"Cottage By The Sea"

My Mommy Loves Me

2012-02-24T12:08:00.000-08:00

My mom lives in Idaho. The weather is brisk in Idaho in November and there are about five more increasingly chilly months of burrrrr left up there in the Potato Province. On my temperature scale, cold is anywhere under 73 degrees. That 73 degrees must be in the sun. If it is not in the sun then it has to be 83 degrees. My husband says that I have about a 2 degree range of comfort where weather is concerned. With all due respect that's just not accurate. The way I see it, I have at least a 10 degree range of comfort, if you don't count water. If I am in any body of water which is outdoors then the water temperature must be 85 degrees, and we just cannot debate that. But I digress.

I stepped out my front door last week and there was a parcel right there on my porch. My heart gave a small leap in my chest. Parcels usually mean you are finally getting something you ordered online or from a catalog. Or from Nordstrom where they will mail your merchandise to you for free! I racked my brain. Hmmm. Brain, think back. Did you order anything from the internet or Nordstrom's lately? Then my heart actually did a little flip when the thought occurred to me that this could be a present. I love presents! But, why would anybody be sending me a present? It's not my birthday. It's too early (although you wouldn't know it by the decorations in the stores), to be a Christmas gift. Then, I saw the return address. Then I saw the familiar handwriting. Some people have such distinct handwriting. My mom has beautiful handwriting. It's a work of art really. Don't you agree?

I tore open that box. Well, tore open in a relative sense. My mom wraps boxes with a full sized, stainless steel, professional, industrial, taper. She can tape along with the best of them. Think of when you try to open the packaging on a new CD. It's like that. But much worse better. Of course its better because, you really have to want what's inside that package to continue the ordeal journey of getting it unwrapped. Not just anybody succeeds in getting a package wrapped by my mom, unwrapped. It's safe from unwanted unwrappers, or those who are impatient. You have to have patience. You must also have a good pair of box razor cutters. But when the return address label on a package is my moms address, and it's in my moms beautiful handwriting, it's worth it. It's a present. A really cool present, and it's not even my birthday!

There's nothing, and I mean n o t h i n g, I love more than a soft, cozy, blankey. It goes way back to when my mom and my auntie used to save blue chip stamps. In the 60's and early 70's when you went to the market or a pharmacy or hardware store, depending on how much the receipt was, you were issued blue chip stamps. Typically you got one stamp for every dime you spent. The stamps came in a sheet and my sisters and cousins and I would lick the nasty tasting glue and paste them into a 'saver' book. Once you filled up a book it could be redeemed for cash or merchandise at a redemption center or through a catalog. It was kinda like getting something for nothing... Sort of like grace. I don't even know what all the prizes were. Dishes and pot roast pans, televisions and appliances or some such. I don't care. Because for us, the prize was always a blankey. A silky blankey. Those immensely soft, rose patterned blankets epitomized the word 'silky'. When I snuggled up with my silky the world was a better place. I was comforted, and safe, and warm, when I had my silky wrapped around me.

This blankey my mom sent me has automatic, adjustable controls and three settings. If you lose your mind and walk away from this blanket it will automatically turn itself off in 3 hours. You can clean this puppy right in your own washing machine!

Not this puppy. This puppy is mine and what he is doing here is guarding me. He's guarding me because someone might try to disturb my sleep. Someone might need a Lacrosse shirt washed (immediately) or a ride to - Casey's, Courtney's, Kelsey's or Wylie's, (right now). Someone might want dinner for goodness sakes. But this puppy knows that his mommy has a hard-time case of insomnia. She doesn't sleep easily or for long. Sometimes there has to be drugs, prescribed medication involved. This pup is tougher than he looks. He can be vicious and fierce when he's protecting me. So back off. I am now the proud owner of a silky soft, heated blanket that matches my favorite chair and I must not be disturbed.

I needed this blankey. My mother innately knows these things. My temperature comfort range was about to be compromised! It's November. Even in Southern California! But I have not a care in the world because, my mommy is still making sure that I am surrounded in a soft, warm, cloud of comfort.

MY MOMMY LOVES ME.

Love you more than all the electricity I'm saving by turning off the heater and turning on my blankey,

Blessings,

Tia

Fat Tuesday Cottage Style

2012-02-21T20:28:00.000-08:00

Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first. ~ Ernestine Ulmer

Last summer I wrote a post about life in my neighborhood Sauce Sunday's. It was a super long post, and since I was pushing it, I promised to continue later because, I knew you would want to see the goodness that comes next. Its been a while but, I think you're gonna find it worth the wait when you see what's up. It's glorious. "Food glorious food!" (Name that movie.) This is my ode to Fat Tuesday because after tomorrow I'll be observing Lent and will be trying to abstaining from indulgences like these. But until then - enjoy!

SWEET. Chris makes every one of these baby cupcakes. Each one is decorated individually with love. I like to call this the pieze de resistance of cupcakes!

As you can see, they go fast! You have probably heard the saying, stressed spelled backwards is desserts. Coincidence, I think not!

If cupcakes aren't enough of a treat, or if cupcakes aren't your thing - phssst, Chris provides ice cream too. One scoop or two?
My husband and kids think that without ice cream life would be chaos and darkness.

Because of the fact that I don't like ice cream, (don't judge me, my drug of choice is Jr. Mints), and I eat enough of those to keep the Hershey Company in business, I never would have thought of this embellishment. Well, that and I'm not that innovative where food is concerned. But I almost changed my mind because of this creative idea. Flavored syrups. It was a huge hit and now my own family is hooked and we have our own stash. Unlike myself, my fam loves ice cream.

Now Hershey's syrup I can get behind; and under and over and beside and all over. Have you ever had banana slices covered with Hershey's syrup and slivered almonds? Excuse me, I'll be right back. I just happen to have 3 fresh bananas and a ravishing appetite for sweets.

I'm back and fat, but HAPPY.

Lora Brody once said, "Don't wreck a sublime chocolate experience by feeling guilty." What a wise woman; and I wholly concur.

Oh Chris, how I love thee and thy cupcakes.

For those who don't eat sweets. I know, weird huh? But if this is you, I wouldn't admit it. If you love me and you wanna be my friend, you must love sweets. I never trust a person who doesn't eat sweets or love my dogs. Just sayin.

It's Fat Tuesday, so go make some baby cupcakes, have some ice cream on the side and watermelon isn't in season anyway - so just skip it.

Tomorrow is the beginning of the Lenten Season in our church. No more cupcakes for 40 days. Ah well, there's always Sauce Sunday next summer. Right Chris? Right? I know I'm right. Right?

Here now, is your sunset for tonight. Have I told you lately how much you all mean so much to me? Your support and kind words are why I write this blog. So please enjoy the sunset and may you all be blessed by the season, whatever it means to you.

Love ya more than cupcakes!

Blessings,

Tia

399 In Dog Years Yo!

2012-02-05T14:28:00.000-08:00

I'm 399 years old in dog years today.
I wrote this poem in my honor.

My skin is getting wrinkly
My thighs are getting fat
When I tug on my cheek in fact
It doesn't fall right back

My eyelids are starting to droop
I have trouble going poop
One eye sags lower than the other
And when I sleep on my back
I choke and fear I might smother.

There's a creak in my neck
That wasn't there before
And when I look in the mirror
At my back side
It's practically drooping on the floor.

There are kids who call me grammy
Box boys no longer flirt
And when I bend to genuflect in church
My knees they really hurt.

Even though I like to rest
My head on my bed before nine
At least I can say
I'm not dead (yet)
Before my time!
Happy Birthday To Meeeeeee!

Blessings for a beautiful day,

Tia

Lighten Up In The Bedroom!

2012-01-30T15:20:00.000-08:00

I just got back from visiting relatives in the great potato state of Idaho. It's burr cold there. Going from 34 degrees and raining/snowing to 75 degrees and sunny was a big change ~~shock~~ to my system. No photos though, sorry, I like to travel light and didn't bring my camera or my computer. I did take my daughter and her camera but, getting the actual photos out of her camera and on to my computer has proven futile so far. I'm still trying to get photos from her outta there that she took in college, so you can see it may take a while. See as in: never. I have a better chance of contacting Batachophagous. You'll just have to look that up, it's too scary to talk about.

Instead, I decided to show you the make-over of my bedroom at the cottage. It's nothing drastic, just a few DIY projects while I wait for little changes, like the whole economy getting out of the tank, and my kids getting through college so all my money doesn't go to ~~supporting the art of beer pong~~ paying tuition. I'd love to purchase new bedcovers. The duvet I have is pretty, but it is about 8 years old and growing a bit thread bare. I'd love to update them with lighter, softer colored duvet and shams someday but, for now I'm kind of attached to these and because they're old, they are worry free and keep me from having to make any life altering decisions right now. I like to do things a little bit at a time.

My bedroom started off looking like this. Bedcovers, by Ralph Lauren, bought at Macy's. Lest you think that buying bedcovers by Ralph guarantees plush, perfect bedding, it doesn't. The European pillow shams have one sham that has the ruffle sewed inside the seam thereby giving it a ruffle on only three sides. If I want to see that one ruffle on the other side I have to turn the sham inside out. I hardly ever do that, unless I'm really bored. I lost the receipt and never took it back so, I live with it as a reminder that Ralph Lauren gets his designer stuff made in China and it's no better or worse than anybody who's nobody and that's that.

The end tables were black and painting them was an easy fix to lighten up the room. Also notice the bedside table lamps. They were my favorite back in the day but way to heavy for the look I want in the cottage. I replaced them with wall sconces which we prewired for during the remodel. I love them, as they leave way more room for me to pile books up on my side, and I can adjust them so I have the light right where I need it.

The painting displayed over the bed is by one of my favorite artists, Guy Buffet. My hubby and I bought it on our honeymoon in Maui 30 million years ago. I wanted the Cows On Roller Skates one, but we settled on Maui The Old Days because that's where hubby took all his family vacations growing up, and it was nostalgic for him. It's very heavy and I've since moved it to the side wall because, living in earthquake country, I lived in fear that it would fall off the wall someday, completely severing my head from my body which would scare my husband to death in the morning. Much ~~saner~~ safer just to move it.

This is my bedside table. You'll notice it's a bit different from my husbands. That's because I don't like everything to match perfectly. I usually prefer to blend style with color so as to give the piece continuity but retain more individual style. Didn't I sound so HGTV right there? I've actually been painting furniture for over 35 years, even before HGTV was invented I was painting furniture in this chippy manner they talk about today. It worked well with all the other time/kid worn furniture I've collected over the years making it worry free and I'm all about worry free.

This is hubby's table. "A little more plain, yet manly," his words, but he'll deny it if you ask him. Do you like the new color?

This one is on my side. Leaded glass and an old brass knob adorn it. Not too fancy just, a little more ornate and girly, which I have no qualms admitting. Like.

This color is, ARTESIAN WELL. I love the color but actually when it comes down to it I always get as close as I can to my preferred color, and then choose my paint by its name. I bet on horses in the same manner. You know, like I would definitely put a wager on MOMMA'S BABY or something like that. What's in a name? Writes Shakespeare. Everything, says I. This drives my sister, my husband, and most everybody who knows this about me absolutely crazy. And if that in itself isn't reason enough, (because lets face it, we all know how much fun it is to drive people you love crazy), I know I'm not the only one who does this. How about you? Come on, fess up, you know you do it too. How much more would you be swayed to buy this same paint color if it were called, say, MURKY WATER? Huh?

I used Martha Stewart paint. No special reason, she just had the colors I wanted. This one is called RIVER MIST. Oh yeah, I will be dreaming of RIVER MIST instead of FOGGY WEATHER when I sleep beside my waterside tables! I primed the tables by sanding the old paint almost off. Then I painted over the RIVER MIST using the ARTESIAN WELL. I sanded again because if I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times PREPARING YOUR PIECE IS KEY. Seriously, don't believe the cans of paint that say you don't have to prime before painting. Or if the painter guy you hire to paint your walls tells you there is no need to patch, putty, remove old nails, sand, wash down, tape off, or any other such atrocities, get him/her out of your space. Now! You will truly be sorry in the end if you just start painting all willy-nilly. The way you prime will make or break your project, even if it's an old chippy side table. This way it's up to you, what and how much old color comes through. Prime and Prepare 1st! I even removed the handles and taped over the glass first. If you do it right the first time, you won't be doing it over again. I painted one color over the other but used a very light, whispy touch on the second color. This gave me the variety I was going for and made the piece look old and as if its been painted over and over by all those who have loved it throughout the years.

