Birds and Dogs

I can’t believe that it’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve posted.  Where does the time go?

It certainly hasn’t been because I’ve been busy.  In fact, just the opposite.  The heat here in Arizona makes it difficult to be what you’d call active.  Hubby and I have been spending our early mornings out back watching the birds.  Yes, that’s about as active as I can be in the heat.  We have been having the very best time!  The weather is perfect early in the morning.

Sugar Plum insisted on waking me up at 5:15 almost every morning.  She just wants to play fetch and tug o’war.  After a few rounds of that Meeka is up and we go for a little walk.  I recently read about someone’s beloved dog dying and he said if he could do anything any different, he’d let his dog sniff more, that his dog always wanted to stop on their walks and sniff everything.  That really hit me so I’ve been letting them stop and sniff a lot more.

Speaking of the girls, here is a couple of before and after pictures, yesterday before the groomer and today after the groomer.  Since it’s so hot here, I asked them to trim them down quite a bit, but not so much that they could get sunburn.

Meeka before

and after

Sugar before

and after

You can tell they feel so good because they are running around in circles and having a great time.

Such cuties.

Yesterday we sat and watched a bird build a nest in the tree.  I can’t believe how patient these birds are.  She or he, whoever builds the nest, would fly down on our block wall, look around then go off to get one little scrap or twig.  She would then come back to the wall and sit for a few seconds and then go into the tree to place the scrap.  A moment later, she would come out to the wall again, sit for a second then fly off for another little tiny scrap, then back to the wall, as if to show us what she had this time.

I took pictures, but since I am NOT a photographer, they are not the best.

Here she is on the wall before she gets her scrap.

Here she is with a little scrap

She is building the nest in the tree right there, with each little tiny piece at a time.

We watched her for a good hour and a half.  I believe she must have been busy all day.

What fun we had.  Nature is a wonderful thing.

Memorial Day Tablescape

Memorial Day is coming!  It is the start of summer as far as many are concerned.  It means a day for picnics too.

BUT….. Most importantly it is a day to remember our great armed forces and the men and women who have given their blood, sweat, tears and their lives for our freedom and our wonderful country.  I am very fortunate to never have lost a loved one to war.  Still and all, I’m so terribly grateful to these wonderful people.

This is my tablescape in their memory.

I wanted to make a Red, White and Blue table, but since I’ve just begun tablescaping, I really didn’t have much in these colors.  I picked up some blue and red dishes at the local Goodwill for a song.  I used a full size white tablecloth on the bottom, with a smaller blue one on top.  I didn’t have a table runner so I folded a red table cloth and used it for one.   I had the white placemats and the red vase so I just needed some colorful flowers and some cute little decorations, flags and whatnot.

Of course no summer BBQ is complete without fresh lemonade. It tastes so good.

 Oh yes, my napkins came from the Goodwill store too.  I picked up my star napkin rings at either Kohl’s or Steinmart, I forget.  I think they go great on this table.

I was even fortunate enough to find this cute apron at the Goodwill (my new home away from home).

 Last night I learned the basketweave at my cake decorating class.  I had missed last week because I my face surgery.  Consequently, I don’t have any flowers made for the top of my cake.  I think I did a pretty good job for my first basketweave.  What do you think?

 

 Tonight I’m going to slice strawberries over the top of the cake.  I think it will be so yummy.

 I hope you all have a wonderful day on Memorial Day.

I will be celebrating with Let’s Dish at Cuisine Kathleen and Between Naps on the Porch

A Little Off Kilter

Sort of off kilter this week.  I had a little skin cancer surgery.  The doctor told me that I was having a mini face lift in order to pull it all back to together.  Of course that would only be on one side!!  Not to worry, it will be down to its usually droopy self in a month or two.  All bandaged up in the meantime.

It has actually hurt quite a bit more that I thought it would, but now it’s just itching, itching, itching!!!  I’m bummed though because I had to miss a cake decorating class AND a sewing lesson.  I am just about finished with my spring table runner.

Last week we discovered that an old friend we knew from California, and hadn’t seen for at least ten years, has been living in the next town over from ours.  We were talking to a mutual friend and found out this delightful news.  We got in touch and she came over for dinner and some Mexican Train dominoes.  What fun we had.  She brought me these beautiful flowers.

Aren’t they pretty!

Well, since I’m supposed to relax and not do anything strenuous (no lifting, bending, exercising, sweating, etc.) for the next two weeks.  Yes, she actually said two weeks.  This is what I’m doing.

Sitting by the pool with LOTS of sunscreen on and under an umbrella.  No more skin cancer for me.

Sugar is enjoying it too.

Sorry this next picture is so dark. but this is out front looking down our street.  It was a lovely sunset.

 So that’s what is going on around here.  Not much at all.

