tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4630959435853151332024-03-13T14:12:00.612-07:00the mental travelerMonicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490914008694995917noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463095943585315133.post-6477442063421915402012-04-19T19:49:00.001-07:002012-04-19T19:49:27.670-07:00Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490914008694995917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463095943585315133.post-40821760490867693872012-04-19T19:41:00.004-07:002012-04-19T19:49:05.255-07:00mother earth is waking up!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nyx1k792e84/T5DOYKTvixI/AAAAAAAAAUs/xBmAuh6k6UI/s1600/IMG_4651.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nyx1k792e84/T5DOYKTvixI/AAAAAAAAAUs/xBmAuh6k6UI/s200/IMG_4651.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733309240121985810" /></a>look what she does....she just makes the prettiest things.....Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490914008694995917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463095943585315133.post-67977410567410423312011-11-05T19:01:00.000-07:002011-11-05T19:11:45.692-07:00harvesting the christmas soup mix<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZhwPVA3NOOY/TrXsxpPChBI/AAAAAAAAAUg/eYLOyeWGH34/s1600/IMG_3800.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZhwPVA3NOOY/TrXsxpPChBI/AAAAAAAAAUg/eYLOyeWGH34/s200/IMG_3800.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671699643369686034" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_a_oJ4knY2o/TrXsxOT_moI/AAAAAAAAAUU/cMxr9zokKuw/s1600/IMG_3875.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_a_oJ4knY2o/TrXsxOT_moI/AAAAAAAAAUU/cMxr9zokKuw/s200/IMG_3875.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671699636142709378" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Q2yZmRBTHY/TrXswzSE6-I/AAAAAAAAAUI/yWgjL8RgaG0/s1600/IMG_3878.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Q2yZmRBTHY/TrXswzSE6-I/AAAAAAAAAUI/yWgjL8RgaG0/s200/IMG_3878.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671699628886911970" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s-Ac20IBy_I/TrXswXDBx8I/AAAAAAAAAT8/_S048thKT5Q/s1600/IMG_3877.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s-Ac20IBy_I/TrXswXDBx8I/AAAAAAAAAT8/_S048thKT5Q/s200/IMG_3877.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671699621307598786" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZshvkI4IUds/TrXswHqgQWI/AAAAAAAAATw/j_FmcWYguYE/s1600/IMG_3876.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZshvkI4IUds/TrXswHqgQWI/AAAAAAAAATw/j_FmcWYguYE/s200/IMG_3876.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671699617178206562" /></a><br />every year since i moved to this (my first) house, i have planted a beautiful garden in the yard. i find weeding and loving and pruning to be therapeutic, and it makes me feel like i am doing something positive. one of my favorite things to do with my harvest is dehydrating the herbs and vegetables to make an organic, healthy soup base that i give away at christmas time in gift baskets. i have created a monster, as everyone who finds out about this requests a jar, and now it is all i can do to make enough if i work hard at it all summer! next year, i will need to expand my operation just to keep up!Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490914008694995917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463095943585315133.post-1017033036808566222011-09-24T14:20:00.000-07:002011-09-24T14:28:08.649-07:00Autumn in the Secret Garden<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4CLyi25p0Tc/Tn5LWzT6aFI/AAAAAAAAATo/qiN0ccut4-w/s1600/IMG_3951.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4CLyi25p0Tc/Tn5LWzT6aFI/AAAAAAAAATo/qiN0ccut4-w/s200/IMG_3951.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656041037126854738" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WYdsp917qcg/Tn5LW81QREI/AAAAAAAAATg/w_3fz3e3fx4/s1600/IMG_3952.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WYdsp917qcg/Tn5LW81QREI/AAAAAAAAATg/w_3fz3e3fx4/s200/IMG_3952.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656041039682618434" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z0zbdVKU45s/Tn5LWgU-rFI/AAAAAAAAATY/utKFPAIeLWw/s1600/IMG_3950.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z0zbdVKU45s/Tn5LWgU-rFI/AAAAAAAAATY/utKFPAIeLWw/s200/IMG_3950.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656041032031054930" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AHDL9N8kZKU/Tn5LWTmB8KI/AAAAAAAAATQ/g8vqzuQ3arU/s1600/IMG_3949.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AHDL9N8kZKU/Tn5LWTmB8KI/AAAAAAAAATQ/g8vqzuQ3arU/s200/IMG_3949.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656041028612911266" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-12YmBYpvLpc/Tn5LWI-ydII/AAAAAAAAATI/GHHTXs-nIPQ/s1600/IMG_3948.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-12YmBYpvLpc/Tn5LWI-ydII/AAAAAAAAATI/GHHTXs-nIPQ/s200/IMG_3948.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656041025763964034" /></a><br />i decided it was time to take the final photos of the secret garden before the early frost stole the beauty away...last two years i have been caught off guard and sorely dissappointed! Not this time mother nature, not this time!Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490914008694995917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463095943585315133.post-19218106985459316912011-09-16T12:02:00.000-07:002011-09-16T12:16:12.431-07:00100 days til CHRISTMAS!!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7XjCnQmDvaQ/TnOgZk2uanI/AAAAAAAAATA/mv65DbCa-YY/s1600/IMG_2449.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7XjCnQmDvaQ/TnOgZk2uanI/AAAAAAAAATA/mv65DbCa-YY/s320/IMG_2449.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653038318530488946" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NrfDyAQqzI4/TnOgZaysl3I/AAAAAAAAAS4/q53lw7GNGPk/s1600/IMG_2101.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NrfDyAQqzI4/TnOgZaysl3I/AAAAAAAAAS4/q53lw7GNGPk/s320/IMG_2101.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653038315829237618" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WtF14bW9dtw/TnOgZEBtxGI/AAAAAAAAASw/gLeJRI1wVWU/s1600/IMG_2942.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WtF14bW9dtw/TnOgZEBtxGI/AAAAAAAAASw/gLeJRI1wVWU/s320/IMG_2942.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653038309718213730" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m1NMeHK_dfQ/TnOgY2FQAhI/AAAAAAAAASo/qkGA200Ir1A/s1600/p_MWL444799.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m1NMeHK_dfQ/TnOgY2FQAhI/AAAAAAAAASo/qkGA200Ir1A/s320/p_MWL444799.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653038305974944274" /></a><br />im dreaming of a white christmas, chestnuts roasting on an open fire, jingle bells, jingle bells, oh holy night, jolly ol' saint nicolas, we three kings, rudolf the red nose reindeer, i saw mommy kissing santa clause, let it snow let it snow let it snow!!! my favorite time of the year!! time to make the christmas cards (yes, MAKE), time to start collecting sugar and molasses and cinnamon and chocolate! time to start sewing, and stamping and painting and snowing!! snow snow snow...snow snow snow...if i think it enough, it will start to snow!! yay!! whooohoooo!! 100 days til christmas!!<div><br /></div><div>if you cant tell, im kinda excited.....:)</div>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490914008694995917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463095943585315133.post-70472937070649676772011-08-30T21:05:00.000-07:002011-08-30T21:16:46.046-07:00What the f.....<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-frLYjze5n9U/Tl21dV4nWfI/AAAAAAAAASY/OORSzzlkvHY/s1600/IMG_3317.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 298px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-frLYjze5n9U/Tl21dV4nWfI/AAAAAAAAASY/OORSzzlkvHY/s320/IMG_3317.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646869023487908338" /></a>
<br />aww crap, i did it again! how does so much time pass without me knowing it? a minute ago, i planted mint, basil and sage in my garden, went to the first festival of the season, and planned all these awesome things i would do this summer, which included but are not limited to: going to portland to see my beloved pacific ocean, (oh, and sarah, delaney, elliot and jake too) losing 20 pounds, getting a WICKED awesome sandal tan, and taking the baby (yes, the hairy 16 year old with a drivers license) someplace fun for a holiday. now its the next to last day of august, and the only thing accomplished is a pathetic little barely noticeable sandal tan....where does the time go? before i know it, there will be frost on the pumpkin, and little hooligans will be ringing my doorbell asking for candy!! good thing too, because as all of you who know me, know that my favorite season is the one thats just around the corner!! Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490914008694995917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463095943585315133.post-88156311340548266942011-06-24T13:54:00.000-07:002011-06-24T14:07:44.766-07:00time goes by so fast....<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pk7dR1nX72w/TgT8cMUVWdI/AAAAAAAAASQ/izkYN4DZ3pc/s1600/IMG_3311.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pk7dR1nX72w/TgT8cMUVWdI/AAAAAAAAASQ/izkYN4DZ3pc/s320/IMG_3311.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621895796138269138" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wy5iwq7J2gg/TgT8by_KWXI/AAAAAAAAASI/S6o1Sa5TP4g/s1600/IMG_3313.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 303px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wy5iwq7J2gg/TgT8by_KWXI/AAAAAAAAASI/S6o1Sa5TP4g/s320/IMG_3313.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621895789338581362" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1PLpS00jofY/TgT8bpNG-sI/AAAAAAAAASA/zhHaoJ9m2rQ/s1600/IMG_2836.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1PLpS00jofY/TgT8bpNG-sI/AAAAAAAAASA/zhHaoJ9m2rQ/s320/IMG_2836.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621895786712726210" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dpblEL8VLhQ/TgT8bdx7d3I/AAAAAAAAAR4/6MIUeZwHdjE/s1600/IMG_3093.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dpblEL8VLhQ/TgT8bdx7d3I/AAAAAAAAAR4/6MIUeZwHdjE/s320/IMG_3093.