So, what do you think? Painting my side tables lightened up the room a bajillion, wouldn't you agree?

I then moved my Guy Buffet painting to the side wall and added a headboard to the bed. I used two doors and added some molding around the edges to make it. My head severing nightmares are now replaced by the security of a headboard which is screwed into the wall lest it try to topple. I didn't get any photos of this process because I was too busy using power tools baby. Have I ever told you how much I love power tools? I painted the headboard a warm shade of white called, FROSTING CREAM:) Sweet dreams...

I bought the bedskirt at a shop in Del Mar, CA called Beach Bungalow. I adore it because it's a wrinkly light linen, informal, not fussy at all and you never have to iron it!

Here you have my new wall sconces replacing the table lamps. These photos are not staged with pretty little knickknacks and all, so please don't judge. I had a cold at the time this pic was taken so the best I could do was a pretty little box of Kleenex. If I waited until I get those tables all cute with decor and staged for a photo you'd never get to see them. I'm not really a DIY blog, I'm just faking it in order to share with you, K?

Okay, so we've got the newly painted headboard replacing the head severing Guy Buffet painting, the side tables lightened up with some sea/sky colors, and the heavy table lamps replaced by sconces with white linen shades.

How utterly sad and pathetic is this? Poor puppy had to lay on a hard, cold wooden bench with nowhere to go for comfort. The comfort of my dogs is prime for me, so I made him a giant, 6 foot long doggy bed!

He's much happier and more comfy now and of course he is thankful as well because, he knows I did it all just for him. You can also see here, that we added lots of built-in's during the remodel. I keep all my linens, clothes, and doggy toys in those drawers. Oh, and Kieran is a good sharer and he lets me snuggle up next to him on the window seat with a good book once in a while.

Although I designed it, I didn't actually sew this doggy bed myself. A talented seamstress over at my local fabric store sewed it for me. I can sew a straight line but I can't measure or make box edges or any of that fancy stuff. I also can't sew a zipper and I wanted to be able to take the cover off easily so it's wash and wear which is, A MUST in a beach cottage.

I did however, choose the fabric. It was a painstaking task which took months. I'm not kidding here guys. Since doing the remodel and having to make so many daily decisions, I have the dreaded disease of not being able to make a decision to save my soul. I'm so tired of making decisions, that I just don't wanna anymore. (Stamps foot.) It's a good thing I'm already married and have kids or who knows? I may have never decided to take the plunge and right now I might be the owner of the San Diego Chargers and be at a power lunch discussing our latest trade right now. My laundry would be done by a dry cleaner and a decorator would be making these decisions for me while I conquer the world and watch the money roll in. Psst - as if.

The decision finally got made however, and this fabric was the winner. I decided to go with shades of blue/green and white because it's light and goes with my other colors and the color of my future duvet and shams which at this time live only in my imagination. I loved the stripped pattern because it's fun and the it has some tucked texture to it that has a really organic feel. There I go getting all HGTV on you again! I wanted the piping to match and blend in, instead of being a solid color that would separate cushion from piping. I chose the cushion inside the cover to be firm with a soft batting wrapped around it so it is soft but not squishy. In other words, I wanted it to be comfortable but stay in place. Do you now see how many decisions go into cushion making? It's unfathomable and taken for granted way to often. I will never again look at a window seat and not appreciate all the decision making that went into it and step back people because, I might just hug and kiss all over, the person who made it in appreciation for their creative decision making skills.

All the pillows are from Marshall's. As you know, 10x cheaper than the more trendy shops yet these are Down with removable, washable covers and the colors matched perfectly. You can see they also have lots of texture which I love. Have I mentioned that I'm extremely tactile? I'm extremely tactile.

This is the coffered ceiling of my bedroom. It is also a good example of why I am bitter about painters and do all my own painting once again. It was a big job and an expensive one to build this ceiling just the way we imagined it. Then one day we came over to the building site and the painters had painted, what was supposed to be hand rubbed with a light wood stain, a high gloss white. Arghhhhhh! What the? We couldn't believe it. They even chose the white themselves. Probably from a can of whatever they painted the trim on the outside of the house with, which they also never consulted us about. It would have been way too expensive and time consuming to have it sanded off and redone, so we ~~just shot the painter and~~ chose to live with it. I like to look up there from my bed and pretend it's what I always wanted. I have a good imagination like that.

Above the armoire there are all the old hand sewn quilts I have collected over the years. They soften up the space and are treasures of mine that I can look at every day. You can see that I have my next big project in painting that armoire a nice shade of BLESSING WHITE or WHISPER ROSE. Let me know what you think of my room so far (but only if it's nice). My feelers get hurt easy.

Blessings and another beautiful sunset,

Tia

Here Comes The Bride

2012-01-08T20:32:00.000-08:00

I'm baaaaaaack. With an apology for being MIA for so long. I've been visiting your blogs but neglecting mine. I usually don't make New Years resolutions but, this year I did; and it's to post here more often. I love to take photos and share them and I love to write but, I'm way behind. I got so behind that I didn't know where to start so I just avoided posting and got more behind. Life has been happening at a frantic pace and I have barely been keeping up. Lets see, what to post about first? How about love? My favorite subject. There was a lot of it around our place in 2011. My daughter Kate got engaged in February to her college sweetheart Justin.

It started off with a lot of this.

And this.

Which led to this.

They both graduated University in Texas then moved back to their respective homes, his in Albuquerque, New Mexico and hers in San Diego, California. Then they burned up the phone lines and spent all their money on plane fare. Last February Justin planned a sweet and romantic proposal and this November they sealed the deal with a beautiful Nuptial Mass where they were united in the sacrament of Holy Matrimony at our home parish.

They say it never rains in Southern California but, when it rains on your wedding day we Irish believe it's good luck. It rained from early AM to late PM. The sunroof in my car leaked. I stepped in a deep puddle in the parking lot and spent the entire evening soaking wet. But, this couple is going to be VERY lucky because my Kate took it all in stride. She was the consummate mello bride and set the tone for all of us.

My sons Cooper and Dylan escorted me to my seat. No tears yet.

My handsome and proud hubby walking his precious daughter down the aisle. Isn't her dress beautiful? And her bouquet? And her beaming smile?

This beautiful sapphire and pearl neckless has been worn by every bride in my husbands family since his great grandmother. I remember how honored I felt to wear it when we were married, and now two of my daughters have worn it as well. It also covers the something old and something blue adage.

Do you remember Honey Heart? While trying to describe how much he loves his new baby sister to me, my youngest grandson who was four at the time said, "Grammy, I just love my new baby so much, sometimes I call her Honey Heart." This is Abigail Rose all dressed up for her Auntie's wedding. Her handsome escort is her daddy.

In my last post "It All Started With A Recycled Wedding Dress" I shared about how I made the ring bearer pillow out of my old wedding dress. Here it is, and here are the ~~hooligans~~ very reverent, aHem; hooligans full of shenanigans, who had the very important responsibility of carrying the rings. Really, who are we kidding here, just take a look at those faces. Who wouldn't trust them with their cherished jewelry?

These are my daughters, Tara, Kate and Maggie. All as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside.

Ya'll would have been proud of me. I didn't cry all day. (But, as my husband has pointed out, I've made up for it since.) On my daughters wedding day though, ~~I was so sleep deprived from 9 months of wedding planning, terrified because I had to leave my cocoon, and hysterical because my baby was leaving me for~~ ~~good~~, cool, calm, and collected. And in case you were wondering, since I've spoken about the fact that 99 percent of my shoe wardrobe is flip flops, I am proud to announce my friends, I kept my big girl heels on and danced my heart out in them all night long!

Why oh why do women do this to themselves?

Baby sister Maggie. I loved the bridesmaids bouquets, so cheery!

Our little Emma was her Auntie's flower girl and she did an impeccable job.

These are Kate's new sisters-in-law. They are sweet and adorable and also served as bridesmaids. Not only that, they know how to tear up the dance floor!

They were a huge help with wedding planning, choosing the dresses and making sure that all five girls got one in their size. On sale too! I hate shopping so they're were my heros.

We got lucky in the in-law department. Justin's family is so much fun, extremely generous and they love our daughter. What more could you ask for when you join families?

This is my family with my five originals and our two sons-in-law. I can only hope that my last three find spouses as spectacular as my first two have. They've set the bar pretty high!

With Gods Grace and through the sacrament of their marriage may these two ~~give me many grand babies~~ live happily ever after... Give me many grand babies.

Amen

Now, your sunset photo for the night to top off the jump into my New Years resolution to post more often. Because you know I love ya, and life is good.

BLESSINGS FOR AN AMAZING, HEALTHY, PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR FILLED WITH ALL THAT YOU LOVE.

TIA

It's The Third Week Of Advent are You Ready?

2011-12-12T20:12:00.000-08:00

For the Christ child who

comes is the Master of all;

No palace too great no

Cottage too small.

It's the third week of Advent. Are you ready? I'm trying to still my heart and prepare for Christmas here at the cottage. Do you find it as hard as I? Why are there so many functions, so many obligations, and while we're discussing this, why is there so much traffic? Peoples of the world, I have a suggestion for ya. Have your parties after Christmas. December is already full.

I am yearning to cozy-in and be quietly surrounded by peace.

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to your word. And the angel departed from her.

Don't get me wrong, the sparkling lights and the crisp winter air are alluring to me. I love to ~~deck the halls~~ decorate the cottage for Christmas. I get excited for every wreath, every creche, and every candy cane.

Each evening I go about lighting every candle and then before bed I blow them all out again. I love rituals. We eat all our meals on our Christmas china this time of year and inevitably one of my kids asks me, "Where did we get this stuff?" Wha, whaat? I love traditions. Yesterday we planted poinsettia's along our front walk way. I've hung candy canes in magical places for my grandchildren to find on Christmas Eve, right after dinner, right before they get in their car, which will happily satiate them on their way home. That's correct. I had five kids of my own, lets hope all that wisdom I earned, not go to waste, and ~~my white sofas~~ we all live happily ever after!

This bubble light is my most favorite Christmas decoration. It has such a pretty, soft glow and it reminds me of when I was a little girl and many of the lights on our tree were bubble lights. Do they still make these for the tree? I need to get out more.

The tree is up, the mantel is dressed and so we go about enjoying in anticipation the Advent of Our Lord.

Advent is a time for reflection and anticipation!

Finals are in full swing which means my boyo will be home from school soon. I hope he loves his bedroom Christmas tree. I filled a jar with things that he loves and dropped a starlit tree inside.

He's a Graphics and Fine Arts major so he's gonna love the staging of his very own Christmas tree.

Last Christmas he came home and made a tent in his room. It was pretty cool until a candle he lit almost burned the cottage down. He's gonna have to enjoy his room outside the tent this year no matter how much we and the dogs all loved visiting him in there.

I don't think there is a nook or a cranny that I leave Un-Christmassed. Yes, I said un-Christmassed, (it's a real word). Just ask my husband who refuses to play scrabble with me anymore. I don't cheat. I just happen to know a lot more words than anybody else.

I have no treater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. Aint that the truth?

The greatest gift you will ever receive will never be found under a Christmas tree. It is far too valuable to be stored in any other place but in the depths of your heart.

A gaggle of hooligans up to shenanigans.

My Honey Heart and her handsome daddy.

Give me those eyelashes my pretty, pretty, princess!

It is good to be children sometimes,

and never better than at Christmas,

when its mighty founder was a

child himself.

