Is my cape fluttering?

Wishing you a Happy and Safe Fourth!

We're off to the island to visit my dad who I've not seen in 9 months! He does the Arizona thing in the winter...

The good thing is that it's quiet and private out there. The last two days have been filled with some HUGE thunder and lightening storms and the annual illegal fireworks courtesy of our nutty neighbors. We've discovered that both of these things make Maddie a basket case, so I'm hoping she'll get her groove back out on the island!

Hope your holiday is safe and festive! See you tomorrow!

Hey! I said Private not Pirate!

K3 thought he really might be Jack Sparrow!

She has a bit of a "thing" for C'ptn Jack. I think this guy had been practicing!

Llama Land!

It being Mother's Day and all, TOG went out and got me a new hiking pack. We've been accumulating hiking gear throughout the spring with high hopes of the weather turning lovely and us being able to actually use it! So I was pretty jazzed.

On Sunday after I made breakfast, we hopped in the truck and headed for the mountains. I knew my leg wasn't up to a traditional hike, but we were hoping to do something easy just to start the season.

Other than my concerns about my leg, the biggest reaction to getting back in the woods is discovering how much you've missed it!

I'm running short on time this morning, so I'll only post a couple of pictures. Tonight I'll do a better job of a) getting more of the pictures ready to post and b) telling the story of what happened when we got to the top! No... the lungs were well behaved the whole way!

But first, a few simple truths:

Trees are amazing, and some folks look awesome in the woods.

Other folks look fat as a cow, more so than two or three layers of clothes can account for.

The views are dizzying.

Asthmagirl out!

PS ~ Who's a crappy Mother-in-law? I am! I am! I forgot to wish my Son-in-law Happy Birthday today. The kids reminded me when they were over last night, but my obsession with the Mother's Day Deadliest Catch Marathon prevented the information from sinking into the "checklist" portion of my brain... Either that or I'm still in a stupor from that huge piece of chocolate cake K1 made me eat last night. Yeah... that's it.

Happy Birthday J! We're thrilled that you're part of our family! I know I can always count on you to put a dent in any feast I set out! Congratulations on still being a young-un!

Happy Easter!

A wish for the happiest of Easters to all of you, no matter how you celebrate or what meaning the holiday may have for you!

In times past, TOG and I would have been up hiding eggs and baskets for our three girls. Yesterday, we were reassuring each other that those times would come again! (Grand babies!) Today, I have the joy of cooking for two of them and my son-in-law and my niece and her tribe. K2 is off in Arizona with her fella, laying by the pool at my Dad's house!

In other news, the sore throat is holding steady, and the ears are getting sore... however *duh duh DUH* the Pulmicort has save the lungs again and I'm breathing better than yesterday. I can't help but reminisce about the days of yore when my immune system actually threw an elbow at passing germs or gave the occasional knee to the ... well, you know. Now days, it has the door propped open and the kettle on in case a virus should wander by. *sigh*

It being March, and a holiday, you get *ta-duh* two Easter lists!

Shopping list:

• apples
• limes
• Pineapple
• eggs
• honey mustard
• relish
• potatoes
• smoked ham
• oatmeal
• cheese
• whipped cream
• caramel
• dinner rolls

Dinner list:

• Smoked ham
• garlic mashed potatoes with gravy
• steamed broccoli
• Pineapple
• Waldorf salad
• dinner rolls
• deviled eggs
• And for dessert... Atomic Pie!

I wish I felt well enough or had enough time today to do Noble Pig's Chocolate Stout cake, but I will soon, I can promise you!

A very merry Easter to all y'all out there!

PS ~ L, if you and your crew want to be here around 11:30, that would be great!

Loves

After my peeve yesterday with interchangable words (even though it was coupled with books I love), I wanted to head in a little cheerier direction today. This post deals with things I love.

