Super Moon March 19 2011

What a sight! The Super Moon rising in the east sky on March 19, 2011. I drove to the desert to find a good spot to view the moon rise. Low and behold, after taking nearly 100 pictures, I have a few that turned out. I also snapped a few through the trees - truly nature's beauty. This is the closest the moon has been to earth in 18 years.
A Texas long horn waiting for the moon.
"Bull Moon" on Canyon Creek Road - the Super Moon is just minutes away.
The rise of the moon - Mountain Home
A bewitching sight from my house!

Allee is 10 months old!

Our little leprechaun turned 10 months old in March! Allee is busy moving cars with wheels, crawling every which way, singing and making the cutest facial expressions! It won't be long before the crawl turns into a step, then she will be walking. And life changes forever. She won't be a crawler but a real person standing and moving on her little feet and legs! I will miss her crawl and chase game we play!

Sitting and waiting for her nannie to chase her!

Allee's 10th month birthday - having a snack at the hospital with mom and nannie.
My two cute girls - Allee and Zan

Allee enjoying her first rock in her mom's rocking chair, circa 1979. This Jenny Lind rocker was a gift to Suzanne from her Grandpa Mullen. I remember the day like it was yesterday, my dad walked into the house with this little rocking chair for Suzanne, his 11th grand child. He was thrilled he bought a gift for Zan on his own - he was 71 years old, she was just shy of one year.

Spring in Idaho

No need to say much more - it was windy, raining, and blowing like mad on my drive home from work one night this week. I feel for the kids playing spring sports because the weather is so unpredictable!

Chocolate Lush

I know, I've heard it before, I have been referred to as a "Chocolate Lush" but it's also the name of one of my favorite desserts. It also goes by Lemon Lush when using lemon pudding. When I write my cookbook I will be sure to include the Chocolate Lush recipe!

Oneida ~ my favorite flatware ~ now, and from the past

Old pattern that belonged to my dad: top

My new pattern Wordsworth: below

Old pattern: right

New pattern Wordsworth: left

I love really good silverware. Pretty silverware. Ornate actually.

When my dad and I moved to Idaho in 1970, he some how bought a very pretty patterned set of Oneida flatware. I actually noticed it and liked using it even as a teenager. I can also tell you my dad cooked with copper bottom Revereware pots and pans. I still have a few pieces of the Oneida that I cherish, and I am still using 3 of the copper bottom Revere pots.

I've been looking at my silverware drawer and not happy with my mis-matched pieces. I caved in and bought myself a new Oneida 65 piece service for 12, Wordsworth pattern, and I am as excited as a puppy on fresh grass!

It's the simple things in life. Everytime I use my Oneida flatware, I think of my dad.

Lipstick is Back!

Nothing better than traditional haute couture - I love color and the classics! Coco Chanel and Estee Lauder are bringing back lipstick.

Classics too are back for around the eyes ~ pinks, silvers and black.

"I wanted women to rediscover the pleasure of applying lipstick, Peter Phillips, Chanel creative director for make-up said. " All I see them do is a quick gesture of lip gloss. Lip gloss is like fast food."