"Charles Dickens"

Just one more thing; happy 1 month Anniversary to my daughter Kate and her new husband Justin. May your first married Christmas be as blessed as you have made us this year.

To all my friends, family and dearest bloggy friends, may this Advent Season find you at peace. It's been a busy year, so while I wait for Christmas I think I'll go take a nap. I'll be dreaming of you and wishing you Blessings!

Love you more than Christmas,

Tia

It All Started With A Recycled Wedding Dress

2011-11-07T17:16:00.000-08:00

When my oldest daughter Tara tied the knot, I decided to make the ring bearer pillow for her wedding celebration. For all you moms out there who think your daughter's will want to wear your old wedding dress, lets just say, I've yet to see it happen. They grow up and embrace their own trends and styles. In other words, they get their own sense of taste and their own opinion on clothing (and everything else imaginable). I hate when that happens, in my experience, around age two when they become enamored with the word NO and are not afraid to use it.

What better way to recycle something that is just taking up space, than to make something meaningful and new out of it? My wedding dress had been hanging in the closet gathering dust for years because, I was too busy putting kids through private school to have it hermetically sealed and boxed for $800 bucks. I breathed new life into it per-say. So, I used some of the material from my own wedding dress to make the ring bearer pillow for my first daughter Tara's wedding. I wish I could show you a picture of it but, I'm too afraid to ask her if she still has it. I'm a little over emotional-like right now.

Now that my second oldest daughter Kate, is getting married, I got out my scissors and recycled my dress once again. I'm not a seamstress, (I may have mentioned that once or twice before) but I can sew a somewhat straight line in a pinch. I cannot measure worth a darn, so I eyeball the project and hope for the best. I've got three more kids to marry off and I hope to ~~force them~~ carry on the tradition of making from my own wedding dress, their ring bearer pillows with my own little hands.

My wedding dress was ivory satin with a sheer overlay. I let Kate choose some of her favorite sea shells to embellish her pillow. They were a salute to all the happy memories she has had living here, from bright days basking in the sunshine, to competing in many surf competitions all through high school, and to bonfires and parties by moonlight. I'm just guessing about the bonfires and parties by moonlight because I'm pretty sure her father and I didn't sanction very many of those.

Kate and her favorite surfing partner, her baby sister Maggie.

I used the satin material from my dress to cover a pillow which I formed from batting. I then glue gunned her favorite shells right onto the pillow before I covered it with the sheer overlay and ribbon. Do you think it is appropriate to use the terms,"glue or gun" when one speaks of weddings?

This is Kate and Justin when they first met at college three years ago.

This is them all in love and mushy-like, just before they got engaged last February.

Last summer I snapped this photo of the love birds and if only someone would get the engagement pictures off their fiance's computer and email them to their mommy, I'd have some really, really, cute official engagement photos to show ya. You guys are always so patient with me though, so I know you'll hang in and ~~when you're a captive audience again~~, I'll have all the engagement pictures, various parties and such and the official wedding pictures to share very soon. Because you know I love you like that.

Of course my pup Saint Kieran, was "helping" by giving me moral support through my entire pillow project. He made sure that none of the batting got away!

I'm not sure what kind of help this gal was. Perhaps she was supporting me in spirit.

Oooh, so many pearls to choose from. I sewed the (faux) pearls on by hand during the many hours I have spent sitting on the sofa watching Mr. Cottage By The Sea, pace the floor and say bad words while watching The Charger's lose football games this season. OH FOR THE SAKE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY CHARGERS - BRING IT ON! A woman can only take so much pacing. The man is beating a path in my rug.

We held auditions for the job of ring bearer, and although this guy was a close second...and very hard to resist -

This one succumbed to the tickle monster and won out in the end.

This is what the website, "The Knot" has to say about the duties of the ring bearer.

The ring bearer, traditionally a small boy aged four to eight, walks

down the aisle just before the flower girl (if there is one), carrying a

pillow with two rings tied to it. Since it's not the greatest idea to

entrust gold rings to a rambunctious 6-year-old, the rings are usually

fakes.

Are you the trusting sort? Well, if you trust the little tyke with your

jewelry, at least have someone hand him the pillow replete with real

rings just before he begins trekking down the aisle. If he gets hold of

them too far in advance, it's more likely he'll lose them.

Nicholas are you reading this? Nicholas can you read?

All I can say is, Nicholas fits the description above. He's a small boy, age five, and he is definitely rambunctious. In answer to that question in the second paragraph about being the trusting sort, lets just say I think we're gonna go with the fake rings on the pillow. Not that we don't trust him, look at that face, it's just that he is rambunctious and ... well... Nick will be accompanied down the aisle by one of his older brothers Dayne, who is eight. Accompanying them will be their little sister Emma who will be our flower girl. Big brothers Ty and Cael will be altar servers and baby Abigail will be the topping on the cake as always, with all her adorable cuteness. Nicholas calls her "Honey Heart" and it sure does fit, don't ya think?

It's Honey Hearts momma for whom I made that first pillow so many years ago. It must have been good luck because Abigail Rose is their 6th child. I like to think it's all because of the prayers I prayed for their marriage whilst making that first ring bearer pillow from my wedding dress. I'm hoping it will be the same for my daughter Kate and her new husband Justin. If you want lots of wee grand babies this cute just let me know and I'll see what I can do for ya.

For a DIY project that started out on a wing and a prayer, I think it turned out real purty. A tad bit of hand embroidery to further personalize with their names and wedding date, and a pillow is born!

Kate and Justin

11.12.11

Much more to come...

Betrayal

2011-11-04T14:22:00.000-07:00

Several months ago something awful happened here at the cottage. I'm not big on writing about awful because I have so much to be thankful for that I'd much rather devote these pages to that. Before I go on to tell my story, I want to say that I know there are much, much worse situations going on in the lives of people everywhere. My life here at the cottage seems idealistic, and in many ways it is. I understand the difference between your home being vandalized and losing a child, or having a loved one fall ill or die. I realize that some people live in deplorable conditions every single day. I was a Foster Mom for many years, and I've worked within a system where the visibility and fate of others less fortunate was crystal clear to me. This post is about something that happened personally to my family and in the context I'm putting it I hope you will realize that for us it was a very bad thing. But in the big scheme of things, it's just an unfortunate circumstance. It doesn't even count amongst all the more serious situations out there. I just wanted to chronicle it and let you know, that even in idyllic situations, bad things happen. It's the context of what we do with it afterwards that counts.

I usually don't write anything but optimistic posts around here so I hesitated penning this one. This is where I come to share the good and the beautiful in my life, and hopefully that is why you visit me here. I promise I will end this post on an up note and with some beautiful photos because, hopefully that's the way I will always end up. On my feet, with a smile on my face! I truly believe there is a blessing in everything if you look hard enough and I'm determined through any and all things dark, to see the light. More importantly is the fact that no bodily injury incurred to anyone at the cottage, and everything that this treacherous person tried to destroy has now been restored.

Someone, maliciously vandalized our home and property last spring. In our little neighborhood and even in our town, which is small by San Diego standards, at just under a population of 13,000 people, we are very lucky because crimes like this seldom take place here. Many of our neighbors have lived here for over 20 years and have never seen this happen. The crime was so obviously and maliciously intended to be personal, we have no doubt. On our front drive here, what you see is some kind of acid which was thrown over the front driveway, walkway up the side of the house, the front gate and the walkway to our front door.

It has taken us months of hard work and as they say, blood, sweat and tears (more than a few tears) to come to grips with the vandalization that occurred to our property last summer. Besides Creedence Clearwater Revival, I'm not sure whom else uses the term "Blood, Sweat and Tears" but, those words ring true in this instance.

Part of what we've been dealing with is the mundane, such as insurance company policies, robots on the phone instead of real people, coverage or no coverage? That, as anyone whom has done it knows, is mind numbing in and of itself. We've addressed the clean up, and back breaking work of the complete reconstruction to the front of our property. We spent over a year while we were remodeling, living with the noise, mess and distress which typifies construction and, in one fell swoop, having barely had time to enjoy the fruits of our labor, we were plunged back into it again.

Our family has had to address the emotions of vulnerability and betrayal that come with having your personal space and your privacy invaded. There are fears which surface at a time like this that you have face and come to terms with. Fear for the personal safety of your family is right at the top of the list.

The substance you see on our front cobbles, is some kind of acid which when you try to soak it up, incinerates the rags. Literally, burns them up. It is very scary and disturbing when one thinks of what more might have happened. Our guardian angels were looking after our personal safety on this sad, dark night. Only our property was destroyed which is a blessing unto itself. To be frank, there is nothing of material value to me, nothing that can't be replaced, except for my family and my peace of mind inside my home.

The intruder not only destroyed the driveway and sidewalk in front of our home, by throwing the destructive substance all over our front gate. You might remember this post " Ode To A Cottage Gate" where I explained all the details about how our gate got built and which I recently re-posted.

These were the stains that remained after we did our best to clean up.

The finish on our gate was ruined. It took longer to refinish it again, then it took to build it in the first place.

The vandal was criminal enough to open the gate and throw the substance down our front walkway, all the way to our front door. On the way out he tore into my husbands' car, bashing out every window and both mirrors, and denting the sides in as well. All of this occurred at 10:00 pm when we were all at home.

Treacherous.

Violent

Why?

So we rolled up our sleeves and went in to recognizance mode. You can't let the bad guys get you down. First we took out all the front cobbles, turned them over and set them back down in sand. Therefore we didn't even have to buy any new material!

We then researched our options for replacing the front walkway. I wasn't fond of the idea of painting over the cement. I've done it before and usually it becomes a high maintenance project because it doesn't last very long. A friend of ours suggested an outdoor Brazilian Walnut deck.

The idea of a deck appealed to us. It flowed right along with the aesthetic of the cottage. Very simple, easy to maintain and beachy. Sand just falls through the cracks! This wood was no more expensive than re doing the concrete and took about the same amount of time. A bit of back breaking, knee cracking work but hey, worth it in the end.

Ipe is three times stronger than teak. It's scratch resistant has a knot free surface and a one hundred year life span. I think that will be plenty long enough for us.

Once it was installed we simply oiled it and even after a soft rain, it looks this beautiful and rich. I LOVE the look, the feel, even the smell, of wood.

We transplanted some grasses from the side yard which had grown too large for their space there, around the Magnolia tree in the front yard. When they get over the shock they'll green up and be the perfect addition of height around the deck.

I replanted the acid-burned moss around the front gate cobbles and it's happily thriving and growing back in now.

You may notice on the right pillar we now have a security system. This was the hardest thing of all for our family to get used to. We were the family whom in 35 years have never even locked a door! When we sold our last house and the new owners asked for the keys we just looked at each other with blank expressions on our faces.

We've always had an open door policy.

It's raining today, just an Irish mist really. I like to think it is God helping me to clean all the way up to the tree tops, as we are in full wedding mode around here, getting all the last minute details ready to celebrate our daughters marriage sacrament next week. Many family members and friends will be flying in from around the country. There will be parties before the wedding and parties after, and I am forgoing my beloved flip flops for high heels. If I don't fall them off them and break something important, I'll be back in the blog world full swing. Thanks for sticking with me my friends, you are so special to me. I'll share plenty of pictures of all our shenanigans when the celebrations are complete and the happy couple is off on their honeymoon.

We have been blessed with so many good people in our lives. The bad guys are certainly out there and can make things miserable for a time but the adversity they create can only get you down if you let it. Thank God, and I do every day, that my family is safe. Although we now have the inconvenience of having to use a code to get into our own home, don't let that stop you from coming by. One ring and we'll buzz you in and make you feel just as welcome as before. The dirty dogs of the world will never win in the end because it's all about attitude.

Blessings to all and remember,

I love ya more than all the bad karma the bad guys will reap, and more than all the love God has sewn back into my heart.

Tia

Ode To A Cottage Gate (La deuxieme)

2011-10-19T17:48:00.000-07:00

When we were at the tail end of the completion of our cottage remodel our mission was to design a front gate for the entrance to the courtyard which leads to our front door.

