Work, Play, Love, Open The Proverbial Can of Worms

Brian and I have always been very committed to each other.  We enjoy our time and find that we are each other's most trusted and valued confidant.  Some said we should be committed when we bought the business and began working together too.  All aspects of our life, family, play and livelihood are intricately woven together and I can't imagine having it any other way.  There have been many nights over the years where we'll lay awake planing, and will be so energized by the plans, that even having had no sleep didn't make us too tired the next day at work!

We dream big and we seem to jump into many a can of worms with both feet.  Whatever we do, we do it ourselves and take great joy in the hard work and the accomplishments.    

I'm thinking of this all today as Brian has begun another gargantuan task. The re-building of the drive to a portion of the barn, lowering the grade and replacing the floor.  It's been a project in process since the beginning of the summer, but since his accident, been left to idle.  Now it's of the utmost importance to complete, as we need to get the boat out for the lake trip and it's being held hostage about 4 feet above grade right now.

I can think back to every house we've owned (tally at 5 and I'm done counting, we're staying here)!  Each house has had massive yard projects that friends and family have thought we were crazy to do ourselves.  Aside from many farm improvements and  landscape jobs of every shape and size, one in particular stands out.  

When we lived in Vegas, our second house had a good sized lot.  We decided to put in a large, virtually pool deep, terrace with steps down into a garden and a small pond.  Keeping in mind this was yet another job where there was need for a large tractor.  The landscape was sand and rock and we were working in 110 degrees.  We got it done and it was beautiful and quite an accomplishment. 

 I went back several years later to take a peak.  I figured whoever lived there now would have filled it in, or put in a pool.  It was still there and  covered in the now mature vegetation that we had lovingly hand picked and planted years before to fit into a lush desert xeroscape.  And yes the desert left in it's natural state is incredibly lush and beautiful!

Our life is peppered with dreams, ideas, ambitions, hard work, accomplishments and most of all our family, love and each other.  I hope our kids learn from us that with hard work, determination and a can of worms they can reach their dreams too.

Best Intentions

The craziness!  I have spent a bit of time this evening reading blogrolls.  I enjoy finding new and interesting people to follow.  Then it happened, I found this cool graphic (above) from Wordle on a blog (that I was really enjoying by the way)!  So I went to the site, put my information in and viola the above graphic.  How easy is this!?  Well not so easy I guess, because this simple thing has now taken me an hour to figure out how to get posted into my blog!  Jeez, the can of worms, something so simple turning into a cyber-adventure!  So I apologize now to the dear person whose blog I just found this on.  I'd love to give you credit.  However, in all of my efforts to get this darned thing posted I can't find you again!

Simple Things Wednesday

A wonderful idea presented by soul aperture.  Listing the simple things that make you happy right now.  You know, those things that make you take a moment and slow your life down and  appreciate all of the gifts around you.  Here are a few of mine:

That when I tell my little boy that I love him, his response is always :"I love you more!"

The smell of fresh lavender

Newly cut wild flowers from the garden sitting on the kitchen sink

Watching Sidney's imagination working at full steam ahead.

The pure joy of childhood and that I can relive the simple pleasures again with my kids.

I think a weekly tribute to what we cherish is a fantastic and very grounding idea.  I hope to make this a regular entry!

Summer Simplicity

As we are beginning our last day in California, here is a snapshot from yesterday evening. There is a threesome of dragonflies that have kept us company all week at the pool. Last night they seemed to be playing with us, flying with their iridescent purple wings around our heads, landing on the pool toys and floating along with us. There's something about watching this that just emanates summer in it's peaceful simplicity; where lazy days can be highlighted with something as simple as a game of dragonfly tag.

Babette's Feast, Buffalo Exchange & Bike Lanes

We're enjoying our California vacation immensley. We have accomplished some of our favorite things, the 3 'B's'. We ate an al fresco breakfast in Belmont Shore at Babette's Feast, a great little french bistro. Then we proceeded to our favorite second had shop Buffalo Exchange, and enjoyed digging through the new and recycled clothing. Finally as we're walking back to the car I see the Bike Lane. Amazing, and different since the last time we were here. It's the whole right lane designated for bicycles and the cars must go around them! Fabulous!

The weather has been beautiful and we're preparing today for an outdoor family 4th BBQ. Great stuff I love getting ready the deviled eggs, bean salsa, and pasta salad. We're doing it Wisconsin style and are introducing the family to beer bath brats with onions, yum!

The kids have been inseparable with Grandma and Papa and Sid has gotten to swim her little heart out. Charlie has been a great sport and doing well finding things to do despite his cast. And of course the endless viewing of Buffy with Grandma. In fact they've designated the room where they watch it the "Buffy Cave". I guess that's the 4th 'B'!!