The Cottage

You can have it...

2012-01-29T20:32:00.000-06:00

Go ahead, click on it ...

Lovin' Fotobabble!

trompe l'oeil

2012-01-24T21:43:00.002-06:00

As you know, Mr. D and I were at Dickson Valley Camp over the weekend. We've been there numerous times before. This time there was something new. Some walls had been painted in the downstairs meeting/lodging areas of the dining hall.

I was amazed at the detail, the creativity, the talent and, dare I say ... beauty, of the walls.
This wall with the birch tree trunks blew me away.

I've been thinking where I (or some artsy friend) could do this in The Cottage.
I'm really digging the wall words too. Who needs vinyl? The font is pretty awesome too!

Off the top of my head, I think this would look nice in the ~~basement~~ TV room

I have a thing for trees.

especiallybirchtrees

The wall art didn't stop with trees and words ....

This trompe l'oeil brick wall was amazing! Believe it or not ... it is painted on cinder block!

This is a different wall than the ones above, but you can see that it is cinder block here.

The artist was very clever and creative in how she even "framed" the doors to the dorm rooms with paint. The trim on the sides of the doors looks like brick too.

Isn't the font she used divine?

Other walls and areas had various trees ...

as if I need it .... proof that I have a thang for trees ...

I recently bought a new duvet cover -- I'll show you soon.

No where warm...

2012-01-21T16:40:00.001-06:00

While several of our friends are in places like Mexico, Florida and Hawaii enjoying the tropics this weekend, Mr. D and I decided to go south for the weekend too.

So while it snowed in Rochester, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois....

We drove through it all. To reach our SOUTHERN destination. Just 60 miles SW of Chicago.

Not quite the tropics. And terrible, horrible, no good road conditions.
We could hardly see a thing. Mostly the occasional vehicle .... that would appear out of the snow misting all around us. A white-out. It was a stressful drive, but managed to have some good conversation and were humored by the optimism of the couple pulling this ....

We arrived at our destination, Dickson Valley Camp where my sister Diane is running a winter retreat for around 100 high school and middle school students.

We drove through the snow to see our Wild One. She's the retreat nurse. We've done this before, met her here. It's just too hard to pass up an opportunity to spend time with our daughter (who lives 12 hour drive from her momma and poppa) when she is only 5 hours away for a weekend. Tis much better to deliver b'day gifts personally than use USPS.

An extra bonus is getting to spend some time with two of my sisters....

and get some awesome time away with Mr. D.

We don't need the tropics.

It's warm when we are together :)

Passing it on...

2012-01-17T20:23:00.003-06:00

While visiting our kids in Cincinnati we dined out a few times. It's pretty much standard procedure for us to hit up Skyline one night (a four-way for Mr. D, and a three-way for me) and Dewey's pizza, just down the street from the kids, on another night.

On this visit, Cara requested to make a meal at home one night. She wanted to learn how to make her great grandmother's chicken and homemade noodles.

Cara is an excellent cook/baker and loves to try new recipes, but this time, it was good old comfort food she wanted to make. If she wanted to enjoy one of her favorite meals in Cincinnati, she would have to learn to make it herself.

And that is what she did.

Back in the day ... I learned how to make this recipe in Topeka, Kansas under the instruction of Mr. D's grandmother, in her kitchen. (Mr. D's mom had to give me a refresher lesson about 5 years after my first lesson) I love that this recipe is being passed down to another generation.

We got busy making the noodles first.
I use the "we" lightly here, since I made Cara do all the work. :)

She used her Le Creuset pot (wedding gift from her hubby) for the first time.

I L.O.V.E. the color!

Actually that orange would look fabulous in my kitchen

maybe we should trade? No?

Good color choice Cara!

Orange is the 2012 color of the year!

I'm telling you this girl is a natural in the kitchen --

Everyone loved her meal -- including her Cincinnati city boy -- who didn't know he was eating a meal from redneck country!

Making dinner with our "Wild One" was fun. All of us cleaning up after dinner was priceless!

I just want to put this out there ---- all three of my kids can cook and bake. When they want to.

