Girls Week Getaway

I'm warning you know....this is probably the LONGEST blog entry since the beginning of my blog. I recently went on a trip to California to celebrate Mother's Day with my loving Mama, my two sisters and my niece. We try to get together once a year, usually in May, so we can laugh, tell stories, eat and shop. This year we went to Solvang, California. Solvang is a small Danish community that has lovely stores and a lot of bakeries. We couldn't have picked a better week to go because the weather was perfect with a capital "P"....so was the time with family. I'll stop blabbering and let you enjoy the pictures....

Fresh Lavender
Hollyhocks

The Danes loves their storks!

Wisteria

Good Eats

One Happy Mum!

Yeah, that's what I'm talking about!

My beautiful niece Julie~

Yeah, this was my breakfast...heavenly!

These roses....in person the color was even more magnificent!

This little number was for sale and was calling to me....

How cute is that!

Of course we had to stop. They had flower shaped brownies on Popsicle sticks!

Jacks Mum was the sweetest lady and was working on a felting project!

Trouble store in Los Olivos

Just happened to see this number while walking....I was ready to crash the garden party!

Can't mention Solvang without a windmill!

okay...there were only about 10 bakeries in town to choose from...see what I was up against?

Patronized not once, but twice by the fam!

The roses....and they were growing along the mile long fence line to these horse stables...beautiful~

Probably one of the best pictures I've ever taken...and now my screen saver at home.

More storks :)

Foxgloves

Oh happy days.....a charming place called Enchante'

Beautiful store fronts with brick, and leaded glass...just a fairytale village~

Wish there was a thing called smell-a-vision to share with you all!

If you haven't had enough and need to see more pictures, just hoot and holler! I only took 164 and according to my daughter, about 160 of them were of flowers!

Mr. Higgins

There is a new member of the family here at Acorn Cottage....MR. HIGGINS!!!!! (This is his majestic pose, after he had his Make Over!

Here is a picture of our diamond in the rough. You can tell that Dan the Man didn't like him at all right from to get go.

Before we adopted him we brought Trixie over to meet him and go for several walks. Her face says it all "You are kidding me Mom right? He seriously isn't coming home with us, IS HE????"

Mr. Higgins (formerly Rufus) was on the loose and picked up by animal control. He wasn't groomed, had straw stuck in his coat, hadn't been neutered. Worse off when the animal control officer found out who he belonged to, the didn't want to pay the fees involved and told the officer "just keep him"....well along comes Nancy into the picture. Heartbroken and tearing up just hearing the story, ready to adopt sight unseen, the wheels of motion moved forward. Okay, okay, I had my foot on the pedal going about 100MPH. After He got all checked out at the vet, shots up to date, surgery, grooming, we finally got to bring him home last Thursday and it's been love ever since.

We got for walks nightly, and he plays chase with Trixie in the back yard. Her legs are about two feet long, and his are about 2 inches long, so it's very entertaining to watch.

There is lots of love, doggie treats, and we are so very happy to have him in our lives! He is quit the character, and very intelligent, and likes to be held like a baby and have his black shag carpet of a tummy rubbed. Life is good!

Delights of Springtime

Went for a lovely country drive yesterday with the top down on my bug-de-doo. My daughter was home from college for the weekend and I wanted to see if I could find a nice cottage/country set of benches for our back porch. While Dan-the-Man was busy, sanding posting, and building new railing for our porch, I was already busy visualizing how I would like to fix things up outside in this cozy spot.
I saw a really cute bench on line, and decided to take the "country" drive to the store that had them in stock. It wasn't hard to twist my arm to go to Louisburg Cider Mill en route, which always has great treats and cute kitchen goodies.

Of course if you go to the cider mill, you might as well go down the country road a little further to a local winery called Somerset Ridge. It's a great little place with the friendliest owners and always a delight to visit. They have tables set outside to just relax and enjoy a glass of wine, and you are welcome to enjoy the majestic views as long as you like. Just our luck, the had an artisan bread maker there for the weekend, with a table set up. Not only artisan bread, gourmet jelly's...the kind that are perfect with cream cheese on a nice cracker, and homemade soaps. Trouble, trouble trouble! The first bread we tried was a sourdough base with Gouda cheese and bacon. I hadn't even tasted it and the words were flowing out of my mouth "We'll take two". Another treat was homemade English muffins with chives and rosemary. Oh my......

Afterwards I bought a few bottles of wine, daydreaming about sitting out on the refurbished back porch by candlelight at dusk....just waiting for the yard to be lit up with the fireflies. It doesn't help that I'm re-reading the best book ever published "A Year in Provence" by Peter Mayle for the 168th time. Puts you right in the mood for a chilled glass of young wine, fresh air and happy memories.

I promise to post some pictures of the porch when all is said and done...but it will be a good month I'm sure before we pull it all together.

As for other minor updates...1) I cut my bangs...I was 90% there and just missed them, now to face my hairdresser when I see her on Tuesday with my tail between my legs. 2) I'm doing great on Weight Watcher and *LOVE* my leader Ann. Such a wonderful women, so funny and inspiring. I'm down 22 pounds! Yipeeeee!

