Dori's New Adventures

The D... Cruise!

2012-01-19T13:51:00.000-06:00

I can't believe that I have not written a blog post since December. Obviously blogging was not one of my resolutions. I still hope to recap some of the "goings on" over the past 3 weeks, but in the meantime I just need to mention that we are going on our first cruise and my hubby is not all that enthusiastic about it. Truth be told, this tragedy off the coast of Italy won't help. Lefty's best friend from college started this whole "show" by surprising his wife with the trip. She immediately directed him to invite some other friends along to make it really fun. And he did! As it turns out, there are now 6 couples jumping on board, all friends from college. Although Lefty is not overly enthusiastic about the cruise ship experience, Dean reminded him that he will be experiencing it with "the dream team"... Lefty's hilarious college buddies and their wives, who are all, flat out fun. I, personally, can't wait.There are bound to be some great stories coming out of this trip. Look for pictures and updates in early February.
In the next couple of days I will post some fun pictures of our time in Napa. One of my favorite places to spend a long weekend. We had perfect weather and some of the best food and wine pairings imaginable. Now I am trying to lose a couple of the pounds I gained so that I can fit in my spanx for the cruise. Ha Ha!

Tine's Half Birthday

2011-12-22T11:34:00.001-06:00

Today is C's half birthday and since she is here in Dallas, Z and I put together a little surprise for her this morning. Who celebrates half birthdays you ask? Well, Christine did one year back in middle school. The whole idea came as a result of her feeling like she missed out by having a summer birthday when everyone seemed to be on vacation. That year we had a big birthday party for her on December 22nd. She loved it. So this is what we did this morning before she woke up...

The sign says, Happy 25 1/2 Birthday!

Birthday crown..Thanks to Z.

And to top it off, a treat.

Monkey Bread!

Entertaining made easy.

2011-12-16T08:53:00.000-06:00

Last Friday night we hosted a Christmas party for Lefty's management team and their spouses. A good time was had by all and I must say that entertaining can be fun and easy. It has always been fun for us, but not always easy. Lots of decorating and then lots of baking and cooking. The last 2 years we have turned the whole thing over to Lefty's assistant M, and boy does she know who to work with. I wish I had taken pictures of the the food, but I was too busy eating it to even think about that at the time, but here are some pictures of the flowers that arrived for the party.

Occupy Sonoma

2011-12-14T09:07:00.000-06:00

Lefty had a great line this morning. Let me back up. After Cookie and Pepper danced a jig to earn a treat, scratched the door to be let out, scratched it again to be let in, carried some leaves along in with them to be strewed about the house, whined to be fed and given fresh water, THEY PROCEEDED TO GO RIGHT BACK TO BED! Lefty looked at them and shook his head and under his breath said: "It's like these dogs are occupying Sonoma!" It cracked me up. After a morning siesta, it looks like they will now get on to their daily tasks.

The Purpose of Christmas

2011-12-07T09:09:00.001-06:00

Rick Warren wrote a book titled "The Purpose of Christmas". I am taking a little time every morning to read a chapter and try to slow down this busy season and soak in what it really is all about. From time to time I am going to share a bit of what Warren says.

"We can know a bit about God by simply observing his creation. For instance, by looking at creation we know that our creator loves variety. Think of the limitless array of plants, animals, rock formations, snowflakes, and people. No two human beings are exactly alike, not even twins. God doesn't make clones or copies. Every one of us is original. After you were born, God broke the mold.
God must enjoy watching us enjoy what he has created. Otherwise why would he have given us so many ways to enjoy it? He gave us taste buds, then filled the world with incredible flavors like chocolate and cinnamon. He gave us eyes to perceive color and filled the world with a rainbow of shades. He gave us sensitive ears and then filled the world with rhythms and music. Your capacity for enjoyment is evidence of God's love for you."

God's love for us is unconditional, constant, and unchanging. Nothing we do will change it because it is based on his character, not our conduct.

A Great Thanksgiving and now it's on to Christmas

2011-12-02T16:12:00.001-06:00

It's always special to be able to gather your family together for the holidays. This year my parents drove in from Minnesota. They are in their 80's, and had a great drive to and from and while they were here, they loved spending time with all 4 of their grandchildren. It doesn't happen all that often anymore.
We had a relatively low key holiday with lots of eating, laughing, and just catching up. We will get to enjoy all four of our kids for Christmas as well.
One of these years there will be an engagement or two or three, and that may alter how we spend the holidays. Who knows? But in the meantime, we will cherish the time we get to spend any holiday together.

And now I am off to crack open the Christmas bins and DECORATE!

Thankful for so much

2011-11-22T23:44:00.000-06:00

This is the time of year to focus in on what we are thankful for, and I feel extraordinarily blessed.
I am thankful for the freedom to worship God openly and freely.
I am thankful for a really wonderful, loving, smart, and funny hubby.
I am thankful for 4 exceptional children. ( who will all be with us for Thanksgiving)
I am thankful for our parents and extended families.
I am thankful for life long and new found friends.
I am thankful for our two little wienie dogs.
I am thankful for our home....and lots of other things.

I am so thankful to live in the USA!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I will be busy in the kitchen soon and wanted to publish this post before Thursday.

Thought for the day

2011-11-16T10:17:00.000-06:00

I wish I could give proper credit to the person who wrote this, but I have NO IDEA who did. It's worth contemplating. Too often, I waste away large portions of my time. Don't we all?

"This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day in your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever. In it's place is something that you have left behind. Let it be something good. "

Happy 30th Birthday Karl!

2011-11-09T08:18:00.000-06:00

Thirty years ago, this very day, ( at 5:14 a.m. to be exact) our first born entered the world. As any parent will attest, there is NOTHING LIKE the birth of a child, and when it is your first, you realize how utterly indescribable the experience is. It's the exact moment when you discover that you have the capacity to love this little baby more than you could have ever imagined. Life changing!
We were YOUNG! I look back on the pictures and realize how much we look like kids ourselves. But, we had read lots of parenting books, and had a number of friends who already had kids so we considered ourselves ready.

We obviously didn't know everything, but we loved figuring it out as we went. It has been a grand adventure.

We have loved parenting you Karl and have so many fun, meaningful, and adventuresome memories and stories about you. (We will relive them over Thanksgiving when we get to celebrate with you in person.)

You weren't afforded the luxury of being an only child for long. In fact, you will never have a memory of life without siblings as they followed along pretty quickly. But you took on being an older brother with gusto.

You are one of the most unique and gifted people we know and you have delighted us in unimaginable ways throughout your entire 30 years. We are so proud to have you as our son and love you immeasurably.

It gives us such joy to see you using your gifts and skills to accomplish GREAT things and we can't wait to see where your "investment" leads you. You have so much to look forward to as you begin this 30th year!

Have fun opening up your gifts and celebrating with Laura! We can't wait to hear all about it!

Frogs and Princes

2011-11-05T11:53:00.000-05:00

This is a post that I give complete credit to William L. Coleman for. He has written a number of books on relationships and the chapter titled Frogs and Princes is still the best advice. Someone gave me similar advice when I was young and I think it's solid advice.

"Try to imagine this: What if the man you marry never changes? Suppose he becomes frozen in time and always remains the same. Could you be as happy with him at age fifty-five as you are today?

Too many people get married believing that they can change their spouses. They believe in miracles, but unfortunately they think they are the miracle worker. It's nice to have that much faith in oneself, but they need a reality check.

Very seldom are any of us successful at changing someone else. Read that sentence again. The person you marry is basically the same one you will see across the breakfast table twenty or thirty years from now. Frogs don't turn into princes. Skunks stay skunks all of their lives. And yes, angels tend to remain angels.

If anything, try to picture each of your partner's character traits increased by ten percent. People who are easily irritated while they are dating become more easily irritated after they get married. Bad tempers become fierce tempers within a year or two. Crude and rude have a way of degenerating into sloppy and obnoxious.

Only fairy princesses believe that they can take a self-centered guy, marry him, feed him, love him, give him lots of attention, and change him into a cool dude. But then fairy princesses still believe in magic wands.
Are there exceptions? Son't some wives change their husbands? Sure, but Halley's Comet comes around more often than that.

Love who you have. Work with him the way he is. Learn how to enhance his good qualities. Accept him lock, stock, and barrel and the two of you can become the great romance of the century.

Love his quirks. Don't struggle over the toothpaste tube. Get two tubes and squeeze your own however you like.

Never sweat the small stuff. And remember, most of our differences really are small stuff.
Make room for his foibles and habits. We all have them. You keep yours. Let him have his.
Dare to love him as he is . Love wears better when it is accepting, free of manipulation."

We all have things that get on one another's nerves from time to time. None of us are even close to being perfect. This article was written for a daughter, but it would be just as true if written to a son .

I "married up". I am one lucky gal. My hubby is a terrific guy! He always has been.

Little Ones

2011-10-31T11:25:00.000-05:00

Years ago when my children were "little ones", I was blessed to have parents, in-laws, my sister, and a handful of other generous people who watched over them while Steve and I took a quick trip somewhere. It didn't happen all that often, but at least once or twice a year we made it happen.

I remember cleaning the house, buying lots of groceries, and making long lists of all the things that needed to be remembered in our absence. It was a LOT OF WORK to have a "get away".

I also remember how excited I was to come home to these four "little ones". They seemed to have "grown up" a bit in our short time away.

This past week I had a chance to play "grandma" with this sweet little guy! A friend of mine from MOPS, had an opportunity to travel with her hubby, so I kept the little man from Wednesday through Friday until his Grandma came in from out of town.

Louise and I had a blast. He was happy ALL THE TIME! He was even happy to go down for a nap.

Here he is!

He loved playing with our phones and rocking in Karl's rocking chair. I had a chance to dig out some of the kid's old toys and books. Lots of fun memories!

And yes, his mom made me a great list to help me know what I needed to do and when. She also brought over all the necessary gear to make it easy for us. (She needed a few days away after all the work I know she went to to get ready. And I bet she thought he had "grown up" in just the few days she was gone.)

The 3 C's

2011-10-24T09:54:00.000-05:00

CHOICES. CHANCES. CHANGE.

You've got to make a choice to take a chance in order to change.

(from theletteredcottage.net. Layla Palmer's blog.)

Happy Monday!

The art of listening.

2011-10-17T11:13:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, I mentioned a couple of books I was reading. As is usually the case with books and me, I get easily distracted and preoccupied with the week's activities and some reality tv shows thrown in, ( i.e. the Kardashian wedding) and I basically have to start reading said books over again so I can remember what I already read. So this week I actually made some more progress on the Resolution for Women.
The part I just finished reading was all about the importance of listening and it's value in our lives and the lives of those we love.

She writes: Time and listening are gifts. When people give you their ear, they are offering you a sliver of their life they can never retrieve again, on e of the few gifts that can never be returned or retracted. We can get so focused on our own feelings and circumstances that many of our conversations ultimately become all about us.
What we say by no listening says a lot, so choose to listen. Resist the urge to criticize, insult, or make sarcastic remarks. Lean in purposefully and listen. It's your gift so give it to whomever you can.

She goes on to give some great advice. Sometimes wisdom is knowing what to say and NOT saying it. You don't have to say everything that pops into your head. Silence is oftentimes our good friend. We would be wise to listen and gather up all the information before releasing our reaction. Choose to let your solutions and reactions time to "settle" before being shared.

