Monday, January 31, 2011

Dog chow...

Friday morning I (non-voluntarily and completely against my will) partook in that rite of passage all runners dread....

The dog bite.

And, yes, I was very much grateful to be running in below freezing temps, thereby putting two layers between me and the Teeth. Had I been in shorts? I would have had the additional thrill of driving myself to the ER for stitches...

nom, nom, nom...

This morning, as I laced up my running shoes, I couldn't help but feel trepidatous. Even knowing that the offending canine was in quarantine...because there's more than one dog in that yard with the hole under the fence. The leg itself is still sore...sporting a delightful, full spectrum bruise that spans most of my left thigh. That saying about getting back up on the horse? I think it's the same for dog bites and runners. I had to get back out there. And I did. I ran a slight detour around the one house though. And made up for the lost milage by sprinting the last quarter mile.

Last Friday morning? It was good to be the 5-0's wife. The very second he read the text, "freakin' cocker spaniel came under the fence and bit me", he took charge. All I had to do was give my statement to the Animal Control Officer that came by.

Because every now and then? We tough, independent types like being cared for and looked after as well.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Place holder...

Mid-winter colds mixed with ice and snow days off from school make for long weeks.

And while we manage, for the most part, just fine...there are days when it's all we can do to simply don our princess dresses and lounge around all day...


It's also always about this time every year since I switched hemispheres that I begin to doubt the existence of spring...

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Lullabies...

I sang to my babies whilst they were still in the womb, I sang to them as infants and I sing to them now as wee little people. It should come as no surprise to anyone who has known me for more than a minute that, in lieu of traditional lullabies, my children heard Johnny Cash, Bon Jovi, Kiss and the Beatles...to name just a few.

Lately the most requested song has been "Sweet Baby James" by the amazing James Taylor. Tonight, my heart could hardly contain itself when the wee girlie sang it to me instead.

Did I 'ing it wight, Mommy?

You sang it perfect, Baby Girl.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Little wings...

The universe took back a piece of its heart this morning, leaving us mere mortals to function with a void. We'll miss the light, the sunshine, the vibrant spirit that was, but she'll remain forever in our memories and hearts.


Well she's walking through the clouds

With a circus mind that's running round

Butterflies and zebras

And moonbeams and fairy tales

That's all she ever thinks about

Riding with the wind.


When I'm sad, she comes to me

With a thousand smiles, she gives to me free

It's alright she says it's alright

Take anything you want from me,

Anything.


Fly on little wing,

Yeah yeah, yeah, little wing


~Jimi Hendrix


Sleep well, sweet friend. Your pain is gone.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Changes in latitudes...

Having decided to go with the evil I know, I'm sticking with blogger for my professional website. Of course, whilst working on format and design I stumbled across a nifty new things for this one.

I like it. Change is good. Usually. Sometimes. Okay, fine...I get all anxious just changing a lightbulb. But I'm working on it!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Ta dah!

Okay, so I started writing some eloquent post about carpe diem, living and doing things that are important. I started to. But I felt like I was saying all of the same things over and over. So here you go...

After years of friends asking me when I was going into business for myself the answer is Now!

Sweet Biscuit Bakery is in operation! There are other bits and pieces but those will wait for another day. As of today, I'm open for orders. Over the next few days I'll get a bakery page up on here--I was going to do a "launch day" but I was just too excited to wait for everything to be done at the same time! I have a fully operational, pet hair free kitchen to work out of...a logo being designed by a friend...a functioning price list and the love and support of the most amazing husband, family and friends anyone could ever ask for!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Celebrate...

Because it's not just a cool, amazing date...it's my sister's birthday! Not just any one gets to have palindrome date to celebrate on.

Happy Birthday, dada yangu! Nakupenda kabisa!

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Serendipity...

There are amazing bits and pieces coming together to form something so special and "dreams do come true" worthy that I'm reluctant to speak of them lest I scare them away. But it's almost ready to be shared. I promise.

Today brought about a very serendipitous meeting. A fairly new friend, but a Kindred Spirit none-the-less. And through the course of our conversation we realized we were both baby stepping along the same path. We were both encouraged and, at least in my case, more confident in the decision I had already made.

I do not believe that everything happens for a reason, but I believe a lot of things do and it is not a coincidence that this one scripture verse has been running a loop through my brain:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Friday, January 7, 2011

And lo, on the seventh day...

There was heat.

And a new battery installed in the Jetta.

And she looked out at the snow flurries from the warm comfort of her home, and it was good.


**edited update***
I was a little premature on the whole "new battery" bit...apparently the '00 Jetta battery is a special order. Delightful. But we still have heat! We are now free to move about the house.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Fitting...

As I sit here curled up in a wool blanket, cocooned in the small room we've all shared the past couple of days huddled around the space heater...Lego bin moved in, wee princess figurines, small table, laptop, kitties sprawled, doggie snoring...I realize that this right here is the Fairy Tale. It's not perfect...but it's our's. I'm fine with that. Besides, I have youtube and the entire five seasons of 21 Jumpstreet on DVD to keep me entertained.



Tuesday, January 4, 2011

4 days in...let me sum up...

My car won't start...most likely the starter. That's okay. We happen to be a two car family--three if you count the police truck--we'll make do.

Our whole house switcheroo is on temporary hold...we refuse to paint over already painted over wallpaper and it is proving to be a pain in the buttocks to remove. Fine. Our children have shared a room now for the past two years...another month or two while I painstakingly scrape away at 70+ years of paint and wallpaper will not hurt them.

This morning our heat pump belched black smoke and a burning electrical smell was pumped through our ducts. We are without heat until probably Thursday. I'm cold and pissed. Never a good combination.

There is a shiny side: the house didn't burn down. The electrician was a little surprised about that.

Somewhere, my guardian angel is staring into two fingers of Don Julio declaring to the cosmic bartender that he's too old for this shit.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

A fine start indeed...

The entry deadline for the Chocolate Adventure Contest is tomorrow. I have entered not one, but two cupcake recipes! Both vastly different from the other. My long suffering family has endured recipe testing and tweaking...all without complaint. So sweet and supportive of them.

Creative Baking Genius at work...


My entries were "Twisted Velvet" and "Blackbottom Gingercake with Crumbly Cocoa Topping"...I'll post the recipes in the comments later. Once I decipher my own scribbles.