Thursday, December 24, 2009

Martha's Vineyard

My job takes me to some really cool places - and all within a day's drive. Last week, a few of us had to go over the the state forest on Martha's Vineyard. It was a beautiful, but cold day. We were only there for a few hours, but the supervisor of the state forest took us on a great tour of the island and I snapped a few pictures to share. I am making a pact right now that Jay, Hank, and our bikes will make it over sometime in 2010!



It may be hard to tell in this picture, but this house is really, really tiny. It belonged to General Tom Thumb, a 'little person!' It looked like a doll house compared to the huge houses around it.




Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Bleeding Love

I am in love. With this song, with this singer, with this dance. You know that scene in Dazed and Confused where the dorky kid says something along the lines of "I just want to dance!"? I kinda feel like that sometimes. I haven't danced in ages (other than in my house with my stereo blasting). And I miss it.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

My Weekend

Had a great weekend! Jami, Andy, and the boys came over Friday night for dinner. All of the pictures that my camera took that night were so fuzzy :( Bummer. But here's one of Jami and Drew rocking out with Guitar Hero!

On Sunday, Jay and I went to Grant's 1-year Birthday Party! We had a blast! Here's the Birthday Boy!

And here's big brother, Drew.
All the kids were lined up to help Grant open his presents. His loot was impressive!
Grant's ready for his birthday cake:
Jami made the cake! It was so cute and so, so yummy!
I wonder what he wished for....
The kids then played with all the presents. Jay played with the presents, too! It was so cute!

Friday, December 11, 2009

It's a White Orange

The rescued her buddy, Relish, from the rain. Yes, there is a mini-horse in the house!

Playing in the snow


Thea got stuck in the snow and her momma had to go help her! Reminds me of Christmas Story.

Thea got Yahtzee at the Christmas swap. Jess is going crazy listening to her shake the dice in the cup! Doesn't she look so grown up in that outfit! She is so long and lean - just like her mom and dad!

Thea and her new favorite thing - her 'basketball hat!" That girl cracks me up!

Thea and her most favorite horse: Honey!




Working Honey in the pen:

Thursday, December 10, 2009

52 in 52

One of my New Year's resolution for January 1st, 2009 was to read more. Specifically, to read at least 52 books in the year of 2009 - one per week. I'm almost there. I'm at 48, with my 49th more than halfway read and my 50th about 1/3 read. My last few just need to be shorter books! I learned some interesting things with this project:
  • Reading makes me happy. If I'm not reading an enjoyable or interesting book, then my mood falls. I've always been this way, but for some reason I never realized it until this year.
  • I read way more non-fiction than I thought I did. I never thought of myself as a non-fiction reader, but when I look at the 48 books I've read this year, fifteen (or 1/3) of the books were non-fiction.
  • I have to finish a book once I start reading. The only book I didn't finish on this list was The School on Heart's Content Road by Carolyn Chute. It really, really sucked. I spent about a month trying to get into it but couldn't. It was the author, not the book, 'cause I tried another book of hers but didn't even get 1/10 of the way through (it's not on the list because I don't count that as a book I read).
  • I don't buy books. Well, I should say that I don't buy books at bookstores. I think the only book I payed full price for was Marley & Me. All the rest were hand-me-downs, loaners, purchased at a low price at yard sales or library book sales.
  • I have to be reading at least two books, usually three, at all times. Currently I've had three going: Taps (was reading last night before bed), The Golden Spruce (haven't read since last wee), and Kiffe Kiffe Tomorrow (which I just finished this morning).
  • I didn't count any books that I read for work. For example, right now I'm reading Winter Ecology to learn a bit more about how plants and animals survive the winter. This isn't reading for pleasure, so I don't include it.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Hi Drew!

Hey Drew! Uncle Jay hasn't used his chainsaw yet, but he did take some pictures of his tractor and all the wood he's been cutting! Here they are:

My Birthday - I'm 29 (again)!


I'm sitting here, warm from the wood stove, sipping hot chocolate, getting ready to finish off my current book (The Dogs of Bedlam Farm), and feeling content...