Skip to My Lou My Darlin'

Did I happen to mention how HAPPY I am that Spring is near?? The snow has melted which feeds the beautiful streams and rivers that run through our country. Can't you almost hear the sound of it...the force...yet peacefulness of being near rushing water. Pull up a chair, let the sun come down on your face and warm you up as the gentle mist keeps you cool.

Come for a drive and get some fresh air and take in all the sites and sounds. Fresh grass with dew drops hanging on...flowers growing in impossible places. Feel the happiness in your heart taking all the marvels around us!

There are robins back in the yard, and the daffodils have poked through the ground. The last of the snow has melted just in time for some crocus' and tulips to start coming up.

Life is good my friends! Every season that comes around I think this is my favorite season. Each one more marvelous than the next. Each one makes us appreciate the special things it has to offer. Take time to take a walk, put a sweater on, go out in your yard, take a look around.

Sit out on your back porch and CLOSE YOUR EYES...and listen to the birds singing, take a deep breath in and ENJOY LIFE!

What's Up?

It feels like months, not days that I have been on my blog and making my rounds visiting all of you. Please know you are loved....Even if I haven't left a comment, I stop by to see what you have been up to!

I took a little time off because I needed to get focused on something....ME! I know all of you are loving, caring women (sorry Drew, my brother-in-law who is cool enough to admit he likes my blog!) who constantly give, give, give to everyone. We have families, jobs, a home to take care of and SOMETIMES we drop like a pinball to the bottom of the life machine. I finally had to carve out some ME time. Took some deep breaths to figure out what Nancy needs in her life...what Nancy would like to change, to be even more scrumpdilicious than she already is. Well, the answer....HER HEALTH. So I decided to join WEIGHT WATCHERS. Saturday will be two weeks

and I can't wait to weigh in on Saturday. So far I'm doing marvelously. In the past I've either dieted, or exercised, but never together. I've always thrown in the towel when a holiday came up, a birthday needed to be celebrated and gone off track never to return.

I have an AMAZING leader at my weekly meetings who is just so snazzy I want to hug her every time I see her! I've been an ANGEL planning out my meals and getting on the treadmill and exercising (WW likes to use the word "activity"). I am pumped up and just love ETOOLS, their on line program that helps your track what you are up to. And hey, isn't that my "grow your bangs out" mentor on the cover of that magazine? Yup, I'm pretty sure it's her! BTW progress report, the bangs are now down to my top lip...yeah! Veronica Lake, WATCH OUT!!!

Anyhow, I just want to encourage anyone who feels like they have gotten lost in the shuffle of life to tell yourself YOU ARE IMPORTANT!!! Just as important as all of those people you constantly take care of all the time. SO schedule some YOU time. Get a manicure, take a bubble bath by candlelight, find a juicy novel and curl up in bed an hour earlier than normal and tell everyone you're tired and going to sleep! Carving out time for you to have quiet to think, and make you a priority in your life because YOU DESERVE IT!!!!!

Tales of Love

As an incurable romantic Valentine's Day is one of my FAVORITE holidays. Ever since I was little I have always been sentimental. My Mom, the greatest example of a loving human being here on the face of the earth, always showed by example her unconditional love to all of her children. As I grew older, and became a young wife and mother, I discovered just how much I could love others and felt so blessed to have my husband and kids (who are young adults now) in my life. There were changes that would occur, that were unexpected. When Dan-the-Man came into my life a whole new chapter (more like book) of the meaning of romance came into my life......
I was divorced with two young children to care for, and didn't exactly have the faith that love would come my way again. Dates gone bad, fix up by friends that went south left me wondering if love would ever come my way again.

One day while on the Internet I found a link for pen pals. This wasn't a romance site, just a place to exchange e.mails, have some conversation. I met a nice lady from France who was a school teacher, a hilarious guy named Bob (whom I'm still pen pals with today 11 years later) from Michigan, a farmer's wife from Tennessee with three children.....and then Dan-the-Man. Dan and I started exchanging e.mails, stories about our lives, families, work, interest.....and things started getting more and more interesting. After several months of e.mailing each other, we braved the waters and took a graduated step to phone calls. On one phone call Dan announced "I want to fly out to meet you in person". **GULP** Scared, excited, twitter patted, butterflies, all wrapped into one, I agreed.

The weekend was memorable beyond belief. Our first kiss took place at the top of a mountain after a tram ride up the Palm Springs Ariel Tramway on a beautiful September day and our romance began. I was living in California, Dan in Kansas, and when we had to say goodbye for his flight home, we knew we should never be apart. Both of us were already lovesick. That's when the romance became incredible....love letters, emails that made me (and close friends who were in the inside loop) swoon. Love quotes everyday that left me floating on air! After flights back and forth from Kansas to California and California to Kansas our hearts could not take the separation. I flew out to Kansas and Dan had the most magical weekend for us planned. A single rose for me when picking me up at the airport, a dozen long stemmed roses at his place with chilled champagne, dinner at a cozy Italian restaurant....then a walk down at the Country Club Plaza. He arranged for a carriage ride and while under the stars above, proposed to me and I have been madly in love with him ever since!