Try it for a day or two. Deliberately keep from saying something that is better left unsaid. What would change for the better in your life if you began exercising the restraint of silence? Picture the people in your life who most need to receive the gift of listening from you.

It's our nature to be talkers and the resolution to be a better listener is one I want to make.

Here is one of my good "listening" friends. Actually, we think she is becoming deaf and maybe that is why she appears to be such a good listener. Happy Monday!

A quick trip to Boulder.

2011-10-10T18:53:00.000-05:00

Sometimes a mom just has to do what she has to do, and that means hopping on a plane to see one of her children. So, Thursday I flew to Denver to see Christine, but not without a little hitch in the plan. As we were circling Denver to land, we hit some crazy, wild, rough and tumble air! Moments later we were on our way to Albequerque, New Mexico. Apparently the winds around the Denver airport were so intense that we couldn't land AND we were low on fuel so circling was no longer an option.
I have never been to New Mexico before so a little pit stop allowed me to add that state as a place I have technically been to.
After a 2 to 3 hour delay, I arrived at Tine's condo just in time to enjoy some Thai food that she had ordered in. There is something about food on the table after a long day that just tastes even better. AND, Tine had all sorts of fun stories to tell about her recent adventures and boy, has she had them. She has been all over the place this summer and early fall. No signs that that will change anytime soon. I caught her on the only free weekend that she and P have during the month of October.
We spent our time on Friday shopping, eating, hiking and then eating again as we dined at Frasca's. Patrick kept us entertained the entire time. Boulder has some of the best restaurants I have ever eaten at.
Saturday I woke up to cold temperatures. Yay! The forecast was for snow in the mountains which sounds like heaven after the summer we have had in Dallas. The three of us went out for brunch before I left for the
airport. On my way there it started to snow and I smiled the whole way.
What a FUN weekend. Thanks Tine and Patrick for everything.
Here is Christine's blog address: soulschine.blogspot.com She posted some great pictures.

Louise picked me up at the airport when I landed in Dallas. She brought me clothes to change into ( IN THE CAR), and we were off to see Taylor Swift at the Cowboy Stadium. She did not disappoint. Fun times! Adventures with both daughters in one weekend.

Back from Romania !

2011-10-10T14:25:00.000-05:00

The trip to Romania was one of my favorites ever. Each time we return there, we are afforded wonderful opportunities to connect with people and places, but this was certainly a special trip. We spent time in Budapest, Hungary on the front end of the trip.

We spent a bit of time up at Poianna.

Then on to Bucharest for 4 days.

Our last day in Romania we toured a monastery and two castles. What a great way to end a trip!

Vegas in a flash!

2011-10-04T14:36:00.000-05:00

The month of September was a BLUR! We were on the move for most of the month. Somewhere in there we hit Las Vegas for a very short time. Here are a few of pictures from the trip. It was my first time in Vegas, and all the smoking there prepared me for the trip to Romania.

Great hotel.

Beautiful weather.

Lots of fun!

Romania- day 6?

2011-09-29T07:46:00.000-05:00

This trip is going by so quickly. The saying that "time flys when you are having fun" is certainly true.
Just a few comments:
There are lots of smokers here.
The women wear beautiful shoes.
I have never enjoyed a cup of coffee more than I have here in Romania.
The bread and pastries...oh my!
We have bought a LOT of bottled water. I will appreciate my filtered refrigerator water next week.
Most people here speak English.
Cabs are very inexpensive.
This really is a special country.

We will be touring around Bucharest and the surrounding areas for the next couple of days. Will post pictures upon our return.

Non~Stop

2011-09-26T02:28:00.000-05:00

We have been on the move. I have started and deleted about 5 different blogposts. If I had better luck posting pictures from these posts, I would have actually published them, but no such luck. I continue to be technology challenged.
I hope to get back to a Las Vegas post,as it was my first time there and it was an interesting place. Currently we are in Romania and will be covering a lot of ground in the next week. In between business meetings for Lefty, we will reconnect with friends and enjoy some beautiful scenery. This is a special place. As we drove from Budapest, Hungary into Romania, we once again saw people moving around lots of different ways. All sharing the same road. Pedestrians, bikes, mopeds, motorcycles,cars, tractors, and horse drawn wooden carts. Off to the sides of the road are cattle and sheep herders.
We arrived in Cluj-Napoca last night and this is a bustling University city filled with young people. We had a late dinner at our friend's restaurant, the Marty Cafe. Best thin crust pizza and fresh salads. Around lunchtime we will start the drive to Poianna where we will spend the night. Tomorrow we go on to Oradea (Octoberfest activities) and then, by plane, train, or automobile, we will arrive in Bucharest.
The fall weather here is spectacular and after such a long, hot summer in TX, we are really enjoying it.

Think Positiviely: You will live longer than a pessimist

2011-09-15T13:36:00.000-05:00

Alexandra Stoddard is an interesting woman and has written a number of books. The title of today's blog is straight out of one of her books. I am just going to go ahead and quote her directly.
"You are the only one who chooses what you think. Think the thoughts that will increase your sense of well-being. Think the thoughts that make you feel good. We become what we think about all day. Positive thinkers stay connected to their creative power and use all their powers constructively, staying focused on what they want to accomplish and how they want to feel, doing the best they can to look for the good in every situation. Negative thinkers find themselves feeling scattered. Negative thought prey harmfully on us, triggering a number of distinctive emotions; anger, confusion, anxiety, depression, and frustration. Negative emotion appears to weaken people's immune system. Psychology, indeed, does affect biology.
In order to get the most out of your lifetime, formulate a positive philosophy and search, not for the ideal later, but for the actual good now. You must have a point of view, a perspective, on life. You always have a choice to select the window you look out from. Choose the best possible view. Look for ways to expand your horizon and multiply your possibilities. Choose to look at life from a sense of increase, a sense of potential. Being positive is being appreciative of the miracle of your life, even when things are not going your way. A positive attitude looks for progress, ways to improve things and make things work out for the best.
There is far more good than bad in the world, more beauty than ugliness, more kindness than meanness, more love than hate. "
And... it helps to put a sticky note on your mirror that says "Don't Worry! Be Happy!" At least when you are brushing your teeth and getting ready to head out the door you will do so with a smile on your face and an expectation that this is going to be a fine day.

In and Out

2011-09-01T08:24:00.000-05:00

No, I am not talking about the infamous hamburger joint. I am back in from the garage sale in MN and am on my way out to Montana.
The garage sale was a huge success and could have been even bigger if the pricing on a few items had been lower, but all in all my folks were very happy with the outcome and my dad had so much fun doing it that he wants to have another one in the spring. Hmmmmmm.......
Now it's time to enjoy a long weekend of doing some of this.

After a quick week of catching up around the house and helping Dean find an apartment ( 1 mile from his new job), we are on our way back to cooler temperatures today. It is going to be rainy in Bozeman when I land and I might just dance a jig over rain. I hardly remember what it looks, feels, and smells like anymore. But, the best part is that is going to get into the low 40's at night and I might just have to make a bonfire! I CANNOT wait.

Bacon and Tater Tots

2011-08-24T12:51:00.000-05:00

I am sitting on an American Airlines 737, and I am seated in 6 A. Yes, I was upgraded on a completely full flight. Praise the Lord!

I am off to Lake Shore Farm where I grew up in southern Minnesota. It is going to be 82 degrees there today and I might just have to borrow one of my mom's sweaters. It's been in the 100 plus degree temperatures in Dallas for so long that we have ALMOST gotten used to it.

This Friday and Saturday my parents are having their garage sale that we have been getting ready for on and off all summer. I will tweet some pictures of before,during, and after.

When I talked to my parents to see what they needed me to pick up at the grocery store, I was told only 2 things were needed. Tater tots and bacon. Hmmmmm. I think I might just pick up some "bag salad" too.

In the meantime,I best take whatever they offer me for lunch on this flight and enjoy it.

Z's first day of school

2011-08-22T15:57:00.000-05:00

It seems like yesterday that I was taking "first day of school" pictures of my kids. Where have the years gone? I did take a picture of Z today before she drove down to SMU to begin Grad School. The picture was taken with her phone and probably will only be seen by her sister, but it brought back lots of fun memories of new tennis shoes, new back packs full of binders and pencils, first day of school "outfits", new lunch boxes packed with an extra good lunch for the first day, and all that blonde hair and tan skin from a summer spent at the pool.
As I drove into the neighborhood this afternoon, all the moms were walking to school to pick up their kids and I was also reminded how much I enjoyed the quietness of the house that first day of school and what fun it was to think up a fun after school snack.
THEN, I remembered that K, D, C, and L all brought home folders full of forms for me to fill out that first day. I guess it's kind of nice that Z has filled out all the necessary forms. We haven't had to lift a finger. Well, unless you call helping with tuition "lifting a finger". Good luck Z!!!!!

Things that fit together

2011-08-18T09:51:00.000-05:00

I am reading two books. I am reading them at the same time and they look like they are going to fit nicely together. The first one, The Happiness Project is by Gretchen Rubin. The second is The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer.

I have read the first chapter of each book and there is a common thread that I think many women will be able to relate to. (Perhaps men might as well.)

Gretchen makes this comment; "I have such a good life, I want to appreciate it more-and live up to it better".
AMEN! She talks about disciplining yourself to feel grateful for an ordinary day and looking for happiness "in your own kitchen". She goes so far as to say, "Act the way you want to feel. Fake it til' you feel it."

Fast forward to Priscilla's book. Chapter one is all about embracing your now, whatever that may be. She asks the questions: What have you been hurrying through? What have you been hurrying to get to? What can you do differently today, to gather up all the good things around you and begin enjoying the journey of your life?

She goes on to say that instead of relishing each moment, each year, each opportunity, each step on the journey, we're constantly overeager to get to the next thing, which always looks more enticing than what's currently before us. We are rarely satisfied in FULL with our present situation.

Isn't this true? We are single and we want marriage. We get married and we look forward to having a family. We have a family and we push our children to "grow up". Our tendency is to keep pushing forward to find more happiness when our happiness can most likely be found in our NOW.

I am going to follow both authors advice and read these books S L O W L Y...let the themes roll around in my mind and start being more aware of my NOW. Life flies by far too fast to miss the moment I am in at present.

Priscilla Shirer has a Resolution Revolution Project going on over on her blog. www.goingbeyond.com/blog
and Gretchen Rubin's website is: happiness-project.com .

Escaping the Heat Again!

2011-08-15T13:00:00.000-05:00

We enjoyed a wonderful break from the 100 plus degree temperatures in Texas. After a couple of days showing some of the Phytel folk around Montana, Lefty and I did some fishing on a variety of creeks, streams, and rivers. I caught my first cutthroat trout on the lower Gallatin. Very cool river.

We saw an adorable little river cabin that would be fun to recreate at our place some day.

We were able to fish a private creek one day,

and the Big Hole the next.

We were thankful to enjoy beautiful and cooler weather and another week of decompression in one of our favorite places in the country.
Now we are back in Texas until Labor Day. Feels good to be home even if it is still HOT!

Leaving Minnesota.

