friend/team-mate/co-worker I know how to be. It is my earnest desire that I can be honest/real/authentic with others and that they can be the same with me… whether we agree with each other or not, whether we see things from the same perspective or not, whether or not …<br /><br />“Whether or not”… we can only be true to ourselves. Being true to ourselves we face ourselves and our relationships with authenticity.<br /><br />And here is the “ah, ha!” moment…<br /><br />As a Christian I fully believe this:<br />To be authentic it is imperative to maintain that God created us in HIS image. And HE LOVES US!<br /><br />CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?! Ugliness and all… imperfections and all… even with all the crazy/weird things we think or do. So why do we hide our ugly parts, our inadequacies, our unsure footing? Why do we try to impress others… or even show each other up, attempt to be better than others? Is it because we don’t like ourselves? We don’t like who HE created us to be?<br /><br />Let me say it again… God created us in HIS image! How He loves us…<br /><br /><br />How comforting to know He loves me … just the way I am.<br /><br /><br />Amazing song: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWgeUrD4MHI">How He Loves Us</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Life is good...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/293/D369CB933B90C5C6625057360F29C216.png" /></a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045098831467422060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489023.post-66976121495248906822010-10-10T07:27:00.000-07:002010-10-10T07:49:01.754-07:00My Grandmother's handwriting...I was going through some storage boxes several weeks ago... <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlknbMyOVexKwtQeY8GTrK-odEPkGcT78gYFWgjvBRaIfesCiCdiPrfJCVeqiZcqJtkDErzhGfGTrhE-why5h0gR4JyTSTYtZPRRhW8RLjJ0cqwOzzV6Q2PBEQ1EFt4xiBSYn_w/s1600/blog_0002af.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlknbMyOVexKwtQeY8GTrK-odEPkGcT78gYFWgjvBRaIfesCiCdiPrfJCVeqiZcqJtkDErzhGfGTrhE-why5h0gR4JyTSTYtZPRRhW8RLjJ0cqwOzzV6Q2PBEQ1EFt4xiBSYn_w/s320/blog_0002af.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526429130192292242" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisxIWz00QLb2_aBe05bjK-BQEvwfOJHZppDcUCpzdIK96hzDQFPSrMMY4IG7Jz2-vk-qG3sVunSzL__Mg-z0DY9nX9UktBhsa2Vg5UMbP_KVt_zD5ycNR5ESx7d3JSx7vM3UrPQ/s1600/blog_0005af.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 308px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisxIWz00QLb2_aBe05bjK-BQEvwfOJHZppDcUCpzdIK96hzDQFPSrMMY4IG7Jz2-vk-qG3sVunSzL__Mg-z0DY9nX9UktBhsa2Vg5UMbP_KVt_zD5ycNR5ESx7d3JSx7vM3UrPQ/s320/blog_0005af.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526424142143313874" /></a><br /><br />And stumbled across this letter from my Grandmother Ruth. It was written in 1994... <br /><br /><br />Upon seeing her handwriting, my sorting stopped. I sat there and looked at the writing... not reading it, just looking at the curves of her "L"... the slant of her "H"... the loop under the "G"... and I started crying. <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWId33BLNvJOlA1vYSE2nIFwsXBtAg91c1rjac6biDMD6Ula4IZKPLOb2vssIHL9tw6vLsBQyMGYVJPrTZ6EtKgKv2Qs82sSKX4iYtLwdMjOqHF8612pLViZAfcYpU-m9wrvazSw/s1600/blog_0007afbw.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWId33BLNvJOlA1vYSE2nIFwsXBtAg91c1rjac6biDMD6Ula4IZKPLOb2vssIHL9tw6vLsBQyMGYVJPrTZ6EtKgKv2Qs82sSKX4iYtLwdMjOqHF8612pLViZAfcYpU-m9wrvazSw/s320/blog_0007afbw.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526424146430468450" /></a><br /><br /><br />I desperately miss my Gramma Ruth. One Thanksgiving week she lost her battle to cancer. Now every Thanksgiving, several times throughout the day, we'll talk about Gramma. How funny she was. How her house smelled. How she made a new dessert every night with dinner. How she loved her Franciscan Apple dinnerware.<br /><br />When she was dying I was in "a bad place" of my life... and I didn't visit her very much. I couldn't deal with losing her. And so I acted as if she'd already passed. Oh how I regret that now... <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4FVLa9ejEvWHn-wDza9Wq8dswho9hjUpE_oZgeZRxkkBGVOo3hIkPk4302oXUshFMoZzOgpqnQ7d3dnPPU42K4-mczqwBSIk1iRzK_S1yPhGTBdybqQu29sbaxfZZXrMCHFpig/s1600/Marshek2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4FVLa9ejEvWHn-wDza9Wq8dswho9hjUpE_oZgeZRxkkBGVOo3hIkPk4302oXUshFMoZzOgpqnQ7d3dnPPU42K4-mczqwBSIk1iRzK_S1yPhGTBdybqQu29sbaxfZZXrMCHFpig/s320/Marshek2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526427889673488082" /></a><br /><br /><br />This picture was taken at their 50th anniversary celebration. We were at Anthony's Fish Market in Chula Vista. We enjoyed time together... in true Marshek tradition, over food. But we knew her days were numbered...