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621895783645935474" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6F02SiRyo50/TgT8bI8CPPI/AAAAAAAAARw/rpzRauOg1ls/s1600/PIC_0510.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6F02SiRyo50/TgT8bI8CPPI/AAAAAAAAARw/rpzRauOg1ls/s320/PIC_0510.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621895778051177714" /></a><br />so, once again, time has gotten away from me...so much has happened! rebecca and her boys came back to SLC to live...YAY!! sarah, jake and the girls came out for a week in may...YAY!! david and hali bought a CUTE little house with a giant backyard perfect for our new favorite past time, "slacking", YAY!! and the cabana boy, the "baby" (the huge hairy 16 year old that once was my premie) and i went to the first festival of the season! YAY!! summer and all its beer/wine tasting is here!! YAY YAY YAY!!!Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490914008694995917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463095943585315133.post-80613876306658484072011-03-21T11:40:00.000-07:002011-03-21T11:43:42.856-07:00Organic Oatmeal Banana Muffins....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bTxU4N9xl1A/TYecFfifFLI/AAAAAAAAARg/EBSPRQwzeQI/s1600/IMG_2406.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bTxU4N9xl1A/TYecFfifFLI/AAAAAAAAARg/EBSPRQwzeQI/s320/IMG_2406.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586605480955810994" /></a>YUM! Im just saying...they didnt last very long. :(Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490914008694995917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463095943585315133.post-63715190914759585412010-10-18T11:46:00.000-07:002010-10-18T11:50:17.795-07:00Support the New Company!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TLyW2oaYplI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/ieL6NvTP_qw/s1600/photo.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TLyW2oaYplI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/ieL6NvTP_qw/s320/photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529460307809314386" /></a><br />www.odeeworld.com Outdoor enthusiasts!! Go here, order something cool, and support a couple of entrepreneurs!!Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490914008694995917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463095943585315133.post-52194924479877645042010-09-10T19:16:00.000-07:002010-09-10T19:32:21.946-07:00First Harvest<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TIrqGMy-MCI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/a6gbSQa5oF4/s1600/photo.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TIrqGMy-MCI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/a6gbSQa5oF4/s320/photo.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515478085903724578" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TIrqFiZJXuI/AAAAAAAAAQs/Agwsz9q4c-Q/s1600/IMG_1728.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TIrqFiZJXuI/AAAAAAAAAQs/Agwsz9q4c-Q/s320/IMG_1728.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515478074521116386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TIrqFOvQifI/AAAAAAAAAQk/cXhHX0DYUiw/s1600/IMG_1727.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TIrqFOvQifI/AAAAAAAAAQk/cXhHX0DYUiw/s320/IMG_1727.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515478069245151730" /></a><br />oh, tomatoes! i love beautiful tomatoes! cherry, plum, roma, hot house, golden, early girl, beefsteak....you name it, and chances are, I have planted it!! i have made sundried tomoatos, dehydrated them for tomato powder, made spagetti sauce, pizza sauce, tomato soup, green tomato salsa, green tomato/apricot preserves, yellow tomato/peach salsa, etc.etc.etc....and this year, i planted 4 new varieties i havent planted before!! and look!! my first harvest...so pretty!!Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490914008694995917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463095943585315133.post-20535127320482275532010-07-27T10:14:00.000-07:002010-07-27T10:50:07.869-07:00new company, new outlook...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TE8b8oP184I/AAAAAAAAAPs/RgfcOSO31KE/s1600/MJsmaller-3.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TE8b8oP184I/AAAAAAAAAPs/RgfcOSO31KE/s320/MJsmaller-3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498644398452634498" /></a><br /><div> so the new company, <a href="http://www.odeeworld.com/">www.odeeworld.com</a> is up and running. we're working on getting exposure, increasing sales, and perfecting the brand...so i was thinking, this is an outdoor lifestyles company, and im an outdoor girl, why not start acting like it again? </div><div> when i lived in portland, my best friends club, "the dirty dozen" and i were outdoors whenever we weren't working! weeknights-at the river after work, weekends-lake billy chinook, the river, the ocean, the mountain, riding our jetski's, hiking or a the very least, having a BBQ at the park. </div><div> since i moved to utah, i've become kind of an indoor girl...not quite sure how that happened, except that my cabana boy is kind of an indoor girl!! (no, seriously, even he says so!!) but, lucky for me, he is usually pretty easy to get on board with whatever tickles my