For design inspiration we went on many-a-walk about in the neighborhoods surrounding our cottage and in neighboring towns, checking out all the varied and inspirational gates people had designed.

There were designs with wooden pillars.

Designs curving up like happy faces.

Sweet designs that had peep holes or a trellis for plants to blossom.

I've heard it said that, you only have one chance to make a first impression, and the front gate is the first chance you have to enter the courtyard to the cottage. I probably weighted it with more importance than it actually has; but that's the OCD way I do.

We wanted our gate to blend in with the arch we designed over the entrance to our home. The arch is an architectural detail present in many of the historic buildings in our little beach town. The train station has one, several homes and restaurants have them; our art district which used to be an agricultural district of quonset huts has them but, the most riveting fact is that, The Belly Up, (where my husband took me on our first date) has one. So, we decided it would be meaningful to us to arch our entry, cause we're just romantic like that.

(Addendum to post: Prince Harry recently visited The Belly Up with some friends. He is stationed here in San Diego for a time, and by all accounts he is enjoying himself immensely!)

For us, the arch is a welcoming site and protects the front porch from sun and rain as well as gives it grace and beauty, (in my humble opinion). Our desire was to have a gate which would be sturdy and strong while at the same time be as low maintenance as possible. We hoped that it would look like it has been there forever.

Remember (before) when the cottage used to look like this? To tell ya the truth, I loved my little cottage just as it was. But, man oh man, do I really love it now. There wasn't a gate at all then which, wasn't safe for my puppies. Now they have a secure spot where they can lie out and sun themselves without me worrying that they will run out into the street after a dog or a mail truck.

The process was a long, frustrating and arduous one.

Dealing with construction is never easy believe me. It's how my husband makes a living and it seems that we have always been in some stage of construction the whole of our married life. We have built and remodeled several homes doing much of the work ourselves. Mercy, I do believe we're too old for this anymore!

It gets my Irish up a bit when I talk about construction after so many arduous months of living amongst it, and nobody wants to see that! Mostly I like to think I've moved on. This is a blog of light and blessings and good things. I'd rather we celebrate the glorious outcome which we are relishing today.

Can you believe this is what the cottage looked like only a year ago?

What a difference a year makes!

I think all our hard work was worth it, don't you?

This was the first gate built. You can't see it in the photo, but none of the wood matched up at the angles. It was flimsy and despicably and poorly built. After the guy who built it had his shot, my husband tried to revive it and spent about 100 hours in the garage, rebuilding, reinforcing, sanding and painting it with special marine paint. I wanted the top panel removed to we could put glass in it because, I felt too isolated from my neighbors and passerby with it being a solid structure. In a beach community whenever people walk by your house they smile and say hi. Almost always they are sporting at least one canine and at first you get to know each other by introducing your dogs. Soon everybody knows your name and as for me - I always look forward to those smiling faces, familiar or not, who say hey when they walk by.

So my handy hubby used a skill saw and removed the top panels. We ordered some really cool glass to replace the panels which although see-through, was thick and had a beach wave etched in the glass giving it a custom vibe all its own.

When the glass arrived (8 weeks later), it was warped and didn't fit properly or look right. Arghhhh. At that point I had designed a completely different gate in my imaginative little head. So I used all my feminine wiles to persuade my husband to let me have a shot at making the gate something we could love and live with forever. Yes, I did say, live with forever. I'm very dramatic like that. I may even have said, live with until the day we die, or until eternity or death do us part, or that I wanted it to live on for our children and our children's children. Anyway, when that didn't work, I whined and cried, even squeezing out some real sad salty drops for effect, and that apparently did the trick. Because here my friends, is the end result.

Bye, bye, you old, time sucking, bad memory making, piece of junk of a gate.

Hello new gate, you gorgeous piece of ~~work~~ art which makes my heart sing.

I designed this gate and commissioned an awesome company called "Edwards Ironworks," in Escondido, California to build and install it for us. They were amazing. They listened to my every request and they made my gate the work of art I wished for. They did it all in a timely fashion, unheard of in the construction field from my perspective, but they restored all my hope that things can be done correctly and on time and even turn out better than you'd hoped for!

I used my mailbox for inspiration. The symbol on it is the Irish symbol for eternity. I love my mailbox. Seriously love it. The arch is represented, as well and some of the linear aspects present in the house.

I love the first impression my gate makes now. It says, I'm a little cottage by the sea, with a cobblestone entrance and an old (well, new but made to look old) gate, that everyone is welcome to peek through and say, "Hi neighbor." I LOVE living here, and I LOVE the cottage where I dwell with the people whom I love, and I want to share it with you, so come on in!

My pup is not happy when we are on opposite sides of the gate.

Please excuse him, as he is howling here. When I photograph him he howls, something about the camera stealing his soul.

Isn't she a beauty? Everything I'd hoped for; strong, sturdy, beautiful, and durable. She looks like an old iron gate that's been there forever and will be there forever. And ever and ever and ever!

And now I can sit in my courtyard and say howdy to my neighbors when they walk by. I can soak up the sun and the smiles all at the same time. Have I ever mentioned that I can hear the surf roll in and out from my courtyard?

So when are y'all coming over to have a cuppa or a glass of wine on my patio with me? I'll be waiting, just give me a holler over yawn gate there.

Are you doing anything to spruce up your house for summer? I'm linking up to The Lettered Cottage so you can go get yourself inspired too. Go check out Layla and Kevin's summer mantel and all the other great links. Get goin' now!

Summer Link Party

Love you more than I love my new iron gate.

P.S. If you are just reading this, you may find that it's a revised edition of a previous post. Being incredibly UN blog savvy, when editing the post in order to link it to one I just wrote, I couldn't figure out how to edit without reposting, go figure. If anyone has an answer to that dilemma let me know, mmmkay?

Blessings,

Tia

Playing Hooky

2011-10-15T10:56:00.000-07:00

Today it is a balmy, gorgeous, 85 degrees at the beach. The sky is the bright Cerulean blue we often see down here in the Fall, and there's not a cloud in the sky. The day couldn't be more perfect to lie on a bright yellow and white stripped Cabo beach towel with a good read and a tall glass of iced tea, alternately watching the tide come in. I can smell the salt air beckoning through my windows and the open top, of my Dutch Door. I can hear the waves lapping gently on the cliffs below. I think they're calling my name.

I think I'm feeling a wee bit dizzy. I suddenly feel a terrible pounding in my head. And what are those groans coming from my tummy? My bones are creaking and there's a twitch in my right eye. But no, I have no time to be sick. I have so much to do.

I guess you could say, even though I live here every day, every day is not a day at the beach. I have a feeling the only thing I'm going to see today is the inside of my washing machine. There's so much to do around here I can't even find my own dog!

"Bailey, Bailey, where art thou?"

Yep, I think I'm sick. Sick of laundry and house work and yard work and wedding planning and long to-do lists. I think I need a mini-vacation. What do you think my lovies? What would you do if you were me? Should I stay on task and catch up with my chores? Might it be better to ignore the sea and the shore and get my laundry sorted? Or dare I play hooky and take a mini vacation in my own front yard?

I have been really good lately.

Life is short and you only live once, right?

And I think I should take care of my health and breathe some salt air, and that reminds me, anybody else ever read this poem by Shel Silverstein? It was a favorite of mine to read to my kids when they were small.

Sick

by Shel Silverstein

"I cannot go to school today,"

Said little Peggy Ann McKay.

"I have the measles and the mumps,

A gash, a rash and purple bumps.

My mouth is wet, my throat is dry,

I'm going blind in my right eye.

My tonsils are as big as rocks,

I've counted sixteen chicken pox

And there's one more--that's seventeen,

And

Don't you think my face looks green?

My leg is cut--my eyes are blue--

It might be instamatic flu.

when I

sneeze and gasp and choke,

I'm sure that my left leg is broke--

My hip hurts when I move my chin,

My belly button's caving in,

My back is wrenched, my ankle's sprained,

My 'pendix pains each time it rains.

My nose is cold, my toes are numb.

I have a sliver in my thumb.

My neck is stiff, my voice is weak,

I hardly whisper when I speak.

My tongue is filling up my mouth,

I think my hair is falling out.

My elbow's bent, my spine ain't straight,

My temperature is one-o-eight.

My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear,

There is a hole inside my ear.

I have a hangnail, and my heart is--what?

What's that? What's that you say?

You say today is. . .Saturday?

G'bye, I'm going out to play!"

Seeeeeeeeeeee ya later!

Love you more than all the hooky I'm playing today.

Blessings from the beach,

Tia

Sliding Into The Weekend

2011-10-07T05:24:00.000-07:00

Wish

o Humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in his good time he will honor you. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you.

1 Peter 5:6-

May good luck be your friend in whatever you do and may trouble be always a stranger to you.” (Irish Blessing)

It is a blessed secret this, of living by the day. Any one can carry his burden, however heavy, till nightfall. Anyone can do his work, however heavy, till nightfall. Anyone can do his work, however hard, for one day. Anyone can live sweetly, patiently, lovingly, purely, until the sun goes down. And this is all life ever means to us — just one little day.

B It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moonless

My wish for you. A calm, peaceful, joy filled weekend filled with love.

Blessings,

Tia

Sauce Night Sunday

2011-10-04T15:52:00.000-07:00

"You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with your whole soul, and with all your mind, (and) you shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Jesus words as recorded in Matthew 22:37-38)

My neighbor's take this commandment seriously. They are a true example of simply, totally, without reservation or expecting anything in return, loving each other.

And they call it, SAUCE SUNDAY.

So let me tell ya how it is around here -

When the host and hostess of Sauce Sunday, Chris and Joe, were first married they lived in New Haven, Conetticut, where they both grew up. This is where Sauce Sunday originated some 25 years ago, but at some point they ~~didn't want to freeze their butts off anymore~~ wanted to live somewhere ~~different~~ warm. He wanted to move to California, she wanted to go to France. They ended up in San Diego, and finally settled in this little community. I think they made the right choice. (For me.) Period.

First some introductions and a little back-story so I don't mix you up more than you already are.

You might remember my daughter Maggie. ~~Even though I'm guilty of not posting on this here blog for a long, long, long, time~~ I've written about her often. Like here, Where I wrote about her Junior Prom. Or, you can see a little more of Maggie over here where I enlighten you to the new holiday "National Maggie Day". Since she's the youngest in our family, and all her brother's and sister's are married or gone away to school, she gets the most attention these days. If you want to trade places with her, just apply here______________. She hates being an only child. Makes it much harder to slip under the, parental units radar, if you know what I mean?

This is my youngest son, Dylan. He's usually away at school or down the beach with skim board, boogie board, surf board, flippers, basketball or frisbee. He checks in by phone or runs in to take a quick shower and grab a pepper jack turkey sandwich, (his favorite), every now and again. It's hard to keep cereal, waffles or milk in the house when he's home but, according to him, I serve most of my meals when the surf is best so he's no where to be found. I know it couldn't have anything to do with my cooking.

Dylan is my: always in a good mood, quick to forgive, full of quippy humor, boy. I guess I can't call him my boy anymore, at eighteen he's a young man now, seemingly finished with his surly teen years and extremely enjoyable to have around. But, most often you can find him over here where Sauce Sundays occur, with his adopted family, the Crocamo's. Nobody is sweeter to our son than the Crocamos are. Every time we see them they say, "we just love Dylan." Ya gotta love it when somebody favors you with a compliment about your kid like that. We sure do! Anyhow, Dylan's a handsome devil, don't ya think?

Well, there you have it. It's through our two youngest kids that we met the Crocamos and have had the honor to share in Sauce Sundays. So as you don't get too mixed up inside this l o n g post of mine, I would now like to introduce you to our Sauce Sunday hostess, Christine Antonelli, (the beautiful blonde serving cupcakes which you see here). Her grandfather, Silvio Antonelli had an Italian restaurant on Wooster Street in New Haven, Conneticut. So you could say that good cooking and entertaining are in her blood. You could, and you should, because as you're about to see, it's very true.

