Flying High

Over the summer, I decided to explore Southern California a little by myself. 

I think that's what they call "finding yourself"...

I just found myself in a very long line in the middle of the desert, with a lot of other people.

When what to my wandering eyes appear should appear...

Oh, okay I can do this.  I can figure out my way there, for the sake of research of my new state of California, right?

But which way do I go?

Apparently, I'm just as confused as everyone else.

I have a college education, I can figure this out!

Just follow the yellow brick road.

Or just follow the dry grass on the side of the road.

Getting closer...

I found it!

California sunshine, rolling hills, warm desert air, white puffy clouds, people, food, drinks, shopping...

But, where are the BALLOONS!?!

Beauty in the middle

We traveled up and down the California coast 

this last week to visit family, and 

celebrate our 2nd year Anniversary!

I can't believe it's been 2 years since the most amazing day of my life, when I married my best friend!

We drove up to Vacaville to visit my aunt and cousins, and second cousins, and third cousins...geesh I have a lot of cousins.  They are always a blast, so welcoming and fun to be around.   This is my cousin Sandy, and us at a winery in Napa.  She never seems to age, she always looks good!

Speaking of wineries...

There are a lot! Oh, and did I mention that my family we were visiting, their last name is Babcock.  And what did we find...but a Babcock winery.  No relation though...boo. 

Of course, we had to stop and taste it!

There are so many cute, little, expensive coastal towns.  However, my favorite part of the trip was driving along the rolling hills of the valley, watching the sunlight dance off the grape vines, and the big white plume grasses.  

I tried to capture that feeling with my lens.

But it's never really possible to express that feeling with a camera...of the sun warming your skin, the moist salt water breeze, and your heart overflowing with love.

Road Trip

We left the Left coast to go to the Midwest, which I really don't know why it's called the Midwest if you are actually closer to the east side of the country. ??  

Each region is so different and beautiful in 

 its own way.  The dessert in California...

The mountains and blue sky of Colorado!!!

 Then the plain states...I mean the "Great Plains"

I know it sounds crazy, but I really had a great time spending 24 hours with my hubby, even though his favorite road trip food is spicy bean dip with Fritos.  You can imagine the outcome...

 

I was so happy to talk and listen, watch the sunrise and sunset together, stop to take pictures, visit with family and friends along the way, and just be there for one another through all the ups and downs that being on the road brings

We are truly blessed to share our lives together and we have awesome friends and family that took us in even if we hadn't taken a shower in a few days.  

And even if one of us ate a whole can of beans...

Love you Honeybunny!

Do This In Remembrance

This Memorial Day weekend, we found ourselves in Riverside, CA.  They had a Memorial Day ride with about 7,000 motorcycles.  It was loud!

We walked through the grave sites thinking about how lucky we are to live in this country.  There are men and women out there fighting for our freedom while we go about complaining about mowing the lawn, having to run back to the grocery store because we forgot that one item we really need, or having to walk the dog, again.

And their families are at home holding down the fort having to play the mommy and daddy. 

I could not even imagine what that must be like to have your loved one, your best friend living in harms way everyday. 

That must be a constant struggle to continue to live out your life without your mom, dad, sister, brother, wife, husband, grandpa, or grandma for a year or more at a time. 

God Bless all the men and women in service for our country!  May you be forever in our hearts!

Planes, Planes, and more Planes

Guess what I got to do this weekend...hang out with my hubby that's for sure!

And watch these...

And this...

And that...

My brother-in-law flew this...

And my other brother-in-law flew this...

I watched with all of these people..

.

Pretty cool huh?

Another beautiful weekend in Cali!
Thanks honey for a great Airshow 2011 experience, can't wait till next year!

Cinqo De Nada

Cinqo of Nothing, because today is nada mucha.

While other people are going out to celebrate, I'll be home alone.

This is the stinky part of having a husband that travels a lot, and no immediate family to run to.  Well, I do have my in-laws, who always graciously invite me over, but they are busy tonight. Oh well!
Of course I have a lot of things to do to fill my time. 
When my husband has been home for a long time, and we get to spend 24 hours together, I selfishly think when does he go back to work again? All so I can have control of the TV remote again, and spread out in the middle of the bed.

Why is it that when you have it good, you want something else, something different, I can't just appreciate what I have and live in the moment.  And when it's gone, I want it back.

I think of my grandma who I really didn't appreciate when she was alive, because she always wanted to be apart of our lives.  She moved from California to Illinois to be with us.  I never thought of what that must have been like for her.  She loved to tell us long stories, go shopping, go to lunch, buy us birthday presents, Christmas presents, give us little candies she kept in her purse, rub our backs with smelly grandma lotion.  She was the perfect grandma with her bright pink lipstick and icy hot smell!  But I didn't appreciate going to her house, her making me take a spoon of honey to help my cough, or her interesting soup concoctions. 
My favorite memory of her was letting me sort out her jewelry and pretend like I was a store clerk selling them to her. Ha, how funny!  I also would write on paper she would give me, not real words of course.  I wrote gibberish, which I thought was cursive writing at the time.  When we went through her things after she passed, she had saved my papers of gibberish.  Such a loving grandma thing to do. 
Wow, I miss her! What a great lady! She packed parachutes during World War II, isn't that cool?


I guess the lesson of the day is that there is always something to do in life, like remembering good people and the good times in your life.

Maybe one day, I will learn to like my hubby's stupid TV shows and look back at them with fondness. 
Maybe...

Procrastinating Projects

I've had this hutch for almost a year now, purchased at a garage sale last summer.  It was actually the first piece I saw on the driveway as we drove by, and I ended up buying two more pieces of furniture.  It took two car loads, hubby was not too happy!

But it proved to be worth it when I made back all the money I spent, plus $120 when I sold one of the pieces on craigslist.  Sweet!
My friend suggested I open up an online store called something like Pottery Barn, but not, like E Barn, or Emily's Barn. Maybe...someday I'll start my own business.

So, I liked it but wanted to kind of make it a little more modern looking. This is what I did...

I also copied the mirror idea from one of my favorite stores.  Of course, I purchased it from my local goodwill store and painted it black.

Now on to the next project...