2011-08-01T10:38:00.000-05:00

Last Wednesday I flew to Minneapolis, rented a VERY small, VERY red Chevrolet of some kind. Truth be told, I don't want to remember what it was. It had hail damage, squeaky breaks, and sounded like a Diesel truck when I accelerated. Enough about that.
I was in MN to help my parents start going through some things in their house. They need to get ready to downsize soon, so a garage sale is being scheduled for the end of August. We went through crawl spaces, attic storage, closets, dresser drawers,kitchen and bathroom cabinets, 2 garages and a boathouse. Wow! After 23 years in this house, there were lots of things that had accumulated that no longer serve a purpose for them. The temperature while I was there hovered around 95 which by Texas standards is a cool spell, but I had forgotten what HUMIDITY feels like at 95 degrees. I will be very sad if I haven't lost at least a couple of pounds from sweating for 4 days straight.
It just so happens that for the second year in a row I was back in MN for a family reunion. We had a little potluck lunch on Sunday after church. I spotted some jello salads that I had not seen since I lived in MN YEARS ago. As a proud Texan, I will be having some sort of Tex Mex tonight. My mouth is watering already.

Simplicity

2011-07-22T09:54:00.000-05:00

I ran across this quote this morning; "We rush through the present toward some future that is supposed to be better, but generally turns out only to be busier". So true. After a week in Montana where I feel totally relaxed, I return to the lists, appointments, and responsibilities of real life, and while that is all well and good, it sure fills up my days with busyness.

I think I am at that place in my life where "less is more" applies. All the "stuff" doesn't make us truly happy and content, rather it's our relationships and our life experiences that really matter. So I am taking a few deep breaths and mentally going back to Montana for a few minutes... and then I am going to clean my house! I will be looking for more things to donate to Goodwill in the process. "Less is More"! And while I am cleaning, I will remember what I am really thankful for; my wonderful family, my fun hubby, my morning coffee, 2 crazy little dogs, and Jillian Michaels and the 30 Day Shred! Have a great weekend!

And, by the way, I won't be worrying about why my font shrunk in the middle of my blog post because that wouldn't fit it with my focus on simple living today.

Never mind that last comment, when I went to preview the blog, it all looked fine. I will never figure out this technology "stuff".

Just plain, old, FUN!

2011-07-15T12:40:00.000-05:00

I will do a longer blog post about our week in Montana, but just wanted to get these out right away. We had such a fun time Zip-lining in Whitefish. Can't wait to do this again!

Cooler temperatures in my future.

2011-07-06T21:41:00.000-05:00

Oh my word! After a week of riding our bikes in 100 plus temperatures,we are off to MT where it will be in the 40's at night. Praise the Lord! I can 't wait to put on a pair of jeans and a fleece. We hope to do some fly fishing, some 4 wheeling, perhaps some zip lining at Glacier,some hiking, maybe a bit of rafting, and who knows what else? Let me just say that as much as I love Texas, I am more than ready for a break from this heat. And we will be joined by Z and Z, so we know there will be humor involved in this adventure.

Pictures will follow. Packing the the BIG camera.

Working on some blog changes

2011-06-28T22:02:00.000-05:00

I have lots of technology challenges, just ask my kids. One of the worst was when I tried to use my stylus from my IPad to do something on my laptop. Not just once but twice. So, as I attempt to make some subtle changes to my blog, I suspect I will be asking them for some help. I hope this doesn't take too long.

Norway

2011-06-23T13:59:00.000-05:00

The trip to Norway was certainly an enjoyable one. I have never traveled on a "tour" before and not sure if I will going forward, but this one included distant relatives and it proved to be an easy way to see a country FAST.
I thought I was going to be the youngest person on the trip, but thankfully that proved to be wrong. A brave 20 year old came along with her mom and grandmom.
We moved around mostly on a tour bus, but also took ferries through the fjords and a couple of trains as well. I have never seen so many waterfalls in all my life. We even saw a glacier. Thankfully, everyone was awake for that. ( At one point in time, I looked around the bus and 4 out of 39 of us were awake.)
Here are a few pictures. The last one is of my roomie and I at the Ice Bar.

It rained almost every day we were there and never got above 60 degrees, so I am having a bit of an adjustment to these 100 degree days here in Dallas. I sort of wish I could have brought the Ice Bar back to my house.

Tine's B Day!

2011-06-22T20:30:00.000-05:00

So, I was looking through some old pictures and came upon these. Where has the time gone?

Not so long ago after all.

Bergen

2011-06-14T09:38:00.000-05:00

One thing I will remember about this trip to Norway , is the rain. We are having a lot of fun and seeing some interesting and beautiful places, but we are getting soaked in the process. I remind myself how hot and dry it must be in Dallas and that is enough to keep me from being distracted by the cool and rainy weather here.
I will post pictures next week of a few highlights of the trip. I am sure there are more to come. Yesterday afternoon we had a bit of sunshine so seized the opportunity to ride the funicular to the outlook over Bergen. Beautiful.
Today we have had a "free day" and have walked all around the wharf area. One more night here and we continue on to Geilo and then on to Oslo for 2 days and then on a plane back to the states.

We have arrived.

2011-06-09T16:06:00.000-05:00

After a 2 hour delay out of Minneapolis we had a smooth flight to Iceland and somehow made our connecting flight to Oslo,Norway. It was a very long day ,but no complaints. Now we are in Lillehammer and a wonderful rain is falling as we settle into an absolutely charming hotel that looks out towards the ski jumps. Tomorrow we tour the town.

On the road again.

2011-06-06T22:27:00.000-05:00

Years ago Willie Nelson recorded a song that, truth be told, I don't want to hear again. It was overplayed. But, nevertheless it is my theme song these days. On the Road Again. I am driving our bikes to MN. I will hop on a plane to Norway and Lefty and Z will fly in to Minneapolis to ride in the MS 150 with our college friends this weekend while I am touring Norway with relatives. My guess is that they will have a bigger adventure riding bikes in northern Minnesota than I will have on my tour bus, but I may get the best pictures. I will let you know...

Life is a whirlwind.

2011-06-03T21:31:00.000-05:00

Since my last post, I have spent a couple of incredibly beautiful weeks at the beach at Emerald Isle, a stop in Greensboro to see some old friends; an uneventful drive back to Texas; and then a week of annual doctor and dentist check-ups. Last Friday we left for Montana to spruce up our cabin and do some work around the ranch. We were very productive as the temperatures lingered in the mid 40's with rain in the valley and snow in the mountains. Truth be told, it was glorious after the Texas heat. This week has been filled with cleaning, running errands etc. in order to be ready for another road trip next week. I will drive to Minnesota to celebrate my mom's birthday on Tuesday and then hop a plane in Minneapolis to join my relatives for a trip to Norway. Look for lots of pictures upon my return. There are sure to be some stories to go along with them as I am fairly certain that I am the youngest person on the trip by at least 10 years, perhaps more. I will try to chronicle the humorous moments along the way.

A trip to be remembered

2011-04-29T10:37:00.000-05:00

There are so many posts I have meant to write, but life's been busy. But, as I sit here in MD with Karl, I just had to briefly share what a crazy couple of days Z and I had getting to the East coast.
We left Dallas on Wednesday which was Z's B-Day. We made great time as we drove on mostly open roads all the way to Atlanta. No wonder. We started to see lots of broken off tree tops and entire uprooted trees along the way with work crews chopping trees where they had fallen onto the interstate. We checked into our dog friendly Drury Inn in Marietta, GA where we learned we were in a tornado warning. Lefty had flowers and one of those fruit baskets that look like flowers waiting there for Z and it was the highlight of the B-Day. We slept fitfully until 5:30a.m.
We packed the car and got back on the road,cutting across GA and SC angling across to my in-laws house in Angier,NC to drop off the dogs. Another day of crazy,stormy, weather. More tornado warnings and downpours on and off for hours. Once we got to Angier, the rain stopped so I was able to drop Z in Raleigh with her friends and I continued on to Gaithersburg,MD.
Today is an absolutely spectacular day in MD. I am here with Karl until Sunday while he recuperates from a minor surgical procedure. There will be trips to Whole Foods, and Trader Joes. We'll see what else K feels like doing. I'm happy to be out of the car for a couple of days!

The Cowboy Stadium

2011-04-17T19:58:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, Z and I took our ranch manager ( who was in town), to tour the Cowboy Stadium. I really was impressed with the facility. Here are a few of the things that I noticed:

Then, last night Z and I went back to the Cowboy Stadium to hear Uncle Kracker (not so much), Billy Curlington, the Zack Brown Band, and Kenny Chesney. Here is what we saw on that Texas size BIG screen at Cowboy Stadium:

That's right! NOTHING! As you can see from the camera angle, we were on the lowest row of the top most level. It sure would have been nice if they had turned this thing on so we could see the members of the bands. Needless to say neither of us were overly impressed with Corona who sponsored this show.
Truth be told, we were most excited to see the Zack Brown Band so once they finished their set, Z and I quickly tired of our young and boisterous seat mates and decided we would pass on Kenny Chesney. We don't think we missed much by leaving early.

A fast and furious fun weekend!

2011-04-04T17:26:00.000-05:00

We have had more fun filled and action packed days in the last 5 days than we have had in quite awhile.

Last Friday we flew to Orlando for Dean's graduation from Full Sail University. It could not have been a more beautiful day.

We landed a little after noon and headed over to Dean's apartment and had a little down time to catch up with him before we headed over to the University for the ceremony.

This school is a high tech place. Every graduate's name was up on this super sized screen when they walked across the stage to receive their diplomas. Really impressive. One would expect nothing less from a school that is all about technology. Dean has thoroughly enjoyed the whole school experience, but is ready to leave Florida and return to the working world. Time to start making some money again!

After the ceremony we went to Whole Foods and bought all sorts of great ingredients to make a special celebratory dinner. Steaks and a few of Dean's favorite sides. We could not have had a more enjoyable time combining the celebration of graduation and his birthday, which was Saturday.

We were off bright and early the next morning to return to Dallas to our company that was waiting there for us. Steve's sister and her daughter as well as one of Louise's friends from NC had arrived on Thursday and Friday respectively. Louise played the hostess in our absence and took them shopping and out to a great little Italian restaurant that evening.

After we landed on Saturday we did a little shopping and went out to a fun Mexican Restaurant and then it was time to relax a bit before we made dinner and took the girls over to Billy Bob's in Fort Worth for the night. A really great country western band was playing and we saw some of the fanciest Texas Two Step dancing you can imagine. We loved it.

On Sunday we had tickets to the Ranger's game and once again, it could not have been a more beautiful day. We all thoroughly enjoyed watching them WIN and in the process, we all got a bit sun-burned.

Today, everyone was back on a plane to return home . The house seems way too quiet. We miss our company already.

Guilty!

2011-03-28T21:58:00.000-05:00

A beautiful day at the Arboretum.

2011-03-25T22:59:00.000-05:00

It could not have been a more perfect day here in TX. Absolutely gorgeous. My friend, M treated me to lunch at the Arboretum. We walked and walked and took a zillion pictures which I planned to post on here. But, I took them ALL in black and white. Oh my word. I don't know what more to say. Z says she will go back with me Monday so I can try again.

