John and I decided each time I am in Perth that we should take on a project, like the last time it was the kitchen floor. We were online when we discussed the next project. Since airplane tickets are so much money, getting new furniture all the time is out of the question. John had two sets of tables and chairs given to him, both old, and one set was one too many. We decided which table to keep and ... Read More

After many days of preparations, early celebrations, Christmas Day with the family was finally here. To honor my dad, and make him feel part of the day, I had put out his favorite Christmas greeting on a prominent place in the living room. :)He liked to kid, but really, behind the scenes, he along with my mom, did a lot of work to make every single Christmas, MAGIC. While we were still getting ready for the day, John got a ... Read More

After going to church and tucking Rubí to bed, it was time for the "Grown Ups" to open their presents. Just what Laura needs, another nail polish. No Miquel, Laura didn't name her laptop Jesus (Hay-soos), she has an ASUS! Miquel video records the silliness. Ooooh...........................All the colors! Miquel got...Big Bang Theory Season 3, then season 2, and last season 1! That's what he asked for, a neon lime green vest from Hollister. Kookaburra with a Santa hat, perfect! A ... Read More

We had yet another sweet Thanksgiving, we missed part of our family, they were in Wisconsin. The tables were... ...all set and ready. This bunch came ready and excited to dig in. Daniel is all ready. Miquel knows how to relax, put his feet up, get a drink, and the TV has football playing. Time to eat all the delicious food. A different kind of Corn bread and crab dip were new items on this year's menu. Miquel and ... Read More

  Saturday we had as much of the family as we could assemble for a swim/picnic day. Of course there was food. Some of us couldn't wait to dig in. Roger had the boys playing ball. Aiden has a turn at bat. I think Lois was the umpire/catcher. Relaxing by the pool is a must. Best seats to watch the kids too! Silas in his own world with Kenny's watch. Lois shows the triplets how to swim. Rubí who is very ... Read More

Today the Fletchers had a surprise birthday party for Uncle Arthur.           ... Read More

Flavio is in town for the Fancy Food Show in Washington D.C. to promote his fine cheeses from his Tumalo Farms.  We were so glad he decided to stop in to see us! Wonderful cheeses at Tumalo Farms, we know first hand!     ... Read More

A month after my birthday, we are finally winding this up. :) Mom got me a bag for my laptop that opens to reveal a handle and wheels! It's been so heavy carrying my laptop the normal way, and I desired something smallish that would do the job! Carry on from Kohls! John got me two pairs of shoes and two pairs of shorts. I broke a pair in Australia and now I have two new pairs! (John thinks I dress like ... Read More

...or as Rubí says, Miss Sipsipee This past Saturday, we were invited to Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis to say good-bye to Elisabeth, who is off to work and study in Wisconsin. She has been wonderful to have in our home. She will be missed. People come and people go in this household...who's next? :)     ... Read More

Dina called me some time back, "I know you can't have the traditional bridal shower, but when you go to Australia, you're going to need things, and we can buy you pretty lingerie, make up,  a wedding dress....What do you think Barb?" I nearly cried I was so touched at the gesture. And so, Dina and Chris made for me a  Bridal party.             It was good fun and I missed those that could not be there, but  ever grateful for those who came. ... Read More

Sunday brought Christmas! We went to church and family came soon after. I didn't get many photos, perhaps after a few rounds of presents, I was tuckered out. :)   ... Read More

Laura decided on a small get together at home for her 18th birthday. Of course this was her third such get together, this one was just on her actual birthday.   So Laura had a nice birthday month, and we had a very sweet Thanksgiving, and the Ravens won! :)     ... Read More

Today we began in earnest pulling up the carpet from the living room/dining room and putting down new flooring. This is an important event in our household, number one, because it means so much to Mom, and number two, so many people were involved in making it all possible. We are so excited to get this done for Mom! She was all smiles and very happy. I do believe we have a skate in our socks scheduled for this evening. :)   ... Read More

Family faces are magic mirrors.  Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present, and future. ~Gail Lumet Buckley Yesterday, Laura, Mom, and I, went near Winchester, Virginia for the Fletcher family reunion. It wasn't easy to convince Mom to go, but I thought it would be fun for her in the end. I am glad we went and she was too. We didn't get to stay as long as we would have liked, so here are just a ... Read More

I had a ball at the reception getting to talk and be with friends and family and capturing some candid and posed shots of everyone. (Click on photo for larger image)   Rubí was a bit of  a show stealer. Mom joins the family table. Mom with Uncle Arthur Jim, Chris, and Britney. Amy (our personal cat whisperer) and Forrest. The groomsmen's table. Groom and Best Man. Brothers. Two Sillies. After being held a long time during the ceremony, Rubí was ready to take off on the open floor. So ... Read More

Something we used to do, but haven't done in ages is have Uncle Arthur and Aunt Lynn over for New Years Day. We decided to change that in  2011. Their daughters Lois and Tracie came too with their families! I am sure Alex was just being polite, it's hard to tell mom no. ... Read More