Cara, your Grandma D and Great Grandma S would be very proud of your dinner and you!

Greatness

2012-01-15T21:51:00.000-06:00

On December 26 a sweet little girl was born.

Emerson McCall

was born at 9:05pm weighing in at 7.2 lbs and 21 inches

Emerson's proud parents are Drew and Bri.

Drew is Mr. D's nephew.

Which makes Mr. D a Great Uncle!

Mr. D's sister and brother-in-law are proud grandparents

With 1000 miles between our front doors, it might be awhile

before we get to see our great niece

so we are happy there is such a thing as digital photos and Facebook!

Kind of related -- I found a cute headband pattern on Pinterest this weekend

so I made a few for Emerson :)

Must try this ...

2012-01-14T10:47:00.000-06:00

Mr. D and I did a little errand running and shopping last night. It was dinner time when we headed out, so we planned to get some grub along our way. Neither of us were feeling a big meal or the usual restaurants we hit up, so we decided to have a sandwich. Mr. D and Baby Girl had tried Stadium Club a few weeks ago and really liked it, and I was looking forward to trying one of their toasted sub sandwiches. Or a Red Hot Chicago dog.

If you are in the Rochester area, you need to eat here. Today. and tomorrow. and often. Forget Subway, Erbert & Gerberts, Jimmy Johns, and the chain sub shops. This locally owned eatery has more than toasted subs and Chicago red hots. You can also order up a pizza -- the usual ways, or gourmet style that you can eat in, or take and bake at home.

If you like sports memorabilia --- you'll really like this place!

Stadium Club is located in the TJ Maxx plaza, next to David's Bridal.

Hit it up -- you'll love it!

This is not a paid advertisement.

Stadium Club has no idea who I am.

Progress

2012-01-10T21:15:00.002-06:00

Today started out on the "tough" side. I had a 2.5 hour one-on-one training session on how to use the new website format we are switching to at camp. It was alotofinformation.

By the time we wrapped up the session, my head was pounding, and realizing I still have a bizillion more things to learn didn't help my overwhelmed head.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not afraid of trying new things, or learning new things, but by golly it sure is more of a challenge to learn in your 50's! Though I actually love to learn -- I am finding I'm not as quick of a learner as I'd like to be.

For instance, I thought that riding a horse would be easy-peasy. Actually, it is. If you are only walking the horse. If you want to trot, cantor or gallop it takes a bit of work. Remember when you were learning to ride a two-wheeler and your dad/mom kept saying, "look straight ahead - keep pedaling - balance - move the front wheel slightly back and forth"? Or how about learning to golf? "Keep your head down - knees bent - arms close to your sides....blah, blah, blah"?

Remembering to do all those instructions, all at the same time felt so mechanical, so impossible, so much to think about. Then one day, they all clicked. You rode off without someone holding the seat of your bike and you swung at the ball and hit the sweet spot.

To clear my head of all the computer-website-html-java-mumbo-jumbo floating around in it, I left work a tad bit early and headed over to spend time with a few friends . . .

At 2:30pm today it was 54 degrees and I was ready to be outside! We rode today wearing only sweaters. No long-johns, no gloves, or hats, or wool socks. <sigh> It was glorious.

Today I was challenged. It was time to ride Layla while she cantered/loped. I've (mostly) got the trot down and feel comfortable with that. The lope is scary. It's fast and requires balance, and looking where you are going, and sitting just right in the saddle (my biggest challenge). Did I mention it's faster? My gut instinct wants to let go of the reins and hold the saddle horn when Layla starts to canter/lope, which doesn't work so good!

Today I learned to trust Layla... and I learned to trust myself. I kept working on the lope/canter when I really wanted to quit. Because I was afraid. Because I felt like I'd never "get it right".

I still don't have it all "right". I still bounce too much in the saddle among other things. However, I did get in the groove a few times and rode her smoothly -- and I felt what "right" feels like.

You won't see me riding my best in this video, but you will see that I have overcome my fear, and achieved some balance. (you should have seen me before this point!) There was a moment when I was paralyzed and couldn't even make myself walk Layla. I froze up. So I got off, took a bathroom break, and returned with a new resolve.

