Bagels at the Playground

It was Sunday morning and we needed to get out of the house. Washed the car and played in the yard before Bill suggested we get bagels and take them to Ellie's playground. No one was around .. having the whole place to ourselves was a treat!

New beginnings always require endings ...

Last evening Ellie graduated from ABC Preschool. As Bill and I sat in the audience we looked around thoughtfully recalling when we first brought her here two years ago. It was so unlike anyplace we'd been. "This wasn't Trudi's house!" I remember thinking. Gosh she'll get lost in all these kids, in so many classrooms! But she didn't. She learned, she grew, she flourished!

I've learned that kids adapt and will succeed in so many situations. Everyday is a change to them! When Bill & I moved her to Charlottesville we gradually adapted to the people and the changes. She had new, exciting stories every day. She accepted everything so easily.

I'm so very proud of her. She's smart, witty, funny and has amazing negotiation skills! She knows what she wants, enjoys being part of our 3-man team and is already ready for a new adventure.

Here's to adventures! We're about to embark on another one ....

Golden Anniversary

 

Today, May 19th, would have been my parents 50th wedding anniversary. They were married May 19, 1961. They had 13 years and 3 children before my dad passed away in 1974. Today we celebrate their marriage and all the love of family!

Bluebird of Happiness

Although I never intended to have two bird postings back to back, it has happened. Since I began to seriously considered this job and move might happen .. a bluebird has started eating from our birdfeeded. He's brilliant blue and I began to say, 'there's my bluebird of happiness again!'

Here's the meaning of a bluebird:
Bluebird: Transformation. Passage into happiness and fertility.

"The bluebird is a guardian of all passages and transitions that we make or are about to make. We speak often of the bluebird of happiness, and this is rightly so. It makes our movements more fertile, productive, and protected so that we can attain the happiness we need in life.

When the bluebirds show up, we are about to see a change in the climate. If a bluebird has come into your life, look for opportunities to touch the joyful and intrinsically native aspects of yourself that you may have lost touch with."

Bluebird:
"Bluebird is about your happiness within and without. He signifies a contentment and fulfillment that is happening or is about to happen. Bluebird shows how to find those joyful gems in everyday life with an appreciation anew. He teaches a balance of work and play and reminds us to reinstate the fun back into life. Listen to the song of Bluebird in order to sing your own of joy with an awakened confidence and internal peace. It is time to look for chances to touch joy in your life. Dance and sing with every step, Bluebird will show you the way."

What a sight!

On Friday I saw a Pileated Woodpecker at work on a tree and fly from one tree to another. It was an awesome sight. It was so much bigger than any woodpecker I had seen in the past. Who would think you could find grace and beauty in a woodpecker. But maybe that's because I love the birds, and am attracted to that color. As most of you know my favorite bird is a cardinal. Most likely due to it's bright red color!

Meanings of seeing the woodpecker:
Woodpecker - Power of rhythm and discrimination, new inner rhythms
From: Symbolic Animal Meanings
"When I hear the woodpecker knocking, I think of opportunity. You know the old saying "when opportunity knocks, answer the door." That's precisely what I'm driving at here.

Woodpeckers are extremely opportunistic themselves. Each tree is a door, revealing tender morsels of food (grubs and ants are their favorites). Other trees will yield against their beak-hammering to provide great mansions for their young.

When the woodpecker comes tapping into our awareness, it's also a signal to use our heads. Just as the woodpecker uses its head (beak) to hammer out solutions (food, shelter), we too can use our intellect in finding solutions to our own barriers.

The symbolic meaning of woodpeckers also point to a need for creative vision. Being opportunistic, woodpeckers can see value everywhere, even in dead trees. Have you ditched an idea or given up on a project? The woodpecker may be trying to tell you to breathe new life into your project, just as they build new homes into dead trees.

Further, the symbolic meaning of woodpecker indicates a return to our roots, or having trust in our basic (gut) feelings. Dr. Carl Jung observed the woodpecker as a symbol of a return to the womb of creativity. In this observation the tree is symbolic of a womb; earthy, grounded, sturdy and secure. The woodpecker's home within the tree is analogous of a fierce determination to return and protect that which is sacred to us.

