Saturday Part 1.5: kill the fatted calf (I would never do that)

~ DANIEL IS FINALLY HOME! ~

After three months in Uganda for the second time, our wandering nomad - otherwise known as Daniel, our eldest son - is finally on U.S. soil! YAY!!!!! This was literally a few minutes after I hugged the stuffing outta him. From Uganda to Amsterdam to New York to Los Angeles, and then home! Okay - well, actually to Davy's band's performance before he even went home! He has to get back to school for spring and summer so he can only stay 4 or 5 days....... sniff....... but hey, I'm just elated to see my boy! I've said it before and I'll say it again - many times I'm sure - but there's nothing I love more than all 3 of my boys under the same roof at night. It happens all too rarely, so I am incredibly thankful when it does. Welcome home Daniel! 

xoxoxo

Saturday Part 1: Arbor Day

 Okay, I lied - I still have a few posts to do because today there are so many things going on! Sheesh! Today is Arbor Day, and our city is having an all-day event to plant trees and support the earff (Earff Day is next Saturday). Yes, I said Earff. This included all-day entertainment as well. The Mouse performed 2 songs - one on guitar and one on banjo! Go Mouse! I love this pic :) He jumped down so quick I didn't get a pic of him & his banjo... but the videos are below (*warning: my hand was really shaky so brace yourself, hehe :/)

~

 Davy's band, A Basement Rendezvous, was also part of the entertainment, as you can see by the line-up of amazingly talented performers. Okay, I don't know anything about the others, and I pretty much couldn't care less - I only know how awesome all our guys are. Hmmm... will any of these names be famous someday? EXCUSE ME BUT OUR GUYS WILL, DUH!

 The boys doing what they do best... And yes, it was hot - 90 degrees and climbing - but we had shade so it wasn't too bad. They only sang 4 songs I think (tonight will be another story!) but as usual, they sounded amazing. A. MAZ. ING. And also as usual, the crowd loved them.

 Davy the Angry Elf

 Henry whose glasses fly off when he starts playing wild & crazy

 John who the Mouse loves like a brother

 Jimmy who I actually made laugh out loud a few nights ago

 I love how intense Davy gets, and I love it when he plays that mandolin.

Aging hippie parents in the audience :/

* Stay tuned for Saturday Part 2: Record Store Day!!! *

too cute

 Let the record show that on this Friday night, April 15th, I just couldn't hold back any longer, and felt the overwhelming desire to express in no uncertain terms, that there is absolutely no such thing as too many Cuties. Ever. It's just not possible people. It's the little things that really are the big things :) Ahhhhh, Cuties :) That is all.

P.S. and just a little BTDubs, the peels keep your garbage disposal smelling fresh 24/7

P.P.S. I'm taking a little break over the weekend because my oldest son is returning home from 3 months in Uganda and we only have a few days with him. But I've got some awesome, creative, dramatic(!), informative, and just doggone FUN posts coming STAT - just as soon as I'm finished posting a few more episodes of playing catch-up! So stay on course: same Bat Time, same Bat Channel - see you then! :D

* special wimp note: I have fallen asleep 3 times while writing this post. Make that 4 :/

playing catch-up: episode 4

 Meanwhile back at the ranch, Angel is grumbling to herself, "DANG! I wish she'd get that dadgum... doggone... doofus of a camera out of my face while I'm trying to take my nap!"

 But in the REAL news dept. we have a way cool public service announcement of the musical variety. Davy's band, A Basement Rendezvous, went into the studio to record their official EP! It has just been mixed and is almost finished. It will be available sometime in the near future on iTunes, CD Baby, Facebook, dropped from planes, hanging from trees, slid down chimneys, and in the trunks of at least 20 cars that I can think of right off the top of my head. In other words, IT'S GONNA BE AWESOME AND WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR THEM!!!

 Henry letting loose on his violin. Lurve, lurve, LURVE. IT. 

 Jimmy focusing on that gorgeous bass of his.

 Johnny boy! Hey, where are your mad guitar skills?

 Davy so serious and loving how his new guitar sounds.

THE MOUSE?!?! That's right - he has become so good on that banjo of his, Davy wanted him playing on his Welsh folk song "Crigog Ross" (most fans know it as "Moses"). Way to go Mouse!!!

And speaking of the Mouse, he did a very brave thing a few weeks ago: performed solo at his first open mic night :) He played and sang "Wagon Wheel" by the Old Crow Medicine Show, and did a fantastic job! It was a great night, a terrific crowd, and they showed him much appreciation! 

***UPDATE: below is the video***

~

Over and OUT!

playing catch-up: episode 3

Good morning sunshine! So this catch-up espisode is going to begin and end with a few more flower photos I've been goofing with. I'm getting ready to add lots more photos to my portfolio at Zagg, so check them out in the next week or so - your gadgets could be given a whole new personality with my original photos enhancing them! :)

* the awesome LDS church in Kampala *

We need to get back to Uganda, Africa to see what Daniel and Megan have been up to. They are a whirlwind of a research team and have done amazing things to further help regulate and empower NPO's. With the program they have designed, they have held seminars and recruited over 40 NPO's to work together to become stronger organizations and therefore meet the needs of the people. I am so proud of them and all they have accomplished!

But what cracks me up the most are their frequent culinary endeavors. Here is Daniel making "chapala", an African type of bread he loves. He said they made near perfect hockey pucks. Oh well, keep trying Daniel!

 And Megan with her gorgeous chicken dinner... right after the oven overheated and she nearly singed her face off. The glass door shattered when she had to pull back from the inferno and it slammed shut. FUN TIMES!

