Happiness to the point of distraction

I can tell I had a great weekend by how much I forgot about the details of my coming week. 

Yes, this weekend was a good one. 

I hope you all have reasons to smile today. 

Real elation is when you feel you could touch a star without standing on tiptoe. ~ Doug Larson

Some less cryptic pictures of late

The picture that started a conversation.... 
Erin and I couldn't decide what to wear at home so we brought all our options to Seattle with us....

Girled up and ready to go out

Some ridiculous sugar-filled drinks. 

At the piano bar

After the Piano Bar

The day of the race.  My friend Kristen and I.  None of my other race photos turned out.  Stay tuned.

Last week a bunch of us went to paint pottery.  This is a "during" photo

"After" - the inside of the bowl.  Duh.

The outside.  Its so shiny and cool I couldn't take an unblurry photo.

Tax dollars hard at work.  Not yours hopefully.

Here is someone you might know:  I look sweaty and barely with it.  Feel free to browse all the skin I had to see in order to run.  It was for the children, after all...

It doesn't hurt to be optimistic. You can always cry later. ~ Lucimar Santos de Lima

4 years later

My advice to you is not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it's on your plate.
~ Thornton Wilder

What I woke up to this morning

The smell of cooked apples and spices in the air, and this in my crockpot...

Hmmm...looks kinda gross with this camera.  Anyways, those are almost completely cooked through apples.  I'm making apple butter.  Hopefully it finishes cooking by the time I leave this afternoon.  I'm going out with several friends to a piano bar and tomorrow is my run.  Even taking Atticus to a kennel to accomplish all this....

I don't think jogging is healthy, especially morning jogging. If morning joggers knew how tempting they looked to morning motorists, they would stay home and do sit-ups. ~ Rita Rudner

The greatest find of the day....

Found this in my garage when I came home tonight...

Alicia = 1     Landlord = 0

Full story to come later.

What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well.
~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery

The rest of the weekend

The rest of my weekend...

Went to a birthday party for a 2 year old.  Answered the age old question...what do you get for a 2 year old boy? 

Answer:  make him a monster pillow!!

Made of left-over fleece, a pillow I had on hand for another project I haven't gotten to yet, and my first foray into Heat n Bond (which I also had on hand).  So, technically, this cost me nothing.

Neither did the wrap job....I took 2 brand new pieces of moving wrapping paper, double folded the ends, sewed them, then painted a happy birthday message.

Yes...the boy's name is Echo.  Don't ask.

The backside - double folded and double sewed ends.

Somehow I always end up food shopping right before a big day...Thanksgiving, New Years, etc.  Today was no different.  I forgot tomorrow was the Superbowl.  Oh well...I stocked up on some veggies and other standard things I've been needing.

Kitchen genius was in full swing tonight (thanks to online recipes!)

Zucchini fritters.   Seriously heavenly.  They're so simple to make too...and no weird ingredients.  I don't know why they're so delicious.

Ground turkey and cheese meatballs.  The recipe calls for ground chicken, but I had ground turkey.  Still pretty good.

Oh yeah, and I thought I'd whip up some quick veggies while I was frying the fritters. No, mom, your eyes do not deceive you.  I bought brussel sprouts. 

Brussel sprouts, mushrooms, and garlic.....

Oh, and I signed up to be a zombie volunteer. 

Getting a late start to my bedtime...I should have been dreaming already!!!

Success isn't a result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire.
~ Arnold H. Glasow

S.A.M. part 2

Here's some pictures I was too tired to upload yesterday...

Erin works for the Red Cross...



Ferry view leaving Bremerton.  Beautiful day.



Entering Seattle.

  

 

Ancient Mancala!

Antique African hat made out of buttons.  I can't remember what its about.

The silver coat was pretty spectacular.  It brought to mind Joseph's Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.  It was made out of dogtags.  I don't know if you can read the description picture.  I couldn't use my flash to take pictures so most of them are very poorly lit.

Barbed wire and neon.  I don't know why but I thought it was very cool.

Our after-SAM treat at Fado's Irish pub.  My mini-Guinness.