Yesterday was my mom's birthday and I totally forgot what day it was until 6 pm and my dad called to remind me. My mom works nights and had been sleeping all day so thank goodness she had no clue that I had forgotten. I was able to take cake and flowers to her at work and we had a little party there-grand kids and all! My mom wasn't always a perfect mom (no one is, espeically me) but she was dang good one. She loved me so much as I was growing up! Almost 7 years ago, she wanted to divorce my dad and so it happened. The divorce has changed her, she really struggled with depression for years and I felt unloved and used most days. She has healed a lot over the last year or two and every day I seem to get a little more of her back.
I was thinking today about how glad I am that she stuck through being married until I had grown up and moved out. I have cried on my husbands shoulders so much about it over the years. I know at times he just wanted to roll his eyes at me for getting so worked up about it over and over but he has been really patient and helped me heal from the pain of losing my relationship with her.
Now that the background has been established, here is why I am thankful to my parents today. Growing up my parents always told me how great I was and that I was so smart that I could be or do anything. And being the little blank slate that I was, I wrote it all down and took it as fact. They gave me a foundation of self-confidence that has really made me who I am today. I have always been one to stand up for what I think is right and to reach for any dream I whip up. If my parents had gotten divorced when I was a child, I would have been so busy coping and worrying about it that I may have written over that important message. Thanks mom and dad for giving me the security I needed as a kid to be able to succeed!
And a big thank you to them for giving me the best childhood they could give me. It really was great.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Portland
I am sitting in the Portland airport listening and watching a brilliant pianist play Phantom of the Opera while waiting for my flight home. Portland was everything I expected it to be and finding this special treat at the end of a great trip only deepens my love for the northwest. I think I drove my husband crazy asking every few hours, "Can we move here yet?" He would laugh and say, "I'm working on it." He is currently in the middle of a masters degree so for another 18 months leaving Las Vegas is completely out of the question. I can still dream though. Leaving Las Vegas would be difficult. I have lived most of my life in Vegas. I have such great friends and neighbors. I have a love for the wonderful people in the local quilting community and for my co-workers.We planned the trip for one of my husband's friend's wedding. Congrats to Jason & Lindsey! We figured since we were going anyway, we may as well spend a couple days and enjoy ourselves.
After the beautiful wedding, we were off to a great find my husband scoped out before we left town. The Grand Lodge was a huge old masonry lodge revamped into the perfect party place. I was a little hesitant when my husband first described it as only having a room with bunk beds left. "Oh and by the way there are only public restrooms," he casually said. This eccentric place was full of live music, alcohol, a hot soaking pool, party rooms and history. I has a great time and it will be one of those places that stays with me for a long time. I would love to go back for a family reunion or with another couple or two. Here's me looking down one of the hallways of rooms. By the way, the bathrooms were actually great-very clean and with large shower stalls. I did enjoy showering while listening to a voice singing in the next shower over. 
The next day we were off to drive up the Oregon coast and oh was it worth it!
This is my good looking hubby pondering deeply and quite frustrated that I am interrupting by asking him to turn his head this way and that. Thankfully my die hard Kodak camera finally gave up the ghost and he bought me a SLR camera as soon as we got off the airplane. Literally we drove straight to Best Buy (there is no sales tax in Oregon).I did get to stop in this darling quilt shop, Center Diamond. They had a gorgeous window box pouring over with flowers.
We also stopped at a ton of markets!
This lady made delicious crapes. And of course I had to stop to take pictures of the well arranged berries and pineapple tomatillo. Has anyone ever tasted these? I wish I had while I had the chance. I am still wondering what they taste like. 
We found a hiking trail in the middle of a neighborhood that lead down to this water. Along the way, the forest was full of wild berries. Unbelievable! Can you imagine this for a backyard? 
And of course, I couldn't get enough pictures of the flowers. They were gorgeous!
Another thing I loved about the northwest, was the people. Everywhere we went we found educated, friendly, passionate people. Along the way, we drove by these two ladies on a bench outside an ice cream shop. They were eating their ice cream like nothing else in life mattered. They made it look sooooo good. We stopped to get some and walked across the street with it to enjoy it on the beach. Really, does life get better than a waffle cone full of strawberry cheesecake ice cream on the beach?
Overall, I give Oregon fabulous reviews. We liked it so much, we are visiting again for Christmas to see what it is like in winter. Maybe my reviews won't be so upbeat when everything is covered in ice. But who knows, maybe my heart does belong there.
Monday, August 10, 2009
So today was definitely a Monday...
I went to sleep unable to find my cell phone last night and so I spent this morning in a panic. My personal cell is also my business line. How in the world were people going to get a hold of me today? I had quilts waiting for customers and was sure people would be calling.
While I was frantically looking all over my house, my mom knocked on my door. Moms must have an ability to tell when their children are in a panic. Thank you mom! I began to walk her through the events of last night when I remembered having my phone last. We had gone to the neighbors house to visit so I decided to go over again. They were at work so I kindly let myself in. I had the garage about half way up when my neighbor pulled up. Busted! If my wonderful trusting neighbors are reading this, I will not be offended if you change your garage code.
The trespassing did not result in my phone but while I was out, I noticed that the garbage man had already come. This got me thinking about last week. I was missing my favorite scissors and asked my 3 year old if he had seen them. After thinking a minute, he suggested that I look in the trash. Now, why would he think my scissors were in the trash? I can only guess. I did look through the trash last week but all I found was thread, lint and needles. My scissors are still missing.