New Books

Maddie's smile

Peanut Butter

The spot on Cassie's front paw

The mountain (even if I can't climb it)

Irish pubs

Weiner Mobiles

This inhaler, which is currently working miracles

The Fam

Sourdough

The Homestead

Hiking with this guy

Pie

Chihuahuas with pointy elbows

This camera

Meatballs

Outakes

Sorry Guys... Okay...no I'm not!

Home at last!

We got home last night and were so tired, the suitcases are still out in the car. I did bring the camera in, but am just now sitting down to upload the pictures.

I think if I learned anything from the trip it was that I need a lot more work with the camera. While I got some shots that I'm very happy with, I know that I have a limited capability in knowing how to make adjustments to the camera when the settings aren't working! I did learn one thing though....We were taking pictures on the trip up, when we noted that we were getting a "spot" in the same part of each picture. Of course, we didn't have a cleaning kit. So we bought one when we arrived but it wasn't the lenses. It was a piece of fuzz in the body of the camera. Fortunately the manual guided me through the process, but there for a while it was like surgery in the hotel room!

I did find myself fascinated by the light at the Southern end of the island. Here are two examples...

The pictures are still downloading... I'm supposing this could take awhile. I'll try to post more today.... after a shower and some laundry!

Ooh... one more!

I've got to photo shop some of these!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from everyone at Asthmagirl's house.

From left K1, K1's spousal unit, K3, TOG, Asthmagirl, K2, K2's longtime boyfriend (he's all but family) and of course the Chihuahuas!

Thanks for hanging out with us. Hope all of you have the opportunity to spend time with family and friends and count your blessings!

Peace and happiness to all of you!

Asthmagirl

Take your best guess!

Hello and welcome to Take Your Best Guess! That excellent holiday game that provides hours of entertainment, thrills and good old fashioned merriment! Fun for the whole family!!!!

And unlike Christmas cookies, will not clog your arteries or add 5 pounds. In fact 4 out of 5 dentists actually recommend Take Your Best Guess to prevent cavities and whiten and brighten your smile. [editor's note: we're actually checking with asthmagirl's dentist on this one. It sounds too good to be true...]

So, pull up a computer chair and Take Your Best Guess!

Now, to preface, last night we did the reshoot of our holiday portrait. I am currently photoshopping the good ones. One however, stood out as the most ridiculous, hysterical portrait I've ever taken. I had to check with the people in the picture to see what happened. The trick here will be for ya'll to guess what caused this:

I know it's not much to go on, but hopefully it will keep ya'll entertained while I take my wheezy lungs to the football game. I'll check the answers when I get home.

Now, this being the first guessing contest that I've had, no prizes. I know, but you'll get mad props and bragging rights and you'll have living proof that you have "special powers". Maybe you can work your way up to telling me what is in the box TOG has hidden in his office????

So, see you all around 6pm Pacfic.

BTW, from the left, Oldest K1, Middle K2, TOG, Youngest K3. And no one in the picture is eligible to guess. Got that K1?

Warning label

Due to lack of oxygen and energy, the following cautionery statements are in effect between now and Christmas. Compliance is optional but encouraged.

1. If you need a gift for someone, please provide more than 5 minutes notice
2. If you require cookies for third period, the time to tell me is NOT when I am finishing baking the cookies I need
3. If I am preparing food for my potluck, and you remember that you need food also....you get what I don't need, not your selection of goodies
4. If you leave your cookies out and your father eats some please be prepared to take a few less
5. If you are not able to bake on my schedule, I understand. I may not be available to bake on yours either... but I'll try
6. If you're not sure what your plans are for Christmas dinner, I am not sure I'm preparing one... but I am still open to the idea!
7. I am done with my shopping and have no desire to go the mall. This is why I finish early

Things I am available for:

1. trips to the brewpub
2. holiday movies
3. puppy cuddling
4. photoshoots
5. drives to the mountains to see the snow
6. non fat green tea lattes from Starbucks
7. Swedish massage

[editor's note: we reserve the right to make changes to the list at anytime. However, we will not be going to the mall no matter what.]