After we moved here to the beach and wasting no time, my kids made haste to find friends in their new hood, and soon found that all the "cool" people with kids their age lived on the streets around ours. On our particular street, most of the families have already raised their kids or just come for the summer season. It's a bit too ~~boring~~ tame for a couple of teenagers looking for ~~excitement~~ someone to play a video game with. Just over the next street though, you never fail to see a passel of kids on skate boards, or in their wetsuits carrying their surfboards down the beach to catch a wave. There are pogo sticks bouncing, balls flying, and lawn wrestling going on at any given time.

As an aside, Important note: As I've taught my kids to drive, the most crucial lesson I teach them is this: When you are driving down a street and you see a ball roll into your path, S T O P. Because, when there is a ball rolling into the street, there is sure to be a kid or a dog right behind it. That's the most important rule of driving, so don't forget it because that's the way it is. And it is most definitely true on the street where they have Sauce Sunday. Lecture complete.

Precious cargo.

Amen and you're welcome.

When we first moved to our new neighborhood six years ago now, within a couple of days ~~complete strangers~~ sweet and friendly people stopped by to invite us for a meal, or cocktails, to welcome us and to get to know each other. Everyone was so, well, just so neighborly. Being that I am kinda shy, ~~actually loathe to leave the sanctity of my own house~~ this threw me a bit off my bearings. I don't usually venture out much on social outings or at least, I haven't in the past, unless I take my whole ~~entourage~~ family with me for what I like to think of as, social security. You know, to hold my hand in case somebody were to try to speak to me or something otherwise terrifying:}

Well, the folks I have for neighbors here at the beach, including my son Dylan's adopted family down the road, have made me feel so at home. I actually ventured out to "Sauce Sunday", ~~without an engraved invitation~~, with the only invitation being that sign on a child's art easel, written haphazerdly in bold red paint. Well that, and my son repeatedly assuring me that, "yes you are invited, all the neighbors are invited, and you won't look like a 'big ol Goober' just showing up!" Now, when your own kid tells you that, it's just as good as an invitation to the Royal Wedding right? So guess what? I pulled up my big girl panties, did a couple of asanas, took in a lung full of deep breath, exhaled slowly and went. I'm sure glad I did too, because I met lots of people who ~~weren't scary at all~~ just made my day, and made me glad I went.

I kinda think that Chris got a wee bit of her wish regarding her desire to live in France. On Sauce Sunday one kind of feels like they live in the South of France. Lots and lots of Sunflowers bedazzle the tables. Some come from the garden next door. Others are scored with the help of a sweet teenage neighbor girl, Stella, who goes to our local Sunday Farmer's Market and uses her buyer's finesse to get a good deal. Keep your eye on her, I think she has a promising future in sales and marketing.

Around here there is not a neighborhood that isn't a joy to walk in. For a dog lover who finds nothing more enjoyable than to hook the pups to their leashes and wander around discovering new flowers popping up in someones yard or a beautiful mosaic of art being installed, the scenery is as I often remark, idylic. You may remember when I wrote a post titled, "Can We Keep Her" You may want to check out that post because it's a good example of the serendiptous kinds of things you might find when you wander around our streets. The conversation between my son Dylan and I was pretty memorable too. Oh, and for anyone interested, that particular home, sculpture included is for sale right now.

As I was saying, there is nothing more fun than to gather up the pups and take a walk-about. You know how in the old television sitcom "Cheers", the theme song reads, "where everybody knows your name?" Well, 'round here everyone knows you by your dog's name. Someone might say something such as, "hey, aren't you Bailey and Kieran's mom?" Or, your dogs are so cute, and it's so funny that you named them after booze"! ? ! :) What?

So first and foremost, I recognized lots of dogs I knew. This put my agorophobic issues to rest, making me feel so much more comfortable. It gave me the doggy loving security to venture on and soon I stumbled upon this welcome sight.

Why, isn't that Nash?

And glory be, I believe that's Brady there looking dead on the sidewalk. No worries, he's not actually dead. This is actually Brady's usual stance. Except for the drool coming out on the sidewalk. That was because after two days of following cooks around his kitchen he was in a food coma.

Then I saw this sight right out of some al fresco scene from Tuscany!

Then, on one of the tables I discovered Silver! After a ~~lengthy interragation~~ polite inquisition of our hostess, I learned that she does not like plastic cutlery. She, as do I, prefers her meals served with real forks. Only how, oh how I asked, did you come upon this many real silver forks (at last count over 100 of them)? I'm gonna tell you what she told me.

Chris was actually searching for a piano in the paper and ended up finding a guy who sold her these forks for an awesome price.

True Serendipity, yes?

Not only that, she uses her good China dishes, and sets everything out on tables covered with white cloths. I love to set a beautiful table as much as anyone, and I don't save my good china for special occasions only, however, we're talking about 80 to 100 neighbors, lots of them under the age of 12, eating dinner on a sidewalk spanning the entire block! Ohhhh shiver me control freak tendencies.

I've hosted many a rager in my day, but I've never, never, ever, been so completely mello about it as Chris and Joe are on Sauce Sundays. They are what I would refer to as, grace under fire.

Uh-oh. People I don't know. Deep breath in; slow breath out.

This is is how you bring the inside - out.

Folks bring coolers full of water bottles, soda, and vino. Chris has a sweet sister Diane, who has three boys, and they live just across the street. Her brother John, his wife and their two little ones live just over by the train station. I'm talkin' a Grande Familia Italiano. She has two brothers and four sisters and most of them live practically next door! They just fill their kitchen with family and friends and c o o k their hearts out. But it's Chris that is the power house behind all the shenanigans. She desiginates where kids should go and what they should do (be they hers) or any strays (like mine) hanging around. She blasts around her kitchen at rocket pace whipping up tasty treats and an Italian feast that Ceasar Augutus himself would be proud of. There are no rules. Anyone can help, they never seem to run out of ingredients or food, and there are always people helping to set things up and take things down, although there's a rumor that her husband Joe does all the dishes. (God bless a man who does dishes.)

Have I made it clear that nothing's black and white? There are no cheat sheets posted, no rules set in stone. Blast my best efforts not to cave in to my ocd! Although you didn't ask, you really ought to know, there's a difference between being a perfectionist and ~~having obsessive-compulsive disorder~~ being a tad overly organized. Perhaps you keep the floors in your house so clean that you could eat off them. Or you like your knickknacks arranged just so. Maybe you have a need to know exactly how many place settings to set and, never mind. I'm just sayin'. None of that at Sauce Sundays. It's just a big, pure, love your neighbor, give back.

Neighbors are happy to contribute to the feast, bringing Ceasar salad with garlic croutons; plates of fresh Caprese Salad which are artistic wonders unto themselves and could rival any of Italy's top chefs, and chairs and furniture so there are plenty of places to sit yourself down for a spell. But Chris and Joe supply the Sauce and the Meatballs, the bulk of the appetizers, and the desert! To say nothing of those beautiful silver forks and place settings which make you feel like you are eating at the nicest Italian restaurant in town.

Somebody a couple of Sauce Sundays ago, brought this cool old VW pop-up van and parked it out front for entertainment. It made a whole new kind of playground for the kids!

A real fort on wheels! You may have noticed from my last brief post on Wordless Wednesday, that we have some pretty artistic and talented fort builders around these parts. Check out this teepee.

Pretty cool huh?

Soon enough, Chris exclaims, "food's on," and leads the way to the tables laden with her famous meatballs, sauce, and other delectibles. Have I mentioned that there are hundreds of meatballs? For Joe's 50th birthday there were 450 of them! It takes an army to carry it all outside.

Somehow not only does everyone ingest so much delicious food you can hear gratified moaning for hours afterward, everyone gets a seat with a china plate and a silver fork!

Well pimp my ride. The canopy of a double stroller does a fine tabletop make!

This is the kitchen where all the magic happens. The Crocamo's began Sauce Sunday in their home town in Conneticut but, continued it when they moved here to the beach. When I asked our gracious hostess how all this began, she told me a story about the neighborhood. I may not be relaying it exactly right, but I get all chocked up when I tell it, which is one example why I am too awkward to be let out on the streets alone. So here goes. Chris and some of the neighbors were enjoying a little dinner al fresco one summer evening and an old lady (even older than I) strolled by and took Chris aside. She whispered something to the effect of this, in her ear - "sweetie, you have no idea how special this neighborhood is and how precious this will be to you in the future. Appreciate and hang on to it!" And so she has. She and her husband Joe resurrected Sauce Sunday from the East Coast to the West and for the last sixteen years they have been showing and sharing their appreciation in a very special way.

At last count Chris made 450 meatballs for one Sauce Sunday. All of them were consumed! For those whom only eat vegetarian, she serves the pasta and the meatballs on separate platters. On top of every thing else that is cool about Sauce Sunday's, how awesome is that!

You should see how hopping this place is all the time. Sometimes Joe just invites all the kids over to make their own individual pizzas. He makes a bijillion pounds of home made pizza dough and then sets out everything from gummy worms, (yes I did say Gummy Worms) ~~doesn't everyone put GW on their pizza for hecks sake?~~ to pepperonni and lots of fresh veggies and cheese, to concoct their own pizza creations. Flour flies, sauce explodes everywhere, and there are smiles as big as the sun on every kid's face. My son Dylan is no dummy, he made the Crocamo's his adopted family for a reason! Turns out the way to a teenage boys heart is the same route as a mans - through his stomach!

This is Chris working her culinary magic. She even sports a darling little black dress while she cooks! It's official. She's my hero. These are some of the scrumptous and delictible edibles from which we get to imbibe on Sauce Sunday. Calzones stuffed with roasted bell pepper, sweet sauted onions, mixtures of pork and beef and sauce and well, you can see them in the top left baking pan and they're just bulging with yummy ingredients straight from the fresh vegetable co-op they belong to. Whatever is in season is what you get that week. It's all locally grown and freshly picked. If you don't know what to do with an Okra, just Google it!

On the last Sauce Sunday I helped make Calzones. When I showed up I asked Chris what I could do to help and she casually pointed in the direction of several bowls of grilled veggies and sauce and said, "you can finish those." Luckily she'd already made several which I used as my guide to figure out how much stuffing was needed and how to roll those suckers. I had plenty of dough, as Joe made 8 lbs of it just for this party! In the past I've been a: read the recipe and hope it has step by step pictures, kind of gal. Chris sorta just ~~threw me to the wolves~~ pointed in the right direction and I did my best and ~~kind of unwrapped Chris's already made ones and figured it out~~ winged it. Shhhh, don't tell her. Then she handed me a beet and told me to make a salad. Umm, do you peel a beet first, I thought? How about chunk style, sliced or julliened? Ohhhhhhh my. I had never even tasted a beet in my life at that point, more-less made a salad with one so... I proceeded and people actually ate it. But, FYI, I don't plan on tasting another one soon.

Hold me! Cute, precious, delicious, adorableness doesn't even come close to describing this baby.

And now, here it is in all its GLORY -

Voila! The Sauce.

COME AND GET IT! Don't ya wish you were here?

Chris happily looking over her neighbors feasting on her front lawn. I think I see a satisfied women here.

Have I introduced the other half of this dynamic duo? This is Joe, Chris's husband, and their children. Well, you can read their names for yourselves. Hehehehehehh! I promised I wouldn't tell who is who. (You're welcome Casey.)

This is the motto we try to live by at the beach.

"Love your neighbor", I Jesus said, and all other hulligans too. Well, Jesus may or may not have said the hulligans part, but I'm sure that's what he meant.

Sauce Sunday isn't always about raising money for a good cause although, this particular Sunday saw excellent results in a draw to make dreams come true for special atheletes. A couple of days later this sign was still up and the donations in red had risen all the way up to the very tip top! As all the best chef's say, BAM! And that's how it's done.

Have I told y'all how priveledged I feel to reside, in the most awesome country, in the most idylic city, on the most picturesque street, in the whole wide world? I most certainly do. And I am blessed that my neighbor's take their Commandments seriously. Life's too short, so never, ever forget to -

My neighbors sure do.

