A Perfect Day

Don't we all envision a perfect girls' day out now and then? Well, I just had one, and it went something like this:

• No alarm clock; slept until 7:00.
• Leisurely coffee, then breakfast.
• Six-mile walk (continuing training for half-marathon in January). The weather cooperated beautifully!
  
• Facial appointments here. Steamed and napped while she had her treatment, and vice versa.
• Sushi here.
• A little shopping downtown, mostly window variety.
• A stop at the brewery for a Hop Trip Ale.
• Home for dinner, wine and conversation.

I'm not sure it could have been any better. Of course, the company was what made the day. Good friends, good food, good conversation.

Twenty Years

Two decades. 7,305 days. 175,320 hours. I could keep going, but you get the point. Today is our 20th wedding anniversary, and I consider it a pretty big milestone. Has it been all roses? Of course not. But it's been a wonderful journey with a good man, and I wouldn't trade any of it. So, in honor of our special day, I present twenty things I love about my husband (in no particular order):

1. He always wakes up in a good mood.
2. He's my biggest cheerleader. Very supportive.
   
3. He likes to cook, and frequently does.
   
4. He's incredible with animals.
5. He's not snooty.
6. He loves farming.
7. He's openly affectionate with his family.
8. He makes incredible french toast.
   
9. His marinara sauce is amazing.
   
10. He likes to garden.
11. He doesn't shy away from hard work.
12. He drives when I don't want to, which is often.
    
13. He shovels the snow.
14. He's great at meeting people.
    
15. His positive outlook.
    
16. He doesn't spend all weekend watching football.
    
17. He puts up with my moods.
18. He spoils me.
19. He's got a great sense of humor.
20. He's young at heart.
    

Happy Anniversary, Honey. I love you.

Bend's "Wild" Life

There we were, preparing Sunday breakfast when we had a visitor not more than 10 feet outside our kitchen door. Sophie went ballistic, so he was all the way to the alley before we were able to snap a shot. I didn't get the chance to ask if he's the one who ate my petunias all summer...

The Beauty of a Bend Autumn

Blue sky days + chilly nights = leaves on fire.

One of the maple trees that lines our front yard.

And a vine maple on the south side of the house.

Is it any wonder this is my favorite season?

Reader's block

I think I've broken it, finally. For months now, I've been experiencing A.D.D. where reading is concerned. More than a magazine or newspaper article, and my mind would wander off, unable to focus on the content of whatever I was taking in. I couldn't get excited about the books on my nightstand. I would listen to people talk about the various books they'd just finished reading, but none of the genres seemed to capture my interest. Reading is one of my loves, but this feeling of restlessness strikes me every few years and I've yet to identify the cause.

Thankfully, it all ended yesterday. I was headed for the gym, and picked up my copy of Water For Elephants on my way out the door. DD#2 gave it to me earlier this year and it's been sitting unopened ever since, despite the fact that I had asked for the book! I'm back into my reading groove and it feels good.

Look what I made!

It's a felted bag, made with Noro Kureyon yarn in color 95.  Yes, I'm learning to knit.  And I love it. 

I love the colors in this--they're happy.  And the way it striped is cool.  I'd say this is probably my first official "project" aside from my two practice scarves.  Now, I'm on to learning the entrelac technique.  Just when I thought I had it figured out, I did something goofy last night and can't tell where I went wrong.  Looks like I'll have some ripping to do today.

What was I saying about spring?

Well, never mind.  It snowed today.  April 19th.  I realized around 2:00p.m. that the temperature was HALF of what it was a week ago.  I'm fairly certain those daffodils are sorry they raised their little heads last weekend.  Ah, well.  It's going to make the warm weather that much sweeter when it finally arrives.  Right?  

A classic case of "Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."

Me? Emotional? You bet. Seven years, nine months, and one day. A record for me as far as working for one company (seven years seems to be my magic number where employment is concerned).

It was quite a week. Wednesday brought FCC approval for the merger, and I walked in Thursday to find this on my desk. What a great remembrance gift. On Friday, the sale closed and the building was a mash of smiles and tears. We are AT&T now, and Edge has earned its place in the history books, along with a spot in the top five of the 100 Best for five consecutive years (#2 in 2008...great finish!).


I'll be eternally thankful for the experience of building a company from the ground up, and all the new friends I made along the way.

Spring at last

The beautiful weather promised earlier in the week is here! I do believe I could see these daffodils growing today. It's a beautiful day, and it's been perfect in pretty much every respect so far. I can't recall the last time I slept until 9:15, but I did this morning! Talk about completely decadent.

A sign of spring?

My office is on the second floor of our building, so this pillar outside my window is a good 15' or so tall. Right as I walked in, this goose lit on top of it...and posed for a good two minutes. Good thing, because I was so surprised to see it there, it took me a minute to get the camera working. It made me think about how I've never seen a goose land on anything but the ground. Weird. Notice how the tree behind him (her?) is full of buds? There's hope!

Now seriously. Enough already!

On my way to the office this morning, the radio spot said "Spring is in the air! It's time for planting...blah. blah. blah." Ah, timing really is everything. It's April 8th and there are 2" of snow at my house. Somehow, I don't think I'll be doing much planting for another few days. And believe me: I am ITCHING to get my hands in the dirt. There is a promise of 70-degree weather on the way this weekend, though. I wonder if they're forecasting that just to keep everyone's morale in check...? It's working for me!