Happy Birthday, Dr. Dave!!!!

Today is a special day for me -- It's my husband's birthday!!!! It took me a really long time to find "the one" and I say special prayers of thanksgiving everyday! He is such a wonderful man and I am incredibly lucky! He spoils me with all the love he showers on me. Did you know he makes me breakfast and lunch every day? He laughs at all my silly jokes and listens endlessly to all my chattering. (And trust me - that deserves SAINTHOOD!) He makes me LAUGH like crazy and he has the best heart. Can you tell I'm totally in love with this fella??

Baby, I wish you MANY, MANY more years!!

P.S. Mama eagle laid her 2nd egg!! Whoo Hoo!

The first egg!

One of my greatest obsessions is watching the eagle cam from the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. I'm so excited to report that the pair laid their first egg on Jan 31!! Whoo Hoo!! There's lots of talk about maybe a second egg coming soon. Not sure how any of us really know that, except the history of this pair of eagles. Anyway, the first egg is here and that's cause for CELEBRATION!

They are such amazing, majestic creatures! You can't help but stare in total awe when you see their beauty and strength! It's the perfect bird to symbolize America. I'm always a little surprised at how gentle they are with the eggs and then the hatchlings.

Check it out. Go to www.wvec.com and search for the eagle cam! You won't be disappointed!

Life on the Texas South Plains

Wednesday at 6:00 p.m., it was still in the 60's.

Thursday morning at 9:30, it looked like this!!

By about 10:30, it looked like this!

Oh yeah - did I mention the sleet? The thunder? The rain? YUCK!!

Of course, it sure was beautiful!

A Simple Walk on the Wild Side

It's Wednesday night and that means one thing - time to post my most recent tablescape so I can particpate in Tablescape Thursday! It's my fav day in Blog World!! I'm always completely blown away by all the fabulous tables!!

Between all the business of Christmas and Valentine's Day, I decided to do a simple table - A Simple Walk on the Wild Side!

I started with my woven rattan charges from Walmart, then layered on my octagonal black plate. The salad bowls are wooden and were a great thrift store find! 6 bowls for less than $2.50.

The table runner is actually very long and I had to fold it (and fold it and then fold it again!) to get the spacing just right.

I envision some beautiful amber/brown stemware and special flatware, but both are out of range - both price range and storage range! I just used my everyday glasses and silverware. I think it looks OK.

Napkins are old black cloth napkins I've had for a long time. The napkin rings are carved wood. I love them. I just realized I didn't take a close-up picture of them. Sorry. I'd better keep working on my bloggy pix!

I didn't get a very clear picture, but this is the bottom of a wooden bowl. It says "Heirloom Walnut".

Thanks to everyone who wrote sweet comments after my last (first ever "published") tablescape. It was fun knowing that someone else had actually looked at this crazy blog! Sorry, but I haven't yet figured out how to leave comments on all the blogs I've been checking out.

Btw - Great news! I won a bid on ebay and now have a new set of my Christmas dishes!!! I lost one bid but won the better one!! Whoo Hoo for me!!

Now, head back to Between Naps on the Porch to look at some professional tables!

First Craigslist Purchase!

Yippee!! I just picked up my first purchase from Craigslist. I've been searching for a new bedside table but haven't found what I'm looking for - certainly not in my price range. Well, while I searching on Craigslist, I came upon a wooden cabinet that I think has real potential! I'm not exactly sure of what I want to do with it. In fact, I'm not entirely sure I still want it as a bedside table. Crazy, huh? Still a wooden cabinet for $35 - I couldn't pass it up!

It's more rustic than I had been looking for, but I know I can change it. (It's easier than trying to change a person - ha ha!) Have spray paint - will change you!

22" high x 33" long x 12" deep

The previous owner had already sanded the entire piece. She had thought about redoing it somehow, but just never did. Yeah for me - the hard part is finished already!

What should I do with it??

2 projects -- done!

Yippee for me - I've finished 2 projects. I didn't take any before/after pix b/c quite honestly, I'm probably the only person who can see the difference. That's OK. It was great for me.

1) Organized pictures and memorabilia
Dr Dave and I enjoy doing lots of things together + I am an avid scrapbooker (at least in my mind when I have lots of free time!) = tons of "stuff" to preserve our memories! If you're a scrapbooker, you'll understand...... I keep EVERYTHING until I finish my page. You never know when you'll need just that extra little touch!! Unfortunately, that means lots of "things" in lots of different sizes - all stacked up somewhere. Not pretty! Now, everything is neatly stored in labeled clasp envelopes. Much better!!

2) Cleaned out my closet
I didn't do the full - take every thing out and try it all on - kind of job, and it still took me an hour. I mainly cleaned out shirts, but I also parted with some purses, shoes, and even a dress. I don't know about anyone else, but it's hard for me to part with these things. I KNOW they don't fit.....I KNOW they aren't exactly at the height of fashion. Still, I can't seem to get rid of them. Well, I did it! I was quite ruthless, at least for me. Now I have a couple of boxes ready for GW. I figure I shop there enough - I should help build their inventory!!

I fired somebody

Yuck - This afternoon I fired somebody. This has been a long time coming, but it still wasn't fun. This person is really nice and has been with us for about 6 months. Problem is - s/he just wasn't getting it. We are a super high quality Preschool/Child care center and this person just wasn't meeting the requirements of the job. Why should someone have to tell you to help pick up the sand toys? Why should someone have to tell you not to give a treat to only 1 child (in front of about 20 others!) How many times do you have to be told to be here on time?

I'm completely confident that this was the right decision. I'm not second guessing it at all. This individual knew the consequences and still made those choices. Sadly, when confronted with those choices, suddenly the problem was everyone else.......not the individual.

Friday will be interesting -- this person won't be around. I bet there will be some questions........