Life is Good!

Some Things That Make My Heart Smile

Just wanted to share a few more things that add joy to my life.

Backyard in summer time.  Ready for BBQing and swimming.

 

Backyard hibiscus

Roses in front yard of my son’s house.

 Next cake which is much much better than the last one.

 Flowers we learned in cake decorating class last week.

And my favorite.  This is my great-grandson, 2 year old Deegan and his Daddy, Ryan.

Deegan was misbehaving and is getting a serious talking to!  I love the look on his face, so serious, but listening to every word.

Hubby always tells me that it doesn’t take much to make me happy.  I think it’s because I’ve spent time in both “unhappiness” and “happiness” and  I must say,. happiness gets my vote.  It’s a choice I make each and every day.  Like I always say – Life is ALWAYS Good no matter what might be showing up at the moment.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Mother’s Day Tablescape

I’m very happy to make my Mother’s Day tablescape in honor of my mother.  She has been gone now 25 years, but I can still hear her voice and see her smile.  My mother was extraordinary.  Her life was devoted to her family.  She always tried to make things special for each of her children and grandchildren.  I remember her at the sewing machine for hours on end when I was a little girl, making all my school clothes and clothes for all my dolls.  She also loved the horses, racing that is.  She asked her minister if she could tithe her winnings.  He said yes, absolutely!  My mother was very lucky too, hm… interesting.

I am fortunate to have received her china.  I don’t know how old it is, but I remember it all my life and I’m 62.  It is plain, white with 24 carat gold rim.  Mother like to use color with her white china.  Today I’m using gold.  I picked it because gold is a treasure, just like my mom.

 

I chose a linen while table cloth to cover the table and then a delightful gold smaller table cloth that is so very beautiful.

It is one of my treasure I got from the Goodwill store along with the vase, the napkins,the gold chargers and the stemware.

You can’t really see the label on the dishes, but it says

Royal Continental from Germany.

 Of course I got both sets of my napkins at the Goodwill too.  The napkin rings are from Steinmart.

These gold napkins are simply gorgeous.  I couldn’t wait to use them.

Here is my Mother’s Day cake.  Not perfect by any means, it’s only my third cake since I’ve started cake decorating classes.

I enjoyed making it just the same.

I have been scouring the Goodwills for a beautiful cake plate and haven’t had any luck yet.

In the meantime, I have many beautiful crystal plates that were my mother’s so

of course I used this lovely plate for the cake.

I love fresh flowers on my table, but this time it’s just JoAnn’s fakery!

 They still are very beautiful.

 I’m very proud of my 5th tablescape.  I think I caught the bug!   I’m hooked on tablescapes!  I hope you enjoyed my very simple, but I think elegant table.

I will be celebrating with Let’s Dish at Cuisine Kathleen and

 Table Top Tuesday at A Stroll Through Life 

Look Who’s 9 Years Old!

Someone came into our lives nine years ago and has stolen our hearts forever.

Meet Meeka T Kalani Beeton

Just a tiny ball of fur.

Playing with her big sister, Sugar

Lying right in the middle of the toys and loving tug-0-war.

Meeka came to live with us while we were traveling the country in our RV.  For the first 4 years of her life, she was princess of the road.  (Queen of the road being her big sister, Sugar)

She loves riding in the car too, as long as she is on something so she can see out the window.

Hey look!  Now we have a home where we can run and run and run! 

Look at the fun places I can get into!  I think I saw a mousie in here.

 Hey guys, there really is a mousie in here.  (Look at Goldie’s arm around Sugar!)

Got lots and lots of mud on me trying to find the mousie.

All grown up now.

Keeping an eye out for daddy to come home.

At Christmas

Nighty night!

I’m trying to sleep Mom and you keep taking my picture!

Just give me a window to look out of and I’m a happy girl.

Meeka is one of the best reasons I have joy in my life.  A true meaning of unconditional love.

Happy birthday sweetie!


These Things Make me Smile

First of all, I want to say that I’m what you would call a very happy person.  It hasn’t always been this way.  As a matter of fact, I spent most of my life feeling very unhappy.  Oh I had many reasons why, which don’t need any explanation as I choose to put them in the past.  I no longer have a need to keep retelling my story and hanging on to all the reasons why life was not good.

If you know me now, you know that I have much joy in my life, hence the name of my blog.  I have a fantastic husband, wonderful children, step children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and two of the best pups in the world.  I’m rich in friendship,  and enjoy an abundance of all good things.  Little things bring me joy.

Having said all that…. I was wandering around the house today and looking at some of the things that make my heart smile.

I thought I’d share them with you.

I love my tea pot collection.

I got my teacart at a little antique shop in Missouri.  I love the picture of the tea cups and teapots above.

