Heart Attack

My home has had a heart attack....

there are hearts everywhere.

Hearts hanging in trees...

Heart shaped frames and red heart lights...Glowing hearts.....
Hearts on tables....

Hot heart biscuits in heart bowls...
And vintage heart cards on a silver platter...

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Sneak a Peek Week 9

My first daffodil blooms have burst open...

The hyacinths from last year have come back....

And the tips of the tulips have poked through the dirt...

Spring is just around the corner, at least in this neck of the woods...

Am I feeling bad for the people buried in the snow on the east coast?

Well, maybe just a little.

A Night in Madera

My sisters, Martha and Gayle, and I motored to Madera to visit our niece, Natalie and her little family. My other sister, Judy, came down from her mountain top home in Auberry and met us there.

Martha chauffeured, Gayle navigated and I kicked back in the rear seat. I enjoyed watching the green grassy hills, the goats, the cows and the sheep, float on by. February is a wonderful time of the year in California for EVERYTHING is so green.

On our way down, we made a little detour to Chowchilla (the town made famous 40 years ago for the goons who hijacked and buried a school bus with children and a driver inside). We found the last thrift store in town. We love thrifting....here are some of the treasures I bought:

An original oil painting of sunny flowers that I purchased for $2 --- I love finding original art for so cheap. All I have to do is find a cool frame for it. I have a box in the attic filled with old frames I 've collected over the years. Or I can hang it as is.... I just need to find the perfect spot on the wall to hang it.

A Japanese painting on wood, purchased for $1.00....
and a nick knack shelf to display miniatures:

I found a hand made cross-stitch with "Families Are Forever" stitched in the center surrounded by yellow and orange flowers. The minute I saw it, I thought, "What a perfect housewarming gift for Natalie's kitchen!" It now proudly hangs in her kitchen.

We came bearing gifts for Logan who turned three last week..

And then headed out in the rain to visit the town...Here are my three sisters at the fruit market ...housed in a purple building!

Wouldn't you want to enter a store with a sign like this:

Back to Natalie's cozy home...to devour stew, homemade bread and salad. Scrumptious.
We celebrated Gayle's birthday with songs, candles and flags.

And little boys who want to blow out candles again....
and again...
and again....
and again.

What adorable boys:

I couldn't stop clicking.

Natalie lives in farm country where you will find orange groves, and pistachio orchards down the street...
Where beehives are placed nearby....filled with thousands of bees who will kiss the blossoms the moment the buds pop....


What a lovely trip....


with so many memories to be placed in the bank.

Today's Breakfast

I decided to sit at my kitchen table for breakfast this morning.

Something I rarely do, for it is much more convenient to sit at the island

and

the table is usually covered with stuff.

How wonderful it is to have fresh fruits in the middle of winter.

I remember growing up, many fruits and vegetables were only locally available

when they were in season.

Now with the ease of shipping food and goods all over the world,

many fresh foods are available year round.

Fresh mango, blackberries and bananas with sprinkles of scrumptious

granola on top and a glass of fresh squeezed oj...

certainly started my day off right.

MMMMMmmm...good.

Sneak a Peek Week 8

It has been awhile since my last garden peek.

The garden soaked up the copious amounts of rain last month.

Here's a peek of what is happening in my garden, this first week in February:

The daffodil, Cheerfulness, is in bloom by the front path.

Blooming daffodils always make me happy.


Sweet and wonderful daphne in full bloom.

I love this winter flower.

I like to pick a sprig and place it in a small vase on my nightstand.

I drift off to slumberland with the aroma of daphne swirling in my head.

Paperwhites in pots by the front door.

So nice to come home and be greeted with the delicious scent of these flowers.


It is always so encouraging when I see the tips of daffodils emerging from of the soil.

Another storm is heading our way....

Button down the hatches!

Our Family Ski Weekend

Our family went up to the Tahoe area this weekend. It has been several years (at least five) since we've all gone to Eben's (DZ's cousin)cabin in the winter.

The ski equipment and food all loaded in and on top of the car. All ready to take off ...along with a zillion other bay area crazy skiers. With traffic, it took us about five hours to get to the cabin.

This is Eben's cabin...covered with tons of the white stuff. The front door is totally covered in snow.

The side door is actually 15 feet above ground--there is a flight of stairs under the snow.


Although skiing can be quite pricey, I feel it is so worth it. It is something our family can do and enjoy together . Well, we ski together, sort of...once we get to the top of the mountain, DZ and the kids usually take off like rockets and leave me in the dust. I used to ski fast, but my legs just don't cooperate as much anymore.

Sophie and David trying to get up after a fall.


Adeline and DZ at the top of Mt. Lincoln--we were in a cloud--and it was softly snowing all day, which made for the most DEEVINE powder snow skiing ever!

Does DZ look like he is having fun? Check out the poles, he has been using them for forty years.

Love the ice formation on the lift sign.

A very happy but very tired skier at the end of the day...

Kids having...

fun in the...

..... snow.



DZ playing cards with Adeline.

Relaxing and reading after a day on the slopes. Notice the flip flops on DZ's feet.
Adeline stuck in the snow.

The lovebirds, Sophie and David.


Peter with adorable Joann

The proud creators of Mr. Marshmellowman.
What wonderful memories to treasure.

February First

Why February is appointed the Love Month?


























Is it because the cupid gods knew we needed something to bring us out of the doldrums of the cold, dark, wet, and white air January?

I think it works.

I am ready to bring my red love boxes down and decorate with red, hearts and lips.
And give DZ one big smackaroo.