two of my favorite things.

but not necessarily meant to be together. got together today. you see. i was locked out. and they were locked in. and they wouldn't open the door. and i knew. knew. that was going to mean trouble...

but this story starts with my love of sharpies. sharpie markers that is. they're the greatest pens ever. ever. i especially like the original thick ones. in cool colors. i keep them handy. in mugs on my desk.

i have them in every color and size. they make me happy.

i also love mr. clean erasers.

they seem to work magic. to clean everything. who ever invented them should be sainted. at least. i think they should be.

but today. my sharpies. caused trouble. big trouble. but my mr. clean eraser. well. let's say it came to the rescue.

hot pink. hot pink. sharpie. all over the white. bathroom door. all over. the face of one certain two year old. and all over the screen. of my imac. yes. my imac. i couldn't even take pictures. i was so. besides. myself. but if. i had. this is what you would have seen. enough said. right?



but mr. clean. he. came to the rescue. and now. little two still has pink lips drawn around his. but the imac. is clean. clean. and the bathroom. door? well. it just has a slight tie-dyed effect of pink on it. good times. i tell you. good times. when is the sun going to shine again? because we need to get outside...

adventuring. again.

some call it thrifting. or antiquing. or junking. i call it adventuring. and today. well. today. was a perfect day for adventuring. the littles. were safely ensconced at school. i had no plans. no plans. at all. no errands. well. no errands that were urgent. that had to be done. and it was raining. besides. taking a nap. what's better than poking and proding around dusty corners in cool stores? looking for treasures. treasures that you didn't even know you needed. until. of course. you found them.

so. off i went. to some of my favorite places. and then to some new ones. and it was a good day. a good day of adventuring. so besides the new letter "p" to be added to the collection. and the state plate and the frame and the linens, these are some of my best finds. today.

a cool bartlett-collins frosted glass cookie jar. how fun are those gingerbread men?


an empty milk glass jar. of face cream. oh. my. how i'd like to pay that much for my
face cream...


and books. lots. and lots. of books. here's just a smattering of my favorites.
a kate greenway.
how good of a find is this one? wow. and only $.25.
can't beat it.


and even though. it's not old. or significant. or anything. really.
i had to have it for the title alone. the littles. perfect.


and a joan walsh anglund. i loved her illustrations as a kid.
still do.


and then there was this one.

eloise wilkins. i adore her illustrations. and little one. loves them, too. and when i opened it. and saw this poem.

i knew. just knew. it was perfect for a day like today. all rainy. and thunder-y.

tuesday morning.

can it be?

can it really be? already tuesday morning? it seems as though it was only the weekend. i was up rather late and early this am. finishing a rush order. but any order is a good order. so i was up at it for an early delivery...

...and then i was on to itunes. i've had a list of songs to down load for weeks. no months, now. as well as all those free download cards i've got from starbucks. and i came across this song. an oldie. but one i used to love. and it brought back some memories. and hey. it's about a tuesday morning. so why not? back to the real world tomorrow...

a shameless plug.

have you had one of these? i've held off. almost a year. i've held off. backed away. i spend enough at starbucks as it. is.

but the other day. a friend. that works at starbucks. enticed me. an orange/mango/banana vivanno with Matcha Green Tea Powder and a spash of strawberry. made with skim milk. i about died. it was so good. a bit weird looking. you see it was green. from the green tea. not this gorgeous yellow. but put that aside. it was good. i tell you. good. and now. i'm needing one.

perhaps a jaunt out in the rain will be ok.

i mean. really. i have been busy. busy. as a bee. working on orders lately. i do so love. wedding and graduation season. i deserve one. right? let me know if you want to join me.

wide open spaces.

driving today. driving. driving.

dark storms. thunder storm warnings. tornado watches.

wide open spaces.

but coffee. starbucks coffee. in the middle of kansas.

devotion.

it was a cold. rainy. day. for a spring football. game. but i suppose it could've been worse. it could've been snowing.

but we do anything for cu football. in this family. so after getting some autographs. and shopping the athletic department garage sale. does anyone? really need. a size 4xl/4x length used football jersey? we headed to the stadium.

and sitting in the stands on a saturday afternoon. isn't too awful of a place to be. especially. when you're looking at the mountains, too.

now. only 4 months until football season starts.

the curse.

of chief niwot. was that. once you saw the beauty of boulder. you could never get it out of your heart.


well. you know what? he was right. i miss this place. alot. i was lucky enough to live here for awhile. and met some significant people here. like dear husband. but we moved. away. but since his first love is the university of colorado. we get to come back. frequently. and for that i'm glad.

but boulder. there's nothing like it. the uniqueness. the quirkiness. the fun. the beauty. the foresight. the energy. the outdoors. the cool places. the casualness. the un-hype, hype.


it's just good. all good. all here today in boulder.

having fun with a friend. a facial. a hike. a little adventuring. noshing.

and tonight. a great meal and party up the canyon. and afterwards. out on. pearl street. a good day.

in and out.

i'll be in and out. of this space over the next few days. we're taking a quick weekend away. husband and i. yes. that's right. no littles.

three days of doing our own thing. wow. i don't know how to act!

but first we're driving. driving. driving.

and look. what we saw. oh. i've seen these before. but each time. they kind of suck me in.

