Sunday Morning Visit

We had 6 deer visit us this morning, part of thier trail runs right up through our back yard...and right to the salad garden that awaits them this spring and summer in the front yard. What we didn't know was that they are the reason this bird feeder empties much quicker than our other one...

A couple days later...

Okay so back to the house behind us, this is it now because there is a giant hole in the roof, turns out there is more tree on the other side of the house that we can't see that just grazed the jacuzzi that the homeowners were literally sitting in only moments before...


This is the house across the street, a very large tree that actually just grazed the garage and shook up the storage shed, wiping out the power lines (and the power for 12 hours) and landing in the street...

This is the neighbors fence in their front yard

And what we had to do in our yard to save the rest of the fence from collapsing

Crazy stuff.

New Years Wind Storm 2009

Well the new year sure rang in with a bang! A big bang for some...

What is the breaking point of a 100 yr old Ponderosa Pine tree?

Well Mother Nature decided to give our trees of time a test...some faired better than others.
In the end we lost our power for 12 hours, kept our fingers crossed and played Cranium with the neighbors by generator light...

This is another neighbors house that is right behind us...focus in on the garage area... ouch, there is actually a whole in the roof, and notice the truck that helped to break the fall...


This is the major damage that occurred in our yard..

the top of a tree decided to fall right onto John's RC racetrack... which happens to be just to the left of the garage

The camera battery died in the middle of taking these pictures otherwise I would have some other shots...across the street, a huge tree came down just grazing the side of their garage and knocking the storage shed around before landing in the power lines.

The other house across the street had a large tree top fall and gauge their house, just missing a window before landing safely on top of their patio furniture.

And to the side of us, at their house the fence fell down to the ground in parts and almost became a complete catastrophe before being supported with 2x4 braces in multiple areas by all the neighbors. This was the story throughout our neighborhood and beyond.

Wow, crazy stuff. Hopefully Mother Nature doesn't need to test her wind capabilities out on us and our trees again in the near future.

Merry Christmas!

It is a blizzard here...no question about a white Christmas...

I have been playing Miss Baker/Pastry Chef lately. I attempted pumpkin chocolate chip bread last week and it wasn't so successful, wouldn't cook in the center, I meant to make mini loafs but never bought them in time so I tried a big loaf, I think the mini ones would have cooked better...next time.

A staff person made homeade caramels last week that were amazing so I asked for the recipe...

And I bought a candy thermometer and off I went...

We are in a winter wonderland!!!

For some reason I turned this picture but it didn't turn when uploaded???? John tightly wound something like 600 lights, it looks way cool.

Ohhhh....Mochi is too sweet!!

Lights

We are having fun with Christmas lights this year. unfortunately they dont capture will when we tried to photograph them but they are still neat...

Want to try again maybe earlier in the evening and especially now with all this snow!

50 Years

Happy 50th Anniversary Mom & Dad Brousseau!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
We were lucky to be a part of a Thanksgiving that was also a 50th Anniversary, November 27th. That is pretty special.

John, his brother Jake, sister Jeanne and Mom and Dad. The first time the siblings have been in the same room in 23 years. Wow.

John playing like a pro on the golf course.

I have lots more pictures and lots more stories to tell but Stubby is not letting me, he thinks computer time is Stubby time and makes it difficult to get things posted sometimes. But it has been a while so I wanted to at least get a few things up...

John has been decking the house out with lights I'll get some pictures and share...

Strawberry Fields Forever...

Ah, my trip back east was delightful! Too short as usual, but nevertheless all around delightful.

New York was great, it was nice to check in on my Berwald, see her new pad and meet her beautiful little boy. We visited this part of Central Park that I had not previously been, had lunch streetside at this great little French cafe, checked out the Painting and Sculture exhibit at The Modern Museum of Art, went to some live sketch comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade and had cocktails in Union Square. And of course had some pizza and a bagel. Not bad for 2 days.

Then it was on to Maine to meet my new nephew, give the kids big hugs and kisses and hang out with Mom.

Those cheeks were just too much. Gotta go get some burgers on the grill will add more pics later!

Happy Birthday Momma B

the new computer is here! now we have no excuse for not sharing pictures. I realize i am way behind so here are a couple to get warmed up...


my mountain man

stubby is a handsome boy

our house this winter, post one of the many snowstorms

its good to be reconnected to the techno world :)

Floatin on the Freshies

It has been forever I am sorry but boy have I been busy- this new job has got me on the go, starting to get settled in a little so hopefully things will let up a little.

We got to hit the mountain a couple weekends ago with our friends Amy and Sam. J & I got to explore the backside of Bachelor for the first time and wow!

Sam caught Amy and I resting as we made our way through Mother Nature's beauty.
Good times.

Dreams Come True

Happy New Year!

We are going into 2008 with a fulfilled dream. I got a Christams Eve phone call offering me my dream job! I am the new Executive Director for a local child and youth serving non-profit! I am so excited and together we are thrilled for what this means for our future. So dream BIG in '08 everybody! Anything is possible and the sky really is the limit!

Found it!

