My birthday was nearly a month ago, but it's not over yet. Petra's gift arrived yesterday. Petra has already sent an assortment of Dutch houses and shops, so now that she's in Leon, it looks I will have at least one representing France. Love the Frenchman that came with it, carrying it's bread on a bicycle. I love my birthday present!   Along with this miniature house, I should add that Georgie also gave me something small, but sweet. Two dolphins to hang ... Read More

Then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Leviticus 26:4 Normally, rain doesn't excite me, we get enough in Maryland. We make plans and even create rain dates when the plans fall through thanks to the weather. This is Maryland life. Just this week John and I went somewhere to book an outing, and as John was paying for it, I asked the ... Read More

I've been known to give my children a birthday week, not just a birthday day. Sometimes it's even felt like a birthday month. I wouldn't love on my husband any less, and he had a birthday week. All week he had special things prepared for him and such. So, a few days before his birthday, I had Jeff and Jamie over for a special pre-birthday dinner. When the boys arrived they both took notice that the house is starting to have a ... Read More

The actual Valentine's Day was a sweet, intimate, evening together, with a lovely sweet end of a precious sunset right outside our house. It's a good thing we called Georgie for her birthday and she alerted us to the lovely sky. This was shot from the porch. Another look from the road. A look back to the house, a little different look under the sunset sky. ... Read More

Here, making each day of the year Changing my life with a wave of her hand Nobody can deny that there's something there ~ The Beatles My husband is learning that as a general rule, women are nesters, and I am no exception. I guess with a wave of my hand, I am making some changes, some are practical... ...like the whimsical dolphins now at the bottom of the tub. Unfortunately I slipped and fell last week, and Georgie donated them! Up ... Read More

I think men in general don't like to throw things away. Since the passing of my dad, we have found more stuff and can't believe some of the things he had kept over the years. You hear about it all the time in the sit-coms, the wives want to throw things out the men don't. I guess comedy is often based on truth. I don't think John was prepared to have a wife AND lose some of the junk in his ... Read More

Since I tease (and complain) to John regarding his bachelor pad, I thought it only fair to point out a few features I like. Given that your every day automatic ice maker usually breaks (like ours at home), I thought John's ice tray was pretty neat. Video showing how it works: I also liked that John's ironing board had a nifty place to put your hot iron between ironing his shirts. ... Read More

It's called Pensmore, and the size of it as well as the construction details of it, has me curious about it. I remember many times while living in Spain, hearing ridicule on how Americans make their homes out of flimsy wood. This could change things in the future? A 72,000-sq.-foot private home being built in southwest Missouri will be one of the largest in the United States when it’s completed.The Springfield News-Leader reported that the home is being built by ... Read More

This might be the most disturbing news in a long time: The House just passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), including a provision to authorize worldwide war, which has no expiration date and will allow this president — and any future president — to go to war anywhere in the world, at any time, without further congressional authorization. The new authorization wouldn’t even require the president ... Read More

Now I don't want to sound like I am complaining in this blog post. I mean, as of this writing, I am warm, my house is heated, the electric is purring nicely, I have hot water, and basically everything is running fine. Today, because of a heavy, wet, and wicked snowstorm, I know so many people who do not have electricity, and it doesn't look like they will until Saturday or Sunday, some 3 days with any. So, on Facebook, I have ... Read More

Pretty much on a regular basis in our house, the kids go a little crazy... ... Read More

"Our house is a very, very fine house With two cats in the yard...." Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young For those who know, we have had some changes to our home. Miranda took this photo in September of this year: One floor, and five rooms later, this is what the front of our house looks like today: Not everything is finished, but soon Enric and Miranda will be able to move into it! ... Read More

Still a little tired from lack of sleep here (and Laura from TOO MUCH sleep) we had an easy day of grocery shopping, dusting the house, doing the dishes, and ironing. Of course I took breaks and grabbed my camera and took photos of John's house from the front and back. The rest of the day we had a visit from Jeff and Jamie, we all teased Laura a lot, and then we went to John's dad's house as it was ... Read More

Hopefully soon, we will adding on to our house. Enric and Miranda will be adding another floor to the house, but one of the physical first steps was to remove a rather large branch from our tree near our deck in the backyard. Silas and Miranda secured a prime front row seat to see everything. Chad made sure that I was photographing his "good side." Starting off on the roof. The 'hairs' as Chad called them on the ground. Enric loosens and tightens the rope ... Read More

He that raises a large family does, indeed, while he lives to observe them, stands a broader mark for sorrow; but then he stands a broader mark for pleasure, too. Benjamin Franklin The great advantage of living in a large family is that early lesson of life's essential unfairness. Nancy Mitford The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing ... Read More

If I was a Hartford young student, and I got in trouble at school for not paying attention in class, I think I'd pull this photo out to show whichever authority, why I felt justified in doing so. As seen on the front page of Courant.com 9/1/09 Following approval by the House of Representatives shortly before midnight, the state Senate approved the Democratic-written budget early Tuesday morning that raises the income tax on millionaires and funds numerous social programs. How do they even know ... Read More