I had a fabulous birthday! It started with a trip to Quan's with my bestest friend Jami. That girl knows I love sushi! Thank You, Jami! My Momma Sue and Dad got me three new pairs of jeans - desperately needed - along with some spending cash. Think I'm gonna get a manicure! Thanks Momma Sue & Dad! Becky & Danny came along for my birthday dinner at the Stoneforge Tavern. It was awesome and they gave me a wonderful goodie bag full of things to pamper myself with! Thanks Becky & Danny! Becky's belly is starting to show and she looked so cute and happy! Can't wait to see those little babies! And Jay got me my TomTom! I've wanted one for a while and it looks great in my new (used) car! Thanks Jay!

Jay and I spend Saturday morning selecting the perfect tree and decorating it. The pictures came out blurry, so I'll try to re-post some better ones later. I LOVE OUR CHRISTMAS TREE! This morning I sat in that room eating my toast, drinking my tea, and just loving the light of the tree!

Monday, November 30, 2009

Grandma's Birthday!

We went into Southie yesterday to celebrate my Grandma's birthday. I had a blast playing with the little cousins and coloring in their coloring books.
Maggie's cute little piggies:

This is the newest addition to our family - sweet, sweet Molly Rose!
Here's Molly with her Auntie Tammi and cousin James.
My mumma (making a weird face) and my Grandma Dottie!
Grandma Dottie and Grandpa George with four of their seven great-grand children!
This is my cousin Billy.
And cousin Tammi.

And my friend Jack who was concentrating very hard on coloring this picture!
My Uncle Tom with Molly Rose.
Cutie pie Meghan!

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Shitty Shitty Bang Bang


My car crapped the bed a few days ago. I don't know how I drove it the last two days I did. It was accelerating like a snail and belching smoke like a coal factory. The check engine light was blinking on and off and on and off. I knew something wasn't good, but I didn't think the end was so close. It ended with a smoke explosion - which blew right into our neighbor's yard (oops). Biggest smoke explosion I've ever seen come from a car! Jay worked on it for a while and then declared it dead. Gone. Forever.

So we've entered a new phase in our lives. The looking-for-a-used-car journey. It is not fun! We've looked at a few and so far have run into the following hassles:


  • Yesterday we went to look at a car on a used-car lot in E. Bridgewater. They said they'd be open 'til 3PM. We got there at 2:30PM and the place was shut down. Not only that, but they're not open on Sundays so we'd have to wait for tomorrow to get a chance to look at it

  • We drove to Providence to check out a car being sold by the owner. We made the offer, she counter offered, we counter offered, and she accepted our offer. Yeah! We had a car! Then she went into the house to get the title and when she came back out, the fun began. Although Jay had asked on the phone if she had a clear title and she said yes. But really, she didn't have a clear title. Her dad's name was on it, but he had passed away. She also laid this one on us - told us that when she went inside, there is a lady waiting to look at the car and when she told the lady that we were buying it, the lady offered her more money so if we upped the price to match the lady, we could buy it. We were sooooo outta there!

And living without a car for the past few day really sucks. I miss the freedom of going wherever, whenever. Jay had to drop me off at work and pick me up. He'll probably have to do the same tomorrow. We are going to Cambridge this afternoon to look at another car, so maybe it'll be done by tonight (keep your fingers crossed for us!).

Friday, November 27, 2009

Thanksgiving 2009

Another great Thanksgiving at my parent's house. We enjoyed great food, company, and were entertained by the antics of Miss Thea May! Thea got a haircut and showed up with bangs and pigtails - so cute! She also has a new 'thing' that I got the biggest kick out of. She draws on her face with marker and then tells Jess that it is her birthmark - like Auntie Amy!

Hanging out with Grammie and Momma Jess.
Nana Sue got Thea a wooden cook-stove and Thea was obsessed with cooking. She played with it for hours!
Here's Grandma and Grandpa along with Dakota.
Thea May - pigtails are gone!
Mom and cousin Jessica.
Amy and Jay - kind of a weird picture of us in front of the wood stove, but it was the only one!
Isn't she just so polite?

Dad, Mom, and Me!

Grampie Hugo - he'll be 100 in March! He's unbelievable!
Grammie will be 94 in February. You'd think she was 20 years younger if you met her!