Can you believe it? I found my ring!
Stubby stole it and brought it to join in his collection of toys. I know I checked this spot previously so either I overlooked it or he hadn't quite brought it there yet I don't know...it doesn't even matter cuz it is never leaving my finger again! I am so thankful, only earlier that day I was trying on new rings and felt sick to my stomach cuz nothing is right or fits my wedding band right so it was pretty disheartening, but no more, now I dance! How cool! Yippy Skippy!

Gobble Gobble Ho Ho Ho

Hi Everyone
Scored a new and interesting photo of J & I from a big benefit I put on for work earlier this month. The picture is originally in color but had this weird light thing going through it, I edited it some and turned it to black and white and thought it was fun, you can still see the light streaking through but I still like it!
Havn't been able to upload new pictures lately because I can't upload the new camera to the computer. A new computer is in the works for the new year so hopefully this won't be a problem for too much longer. Guess we could still use the old camera...hmmm.
Well anyway this was from my work camera so I was able to email it home.



Hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving! We had four, much needed and well deserved, days of relaxation and fun!
Winter has finally arrived, the bitter wind and ice is upon us. The good snow for skiing isn't here yet, but we are hoping to participate in our favorite winter time activity for J's birthday in a couple weeks, keep your fingers crossed!
The Christmas spirit is starting to fill me up, but it has been hard with all this commercialization starting now well before turkey day, it just is not right. Anyway, we decided to make a Christmas village and are having fun making it come to life! So wherever you are and whatever you are doing we wish you all a safe, warm and fun holiday season!

Diamonds for the pipe gods

I did the unthinkable. Something that for four and a half years I was so afraid of doing. And I finally went ahead and did it. I lost my engagement ring. Yep. Gone forever, down the drain, perhaps on a short or a long journey to its resting place.
Almost lost the wedding band too. That would have been more traumatic, but maybe its blessedness is what helped it to get caught in the drain before hittin the pipes.
I suspect it may have been little Stubbers that assisted me in my loss but I am not positive and I take full responsibility anyway, but man it sucks. I may be able to get the same ring from the designers but I won't know until they come back from vacation in January. I don't want a different ring, I tried on hundreds before and this is my ring. I hope it works out. Thank goodness for insurance, otherwise I would be totally devastated! I am going back to never taking them off again that is for sure!

Hiatus

Wow, I know. It has been a while.

Things got crazy for a while with the arrival of our new edition...ringworm, quarantine, hadwashing, medicine, clothes changing, did I say handwashing, for a whole month.
We even had family visit during all of this, so it was a bit exhausting and challenging- yet worth every second, and all that dryskin from the handwashing!
Stubby RULES! He is so fantastic, he's gained almost 5 pounds in two months and is energetic and loving!
Then of course we had to introduce him to his sisters..eeks...didn't go so well at first. Lots of growling and hissing. It was nerve racking. But now they are all one happy bunch, lots of wrestling and licking, and we have even woken up to have all three of them in bed with us!
We got so lucky and are so blessed. Stubby was meant to be a part of our family and we are sooo happy to love him!
Picture updates will take a while, you see, I finally got that new camera I have been eluding to in many a blog past, and my computer is such a hunk a junk that I can't get the camera disc even in the drive to download the program, so, alas pictures may take a while.
In the meantime I need to go feed my family of five.

Miracle

One week ago today. J had a life altering experience when he discovered a kitten trapped in his work dumpster. It was stuck with its head outside a drainage hole at the bottom.
I have a picture of the hole but it wouldn't post. J jumped in the dumpster and tried to pull him out but his head was stuck on the other side with his neck stretched through the thickness of the dumpster and the pipe. They tried every kind of lube you can think of and still he was not coming out. His kind co-workers helped by actually grinding and splitting the pipe, without injuring the kitty, and releasing him from his torture. However, the kitten was not doing so well. He was covered in slime and who knows what, and very cold. The police were called and they too were kind samaritans and rushed him to an animal hospital. The vet tech explained that he was basically a corpse upon his arrival and they did not think he would make it. He had no body temp, his pupils were dialated, they told everyone not to get their hopes up.

However, those vets saved his life. They gave him a warm bath and an I.V. and they showed him some love, and low and behold he is fine. He is more than fine, he is thriving in our back room/office right now, as I write he is sniffing my feet and trying to get my attention.

The animal clinic is calling him the miracle cat. We call him Stubby. (note he is missing his tail, but for a cute little stub).

Stubby is now a member of our family, although he has yet to meet his sisters.

This is his first night with us when he still had his bandage from his hospital visit.

We love you Lil' Stubbs!

Garden Update

I went out in the yard to do some dead heading and take a few pics and here is what I found..

gorgeous pale pink and yellow day lilies...


a lone purple cone flower who lived through being a dinner for deer..three plants toast

the quail family

and finally, the beginning of the liatris! I feel like we are so behind the rest of the world in bloomage

almost had a new camera today, but it was out of stock, with that said, lots more pictures to come!

I successfully did loade these pictures from our old camera today as sort of a test, these other pics that I have been trying to load have been from other sources, usually just saved to my computer from an email..hmmm

Big T

Well my older nephew, Big T (cuz he is now older brother to Little T) has been making quite a name for himself in the dirtbike racing world of Maine Youth Riders. He consistently is taking home the first place trophy again and again.

