Another Flame Calla Photo
I just can’t resist them!
Ode to the Sun
Calla Lily
Tomato Sculpture
Here’s a service based business idea for ya…
Ripping and installing one’s music collection on an MP3 player is a tedious, time consuming task. What if someone were to offer to complete this task for you? Would you pay for it? Teenagers- this might be something you can get away squeezing your elders for.
I have been adding my music collection to my MP3 player for a month now and I’m still nowhere near where I’d like to be on this project. I don’t think I’d pay for it at this point, but if someone would have offered in the beginning I’d have been happy to part with some cash. 
Just thinkin’. Like always. Happy Hump Day!
Big News Today!
From Mom’s Front Porch, originally uploaded by phae.
Ever since we found out a few weeks ago that my parents landlords were being foreclosed upon and they were going to need to move; my husband and parents and I have been hustling- looking for a property with two homes on it that would be suitable to buy together. We felt like we were ready to finally make a commitment to a property- and that this might be the best time for us to buy, what with the market down and prices so nice and low.
We wanted to buy a property with my parents for a ton of reasons. We already live across the street from each other and it’s very convenient- we can help out, enjoy and keep an eye on their property and vice versa. My mom is a retired ICU RN, but also- a multiple amputee. She is independent, but we like to stay nearby so if she needs anything we can be there for her.
The kids really enjoy being so close to their grandparents and we like that my parents can help us out too. It’s nice to say, “Hey- I need to run to the store, can you keep an eye on the kids for a few minutes?” And Dad, a Vietnam Vet- is still working, so we can share our meals with Mom when he is gone and be there for him if he needs to take any time off. Like last year, when he had one of his knees replaced. Also, we hoped to save some money by sharing a mortgage.
A week or so ago we found this incredible property. It’s in an old neighborhood, but it has two big houses, two garages, several large yard spaces and a studio apartment above the main house. We immediately made an offer on it. And then, so did at least three other parties. And so, a mini-bidding war ensued. I haven’t slept well since. It just seemed so PERFECT for us that it had to be directly from God above.
And today, we found out we got it! It’s ours! We won the bidding war, hoorah-hoorah. Wow, what an intense experience. While I’m not commitment shy when it comes to people and relationships, buying a property seems like SUCH a big deal. So I’m so glad to have the initial stuff done with!
The main house is 4 bedrooms, 2 baths- so all of the kids will have their own rooms. Right now the girls share and they are way over it. The main house has an attached garage which is HUGE, modern fixtures, everything is new.. and the floor plan is open so Mom can get around the whole house. There is a long driveway which is well paved for the kids to skate on, and which makes it easier on Mom’s chair to get around the property. And, above the main house is my brand new photography/art studio.
MY OWN STUDIO, at last! I am so stoked about that I don’t even know what to do with myself. As it is now, I get out my equipment (in the living room) and use it and then have to put it right back away. Which is a hardship. No more! The studio has it’s own separate entrance and is well lit- with a bathroom and storage closet. It’s half tile, half carpet- I could immediately see a sitting area, my work station and my photography studio equipment in that space. STOKAGE.
The second house is three bedrooms, two baths- and has a detached 2 car garage with it’s own bathroom. It’s a perfect space for Dad’s work area. The house is the perfect size and open floor plan for my parents, and they have their own backyard in addition to sharing their front yard with our family.
There is a groomed front yard in place but the middle and back yards are still dirt. So, we have a clean slate to work with. It’s getting so hot already that I’m not sure we can get sod laid in time for the summer, but I have big plans. There will be grass, and landscaping, and fruit trees, and a garden!
We have never purchased a property (my parents have) so this is all so exciting and new to us. We love to do things to improve our home but haven’t had much freedom. This has all of our creative juices flowing. Even the middle child has been watching design shows and knows exactly how she wants her room to look. 
We can’t wait to get moved but now we have a few other hoops to jump through. Inspections, appraisals, esgrow- oh my. So do us a flavor and keep your fingers and toes crossed for us that it all goes smoothly! And thank you much!
So, this is going to be interesting. Moving two households at once. It will be fun though, for the most part. It gives me the opportunity to reorganize everything again. And get rid of bunches of stuff we no longer need or want.
Which is one of the reasons I’m posting about this. I am not sure how much updating I’m going to be able to do. I might find blogging and sharing to be a nice break from the craziness- but I might not. So if I go silent for stretches in these next several weeks you know what I’m up to. There’s lot’s to do!
Tomorrow I have to work for a few hours, and I’m going to finish up any unfinished projects. Then I’m on packing and sorting detail. So see ya when I see ya!
Berry Banana Shake Recipe
The kids had CST (California State Testing) all week and it’s a hot day so to celebrate we decided to forego cooking and have a delicious, healthy treat for dinner. We made fantastic early summer fruit shakes. They turned out so delicious and beautiful I thought I’d share our recipe, which is suitable to make four tall shakes.
You Will Need: 3 ripe bananas, 4 cups of vanilla ice cream, 1.5 cups ripe strawberries, 1.5 cups ripe cherries, 3 orange slices and whipped cream (optional).
Make it: Wash, pit and set aside the cherries. Wash and slice the strawberries. Peel and slice the bananas. Mix the fruit together and squeeze the orange slices over the fruit to coat with orange juice. Throw away the empty orange slice membranes.
If you have a super blender, throw it all in and mix it up! If not, we added one cup of ice cream to one cup of fruit per shake. Blend it up and pour into tall glasses- top with a dollop of whipped cream if you like… and wah-lah! Deliciousness.
Enjoy!
Fun Idea for Photo Bloggers
1976 TRIVIA, originally uploaded by kiplingflu.
I saw this today and thought it was a fun idea! Since 1976 is my birth year I just thought I’d link to my birthday buddy who already has a pretty good collection of 1976 memories. If you decide to participate on your own blog I’d love a comment with your link!
Toads!
My youngest catches a score of toads in our yard every day and moves them from bucket to ice chest to container and finally- frees them in the evenings. So far today she has caught two large toads and two small toads. I always know when she’s captured a toad because she’ll yell for me- “Mama, come here and see my toad!” Luckily I love toads. Sometimes she captures things I really want nothing to do with. Like spiders, and once- a live (and angry) wasp!
In My Garden
Yesterday I took a walk around my garden areas and photographed a few of my favorite plants. I am very much looking forward to improving and extending upon my gardens sometime soon!
What I Want
