Saturday, May 31, 2014

Headed to the in-laws for lunch today...  Unfortunately they didn't get around to serving lunch until around 2:30, when we should have been leaving for Babygirl's nap...  Had I know that would be the case I would have fed my family before arriving.  Oh well...

Dress: Tart; Necklace: J Crew, Shoes: Kate Spade

Friday, May 30, 2014

Happy Friday everyone!

from Pintrest

It is a beautiful day here in southeastern Wisconsin.  Its about 80 degrees and sunny outside.  I was going to just go pick up Babygirl's things from school (she missed the last week while we were in Florida for my Grandfather's funeral) but the weather tempted us into some garage sale-ing as well...  Got quite a few books, but not much else.  Guess I'm well on my way to my summer reading stash!

Babygirl is napping now, and I think I'll go read my book and take a nap myself.  I really should do my nails because they look really terrible, but they can wait until later tonight.  

I'm reading The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.  I'm about a third of the way through it and thus far I am really enjoying it, but I already have some questions I think I'm not going to like the answer to, like: Why hasn't Clare ever met Henry past his 40s???  I think this doesn't bode well for Henry, but then again, maybe he just stops time travelling and they live happily ever after, right?  Guess I'm just going to have to keep reading and see.

Dress: Calvin Klein; Necklace: my own; Shoes: Clarks

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Bought some new yarn today.  No clue what I am going to do with it, but I'm sure I'll figure something out eventually...

Its nice yarn, 100% merino wool.  Great colors for something fall-ish.  I got two skeins, so obviously whatever I make won't be huge.

I've worn this dress before, but I really like it with the jacket.  Gives it an entirely different look, and the jacket is great for the cooler weather we are having today.  Just shows how adding a jacket can completely change the look of a dress.  It is a good way to get more looks out of your clothes.

Dress: Bjewel; Jacket: J Crew; Neklace: my own; Shoes: Mariza Vellutini

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Sounds like we have a humdinger of a storm rolling in this afternoon.  I've been listening to the thunder grumble for about 45 minutes now, and it keeps getting darker, but the rain hasn't started yet.  Hopefully it won't get too bad...

Dress: Elle; Cardigan: Gap; Necklace: Ralph Lauren; Shoes: Marzia Vellutini

Sunday, May 25, 2014: Return from Florida

We arrived home from our Florida road trip late last night.  It was wonderful to be home and sleep in my own bed!

Grandpa's funeral was perhaps longer than he would have liked, but nice none the less.  There was a great slideshow with lots of wonderful pictures of him.

The Florida trip was largely successful.  As successful as a road trip with a small child to go to a funeral can be at any rate...  It was nice to see the family and be able to spend some time with the people that we do not see very often.  A large family (My Mother is one of nine children.  All except Babygirl's namesake--who passed away in February 2013 due to Multiple Systems Atrophy are still alive, and most have children.) spread across the country means that there are "branches" which see each other frequently on holidays, but it is rare for us all to get together.  We all agreed that we should get together for something other than a funeral next time.

Babygirl enjoyed spending time with and being fussed over by the relatives, and being able to spend a whole week with my little Brother was great!  She had lots of fun listening to my youngest cousin (who is in the Marine Corps Band) practice her clarinet.  Babygirl loves music in general and is fascinated by all things musical.  She also had lots of fun spending an afternoon at the beach with Grandpa and her Uncle.

Now that we are home, it is time to play catch up.  Hubby was unable to make it back from Germany in time for the funeral, so he just came directly home from Germany.  We now have to catch up on putting our garden in, getting my containers for flowers together, and generally getting the yard in order for summer.  I notice that my roses did not fare well this winter and will have to be cut back significantly.  My Sombreuil (a white climbing rose) on the back patio looks as if it was killed back to the roots.  I am glad it has survived as I have had it for several years now, and I would be very sorry to lose it.

Went out today with the intention of buying the rest of my annuals, but there was not much in the garden centers that inspired me.  Things looked rather picked over (probably my fault for not being able to get out earlier in the holiday weekend).  I will go back later in the week in hopes that they have gotten another shipment.

Dress: Shana K; Necklace: my own; Shoes: Apepazza

May 17, 2014: Rest in Peace

And he is gone.  Rest in peace Grandpa.  Hope you are stirring things up still.

