first of many

The girl's bathroom redecoration

is almost complete.
Somethimes you envision things,
and they don't always turn out
the way you had pictured them.
This small project did.
I thought I'd make a clock
that looked like a platinum record.
(The first of many the girls will earn
Of that, they are quite sure)
I like the way this turned out.
It lookes like a real award.
The girls said they loved it
That made me smile....

Meet Miss Ellie

Have you ever had a pet

that is special in a way
you can't really explain?
Almost a psychic communication
between the two of you.
Something intangible that makes this pet
unlike any other.
Miss Ellie is that pet for me.
We have 9 pets now,
and countless before them,
but the second I looked in her little face
I knew.......
She was mine and I was hers.
everyday she makes me smile
warms my heart
and fills my soul with love.

As seen through the eyes of a child

I didn't know what I was going to write about today.

Just another ordinary day.

Errands, laundry, Grocery shopping,

Picking up children from school, orthodontist visit.

In a word..... life.

The sun was out again today,

but it had a dance partner... the wind.

Great gusts of winds.

Amazing how nature takes care of itself.

How better to deal with all this rain we've been having

than to dry everything out with a little wind?

So I thought I'd try to capture the wind on film....

As I was coming back inside

I noticed the most impressive

spider web.

My first thought was, "wow ... what a perfect Halloween decoration"

Then I called Emily and Ashley over to see it

Emily said, "it's just like Charlotte's web"

It made me smile.

Life is how you perceive it to be.....

Emily's best gift

Today was Emily's 13th birthday.

She got good presents.

Concert tickets, books,a radio,

CDs, a bookmark.

But her very best gift of all,

which she was generous enough

to share with all of us,

She got a sunny day.

Ever notice how beautiful and amazing

a shadow is?

Can't have one without the sun......

Shadows make me smile.

Happy birthday Emily.

I love you.

Another rainy day

Today was our local Susan G Komen walk.

We have been participating
For as long as I can remember.
So on this rainy Saturday morning,
I woke up our three daughters
at 6:30 in the morning.
They got up with a willing heart,
got dressed and put on their rain gear
and participated in the breast cancer walk
downtown Lexington at 8AM.
Now THAT will put a smile on a mother's face.
Thank you girls.

What a great day

Today was a great day.

The weather left a lot to be desired

but I found something

I never knew existed.

Now THAT always makes me

really happy.

This is an Apple Gourd.

How beautiful is that?

There are so many beautiful things out there,

one lifetime will never be enough

to see them all.

So I am always excited

when I can tick off another one.

Here is the bonus.....

You can dry this amazing gourd

and turn it in to a birdhouse!

Now That is a great thing.

Thanks for the smile....

I wasn't patient enough

Well I wasn't patient enough.

Here I thought this had been nothing more

than a ho-hum day.

I hadn't counted on our little visitor.

Emily noticed him,

On the front window,

as we were going to bed.

Lesson learned.....

Always trust in the universe!

Good night little frog.

Sleep tight.

Thanks for the smiles.

SIMPLE DAY

today was just one of those days.

just was.

I finished the paint in the girl's bathroom.

I ran errands.

Found some things, not others.

I picked up daughters from school....

each one seperately.

I took one to piano lessons.

Had dinner delivered.

Went for a walk with the dog.

Had a chat with the donkey.

It rained,

but not all day.

Kayla sold bulbs to our neighbors.

We have a great neighborhood,

filled with good people.

And that is a blessing.

seating for 5

Today, as I was painting
and doing three loads of laundry,
the new recliners were delivered.
They are comfortable
and add that touch of red
I always like to incorporate
in each and every room
of our home.
But more importantly
now everyone has a comfortable,
designated chair to sit in.
No more fighting over the last spot.
That makes me happy.

Bathroom Reno

Today the renovation started.

I taped, I painted baseboards,

I painted doors.

I taped some more, getting a jump on tomorrow.

I removed outlet covers.

Tomorrow, after a little more taping,

paint will go on the wall.

Then accessories to re-create and paint.

Some sewing.

Next week the finishing touch.

I will try something new.

Painting the floor.

I can't wait.

Re-inventing a room makes me happy.

what just happened?

Today it rained.

Again.

But the great thing about today's rain

is that something happened

that I had never experienced before.

I love when that happens.

We were waiting at the middle school

and it was raining pretty hard

and all of a sudden......

it stopped.....

like someone turned the faucet off.

No sound, no drops , nothing.

Nothing.

how delightful......

Nature never fails to make me happy...

another one of God's blessings

On this rainy, morose Sunday,

in the midst of running errands,

we stopped for lunch at Culver's.

Out the window I saw this car

with the most adorable dog

who looked like he was ordering his lunch

out the car's window.

It made me laugh.

What a blessing God gave us in animals.

They can so innocently bring a smile to our lips,

even make us laugh out loud,

on a gloomy, wet day.

The world is a much happier place

thanks to our furry friends.

farmer's market

One of the great simple pleasures for me

is going to the farmers market on Saturday mornings.