 

My coffee table in the living room

Here is another little table I love

Here is my guest bathroom.  My daughter in law put this  up on the wall for me –
“Everyday holds the possibility of a miracle.”

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This is in my office/craft room.

My mother made this cute little dress for me when I was 2 years old.  That’s 60 years ago!  On the side is a picture of me wearing it. Don’t you just love the rickrack?  I think it’s so darn cute.

Love my family pictures.  I have so many more I need to get up there.

 This is the guest bedroom.

I love the little shelf with the plate and little girls that match.  So adorable.

No blog post would be complete without….

 Sugar Plum and Meeka

 So these are just some of the things in my house that make me smile. I saved a lot for another time.

Have a most wonderful day!


Luncheon/Dessert Tablescape

Come join me for lunch!

I got these cute little luncheon plates at the Goodwill awhile ago.  I loved the purple in them so they were my inspiration.

Many years ago, so many it might have been in a different life, I was a Princess House consultant.  I still have all my Princess House crystal and wanted to use it with my purple dishes.

Goodwill is my new favorite place to shop.  Just on this table alone I got the tablecloth, the purple placemats,  napkins, napkin rings, tea pot, and the stemware piece in the center.

 I think it makes a very lovely sweet table.

For dessert, I served cupcakes which I decorated in cake decorating class.  They are not gorgeous by any means, but they were cute and I’m already getting so much better than this, but I’ll post them anyway.

Remember:  ALWAYS EAT DESSERT FIRST to make sure you have enough room.

 

Thank you for joining me.

Today I am joining Table Top Tuesday at A Stroll Through Life 

For this Wednesday, I will be joining Let’s Dish at Cuisine Kathleen

Crafts, Pups and Stuff

I told you I would show you, so here goes….

My first cake of this class.  It certainly isn’t perfect, but I had a good time.

Ha ha, cute huh!  We decorated cupcakes this past week.  Didn’t do too well on those, but I took them as a treat to our book group last night and everyone loved them.  I kept a few to put on my tablescape.

This coming week we are going to decorate another cake with the flowers that we will be making at home.

Well, enough of that.  However, I must say that it tasted good.  I had a couple of slivers (just to see what it tasted like) then I tossed it out.  I just can’t see eating a whole cake by myself.

On to my next hobby, sewing.  I finally got my spring table runner all together.

I had to lay it on my sofa as I just finished tablescaping my table (which will be in a future post).

 I love the way it all went together.  I can’t wait to do a tablescape using it.

If you remember my Christmas wall hanging (which it too large to hang so will go over the back of my sofa at Christmas time),  I am actually going to put these together at the same time.  I have all my materials to back them and quilt them so that will be at my next sewing lesson.  I think I might be a little better at quilting than I am at cake decorating.

Thanks to all of you who commented on my son’s cellulitis of his leg.  He was able to make it back to California from our house but ended up in the hospital for the next three days – which included his birthday!  Apparently it got much worse.  I have seen a picture of it and my oh my, it looked horrible.  So deep deep red and swollen.  I won’t share it because you really don’t want to see it, trust me.  He is home now and back to work.  He is a teacher and can sit at the front of the class with his leg propped up.

 Last but certainly not least, the latest pictures of my girls.


Sugar Plum, she always sits so nice when I want her to pose, although she wouldn’t smile!

Ha ha, here is little Meeka who decided her picture would be best taken lying down and ignoring me.  Silly girl.

Back to Normal

Just a quick note to say that it’s all back to normal now.

Son Brian, daughter-in-law Linda (along with one of their dogs, Pancho), and son David (along with this three dogs, Luke, Goldie, and Biscuit) came last week and left today.  I was so sad to see them go.

We were so busy having fun, sightseeing, playing games outside on the back patio, playing with the dogs, Goodwill shopping, church on Easter, movies, eating out, eating in, going to the movies,  BBQing and working around the house.  It’s so good when my kids come and help me do things I can’t do by myself.  I got new shelves in the TV room closet!  Now I can stack all my new treasures on them.  I got a book shelf put together for my office, we hung pictures, decorated hubby’s TV room, fixed the sprinklers, hung the rope lights around the patio, and so much more.  What a productive week.

It didn’t end well though because David woke up yesterday morning with a very bad infection in his leg, cellulitis.  He had a very high fever, a pounding headache and a throbbing leg.  He spent the morning in the ER for IV antibiotics and other meds.  He felt good enough to drive home today, but he’s still not well and his leg is still very swollen and red.  Even when our kids are full blown adults with kids of their own, we still worry about them.  I guess that’s what a mother’s job it, right?

So I’ll be back to blogging soon but first, I have to catch up with all the bloggers I follow.  I have missed everyone so much and can’t wait to see what’s new in everyone’s life.  See you soon!