On boys and toys…
Here is the boy’s closet before (be prepared, it is BAD…)
And here is AFTER!
The shelves on top aren’t attached yet so not everything is where it will be, but so much better!
I am giving away so much it’s unbelievable.
Housebound…
We are still housebound. Flu and strep running rampant. That’s what going back to school gets you!
Being stuck in the house is hard for me. The kids have been managing by making forts from all the pillows and blankets in the house. I’m not even trying to pick those up yet! We had pirates in the kitchen and living room yesterday, complete with the music and costumes!
I decided (why?) that it was a great time to redo the boy’s walk-in closet. They share a bedroom and it was a true mess. Stay tuned for before and after photos (hopefully today!)
I’ve been watching the crazy animals in my backyard. The birds and squirrels actually beg now if I let them run out of food. I have one squirrel that will walk up to the window or back door and peer in with little doe eyes to beg! I have lots of hummingbirds already, and scarlet tanagers (which I haven’t had before here.) The hummers aren’t as plentiful as last year yet, but they are steadily increasing. Here’s a clip of last year’s crazy birds.
Happy Anniversary!
Today I celebrate 17 years of marriage to my best friend. Love you, honey!
We went to Ashley’s in the Capital Hotel last night to celebrate. I’d heard a lot about the chef and see his sous chef in the market regularly so know they use fresh, organic veggies.
The atmosphere is lovely. They have a gorgeous dining room, very cozy and elegant.
OK, I have to tell you I am that difficult guest…
almost like Sally in “When Harry Met Sally” (a movie that was out when Scott and I started dating!) One reason I love him so much is that he KNOWS all these little quirks and can order for me if I wanted him to! Another is that he can sing like Harry Connick Junior (who did the soundtrack to the movie.)
- I’m allergic to apples, pears, grapes, carrots and celery.
- I don’t eat mammals
- I like my coffee fresh (half a cup) with cold milk (real milk, not fake junk or cream) and don’t want it heated, just cold milk please.
- I only eat real butter on bread (and wherever else I can get it.) What the heck is margarine anyway?
So, with that in mind…
- For the 1st course they brought us was a slice of celery with a dill coulis and a grape sliced in half. (They did bring me something else but it had RAISINS.)
- I called the waiter over because I looked at my fish and noticed that one of the “sauces” on the plate was bacon drippings with fried BACON. Wouldn’t have been a major issue if we weren’t paying what we were or hadn’t mentioned the pork thing first. He apologized, but think he should have noticed that…
- My coffee had HOT milk…
Now, the fish was alright. The pairings of pesto and candied peppers on the veggies was interesting and tasty. I think the candied peppers on a blackened fish would be fantastic.
Dessert was strange. Nothing chocolate on the menu!
It was fun to try it. And being with my gorgeous husband anywhere is fun!
Next time though we’ll try somewhere else.
On Creative Genius…
I received this from a friend this morning and thought it was so wonderful I had to post it!
“And the Pursuit of Happiness” by Maria Kalman
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Sick kids and rainy days…
I feel like I’ve moved to Seattle. The rain has been over us a few days now and in the bathroom I hear a drip- drip- drip. At least the roof is leaking over the bathtub.
The weather is honestly lovely though.
So cool, everything is green in deep summer in the south.
A true oddity.
My gutters (which I meant to clean out this spring) are overflowing. The rain barrel is so full. (I do need at least three more.)
The kids have been sick pretty much all week. This dumb fever, cough, headache junk. The fevers aren’t high enough to call the doctor, but they won’t break for 24 hrs so they can go back to school!
So, they are playing “Dinos” and watching Dinotopia (the longest movie ever.)
What kind of dino am I?
On Disney…
This September we are taking the trip that those of us with small children (and even those without) either LOVE or HATE, a.k.a.- Disneyworld. I am on the fence at the moment.
I was really excited about it at first. Who doesn’t want to see their little kids eyes light up at Mickey Mouse? But, after attempting to book on Disney’s wonderful website I was so frustrated. Those of you with larger families will sympathize. You can’t book two rooms on one reservation! We are traveling with the five of us, plus both grandmas. Two rooms is even pushing it, but hey.
So… after finding two rooms on line at the resort I wanted I book the first, put a note for connecting rooms, paid. Went to book the second room and it froze. I called the reservation # and they said (after taking 15 or so minutes reviewing the first one) that there weren’t any other rooms at that hotel! I was SO MAD. So, we adjust the dates, play with the first reservation and book the rooms.
I call back again after I realize that they have us in two different “types” of rooms so there is no way they can be adjoining. They tell me to pick a “type” waterview or not waterview. I tell them I don’t care as long as they are together. They say “pick a type.” I say “whatever” they get huffy with me. Great. So looking forward to Disney already.
Anyway, I get the rooms booked (waterview, still might change that one) and feel better but no airline tickets yet or dining reservations.
Find great prices on airfare and book it! (Still have to make 2 reservations because we have 7 people.)
Mom comes over and we plan the days we’ll go to which park, research the restaurants and I call to make reservations. Oh, none of the restaurants I want have availability (IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER!) and our hotel doesn’t even have room for breakfast on ANY of the days we are there. GREAT- so looking forward to this trip. I did manage to make some of the reservations- but geesh, it’s free dining and they don’t have room?
Also, it’s DISNEY! Make sure you have decent, friendly people on the phone. Two I spoke with spoke such broken English that even my translator ears couldn’t decipher it. Two others were so rude I was in shock. The last two I spoke with were very sweet and I was so happy to speak to people who were helpful and nice. (What has happened to customer service or satisfaction in this country anyway?- Don’t get me started on that one.)
Does anyone have tips for where to go etc? (We are going to each park on the days they have extra hours.) Oh, we’re staying at Port Orleans, Riverside.
Have reservations for these restaurants:
Magic Kingdom: The Crystal Palace for dinner with Winnie the Pooh
The Contemporary Resort: dinner at The Wave
Animal Kingdom: lunch at Tusker House
Epcot: (It’s the Food and Wine fest while we are there so I’m excited about that!)
lunch at the Biergarten
dinner at Marrakesh in Morrocco
I feel better now that part is done. The little planning I’m doing will make it easier then, I hope.