Immediately I ran into the house, cornered my little dude and asked him flat out if he had put my phone in the trash. I was trying to breathe deeply ... the garbage man had already come! His sweet little face denied throwing my phone out. I still wasn't convinced and looked in my empty trash cans. Then it dawns on me, I took the trash to the curb last night. I had set my phone down on my husband's rear bumper because my shorts lacked pockets. I then washed my hands and had forgotten to pick up my phone. By now though, my husband had already driven down town to work.
Now, I am a pretty lucky person. I won a Bernina 220 2 years ago at the Las Vegas shop hop and in high school I won a stereo in a perfect attendance drawing (yes I've always been a nerd). Things generally work out well for me so I didn't give up hope. My mom and kiddos piled into the car while I left a note for my customers to call my mom's cell. Thankfully no one came over while we were out searching! We drove all 13 miles staring at the pavement and arrived at my husband's truck with my phone still on his bumper. What a way to start the day!
While I was frantically looking all over my house, my mom knocked on my door. Moms must have an ability to tell when their children are in a panic. Thank you mom! I began to walk her through the events of last night when I remembered having my phone last. We had gone to the neighbors house to visit so I decided to go over again. They were at work so I kindly let myself in. I had the garage about half way up when my neighbor pulled up. Busted! If my wonderful trusting neighbors are reading this, I will not be offended if you change your garage code.
The trespassing did not result in my phone but while I was out, I noticed that the garbage man had already come. This got me thinking about last week. I was missing my favorite scissors and asked my 3 year old if he had seen them. After thinking a minute, he suggested that I look in the trash. Now, why would he think my scissors were in the trash? I can only guess. I did look through the trash last week but all I found was thread, lint and needles. My scissors are still missing.
Immediately I ran into the house, cornered my little dude and asked him flat out if he had put my phone in the trash. I was trying to breathe deeply ... the garbage man had already come! His sweet little face denied throwing my phone out. I still wasn't convinced and looked in my empty trash cans. Then it dawns on me, I took the trash to the curb last night. I had set my phone down on my husband's rear bumper because my shorts lacked pockets. I then washed my hands and had forgotten to pick up my phone. By now though, my husband had already driven down town to work.
Now, I am a pretty lucky person. I won a Bernina 220 2 years ago at the Las Vegas shop hop and in high school I won a stereo in a perfect attendance drawing (yes I've always been a nerd). Things generally work out well for me so I didn't give up hope. My mom and kiddos piled into the car while I left a note for my customers to call my mom's cell. Thankfully no one came over while we were out searching! We drove all 13 miles staring at the pavement and arrived at my husband's truck with my phone still on his bumper. What a way to start the day!
Friday, July 24, 2009
Bean Salad
I love that the Internet makes information so easily accessible. We had the neighbors over for dinner last weekend and I found some amazing new recipes online. Great food and great company- Does life get any better?
Healthy Garden Salad
Ingredients
5tbs red wine vinegar
3tbs grape seed oil- I used olive oil since it was already in my cupboard.
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro- I am not a professional chef so I used some dried cilantro and it tasted fine to me. The grocery store was out of cilantro so unless I wanted to stop at two stores with two children the fresh just wasn't happening!
2 limes juiced- Never go grocery shopping on Saturday! No limes either! I just bought a bottle of juice.
1 tsp white sugar
3/4 tsp salt
2 cloves of garlic minced
4 green onions thinly sliced
1 lb frozen shelled edamame (green soy beans)-My kiddos had fun shelling our soy beans because that was all I could find. It was actually pretty easy once cooked.
3 cups frozen corn kernels
1 can black beans drained and rinsed
1 pint cherry tomatoes
In a large serving bowl, whisk together the red wine vinegar, grape seed oil, cilantro, lime juice, sugar, salt and garlic. Set aside.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the soybeans and boil for 3 minutes. Add corn to the boiling water and continue cooking for 1 more minute. Drain very well, and pour into the bowl with the dressing. Gently mix in the cherry tomatoes, green onions and black beans. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving to chill and blend the flavors.
Healthy Garden Salad
Ingredients
5tbs red wine vinegar
3tbs grape seed oil- I used olive oil since it was already in my cupboard.
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro- I am not a professional chef so I used some dried cilantro and it tasted fine to me. The grocery store was out of cilantro so unless I wanted to stop at two stores with two children the fresh just wasn't happening!
2 limes juiced- Never go grocery shopping on Saturday! No limes either! I just bought a bottle of juice.
1 tsp white sugar
3/4 tsp salt
2 cloves of garlic minced
4 green onions thinly sliced
1 lb frozen shelled edamame (green soy beans)-My kiddos had fun shelling our soy beans because that was all I could find. It was actually pretty easy once cooked.
3 cups frozen corn kernels
1 can black beans drained and rinsed
1 pint cherry tomatoes
In a large serving bowl, whisk together the red wine vinegar, grape seed oil, cilantro, lime juice, sugar, salt and garlic. Set aside.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the soybeans and boil for 3 minutes. Add corn to the boiling water and continue cooking for 1 more minute. Drain very well, and pour into the bowl with the dressing. Gently mix in the cherry tomatoes, green onions and black beans. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving to chill and blend the flavors.
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