The colours, sights and sounds are intoxicating.

whether you know what you are looking at or not,

should it be unknown or a long time favorite

it excites your senses.

Autumn brings in it's own layer of colour .

New flavors to discover,

new recipes to try.

Fall makes me happy

Homecoming Dance

Today Kayla, my 15 year old,

a sophomore in High School,

is going to her first Homecoming Dance.

How did this happen?

When did this happen.

Wasn't this picture taken just last week?

Did I blink?

As sad as I am to see her growing up,

As much as I wish I could stop the hands of times,

I couldn't be more proud of her.

she is smart and beautiful,

strong and independent,

has great instincts

and the wisdom to listen to them.

If this is a preview of you she will be

The world better take notice.

What could make me happier today......

Homecoming parade

Late this afternoon,

after Ashley's piano lesson,

Emily, Ashley and I had a picnic in the car

Then Dennis joined us and we watched the homecoming parade.

Kayla sat on the woodford county FFA float.

We stood on the sidewalk

surrounded by our neighbors, friends,

Church members and teachers.

You've got to love a small town.

It made me happy

to see her participating in a community activity
with her peers.

Then off Emily and I went

to our local 4H Chapter to sign up for dog club.

Poor little Bentley

he has no idea what awaits him .....

All and all it was a wonderful Thursday.

Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings :-)

lunch "with the ladies"

Today I had lunch with my "Kentucky Friends".

Missy, Laurie and Lisa.

We don't get around to do this enough.

We always have a good time sharing stories, notes on the teachers at school,

good books we have read recently, good places to shop

but mostly we share laughs.

Friends bring happiness.

Can fall be far?

Today I went to buy paint to redecorate Emily and Ashley's bathroom.

It has taken me four years to repaint this entire house.

Three rooms to go and the previously owner's mark will be erased forever.

I love painting, redecorating and pouring my creativity in each and every room of our home. Paint is amazing.

It can transform anything.

You can live wherever you want with paint. Tuscany. Morroco, Paris .......

I am happy my family is so indulgent.

I can't wait to start.

simplest pleasures

Yesterday Kayla was outside cleaning her rabbit's cage.

Bentley, on the other hand, thought the hose was out simply for his amusement.

He really can't deny the Spaniel in his genes. I have rarely seen a dog love water so much.

Afterwards, soaked from head to toe, Bentley had to dry himself....

Happiness is .... a low maintenance dog :-)

Often it is somplest things that make us laugh and smile the most. Like a puppy playing in the water.

Sunday night dinner

A few weeks ago it was decided

That the girls were going to make dinner

each in turn.

Ashley on Friday night. Emily on Saturday night

and Kayla on Sunday night.

The first week was great.

Since then, it's been a work in progress.....

Tonight

Kayla and Dennis made dinner.

Chicken breasts stuffed with spinach, provolone and proscuitto,

Accompanied by a fennel and red cabbage cole slaw.

Divine.

My other two daughters,Emily and Ashley, set and cleared the table

and did the dishes.

I did not have to lift a finger.

Now THAT is pure happiness.......

Sunday's blessing

Three and a half years ago, after we had moved to Kentucky,

We discovered St. John's and Father Alan Sutherland.

We are blessed.

Hard beginings

They work at mending broken lives here.
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Today, Saturday, we helped at the Methodist youth home. They have an open house every year and the whole family pitches in.
Its good to give back.

Sunny, warm Friday

Today I volunteered at the middle school

that Emily and Ashley attend.

I have been volunteering at this school

for the past 4 years.

ever since Kayla started there in 6th grade.

After we moved to Kentucky from Arkansas.

How nice to be able to bring happiness

 to so many wonderful teachers

simply by doing something as mundane

as making copies or laminating a poster.

Often it's the little things that make the biggest impact.

I am reminded of a big boulder we are all pushing uphill

one step, one push, one "heave-ho' at a time.

It doesn't take much sometimes to make in difference in someone's day.

Sometimes all it takes is sharing a smile.......

homecoming

Tonight I purchsed the first of many homecoming dress. This one for my oldest daughter Kayla.

 She looks stunning.

How quickly time passes.

Wasn't it just yesterday that i bought her first backpack for kindergarten?

Next Friday she will be the Belle of the Ball.

I feel bad for her friends........

Seeing her looking so beautiful made me smile.......

with tears in my heart.

Kentucky fog

It has been foggy almost every morning this week.

I love the fog. it shrounds everything in mystery.

The air smells clean.

Kentucky fog is divine.

My goal

I am not very poetic or even very good with words at all for that matter, but I think we are all caught in this whirlwind of a life and we sometimes forget to stop and smile. At anything. For no reason . So I have decided to start this blog in an effort to force myself to find at least one thing, everyday, that made me smile, or even better, laugh. I will try to add a few words.

My hope is that some one else will see it and smile as well.  I will try to find things outside my family, that would be too easy. I will look, really look at the world around me and find beauty there. Everyday.

Stay tuned.......