Yet another culinary success: Burger Night! These turned out amazing and here are two definitely very happy carnivores! Love their expressions, especially Megan's! :D

Megan making some amazing macaroni & cheese. Daniel said it was the best he had ever had in his life. As his mother, I am here to say that he HATES mac & cheese, so if he loved it, Megan you really could have a second career as a chef! Nice job!

So these two are more than just NGO geniuses and budding chefs... apparently they are a formidable duo as they clean the local church every Saturday with the other church members. They also love watching movies, trying to out stink each other, and read books aloud together every night. Daniel says that has been one of their most enjoyable activities and they've finished many books!

Here is a beautiful area up north they go visit - one of the NGO's in their program - a plantation  planning a large kid's soccer/camping area in the far right field toward the back of the photo. 

Megan with the children from another NGO - a small orphanage. These children are so precious!

Megan & Daniel with some of the key men that have helped their program launch, move along, and stay strong as it continues to grow. The Reverend sitting next to Daniel has been a big help and become a special friend - someone Daniel has much respect and love for. And good thing I finally finished this Uganda catch-up because Daniel and Megan will FINALLY be coming back to the states! FOUR DAYS AND COUNTING! :D

And as Meg Ryan would say in "You've Got Mail"... "Daisies! The friendliest flower!"

XOXO

playing catch-up: episode 2

Oh my gosh, this is *such* a Davy face! (I stole your photo, Ashley) A little more Jim Carrey and it would be perfect! LOL! This was taken at the Griffith Park Observatory, just BTDubs

So Davy turned 20 at the end of February - TWENTY!!! Happy birthday to my crazy, talented, hysterical, creative, intelligent, sensitive, passionate, certifiably nutsy cuckoo son!!! We rearranged the posters in his room while he was gone, and put up a special poster the Moore's had arranged to give to him for his birthday. Liam is in art school in London, so I promised I'd take good pics! I made a poster to go in front of it, kind of like the wrapping paper.

 Here he is, smiling extremely happily, with his *AMAZING* "Black Swan" poster (yes, there is a story to it) after he doubled over with a heart attack and we had to resuscitate him. Nice job Moore Family - you guys totally ROCK! Rob, Traci, Elise & Liam, you guys are da bomb :D 

 This is his gift from us - a sweet, sweet guitar, and ohhh, does he play it sooo nice :) It was a great birthday. Of course, it also included Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles and Amoeba Records in Hollywood, but that is a given.

 Stuff is changing all over the place, and that included us having to cut down our massive, massive, massive (no, seriously), massive tree. You can see where it already cracked the wall years ago. Long story why it hadn't been taken out before. This is only the TRUNK :/

 This pile is only half of the limbs - the other half is on our next door neighbor's driveway!

 Look at the SIZE of the trunk! Did I mention it was massive? Luna says, "Get me down from here"

 The way *COOL* part was that I noticed one of the cuts looked like a heart :) Okay, the WAY cool part, was that some really nice neighbors knocked on our door and asked if they could have all our wood! YES! WHEW! But I had to keep this huge log because of it's heart shape :)

A-HUNK-A-HUNK-A-BURNIN' LOVE

 But that means boys see wood. And want to burn it. Because they love fire. And are pyromaniacs that burn everything and make our fireman neighbor livid. So they get the can of gasoline and douse it before I can even get out there... silly, silly, CRAZY boys. 

Oh Mouse!

playing catch-up: episode 1

Sometimes a girl just needs a little chocolate therapy - this time in the form of chocolate colored toes - and a good hair day. Just a few of life's simple little things that make me happy. After my previous "I'm feeling very sorry for myself" post, I think I can move on now. So much has happened around here since I stopped actively posting... I'm going to try to do a few catch-up posts to let my readers (I hope I haven't lost *all* of you!) know what's been going on!

GO HART!!!

 High school volleyball season has officially begun for the Mouse, and it has been great to go to his games. Yes, I know I'm not supposed to be out in public while my immune system isn't working. But I have become adept at sneaking in to the Mouse's games and Davy's band's performances. I can't miss seeing my boys :) Besides, look at that Mouse's awesome vertical!!!

He made some great plays and scored some great points during this game. He enjoys the games a lot but can't stand the practices... Can't say I blame him - he has a coach who won't let the boys stop doing drills and running until they start throwing up :/ 

So do you ever get the feeling you're being watched? Davy's kitty is so silly. I was watching TV one night and had that uneasy feeling someone was watching me. Sure enough, I look down the long hallway, and there she is, just sitting there watching me. Plotting, no doubt.

THE CAT CLUB

Davy's band, A Basement Rendezvous (please "like" them on Facebook!), has been performing a lot lately, which is a great thing. Actually, they've been busy doing other fun stuff as well - I'll catch you up on all that in the next post. But here are some phone pix John took of them at all the different places. I like the dark, loungy-looking ones the best  :)

BRAVE NEW WORLD (sans Henry)

GENGHIS COHEN

THE COFFEE HOUSE

THE SILVERLAKE LOUNGE

We're super proud of these guys and their awesomeness. More updates on them forthcoming.

Last but not least, I'll leave you with some flower photos I've been goofing with lately. The spring weather has been just crazy, I know. Even here in southern California, last week it neared 100 degrees every day, and yesterday the rain was coming down in sheets, and freezing cold hail covered everything! (I will take that over 100 degrees, thank you) So many of you have been yearning for signs of spring, so maybe these flowers will help a little :)

  I see you! hehehe :)

I love these teeny daffodils. I can't not think of the talking flowers in

 "Alice in Wonderland" whenever I see daffodils!