Lent and Goals

2011-03-09T08:35:00.000-06:00

I am going to attempt to try to tie these two things together. I have been reading Candace Cameron Bure's new book, "Reshaping It All". She is still as sweet as she was on "Full House", but definitely has learned some valuable things along the way. She is grounded and secure, and she is a Christian.
Last night "Z" told me she was giving up soda for Lent and asked me what I was giving up. Honestly, I had not given it any/much thought. Almost immediately, gluten popped into my head. The whole idea of giving something up is to find that thing that is hard to give up and live without that thing from now until Easter weekend. (There are different schools of thought as to what day you can go back to enjoying the thing you gave up.) Lent represents the 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert preparing for his public ministry.
So, I have decided to give up gluten. And here's the thing. Gluten is in a ton of things besides bread and cereal. So there will be some new recipes to try and another book to purchase. I have given up other things other years and this will require a little more effort.
Giving up something you enjoy on a daily basis isn't easy, but there is value in refocusing and challenging ourselves. Giving anything up requires a goal.
Here is where I will try to tie these two things together. (Taken from Candace's book.)
"A goal itself is not to be desired but rather that value is found in the effort". And here are the 5 steps she puts out there to reach that goal.
1. Envision your goal.
2. Formulate a plan.
3.Consider the gain.
4.Count the cost.
5. Do the necessary work to achieve it.
She goes on to say, "Both planning our goals and the means of getting there gives us a greater chance at success than living impulsively would. When things are organized and on schedule, the likelihood of success is increased. Unexpected obstacles often stand in our way, but if we invest in foresight and consider the ways we will deal with each hurdle, we are leaning on wisdom rather than chance."
Things that are worthwhile are not easy, but taken one step at a time, one day at a time and keeping our focus on the goal will make it doable. So as I give something up for the next six weeks, I am planning for it in advance to make it more doable.
I have heard that some people add something into their lives for Lent. That might also be an interesting goal. A friend of mine studies lesser known books of the bible. Or maybe this next 6 weeks turns into a time of introspection and self discovery.
" Don't copy the behavior and customs of the world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect is will really is." Romans 12:2

A visit from Dean.

2011-03-02T17:33:00.000-06:00

Dean is one month away from graduation. Don't know where the months have gone, but he is ready to move on and get back into the real world of work, friends, and some new surroundings. I don't think anyone in our family handles 12 months of on and off summer temps, so he will be ready to vacate Florida sometime in April. Still not quite sure where his new landing pad will be, but time will tell.
Dean flew in for a visit on Friday evening. He hadn't been to our new house, so at least now he has seen his home away from home. We went to a Stars game on Saturday afternoon and they won! Great game. Then we went to Billy Bob's in Fort Worth on Saturday night to hear Buddy Guy. Oh my word! Buddy Guy is 74 and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. I want to be that active when I am 74!
The rest of the weekend was spent eating, relaxing, and catching up. So good to see him. And it's always fun for Louise to have one of the siblings around.

7 Things

2011-02-26T09:59:00.000-06:00

Christine and some of her friends/followers have been posting " tidbits" about things they love. Here is my list!
1 - I love the first cup of coffee in the morning. (Starbucks Espresso Roast Whole Bean )

2 - I love my kitchen and all it's gadgets. ( All clad pans, Wustof knives...) Keep in mind that I did not start my marriage with these things. Maybe that is why I didn't love cooking back in the day.
3 - I love my kids.

4 - I love the beach. Emerald Isle to be specific.

5- And those 2 little dogs I am walking.
6 - I love living in Texas.

This picture was taken on one of our road trips. This underground, spring fed river was where my hubby swam as a little kid.
7- And my favorite thing ever...

A whirlwind of a week.

2011-02-24T08:53:00.000-06:00

Last Wednesday we flew to Montana for what was to be a long weekend/ ski vacation with Christine, her boyfriend, Patrick, and his brother Mike. By the time we got there plans for Steve and I were already in flux. Steve had to leave early for some meetings in Orlando, and no sooner had I landed, my dad called to tell us my mom was in the hospital. ( She is doing well now.)
We were able to enjoy a fun day showing Patrick and Mike all around the ranch in the Polaris and then the guys even did a little target practice. The next day Steve had to leave, but the rest of us went up to Bridger Bowl to do some skiing. What a fun resort. A bit of a throwback to years gone by. There are even some 2 seater chair lifts. About the time I was finished for the day, they all took off to find some good powder. Powder is not my thing. I am all about the groomed trails. They got off on some side terrain and had to work to find their way back to base of the mountain. But, I am pretty sure that was their best run of the day.
I hopped on a plane the next morning to go to Minnesota to check in on my mom and got the only flight out of Bozeman to Minneapolis that day as a big winter storm was moving in to MN. And boy, did it. Somewhere between 12 and 15 inches of snow in the area I was traveling through. Thankfully I grew up in the midwest where we all learn to drive in the snow. I got to Mankato a little slower than usual but made it. I couldn't make it all the way to my parents because the snow plows had not cleared the county roads, but stayed in Mankato where my mom was hospitalized.
Mom was released the next day, so we trekked through the snow to get her back home and by then the plows had cleared one lane down the middle of the road they live on. Here are a few pictures that capture the week.
I am back in Texas and it is raining! Loving the rain vs. the snow. Snow is much prettier I know, but I am ready for some spring!

Lefty's favorite things.

2011-02-14T17:31:00.000-06:00

This is a far cry from Oprah's favorite things, but thought I'd let you know what I found for Lefty's B-Day. He has just about everything he wants and has a habit of picking things up before I get a chance to buy them for him. But, this year I think I did pretty well.

Lucchese Cowboy Boots. Love them!
Grey Goose glasses made from grey goose bottles. www.BottleHood.com
And last but not least, a Filson oil cloth jacket with a liner. (For all those early spring fly fishing trips to MT.)

And for V Day, just a good old pair of Gap jeans to go with the boots.

A Birthday Celebration

2011-02-11T09:03:00.000-06:00

To celebrate Lefty's birthday, we invited our good friends to join us for dinner at the Iron Cactus, ironcactus.com and then to go hear Amos Lee at the House of Blues. Sorry for the poor picture quality, but either me or my camera was having issues.
Amos did NOT disappoint. What a show! Either I am really getting old, or his keyboard player and bass player really might still be in their teens. They looked so young. Young, but hugely talented. We had standing room only tickets but with a priority entrance pass, so we were standing really close to the stage. He played all my old favorites and just about every song from his new album. ( Does anyone use the word album anymore?) If he gets to your area, he is a must see.

Our Christmas Gift from Tine

2011-02-08T17:16:00.000-06:00

Christine painted us this beautiful Dallas Star inspired art for Christmas. I finally got it back from the frame shop and we are LOVING it. Note how she tied it in to the grand piano via the black and white keys theme. It has found it's home in our family room where we can enjoy it all the time. Thanks Tine!

Cookie and Pepper don't know what to think about this.

2011-02-04T11:49:00.000-06:00

Pepper brought a little of the white stuff into the house. So glad we have wood floors! Thanks Z for encouraging the P dog to pose for me.

Now it's SNOW!

2011-02-04T09:07:00.000-06:00

Last night the weathermen said we might get a dusting of snow. Here is what we woke up to.

So here is what I am doing today.

I am drinking Starbuck's coffee out of my Anthropologie cup. Later I will switch to hot chocolate! Yum!

COLD!

2011-02-02T17:36:00.000-06:00

When we moved to Texas, I was certain that I would never experience temperatures in the single digits again. Boy was I wrong. It has been cold here for days and we are tired of it. Ice on the driveway, sidewalks, and most side streets. All the schools are closed, but the kids can't even enjoy their days off doing anything resembling winter fun. Even many of the Super Bowl activities have even been "messed" with. The upside is that everything I am involved with has been canceled. Don't get me wrong, I love the things I am involved with, but every once in awhile, it is nice to stay in my pajamas for a little longer, enjoy an extra cup of coffee, and read all my favorite blogs. And I have had plenty of time to spend on the treadmill. On Sunday it is going to be 55 degrees. Yippee!

U Haul is returned.

2011-01-20T23:24:00.000-06:00

Whew! What a fast week. Last Thursday I hopped on a flight to Raleigh to help move Louise to Texas and today we turned in our U Haul here in Dallas. I am relieved, relaxed, and thankful it all went so smoothly. Louise had packed so much before I arrived in NC, that the whole process of moving her here to Texas was a piece of cake. We picked up the U Haul on Saturday morning and the hired "movers" loaded it up on Saturday afternoon. We drove to Charlotte after Louise finished her last day of work at Palm Avenue. On Sunday we drove to Meridian, Mississippi, and on Monday afternoon we pulled into the driveway. We spent a couple of days going through what needed to go to storage and what needed to stay here at the house. Today we moved the excess "stuff" into storage. Now we are DONE! We have proved, once again, that Schelhammer women are independent, "can do", kind of women. Let the fun begin.

Ho Hum!

2011-01-08T17:10:00.000-06:00

I was just reading one of Christine's friends' blogs and I can completely relate. (If I knew how to link you to it I would, but that's another matter entirely.) She was talking about how January is just not a very exciting month. All the resolution "stuff" is hard to get excited about. Who wants to worry about a few extra pounds when all the "comfort" food is what we crave in these cold months. I think she got it right when she talked about small shifts in our thoughts and behaviors. Maybe just eating a few healthier things more often is a good enough start. I wonder how many people actually are successful long term with their resolutions. I have become more of a fan of realistic goals and ambitions. And, I have determined that giving up 1/2 and 1/2 for my morning cup of coffee is NOT going to happen anytime soon.

Christmas in Boulder

2010-12-30T09:57:00.000-06:00

We have just returned home from one of the best Christmas holidays ever. We were hosted by Christine at her home in Boulder and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We went to Christmas Eve services together and then put a beef tenderloin on the Weber. The next few days we spent skiing Vail and Keystone, as well as hiking some incredible trails within walking distance of Christine's house. There may have been some hula hooping and frisbee throwing going on as well. (Pictures to follow in another blog post.) We ate at The Buff restaurant for breakfast one morning and at the Walnut Brewery for dinner one evening. We saw True Grit and loved it.

It is quite likely that this will be on next year's Christmas card since we seem to have a difficult time getting together in one place with everyone's schedules, but we'll see. Thought you would enjoy seeing what we looked like when our ski trips first began. Steve still has those RayBans tucked away somewhere. I wish I had kept those Adidas jackets. They would probably still fit C and L. We thought we would try to recreate this photo after lunch at Keystone and completely forgot to. So here are the alternative pictures.

The
Boys
and
the
Girls!

Louise's Graduation from NC State

2010-12-21T08:00:00.000-06:00

What a great weekend we had in North Carolina. I just cannot wrap my mind around the fact that our youngest has graduated from college. The ceremony was held in one of the buildings that Louise had a number of her classes in which really made it special. As you can imagine, not as many students graduate in December, so it was a smaller but more intimate ceremony. Lovely.
We went to one of our favorite restaurants on Friday night. ( Firebirds ; where Christine spent many hours seating customers.) Since Steve's folks are so close to Raleigh, we spent the night with them and woke up to a great home made breakfast that Marcella whipped up and then it was back to Louise's apartment to take some pictures before the ceremony.

