on the ottoman

picking colors. for a table in the center hallway (I have a thing for yellow these days - inspired from a vase that belonged to my mom). for the master bedroom. for the den. fun. agonizing (the table color is perplexing me). satisfying.

I've been in a bit of a frump the past few days. a little sad. weary. perhaps overwhelmed. last night I got a phone call that, when the conversation was done, I took two aspirin and went to bed. oh me. oh my. life does have its ups. downs.

I think the biggest issue is that life is usually. most consistently. up. very grateful for that. I guess when that is the biggest issue (I'm not complaining. sometimes it just feels good to say it out loud) - life is good. and it is.

the week will have a happy ending. headed to LA to see the babies. ages ranging from 1 - 31. definitely. definitely. an up.

'we are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. the trick is knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.'

je parle un pue de français

I speak a bit of French. I wish I was fluent. at least conversational. I would love to sit in a café. overhear neighboring tables. and understand. just casual talk. a bit of chit chat. and every year during le Tour time, the feeling grows.

I am hopelessly involved with my Rosetta Stone tutorial. a vain effort. but I soldier on. always hopeful. I give up at times. but then go back. French is just one of those life goals. challenging (she fears). attainable (she sighs).

so here's to fulfilling our ambitions. and oddly. saying what we mean better. more beautifully. in any language.

'in French, you don't really say 'I miss you.' you say 'tu me manques,' which means 'you are missing from me.' I love that.'

baseball

a partial holding in season tickets for the Round Rock Express + the Iowa Cubs in town this (last) week = four days of baseball.

we are very fortunate to have a minor league club in our backyard. makes going to the games easy. fun.

people at the park are so very nice. friendly. the reason we have a share in season tickets is pure chance. two years ago we were sitting by a fellow and his wife and struck up a conversation. they were partial season ticket holders and a couple in their group were dropping out. by the end of the game we were invited to drop in. it didn't work out last year (as the drop outs decided not to). but for this season we had success. we went to the fellow and his wife's home for the lottery. they did a big bbq dinner (turns out it was the fellows birthday). their kids and grandkids were there. along with the other folks in the ticket share. we had a very nice evening. ate. drank. were merry. and got tickets to 12 games (which is the perfect amount. not too many. not too few.). four of the twelve were for the I-Cubs.

there is something quite wonderful about baseball. it is contagious. everyone is happy. cheering. clapping. booing. a camaraderie. just a lovely few hours. and sometimes a little dancing.

and then there's Spike. I love Spike.

'this is a game to be savored, not gulped. there's time to discuss everything between pitches or between innings.'

empty nesting

clearing out rooms in anticipation of work next week. the last of the carpet is going away (bedroom. center hall. den.). oh. so. happy.

took advantage of the clearing out process to sort through and clean out drawers and cabinets. I don't mean to be a hoarder. but it seems like I have an awful lot of saved stuff. treasures. maybe. crap. possibly. memories. definitely. some went. some stayed.

most of the floor work is being done by professionals. so glad for that. but we think we can do the stairs ourselves (she says optimistically). a. it seems fairly contained. b. it was almost twice as $$ for them to do the stairs as a regular large room. (I know labor intensive and all. but there are limits on my coin purse.) so wish us (me) luck. I did take out the carpet and old (disintegrating) padding and all those little tacks and staples. ack. looks better already.

I am eager to put the rooms back together. especially the center hallway. after almost 10 years living here. I'm still perplexed on this room. the space has always been a challenge for me. I've never been happy with its function or appearance. when we looked at the house the former owners had a grand piano there. it was a perfect location. but a. I don't have a grand piano. or b. plan to get one. so I have to sort through my many treasures and furniture items to see what may do. I have some ideas. and that is always dangerous. but fun.

and while the rooms are empty we're having some walls repaired and rooms painted. so fabric samples and paint chips are strewn about. I've narrowed it down to a few favorites. fresh. cozy. comfortable. pretty.

and in between the floors and the painting we're taking a trip to see the babies. grandson C is turning 3 (where did that time go)!

so busy. exhausted. satisfied.

'three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.'

forget me not

over the years we have collected many treasures. and, oh! the things that fill our attic.

this morning, the hubs pulled out a few pieces that have been waiting patiently (very, very patiently) for the right home. I had forgotten exactly what they looked like. and seeing them again. well. amazing!

now to rewire. hang. and enjoy.

happy (very, very happy) me.

'in the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary.'

Monday Monday

had a productive weekend. satisfying. to-doing. movie-filled. francophiled. house-guested. enjoyable.

took care of the bane of my existence. the ceramic tile surrounding the den fireplace is now history. no pun intended. since the ugly inappropriate tile was never part of any history of this old house. it came off fairly easily. a bit of repair underneath to be done. and then onto a finished product (she says optimistically).

checked a few films off our watch list. some planned. some totally random (and one eligible for the 'worst movie ever' category). favorite: Nebraska. learned a lesson: Ender's Game (don't read a book before watching a movie. and ps Harrison Ford - what were you thinking taking on that role? totally miscast). worst: I, Frankenstein (I know what was I thinking?).

thoroughly enjoying my vicarious ride through France (even in the rain). oh Le Tour. I love you so.

Milo, the neighborhood cutie, spent the night. a totally adorable dog. he makes me smile.

the hubs is busy with projects. what a good guy. I love him so.

next on my list is emptying out three rooms in anticipation of refinishing the wood floors. can't hardly wait.

'the only thing that has to be finished by next Tuesday is next Monday.'

it is after all

had a great meeting last night with the neighbors about the Home Tour. the focus of the Tour is centered on our town's newest National Register Historic District and the five homes will be within the district. the beauty of the one street concept is that everyone can be involved. it gives the community a big bang. and it gives the neighbors a happy rally call.

we have a wonderful neighborhood. friendly. beautiful. as well as historic. every age. occupation. interest. and it's quite lovely that this event will be a celebration of friendship as well as heritage.

and last nights gathering proved it is indeed a small world. a new neighbor came by and as we were talking we discovered her husband and his brother and our daughter went to the same American School outside London - at the same time! I am continually amazed at the coincidences of life.

'Amor Fati – "Love Your Fate," which is in fact your life.'