I was going to work at this. I could do it.

The voice in the background and the videographer is my wonderful & most patient teacher, Karen.

I can do it. I did do it. I will do it again.

Thank you Karen for all you encouragement and excellent teaching!

Apartment life

2012-01-09T21:57:00.004-06:00

The size of the place you live in isn't as important as how you live in that space.

Last weekend Mr. D and I were invited to dinner at Dave & Jo Lynn's place. Over the summer, Dave & Jo Lynn moved into the upstairs apartment of the rental home they own very near downtown Rochester.

They sold their Pottery Barn-esque, designer home and moved into a one bedroom upstairs apartment. Talk about downsizing! In May they will begin remodeling and adding on to this rental home and will eventually move into the house portion downstairs and rent the upstairs.

It's a tiny apartment and full of character. I am in love with this place -- maybe because it takes me back to simpler times when Mr. D and I were still renting an apartment. Back when we really had free time. No home repairs, remodeling, landscaping, mowing.......
and less stuff.

You will have to forgive the poor photo quality -- I only had my little Powershot along, and I had the settings wrong. Duh. The dining table set up in the living room for a wonderful lasagne dinner!

Looking down the hall from the kitchen.... with the bathroom door on the right.

This picture is really fuzzy, but I want to show you the full view of the adorable kitchen

L.O.V.E. the vintage cupboards! (windows were just replaced)

Cozy bedroom off the kitchen...

It's really more like a little honeymoon cottage ....

we have dibs on the place the next time they go out of town ...

for a little "get-away" of our own!

vintage bathroom fixtures

Jo Lynn's special touches all through the space.

We had the most wonderful evening at their place -- good food, good wine, good conversation, and some healthy competition. (someday us girls are going to win at Sequence!)

Never let the size of your home keep you from entertaining!

Bigger than ourselves

2012-01-06T20:26:00.000-06:00

Last night a group of people gathered in a room at Crosswinds Church to fill 43 backpacks with food for children in Pine Island schools.

Food 4 Friends provides backpacks of supplemental food

for children that are likely missing meals over the weekend.

The backpacks we use were donated by Hom Furniture Community Relations.

You can read more about the Food4Friends program HERE

Channel One food bank and food shelf is a valuable resource for this program

allowing churches and groups involved with

Food4Friends to buy food for just 17 cents a pound.

The food included in each backpack is for the individual student, however there is food included that will help the entire family, like a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter, or a bag of cereal.

Twice a month The Bread Baker will be donating

1# loaves of bread for us to put in the backpacks for the children!

We include fruits, proteins and snacks in the backpacks.

A dietitian on our team assists with food choices.

With an assembly line, the packing goes very quickly

The bags are filled and then delivered to the school on Friday mornings.

Each bag has a number on it corresponding to the student it goes to.

Everything is confidential.

Notified by a "secret message" (over the P.A. system) on Friday afternoon just before school is out, the students quietly leave their classroom to pick up their backpacks.

Through the contributions of many

much is accomplished.

When people come together and contribute time and materials

we become bigger than ourselves.

Doing more together than we can do alone.

This afternoon 43 children took food home for the weekend

that they didn't have last weekend.

Thank you

to everyone who contributed

Fun at the park

2012-01-01T22:50:00.002-06:00

We still play at the park

and I still try to take pictures of our <adult> children at the park

some times it's easier to get them to cooperate than other times

and sometimes there are many "takes" involved

after sitting in the car for a day, it felt so good to get out and play

and pretend to be Katniss

(from the Hunger Games books)

This photo...not my idea.
Baby Girl said, "could we get a nice picture of us three kids?"

the bigger question is
"Will everyone cooperate?"

Out takes for these shots not included.

Unfortunately Tim had to work every day we were there so he didn't get in the out and about pictures --- which I'm pretty sure is just fine with him. We can be pretty weird when the cameras come out.

What are you doing New Year's Eve

2011-12-31T12:12:00.001-06:00

I've always loved this song and this duet - Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel do it beautifully. They are now officially on my Spotify account!

