Proof Positive - we're thawing out and it's spring

Just wanted to send out a little piece of heaven to all y'all. There are some shots here to prove that we are, indeed, going to thaw out (even though they're forecasting frost Tuesday) ...

remember the bear prints??? Well this is the rest of him!!! Yikes!! He was raiding the deer corn in a backyard ... the bears are absolutely starving here because the frost killed all the blossoms last year and they're weren't any berries all winter long. They ate bird food and dog food for the most part! The robin's eggs are in a nest here at the golf course. Apparently robin's lay one egg per day for 4 days ... then she sits on them for so many days (I forgot how many) and they all hatch together. Mother nature is so incredible! Anyway, the cherry blossoms with the bee are for Paul ... and the best part are the grandboys. Apparently Cade and Austin got bunnies for Easter and Christian ran his very first foot race!!!!

Not much time to write on ... so not my normal endless chatter ... hope everyone is well and happy! Paul & Cheri

Happy TAX DAY, everyone! :-)

We sealed our envelopes with our checks and signatures this morning and sent them off to Uncle Sam. It amazes me that people like us, who can almost afford to live, still get to pay taxes at the end of the year. I'm always amazed about things, I guess this particular item is just amongst the many ... well ... something to contemplate over during yard work, I guess!

Speaking of ... I know you're asking you computer screen right now "why is she posting this picture of yard junk ... doesn't she have any idea how embarrassing this is ..." well ... if you look closely between the wood pile (covered by the truck bed mat and waiting for Paul to cut and stack) and the dead Christmas tree (reserved for kindling wood for the fire starting process) you will see a rooster ... yes, you read it right ... a ROOSTER. He is apparently the new neighborhood mascot. And, better yet, he visits our side yard which is right outside our bedroom window each and every morning! And, yes, he crows, just like he's supposed to. As he belongs to the state trooper next door, I can't strangle it, although I did spend a little while trying to wrangle it yesterday morning so it wouldn't wake Paul up!!!! I will have to admit, I don't know what I would've done with him had I actually managed to catch him ... but it was fun chasing him around. He's a GORGEOUS fella with beautiful black tail feathers and a very strong voice box!

We had a beautifully warm day on Saturday just past. Charles came over and tilled the garden, leveled some of the front yard and redistributed the gravel in our driveway. It's so very nice to have a friend with heavy equipment around here! AND, we are congratulating Charles on his new job! He is working off a 2-week notice at his current job and moving along to a bigger and better assignment! YAHOO ... for this has been in the works for quite some time now!!!! And, his Nana, who took a mighty hard spill a few weeks ago at 84 years old, has healed and is back running circles around the rest of us! she fell off of the bottom wrung of a ladder whilst cleaning a woman's house (dusting the top of cabinets ... good grief!). She gave us all a scare, and we're glad to report her "back in the saddle again" ... and of course, she's back to cleaning the woman's house too. Mountain people - hearty ... and they last a long time! Charles and his Nana have supplied our "spring water" for months now, as they have a spring on their property that comes right up out of the ground. The water is delicious and cold. They have also kept us in potatoes and canned vegetables this winter ... jars of green beans, corn, etc. A big blessing to us in our "leaner" days, as well as all the other days! anyway, CONGRATULATIONS, Charles!!! I know you'll be successful as whatever you do!

SO, the sun was warm enough of SATURDAY to have the tulips burst open ... right in time to fill up with snow on SUNDAY! Yeppers, it snowed Sunday and Monday ... no snow today, but it's chilly and will freeze tonight. I'm hoping the blossoms that are out won't freeze and that we will actually have a beautifully blooming springtime! We're keeping our fingers crossed! The cherry trees in our yard are right on the verge of blossoms, so hopefully they won't be affected this year. We'll see!

The "bottle collection" that I've included is filled with bottles that Paul, the treasure hunter, has managed to pull out of our yard and our basement. The liquor bottles are on the big oil furnace tank outside and not pictured here ---- but they are many in number!!!! These bottles are little prized possessions that we've pulled from the earth and have saved as historical treasure! (Paul can also tell you about the train that used to go through our yard, the track and where it used to run and numerous other anorak type details!)