fancy at the time. at the time THIS time, its me wanting to be credible in this outdoor lifestyles company i am a part of. so, we bought a truck (you gotta have a way to cart all your outdoor gear around, right?) and we bought a roof rack and bike rack for the truck (cabana boy wants to keep the truck nice...so compartments for everything...) and we bought mountain bikes! </div><div> dont ask me what brand, because i really didnt pay attention to that...we had a price range, not cheap, but not state of the art...we need to break ourselves in before we buy the top of the line, right? </div><div> so...last night, we got the bikes out and went on our first ride! only 2 miles, mostly even terrain, but hey! you gotta start somewhere! all i know is, it was fun, felt great to be out, (the seat is smaller than i remember, or is my butt bigger? DONT answer that...) my legs were jelly when we got back, and i cant wait to go back out again tonight! </div><div> the goal is to get comfortable with an 8 mile ride...thats how far my office is from my house, and before the summer is over, i want to ride my bike to work. thats my goal, and im sticking to it...stay tuned! i will keep you posted..... </div><div> ok, look, thats not me in the photo, but i don't have a photo of me with my bike! thats sarah, my daughter, and she looks EXACTLY like me...only taller. ;)</div>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490914008694995917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463095943585315133.post-37427167293930606492010-07-14T09:15:00.000-07:002010-07-14T15:57:30.782-07:00how i spend my days....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TD4N-1H_YcI/AAAAAAAAAPk/dqd5LoFrmhs/s1600/photo.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TD4N-1H_YcI/AAAAAAAAAPk/dqd5LoFrmhs/s320/photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493843968502227394" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TD4N-gP3_SI/AAAAAAAAAPc/KRgXXsh8po0/s1600/Odee+Pumpkin+3.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TD4N-gP3_SI/AAAAAAAAAPc/KRgXXsh8po0/s320/Odee+Pumpkin+3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493843962898152738" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TD4N-Qr8KcI/AAAAAAAAAPU/6PQBjQrzB1U/s1600/IMG_0559.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TD4N-Qr8KcI/AAAAAAAAAPU/6PQBjQrzB1U/s320/IMG_0559.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493843958720899522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TD4N9-TOxLI/AAAAAAAAAPM/sb7vvmTc-B8/s1600/Odee+Conference+Room.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TD4N9-TOxLI/AAAAAAAAAPM/sb7vvmTc-B8/s320/Odee+Conference+Room.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493843953785423026" /></a><br />so by now you all know that i have been working on a project with a friend from my former life as a Designer at a high end custom home cabinet company. we have been working on this business for about a year now, and we are finally starting to see some love! we launched our website on earth day 2010, and so far we have made a decent splash! heres what you need to know:<div>we were in the construction sector...</div><div>the housing market crashed...</div><div>i got laid off, he hadn't dug a hole in over a year...</div><div>im creative, he is a dreamer...</div><div>we get along great...</div><div>we are experiencing equal parts fun and stress...</div><div>we hired a great web guy/art designer in January...</div><div>we need everyone's support!!</div><div><br /></div><div>please go to <a href="http://www.odeeworld.com">http://odeeworld.com</a>, surf around, facebook share anything you like (its easy, we have links!!) buy a little something if you can spare the cash, and give us some feed back!! </div><div><br /></div><div>oh, and if you love to play outdoors, go to <a href="http://www.imakeitextreme.com">www.imakeitextreme.com</a> and show us your photos!! we would love to have you with us!!</div><div><br /></div>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490914008694995917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463095943585315133.post-82556201718261619902010-07-07T19:33:00.000-07:002010-07-07T20:02:14.329-07:00Sweet Ass Independence Day Weekend...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TDU_mW9sSzI/AAAAAAAAAPE/ogiKsGk3VZU/s1600/photo.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TDU_mW9sSzI/AAAAAAAAAPE/ogiKsGk3VZU/s320/photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491365248880102194" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TDU_mDNsteI/AAAAAAAAAO8/hGOYrxsRRO0/s1600/photo.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TDU_mDNsteI/AAAAAAAAAO8/hGOYrxsRRO0/s320/photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491365243578529250" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TDU_lrI4syI/AAAAAAAAAO0/jM5oFR6nB_c/s1600/photo.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TDU_lrI4syI/AAAAAAAAAO0/jM5oFR6nB_c/s320/photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491365237115892514" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TDU_lSYSoqI/AAAAAAAAAOs/3ql53soZa4E/s1600/photo.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TDU_lSYSoqI/AAAAAAAAAOs/3ql53soZa4E/s320/photo.