<br /><br />Gramma was only with us a few more months after that picture was taken. And we sure appreciated the time together. <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSfOyj3l-5u5yNfw1dpCyFHj2uZn3vNN9sTcmP62I2WSsFx4Qs3je6HmazKpuh_2w_tpetJ5MbsLLR6p9fawIQYfRK0YUWZVLglinAMSn6V-5HUu3RcIOdKIm9abBlFbJH3LVrg/s1600/Marshek6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSfOyj3l-5u5yNfw1dpCyFHj2uZn3vNN9sTcmP62I2WSsFx4Qs3je6HmazKpuh_2w_tpetJ5MbsLLR6p9fawIQYfRK0YUWZVLglinAMSn6V-5HUu3RcIOdKIm9abBlFbJH3LVrg/s320/Marshek6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526427891862249890" /></a><br /><br />She took care of her family the best she knew how. She loved many children... hers and those that God alowed to pass through their lives (through the foster system). But most of all... she loved my Grampa. And for that I'm grateful. My Grandparents are leaving quite the legacy for the family to carry on... <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Life is good... <br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/293/D369CB933B90C5C6625057360F29C216.png" /></a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045098831467422060noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489023.post-80265581433270208052010-09-24T21:03:00.000-07:002010-10-10T07:27:06.221-07:00The projects continue...My Dad was in town for a couple days.<br /><br />I first greeted him with a hug.<br /><br />Then I broke it to him that I had some projects waiting... <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmdRq5_WudET13bMgaruKLXY5Y7otQpRSrexpUytQUw1TBnNOCterRa4flNW5ZQl-Ylxc7175Le8fTnuGL6JMdGGBWd1XG8d5gJQ6ypcTeXNWbfsg39tDXRgKI4qdLvCTTx_HuCA/s1600/blog_0013af.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmdRq5_WudET13bMgaruKLXY5Y7otQpRSrexpUytQUw1TBnNOCterRa4flNW5ZQl-Ylxc7175Le8fTnuGL6JMdGGBWd1XG8d5gJQ6ypcTeXNWbfsg39tDXRgKI4qdLvCTTx_HuCA/s320/blog_0013af.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520832000303470738" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrmT8lyjG5PWBqY222yRzRtM7u47NOUKBKW_zv4IV3d_G15z61QxJNzYMELctGP7VUrlnFuE9Ey9YxSuO_bSLjegYVPA_nw7q8Z3WEPA4T6653UhFKK5wRZtYiDbYsHvmKJ8sgQ/s1600/blog_0017af.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrmT8lyjG5PWBqY222yRzRtM7u47NOUKBKW_zv4IV3d_G15z61QxJNzYMELctGP7VUrlnFuE9Ey9YxSuO_bSLjegYVPA_nw7q8Z3WEPA4T6653UhFKK5wRZtYiDbYsHvmKJ8sgQ/s320/blog_0017af.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520831994770467394" /></a><br /><br />Dad - thanks for taking the time to remove the old light covers, trim the new ones and install them! It sure makes my kitchen a lot brighter! <br /><br /><br />But I have one problem... after replacing them I can see how dirty my kitchen is... <br /><br /><br />Life is good...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/293/D369CB933B90C5C6625057360F29C216.png" /></a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045098831467422060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11489023.post-41947892836229356202010-09-24T20:58:00.000-07:002010-09-24T21:03:09.980-07:00what kind of tree am i?a palm? if so, what kind?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bEEcBEY6rVcZ5Nms2wEPY3nny2Kojk1vn7YIvLIlfY6IzX_fPhscwZRuwD_sI30CaGffnOqWVIqOX2n1PanktTaSiO0alUd1GI28QEcoyNhfqccn8g26S_M4LrP6LrEFzFdJyA/s1600/Blake_0053af.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bEEcBEY6rVcZ5Nms2wEPY3nny2Kojk1vn7YIvLIlfY6IzX_fPhscwZRuwD_sI30CaGffnOqWVIqOX2n1PanktTaSiO0alUd1GI28QEcoyNhfqccn8g26S_M4LrP6LrEFzFdJyA/s320/Blake_0053af.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520695847347395522" /></a><br /><br />i've searched high and low... and can't seem to figure this one out... <br /><br /><br /><br />i would appreciate some intel... <br /><br />who says "intel"?! sorry... apparently i've been watching too much tv...<br /><br /><br />see that spikey looking thing coming out of the middle? that's the next frond getting ready to sprout and open up... <br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/293/D369CB933B90C5C6625057360F29C216.png" /></a>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045098831467422060noreply@blogger.com0