This one Steve took as she was walking out. One happy girl!
We celebrated with a late lunch. The grandparents were able to join us for the day and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
And today Louise arrives in Texas. We will have a couple of days hanging out here before we hit the road for Colorado.

Hope y'all have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The Phytel Party

2010-12-06T09:19:00.000-06:00

On Saturday night we hosted the Phytel Christmas Party. It was a new experience for me, not because we hosted a party, as we have done that scores of times. This was unique because we had it catered and had an event planner come and place furniture and bring LOVELY floral arrangements. Oh my word. I am now spoiled. The only thing I had responsibility for was making sure my house was in order and decorated for Christmas which I had done the weekend after Thanksgiving.
So on Saturday morning Steve and I went on a long bike ride and then went out to lunch at a great little Tex Mex restaurant. On the day of the party! Never have I been able to do that before.
All this blissful anticipation of entertaining in such grand style is a credit to the one and only Marilyn! She is a dream and an organizational genius. I am her biggest fan.

I know I can't get used to this kind of entertaining, but I sure am thankful for the experience. It was a blast.

Thanksgiving recap and weekend activities.

2010-11-27T09:19:00.000-06:00

It been a fun week. Christine was here for a really relaxing and fun visit last week. She and I did venture out to the Galleria to hit Zara's, which is pretty much a must for anyone in their 20's and 30's. I can see why my girls love it so much. Other than that, we kept it pretty low key. Christine and I did take lots of pictures for a blog post on Runza's, but I can't get them off of the camera. Hmmmmmm. Need to figure that out. Still working on it.
On Wednesday, Louise flew in and we jumped into full Thanksgiving mode, making a pecan pie. We were up early for a quick breakfast and then the big food prep. Even though there were only 3 of us here to eat it, we went ahead and made all the favorites, just in smaller portions. Yum! We ate early enough that we were able to heat up some leftovers by late in the evening. Thursday, Friday, and most of today (Saturday) will be taken up with football games. Louise and I do plan to sneak out to a movie this afternoon. It is time to get out of the house! And if we see an open parking spot at the mall, we may even brave that for a bit. Somewhere in the mix, Louise needs to finish reading a book on Shakespeare and write a paper. Ugh!
Oh, and we did start decorating for Christmas. I enjoy Thanksgiving so much that I wouldn't want to decorate for Christmas until that day is complete, but now I am in the mood. It is even cold here in Texas, which makes it that much better. Hope y'all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are looking forward to all the preparations for Christmas.
As a side note, Cookie and Pepper are officially SPOILED. Two weeks with Christine and Louise and they are convinced they are royalty and our couches are their thrones.

Friday = Christine's Arrival

2010-11-18T19:00:00.000-06:00

It is hard being so far away from all of children. If we want to see them, we have to fly to where they are of have them fly to us. The good thing is that all of them can get here direct without having to worry about missing connections etc. DFW is about the best airport in the country.
So, tomorrow Christine will use a "freebie" ticket and come for a long weekend. Since she has taken care of the ticket, I think I will have to treat her to a trip to Zara and the sale racks of Anthropologie. We are also on a mission to buy a couple of baby gifts for two of Dean's friends who just had baby boys. (When my boys were little the clothes for them were not nearly as adorable as they are now.)
We will spend Saturday night watching the Huskers football game and eating homemade Runza's. Google that. We were introduced to them when we lived in Nebraska and they are about the best comfort food ever. Maybe I will get Christine to help me photograph the preparation and finally put together my first food blog. (Lindsay Widdle, you are my inspiration.)
Then, next week, our baby will fly in for Thanksgiving. First Thanksgiving EVER that all the Schelhammer's won't be together. Louise will be an only child for this one. I think we'll put her to work making pecan pies!

Elk Camp

2010-11-09T16:48:00.000-06:00

Over the past few years, I have grown accustomed to spending some time alone in the fall, while Lefty heads to Montana for all sorts of hunting. (Pheasant, Antelope, Mule Deer, and Elk) After a few years of seeing the pictures and hearing the stories, I decided I wanted to see what all the excitement was all about.
So, a couple of weeks ago, Lefty asked me if I wanted to come up to Elk Camp for a few days and maybe help him get the cabin stocked with food and beverages. Well, with my love for grocery shopping and meal planning, I jumped all over that offer and he booked me a ticket to go in a day ahead to do some shopping and organizing. I made a very complete shopping list and about the time I left the hotel to begin, Lefty called and said he was on an earlier flight and would be able to help me.
We hit Costco around 10 a.m. with two carts. One hour later, we were off to Albertson's to pick up the rest of the things that we couldn't buy at Costco, and one hour after that we picked up Tom and Jim at the airport and we were on our way.
It takes about an hour and a half to get to the road where we have to cut off the highway. Then....it takes another 45 minutes to go the last 5 miles on a dirt road that has deep ruts and rocks sticking up all over. It is a breeze on the atv's, but in a truck pulling a trailer, it is treacherous. But, we made it.
The cabin leaves a bit to be desired. Electricity is available only when the generator is running. It isn't particularly dust free. The mattresses look like they have been around a LONG time. And there are a few furry friends that scoot around at night. And, I discovered there wasn't an overabundance of cooking utensils, pans and such. But, we were not deterred from beginning our adventure and having fun.
The next morning we were up @ 6 in the morning to get to a location in a pasture where we hoped to see the elk moving back up through the property after their night time grazing down in the valley. But, the weather was so warm and beautiful that the Elk just weren't moving around. They were staying in the high elevations. A bit disappointing for the guys.
The next few days, I chose to stay at the cabin while they went out tracking the deer, elk , and antelope. I prepared meals, read the latest Vince Flynn novel (the best one ever), and started the new John Grisham. I drank way too much coffee and tidied up the place as best I could. And, I enjoyed the views!!!
Here are a few pictures to give you a feel for what it's like. Can't wait to get back there.

Switching it up.

2010-11-03T16:13:00.000-05:00

When we moved to Texas, we knew we would need to get used to the heat. We did, sort of. But not to the point where we wanted to get our exercise out in it, so we purchased a treadmill. It was a great decision. We have clocked hours on it and will continue to, but now we back up to the Campion Trail which is part of the Trinity Trail system here in Las Colinas. It is a really nice, wide trail which we have enjoyed walking on for the past week or so, but we decided it would be even more fun to ride bikes on it and be able to cover more ground. So we went out and test drove some bikes in the parking lot of the bike store. Can you just picture that? I can't believe how bikes have changed since the last one I bought. They are so light and comfortable to ride. This is going to be fun!

The "to do" list.

2010-10-29T08:44:00.000-05:00

Everyone knows that moving involves "to do" lists. And ours is a doozy. Things like shortening the legs on our metal bar stools. Who does that?
On the top of the list for this beautiful fall day in Dallas, is a trip to Lowe's for picture hangers, trash bags, miscellaneous bolts, black paint for a book shelf I need to spruce up, and a few bags of mulch. I might just have to pick up some mums and pansies as well. More than likely, a few plants or mulch bags will leave debris in my car which will lead to the car wash.
Oh, and my hubby has "lost" his car charger as well as the room charger for his BB. And they tell us they are on back order. Nevertheless, I am on a mission to find him a charger of one sort or another that works.
Then, Fridays are always great days to head to Whole Foods. With all those football games to watch on Saturday, it's nice to have pre-planned some meals for the weekend.
So, here I go. Wish me well. Any guesses on how long all this will take?

It's official.

2010-10-27T08:21:00.000-05:00

We are settled in our new home and loving it. I have yet to tackle the garage, but I am waiting for some cooler temperatures to make it tolerable to be out there.
The pups are happier here than just about anywhere they have been. Lots for them to look at. The Campion Trail system is right out our back door and there are walkers, runners, bikers, and roller-bladers going by constantly. Cookie and Pepper see it as a bonus when someone brings their dog along. A few days ago a coyote just walked up to the trail and meandered up to our neighbor's fence. We have yet to purchase bikes, but it is on the agenda. We have a small lake in the middle of the development as well, with a sidewalk all around it,so there is some real potential for getting some exercise. Now I just need to seize the opportunities.
And on a different note, due to some complications in switching services, we were without cable and internet for 6 days. Can you even imagine that? Thankfully, Louise came for a visit and we found plenty to do running around Dallas and Fort Worth. We watched movies and read our books in the evenings and I actually have decided that taking a break from t.v. and the laptop was good for me. But I sure am glad to have HGTV, and the Food Network back.
And now, it's time to quit procrastinating and go for that walk! Day one...here I go.

Dinner at Bruno's

2010-10-16T20:58:00.000-05:00

There is an incredibly special little neighborhood treasure of a restaurant that is really close to our new house. Their crab claw appetizer is to die for, as well as their iceberg wedge salad. For my entree I ordered a lemon, caper and veal dish. I don't believe I have ever had it prepared more perfectly. And, on a side note, their piano player is amazing.
This whole eating out thing takes on a new meaning when your entire kitchen is packed up and their really is no hope of preparing another homemade meal. I will not complain. Every once in awhile I like to go out. It's special. But, by Monday night, I fully intend to cook in our new house, on my Wolf gas cook-top. I will be feeling spoiled rotten. Didn't realize how much I missed my Viking back in G'boro.
Think I will try Lindsay Widle's potato dish. It sounds divine.
Have a happy Sunday tomorrow!

Getting Things Done

2010-10-11T20:16:00.000-05:00

I love how my man loves to hunt and fish and just generally live life to the fullest. He met our son, Karl in Montana for opening pheasant season last Thursday and they have had a "blast", in more ways than one. When Lefty gets home tomorrow night, he will be refreshed. I learned early on in our marriage how important it is for guys to get a good dose of the outdoors on occasion and it has been a great thing. They and their friends have been living large.
In the meantime, I am GETTING THINGS DONE. I rented a Penske truck and moved everything from our storage shed, garage, most of the kitchen, dining room and great room "doo dads" and everything in our bathrooms and bedroom closets to the new house. This is going to be our easiest move ever since we have had the luxury of doing it over the course of an entire month. (Highly recommended.) By the time we have movers move our furniture and appliances on Monday, everything will already be in cabinets and closets and the only remaining thing to do will be to hang pictures.
That whole "Carpe Diem" thing works for me. Seize the day. Sometimes it is better to just make the decision to get it done!

The Best Laid Plans

2010-10-05T16:06:00.000-05:00

It's always helpful to have a plan B. While I was fully aware of how much rain fell in parts of North Carolina last week, I didn't realize that it would wreak havoc on our weekend plans at the beach. No sooner did I turn on my phone after landing, and Karen was on the phone to let us know that their flight was canceled and they were not going to get to come and join us. (They will come and visit us in TX instead one of these weekends.) As it turned out, it was a cool and overcast weekend so Lefty and I took some walks, did a lot of reading and cooking and eating, and just relaxed. With the crazy October coming up, it was probably the perfect weekend to prepare us for the days and weeks to come. Last night we were able to have dinner with Lefty's folks, his sister, our niece and her boyfriend. Delicious! And to round out a perfect evening, Z came over to our hotel and watched DWTS's with us.

Off to NC!