Christmas morning I was so fatigued from all the preparations made weeks beforehand and our late night on Christmas Eve, that I wondered how I was going to manage this day, and no matter how hard I tried, I was STILL in my pajamas when people started to arrive! At that point, I realized I HAD to get it into gear, like it or not, as we had some special things lined up, one being a bit of  a surprise for ... Read More

After visiting the ships at the Harbor, we strolled around Baltimore Harbor in the evening.... ... Read More

The Santa Maria was a small nao, about 70 feet long, used as the flagship for the expedition for Christopher Columbus in 1492. She carried 40 men. Interest in reconstructing the Taylor Santa María started in the 1890s for the 400th anniversary of Columbus's voyage. The 1892 reconstruction depicted the ship as a nao. A subsequent replica built in the 20th century depicts the Santa María as a caravel. Commissioned as part of the 500th Anniversary Jubillee of the Voyage of Christopher Columbus, ... Read More

Petra emailed me about a week ago that she would be coming in for a quick visit. I quickly informed mom on the news and suggested she make a chocolate cake, knowing Petra loves mom's homemade cakes. Silas, who had never met Petra yet, was already considering  her a soul mate. I mean, who is better than the person responsible for getting this chocolate cake baked?? Before she got here, Silas got to watch it getting baked, licked the beaters, bowl, and ... Read More

Today Miranda and I took Silas into Baltimore to John Hopkins  Hospital for an exam. This was our second trip into the city this week, and our second hospital, the first was to take mom to Union Memorial for a stent procedure. We sure were amazed at Union Memorial, it was like the red carpet treatment from the first, and they took such good care of mom. She is back home and doing fine. Here Silas is in the waiting room of ... Read More

Today,  mom,  (Yaya to many) is 80 years old. ... Read More

Every year our yard turns into a carpet of yellow flowers. (Mom calls them weeds) Anyway it was a perfect day for Enric to make a tire swing for Silas... Silas waited patiently while he watched his daddy making a swing for him. Silas gives the swing a try... ...but is a little afraid, so mama and daddy take turns going on with him... Jasper watches on very unimpressed... Silas tries with Daddy again, but is still timid to go on the swing by himself. Daddy makes ... Read More

Mom handed Cameron one day a car to play with. I wondered where it came from, as it was obviously old. She told me it was my dad's. Since it was my dad's, the very moment Cameron wasn't interested in playing with it, I put it on my shelf, and there it has been decorating my room. However, it wasn't until today that I thought to investigate about this little toy car. First thing I did was borrow Laura's new camera ... Read More

Christmas Eve, to me, has always been a very special night of the holiday. As a child, it was filled with anticipation and magic. My parents and sister were great at convincing me that Santa was near. We left cookies for Santa, and I do believe Linda even made noises upstairs to convince me to hurry to bed. As a teen, I recall the TV on with choirs, mom's cooking in the kitchen, and Dad fiddling with lights and the train set. ... Read More

Today is my mom's birthday, so we filled the house with flowers... Happy Birthday Mom!   ... Read More

Today is my mom and dad's wedding anniversary. Since I love looking at their old courtship and early marriage photos, I thought to make a slide show for this occasion. I miss seeing them together now that dad is gone, but he sure is in our hearts in a big way. I know he is in mom's.   Click here to see the movie, "Julian and Juanita" ... Read More

  JUST A MoM? A woman, renewing her driver's license at the Motor Registration office, was asked by the counter clerk to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. 'What I mean is,' explained the counter clerk, 'do you have a job or are you just a ..?' 'Of course I have a job,' snapped the woman. 'I'm a Mom.' 'We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it,' Said the clerk emphatically. I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, ... Read More

I had to laugh when I heard about a mom who found alcohol (breaking a rule she had established) in her son's car who decided to sell the car with this ad: "OLDS 1999 Intrigue. Totally uncool parents who obviously don't love teenage son, selling his car. Only driven for three weeks before snoopy mom who needs to get a life found booze under front seat. $3,700/offer. Call meanest mom on the planet." Apparently she didn't get a lot of calls to ... 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

This is one from my sister...Thanks, Linda! Mom and Dad were watching TV when Mom said, "I'm tired, and it's getting late. I think I'll go to bed." She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day's lunches. Rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper the following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar container, put spoons and bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning. She then put some wet ... Read More

In the next few days, I thought I would share with you some of the thoughtful presents I have recieved. I Love My Life: A Mom's Guide to Working from Home   I just started, and I am already excited about this book, and from the first few pages, I can say, this book is not just for moms and women. Thanks, Wendy ! ... Read More

"An old memory" that was the subject line from an email from my dearest and most long time friend ever, Myrna. I couldn't imagine what it was going to be, except perhaps, something had happened to trigger a memory of times together so many years ago. Her dad was the minister of our church in Baltimore (and later in Pasadena). Mom often taught Sunday School, Bible School, and later played the piano for services. The photo she sent, sure tugged at my ... Read More