Really thought I was going to have tomorrow to pack, but my Brother and I have decided to leave tomorrow morning.  Hubby is trying to see if he can come home early and fly directly into Palm Beach.  I have told him not to worry about it.  I thought all along that if Grandpa passed early Hubby probably would not be able to make it back from Germany in time, and my family is completely accepting of the fact that he probably won't be there as well.

In spite of the fact that Hubby and I have been together for nearly 14 years, Hubby has only met Grandpa a handful of times.  Hubby did really like Grandpa the times he met him; he was fascinated with his stories.  I think that Hubby may feel a need to be there for reasons of his own, not just because he would like to be there for me and the rest of the family.

Hubby never knew either of his grandfathers.  In fact between the two of us, we could supply Babygirl with just one Great-Grandfather.

Miss you grandpa.  Hope you are doing what you love.

May 16, 2014: In Limbo

Grandpa at this point has been given 3-4 days.  He is mostly unconscious.  Some of the family are rushing down to see him in his last days, personally I would rather remember him as he was than as he is now.  I knew when I saw him in February that it was likely the last time I would see him.  Some of my other cousins have not seen him recently, and I can understand their wanting to see him "one last time."  I would rather remember the old man telling stories about his earlier days than a nearly gone person comatose in a hospital bed.

Grandpa had great stories.  He lived and was young in a different time.  One of my favorite stories is the story of how he got his driver's license...

He was driving one day when a police officer pulled him over.  When the police officer asked for his license, Grandpa admitted that he did not have one.  The police officer wrote out my Grandfather's license on the spot and from that day forward he was a legal driver.

He had lots of great stories; I am certain I have not heard half of them.  It is very sad to know that I will never hear any of them again.  He (in spite of having nine children) was quite the wild man.  He held a pilot's license and owned a plane in my Mother's younger days.  He has a great story about making an unscheduled landing at an airport due to weather and being terrified of them telling him no because it was FAA headquarters airport at that time.  He was an avid fisherman.  My mom tells of going fishing with him in northern Wisconsin.  I remember when I was young before he and Grandma moved to Florida him keeping a boat on Lake Michigan.  I still have a mental picture of my father diving off the boat into Lake Michigan one day.  The fish must not have been biting that day.

My cousins and I used to love when the boat came home for the winter.  I remember many afternoons playing on the boat.  To us it was the perfect place to play house.  It had a full kitchen below deck, slept at least six or eight and the adults didn't bother us there.  We created our own world on the boat in the spring before Grandpa would haul her back down to the harbor.  I can no longer remember any of our adventures, but I remember that we always had fun.

Today was devoted to winding up errands that should be done before I leave.  Since I do not know exactly when I will leave I feel it is best to get them out of the way.  Then I no longer need to worry about finding time to do them.  I haven't started packing yet, but I will either tonight or tomorrow.  I need to figure out what Babygirl and I are going to wear.

Shirt: Three Dots; Jacket: J Crew; Necklace: Amrita Singh; Jeans: Lucky; Belt: Calvin Klein; Shoes: Cole Haan; Dog hair courtesy of Max who is currently going by "Banana" according to Babygirl.

Thursday, May 15, 2014

This just isn't my week.  Hubby is travelling, which is always hard, but it seems like everything is going wrong this week.  Tuesday night and yesterday Babygirl had explosive diarrhea and therefore her first sick day.  It was probably the most disgusting 24 hours of motherhood to date, and I felt terrible because she really felt terrible and still actually wanted to go to school.  (I have since disinfected the whole house including the washing machine.) Thankfully, she is much better now, but this threw of my schedule since I had planned to go grocery shopping while she was in school, and left us with almost no easy to make food in the house.

It is still raining and has gotten progressively cooler.  This evening I brought all of the plants we purchased last weekend into the garage.  There was not a frost warning at that point, but it just seemed *very* likely given the weather and I do not want to lose all of my new plants!  I was very tempted by the warm temperatures over the weekend to pot some of the climbing flowering plants to let them get started climbing, but now I am very grateful that I did not as it would have made them very difficult (if not impossible--I want to plant some to climb the gazebo!) to move and I possibly would have had to call my brother or someone else to come over and do the "heavy lifting"!  As it is I have left my potted bay leaf tree out because it is too heavy for me to move.  I think it should be fine--they do survive in climates where it gets below freezing, but I will make sure it is securely covered before I go to bed.  I have had the bay leaf tree for several years; it summers on the patio and I bring it in every winter.  I would hate to lose it after all this time.