Love ya more than all the sauce at Sauce Sunday!

Blessings,

Tia

P.S. Check back here soon because I'm going to do another post on how much fun the neighborhood dogs have on Sauce Sundays. I have some seriously adorable photos of neighborhood dogs that will make you smile. After that, ~~if you can bear the sweetness~~ I also have pictures of Sauce Sunday desserts that will melt your taste buds. Like I said before, "BAM!"

2011-09-07T08:35:00.000-07:00

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

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A Gentle Way Of Life

2011-09-06T10:09:00.000-07:00

Labor Day 2011. It's the last day official "fun" day of summer. Or so I'm told. I flately refuse to believe that because I'm a, summer never ends kind of gal, which is why I live in Southern California in the first place. 12 months a year you can't pry the flip flops off my feet.

Yesterday, tourists were still in town, lined up on the coastal highway in RV's, waiting in que at the restaurants, basking on the beaches, enjoying their last hurrah before hiballing it back to school, every day responsibilities, and Autumn in their own parts of the country.

Wednesday the Del Mar Races will officially be over, so what reason to stay any longer? Shhhhhhhhh. I'll let you in a bitty seceret. Now is the beginning of good times in our little beach town. Now, there are no waits at restaurants. Now, when it's a sunny, 75-degree day on the coast, it's unexpected elsewhere and nobody else knows, so you may end up having the entire beach to yourself! The streets are fluid, no crowds, no waits, no crankieness. Our gentle way of life has returned. There is a special beauty to the seasons other than summer at the beach. Yesterday for instance, we had a rare rainy day. Just a drizzle actually but refreshing and it made for one of the most miraculous sunsets I've ever seen.

Can you believe that! Ochre skies on crimson water.

It doesn't get any more resplendent than this. Labor Day sky over the grand Pacific Ocean.

We had (I like to believe), brilliant conversation, cocktails, orduveres and lots of laughs with out neighbors while watching the sunset.

We spent part of our time outside on the patio, but the drizzle brought us inside for a while too. Still, we didn't miss a minute as we waited for the green flash. And there it is...

Going

Gone.

So if you really want to enjoy the beach, schedule a visit during Fall, Winter or Springtime. It's especially gorgeous here then, and you won't have to deal with the crowds. I'll have a parking spot for ya right out front. But, shhhhh, don't tell 'em I sent you.

Tell me about your part of the country? What do you love about Fall there? I don't think I've ever traveled anywhere that Fall wasn't my favorite season!

Love you more than all the dazzeling sunsets we'll share from now until next summer. If you lean right and drag your cursor up a bit you'll find my "Follow" button. Sign up there and you'll be able to see all kinds of sunsets when you return here because, I like to share.

End of Summer Blessings,

Tia

Happy Dog Days Of Summer

2011-08-06T20:14:00.000-07:00

I'd like to share with you, one of my favorite quotes from Mother Teresa. Oh and maybe a few photos I've taken recently that make me happy. I'll be brief because it's the dog days of summer and I'm planning on enjoying each and every one of them. I hope you are too!

Happy dog = dog days of summer

"May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be."

"May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others."

"May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you."

"May you be content with yourself just the way you are."

"Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us."

From my home to yours

From my family to yours

From my heart to yours

Summer blessings,

Tia

Tim Tebow GB2 YOU ROCK!

2011-07-22T21:54:00.000-07:00

A lot of kids look up to football players. What's awesome is when they find one to look up to not only because of their talent and dedication to the game, but because they use their platform to serve others, thereby making things like serving others cool. One of those players is Tim Tebow, star quarterback for the Denver Bronco's. Tim, as I like to call him, since Mr. Tebow seems a bit formal for a Grandma to call a 23 year old no matter how awesome he is; ROCKS. For one thing, he started a foundation which serves orphanages around the world. It's called, Dreams Come True.org and You can visit it here. His official website is just one big playground of the goodness he offers, and not only should you go visit it and play around, you should take your kids too! Just click here and zoom - away you go. There are lots of reasons to look up to Tim but the main reason that I do is that Tim made my grandson's day. Make my grandson's day and you make my day. So thanks Timmy, boyo. Okay, I realize I can call him Tim but, I may have gone to far with Timmy boyo. Too much? What do y'all think?

Former University of Florida Heisman Trophy winner turned Denver Broncos quarterback, NFL star, Tim Tebow made my grandson Ty's wish come true. Who knew that the Denver Broncos would ever have a special place in my heart? I don't know a football from a golf ball. Well, that may be a little bit of an exaggeration, but only a tad. However, as I may have mentioned, when you make my loved ones happy, you make me happy, so now you might say Tim's kind of a hero of mine too.

Are y'all in for a joyous story that will give you hope that all things are possible, at least in the mind of a little boy who loves football? All in? Here we go.

My grandson Ty wrote the following letter to his all time favorite NFL football player last Fall. Ty has been devoted to the Florida Gators since he was 2 years old. He has followed his favorite football player, Tim Tebo's progress as he went from a college athlete to the pros. Ty is my first grandson. His dad is a football coach and their family ~~lives, eats, drinks and breathes football~~ takes football very seriously.

Emphasis on, Football is Serious.

A couple of other things Ty has in common with his favorite football player is that they share some common values. One of them is that Ty and his family practice and love their faith with all their hearts. So does Tim. Remember the 1st photo in this post? Tim sports John 3:16 right on his face during football games. There is an awesome quality to a guy who ~~wears his faith on his face~~ isn't afraid to show his faithfulness in the Lord to the whole world!

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

Moving right along now, the following is the letter which my man Ty here wrote to his hero, Mr. Tebow, or as I like to refer to him - Tim, Timmy, Boyo.

Dear Mr. Tim Tebow,

   I am writing this letter on behalf of the Patterson family. We
are home-schooled just like you were! We have a family of six children.
My name is Ty (12) and I have played football for four years. I play
running back and line backer for my team. I went to the California All-
Star football combine. I placed 3rd in the strength session and 5th in
the quickness session. I am working to improve my 40 yard dash. My brother Cael (9) has played football for 2 years; he plays wide receiver, running back, corner back and backup quarterback. My
brother Dayne (7) will be playing football next year, he hopes to play
running back and safety. My brother Nick (4) is the boss of the house.
He is big, funny, and we all think he will be playing on the Defensive
line. My sister Emma (2) is the Princess of the house. She enjoys
movies, Princesses, and cooking. My newborn sister Abigail (4 months)
is very cute. She can giggle, smile, and she loves to watch people enjoy
food. My Mom, Tara is a great cook; she makes a delicious chocolate
cake. I describe her as pretty, nice, and beautiful. My Dad, Jason is
the Defensive Coordinator and Athletic Director of Orange Glen High
School.
   We love your attitude, the way you stand up for your faith, and
your work ethic. We also love the show "Tim Tebow: Everything in
Between." If it isn't too much trouble, we would love you to autograph
a photo for us or autograph the one in this envelope.

   Love,
   The Pattterson Family

Ty is pretty prolific, is he not? (I like to think he takes after his Grammy).

We ~~held our collective breath~~ waited and waited to see if Tim would reply to Ty's letter. It took a while but, homeboy came through!

Tim Tebow - You ROCK man!

Ty was recently deemed ready for his own email address just for writing to family. I was his first email buddy and we had quite a lovely correspondence going on until his parents let him expand his list to friends. I have to share him now, (not that I'm bitter or anything). Here was his last letter to us:

What's up everyone,

Guess what!?! I received a letter from Tim Tebow in the mail. In case you don't know him, he is currently the quarterback for the Denver Broncos. His autograph was on it also. My brothers and I were so excited. In case one of you may want an autograph from an athlete or someone, all you do is find there mail address on the Internet, and send them a letter stating you want there autograph. They will most likely send back, but, it takes a few months or so. Please send me an email in reply on your thoughts about this. Thank you.

From,

I told ya this was a joyous story.

I hear that Tim's favorite quote is this one by Tim Notke:
"Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard"

This is Ty's favorite saying. I put it above the closet in his room for him so he can see it from his bunk every morning when he wakes up. PLAY LIKE A CHAMPION TODAY! And so he does.

So, thanks Mr. Tebow for making my grandson's wish come true. He and his brothers are some of your biggest fans and you sure did make them happy.

You make me pretty happy too, mmK?
(Swing speed clocked in at 141 mph.)

Blessings to all of you from your long lost blogger friend, Tia

Love you more than all the ~~forearms~~ football players in the NFL.

I've included a link to this post over at CONVERSION DIARY.
She writes one of the most intelligent blogs around.

Blessings on the 4th of July

2011-07-04T09:01:00.000-07:00

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty." - John F. Kennedy

Carved onto the sides of the Washington monument are several prayers written to our first president. Close to the top is the prayer offered by the City of Baltimore. The prayer is in the form of a blessing:

"May heaven to this union continue its beneficence.
May brotherly affection with union be perpetual.
May the free constitution which is the work of our ancestors
be sacredly maintained and its administration be stamped with wisdom and virtue.

From our Cottage By The Sea, right back at ya, God bless you!

And God Bless America.

"Laus Deo" (Praise the Lord.)

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

BLESSINGS,

TIA

Pretty In Pink

2011-05-23T10:34:00.000-07:00

Deep down we all want the fairy tale,
Where dreams and faith prevail.
We can go there any time we wish to break loose,
The fact that we’re grown now isn’t an excuse.
It’s a place where chasing your dreams is never a crime,
If only we could live once upon a time…

My baby girl went to her Junior-Senior prom last weekend.

Isn't she purty?

These fab shoes are a comfy alternative to the 5" heels she usually sports. Something between a tennis shoe and a ballet shoe. They're pliable and comfortable. They're sweetly feminine, in a soft pink color. The bows are satin ribbon of silver with white dots. Quirky, styling, and unexpected to wear with a satin, beaded gown. I LOVE.

Groupe d'amateurs de style bal de St Joseph (l'école de Dieu.)

These are Maggie's favorite boys. She's not only their Auntie, she's their favorite babysitter.

Now, all they need are tuxes!

A little aerobic exercise to get the nerves settled.

A quick snapshot of Maggie with her little niece Emma. When Emma grows up she wants to be a Princess and live in a pink castle. I think if she hangs around with Auntie enough it just might happen. They're off to a wishful start.

I think that fairy tales can still come true. How about you?

Blessings,

Tia

I'm Bad To The Bone

2011-05-20T13:36:00.000-07:00

I'm bad. Bad to the bone.

Lest, due to my mushy, Hallmark type posts you all think I'm just a dull, mama, grammy, wifey, sweet hearted type, I'm here to steer you in the right direction. I don't want you to get the wrong idea about me. I keep up with the best of them. Just ask any of my friends. ~~Don't ask any of my friends~~.

As you can see here, I'm nothing like my posts. Absolutely not. I'm wild and insane and I drink and cuss and I ride around ~~pose in the driveway~~
on fast dangerous biker bikes!

See here? I have a bottle of beer right there in my hands. Next thing you know I'll drink it. Yeah. I'll probably drink it. I might drink it. Okay, I doubt I'll drink it. After all I'm driving this big, bad bike and all.

What do ya think? Have I changed your mind? Do you now have a better picture of the how I really get down/hang-loose/roll? Just keepin' it real.

P.S. Thanks for letting me play on your bike David.

Love you more than a cockapoo. Shoot, I lied again. I don't love anything more than a cockapoo.

Tia

I'm Prompted To Write A Love Letter

2011-05-17T15:11:00.000-07:00

One of the blogs I read regularly is, "Mama's Losing It". Over at Mama Kat's, she gives writing prompts for those who might like a little inspiration to post more often. Check out Mama Kat's writing prompts here. I don't know where this lady gets all her ideas, but she's one creative and hysterically funny blogger. You've got to go check her site if you're not familiar with her already. I especially love her vlog's. This one slays me. Rudy the Labradoodle / Seriously, when I am laughing my head off whilst sitting at my computer someone in my family inevidbly comments, "you must be watching a Mama Kat vlog again." Yep, and you should too. It's good for your soul to laugh that hard. Her most recent vlog is about her movement to stop the word, "Woot." You gotta love her. I do, and for the first time, I'm going to use one of her prompts and write a post on it.