2010-09-30T20:19:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow I will fly to Raleigh where Z will pick me up. Z and I have a few errands to run before Lefty and our good college friends arrive. I have been trying to do extra sit-ups and crunches to prepare my stomach for the HUGE laughs we will have. Larry is about the funniest man we have ever known. Lefty and Larry were roommates in college and at the time Larry was quite the dedicated student...Lefty was a little more, shall we say, social. Now, every time we get together, it is just flat out FUN! Karen was my sorority sister, so I have packed some of our old newsletters and programs in my suitcase that we will "reflect upon". It is such fun to get together with friends we have known for over 30 years. Incredible! For those of you out there, ALWAYS prioritize your close friends. They are a huge gift and encouragement over the years. It is worth every penny you will ever spend to get together as often as possible. Much more valuable than any home, car, or doo-dad you might own. The older I get the less "possessions" mean. Can't wait to spend the weekend with the best of friends; sitting on the beach watching the waves crash in, cooking great meals, drinking some great wine, and catching up on all that is going on in our lives. Can't wait!

Our New Home

2010-09-28T17:38:00.001-05:00

We closed today on our new house. We ended up buying in the very first neighborhood we ever looked at before even moving to the Dallas area. It felt right then, but of course we hadn't sold our house in Greensboro, and now over a year after selling our house, it was time to find just the right place. We will take our time moving in, but by Halloween we will be completely moved in. Our favorite thing about the location is that it is 5 minutes from work for Steve, and a close second is that it backs up to the Campion Trail, so we can just hop on our bikes and GO! We are going to enjoy looking out of our backyard and seeing nothing but trees and birds and a bit of the wide open spaces that pop up all over the Metroplex.

Family Things

2010-09-19T10:27:00.000-05:00

This post is really intended for my immediate family, so if anyone else is reading this, it either won't make sense or might possibly bore you to no end. That being said, I have to clear up a couple of things.
1) I DID have Christine and Patrick as my screen saver for awhile...mostly because Steve wanted to feel like he knew him, and then I just got busy and kept it there. But, I switched it to a Montana picture of our July trip (which excludes Karl), so my next screen saver will be a picture of Karl. A mom has got to be fair after all. All of my kids are my absolute favorites!
2) After a quick visit to Edinburg, TX to visit my father's oldest cousin, Vivian (95), I have to share a few stories about my great-grandfather Hans. He must have kept people guessing. The first story Vivian told was that he took a bath once a year in the lake that I grew up on. Crazy! That's all I have to say about that. Secondly, the story goes that one winter after the lake had frozen, he decided to walk across the lake to visit his cousin and was carrying a bottle of liquor with him. He dropped the bottle on the ice and it broke. He then proceeded to slurp it up right off the ice. Crazy! That's all I have to say about that. 3) He went to bed at 6:00 p.m. every day and insisted that the house was quiet from that point on. The log cabin was all of 600 sq. feet and there were 8 people living in it. Crazy! That's all I have to say about that.
When it comes to family, sometimes you just never know from whence you came. If I hear anymore of these fascinating tales, you will be the first to know.
Have a happy Sunday! I am off to church.

Sometimes you just gotta brag.

2010-09-08T21:06:00.000-05:00

This is probably a poor choice for a title for this blog, because technically when you brag, you are taking credit for something you have done, or something you take responsibility for. I am not doing either one.
My 4 adult children totally amaze me. My friends here in Texas keep asking me how I survive without my children living in close proximity. I have thought about it a lot since we moved to Texas and consistently answer that question with this answer: My children are all in a good place in their lives. They are productive, happy, responsible, generous, and kind individuals. I am proud that they are finding their own way in this world and are as different in many ways but so much the same in many others. They are great people with great friends and have ambition to build a future for themselves. What more could a parent ask for? We are so proud of who they are and excited for what their future holds for them. They have made good decisions for themselves and will reap the benefits of that over time. It is an absolute joy to be a parent to each one of them. Life is good.

Plan B!

2010-09-02T07:15:00.000-05:00

Labor Day weekend is one of our last opportunities to enjoy our place at the beach before the crazy fall hunting trips to Montana begin. So we wanted to combine a bit of R&R with Louise over the long weekend. We flew into Raleigh yesterday knowing full well that Hurricane Earl was coming as well. Louise picked us up and we did what we usually do, drop off the Mr. so he could work at the hotel, and then hit Target and Harris Teeter. (My favorite grocery store ever.)
We had planned to stay in Raleigh overnight last night and now, will again tonight as they have issued a mandatory evacuation for Emerald Isle today. It's a bit disappointing to not be able to head to the beach today, but on the other hand, trying to sleep while the house is "rocking" from the wind, isn't necessarily something I want to experience, and the idea of losing power and having no AC is even worse. So, we will approach our plan B with great expectation. We will try a couple more great restaurants and hit some great end of summer sales!

First Day of School

2010-08-23T08:20:00.000-05:00

I heard the buses drive through the neighborhood this morning along with the sounds of parents and their kiddos saying good-byes. I am sure that many of those moms and maybe dads had some mixed feelings as they put their little ones on those big yellow buses. That feeling of "whew! What should I do first today? I have the whole, quiet house to myself." And then the recurring thoughts about how they are going to do in their new environment. Will they like their teacher? Will they like the other students in their class? For the older ones, will they be able to open the combination on their locker? Will they know their way around the building and find their classes on time? It's a day full of mixed emotions for both parents and children. Excitement for a new year mixed in with a little of the fear of the unknown. My bet is that more likely than not, these same precious children will hop off the bus this afternoon with big smiles on their faces and a back-pack full of forms for their parents to fill out and say "Mom, today you have homework and I don't!" And moms will think, "Just wait until tomorrow."

It's still so HOT!

2010-08-18T18:29:00.000-05:00

I have no great stories or events to share because I have decided not to leave my house ( well almost not leave my house ) until this heat leaves Dallas. Whew! When your car says it is 106 degrees, it takes driving 10 minutes just to get the car cooled down. My only adventures involve hurrying from the parking lot into a grocery store, a mall, or a local mailboxes to send something to one of my children.
It is a sad commentary that I have resorted to watching reality tv shows that I missed, on my laptop. HULU is now bookmarked. (I might have to break down and get that whole DVR thing set up.)
And... never mind blow drying and styling my hair. What an absolute waste of time. Truth be told, all those hair products that are supposed to smooth and straighten in the hot, humid air, do NOT really deliver on their promises.
Even the pool is getting too hot. I don't know what all those young moms with "many small children" do here in TX about this time of the year. They are probably counting down the days until school starts, and sitting in front of their ac vents with the ceiling fans set on high!

Escaping the Heat!

2010-08-09T09:14:00.000-05:00

If ever I get the chance to go somewhere cooler than Texas in the summer, I take it. So when I offered to help Christine move, she took me up on it.Christine and Robin have moved out of the apartment into a house in Boulder and I was able to fly in to help them unpack and "set up shop". The usual trips to Target, Home Goods, Home Depot, Marshall's, and a couple of returns later and they were "in business". They will have a few more things to do to put their own stamp on the place, but when I walked out the door to come home, it looked so comfortable and homey. I think they are going to love having the extra space and know it will come in handy as they have guests overnight. I can attest to the fact that the guest room is oh so comfy!
While I was in CO I had the pleasure of meeting Patrick.
And speaking of places cooler than Texas in the summer; we are soon off to Montana to get all of Steve's gear that is scattered, back into one place and ready for the hunting season. We will sneak in a little fly fishing while we are there and probably float the Jefferson River.
We are heading back to North Carolina to check in on our Itty Bitty Schelhammer in early September, so one by one we are catching up with "the fam".

"Griswoldlike"

2010-07-26T16:03:00.000-05:00

Oh my! I hardly know how to begin. Last Wednesday I jumped on (I actually walked on) a flight from DFW to Washington Reagan and was picked up by my aunt in her "classic" 1988 chevy sedan. ( not sure what model and not sure it's a classic ) We proceeded to the "airplane viewing" parking lot and met my uncle who was sitting in the shade keeping an eye on the U-Haul that was loaded with their belongings.
Long story short, they built a house in Minnesota about 3 years ago and have finally sold their home in DC. I had volunteered to help them get the rest of their belongings back to MN a few months back and the time had come! It actually was a pretty good plan. I would fly out and help them get their things to MN and then stay for a family reunion and then fly back to Dallas.
I have never lacked confidence when it comes to road trips, so I hopped out of the car in the parking lot and threw my suitcase in the U-Haul and basically said,"Let's hit the road". We pulled out of the parking lot with the two of them in the lead in their "classic" car. We merged onto the parkway and headed out towards 270 at 4:30 p.m. About this time I realized that the rear view mirror was a sign the said,"9 foot clearance" and that I would have to trust the very large side mirrors for the next 2 days. But not to be discouraged, I sat up a little taller and mustered up all my self-confidence and joined the erratic traffic that would be my companion until we pulled off the road about 1 1/2 hours later to grab some dinner. Nothing like getting comfortable driving a U-Haul in rush hour in DC.
Let me just stop here and tell you the order of our restaurant stops along the way, just because I know you will be fascinated. 1 - Bob Evans (dinner) 2 - McDonald's (breakfast) 3 - McDonald's (lunch) 4 - Starbucks (10 steps from McDonald's lunch) 5 - Baker's Square (dinner)6 - Super 8 (complimentary breakfast - cheerios or corn flakes - What a selection!) 7 - Burger King (lunch) 8 - Never mind, we were to anxious to get to our destination that we skipped dinner. By now I imagine you are all wishing you could have joined me for this culinary tour. I would have offered you tums.
I might just as well go ahead and tell you that the first night the Motel 6 had bedspreads with pictures of buildings and vehicles on them and a chair with a table that resembled something used in an interrogation room. We stepped it up on the second night at a Super 8. (Does the quality of a room have something to do with number behind it?) The 8 was at least 1/2 a step up from the 6.
My two days of cross country driving where interrupted by three extremely long interstate delays during which I could have written a short novel; way too many gas stops to fill the tank of an extremely hungry U-Haul; and as I referred to earlier, the varied culinary delights along the way.
There is nothing quite like following a single car across a third of the United States for a bit over 2 days. It was sort of like the movie "Ground Hog Day". At each state line I picked up a toll ticket and proceeded across the state where I would pay the toll and then practice my high speed merge only to get another toll ticket a few miles down the road. Repetition! That is what this road trip was all about.
Truth be told, I am thankful that we had no real issues. There will always be construction and traffic and fast food that gets tiresome, but no car problems, flat tires, break downs or the like. We made it safe and sound. 1293 miles of forward motion.
After what seemed to be a pretty short night of sleep at my folks house, it was off to help unload "the beast" at my aunt and uncle's new house. When we arrived they had opened the back end of the U-Haul and as I peered inside to see what I had transported across the countryside, I did my best to hide my surprise when I saw the half-filled truck. It took us ONE hour to unpack what it had taken me a little over 2 days to drive. ( The first load I carried into the house was the largest bag of old hangers I have ever seen. Let me just leave it at that. )
Later on Saturday, my folks and I went to a beautiful park that had been reserved for our family reunion on my dad's side of the family. I found a nice shady spot to sit with lots of extended family members all around and did nothing but catch up on all that had been going on in their lives and relish the fact that I would not be driving home to TX. And now I'm HOME!

The lazy, hazy, days of summer.

