Happy Birthday to ME!

Well...as "strange" as the idea of turning 48 seemed to me...it was a great time. Life is moving at lightening speed...and my birthday weekend was no exception. After succumbing to pleas from my brother to meet him at his new (old) home to lend a hand with remoldeling..... I relunctantly canceled plans to spend two days as a recluse in an beautiful b&b in adams county with hubby...only one hour from Cincinnati. Instead...we left town at 3:00 after Wills lacrosse game...heading south to Vidalia Ga... Dalton GA was the scene for my birthday dinner ...waffle house was the place...we spent the night south of Atlanta and arrived in Vidalia early the next morning. After looking over the 4000 sq ft space...we finally found our focus and dug in...hoping to make a difference in our short time there. As night was falling i was anxious to move on to our next destination...Savannah...Eric and I love it there and had booked the Marshall House for the evening. Turns out we didn't realize how late it really was...arriving at our destination at 10:50 pm...we were determined to make the most of our precious time away...exhausted from all the driving was not going to deter us. "Our" restaurant across the street had closed...so we found a little market and made a few purchases. Marshall house supplied us with china and wine glasses...and we were all set to dine in our beautiful suite. We made it through dinner before crashing... and left out the next morning after breakfast on our private terrace....arriving back in Vidalia to spend the day painting and digging in the dirt...heading home late that night! Being there to support my brother as he embarks on this new stage in his life was totally worth it.

Missing my girls...

"Enjoy your children while their little...before you know it they will be grown..." we've all heard these words...yet in the throws of caring for our little ones these words are meaningless. Our days are filled with feeding, changing, clothing, nurturing...selflessness. Some days you think will never end....illness can linger pushing you to the brink of madness. Yet, at the end of an exhausting day...with the house quiet and babes tucked in their jammies... their breath as sweet as honey...you miss them. Watching them sleep the urge to kiss their sweetness takes over...the peacefulness...stillness is almost to much to bear. Almost. Then, before you know it they are ready to venture off without you...oh so difficult not to know their every move.....but we must encourage them to separate...we pray no harm comes to them. Our minds become overwrought with fear at times....the evils that live amongst our precious ones... evils we have spent our entire lives protecting them from. Then the day comes when they officially fly from the nest...their first flight may be a clumsy one...with encouragement they will try again....with each flight our babes inch closer .... stumbling from time to time...returning to the nest for reassurance...the urge to take over is almost unbearable. Almost. Then the day arrives...they take flight....they no longer need you....your heart is filled with so much pride you think it might burst...you've done your job...but there's this emptiness...with each babe the same emptiness prevails...no more no less. Your heart says NO...come back...our head says go, run, see, do. BE what God intended You to BE. Follow the path meant for you. Babes strength is incredible... courage admirable. You think...I'm so proud of you. You think...enjoy the adventure...it's all yours. The emptiness begins to fill with joy....you know in your heart if something happens to you... your babes will not only survive....but they will THRIVE.

Playing Hard.....and winning!

Will spent the weekend in Michigan playing lacrosse...ended up with a concusion after a hard hit to the head..Go Big Moe! He's home safe and sound.

There's no place like home...

Just returned from a trip to Tybee Island/Savannah...we loved the area with it's great vibe. We had lots of good food, as well as a few too many pralines, great walks on the beach, searching for the perfect house to call home and most importantly great company...however, there is something to be said for returning to the comforts of home after a full day of flight delays...to sleep in your own bed and settle in to your familiar routine of morning tea!

Happy Spring!

Spring is such a wonderful time...makes me want to move! Which apparently I need to do more than I thought. This am while on the scale at the cardiologist (annual exam)...the nurse continues to move the weight up...up...up...finially proclaiming..."there is no way your 150 pounds"...yes, apparently I hide it well....keep going...and she did. Then I could not resist the question..."just what did I weigh last year." Well, damn it...I've gained a few pounds!

Yesterday was so productive...new light fixture in the bathroom...LOVE it...and the back closet primed and painted....yeah...my new "studio" is coming together...a place were I can create...(photos to come)...Itching to sew and do a little jewelry designing...now that I have my "own" place. Planning to start with an inspiration board...can't wait.

We leave in TWO days for Tybee Island, GA...very excited...I picked up a little bronzer today to take the glare off the old legs...that stuff is like liquid gold. But do I really need to pack a bathing suit...surely it's too early for that...give a girl a break please.

Happy Easter!

I will...for the love of all that is holy...yes I will!

Exercise, that is. Why is it...when I see results I turn my attention to something else...my ADD kicking in I suppose. I've definitely reached "the age"...no more taking this stuff for granted. I will be selfish...I will do this for ME.

Nothing much...

Nothing new going on in my world...just amazed...I'm amazed it's Friday already...I'm amazed it's the last day of February 2008...spring is drawing near...I'm amazed at the asinine remarks people make...this weeks award winning comment..."how many times do I have to eat here not to get charged for side items?".... gee... and I thought we were in the restaurant business to make a profit...what was I thinking? Let's continue...I'm amazed that my husband begins and ends his exercise regimen in the week prior to his check up with his doctor..."yes doc I'm excersizing!" I'm amazed I picked up a pair of $275 Cole Haan boots yesterday for $60.00...yet they are all over the net for$250....lucky me! Happy Friday!

Who knew..."soho" right down the street...

I live in a small town...norman rockwell small ...so for years I've driven 30 min to attain a haircut. Not because I'm picky... we have three successful salons in my backyard, with loads of talent. However, with my new "do" I would also recieve with a hugh dose of local gossip...Yuck. So I drive. Today I tried a place right on my street, three blocks away in the historic district. I felt like I'd walked into a loft salon in Soho. The visit began with a message of the shoulders, head and neck...and the smell of Aveda products permeated the air...hugh windows filled the room with light...and I was offered my favorite beverage. Green tea with honey! Truely a zen experience!

I was wrong...twelve years miss oza!

Remembering our precious Oza...

Today is the day an extraordinary human being left our mist...could it possibly be eleven years. She was the kind of person that made each and every person in her life (lots of children, grandchildren and greats) feel like they were the most important. I once observed her remove her london fog scarf from her coat and wrap it around a servers neck that was working in the bitter cold. Our hearts still ache for you.

A sad day...

Another college shooting....a cop found guilty of killing pregant girlfriend Jessie and precious baby Chloe... my prayers are with 2 year old Blake...he will need them.

a great meal at chez panisse in berkley last weekend...

this will be fun...

what a great way to keep in touch with folks....share thoughts...ideas... recipes...photos...etc!