Write a love letter to someone (some thing?) you love.

Dear first daughter and son-in-law,

Thank you for giving me 6 beautiful grandchildren, including this most recent, fat, bald one here. You're lucky I haven't eaten her yet, she's so delectable. Can you just taste those cheeks people?

Tara, you are the mom every mom should strive to be. Patient, loving, kind, self sacrificing and always willing to seek wisdom and grow. Not only that, you are as beautiful today as the day you were born. My daughter with the golden curls. Your mommy loves you.

First you had the good sense to choose for a husband the most awesome, giving man of character, virtue, and strength this side of your dad. I've said it before and I'll say it again. I couldn't have hand picked a better man for you to be married to. (Note to self: self, write a thank you note to Jason's parents for raising such an amazing husband for my daughter and father to my grandchildren.) The beautiful thing is, you know how wonderful he is and appreciate him and together you are the strength and example of how to raise great kids every day.

Also, I want to thank you and Jason for the rest of these, my grandchildren. You've blessed me with riches more valuable than gold.

They are the smartest, funniest, most well behaved and obviously cutest kids on the face of the earth.

Dear second daughter and future son-in-law,

Whoops! Did I forget to tell y'all that my Katie girl is marrying her beau? Sorry, it's an html, blogger, technicality issue. I've written no less than 5 hours worth of post material in the past couple of weeks, all to mysteriously disappear or have major glitches so they didn't publish. A girl can only power through so much of that nonsense without ~~going in the closet, curling into a fetal position and sucking her thumb~~ walking away and hoping that Blogger comes to its senses before she just gives up and goes back to old fashioned journaling. But seriously, I'll definitely keep you updated and write a nice, juicy blog post on these two soon. They have a whole love story of their own and there's nobody I'd rather share it with than you guys. We're counting off the days until 12th November when they walk down the isle forever.

Ah...young love

I would be remiss if I didn't properly introduce you to my future son-in-law, even before I write a post on him and my sweet pea ~~and how he's stealing her from me.~~

1. He graduated from University of Texas the same week my daughter graduated from University of Dallas. He loves Texas but he has the good sense and ~~fear~~ respect for the needs of his future mother in law, to bring her darlin' girl back to live by her mommy in San Diego.
2. He is originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico and is, as we speak, looking for a good job out here in California. Anybody need an educated, good looking, CPA qualified businessman to add to the productivity of their company? He double majored in finance and ummm, something else my daughter tells me is equally important but, right now I just can't take my eyes off that cute bite sized dog. That little tidbit belongs to Justin's mom. Do you think that means when my daughter and Justin get married, Lola will be my little puppy-in-law? But I regress.
3. Justin is a good Catholic boy who understands the value of faith in marriage. Not only that, his grandfather played tennis in the olympics in his day and Justin followed in his footsteps and played tennis on scholarship in college. Plus, he mans a mean kayak, is learning to surf, has two cute sisters whom I plan on match-making with equally cute single boys I know - ~~shhh, don't tell them yet.~~

This is Kate with her future in laws. Such a precious family we decided to keep them all! So, did I tell you how cute his sisters' are? Jennifer is the one in the orange and yellow dress on the left, and Jessica is the sweetie in the bright blue dress second from the right. Justin's mom is immensely attractive too, so much so that you can barely tell she's not one of Justin's sisters but, I think the smiling gentleman in the middle, ~~her husband~~ the one in the Kaki pants, might have something to say about me match making for her. Just saying. Anyway, I think our families are going to be a match made in heaven. I love how their son loves my daughter and how welcoming they have been to her and to us, her rag-tag family unit.

Dear laddie, my boyo, my first born son,

Nobody loves you like I do. Except God, who was smiling so big on me the day you were born that my heart has been glowing ever since. You are everything a mother could wish for her son to be. Kind, responsible, filled with love for others, devoted to your family, loyal to your friends, pet lover, dog sitter, best uncle in the universe, and a boy who has turned into a man with the biggest heart I know in just less than 21 years. You know what you stand for and you are true to yourself and others. I can't wait to see what else you do with your life. I know you think I'm joking when I whisper in your ear during every mass when you are home, (pshttttt - Coopie has God been talking to you lately? Is Our Father calling you? Better check your Blackberry just in case.) But, seriously. I love you Cooper. Just because you're you.

Dear second son,

It is for you whom I prayed. "Father, send me the child who needs me the most." You, a boy so full of energy and contradiction that it wears people out. So funny and forgiving and fatally handsome that your magnetism leads people to put much faith in you. What will you do with your life now that you are about to become a man of 18 years? Who will you become? I know you will make a difference in this world. One of your best traits is what a hard worker you are. You have given me grace, patience and hope. You are the gift I prayed for. I love you son.

Dear baby girl,

I am apologizing now for the fact that your papa and I will always call you baby. Your brothers and sisters will always call you baby. Sorry, you'll always be our baby no matter how grown up you are getting. Stop it. Stop it now. Who am I gonna watch NCSI with when you fly the coop? With nobody here to tell me when to shut my eyes to avoid the gore, I'll be forever banished to the home improvement channel.

I am in awe of your fashion sense, even though I have to make you take it down a notch now and again. You are the only girl I know who skateboards in high heels and makes it look fun. You are my girl on a skate board, in heels, and goofy to boot! She's a corker friends. You really must go read about her because you'll fall in love with her too.

My baby makes an apple pie from scratch that is the best dessert ever. Anywhere. And she'll make it whenever you ask her. And we ask her. A lot. Just look at the roll around my tummy to see it's true!

Darling girl, you are growing up way too fast. Please remember who you are and what your parents stand for and stop growing up so fast. Stay here and be our baby forever and wear your pink ballet/tennis shoes and make your pies, and steal boys hearts but save yours for your mommy and daddy.

Dear Husband,

Father of our children, love of my life. What, where, why, who would I be without you? You have given me everything I've ever wished for. You've made all my dreams come true. Such as:

Living life beside me in a cottage by the sea.

You indulge my every whim. And I have a lot of whims.

You gave me all of these.

What the heck were you thinking?

I love you because you've been down on your knees beside me praying every time the need be. We've been through it all and back again. Together. You and me. You make me laugh and cry and I am in awe that you can juggle your life and make it all work. Beautifully. Every single day.

And besides all that

You have a great butt.

My precious, precious family. I'm writing this love letter for you because, just in case I don't say it enough - I LOVE YOU.

This love letter has been brought to you by the sacrament of marriage and the graces it provides. You're welcome.

Kate Middleton & I Are Just Alike

2011-05-03T13:05:00.000-07:00

Kate Middleton, I mean Princess Catherine and I are just alike. Seriously,

though, she and I both attended her wedding even though I brought my pups.

And just keep reading because I'm going to tell you all the other ways we are just alike, she and I.

First, I'd like to thank my pup Bailey who was so loyal and kind as to get up from her peaceful slumber and watch every moment of the Royal Wedding with me. Even ~~bribing them with the promise of breakfast at our favorite cafe~~ my persuasive personality couldn't talk my daughter's or husband into sharing the nuptials of Princess Diana's baby son Will's with me. I watched Diana's wedding 30 years ago and wept for the romance of it all. I was enraptured when she gave birth to her first son William. I think I may have sent her a congratulations card. I grieved when she was killed in that horrific car accident, as though I knew her personally. Of course I was going to have first row seats at the wedding of her son and his beloved. I'm not only a hopeless romantic, I'm a sentimental sap.

This one pretended to watch with us but I think he was there in spirit only; what do you think? Typical male. It was after all, the middle of the night.

I believe the whole thing started (on the West Coast) @ 3:00 am., but I was up bright eyed and ~~enthusiastically premature~~ ready to watch at midnight. Obviously, patience isn't my greatest virtue.

I'm here for ya mom!

"Thanks, Bay's. I knew I could count on ~~someone~~ you."

Anyway, back to the ways in which I relate to Kate Middleton, now Princess of Wales. Compare and see.

1. I'm Irish
   She's... not

2. She drives a Bentley
   I drive a 12 year old minivan

3. Over one billion people watched her get married
   Over 100 people watched me get married

4. She'll never have to make another bed in her life
   I'm making mine in between writing this post

5. Her complexion is that of an English rose
   I'm trying to fix mine with wrinkle repair cream

6. Once, as a romantic gesture, Prince William landed his helicopter
   in her garden
   Once, my husband left his emergency break off and landed his truck
   in our neighbor's pool

7. Catherine looks stunning in a hat
   My head's to fat for a hat

8. Kate has an impeccable English accent
   I can fake an impeccable English accent

9. My 3 year old granddaughter sports a Tierra
   Princess Catherine now dons a real tierra

10. Kate is the princess of her castle
   I've always ~~considered myself~~ been the QUEEN at my house

A-Woooooooooo

I know Bailey - I know. I guess we're not that alike after all but, a girl can dream can't she? After all, I did have a front row seat at the wedding.

Ooh my.

Sniff, Snuffle, Sniff.

Whatever mom.

How about we'll just settle for the fact that she's a commoner and I'm a commoner. NO? Not anymore? Okay then, and I know I'm spot on this one... I'm old enough to be her mother. Enough said.

My heartfelt congratulations to Prince William and his Princess Kate. The pups and I wish you a lifetime of profound joy, good health and, well, I guess the wealth thing is a given.

Also,

An old Irish Blessing:

May God Sleep On Your Pillow

Slainte!

Blessings,

Tia

My Dog Eats Dirt

2011-04-10T14:48:00.000-07:00

My dog eats dirt.

Her brother likes her anyway.

I hear dirt does have some nutritional value you know.

She eats dirt and she has a lazy eye.

Furry.

Funny

Face Kisser (you know you wanna).

Foot Chaser

Unabashedly unashamed.

Dirt Eater.

The End

Baby Steps

2011-04-03T13:38:00.000-07:00

"Your feet will bring you where your heart is." -- Irish proverb

I'm going to attempt now, finally, to take some baby steps, right straight forward to where my heart is. My heart, or a large part of it anyway, is right here on my blog, where I write about the shenanigans of life at my little cottage by the sea. Sharing with you, my family and friends, makes the writing I do an interactive thing which, I didn't realize was so confirming as to be addicting! Gone but not forgotten I hope, I will now attempt to take baby steps back into this sweet spot I have found. Itty, bitty, baby-steps. It's scary starting all over again. Scary letting go. Maybe you could hold my hand for a while, just this first time?

The thing is, I owe you a sunset. One of my favorite things to do is share them on this blog. So here it is, my best shot from this week, especially for you.

The weather couldn't be better for springtime. The sun has been shining and it's usually about 70 degrees here during the day. It make ya feel like planting something. Yesterday I planted a whole fence with bamboo. Well, technically my husband dug, planted, watered and cleaned up, but I watched.

We've been blessed with a lot of much needed rain this year and while we here in Southern California, see rain or even a hint of it exclaim, "Oh my, I must have a lie-in today because I can't possibly go outside. It's raining." Wait, that might just be me, but if you've got a minute check out this post I wrote last year and you'll understand what I mean by, It Never Rains In Southern California. Anyway, our dam is overflowing for the first time in years and it's a beautiful site to see, for a drought ridden state.

Where have I been? I don't know - I'm still dazed and confused. My last post before I fell into a sad, tearful degrading depression is right here - Call It Crash Or Call It Fail. It may help to recap. Read it and weep along if you dare. I'm warning you though, just thinking about it happening to you may affect how you feel and act towards others. I know it did me. Pass the Paxil please. Xanax anyone?

Lucky for you, but extremely unfortunate for my family to whom I now publicly apologize profusely, as my actions and behavior were severely impacted. I couldn't put on my own shoes. I was constantly agitated and annoyed. Heck, I didn't want to wear perfume any more! Since my ~~life's blood~~ computer failed me completely, I was severed from my email, my 57,000 photos, my blog, and all things Google. Why, it felt like my entire brain and heart were removed temporarily. And by temporarily, I mean forever! Almost two months! That's at least 145 years in computer time!

