Happy days!

I am one happy Zia and this is why. My family is in town!

oops, so enamored of the kids, cut off Nat's head. Sorry, Nat!

 We went off for a bike ride and lunch and after a nap, hit the kayaks and paddleboard and spent the afternoon on the canal.

excuse me, do you have any Grey Poupon?

on stage - wohoo!

And, the only possible thing in the entire universe that could make me leave them for a few hours is Cirque du Soleil!! Is this a perfect day or what? My friend Sue and I are going up to Miami to see Totem this afternoon. I am downright giddy with joy! Yeah!

Update:  The show was absolutely AMAZING and we had such a fabulous time!

Thank you, Sue, for going with me; you are RIGHT, everybody should see a Cirque show at least once.  xoxo

So, when I lifted my head from my sewing, where time has no meaning, I realized it had been quite a while since Sophie had checked in. I went outside and called her and called her and then heard in the distance that hysterical bark she sometimes does. Heard it again, and Lucy and I took off down the street in search of her. We found her about 8 doors down behind the big ornate LOCKED gates at an empty mansion (one of about 6 on my street). She had to have swum there from her backyard. oy vey  Luckily, the neighbor was home and let me go to the back of her house to coax Sophie back into the canal and up the stairs by her boats. We went back this morning to take a picture.

she was behind these gates when I found her!

Mommy, why can't we live here?

work in progress

working on a raw edge applique for a contest

Can I just say publicly how much I adore my niece? This is what she did for her 18th birthday! She is just so beautiful, inside and out; I am in awe.

This week she wrote me, I'm sending an express package of love from me to you.  Faclempt!

love this

So, I've been a bit down lately but definitely seeing the light at the end of the tunnel now. Bought myself these beautiful roses on Friday. 

I've still been sewing like mad, nothing like the creative process to put one in the moment and really, it has been my salvation over the holidays. I made this little iron caddy for my beloved Oliso. Handy for travel and classes and look! It unfolds to an ironing mat.

Went to my monthly Florida Keys Quilters meeting on Saturday and saw what everyone is working on which is always inspiring 

and I thought I would show you the view from my pew at Our Lady of Perpetual Mimosas on Sunday. It was a bright and beautiful day on the water, 80 degrees. (don't hate me)

* * * 

Well, last night I dreamt my former husband was being attacked by a huge lobster who was trying to tear the meat off the back of his thigh while he asked me to help him. Now, what do you suppose that means??

There is a freaking giant palmetto bug (nee ROACH) on my living room ceiling. I watched in horror as he climbed up the wall and settled there. The ceiling is high (too high for my Clorox Clean-up to reach him although you know I tried - over and over again) He is just sitting there. If I walk under him, he will drop into my hair - I KNOW IT, I just do. I have thrown at him:

1. whiffle ball
2. giraffe dog toy
3. skunk dog toy
4. green beach towel
5. pink beach towel
5. 6.7.8. assortment of paperback books

I have knocked over:

1. candle holder
2. 3. two plants
4. water glass (empty)
5. picture frame
6. wooden mermaid

And, I have nicked him several times but he just twitches. arrrrrghghghgh. My living room floor is littered with plants, dirt, towels, etc. and the entire house stinks of bleach (the Clorox Clean-up). The dogs are looking at me like I'm crazy and I'm about ready to go to a motel. Although, he would probably hide somewhere and LAY EGGS - gross! And yes I know I said he is a him and then would lay eggs but I don't care. I just want him OUT OF MY HOUSE.

I will go downstairs and get the mop and fortify with wine and let you know . . .


. . .the problem is, I can't stand to smack him because:

1. they are super fast
2. the sound (OH JEEZ THE SOUND OF IT)

Oh, and btw, I looked on the google and clicked on The Difference Between a Palmetto Big and a Roach and it said, there is no difference between a palmetto bug and a roach.
So helpful that was.

* * *

UPDATE:
Ok, the deed is done. I hit him with the mop, he dropped to the top of the bookshelf and the chase was on. Sure enough, he zipped across the bookshelf and tried to hide under a picture frame with me and my Clorox Clean-up in hot pursuit. That knocked him to the floor and he made a beeline towards the TV cabinet. I nailed him with the CC-U right before he went underneath and kept shooting until his leg (the only part of him I could still see) stopped twitching. ick  I kept an eye on that leg sticking out from behind the cabinet all evening but thankfully, it never moved. I WILL be calling Charter Pest Control today.

words to live by

still apropos in 2013

HANDBOOK 

Health:

1.          Drink plenty of water.

2.          Eat breakfast like a queen, lunch like a princess and dinner like a beggar.

3.         Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is    manufactured in plants.

4.         Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy

5.         Make time to meditate.

6.         Play more games.

7.         Read more books than you did in 2009.

8.         Be in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.

9.         Sleep for 7 hours.

10.        Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:

11.         Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

12.         Don't have negative thoughts of things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

13.         Don't overdo. Keep your limits.

14.         Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

15.         Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.

16.         Dream more while you are awake.

17.         Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

18.         Forget issues of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.

19.         Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.

20.          Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present. 

21.         No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

22.         Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn.  Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

23.         Smile and laugh more.

Society:

24.          Call your family often.

25.         Each day give something good to others.

26.         Forgive everyone for everything. 

27.         Try to make at least three people smile each day.

28.         What other people think of you is none of your business.

29.         Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

30.         Do the right thing!

31.         Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

32.         However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

33.         No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

34.         The best is yet to come.