I have some great pictures of him catching air and taking some jumps but for some reason they won't upload, however this one below did. I am not understanding what the malfunction is, my blogs are dependent on which pictures will upload or not, it is annoying. Guess I should talk to the Blogspot folks and see if they have any suggestions...anyway, Congrats Big T, keep up the good work, ride hard and be safe! Go #616!

the stork has arrived

He's Here! Our little nephew is here!

Welcome Teekin Mahki, born 07-12-07, 6 lbs 10 oz

and lets also welcome, drumroll please.....

Joseph William Gaspari!

Little Joey, 7 lbs 2 oz, was born on 07-03-07 to my bestest friend The Aimer in NYC. (he is not pictured, I'm still having issues with publishing pictures, not all of them will work but for some reason baby t did )

Baby Teekin and Little Joey- welcome to this earth, may you know peace and love and happiness. Bless your little lives as you grow and learn and thrive. It will be such a pleasure to meet you and share in your sweetness and purity!

No pictures

For some reason the blogger site is not letting me load pictures and if it does then they are solid black or even a solid blue...I wrote a big story a week or so ago about my trip to Arizona but it is not as good without the pictures, I have been trying all week to get even one picture in there and still nothing so I am giving up.

In the meantime I hope everyone had a great 4th of July- Summer as they say is truly here now. Garden is looking great, I will try and get some pictures up but I don't know what is gonna happen. I also tried to blog and put up my Nephew keeps ringing in first place at his dirt bike races and I have some great pictures of him jumping I' d love to share. Funny, if it isn't the camera it is the computer.

Hope to see you with pictures soon!

108 in the Shade

I finally decdied to give in and post this posting anyway, it is from last month already but as you can see it is when I started having trouble posting pictures, they keep turning out solid colors....

I have tried and tried to get it to work to no avail. Then I thought maybe it had something to do with the source, all of these pictures were my work camera and emailed home. Baby Teekin's worked so that makes me happy but I have tried two other postings where I am not having any luck, one of them is not from my work camera so I am boggled, anyway, enjoy the story without pictures, I intended on having! a lot of them included so you will have to use your imagination!

108 degrees in the shade

Mind you this was certainly not the hottest temperature that my patio thermometer reached, tis only the hottest temp when I thought to capture the moment...I believe it reached 115 on a couple of days during my recent working vacation to a national Big Brothers Big Sisters of America conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. And boy, it sure was hot.

Thank goodness for the pool!

This is the South Pool, it was the main pool and one of five that our conference center/resort had to offer...by far the way I wish I could travel more often...the Scottsdale Fairmont Princess. There were five pools in all. Here is the one with two waterslides...it was so fun to get to go down them a bunch of times in a row like when we were kids.


My room was awesome- it was located in one of the Casitas, little cottage like villas that stood aside from the actual hotel part. It was a shame J couldn't share the beauty of it with me...although I know he wouldn't be down with the heat. Thank goodness for air conditioning. I needed a sweater in my conference rooms. Brrr. Go figure.


Rabbits everywhere, very cute, small with big ears. They were fun to watch.


But the best part about the whole trip was that I was able to reconnect with an old friend. It has been 10 years since I roomed with a girl named Angela. THis, when I decided to move across the country for a term, see another part of America and take classes at a different university. I ended up at Northern Arizona University (Go Lumberjacks! ) in Flagstaff, AZ.


This was an incredible adventure that I got to go on and Arizona will always have a place in my heart. Last time I saw Angela was 8 years ago when J & I moved from Rhode Island to Oregon and took a 2 month roadtrip to do it. We stopped in Flag, where Ang was finishing up school and visited for a while. Turns out we had some Exoploder, I mean Explorer repairs so this was one of the stops where we stayed the longest. We kept touch via mail for a couple years and eventually lost touch. When I found out I was going to Scottsdale I immediatly thought of Ang since that is her home of origin. I had her parents info but the phone number didn't work (little did I know that the greater Phoenix/Scottsdale area had changed their area code ). I did internet searches and discovered you can find out a lot of stuff about people if you are willing to pay for it...kinda scary. But to no avail, every number I found, even one for her brother turned up a dead end. So I gave up for a few days and then decided that I would make one last attempt and send a card to her parents address and see if it would work. Nothing. More than a week went by so I lost hope.


Monday morning, day of trip, at the airport telling my colleague this very story and how I wished I had found my friend and then with15 minutes til boarding the plane, like it was meant to be, voilla, my phone rings , it is Angela!!!! Yay!

We made contact! And we got to see each other several times and hang out. She took me on a hike that embarrasingly kicked my ars!


Pinnacle Peak

What you can't see in this illusional picture is the second ascent/descent on the other side that is the contnuation of the trail to its endpoint where you turn around and do the double ascent/descents again. This was 6:30 in the morning, but let me tell you it pretty darn hot already and I would bet that by the time my sorry butt made it back to start it was 90 degrees already.


AZ Wildlife...Mr. Lizard, biggest one I have seen in the wild.