When this bird comes pecking, it is a call for us to return to our roots, back to the womb of our ideas and use our intellect and discernment to follow through with our plans.

This analogy is doubly profound in the case of red-headed woodpeckers as the color red is associated with the root chakra. Prime, protective energy. Another clear sign for being aware of our core impulses, and our basic beliefs".

Off we go to Bloomington!!

Its two years, just about to the very day that I posted that we were moving to Charlottesville, VA. Now I have another opportunity at the 'mother ship' in Bloomington, IL. Ellie is so excited to be going on an adventure. We've promised her a trip to house hunt, look for a new school and summer camp for her. Within the next couple weeks we'll have visited, have an offer on a new house, put this house on the market .. and be well on our way to a report date of June 25!!

2, 4, 6, 8 ....

Strawberry Fields Forever

Two years in a row makes a tradition for us. Chile's Orchard has strawberry picking beginning in early May and we've taken advantage of that on Mother's Day two years in a row. With sunny skies and early before the crowds arrive is the perfect combination for successful strawberry picking!

Soccer - Third Saturday

Happy Mother's Day 2011

The two reasons I celebrate Mother's Day today!

Derby Day

Although we were not surrounded by family and friends on day to celebrate the Run for the Roses, we celebrated just the 3 of us at home. AND WE WON! $5 Win and $5 Place netted us $158!!

I picked Animal Kingdom because it was my favorite park at Disney. We had a great time there, and a great time watching the horse come from behind to win!

What Michelle Obama knows for sure ... about marriage

The Obamas have been married for 18 years, and they say they've learned a lot during their years together. "It has to be a true partnership, and you have to really, really like and respect the person that you're married to because it's a hard road," Mrs. Obama says. "There are highs and lows. But if, in the end, you can look him in the eye and say, 'I like you' ... I stopped believing in love at first sight. I think you go through that wonderful love stage, but when it gets hard, you need a little bit more."

The Oprah Show article

Feliz Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is a highly misunderstood 'holiday'. Although I like to celebrate with chips, salsa and margaritas, it is less celebration and more rememberance in Mexico.

In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is a happy, popular and exceptionally vague celebration of Latino culture. In Mexico, and especially here in this historic state capital, the celebration is mostly a martial one — with jet flyovers and a military parade — to commemorate the Mexican army’s decisive victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

Today's soccer was awesome. Ellie did terrific! She ran, and ran and ran some more. She has learned how to work with her other team members to move the ball down the field in the right direction toward the net. She knew when to go in on someone on the opposing team to challenge them to get the ball, not ever on her own team. It's amazing how she knew the difference. And her endurance was much better .. she lasted until the last whistle!

Royal Wedding .. William & Catherine

Weddings always bring laugher and tears .. and many moments captured in pictures. Although I did not rise at 4am to begin watching, I was fortunate to be able to see the beautiful entrance of the bride and the vows .. with Ellie saying, "Mommy, don't cry. I know you're going to cry!" And when it came time for them to speak at the altar, Ellie giggled and held her hand to her mouth loving the whole thing!

I truly remember every moment of July 29, 1981 .. and nothing was lovelier than Lady Diana .. until today. Kate, now known only as Catherine was absolutely beautiful!

Say it isn't so ...

When I ordered this baffle for the bird feeder the intent was to keep the squirrels from eating all the birdseed, NOT giving them a nice place to stand while eating it!

Easter Sunday

Lots of fun today from the moment we awoke. Ellie was in our bed at 5:30a.m. to ask if the Easter Bunny had been here yet. I convinced her we needed to give him a bit more time. So we slept until 6:45a.m. ... She loved her Easter Egg hunt, her basket and her day of cooking and getting ready for dinner.

The Martineau's arrived at 3pm .. and we grilled porcini encrusted beef tenderloin, roasted red potatoes with rosemary and asparagus for dinner. Ellie and I worked hard on the Easter Bread, while Bill made his famous cheesecake with strawberries for dessert.

