a room with a view

I have spent the past few days alone. the hubs is out of town. sigh. and in that time I have spent hours at home. sitting in front of the television. watching movies. I like to stay busy. but I am easily distracted by the lure of movies. and I must be careful not to channel surf when I don't have time to simply sit. and watch. and veg. I try to think of it as furthering my future as a film critic. not furthering my waistline and becoming a couch potato.

fortunately (or unfortunately) I have come across some favorites. some forgotten gems. and a few I should be embarassed to mention. but since I'm among friends, I know you'll indulge me. and bring the popcorn.

these are a few of my favorite things (movie-wise) ...

sense & sensibility (Emma Thompson rules).
dirty dancing ('nobody puts baby in a corner').
hot fuzz (unappealing title; great movie).
in her shoes (with ee cummings appeal).
amelie (I can understand French with subtitles).

'a truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery while on a detour.'

five senses friday ... episode four

fall has finally arrived in Texas.

taste ... vegetable soup. I have my mom's recipe. so simple. all in one big pot. all at one time. simmer for hours. oh that first mouthful. truly comfort food.
hear ... rustling leaves. the trees are shedding their summer clothes. falling asleep and baring themselves to the chilly evenings. now everytime I step out the door there is the delightful crunch under my feet.
feel ... a chill in the air. opening the door in the morning brings a welcome word from my lips ... brrrrr! summer had her turn and overstayed her welcome. hello fall. happy to see you!
see ... a handwritten recipe. I have a few of my mom's notes that I cherish. one is her soup recipe. just a scribble on an old yellow piece of paper. but seeing those words from her make me smile.
smell ... er, vegetable soup. the aroma waifs through the house and warms me with memories.

'everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn.'

keeping you posted

wanted to update you on the big birthday dinner because I know you were worried. well, maybe not. but I am so please with the results that I must announce that the surprise party went off without a hitch. plates were all but licked clean. rousing verses of happy birthday were sung. heartfelt toasts were made and even a tear or two shed. it was a glorious evening.

from the moment the front door opened and the first guest arrived. no even before that. from the moment the hubs walked in the door and saw the dining table set for 9 the smiles began. and the hugs. and a few minutes later when company came in laughter echoed throughout the house. stories were told. pantomimes ruled and hands gestured enthusiastically. there was clapping. and cheering. it was a jolly evening.

I had asked folks to bring a toast for the birthday boy. and in between dinner and a carrot cake dessert we went around the table. toasts to friendship. aging gracefully. youth. happiness. neighbors. there was a declaration of love. a few verses of 'las mañanitas'. and two limericks. it was a magical evening.

'happiness held is the seed; happiness shared is the flower.'

let them eat cake

the middle of October is a happy time in my household. three out of four of us have birthdays. February born darling daughter M is rewarded with unbirthday greetings. call it fate or good planning or blind luck, the hubs and adorable son R share the same birthday. we celebrated early in LA last week. and the festivities continue locally and long distance.

my birthday was Saturday. the hubs spoiled me as usual. a little blue box and chocolate covered donuts started my day. followed by an artshow on our historic Square. an amazing display of beautiful pieces. artisans from across the country. so many choices. so many 'spensives (as M use to say). so enjoyed the window shopping. in leiu of lunch we went to the Dairy Queen for ice cream (my selection? a pumpkin pie blizzard. join me as I say 'yum'!). then home for some football. birthday luck ruled and all our teams won. dinner at East Side Cafe in Austin. a stroll through their amazing garden on a crystal clear star filled night. the perfect end to a perfect day.

tomorrow will bring a happy birthday call to the boy. but around here it is the hubs turn to shine. and I'm having a surprise birthday dinner for him with a few friends. I am cooking and am a bit nervous about pulling it off, but that is the good thing about friends ... they will sing loudly and toast generously, and no one will ever know (or admit) if something goes amiss. is there a better way to celebrate another year of this glorious thing called life than surrounded by love?

bring on the candles.

five senses friday ... episode three

my bad. with the excitment of LA last week, I totally forgot about five senses friday. but back on track today. a lovely fall day for inspiration. crisp. sunny. fall at its finest. living life to its fullest.

taste ... mac & cheese. whether gourmet or from the blue Kraft box, I adore the cheesy goodness.
hear ... hoot owls. every evening now I fall asleep to the sounds of the two owls that live in my neighborhood. they coo and call and have such gentle conversation. my lullaby.
feel ... love. my week has been an emotional one. being with the kiddos. coming home. the approach of my next birthday. friends. family. my heart is full.
see ... mums. my neighbor just put out two huge yellow mums on her porch. happy.
smell ... coffee. I wanted to bring something back to the guys at the office. our daughter recommended a coffee place, LA Mill. the aroma was intoxicating. waifing through the car on the way to the airport. and now brewing in the kitchen.

