bad kitty

 She thinks it's hers :/

 WHAT. THE. HECK. 

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!

~

Happy Monday! :)

my heart goes on

 So though I might have had a very sad heart after my Daniel and my Davy left for Illinois,

like most moms, I still have STUFF I have to do and Matthew to watch over and life to live.

And so we go on.

Ah, my Luna - such a joy in my life. Her antics make me laugh all day, every day.

Her comical personality is my best form of entertainment, and she is a true comfort also.

 Kitty is Davy's cat, and she has felt lost and sad without him :( 

She specializes in being lazy and cranky on a good day. But she has her sweet times too.

Matthew has given her a lot of special attention and it's helped! Did I mention how cranky she is? 

Who would've known that 4 stranded young men from Idaho would lift my spirits so much?

The day after my boys took off, John's cousin called me to ask for our help -

her son and his 3 friends were stranded in San Diego and needed a place to crash for a few days.

We didn't see a whole lot of them since they were out exploring California (and sitting in traffic)

but when they were here, gosh were they the nicest guys EVER! (and way quieter than Davy!)

So often we think we're the ones helping out, when actually we're the ones being helped :)

Okay this might not look so great now, but don't knock it till you've tried it!

Anyone who knows ANYTHING knows that Jimmy Dean's jr. breakfast burritos are the BOMB!

 Now, I realize this is destructive. Especially because I don't promote destruction in any way.

And especially because this is a musical instrument.

But sometimes a little destruction in a semi-but-probably-not-very-safe environment is therapeutic. 

 In this instance it was, anyway. Matthew stuffed this old, broken guitar with mighty fireworks.

He ran, John ran, and Taylor & I watched from inside..... *BOOM* I admit, it was awesome.

 Before you get the wrong idea, the Mouse is not always destructive (I said not ALWAYS)

Sometimes, when I least expect it, he does something pretty incredible.

We have this huge old tree stump in front waiting to be removed.

 One afternoon he took my dremel and carved "The Giving Tree" into it.

Who even THINK of stuff like this??? Well, the Mouse does.

One of my dear Young Women from church - who is now away at college - asked me to sing with her in church before she left. I was honored! Riley is an amazing talent and I was thrilled to sing with her! We did her rendition of "Nearer My God To Thee" and it truly sounded wonderful!

Last but certainly not least, I got a pedicure. Talk about therapeutic!

They're supposed to be dice but everyone thinks they're polka dots - that's okay I love polka dots!

mo summa

 I bet you didn't know Davy's cat had 2 heads, hehehe :)

 Yum! New place in town called "Bricks". Their food is supa supa good!

 And their sweet potato fries are yummalicious!

 You don't know what it took to get these slippers. Let's just say I'm awesome :)

Can you find Luna? You can always find her on top of our clean laundry!

She likes to make a little nest and go to sleep..... so sad when it's time to fold it :)

 Walker family oxymoron

 So maybe diet Coke isn't the only soda I like have you ever thought of that?!?!

GNOMES! 

Vintage gnome Christmas ornaments from my friend Lauren - thank you!!!

boys pets toes rose

As suggested by my title, a virtual panoply of topics with accompanying photos season today's post! So much is happening this weekend! Let us waste no (more) time getting started, because I am literally shaking with excitement. Actually, I'm shaking from Exedrin and diet Coke, but I'm really excited too. I feel a little buzzed. Kind of like that time I passed out in Hot Topic. And luckily John caught me before my head hit the floor. And the Hot Topic employees were like "whoaaa". And my kids thought it was hysterical. But that's another story.

So first up, my firstborn son Daniel, the gorgeous boy in the photo above, is as I type, driving home from college! WAHOOOOO!!! Isn't that such a great photo? It is Daniel and his best, best, best friend & partner in crime Alissa, at their all time favorite place on earth, In-N-Out. They have a slight addiction. But we figure since Daniel will be spending all summer doing research in Uganda, and Alissa will be volunteering in Haiti, they will either come home broken of their addictions, or broken people - I guess we shall see. In the meantime, we are sooooo thrilled to have Daniel home for 3 weeks before he has to take off again! He needs to slap his brothers around big time.    

Speaking of which, I took this photo of Davy and Kitty a while back and forgot to post it. Kitty is the biggest, fattest, crankiest kitty on God's green earth, which is probably why Davy picked her out in the first place. Their crankiness compliments each other. Plus she's naughty. But you rarely see Kitty. In fact, most people don't even know we have a kitty at our house. She stays in Davy's room most of the time, unless he's playing his guitar or mandolin (she HATES that) or has a friend over. But she does like to lurk around the rest of the house occasionally, and announce her presence as though she were the queen and we are to treat her as such.

Here is cranky Kitty laying in the antique cradle on MY minky. She mostly likes to daydream about all the awful things she could do to make my dogs lives miserable. She thinks they are pathetic and will hit them in the nose. 

Which is why I must add this photo of Luna - the most perfect pet EVER - and say just LOOK at that sweet nose!

AND... I forgot to mention my friend Diana and I got another pedicure. Stressed? Me? Nah... :D

Now here's something I've been waiting for! If you've read my blog for a while you know I take a photo of my first rose bloom of the year. Well, here it is - and just look how GORGEOUS! I probably should have at least taken the time to adjust these pics a little, but I didn't - I was too excited to share them. HAPPY SPRING INDEED!!!

* to everything there is a season *

* bloom where you're planted *

AND HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE!

the Chair of Many Colors

I finally brought it home. Finally. 

I had my eye on this old, paint splattered stool for, gosh, at least a year, maybe more. It was for sale in a local antiques mall, and I would faithfully visit it every time I stopped by. I couldn't figure out why I was so drawn to it. Other than the fact that I love old wood. And a lot of color. Splattered. 

Perhaps it was the turquoise paint... I finally realized this stool reminded me of my father. I'm not even sure why. I've thought and thought. I have a vague recollection of a turquoise bird house he built with my brother when I was very young. He didn't do things like that often. He had a workshop, had some tools, but my father was mainly a businessman. Strange, that an old battered stool with globs of paint would remind me of him. 
I am happy with the recollection though, and the connection. I do think it must be the turquoise paint, and all the splatters. I am very content with this stool reminding me of my father. He's been gone 13 years now. He was already in his fifties when I was born. I will be without him a long time in my life. It gives me unexpected and welcomed comfort to look at this stool and remember him. 

But I so nearly missed it, came so close to never having the chance to bring it home. The thought makes me shudder.

I wandered into the antiques mall just before New Year's, when to my dismay, the place was nearly empty. They were closing - it was their very last day! NO! I ran to where the stool had always been, only to find an empty corner. I was heartbroken. I had had so many chances. 

I inquired where the owner of the stool might be, and was stunned to find her out front loading her truck. The old stool? With all the paint? Please, where is it? It was already in storage... but she would be happy to bring it back for me - and sell it at a discount. Bless her! 

So that is how I finally brought my father's stool home. It must have been meant to be. 

Someone else decided they wanted a chance to be photographed also.

And when that cranky client left, this one decided she wanted a turn.

I'm ready for my close-up. Hellooooo!

Okay, I admit it. I had to have a turn as well :) What a great stool.