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491365230469620386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TDU_k0LIrZI/AAAAAAAAAOk/b6hdcoTUAvw/s1600/photo.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TDU_k0LIrZI/AAAAAAAAAOk/b6hdcoTUAvw/s320/photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491365222361378194" /></a><br />i'm a yankee doodle dandy, and independence day is kinda a big deal for me...i usually have a big shindig in the back yard that involves bocci, and ladder ball, or frisbee golf, pasta salad, corn on the cobb, and pie... but this year, my cabana boy and i found ourselves all alone, (Sarah, Becca, David and Christian, this is meant to make you feel guilty!!) so, we decided to spend TWO whole days running from antique shop to farmers market to brewery and back! sooooo completely exhausting, but so much fun!! we got a little taste of what it might be like when we're retired and have free time to chase the sun, or sleep til noon, or drink a few too many beers!! it was really nice! but...for now, i'm glad we don't have an empty nest quite yet...still, we really had a GR8 weekend!!Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490914008694995917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463095943585315133.post-29112555294470420092010-06-30T20:35:00.000-07:002010-06-30T20:47:52.636-07:00Family and the Pacific Northwest...a little piece of heaven on Earth!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TCwPy5adQ-I/AAAAAAAAAOc/gF7ImR5fJaw/s1600/IMG_1375.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TCwPy5adQ-I/AAAAAAAAAOc/gF7ImR5fJaw/s200/IMG_1375.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488779412937458658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TCwOcYvswTI/AAAAAAAAAOU/oi-oF1mRsCs/s1600/IMG_1421.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TCwOcYvswTI/AAAAAAAAAOU/oi-oF1mRsCs/s200/IMG_1421.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488777926699434290" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TCwOcLq96QI/AAAAAAAAAOM/G8P8Tz9lFVY/s1600/IMG_1416.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TCwOcLq96QI/AAAAAAAAAOM/G8P8Tz9lFVY/s200/IMG_1416.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488777923189926146" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TCwOblIaHDI/AAAAAAAAAOE/GYh7acrebLg/s1600/IMG_1384.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TCwOblIaHDI/AAAAAAAAAOE/GYh7acrebLg/s200/IMG_1384.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488777912844426290" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TCwObGpPD3I/AAAAAAAAAN8/ZPMDgZCMfJ0/s1600/IMG_1344.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TCwObGpPD3I/AAAAAAAAAN8/ZPMDgZCMfJ0/s200/IMG_1344.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488777904660615026" /></a>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490914008694995917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463095943585315133.post-8195304241835111312010-06-01T19:24:00.000-07:002010-06-01T19:28:57.830-07:00My Secret Garden<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TAXBy_O7vOI/AAAAAAAAAN0/e5L7IXNDxts/s1600/photo.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TAXBy_O7vOI/AAAAAAAAAN0/e5L7IXNDxts/s200/photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477997603477765346" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TAXBypU8VTI/AAAAAAAAANs/hirYIpCTH6A/s1600/photo.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TAXBypU8VTI/AAAAAAAAANs/hirYIpCTH6A/s200/photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477997597597390130" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TAXByXf0miI/AAAAAAAAANk/nDtlhnO8lns/s1600/photo.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TAXByXf0miI/AAAAAAAAANk/nDtlhnO8lns/s200/photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477997592811182626" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TAXBx8gIXEI/AAAAAAAAANc/PExA8EVfBTs/s1600/photo.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TAXBx8gIXEI/AAAAAAAAANc/PExA8EVfBTs/s200/photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477997585564720194" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TAXBxhZ7CJI/AAAAAAAAANU/yP8oUcJla5M/s1600/photo.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/TAXBxhZ7CJI/AAAAAAAAANU/yP8oUcJla5M/s200/photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477997578290923666" /></a><br />june 1st, my mommy's birthday. a beautiful rainy spring day! i love how the rain sounds as it taps the ground, how the air smells of flowers and grass, how fresh and new and clean everything looks, and smells and feels! mostly, i love the way my Secret Garden gets prettier and fuller and more colorful with every new spring! just look!!Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490914008694995917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463095943585315133.post-64217987215518212162010-05-12T20:05:00.000-07:002010-05-12T20:21:32.131-07:00"running" a marathon...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/S-twLvVRHTI/AAAAAAAAANM/8PCkMkFZZGk/s1600/photo.