Of course you are getting the reader's digest version of this story, but I just want to say if you have a lonely heart on Valentine's Day, keep your chin up and eyes open because sometimes God had other plans for you. We may not always understand at the time why we face the challenges we do, but there is a reason....sometimes those reasons aren't clear at the time, but when the time is right, things fall into place and you will live your happily ever after life, like me!

XOXOXO, Nancy

The Wedding

We are back from sunny California and it was everything and more we could have wished for! Here is my nephew Aaron and his beautiful wife Ghea! My pictures are not in a sequence of events, so bear with me! The brides heritage is Indonesian and she had two wedding dresses, one for the ceremony and one for the reception one more beautiful than the next!

This is my other handsome nephew Bruce (Aaron's older brother) and his beautiful girlfriend Tanya. He caught the garter!! Uh Hum...cough....cough. Yes-sir-reeeeee. Hint, hint.....

One of the many beautiful details of this gorgeous wedding. They also had a special tray out side of these babies injected with liquor!

Being a foodie, just had to snap a photo of the salad. The whole menu was delicious and served with such style. The staff did an outstanding job in every way shape and form.

The bride's bouquet, just a vision of loveliness. All of the flowers were so beautiful!

Each of the tables had different arrangements of flowers...combinations of floating orchids, roses, lilies, just lovely!

The weeding cake was so beautiful. I don't know if you can see, but the 4th layer had tiny rhinestones in the design! Just beautiful! (and delicious too!)

This picture was next to the guest book, along with other photos of Aaron and Ghea! Such a beautiful foyer. They also had table favors with seat assignments to the right of this area that were so cute!

This was the setting for the bride and groom. Married outdoors in the late afternoon on a beautiful day. The one thing I forgot to bring in my purse....Kleenex and I needed it. The ceremony was just wonderful. So well spoken and touching!

This is a picture of the building were all the festivities took place. You can tell by the palm trees we are in California.

I have more pictures to share, but at least wanted to post these. One thing that wasn't caught on camera was Dan-the-Man out on the dance floor doing some moves that have made a lifetime impression on his nieces and nephews that they will never forget! (anyone remember the bar scene from the movie Dan in Real Life?....yeah...along those lines)

Such a wonderful time with family and friends. The newlyweds are enjoying a honeymoon in Maui...can't wait to here all about it!

California Here We Come!!!

Watching the morning news and learning that the morning temperatures will be 19 degrees as Dan-the-Man and I hop on a plan for sunny California makes me a little giddy inside. Ah yes, as my co-workers will be trudging into work I'll be OFF. Sauntering up to the airline check out counter, with a little pep in my step, generously tipping the bag handlers, and skipping down the isle of the plane, nestling into my seat, with an ear to ear grin. "Why yes, I WOULD love a bag of peanuts and a ginger ale". I made sure that when we change planes to get to our final destination, it wasn't in Denver or Chicago in January, but balmy Phoenix, Arizona. Did I ever tell you the story of my Chicago O'Hare flight? The one that was supposed to arrive at 1:00pm in the afternoon and my toes didn't touch the carpet of the airport terminal until 2:30am, the very carpet I got to "sleep" on overnight??? Yeah, that's a story for another time and place....

I have better things to look forward to....like my sister Janet picking us up from the airport and giving one of the best hugs ever! The happiness of seeing my family that I haven't seen in MONTHS....

Including this LOVE BUG. My MOMMY! Talk about the best hugs in the world, hers are the best. I know, because I've been getting them from her my whole life!

The reason for the visit, not that there HAS to be one....because this handsome devil, my nephew Aaron is GETTING MARRIED!!!! What is better than a visit, than a visit with a CELEBRATION!!!!! (pictured here with his favorite Aunt, Me....sorry Barbara, just stating the facts!)

Ah yes...Aaron(aka "Peaches" a despised nickname given by his older brother) is getting married. He's like a second son to me and we always have the best of times together. You never see him without a smile on his face, and now he has more reason than ever to be happy and he is going to be walking down the isle this weekend. We couldn't be happier for him! (pictures to follow upon our return)....now for that check list of mine......

Clothes packed.....um

Camera charged...check

Wedding gift purchased....oops, not yet....

New shoes to wear.....whoops

Clothes washed.....ut oh...

Suitcase recovered from basement....check

Melinda nagging me if I've packed yet....check :)

Wedding card....dang!

Okay, so I'm kind of a last minute kinda gal. I can say I'm always ready to walk out the door right on time, every time, it's my process!

Here's Dan checklist when we get to California (not necessarily in order of importance)

In and Out Burger

Fresh seafood Dinner

In and Out Burger

Walk Around Balboa Island, including a Balboa Bar

In and Out Burger

and finally.... In and Out Burger