In it's current state, you will find some interesting items according to Economic Policy Journal.... Pg 22 of the HC Bill MANDATES the Govt will audit books of ALL EMPLOYERS that self insure!! Pg 30 Sec 123 of HC bill - THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benes u get Pg 29 lines 4-16 in the HC bill - YOUR HEALTHCARE IS RATIONED!!! Pg 42 of HC Bill - The Health Choices Commissioner will choose UR HC Benefits 4 you. U ... Read More

First a question. How come almost every time they have a Global Warming protest, it gets snow? Do you think God is trying to tell them something? Anyway....We waited all winter for a good amount of snow and finally we turn the calendar and March brought us about a foot in some areas! Laura suggested we go to Lake Waterford Then we went to visit the horses around the corner. ... Read More

It occurs to me that I have been blogging now for 4 years and now entering my 5th. I know I get all excited over whacky world events and our crazy politics here at home, but many times I do blog something personal. You might think that Christmas is way over, why would I still be on this subject. I persist to say, that it is a SEASON, not just a day, and as much time, money, and effort that is put ... Read More

Saw this on Facebook regarding the economic crisis and its causes. ... Read More

Often when I look back to raising little ones, I remember the WORK; the late night feedings, the endless diapers, the colic, and the crying. Not that I didn't enjoy those times, I sure did. The work put into it though, sure stands out in my mind as well. Thank heavens I get to 'borrow' Chrissie's grandson once in a while to remember they are also about Bear Hugs and Kisses. (Miquel with Cameron)     ... Read More

The home, at 8111 Traverse Street, a few blocks from Detroit City Airport, was the nicest house on the block when it sold for $65,000 in November 2006. Foreclosure hit. It become run down and vandalized. The price lowered to one dollar....and it STILL took 19 days for it to sell. On Tuesday, Realtor.com listed one other single-family home, one duplex and one empty lot at $1 in Detroit. Dollar property sales are the financial hangover from the foreclosure crisis, said Anthony Viola ... Read More

I noticed the other day what a mess the roof of the house was, along with the debris staining the gutter guards. As I spent a day scrubbing it, I realized, "Wait a minute, I have two tall boys in the house." The next day, Miquel and Mike was given the job, and went beyond what I could do. Obviously Miquel doesn't share my issue with heights.... ... Read More

Apparently, "Nanny" Pelosi made a promise to reduce gas prices: In a press release dated April 24, 2006, Pelosi said, “Democrats have a commonsense plan to help bring down skyrocketing gas prices by cracking down on price gouging, rolling back the billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies, tax breaks and royalty relief given to big oil and gas companies, and increasing production of alternative fuels.” I think it's time that someone pointed out that the price of gasoline has spiked $1.18 since ... Read More

  Yesterday, I sold my house. . Prior to settlement, at the advice of a friend, I acquired a copy of the settlement sheet. I saw in advance the estimated amount I would receive for the sale of the house. When I got there, two times during the meeting, that amount became readjusted, and not in my favor, due to some mistakes or omissions. Each time, this required a new set of paperwork to be drawn and notifications to go to other offices, ... Read More

  Nancy Pelosi's somewhat new democrat controlled congress, hasn't been able provide any new legislation (and perhaps for that we should be thankful), but, now all back from their vacation break, has been able to acquire a whole new gourmet menu for the House of Representatives. Well at least they all settled on something. The processed cheese has been replaced with brie. The Jell-O has made way for raspberry kiwi tarts and mini-lemon blueberry trifles. Meatloaf has moved over for mahi mahi ... Read More

  We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, with mom doing an outstanding job of making the house warm, cozy, inviting, and the food amazing. The weather was unusual, as the temperature hit nearly 80 degrees! Then clouds rolled in, the wind blew, and so many of the leaves that looked like they were going to stubbornly never come down, fell - making it looked like we hadn't done any raking at all by the time people arrived. Stacey keeps making holidays different as well ... Read More

  "Some men rob you with a six-gun, others with a fountain pen." I am a little behind blogging on this news story. There are days our government can carry on antics with the speed of lightning, making it difficult for us bloggers to keep up.  And these are only the antics we hear of. With the taxpayers money though, every little cent should be accountable, however recently, there was a million dollar spending bill on the floor and no one actually KNEW about its ... Read More

This is a typical scene at any given day or night at our house. The usual suspects (Miquel, Laura, Andrew, Mike and Ross) Plus Anna (Left) ... Read More

In the past, this household has always been full of different people, from the exchange students, to daughters coming back home to live and bringing their families, to temporary live-ins, to those I have met online visiting... These days, it is always full of young people, friends of my two teens. I suppose I could understand my daughter in law's confusion in how to address the envelope for our Christmas card...   Well done Miranda, and thanks for the biggest laugh of the season!     ... Read More

I am sure something wicked has a hold of various items in and outside of our house... Here is a list of recent and known issues. The front door screen The back door screen The pool filter The A/C unit The refrigerator The VCR eats tapes The soap dish broke The toilet jiggles (Again) Huge limbs falling off the trees in the yard The microwave broke The washing machine leaks The oven Almost every drawer and closet door in the house Windows won't stay open unless I prop them with things Blinds Ants in the bathroom (Its ... Read More