Today we got the news that my Grandfather (who has not been doing well for a while now) likely only has days left to live.  While this is really difficult, he is more than ready and willing to exit this world.  I knew when I visited Florida in February that it was very likely the last time I would see him.  I am upset to lose him, but at the same time I have made peace with the news.  I am sure there will be more tears when he does pass, but for now I am trying to be positive that this is what he wants.  At my age with so much a head of me, it may seem strange to be at peace with someone wanting to leave this world, but his health has not been good recently, and he has expressed his wish to die and be at peace.  It makes me think of my great aunt who passed away several years ago at 101 years of age; just weeks before she passed away she told the priest "Pray for me, but not too hard."

My Mother (who just arrived in Wisconsin on Sunday) is on her way back down to Florida to get things in order and welcome the other family coming down.  My Father who was still finishing closing up the house in Florida had planned to be in Wisconsin this weekend; he won't be leaving when he thought.  My brother has agreed to drive down with Babygirl and I if Hubby has not returned from Germany by the time Grandpa passes.  Hubby is scheduled to be away through next week, and as much as I would love to have him here, I see no reason to call him back early at this point.  If Hubby returns before Grandpa passes I still may drive down with my brother and have Hubby fly down so as not to miss work.  Hubby and I always fly down when we visit, but to be honest I rather enjoy driving down; it is how Mom and I always used to go down when we visited my Grandparents.

So many dilemmas when things like this happen.  I have to keep reminding myself to stay positive: really I am very blessed, and in the grand scheme of things most of my problems and dilemmas are really very small, and I really am grateful for all the positive things in my life.  Besides, if we were never unhappy, how would we know when we were happy?

Top: Gap; Sweater: Cynthia Rowley; Necklace: my own; Jeans: Lucky; Belt: Calvin Klein; Boots: Ugg

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

It is a crappy rainy day outside, flash flood warnings and all.  To top it all off Babygirl is sick. :(

Shirt: Target; Jacket: J Crew; Necklace: J Crew; Jeans: Lucky; Belt: Calvin Klein; Boots: Ugg

Monday, May 12, 2014

Mother's day was a complete bust at our house.  Due to weather moving in I had a migraine-like sinus headache all day and I pretty much just wanted to lay in bed with a heating pad on my face.   On the plus side, when I called my Mom to tell her happy mother's day she told me she had just arrived in SE WI from FL!  I knew she was heading this way, but wasn't expecting her until later in the week.  Babygirl was so excited to see Grandma today.

Initially we just stopped in for a few moments to drop off her mother's day present on the way to take Hubby to the airport, but we stopped back after dropping Hubby off.  We arrived just in time to hear the tornado siren going off...  After hiding in the basement for a bit we headed back up and did some catching up and started a puzzle (a favorite activity, although one that has not been engaged in much since Babygirl's birth.)  After the storm simmered down a bit and we finished our tea Babygirl and I headed home.

The storm kicked up again a few hours after we got home.  Hubby's flight left nearly three hours late due to weather, and we are under a flash flood warning.   There are notifications of flooding on several local roads and rumors of the closing of a major highway in the area.  I am guessing that I will be mowing the grass sooner than anticipated as well.  The rain seems to be bringing in some cooler weather, so I will have to keep an eye on the overnight temperatures as well, to make sure I don't lose my new plants to frost...

Shirt: Ann Taylor; Scarf: Echo; Jeans: Lucky; Belt: Calvin Klein; Shoes: Sam & Libby

Saturday, May 10, 2014

A mostly lovely day today.  We went up to our favorite greenhouse to choose our veggies, and I usually pick a select few flowers as well.  Our favored greenhouse is locally owned and operated with locally grown plants and a great heirloom selection for vegetables and a nice selection of flowers, but they are rather more expensive, so I try not to go too crazy picking out my annuals.  This year however, Hubby kept pointing out plants to me.