About the musicians....

The friends strummed a twee little ditty cover of "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve" by Nancy Wilson in this new video that Deschanel posted to her website, HelloGiggles.

Included was an introduction that was appropriately sugar-sweet:

"I have known Joe Gordon-Levitt for going on 12 years. We first met in the summer of 2000 while doing a tiny movie called Manic, where we bonded over a mutual appreciation for Harry Nilsson and Nina Simone and I have been lucky enough to call him one of my dearest friends ever since. When we did 500 Days of Summer 8 years later, we spent every lunch hour dancing to Marvin Gaye in the hair and make up trailer; we had loads of fun. I hope to do a thousand more movies with him because he's simply the best. But in the meantime, we made a little New Year's duet for all of you! The original by Nancy Wilson. ENJOY! Don't forget to check out Joe's website http://hitrecord.org/

So, what are YOU doing New Year's Eve?
Mr. D and I will be bringing in the new year with some friends of ours. Dinner included. I don't have to do anything!

Happy New Year blog friends!

Cincinnati Parks

2011-12-28T23:31:00.001-06:00

Four nights. Three days.
Six adults.
One 1000 square foot apartment.
One bathroom.
Dewey's Pizza. Skyline Chili. HomeGoods. Kenwood Mall. Christmas. Presents. Cooking. Scattergories.

Our Family.
Together.

One of my favorite things to do in Cincinnati, besides spend time with our kids who live there --- is visit the beautiful city parks.

This trip we visited a new park to us -- Alms Park.
Established 1929.

photo by Nate Dietzman

The buildings and parks in Cincinnati are beyond comparison.

photo by Nate Dietzman

I'm looking into growing one of these in Minnesota ...

A Holly Tree!

Fun at Alms Park next!

Christmas Eve

2011-12-27T13:59:00.002-06:00

Just three photos from Christmas Eve.
I chose to "be in the moment" instead of taking pictures of moments.

#1: Quiet moments before our guests arrived.

#2: Five adorable children (2 sets of twins!)

#3: Wine glasses with Silly Bandz to identify who's glass is who's.

We haven't opened a single present yet -- that's tonight after some Skyline or maybe Dewey's Pizza!
Guess where we are!

Remembering...

2011-12-24T11:47:00.001-06:00

the reason we celebrate . . .

Photos from The Nativity Story

Bell Ringing

2011-12-22T22:20:00.003-06:00

Wednesday afternoon Mr. D and I spent a couple hours outside of Sam's Club ringing the Salvation Army bell at the Red Kettle.

This is one of the easiest ways to volunteer and make a difference in our community. Mr. D and I try to do at least one shift each year, sometimes we get more than one in.

This year Mr. D rang with our Baby Girl on Tuesday, then with me on Wednesday. Baby Girl also rang with her best friend Kate on Wednesday morning. At 8:00 am. Impressive.

Of all the MANY people stopping and dropping their donations in the red kettle, this little guy brought tears to my eyes. As he was walking out of Sam's holding his dad's hand, he was digging deep into his coat pocket. He was still digging in his pocket as he pulled away from his dad's hand, and walked toward the kettle. He wanted to give. He had is own money to give. He gave all he had. The penny from his pocket.
Smiling ear to ear he took his dad's hand and walked away.

The little ones loved giving...

Layla and Faith

2011-12-19T22:51:00.000-06:00

Normally spending extended amounts of time outdoors in cold weather isn't my deal.

However, when spending time with Layla and Faith is involved, I'm all in.

I've been taking riding lessons -- even on cold winter days! After lessons, I get to go on long rides through the woods and along trails on the Zumbro River.

I ride Layla. My wonderful teacher, Karen, rides Faith.

Layla and I are becoming especially close. I'm seriously falling in love with this pure bred Arabian horse who I'm riding almost weekly as I learn riding skills and horse care. Layla is incredibly sweet and patient with me as I learn while sitting on her strong back. The more time I spend with Layla, the more confidence I gain and the more appreciation I have for the intelligence of horses and their beauty.