We had a wonderful time with them! We loved Easter in shorts and being out on the patio for the 85 degree weather ... ahhhhh!

New App - Instragr.am - for sharing photos!

My friend Michelle introduced me to Instagram today! It's an App for the iPhone that allows you to take and share photos .. and the best part for me is the enhancements!

Aren't these great?

May issue of Oprah Magazine featured Maria Shriver's favorite poet, Mary Oliver. Here's a link to the article. It was amazing.

"Look, the trees
are turning
their own bodies
into pillars

of light,
are giving off the rich
fragrance of cinnamon
and fulfillment,

the long tapers
of cattails
are bursting and floating away over
the blue shoulders

of the ponds,
and every pond,
no matter what its
name is, is

nameless now.
Every year
everything
I have ever learned

in my lifetime
leads back to this: the fires
and the black river of loss
whose other side

is salvation,
whose meaning
none of us will ever know.
To live in this world

you must be able
to do three things:
to love what is mortal;
to hold it

against your bones knowing
your own life depends on it;
and, when the time comes to let it go,
to let it go."
— Mary Oliver

Mary Oliver's Good Reads Quote site

Earth Day 2011

I explained Earth Day to Ellie this morning how we use today to remember to take care of the planet. I explained even she can help to reduce water and energy use.

"How Mommy?" she asked.

"When you brush your teeth you turn off the water instead of leaving it on when you're brushing. And when you leave a room, like your bedroom, you remember to turn the light switch off. This helps reduce water and energy use," I told her.

"Okay, Mommy." she said cheerfully at the top of the stairs as we descended.

At the bottom she yelled out, "Daddy don't you know it's Earth Day! You didn't turn off the light in the dining room!"

That's not exactly how I hoped it would go .... but I do hope she remembers to shut off her bedroom light more often!

GREAT Message ...

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Ellie's 1st UVA baseball game

Yesterday's game versus Duke was rained out, so the team played a doubleheader today. Games at 1pm and 4pm ... and the first game went into extra innings .. so we got in line for the second game. As luck would have it .. we are kinda lucky this way ... a man was coming out of the gate as we were headed to the ticket line and asked us if we wanted 2 general admission tickets!!? So for the low, low price of $6 (kid's general admission) we enjoyed several innings of UVA v. Duke! Sunny seats in the bleachers right on the first base side. Lots of fun!

Looking like a SCHOOL DAY!

We registered Ellie for kindergarten last night .. what a trip! She wanted to dress up today .. seems like good practice!

Cherokee Wisdom

One evening and old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside of people. He said, “My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret greed, arrogance, self-pity, Guilt resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.” The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf wins?”

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

“Ownership Spirit, Dennis R. Deaton, Quma Learning systems Inc., 2004-2010

Spring has sprung!

Tulips abound outside our front door!

And temps reached 85 degrees today in Charlottesville!!

Vacation at Sea

View from our balcony Bill peeking out of the pool ....

John, Dana, Jude, Bill, Nikolai, Craig, Milissa, B, Lori

The man with his burro in Jamaica

View of Falmouth, Jamaica from our balcony

Jamaica

Bill & I in front of that awesome hanging art

Happy at sea .. on our balcony

Portofino for dinner with the entire group!

Our wonderful week away comes to a close .. Bill & I enjoyed a five-day cruise on Royal Caribbean .. Labadee and Falmouth, Jamaica were our ports of call. We arrived a day early and enjoyed the gorgeous weather and hotel pool at the Rennassaince Fort Lauderdale. We weren't sure a 5-day would be enough, but it was just right! The weather was perfect, the laughter abundent and the relaxation ideal! Here's a few highlights from the trip!!

Soccer - Second Saturday

Big treat after a soccer workout!

Handoff drill

Red Light, Green Light!

Although it was a bit sunnier today than it was last week, it was much windier .. and still cold! Ellie seemed to be moving slower and didn't have much pep in her step today! Maybe she was just tired .. and awaiting Grammy to arrive!