Saturday, June 29, 2013

Sometimes the best laid plans....

...just don't go the way we hope they would.

So, we bought a new hot tub because the one that was here in the yard - the original owners did not take good care of, and the pump died.  Since it's a ThermaSpa and is only serviced directly by them out of Connecticut, we decided to say ixnay to the ottubhay - and get a new one.

Today was the delivery day.

And it started off great...they were here early.
But...

It seems the deck that the hot tub was sitting on, rotted out underneath so when they were trying to remove the old tub, it completely fell apart.  So the new tub is on there, but off to the side and not connected.  And now...in addition to all the other construction we're doing in the yard, we've got this additional expense of putting in a synthetic decking for the new tub to rest upon.

I'm bummed because I feel like the yard is just a mess - and construction hasn't even started yet!
Plus, I really was hoping to go into the hot tub tomorrow.

Que serah serah....whatever will be - will be.
I guess it just means a little more time.... and a little more mess.
And a lot more money!!

Friday, June 28, 2013

"A dream is a wish your heart makes, when you're fast asleep....


...In dreams you lose your heartaches
Whatever you wish for, you keep....
Have faith in your dreams and someday
Your rainbow will come smiling thru...
No matter how your heart is grieving
If you keep on believing....
the dream that you wish will come true"
 - Cinderella


Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Thought of the day...


Opportunity is missed by people
because it's dressed in overalls....and looks like work.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Antsy, antsy, antsy....

We are having some serious renovations being done to our yard in a few weeks.
I didn't think I'd be this frustrated waiting for them to take place, and yet....here I am, actually almost irritated at having to wait until the 15th of July.

We have a beautiful yard, and I think I'm a little irked that our landscaper has sort of shrugged off maintaining what isn't being modified at the moment; because it's all going to be done when the "project" is completed.  But, we have so much that has to be maintained in the mean time...

...and it's making me... antsy.  irritated.  frustrated.

The "project" is we're clearing out about 6-8 ft deep of woods, about 50 yards wide - which really expands our yard (which is already quite big, truth be told...) and we're expanding the patio around the pool and building an outdoor fireplace.  Fun, right?  But, ugh - the wait is ridiculous.

I didn't think I'd be quite this excited, and yet I am.

Yes, I'm borderline whining, but it's only because I hate the fact that my landscaping is a bit overgrown. I don't like it messy.  I like it neat and weeded and pretty.... !!!

Ok.  I feel better now.
Sort of...

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

The Not So Real Peeps...of the la la world

I'm sorry but ....does anyone watch the "Real Housewives of OC" -- and notice how different Brooks is now?

It almost accentuates the fact that he was clearly so over the top fake last season.   He's probably being more real and himself this time - but it almsot makes him seem worse than before. 

Gross.

And I'm sorry - I know that the lovely Tamra Barney just married her boyfriend Eddie Judge.
But.

I don't know.
He just doesn't seem like her type.
Actually.  It's more like she doesn't seem his type.

I just wonder how long this one is going to last....

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Time keeps on ticking....and how quickly it flies.

It's almost the end of the school year for the kiddies.

Yesterday, Princess Petunia had a function in school where we were invited to see their "Wax Museum".  All the 3rd graders were assigned a historical character and they've worked on speeches, presentation boards and costumes leading up to yesterday.  They were all in costume and as we approached them, they came to life as if they were figures in a wax museum - and gave us informative speeches about who "they are".  Everyone from Tituba to John Hancock, to Myles Standish - which is the person Princess Petunia was assigned to be.  It was really fun - and a great format to teach the kids history in a way they'll never forget.  We certainly didn't have that kind of thing when I was a kid...!  (Of course, if you ask my kids that was back in the "olden days"....)

Today was a function at my son's school - a Celebration of Learning.  We got to see all of the different projects they've worked on all year in each subject and they had fun little activities for us to do with them while we were there, like origami and art.  The best part of it for me, outside of just being there - was the fact that my son was still okay with being affectionate with me in front of his friends.  Actually - most of the boys were, now that I think of it!  He still was grabbing my hand to walk me to each class room and didn't hesitate to give me a big hug and a kiss and tell me he loved me as I was leaving.

It's hard to imagine that this fall I'll have a 7th grader and a 4th grader.
It seems like just yesterday I had two little kids, giggling and laughing...
I just want to keep their little hearts with me always......

Friday, June 07, 2013

Finally, fortunately, fabulously Friday....

Okay, so today it's 55 degrees and monsooning out.
Rewind to a week ago today and it was 99 and tropical.
What's the weather in New England?  Um, wait a minute....it's bound to change!

So, I poured myself a nice big glass of Pinot Noir and made a chili for dinner.  It's the perfect meal for a raw day like today.  Even though a "summer" 55 is still warmer than a winter one.  It's amazing how relativity works....

It's a pretty laid back weekend on tap.  Tomorrow I'm looking forward to a lazy day around the house, catching up on things - like polishing my hardwood floors.  I love, love, love to do that.   Then, my Son has a Red Sox game so we'll drop him off at school to meet the bus and then take the Princess Petunia out for a bit.

Sunday is supposed to be gorgeous once again....and I'm thinking poolside.  A little bbq...a little splashing...a little sun.

However you spend your weekend - I hope it's filled with laughter and love. 
Maybe even a little more sunshine than what we have here at the moment...

Thursday, June 06, 2013

Ben, the two of us need look no more....

 I've mentioned before - we have pet rats.
We love "our boys"... they're affectionate, lovable, clean and just fun.

So, imagine my reaction when I received a text today from G saying that one of my sister in law's friends (who also is a fancy rat owner) said that she was given a rat that was abandoned - and surprise - she was pregnant.  So on Tuesday, her new girl gave birth to 6 teensy tiny babies.  Of course, the next question was -- did we want one? (or two....)

To my shock, G said "yes"....
(Insert big smiley face here....)

So, while I do have to buy a new tank and condo top - since we have to do that anyway, we might as well take two.  Two rats are no more work than one, and honestly - we'll have 6 rats at that point.  (I know, you're thinking "intervention", right?)  Well, truthfully - 6 rats go through no more food than 4 do.  And they're so clean!!  They don't smell, they keep their cages neat (except for oldest boy Snake who is a bit messy....) and sadly, they don't live for very long.  Two and a half years is the most usually.  Snake is a year with us in July, and he could've been 6 months when we got him so....we don't know how much longer he'll be with us; Pop Tart will be with us a year in September, and while we know he was younger, it may not have been by much.  Stefano & Wilfork are just babies....and then we'll have these new guys.

(Honestly, my house is big enough that these guys basically have their own floor!  They're up in "Kidtown" which is sort an au pair suite, so it's not as if we're over run with animals.  It sounds worse than it actually is. )

We've determined that these will be "Pokemon" boys.  The kids each get to name one after their favorite Pokemon creature.

We can't get them until their 21 days old, so we have about 14 more to go.
...the countdown is on!

Wednesday, June 05, 2013

Hiatus Haiku

Sure I have been gone
Life had just got in the way
But I am back now.

Quiet with out the blog
Miss speaking my mind out loud
Feels good to write again.

So much has happened
Will be tough to fully express
But I will try to.

Summer is here now
Life is full of excitement
Looking forward to share.

Hope that I've been missed
As much as I've missed being here
Sit back and enjoy.