holiday...celebrate...if we took a ....

 it was one of those perfect kind of weekends - perfect weather, perfect company, perfect relaxation.  if only i had not spilled that can of pringles....oh wait.

i house sat for a good friend of mine - she has this darling little house with a small little pool - just the right size for one.  but, before getting there - i shopped with my girls, we ate wonderful food (italian + southern = yum) and tried to go to a new dessert place (they were closing as we got there).  but alas the holiday worked against us on the dessert but i got my fill of my favorite babycakes. i got the most wonderful painting that i can't wait to hang.

sunday was spent entirely by the pool where i lounged reading and not even breaking a sweat.  because yes....yes, indeed - the heat wave broke - giving us highs in the 80s and lows in the high 50s.  perfection.  warm enough still to swim but knowing the promise of autumn is coming. 

i drove around a bit - getting back in touch with my old town.  missing some places that closed - like my favorite jewelry store and finding new places.

ps - who can't fall in love with these wee little hens and chicks?

today on my ipod - i don't want to be (gavin degraw), blurry (puddle of mudd), falling in love at a coffee shop (landon pigg), everyday (dave matthews band), heaven (los lonely boys), everyday i write the book (elvis costello), scarlet begonias (the grateful dead), the way it is (bruce hornsby)

and...who doesn't love bonus butterflies?

it's friday and i love a list

some days we all run a bit ragged and need a bit of a breather... (just like this little guy)  i hope you have a beautiful friday and have the opportunity to catch your breath.

my favorite ways to relax:

• exploring with my camera
• sitting outside reading a good book
• reading magazines in bed
• sitting around a campfire telling stories
• driving in my car  with no particular destination
• laughing with friends or sharing a bite to eat together
• staring at the stars
• listening to the waves at the beach, and 
• though i know you're not supposed to do it - swimming alone

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today on my ipod -  sundown (gordon lightfoot), fields of gold (sting), hold my hand (hootie & the blowfish), dock of the bay (otis redding), wonderful tonight (eric clapton), barely breathing (duncan sheik), wonderland (angie aparo), wonderwall (oasis), until i fall away (gin blossoms)

gratitude:: days 10, 11, 12

day 10 - i am thankful when the evening comes and i can slip into another facet of my life. the shift from worker bee to evening person that loves to cook dinner and watch television, read, the whatnot that comes my way. i'm grateful for all the facets of me that make my life balanced and whole. and though the balance sometimes shifts from one side to another, it's still the sum of thoese parts that is me.

day 11 - this shot looks like i'm grateful for cheesecake, doesn't it? and though, i am indeed thankful that someone in their divine wisdom thought to put together the lucious combination of cream cheese, sugar and eggs - what i'm really grateful for is the time to relax after a long day. this is takeout from the hotel restaurant in washington. i arrived wednesday evening, went immediately to dinner and was so exhausted that i wanted to fall into bed. instead, i relaxed in the fluffy recliner and enjoyed my cheesecake while watching 'glee' (how i love that show).

day 12 - i am grateful for a home and bed to return to....ever so grateful. though i loved the room at the marriott (much too grand), the bed with it's feathery goodness was killer on my bad. i woke up thursday morning and it felt as if 1,000 elves played kickball up and down my spine. ouch. the wind and rain from ida followed me to the dc area and the weather was gray and miserable. no sightseeing for me. it was an all day meeting and then immediate departure...well, semi-immediate departure. the airline allowed us to board at the appointed time and then kept us on the tarmac for 2.5 hours. instead of the leisurely 3 hour layover in philly - it was a mad dash through the airport from gate b3 to gate f37. yes....that far. luckily i arrived just in time for another delay - though not as long. after landing in birmingham and driving home, i got into my bed at 1:30 a.m.

i'm also grateful for a wonderful boss who told me to get to work when i could - so i got to work about 9:30 a.m. i have a sneaky suspicion that i will be early to bed tonight. and ever so grateful for beautiful weather tomorrow.