2010-07-12T14:13:00.000-05:00

After a respite from the heat, we are back in it again here in Texas. While the temperatures were certainly cooler in Montana, the blanket of mosquitoes that surrounded us distracted us some. Those pesky little things sure can stir up some serious annoyance on my part. Usually by early July, it is so dry that you hardly notice them, but this year with the cooler temperatures and rain, it was very lush and green and I guess the perfect breeding ground for the little pests.

But, truth be told, we had an incredible vacation. We did a little 4-wheeling, some fly fishing, lots of eating, and even caught a couple of the world cup games. We get 3 channels and fortunately one of them is ABC. We missed Karl as his project at NIST is going full steam ahead and he just couldn't get away. He will get his turn in October for the opening of pheasant hunting.

The ranch is now my favorite place to entertain. It is a place of simplicity and ease. No fancy dishes, or gadgets, just the basics. We hardly have a picture on the walls. It is a place where you feel comfortable putting your feet up on the furniture and kicking back. A friend of ours got it right. He said it is a place where you seem to be able to squeeze 2 days into one, and boy did we!

Escaping the Heat

2010-06-28T10:51:00.000-05:00

About this time of the summer,we feel the need to make the great escape to Montana. Even when the days get a bit hot, it always cools off by late afternoon and you can actually enjoy being outside. It is quite likely that we will even enjoy a good bonfire...maybe some "smores". I am counting down the days until departure.

The best part about this grand escape is that all four of our children will be able to join us for a few days. We will do some 4 wheeling up at Elk Peak, some fly fishing on the Yellowstone, lots of grilling, and some swimming in the river. Life is good!

Beach Etiquette and Oddities

2010-06-20T06:13:00.000-05:00

It is rather amusing to spend some time at the beach as the vacationers come and go from one week to the next. I have decided that some people have done it so many times that they just "get" how to settle into the environment. However, there are other folks who make you wonder, "What's up with that?"

For example, yesterday we saw a lovely young woman reading what looked to be a lengthy novel as she walked down the beach. She just about took out a sand castle. Reading and walking at the same time....hmmmm. Another group of multi-generational guys played their boche ball game SO CLOSE to us that at one point, they kicked up sand that landed on my towel. (Keep in mind that the beach that we have a cottage at is not a crowded beach. No condos, hotels, or high rises. Just individual homes and duplexes.) A few days ago, we "parked" our chairs and beach gear in a nice open spot only to find that within minutes a small group "parked" RIGHT next to us even though there was lots of empty space all around us.

Oh, and the tattoos. I think I best leave it at that.

The Fox News Huckabee Show

2010-06-12T19:46:00.000-05:00

American Ingenuity! Mike Huckabee's show tonight focuses on Americans who have LOTS of solutions to the oil spill clean-up. It will be replayed tomorrow night, I think. I hope that lots of people see this show. There are so many products/ideas that could have an immediate impact. If we let these people do what they know works, we could be on our way to having this clean-up well underway and the Gulf Coast looking forward to a brighter future.

Old Calendars

2010-06-03T22:25:00.000-05:00

I spent the morning with some friends who are MUCH younger than I am and it reminded me of how crazy the month of May is for all those younger moms out there. So, I came home and pulled out my old calendars that record every activity and event for all 6 Schelhammer family members. I have no idea how we made it work. At any given point in time, our kids were each doing 2 sports, some music lessons, youth group at church, confirmation, art lessons, just to name a few. Throw in orthodontist appointments,cotillion, pizza hut nights for Millis Road, skate nights at Skateland, overnights with friends, etc. and well, let's just say it sure was fun while it lasted. And somewhere in there they did homework!
As we sat around the table this morning talking about how frazzled most women feel in the middle of all that activity, and how often they feel like they are not measuring up, I thought about how we need to remember, life is not about perfection, but being available to your family and prioritizing them over the "to do list". Sometimes it's enough to do a good job, not a perfect job. I still believe that cleaning an entire house for a party at which people are only going to be in 3 rooms is a huge waste of time.
As I look back on the years when all our children were home, I am flooded with incredible memories and can't believe how quickly those years flew by. We had some serious fun.

"Taste of Addison" - Fun Day with Dean

2010-05-23T15:34:00.000-05:00

The festival in Addison this weekend did not disappoint. After Dean's late flight in on Friday, we hung out by the pool. Saturday morning we headed in to Addison for a day in the park. This festival brings in lots of local restaurants who set up booths and serve their favorite menu items on paper plates. There are also lots of artists and vendors selling their wares. The big draw however is a number of Texas bands and then a closing act, this year, Train. We got a big laugh over a band called "Smile-Smile". They were a young gal and guy who USED to be in a relationship. Awkward! It appears their fame has come as a result of recording an album about their failed attempts. (Everything about this screams WRONG...especially getting up on stage and drawing attention to that.) Who wants to see an ex-couple pick at one another on stage when you should be kicking up your heels and having fun? Dean decided they would be better off renaming their dynamic duo, Frown-Frown. Nevertheless, we thoroughly enjoyed the variety of music and the people watching. These kinds of events certainly show a cross section of humanity and we found ourselves in the middle of it.
Dean was on a flight home by mid morning. What a whirlwind of a weekend for him, but a good change of scenery nonetheless. As always, we love it when one of the kids pops in for the weekend.

Practicing for a future cooking blog.

2010-05-19T15:28:00.000-05:00

I pulled out my camera and have begun taking some practice pictures of some of the meals I am making. I hope to post a cooking blog once a week. It will never approach the "Pioneer Woman's", but it just might be a fun way to pass along some of my favorite recipes. I do love the kitchen! We will just have to see where it goes.
I am certainly going to have to challenge myself to a new level of technology skills to make this work. At some point, I am certain I will be calling one of my "kids" to ask them how to do something! Dean is coming in for the weekend, so I plan to start next week.

Fridays and School Buses

2010-05-14T15:39:00.000-05:00

It is such fun to be behind a big yellow school bus on a Friday afternoon. Seeing all those sweet little faces getting off the bus and running up to their parents or tearing down the sidewalk toward home, reminds me of my children pouring into the house on Fridays and dropping their backpacks by the door. It was a day for no homework, a night for staying up a little later, a night for renting a movie, and hoping we didn't have to set an alarm to go to a game or activity the next morning. I still think Friday is my favorite day of the week. Now it is more about my hubby not having to go to work the next day, planning a road trip somewhere, and still hoping we don't have to set the alarm. Let the weekend begin!

The weekend.

2010-05-07T08:50:00.000-05:00

This is going to be a seriously fun weekend for my two girls. They are going to spend it together in Raleigh. The highlight will no doubt be the engagement party, but I am sure they will amuse themselves in a host of eating establishments as well. BBQ, Bojangles, Sweet Tea, Snoopy's and who knows what else. AND, I can imagine that Robin will make at least one prank phone call to an unsuspecting individual. There will be laughs galore.
Meanwhile, back in TX, we are looking forward to staying home for a change. I can't remember the last weekend we were here. It seems like forever ago. I plan to plant my pots with some pretty flowers and then sit by the pool and enjoy them. Life is good!

Jillian Michaels - A love/hate relationship.

2010-04-29T19:40:00.000-05:00

I follow LOTS of blogs. It's such fun. Today I realized that for a few of us there is a springtime common theme, which is...Getting ready for swimsuit season. So, I am back on the Jillian Michaels's 30 Day Shred, which worked for me last summer and I am hoping it will this year as well. Oh boy! Thought I had worked up to Level 3, but no, I am going to stick with level 2 a little longer.

Celebrating Z's B-Day

2010-04-29T09:13:00.000-05:00

Louise flew in from Raleigh for a long weekend. Since her birthday fell on a school day, we did the next best thing, we celebrated early. On Friday, she and I hit the Galleria to do some shopping for a suitable suit to wear for some presentations coming up and happened to find a couple of other cute things. We had our good friends , the Parkers, over for dinner that evening. Saturday was such a beautiful day, so we hung out by the pool and that evening we went to our first Ranger's game. What a great ball park. Can't wait to go back there again. We put Louise on a plane to head back to NC on Sunday afternoon. The weekends always go too fast!

Exploring Texas

2010-04-17T10:21:00.000-05:00

There is just sooooo much to see in Texas, and we are once again trekking around a new area. This weekend we are checking out Nacogdoches where Davey Crockett spent some time before he went to fight at the Alamo. We will see a few of his haunts and look for a good spot to go for a hike.
This part of TX is full of oak and pine trees. Really beautiful this time of year with all the wild flowers in bloom.
We are staying in an old Victorian B and B that is lovely. We have a 3 room suite here that is bigger than our first apartment. The antique furnishings are beautiful and it is so peaceful.
We had a lovely dinner at Auntie Pastas last night and a fun tex-mex breakfast at the hotel across the street. They have an arrangement with our B and B. Yum!
Off we go!

Feels like home.

2010-03-29T19:43:00.000-05:00

Every time I drive across the bridge to Emerald Isle, I feel like I am coming home. We have had this cottage for 18 years and it holds such great memories. The smell of the ocean air, the breeze blowing, and today some HUGE waves. Spectacular.

The simplicity of life at the beach is such a good feeling. It's a place where a weber grill, some paper plates, and plastic wine glasses work. It's a place where an outdoor shower is a luxury, and riding my bike and walking on the beach is not about exercise.

Looking forward to seeing family and friends while we are here and eating as much fish and seafood as we can. Making my grocery list tonight and washing windows tomorrow... with a smile on my face.

Barcelona

2010-03-18T09:03:00.000-05:00

We just had a wonderful time in Barcelona. It is one of the most extraordinary cities. (I say that because I believe it to be true even though I haven't traveled extensively...yet.)
The streets are wide in the part of the city where buildings were built in the 1800's and beyond; and the old part of the city built over the Roman ruins reminded me of the tight streets in Italy. Gorgeous.
The architecture is what is special in Barcelona. There aren't words to describe, but if you google Antoni Gaudi, you will get a picture of the city. He was such a visionary. We were awed by what we saw.
The work that was done in the city to prepare for the 92' Olympics is stunning. (Remember the Dream Team?) Catalans ( the region around Barcelona ) take great pride in their city and love to tell you about it. It is clean, easy to get around in, with all the special touches of an old city that has incorporated modern comforts in a seamless way.
And now I am off to Whole Foods, because tonight we are having tapas. The Spaniards know how to eat and we have bought in to their philosophy. They serve a large variety of small dishes at almost every restaurant. Bowls of seasoned nuts, delicious small olives, unbelievable bread with fresh tomatoes spread on top, deep fried artichokes, the most extraordinary hams, white anchovies, shrimp, etc. etc. (Can you tell I am hungry?)
And the wines, well, I will just tell you they are some of the best. We loved the Riojas, and sampled their Cava. We will begin our search for some of them here.
I will attempt to post some photos in my next post, but first I need to figure out how! : )

Studying Esther

2010-03-09T17:24:00.000-06:00

Right after Christmas a group of women from our church (Bent Tree Bible Fellowship) began the study of Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman. The study was written by Beth Moore. What an incredible experience it is sharing life with other women; sharing the joys, the complexities, the challenges, and the sorrows. Life is hard sometimes and God knows it is and intends for us to fully rely on Him, but He wants us to rely on one another as well. What a reassuring thing it is to realize that we all were called to live at this very time and in this very place to have an impact in our families, friendships,and communities.