Faith is an Arabian/Morgan cross and is a bit more spirited than Layla. Faith and I have spent a little time riding together, but normally I'm on Layla.

I'm bonding with Layla. I'm not sure she is feeling the same, but I like to think so.

I actually miss her when I haven't seen her for awhile.

I miss our pups like that too.

I have always had a love for horses, spending time each week with Layla

and riding, and learning is incredible.

Taking lessons and riding regularly has been on my

personal bucket list for many years.

In January, 2009 I wrote my life time goals and dreams and posted it here.

I'll post more on the topic later, but I will say that

writing them down has helped me accomplish them.

I just needed the right time, place, teacher, and horse.

All the pieces came together this fall and I am so happy they did.

Riding is awesome.

Having a supportive husband encouraging me to ride

is priceless.

Thank you for supporting me and cheering me on Kirk!

Going to the dogs

2011-12-18T22:19:00.003-06:00

Our boy couldn't pass up the opportunity to do a little doggie dress-up

and now they are ready for Christmas celebrations!

Christmas Tree 2011

2011-12-15T20:19:00.000-06:00

Our tree.

It's very different from the trees we decorated when

the kiddos were little.

Each year since their birth, our kids were given ornaments for Christmas.

Ornaments came from grandparents, aunts & uncles, us and their friends.

Those ornaments are now sorted into 3 boxes, one for each kid.

This is our 2011 Christmas tree.

and our 2010 Christmas Tree

The 2009 Tree

and the 2008 Tree

2011

The Ornaments

Swarovski crystal snowflake

glass bells from our 2nd Christmas

blown glass wedding bells we bought for our first Christmas

Maddie's collar & tags

vintage miniature cards

Homemade vintage mini cards

made by my grandmother

(crafting is in my bloodline :)

Mr. D's baby shoes

(also worn by our boy)

Baby cups -- one for each of our kids

vintage-look ornament

glass ornament

Holland windmill

a gift from dear friends who moved to Holland, MI

You can see how we set up our tree to gain some "height" here

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-14T22:41:00.003-06:00

last year. same week.

Playtime

2011-12-13T21:24:00.000-06:00

Nike continues to entertain us, love us unconditionally, and play like only a puppy plays!
He is particularly good at entertaining himself too, and really enjoys balls....

Deck the halls

2011-12-10T13:23:00.001-06:00

These are my favorite kind of videos ....

Back to school

2011-12-08T20:39:00.001-06:00

I went back to school yesterday afternoon

all the way back to kindergarten

it had been 17 years since I sat in a kindergarten class.

Just a little over 17 years ago Mr. D and I watched

our Baby Girl step up onto that big yellow school bus for her

long-awaited first day of school.

It was "yesterday", wasn't it?

But for real "yesterday" I went back to kindergarten.

This go 'round -- our Baby Girl was the teacher!

It was her last day of student teaching and I had

the privilege of sitting in and observing her teach.

She was fabulous

(I'm not just saying that 'cuz she's my daughter)

In some ways it felt very surreal watching her teach

these adorable kindergarten students

yet, it also felt very normal

very natural

like she was in her sweet spot.

My young mom self could have used some of her

wisdom back when she was a kindergartner

(^James was the helper yesterday)

Our Baby Girl

is graduating from college

Friday morning at 10:30 am

It could be another surreal moment.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-07T21:33:00.001-06:00

Monday morning at work ...

in the kitchen

2011-12-06T19:36:00.001-06:00

I'm not going overboard with Christmas decorations -

keeping it simple and clean this year

A little sumpin' sumpin' to decorate the kitchen sink...

and this little jar holding antique miniature bulbs

that belonged to Mr. D's grandparents

the bulbs (with snow) started out in a crystal sherbet glass

and ended up in this jar.

This just might be my favorite decoration this year.

Do you have a favorite Christmas decoration?

Crossing guard

2011-12-05T19:27:00.001-06:00

We had the best crossing guard

when we lived in Vestal, NY ..... (circa 1981-1992)

especially on last day of school before Christmas break