So many of you have empathized and I do appreciate it. I have so missed you and your blogs, all your witty writing, your beautiful pictures, the belly laughs and friendships blogging brings to my life, and that was part of the problem.

Did I mention that my camera also had a tragic accident and drowned in my purse during this period? Also my printer was down, my computer and life as I had grown to know and depend on it was gonzo and I still haven't completely decided if I'm doing the right thing by getting back to this obviously huge dependence on electronics. It's a huge leap of faith for me. It took me a long time to switch from all things paper to all things computer. If you'd like to read briefly about way back when I made my first foray into the computer world, you may relate to this post, What's In A Name? I've added a grandchild and a remodel since then but you get the gist of it.

Files, documents, correspondence, address book, (yep, also lost). The journals which I used to write on paper, all 35 years worth, are locked safely in a filing cabinet since I started using the computer almost two years ago. Computer, computer, computer. But enough with that, I ~~don't want to lose you before I get you back~~ try to make this blog a positive experience, so enough whining! Another sunset anyone?

Although born and bred a California girl, my dad was a pilot and flew us to our cabin where I spent my childhood summers on a ranch in the wilderness area of Idaho on the Salmon River. It was there that I learned invaluable terms like, "if you get thrown off your horse, you turn right around and get back on little missy." Or another relevant one, "pull yourself up by the bootstraps girl!" Apparently, that was lost on me. Luckily my hubby gets that whole philosophy more than I do, because it was his ~~getting sick of me rolled up in the fetal position sucking my thumb and moaning all day~~ perseverance and determination and hundreds of phone calls and trips to the Genius bar that got me back on track. It was he who made it possible for me to be here and everywhere else on my computer again. You have no idea what this means to me. He isn't a computer guy. He is just a determined guy. A guy determined to keep his wife happy by any means. (And he looks great when he plants bamboo too). You didn't think I sat there watching him plant just because I had nothing else to do, did ya?

Warning, warning, GREAT BIG warning to y'all. If you read my last post, you'll know I was using an offsite program called Carbonite to back up. Even after my hubby learned a new language from India (including curse words), became a computer expert, and neglected the urge to kill anyone, while dealing for two months with Carbonite trying to get all my programs and info back, they still couldn't do it. The bits and parts I did recover were not in any kind of logical order. Imagine your picture files not in files anymore. Imagine Microsoft Office floating around somewhere in the universe with all your fonts and files and documents on it never to be found again. {Shiver}. Not by Carbonite, not by Genius's, not by an act of congress or a work of mercy.

I had to buy a new Microsoft program and am now in the process of getting an external back up drive from Apple. I'll save those of you who need this info, the extensive research I have done, and just say, I understand your own external hard drive is the best way to back up. Having said that, this remains to be seen and I hope I never have to see it personally, again. Amen.

Meanwhile, back at the beach, life has been rolling along without me blogging about it. Imagine that! My new grand baby Abby is getting so big and fat we decided if we have a natural disaster here and run out of food we are just going to slather her in barbecue sauce and eat her up.

Our own - "Honey Heart", as her big brother calls her. Yummy.

Here's some good news too. My own Katie girl is going to become a bride come November. Remember her in this post here, See number 32.
Yeah, I do realize the title is, 22 Things I Know About Kate but, it's a good thing I'm wordy, since #32 is the most important thing on her list now don't ya know.

So now that I'm back online, I'll be able to share again, all the shenanigan's of life at the cottage, such as, the engagement and marriage of my second oldest baby girl to her fiance, Justin. {Sniff} blow {Sniff}. There's lots more too, and I'm starting to feel a little more confident since you've been holding my hand through my first baby steps back into blogging.

So thank you my darlings, and as my friends in Australia would say, "I'm just going to leave for a little brekkie now." But, I'll be back soon because with your help, I believe my feet have brought me back to where my heart is.

Love you more than all the dagnabed, convoluted, computer glitches in my world lately.

Blessings,

Tia

P.S. I am heartily sorry to you my God and to all my poor friends and family for having offended thee with my inexcusable behavior for the past two months. Your sorry friend and family member,

me

CALL IT CRASH OF CALL IT FAIL

2011-02-11T12:07:00.000-08:00

I'm on kind of a journey here. I have a feeling it's gonna be a long rode home for me. Here's the way it goes.

I'm sorry Mrs. M, your hard drive has failed. Failed? How can it possibly fail? What does that mean, it failed? I've loved and nurtured it all its life. I clean it out and de-germ it regularly. I sing it love songs when I put it to sleep at night. Failed? I thought computers were smart? How could it possibly fail? What does this mean for my computer? What does this mean for me? Well, Mrs. M, I mean, your computer crashed. Whaa? What do you mean crashed? I never even let it drive. I'm so protective, you don't even know. I take better care of my computer than my kids. Was it an accident? Is crashed the same as failed? What does this mean for my computer? What does this mean for me?

It looks here like you just had too much stuff on it. It's really over doing it having 57,000 pictures in your files. And it looks like maybe it may have been dropped a few times. DROPPED! Those darn kids! Yep it's pretty banged up. Look at this ~ and this here ~ and that over there ~ and see how hard it is to open? Even the magnets in the opening lever have been altered by some kind of accident. We can give (sell) you a new hard drive but I doubt we can get any of your info back.

I died. I cried. I poked my eye out with my bare knuckle. Then I remembered that I used to listen to talk radio. Way back before my kids were driving and I spent 90 percent of my awake hours in the car, I signed up for a program called "Carbonite" because some radio talk show host said I should. He said he did. He said I'd be sorry if I didn't. And I just hate to be sorry. I didn't want any regrets, I'm too ~~old~~ wise for that baloney. So, I signed up for Carbonite. It's cheap - like $29.00 per year at the time to back up every single thing on your computer. It would work silently in the background of my computer and I'd never even know it was there.

Okay then, I have a back-up plan. I have Carbonite Mr. Apple Guy. So there. Am I good to go once you get my new hard drive installed? "Hiccup".

Two days later, after hugging my new Apple Computer representative from Basics-n-Beyond, and writing a check which would have covered my baby's tuition for college. Sorry baby, you know, first things first, priorities and all that xoxox. I took my computer home and started the quest to get my life back. All of my whole life and wellness living isn't helping me at all. There is no detox for this. No Reiki or acupuncture sessions will get me my stuff back. No herbal wrap, yoga, Thai or even foot love special will return to me my life blood. My computer info is either gone, or in a jumbled, non recognizable mess. I have calls in to Carbonite, emails into Carbonite and soon I may have to get on a plane to India, because after talking to many of their representatives, I think that's where Carbonite is located. Wait? Do I have my passport on my computer? No, I think I have that in real life, so I'm good to go.

Lucky for me, my blog is on the internet so they had it all right there for me. But my past is gone for now. Even my Apple settings which I've tweaked to my satisfaction over the past 6 years are back to the original store version. I'm lost in the wilderness here Granny Smith. If I had any of your addresses or info it's all gone because I no longer possess an address book. There will be no Christmas Cards, no emails, no notes of encouragement or sympathy or congratulations. Know though, that I'm here loving you and praying to all the angels and saints (especially St Anthony, finder of lost things) to bring back my stuff. Well, the angels, the saints and Carbonite. It's scary to think how much some of us have come to rely on our computers, isn't it? It boggles my mind as I try to recover stuff, just how much stuff I didn't even know I had, and that I now find missing. And how much I miss it. I'm beginning to realize I may have been too 'plugged in'. I use my computer to communicate everything now-a-days. I preserve and memorialize and store my mementos and treasures here. This is where I write and journal and read. Oh, woe is me.

Okay my friends, unless you have any advise, miracles you can perform or just want to hold my hand, I'm back off to the trenches to see if I can do more recovery. I'm bound and determined to get this thing back on track as if my middle name is 'Bound and Determined'. That, or else I'm just gonna go take my dogs for a walk on the beach. Wish me luck. I'll let you know how it goes and in the meantime remember, I love you more than all the failed/crashed hard drives people everywhere experience every day. Whaaaaaaaaaaaah.

Blessings,

Tia

P.S. There are more important things than computers, right?

Birthday LOVE

2011-02-04T11:51:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is my birthday, and I've decided to re-post a little something that my son wrote for me on my birthday last year. For those of you who've read it, sorry for the repeat. For those of you who haven't, it's worth the read if you're mushy about love, or kids, or well, just about any kind of mush at all this is for you. Because after all, the most important gift is the gift of life. And the most important thing about life is love.

The following was a gift from my eldest son, to me, for my birthday. There hasn't been a day since he wrote it that I haven't read it. And it brings happy tears of love to my eyes every time.

We started a tradition in our family when it was young. It's called, "I love you more than". When we say how much we love each other, we say, I love you more than...and then we say things like, "I love you more than all the Shamrock's in Ireland," or some such endearment.

Today and every day is a day to be happy to be alive no matter who you are, where you are, or what your situation. Just because you are. Because of that, I leave you with one of the greatest blessings I have in my life. A love note from my son to me for my birthday. Children certainly are, a heritage of the Lord!

I simply can't imagine a world without you. So today as you complete your 55th trip around the sun, I give you 55 reasons I love you, mom...

1 Your penchant for cozy socks

2 Your sense of humor

3 You passed down to me your germaphobic habits

4 How very religious and prayerful you are

5 Your love for dogs

6 The sound of your voice

7 Your humility

8 You drink tea everyday out of the tea cup I got you, a reminder to me that I am with you even when I'm not

9 Your kind heart

10 Your generosity

11 How cute you look when you laugh hysterically

12 How serious you are about bloging

13 How hard you work at keeping your promises

14 The way I miss you when we're not together

15 How lucky you make me feel each day for having someone like you in my life

16 When Dylan used to bite us, you would encourage us to bite him back. If we were crying too hard, you would do it for us

17 The smell of your perfume

18 Your handwriting

19 How we get See's every time we go to the mall together

20 You knit me scarves

21 Your smile

22 You blogstalk

23 You gave me a brother and sisters

24 You were recycling long before it was cool

25 You are very forgiving, and we've given you a lot to forgive along the way

26 You don't consider it cake unless it is chocolate

27 You bring me Sprite and toast cut into strips when I'm sick

28 You listen to good music

29 You kissed James Taylor

30 You have pretty hair

31 You cry during romantic comedies

32 I love watching movies with you, even though you talk the whole time

33 Your freckles

34 You are an amazing writer

35 You're strong, in many ways

36 You have traveled all over

37 I inherited your artistic abilities, a talent of mine I value above all else

38 We are more alike than I sometimes care to admit

39 You taught me well

40 You let me make my own decisions

41 Your hands are always cold

42 Your heart is always warm

43 You love yoga, I love yoga

44 You spoil me

45 When I was little you always let me borrow your beloved silky blanket

46 My favorite birthday present I ever got was the letter you wrote me when I turned 19. I cried when I read it

47 You let me keep Bailey

48 You like Soulja Boi

49 You married your best friend

50 You make me laugh

51 You survived my teen years

52 You are convinced that all of your grandchildren are gifted and talented. Really, they are

53 You always told us our birth stories on our birthdays growing up, even if we didn't always want to hear them

54 You make lists

55 Dessert doesn't always have to come last in our house

I love you more than all the days we've been together,

Cooper

My son Cooper, because you took all the love I gave you and gave it back to me in one simple note on my birthday, and therefore made me feel like a bizillion bucks.

You're my hero, boyo!

I love you more than all the love there is in the world...

My son Cooper is a Sophomore at Loyola Marymount Unviersity. His major is Fine Arts and he minors in Communications. Besides being an excellent student he belongs to the Ingnations Service organization, and works three jobs. I have now idea how he finds the time but, he keeps a little blog when he has the too. You might enjoy getting to know him and his art a little better. If so, his blog is called "Look Hear" here is the link Look Hear

So, go forth and love one another!

Blessings one and all,

Tia