Waiting on Spring

2010-03-02T07:46:00.000-06:00

By the time March 1st rolls around, I am ready for some warm and sunny days. Our tulips are up and while they aren't ready to bloom, they are giving me hope that spring is just around the corner. We had no idea when we moved to Texas that we would have some real wintry weather.

We had a great time being back in North Carolina last week. As we landed at the airport I was reminded of how pretty NC is with all the trees. We tend to take for granted all the things that are around us every day.

It was such a treat to spend time with Z, and see some friends. The time flew by. The next time we will be able to see "the fam" will probably be Easter. And by then, spring WILL have arrived.

I'm back.....

2010-02-15T16:38:00.000-06:00

It is just so easy to drift away from this blogging thing. I so appreciate all those people I follow who are so prolific and dependable. I am not. But I am well intentioned, just distracted.

There is no great way to play catch up on this thing, but I will just begin where I am.
We have just finished a wonderful long weekend with Christine in Montana. We rented a ski in/ ski out cabin at Moonlight Basin and skied there and at Big Sky. Great timing as they had 8 to 10 inches of snow the night we arrived. Great powder (for those experts), but truth be told, I struggled. Then the groomers went to work, and oh my! Everyone teases me about how I love the groomers, but they change my life! I feel like a pro when I get on those groomed trails. We had so much fun that we are going to attempt to get all 4 "kids" together for some spring skiing in CO. We'll see...

So, here I sit in Salt Lake waiting to head home and realizing that our lives are about to get really busy. A quick trip to NC in about a week to see Z, and then off to Spain in early March followed immediately by a long weekend in New Orleans. Then, hopefully we will be moving to downtown Dallas. We hope to find a great "lock and leave" condo/townhouse close to "the action" in Dallas with proximity to the Katy Trail. It's time to experience the city up close and personal. We will keep you posted.

Life is Good.

2010-01-28T16:58:00.000-06:00

We spent part of last weekend in Fort Worth. The Fort Worth Stock and Rodeo show is in town for the better part of a month. What fun! Cowboys and their gals everywhere!
There is a whole different feel to Fort Worth. Very comfortable, and very friendly. Jeans and boots are the norm at even the finest restaurants.
We had dinner at The Lonesome Dove. Oh my goodness! One of our new favorites. The chef has quite a reputation and can be seen on the food network on occasion.
This weekend we are off to Austin with friends and know there will be more opportunities for some great food and hopefully some music as well. Giddy-up.

Back in the great state of Texas!

2010-01-18T09:00:00.000-06:00

We spent last week in Romania and had a wonderful time reconnecting with our friends there. We spent a couple of days in Poiana and then went to Cluj for a couple of days. The weather was just what we had expected, snowy and cold. It is such fun to enjoy winter for a limited amount of days. ( Sure wish I had hung on to some of my warm winter coats. In my haste to get rid of things, I donated them to Goodwill once I knew we were moving from NC to TX. )Oh well, I survived.
We spent a couple of days in Oradea as well and then took the train to Budapest, Hungary where we had an entire day to walk around the city. What a special place. The architecture is amazing. Our favorite thing to do is to walk along the river after dark and see the beautiful bridges over the Danube and the buildings all lit up. Spectacular.
We caught an early flight back on Saturday morning and got UPGRADED! Watched 3 movies and ate everything they put in front of me. No complaints. We even landed 20 minutes early. When does that ever happen?
Got on the scale this morning and OH MY GOSH! It is time for me to hop on the treadmill. Gotta Run! :)

What a Merry Christmas!

2009-12-29T10:54:00.000-06:00

Sometimes holidays don't measure up to expectations and then sometimes they really do. This was one of those times. Everyone arrived safe and sound (eventually) and a good time was had by all.
Three generations under the same roof for 5 to 6 days. You never know quite how the experience will play out, but we had such fun sitting around the table enjoying great conversation, great food, and on occasion even some great wine. We reminisced and even heard some stories never shared before by the grandparents.
We were able to get to church on Christmas Eve despite the snow and wind. Beautiful service and hymn singing. All our favorites.
Slowly but surely, everyone is finding their way back to their respective homes and as much fun as it is to get together, I know everyone is looking forward to sleeping in their own beds, watching all the things they "tevoed" (Is that a word?) and catching up with friends. Hopefully, it won't be long before we all get together again!
Happy New Year!

Christmas, Here we come!

2009-12-19T18:07:00.000-06:00

What a wonderful time of the year. After a quick trip to Montana last weekend, and a stop off in Minneapolis to have dinner with college friends, I had had enough snow and cold weather to feel that the holiday season is upon us. Landed in Dallas and hit the ground running.
Spent the week tweaking the house so that we can make 8 additional family members comfortable for the coming week. They start arriving tomorrow night. Thankfully our kids are flexible and fine with aero beds. They will have full run of the upstairs bed, bath, and media room. I wonder how often they will come downstairs? ( I plan to cook some gourmet meals to entice them.)
Three generations in the same house for the week of Christmas. Lots of opportunities to share stories, bake cookies, go for walks, see some movies and just enjoy being together. We are so blessed to have healthy parents who can still travel to spend time with us. It may get a bit chaotic at times, but it promises to provide opportunities for some new memories.
Can't wait for the fun to begin.

Waiting for some status!

2009-11-30T10:14:00.000-06:00

Every time Steve and I get ready to travel, which is pretty often these days, I check in on line to print my boarding pass and expect some bells and whistles to go off. Maybe some words to pop up on the screen to say that I now have achieved silver or maybe even gold status on my favorite, American airlines. But no, no such luck yet. How long must I wait? Today, I am trying to get back to the big D from Orlando, Fl where we have had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend with all 4 "kids". I have discovered that trying to find an empty seat on an earlier flight on the Monday after Thanksgiving is IMPOSSIBLE. And, I have a Christmas party at my house tomorrow night! Yikes! So what's a gal to do?
1. Make a list of things to do when I get home.
2. Get a Coldstone.
3. Finish reading "Going Rogue", which I am really enjoying by the way.
4. Clean out my purse.
5. Decide what to serve to my guests tomorrow night.
6. Make a grocery list.
7. Return as many phone calls as possible.
8. Purchase magazines.
9. Walk some laps pulling my carry-on that is ever expanding due to airport purchases.
10.Make sure I get my quota of Starbucks since it is here and I love it!
Let the chaos of the season begin! It wouldn't be late November if I wasn't experiencing some sort of pre-Christmas jitters. Happy Holidays!

Time flys when you are busy!

2009-11-20T07:15:00.001-06:00

Then month of November will go down in history as a BLUR! After the quick trip to Minnesota, I got involved with a wonderful young woman who was diagnosed with breast cancer 2 years ago when her baby was 3 months old. She already had 3 children. Upon diagnosis, her husband left her. Long story. She has just recently had surgery to help with painful scar tissue that resulted from the intensive radiation she had. This woman is courageous and trusting in God's provision for her every day of her life. I am blessed beyond measure to be getting to know her and count her as my friend. She is an absolute delight.
I flew in to Raleigh for 5 days to check in with Steve's mom who just had a lumpectomy to remove a cancerous tumor. She had some drs. appts. to go to and we just wanted to treat her like a queen for a few days: cooking some meals, cleaning a bit, etc. She is doing so well and won't need to start radiation until January. Her prognosis is very good.
That weekend was Louise's sorority parent's weekend and Steve and I loved taking she and Zach out for dinner before the big party. What a fun night. We tailgated with her on Saturday before the game and enjoyed spending a picture perfect day sitting in the stadium. Sometimes the outcome of the game isn't part of the memory. Just enjoying one another's company is enough.
The WHOLE family will converge on Orlando this Tuesday to spend a week reconnecting. We rented a fun house not far from Disney and will squeeze in as much cooking and eating; watching football games; parks; and whatever else we come up with. Can't wait. Lots to be thankful for!

A restful weekend in Minnesota

2009-11-02T17:30:00.000-06:00

There is nothing like going back home, even if it has been almost 30 years since I lived in the state. And still, not much has really changed. All of my extended family is still there and still living in the same places. That is reassuring somehow.
I spent the weekend at my parents place near New Ulm and enjoyed catching up with them, looking at old pictures, sharing new and old stories and visiting with aunts, uncles, neighbors, and old friends. We spent Sunday morning worshiping at the church I grew up in and my parents are still active in. Sunday night we went to a concert series event that was held in the auditorium of my old junior high school. I walked in and stepped back in time. The seats in the auditorium are every bit as small and hard as I remembered them. What memories!
We are at that place in our lives where our kids are all in a really good place and our parents are all still living independently. I think maybe these are the " golden years " for us. That in-between time when we can just up and go whenever we want and enjoy the adventure life offers us. We are going to try to fully appreciate this time in our lives. God is so good.

Back home

2009-10-24T21:44:00.000-05:00

What a fun trip!

Flew out to DC to see Karl and spend some time catching up. Just so happened that he was in his club's Kendo tournament in VA this weekend. We have never had the opportunity to see him in this environment. Impressive and fascinating. What a skill set we observed. Seriously cool.

Luckily we both got early flights back into Dallas and are going to enjoy a couple of days before we "jet off" in different directions again. Steve is looking forward to a 7 day elk hunt in MT later in the week, and I am going to visit my folks in MN for a few days and then head to NC. Life is good.

On the go!

2009-10-19T08:49:00.000-05:00

Let the fun begin!

We just got home last night from another road trip. We exchanged vehicles with Christine. It only makes sense, since she is the only one in the family that really will benefit from 4 wheel drive. She is now the proud owner of the Tahoe. She is the "official" driver for the "Team Schelly" ski team from Boulder. We had a blast meeting her friends, going out to dinner on the busiest Friday night EVER in Boulder, and watching some disappointing football on Saturday.(NCSU and Nebraska)

Thursday we head east to catch up with Karl. He just moved to a new apartment and has a Kendo tournament that we are going to watch. A trip to the grocery store to stock his pantry is at the top of the list. Got to help a poor grad student out with some great ingredients for comfort food.

The following weekend it's off to MN to see my parents. Rumor has it my aunt is having a halloween party. Guess I will have to dig out my favorite costume.
( Sear's t-shirt with "This is my costume" on the front)

Our poor dogs are going to be psychotic with all our traveling. They aren't necessarily fond of all the time they spend at the "condo", otherwise known as the vet's boarding facility.

Happy Trails!

My bags are packed. I 'm ready to go!

2009-09-29T08:41:00.000-05:00

Actually, it's just one bag and it isn't quite packed yet.

I am heading to San Francisco to join some of the Phytel family for the weekend. We will spend Saturday touring a number of wineries. We have lunch reservations at The Greystone restaurant at the Wine Spectator Culinary Institute and dinner reservations at Auberge Du Soleil. Talk about a day of teasing the taste buds.

It's a bit of a challenge to prepare for these sorts of weekends. You always want to pack your "best" jeans, because after all, you think you look pretty snappy in them. But, with all those extra calories, are you even going to be able to get them zipped?
This is one of those times when having C or L living close by would come in handy. They would have any number of cute dresses to borrow.

Solution? Hit the mall!