'be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars.'

home sweet home

I love visiting the kiddos. but I love coming home. there is something sweet about walking in the front door after being away. something lovely. something welcoming. something bittersweet.

I envy (my aura is bright green) my friends that have family close by. where you can have dinner on a whim. volunteer babysitting at a moments notice. help out in an emergency. pop in. pop over. pop by.

I am grateful that I have a short term memory. I will concentrate on the happy blissful moments of the past five days. the hugs. the stories. all the catching up and planning. every minute spent together is limited now, but we enjoy and cherish every moment. happy then. happy now. happily every after.

'it is only possible to live happily ever after on a day-to-day basis.'

home is where the heart is

absolutely loving our time in now sunny California. our days filled with conversation. hugs. catching up. and eating. my heart is full. and we won't even talk about my tummy (I will start my shred anew upon returning to Texas). today we went to see the kids new house. working through all the pre-purchase stuff but, fingers crossed, they will spend Christmas at 'home'.

coming 'home' on Monday. already missing them all, and haven't even left yet. but feeling good that I had seen with my own eyes that everyone is healthy and happy. doing well. safe and sound.

'I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself.'

home away from home

anticipation. my heart has been racing all day. eager to see the kiddos. anxious in my suitcase stuffing (I am a notorious over-packer). a few butterflies about traveling.

but all will be well come tomorrow when I get on that airplane (business class thanks to the hubs mega-miles of travel points) and I know in a few short hours we will all be together. big mommy sigh.

I get use to being apart from my children. I never get use to being apart from them. I finally get what my mom must have felt each time I left home for a new adventure. going off to school. getting married. moving far away. that heaviness in your heart. it slowly fades away after every goodbye. and a little light shines in with each phone call and email. and that light grows with every bit of good news, success story and happy moment they share. when they begin asking how you are doing. how my day has been. what have I been up to. amazingly enough ... they are actually interested. you carry on an adult conversation about the weirdest things. taxes. mortgages. school districts. that recipe that I use to make that they want to make for dinner tonight. it is then I realize that they have grown up (and, silly as it sounds, I am still surprised by that fact!). happy mommy moments.

so we are going to see the kiddos in LA. home. their home. where they are happy. successful. loved. in love. blessed. joyful. friended. and I couldn't be prouder or more delighted. of them. for them. and so looking forward to sharing every bit of that with them for a few days. and the rest of our lives. blessed mommy.

'while we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.'

going and coming and that stuff in between

going. last week I had an outing with the girls. coming. this week I get to see my kiddos.

and all that in between. a volunteer project that I vowed I wouldn't get involved with. oops. cannot seem to not raise my hand. and work has been a little hectic. technical difficulties have frustrated me. so some things I wanted to finish have been waylaid. dislike. a small project is looming and must be completed by the end of the work day on Monday. but I am up for that challenge (by working on it today). my job is typically stress free. that combined with working with people that I absolutely love and consider my extended family make the days delightful. so I can take the occasional bad because it is so overwhelmed with good.

and then five days in LA. mommy heaven. after we planned our trip it was unsure whether we'd get to see both son and daughter. adorable son has been working out of town. but as it turns out he is home this week so destiny was shining on us. can I get a 'yippee'? and as an added bonus (and relief to all you who have heard my lamenting over the past 18 months) darling daughter bought (wait for it) a HOUSE! I received that fabulous news while walking through the Arboretum gardens. my excited screams shattered the wooded quiet.

so a happy week ahead. a happy week behind. I am surrounded. lucky blessed me.

'happiness pulses with every beat of my heart.'

five senses friday ... episode two

as I spent the first part of this week with the girls, I will allow my euphoria to spill into my friday blog. so here are five senses from my adventure.

taste ... fried food. I am not a huge fried food fan. but I did have some tasty bits at the Fair. and the Texas State Fair boasts being the capital of fried food (what a claim to fame). fried guacamole. fried cookie dough (see picture ... can you taste the gooey goodness?). fried frito pie. fried alligator. fried beer (ack!). I will spend the rest of the year unclogging my arteries.
hear ... silence. standing in the butterfly house was remarkable. the quiet was deafening. with the exception of the occasional squeal of joy from a child. if you listened closely you could hear the sound of a flutter. or was that my heart beating with delight.
feel ... peace. wandering through the Arboretum was calming. serene. pastoral. soothing. restful. tranquil.
see ... the vivid color of fall. orange. yellow. chartreuse. maroon. purple. rust. brown. copper. gray green. they should make a new rainbow for this season. with a pot of pumpkins at the end.
smell ... carmel corn. at the end of our journey one of the girls bought some carmel corn drizzled with chocolate. need I say more?

'true friendship is never serene.'