When In Rome...

We just finished our study on Rome.

They were amazing craftsmen & could really build a bridge but dude... they were n.a.s.t.y. :p

But we have learned some truly cool things... like...do you know why August is August?

And why September, October, November & December are the 9th 10th 11th & 12th months even though by their names they should be the 7th 8th 9th & 10th months?

We know. ;)

So to finish off our study we had a Roman meal.

It wasn't too fancy & we didn't eat it lying down or throw our bones on the ground (nor did we engage in the vomitorium *gag*) but it was fun.

We had 3 members of the Roman elite...

...and 1 Barbarian...

The evening came complete blood sport...

It didn't end well for our Roman senator...

But the food was yummy

and enjoyed by all.


Did you figure out the answers yet?

Huh? Didja?

Didja didja?

:)

Blessings.

Yellow Dog

We have this yellow labrador named "Moses".

Actually he is "Caanan's Rod of Moses."

He is a highly bred, highly trained, expensive, awesome hunting dog.

He is also a big, dorky, whiney pain in the butt...

He's a good dog really.

Friendly, gentle, sweet. He has never so much as curled a lip at anybody.

He also whines.

All the time. Which gets really,really, really annoying.

Like today, when he wouldn't stop whining & I ,uh.... laid hands on him...you know, like in the Bible... :)

But he is a good dog.

So, to make amends for 'laying on hands' I will immortalize him in cyber space :)

One of the really nice things about this house is that behind it are almond orchards & we can walk thru the orchards to the levee. Climb the levee & on the other side is the creek.

It is a fabulous place to walk, play & ride.

Walking thru the orchard.

The levee is steep. Really steep.

Walking along the levee to our favored creek spot known as "Clam Beach."

This is Petra. Our other dog  (of questionable parentage...)

Moses's favorite thing in the world is "fun bumpers". Fun Bumpers are when you throw the bumper & he gets to go after it, right away, without having to be released or directed. Fun Bumpers are a reward for a good training session.

Waiting for the toss...

Fetching it up...

Got it!

I wanna! I wanna!

Give!

"Throw it! Pant, pant! Throw it!"

The take off.

Bringing back another one.

"I'm just a humble dog. Really I am."

Headed for home.

Blessings.

Spring

It is no secret that I am not particularly enamored with this area where we live.

In fact, 9 months out of the year here it is butt ugly.

Brown, dead, stickery, poison oaky, dusty, rattle snaky ugliness.

But for a few short weeks in the early spring, everything is in bloom & it  is sooooo pretty.

The almond orchards especially are lovely.

Row upon row of lacy pink & white blossoms.

Sigh.

Now, you may not know this, but, I have a weakness for blossoms.

As in, I take 100's of photos of trees in bloom every. spring.

Over & over & over again.

And I just love to look at them.

They make me happy.

So....I will share my joy :)

These photos are all from the gorgeous "Purple Magnolia" tree. Also known as a "Mulan Magnolia."

Absolutely stunning.

These 2 are plum blossoms.

These beautys are apricot blossoms. I love the contrast of creamy white & the deep blue of the sky.

These are all in the almond orchard behind our house. Don't you just love how the falling petals drift like snow? All of the orchards come into bloom with a week or so of each other & the whole area has this strong scent, best described, as a heavy rose pot pourri.

It's pretty & over powering at the same time.

And miserable if you have allergies...      ;)

Blessings.

Furniture Makeovers Part1

In our current rental home, I can't paint any walls.  :(

As I have a need for color, I am, instead. painting all of my furniture.

Okay, maybe not all of my furniture, but a large portion of it.

Now, some of my furniture was, indeed, desperately in need of a coat of paint. But, then again, some of it is perfectly attractive & decent & fine but it's...boring.

Hence, it will be painted.

Turquoise most likely.

Maybe red.

Possibly yellow...

But it will be painted.

Now this particular chair was in need of a make over something fierce.

Somebody let the vaporizer leak all over the seat...

and the paint needed a touch up...

So....this

became this...

A gorgeous faux leather  seat...

and a beautiful new paint job...

See how pretty it looks in it's corner?

More makeovers to come.

Blessings.

Lonesome River Band

My computer was in 'the shop' for a few weeks so I am woefully behind on all of the happenings in my little world.

No computer means no way to download photos from my camera. No way to blog. It was terrible really. A true experience in deprivation...    ;)

So a week or so ago we had an exciting happening.

Our church hosted a concert by  Lonesome River Band.

Check them out here: http://lonesomeriverband.com/www/

They were on a concert tour, going through our area & looking for smaller venues to pass the time.

We had all of a week & halfs notice they were coming :)

But come they did in this fabulous turquoise bus (which I really wanted to drive but their driver assured me it really wasn't all that fun).

They were super nice & amazingly talented & very southern & said "ma'am" a lot :)

I have never seen fingers move as fast as these guys could pick. It was impressive.

They totally packed out our little church.

The lead singer was a lot of fun. He told some great stories but my favorite part was when he called my husband "preacher man".  :)

My husband bought me a CD & I was a total girl & got them to sign it.

And they even gave us lifetime backstage passes to any concert. Ever. The best part of those?

They have a hologram on them. You move it back & forth & the picture changes... back & forth... back & forth...(I really like holograms. Really...a lot...back & forth...)

And when it was all done, they drove off into the night in their big  turquoise bus...

So if you ever have a chance to go see them you totally should go.

Blessings.

How to tell...

Tell tale signs that your little boys did indeed wash their hands...

...with soap...

Blessings.