(image courtesy of kansas.com)

these things. these turbines. that capture the wind. and turn it into energy. are really fascinating to watch. and almost mesmerizing. out here on the plains. kind of in the middle of no. where....

hotdog. spring is here.

it is. i tell you. it is. hotdog!

finally. it seems. finally. spring is here. and for here. i mean. here to stay. no more snow. no more cold days.

let's hope i'm not jinxing things.

our town is in full color. it's when its at prettiest. by far. our yard alone. is full of color. pear trees. cherry trees. redbuds.


forsythias. lilacs. tulips.


daffodils. pansies. it's a virtual nursery. and aside from being colorful. it smells sooo good. between the lilac and this cherry.















you could just die. it smells so good. if only i could bottle it up. and release it all year long. can you smell that sweet scent?

bring on the butter.

last night. we headed out. the other yulie and i.


















to see. paula deen. she was on tour promoting her new cookbook.
and since we saw her when she was in town. two years ago. we thought we'd check her out again. so now. we've seen ina and paula. and who's left? get this. her boys. are probably coming here in the fall. we'll be there, too.

she is a funny person. i tell you. funny. and her husband. michael groover. funny, too.

i haven't laughed like i did. last night. in awhile. well. since friday. i guess. when we saw bill maher. hmm. what's up. with all that funniness. lately?...

anyways. paula. she just tells it like it is. look at how cute they are.


no beating around the bush with her. everything from being something like a "fat girl writing a love letter" to "dying for a neck lift" to "this is why my hair is so good". she lets it all out. she even. took out her hair extensions. when someone asked. why her hair looks so good.
and michael. took them and put them on his mustache. (that's paula taking her extensions out...).


these people are funny. and real. it seems. wouldn't it be fun to have them over for dinner? no. actually. it would be better to go to her house.

her foodtv gossip. was good. too. it was all good. except for the stuffy host. but that's neither here nor there.

she was all buttered up. last night. buttered up. funny. nice. and bit of naughty, too.

and another.

more. birthday wishes. to my friend. michelle.
good times in these photos. good. times.

exactly how many hours did we spend here???


remember this day? a bit hot. if i recall. correctly. (nice shirts. by the way.)


and this. i believe. this was snapped. right before. or maybe right after. we almost drowned in the san fransisco bay. while some other nameless friend. was preoccupied....


and of course. a song. well. two songs. today. in honor of the big day.

two that always remind me of you....

happy birthday.

today. to my brother. who has become known as uncle todd. one more year. more memories. more fun. here's an oldie. but good photo. looking like he's on the top. of. the world.

this. song. will always remind me of you. jumping on the furniture. building forts. long car trips.
happy. birthday. hope it's a good one.

updating the want-y list.

just doing a little online window shopping today. updating my want-y list. always a good way to start another. rainy. saturday. oh. mr. sun. where-fore-art-thou?

this. would. make me want to take my lunch. everyday.


and who doesn't love a good slice of watermelon in the summertime?


some new keens for warmer days.

must get this book.


i love to bake. and i love cookies. and i love cake. a perfect combination.


i love fonts. these days.

happy birthday, to you.

happy birthday to my new sister-in-law, audrey.


she's an amazing woman. talented. very. talented. interesting and focused. and fun. and she married my brother. but that's another story.

so happy birthday to you, audrey. hope it's a great day!

pain. pain. go away.

as many of you. know.

i have a bit of an ongoing battle with my back. a love. hate. relationship. i suppose.

i try to be careful. to not stress it out. to take care. after enduring back surgery awhile back. i'd like to think i'd learned my lesson.

but. apparently. my back has not. a bit aggravated. let's say. these past couple of days. and i'm a bit aggravated. too. by it.

so. a trip to the dr. a better diagnosis. and a handful of prescriptions (that i don't particularly like. but i know they help) .

and a walking regimen. and i'm feeling better. and hopefully. hopefully. it will all go away.

choking up.

this. makes me choke up. every time i watch it.

it's good to have dreams. and keep dreaming.

in this neck of the woods.

if you're in this part of the country. spring can be spectacular. well. when it's not raining or snowing. in april.

there are an abundance of these. eastern redbuds. these are just ready to pop open. and look at that blue sky. how spectacular.




and these old friends popped up today.












all happy today to see mr. sun.

why. easter bunny. why?

did you have to give out webkinz this year? we've avoided. the whole webkinz phenomenon up until now. but then. that furry bunny. that is supposed to deliver easter eggs. had to go and leave a webkinz. now named. tulip...yes. a lamb. named tulip.

and now. it is a battle. royal. over the computer. little one can't use the lap top. but she can use my computer. especially. and most often. when i am using. it. and then. we have a bit. no a big. melt down. because. she needs. to feed. and water. and do whatever else it is. that you do with these things called webkinz.

rain. rain. go away.

we need some sun around here. please come back mr. sun. the flowers have had enough rain. and the littles want to get outside and cause chaos out there.

bok. bok.

happy easter. everyone.

did you twirl in your easter dress today?


did you get lots of chocolate bunnies and marshmallow peeps and eggs filled with candy?


and did you take inventory afterwards to make sure that your sister didn't swipe any of your loot?