Thanks

Thanks to those that voted. We have the winners and today I'll be completing the holiday newsletter, following the group portrait of the humans in the family. Um, we don't have holiday costumes, so no worries that there will be a follow up contest to see which of us is more festive! Anyway, the winners!

In the group shot, it was Holiday two:

And in the pairs competition, pair three swept the ratings:

Thanks for playing sort those chihuahua pictures!

Blog interupted

* We interrupt the regularly scheduled blog posting because we have been *tagged* to reveal 12 random Christmas related facts about ourselves. We're not even sure we have 12 but supposing that we meet the quota, this should annihilate what little readership we do have!

1. I am a fanatic about the wrapping paper. Poor TOG (the old goat) has bought paper from 3 years ago that is still sitting in the closet. Dear man.... it must be foil. Typically red or gold foil wrap, occasionally green. He bought a huge roll of blue and silver last year. I'm just using it because I want to get rid of it.

2. I am not a fan of glass ornaments. Maybe because the tree has gone over a few too many times? I use mostly wooden, wire and fabric.

3. The vision for the tree was to go Victorian with a gold and ivory tone. I am considering throwing a dark mauve or maroon as a highlight.

4. You probably don't want to go ornament shopping with me. TOG is the only one that can handle it. "Look honey, an ornament store" and then "you didn't buy anything? Are you sure there was nothing that fit the vision"? TOG talked me into buying the giant gold harp shown in the tree post.

5. Despite my lapsed Catholicness and all, I'm very sentimental about the holidays. Thankful for my family, friends, coworkers... I LOVE getting my family together and cooking for them. I enjoy giving to the food bank, toys for tots, always giving to bell ringers. My kids know I'm a sap around the holidays. It's all about family and giving for me.

6. My oldest married someone who had never celebrated Christmas. He's on the bandwagon now. I don't know why. It's either a) he enjoys my cooking and knows he has to participate in the whole thing if he wants to eat. b) he gets how full of merry and ho-ho my daughter is and doesn't want to disappoint her. or c) he realizes how important it is to show up at 5 am to open all the socks I bought him (he loves socks, seriously)

7. I'm an excellent gift giver. If you are on my list, I will take the time to find out what makes your heart beat faster. I will spy, torture your friends for inside information, stalk you while you shop, whatever it takes. It will the best gift ever. You will be happy. You will!

8. I hate filling stockings. As the official shopper and wrapper, I'm done by the time I place the last present under the tree on Christmas Eve. Whatever happened to giving the kids a switch and a chunk of coal?

[editors note: am I done yet? I'm running out of stuff]

9. I have mad cookie skilz. I used to bake professionally for a cookie company 3 nights per week when I was staying home with my youngest daughter. My mom left me some excellent recipes and I totally rock it. I'm always looking for new cookies to add, but they have to meet some pretty stringent standards. For the past several years my goal has been to be a kinder gentler cookie baker and just enjoy it, but I really get a charge out of thrilling the family (and co workers) with cookies.

10. I like eggnog. But at 3000 calories per sip, I'll pass. I don't get the eggnog latte thing. But the gingerbread lattes at starbucks are quite good.

11. I do 80-90% of my shopping online. I have grown to hate the mall and the parking lots full of exhaust and all the scents and the smells. After being visited by the asthma gods 5 years ago, it's just amazing to my airways the amount of artificial scent that retailers throw at Christmas.

12. When the kids were younger, we used to throw them in the van and drive until we found snow so that they'd feel festive. One year, we found snow but it was a little slushy underneath. TOG had his head out the window and was yelling about how wonderful it was. Then the UPS truck passed us going 80 (it was Christmas Eve) and slush flew through the open window all the way to the back of the Van, soaking everyone. I had some dry coats upfront... we had to strip the wet kids down and bundle them up in just coats for the ride home. This is one of the funny family stories we share on Christmas eve get togethers.

I'm done! Undomestic Diva... here's a little attitude for you!