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/S-twLvVRHTI/AAAAAAAAANM/8PCkMkFZZGk/s200/photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470589519358139698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/S-twLHHkDVI/AAAAAAAAANE/e3u4Veq89Ws/s1600/photo-3.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/S-twLHHkDVI/AAAAAAAAANE/e3u4Veq89Ws/s200/photo-3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470589508563242322" /></a><br />yeah, thats right, i "ran" a marathon! ok, by "run" i mean walked kinda fast...but i was wearing my sketchers shape ups, so it counts!! oh, and it was only a 5 k, which translated into american is 3.2 miles...so 5k sounds more impressive, but...aw crap, i forgot, we took the 2 mile turnoff (those sketchers REALLY work your buttocks and i had to pee like a race horse and the lines at the port-a-pottys was really really long,(( like i would EVER even USE a port-a-potty, right...)), but i got up at 5:00 am, and decked myself all in pink, and had my two boys with me for the 3rd year in a row, and i raised money for the cause, and it was so much fun!! its so awesome having something meaningful to do with my two awesome sons!!Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490914008694995917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463095943585315133.post-85440199463028526092010-04-29T19:27:00.000-07:002010-04-29T19:52:52.977-07:00paps hits the sauce!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/S9pF_E5vqoI/AAAAAAAAAM8/tMTHCWprf0s/s1600/Rockstar+hair+chris.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 128px; height: 120px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/S9pF_E5vqoI/AAAAAAAAAM8/tMTHCWprf0s/s200/Rockstar+hair+chris.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465758047717534338" /></a><br />so....all of you who know me know that martha stewart is my idol, and i think i am a pretty good cook! some of you think i am a pretty good cook too, or at least you say so to my face!! so, i have been working on sauces lately, teriyaki sauce, sweet and sour sauce, peanut sauce. tonight it was barbeque sauce. being the "renew, reuse recycle" type of babe, i saved the store bought bottle, and put my new "hot and spicy made from scratch" babeque sauce in the bottle. we put the chicken and steaks on the grill and waited until they were cooked to perfection. i watched with excitement as my cabana boy cut off a slab of meat, slid it luxuriously through the sauce and pushed the delicacy home!! he chewed a few times, his eyes bugged out, he wrinkled his face into an unrecognizable shape, coughed a bit, tears welling in his eyes, grabbed the bottle, read the label and said "baby! dont ever buy this brand again!! it tastes like ass!!" <div>(uncomfortable silence.................) </div><div>he looked at the 14 year old, who had an "awwww...just when i was starting to really like having you around" look on his face. he looked at me. then i said " babe, i made the sauce from scratch". cabana boy turned red, started sweating, then started giggling, then started eating chicken like it was going out of style! moral of the story...tell your cabana boy that you made the sauce BEFORE he tastes it...would save alot of choking and giggling and uncomfortable silence!!</div>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490914008694995917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463095943585315133.post-33536955246055013352010-04-08T18:41:00.000-07:002010-04-08T18:48:03.467-07:00Dinner...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/S76HSOwNmVI/AAAAAAAAAM0/WAjDXXNSZbY/s1600/photo-3.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/S76HSOwNmVI/AAAAAAAAAM0/WAjDXXNSZbY/s200/photo-3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457948545687329106" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/S76HGmljVuI/AAAAAAAAAMs/xtfRZvm9QN8/s1600/photo-5.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/S76HGmljVuI/AAAAAAAAAMs/xtfRZvm9QN8/s200/photo-5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457948345926637282" /></a><br />its spring...time to make a lighter, fresher kind of dinner! Veggies for me, steak, chicken and shrimp for my boys!! Mmmmmm good, and NO leftovers!!Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490914008694995917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463095943585315133.post-1737238914527993162010-03-24T20:08:00.000-07:002010-03-24T20:38:41.496-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/S6rasV-pGCI/AAAAAAAAAMk/ZxzSCNnO65c/s1600/IMG_0593.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/S6rasV-pGCI/AAAAAAAAAMk/ZxzSCNnO65c/s200/IMG_0593.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452410754234390562" /></a><br />hey, so its been awhile...lots of stuff going on around me. some of it good, some of it not so good. 2009 was a pretty tough year. no seriously, it was a really tough year. no drama...just real life crap. anyway, 2010 is here, and some of the 2009 stuff naturally carries over, but, all in all, i have to say, im pretty excited to see what it has to offer. i have a big case of spring fever, which for me is quite a thing...i love the snow and the winter, but this year, less snow and more winter, and well, im ready for some color. second generation baby #6 will be here in the spring, and i have garden plans, and were launching a brand new business!! yes, a start up company in a down economy...no were not crazy, just when you have lost so much, you dont have a lot to lose...makes you brave, or crazy, or whatever...makes you ACT. im acting...im breathing, moving, doing....anyway, this thing launches on april 19th, and its going to be wicked awesome...so stay tuned, and when it launches, spread the link...until then, follow my tweets at odeegirl. this is a new decade, a new chapter, a new career, and a new me...Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490914008694995917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463095943585315133.post-64540886309761578072010-01-18T20:59:00.000-08:002010-01-19T10:40:46.068-08:00He loves me...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/S1U8iak9hpI/AAAAAAAAAMc/jJpPF84Almc/s1600-h/photo.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/S1U8iak9hpI/AAAAAAAAAMc/jJpPF84Almc/s200/photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428311487812568722" /></a><br />thats all im sayin....(Naughty Monkey)Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490914008694995917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463095943585315133.post-23217426639841874792009-10-22T16:28:00.000-07:002009-10-22T16:37:59.332-07:00Frost on the pumpkin my ass, part two.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/SuDsQ--2OaI/AAAAAAAAAMM/iry1cu0de84/s1600-h/Canning+jars.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/SuDsQ--2OaI/AAAAAAAAAMM/iry1cu0de84/s200/Canning+jars.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395572130118515106" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/SuDsQge0C9I/AAAAAAAAAME/LMHQipjVifA/s1600-h/Cooking+the+Green+Tomato+Salsa.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/SuDsQge0C9I/AAAAAAAAAME/LMHQipjVifA/s200/Cooking+the+Green+Tomato+Salsa.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395572121931090898" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/SuDsQYPBRYI/AAAAAAAAAL8/GhS-r40J6gU/s1600-h/Last+of+the+2009+Tomatos.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/SuDsQYPBRYI/AAAAAAAAAL8/GhS-r40J6gU/s200/Last+of+the+2009+Tomatos.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395572119717365122" /></a><br />so, remember last year, when an early frost about mid october dashed my hopes and dreams of having a martha stewart garden? and i had, oh...about 50 pounds of green tomatos to deal with? well...it happened again!! early frost...mid october...50 MORE pounds of green tomatos!! this year, i made green tomato-peach-jalepeno salsa!! it turned out soooooo goood!! i made 24 quarts of it!! guess what everyone is getting for Christmas???Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490914008694995917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463095943585315133.post-91399758900793673272009-09-26T17:19:00.000-07:002009-09-26T17:39:19.704-07:00Autumn, and the coming of the cold wind...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/Sr60LjPt1RI/AAAAAAAAALc/epPgLSPrzAk/s1600-h/Photo-0149-2.jpeg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/Sr60LjPt1RI/AAAAAAAAALc/epPgLSPrzAk/s320/Photo-0149-2.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385940314914411794" /></a><br />unbelievable...another late september already. today, my cabana boy, my teenager and my mother took a drive to the big cottonwood canyon, in this beautiful state we live in to check out the changing of the colors!! its a right of passage, that the sea of green that are the millions of trees in the canyon for two or three short weeks get to slowly change into individuals. first one or two, then more, until finally, if you stop long enough to really look, you can count and count and count and never ever stop!! the sun was kissing our faces, and the cool breeze brought goose bumps to our arms and barely detectable every now and then, the smell of wood smoke drifted by as we looked out across the Silver Lake. what an amazing day....god is great!!Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490914008694995917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463095943585315133.post-8962005041768011982009-08-21T23:25:00.000-07:002009-08-21T23:33:33.168-07:00Gardening 101<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/So-RB6A1BNI/AAAAAAAAAKM/pw5oRZOgFb0/s1600-h/first+harvest+of+Peppers,+2009.jpeg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/So-RB6A1BNI/AAAAAAAAAKM/pw5oRZOgFb0/s200/first+harvest+of+Peppers,+2009.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372672342414918866" /></a><br />so, its the middle of august, and its supposed to be really hot, but we have been having some really autumnal weather...wet spring, superduper hot summer, then early fall. so i am wondering how this is all going to effect my garden. ( some of you may remember how i had my hopes and dreams of a martha stewart garden last year dashed by an early frost that killed ALL of my tomatos?...) i read somewhere that if you want a bumper tomato crop, you had to sort of parch the little plants in late july, throw them into survival mode, otherwise known as fruit bearing!! so i tried that, and voilah!! tons and tons of pretty little yellow flowers!! yay!! late summer fruint!! poor little vines can hardly hold their heads up!! but the peppers are what i am most excited about right now!! i planted "chocolate", yellow and red, and they are finally starting to show some promise!! LOOK!!Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490914008694995917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463095943585315133.post-35595398792487106552009-08-15T12:35:00.000-07:002009-08-15T12:38:00.531-07:00Jack Turns 4!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/SocOkRP0HuI/AAAAAAAAAI4/c3rTmvpWuwQ/s1600-h/Jacks+Pupcake.jpeg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/SocOkRP0HuI/AAAAAAAAAI4/c3rTmvpWuwQ/s320/Jacks+Pupcake.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370277096930418402" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/SocOjCmF4VI/AAAAAAAAAIw/Aj7eb8KMTDk/s1600-h/The+Pupcakes.jpeg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/SocOjCmF4VI/AAAAAAAAAIw/Aj7eb8KMTDk/s320/The+Pupcakes.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370277075817455954" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/SocOixGtEDI/AAAAAAAAAIo/tZ1lGUiSiic/s1600-h/Birthday+Boy.jpeg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/SocOixGtEDI/AAAAAAAAAIo/tZ1lGUiSiic/s320/Birthday+Boy.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370277071122403378" /></a><br />well as dogs go , jacks a jewel!! today he turns 4 years old, so i made him some "pupcakes"!! needless to say, he loved them!! happy birthday jack!!Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490914008694995917noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463095943585315133.post-86519544367344154562009-08-08T16:42:00.000-07:002009-08-08T17:19:29.320-07:00Excuse me, do you have the time?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/Sn4WAzKIz4I/AAAAAAAAAHM/o4kwcbPMe2g/s1600-h/Little+climbers.jpeg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/Sn4WAzKIz4I/AAAAAAAAAHM/o4kwcbPMe2g/s200/Little+climbers.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367752008860749698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/Sn4WAcrwLlI/AAAAAAAAAHE/34RQbGno5Wg/s1600-h/The+Beautiful+Sea.jpeg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/Sn4WAcrwLlI/AAAAAAAAAHE/34RQbGno5Wg/s200/The+Beautiful+Sea.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367752002827726418" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/Sn4WAP7mLmI/AAAAAAAAAG8/y2-grttShLY/s1600-h/Jesse%27s+Sandcastle.jpeg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 80px; height: 60px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6ZLxUeo-4XA/Sn4WAP7mLmI/AAAAAAAAAG8/y2-grttShLY/s200/Jesse%27s+Sandcastle.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367751999404519010" /></a><br />so its been about 4 months since i last came here. so much has happened. for one thing, i no longer work!! that's right. i got a much needed vaca in the form of a layoff. who lays off their sales staff? only a complete moron, or the captain of the titanic!! ICE BERG!! DEAD AHEAD!! PON PON! PON PON! PON PON!! well, he ain't no sea captain...that's all i'm saying. <div><br /><div>on the upside, and believe me, there is so much more of an upside than anything else here, i am getting to spend my very first summer ever with christian, my 14 year old son!! we are having a ball. yep, i busy myself around the house until around NOON when he decides to get out of bed and join the living. then its on!! he is a GR8 kid, doesn't even complain when i make him follow me around hobby lobby for 2 hours. we have caught a few matinees, spent countless hours in the garden, and quite a few hours at Guitar Center. he has been mowing lawns for spending money, and has managed to collect 5 guitars!! </div><div><br /></div><div>oh, and speaking of my garden...i doubled the size of last years garden, and i think i may have to double it again next year!! (my dad rototilled the entire back yard one year for our garden...we all thought he was nuts, but i am starting to see how this can happen...) i only planted things that we would actually use, no rutabagas, or okra...just tomatoes, zucchini, bell peppers, rhubarb, carrots, sweet corn, pumpkins and sage, basil and mint! loving it so far! its so pretty, and very healthy. sure hope we don't get an early frost again this year. </div><div><br /></div><div>I just returned home from my beloved Portland. i was there for 4 days, and as luck would have it, we made it to the beautiful coast, spent the day at our families favorite spot, "hug point", building sand castles, collecting seashells, and splashing around in the sea. just a little bid of heaven! it was awesome getting to spend time with my 2 daughters, 2 brothers, and 4 second generation children that live far away, delaney, elliot, fisher and truman. wish they could all live here with me and my 5th one, bryar!! </div><div><br /></div><div>well, enough of this game of catch up for now...i will do better in the future. i am getting ready to launch a little online business...so watch!! Jacqueline, you especially will enjoy my new venture, or should i say, miss katie will for sure!! </div></div>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490914008694995917noreply@blogger.com0