He found some interesting "snail vines" (so named because the flower buds are shaped like snails) which would be perfect for the backyard.  (I only do blue, white and green flowers in the backyard to keep the palette simple.)  Hubby thought they would look great on the gazebo trellis, and I agreed.  There was no price on the sign or the plants, so we put two on our wagon figuring if they were too much we could just say no at the check out.  Unfortunately I had already fallen in love with the idea of them on the trellis the minute I picked them up, so when they told me the smallish plants were $20 each I said ok...  Needless to say, even with the gift certificate I had from Christmas it was a $130 trip...  I am certain we will reap more than $130 worth of produce, but it is still a bit of a sticker shock when we usually walk out of there for around $75...  Hubby definitely talked me into more flowers than usual this year.

We got home and Hubby needed to get the lawn cut since he is leaving for a business trip Monday.  My mother's day surprise was waiting at the door when we arrived: Hubby gave me crabs!!  (I love seafood.)  I also have permission to buy the night stands I want for the bedroom if I can find them at a price point I like...  I am working on redoing our bedroom, but as my BFF says I decorate very *slowly*!  I like to make sure I am happy with my choices so I can live with them a while...  Case in point: the last time the bedroom was updated was over eight and half years ago when we moved in!  Since then the only updates have been small decorative items and new bed linens!  Looking for a little more of an update now to make the look more current and trendy in the event that we actually do list the house!

Top: World Market; Bracelet: J Crew; Jeans: Lucky; Belt: Calvin Klein; Shoes: Charles David

Friday, May 9, 2014

Thoughts for the day:

From beyondblessedblog.com/ found via pintrest

From themetapicture.com/ found via pintrest

Pretty sure all of the avocados in my house have reached the too late stage...

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Apologies for the lateness of updates this week.  Someone may or may not have spilled an entire cup of tea on the computer while wiping Babygirl's nose last weekend.  This someone may or may not have been me.  The good news is that the new computer arrived Tuesday and we seem to have been able to recover all the data from the old computer.  I am still working on Windows 8 which I am not sure I like.  I just don't see why we should be so obsessed with apps...

The other good news is that one of my orchids opened up this weekend!

Orchids certainly are beautiful, but they can try your patience!  This one has been working on its bloom stalk since January or so.  They are worth the wait once they open up though!  I have had this one for several years now, but I'm not sure what it is.  It looks kind of like a phalaenopsis, but it has really dainty flowers and the leaves aren't normal phal leaves.

My orchids have been rather neglected since Babygirl was born, so I haven't had many bloom in the past three years.  I am trying to take better care of them now that she is getting more independent and at least water and fertilize them on a (fairly) regular basis.  Hopefully I will have some more bloom in the future again!

Now that we are *finally* getting into nicer weather I can start to get my warm weather clothes out again!  After the winter we had the idea of summer clothes is VERY exciting!  That being said, I have heard that we may have a cool summer here because of the ice coverage on Lake Michigan this winter.

Shirt: Gap; Blazer: Tahari; Necklace: Banana Republic; Jeans: Lucky; Belt: Calvin Klein; Shoes: Kate Spade

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Sweater: Banana Republic; Necklace: my own; Jeans: Lucky; Belt: Calvin Klein; Shoes: Cole Haan

Monday, May 5, 2014

Sweater: Carol Little; Bracelet: my own; Jeans: Lucky; Belt: Calvin Klein; Shoes: Cole Haan; Dog Hair courtesy of Max

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Really just needed to run to the hardware store for a few things and the grocery store to pick up some things for dinner that I didn't buy at the grocery store earlier in the week because I forgot my grocery list...

Since Hubby has been traveling on business this week, I didn't feel too much of a need to go  back for the things I forgot.  At least I didn't feel a need until I realized I was almost out of Mexican cheese, which is sort of a staple in my house.  I'm from Wisconsin, running out of cheese is a tragedy, and one must have several types of cheese on hand at all times.  I currently have Jarlsberg, Camembert, Gouda, Parmigiano Reggiano, shredded Italian blend, shredded Mexican blend, Pecorino Romano, and Laughing Cow wedges and two types of cream cheese (not sure if those last two actually count as cheese.)  No, I do not find this much cheese overkill, in fact I consider my refrigerator to currently be cheese deficient.  As I said, I am from Wisconsin.

Sweater: Target; Bracelet: my own; Jeans: Lucky; Belt: Calvin Klein; Shoes: Bass
Its still raining, but I'm tired of wearing rain boots...