My friend Beth has taken a trip to NY as her mother has fallen ill and admitted into ICU. We've been taking care of her bungalow for her ... where the deer come every evening to eat and rest. There is one very pregnant doe with 2 fawns that follow her close behind. After the "girls" graze, "the boys" come and finish up the corn and whatever they can find. Paul and I saw the most beautiful HUGE red fox there the other night. Quite a show of wild animal life in her back yard, which we can view through the sliding glass door. Pretty much like a movie screen! We offer Beth good thoughts and big prayers as she helps her mom and family. And we will enjoy our grounds keeping assignment until she arrives back home. (safe journey to you Beth)

Happy Birthday to Cheryl Nyberg this past Sunday! Cheryl, I know you'll celebrate your life better than most of us! Know we're thinking about you (and Jerry) and hoping all good things for you and yours. Happy Birthday!

Paul's mum and dad, as well as Chris and Rick, will be leaving for their cruise in 12 days or so. As my memory digresses, I'd like to wish you all an absolutely WONDERFUL vacation while I am thinking about it! I am sure Paul and I will someday be able to cruise ... but until then, I sure hope ya'll can enjoy it enough for all of us! Bon Voyage, y'all!!! And safe journey!

Next week is spring break up here for the schools. Yippee! That means no dance for me next week. It's time for a break! Then, it's serious business until the recital is over. Don't quite have a date for that yet ... stay tuned. (OMG) Haven't ordered costumes yet ... no venue either ... life is just not the same here. :-O

Well, must get back to work. My sweet boss is in Pebble Beach, CA golfing his heart out this week. I'm sure he's enjoying every minute of it. It's very quiet at work when he is out of town. So it's time for me to update the website and get some "busy" work out of the way.

Cheers to all,

Paul & Cheri

Spring in the Mountains ... ???

Hopefully these pictures will give you an idea of what it is like to have schizo weather!! The picture of the truck with the fog so thick you cannot see across the parking lot was taken last Saturday, along with Charles and Paul (BFF) looking at Janet's new "horse blog". And on that subject, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, Janet and Sarah for the competition results!! You must be so very thrilled and proud. I'm super impressed ... and we love being able to see it all on the blog. So thanks for posting! Charles and Paul worked on some property at the Club and it was COLD - as I'm sure you can see by their attire. Aren't they scruffy looking lads? Wouldn't want to run in to them if they were unhappy!

The snow pics were taken March 25th. (see the full moon over the house??) It snowed that morning, like crazy ... by that afternoon it was warm enough that my neighbors were mowing their yard!!!!! CRAZY! The garden pics and the flowers blooming, the beautiful blue sky and the 60 degree day were taken on March 22nd!!! Charles is getting us ready for that big crop Paul intends to plant (Thank you so much, Charles!). Hopefully we will have food coming out of the ground instead of the grocery store! It's so fun to just go "pick dinner" out of the back yard. :-)

The pics of the cats were obviously taken during nap time (which is ALL THE TIME for a cat) and I just thought you might get the "attitude" of the hibernation we've all been in for months on end now. I'm personally extremely sick and tired of being cold!! I long for the day I can once again NOT wear a turtle neck, socks, and a wool blazer or down jacket! Also, I'd love to visit the other rooms in our house that are outside of our cozy warm tent commonly called the kitchen. But, I digress ....... I do have to admit that when I get home from work, I eat dinner, clean up the kitchen and go to bed where the electric blanket is on somewhere between 2 and 6. It's warm and I can read --- or sleep --- and then when Paul comes home, I can get up and make his tea and visit with him. I'm sleeping in shifts ... but at least I'm sleeping!!

CLAYZAICS is the company Shannon and I are working on to get up and running. We're meeting tonight about the opportunity of perhaps having an artist co-op, which is very exciting and "cutting edge" for around here. Please keep your fingers crossed that we really just do SOMETHING as we come out of our stupor from the winter! Shannon just returned from 10 days in St. Augustine. Maybe she'll be motivated enough for us all! I received a very exciting care package of new tiles from Chrissie in Orlando, along with a couple of art pieces she so sweetly made, and I'm hoping for inspiration for new works from that. I'm still in the middle of making a HUGE mirror hanging for Jenn and Vic ... and learning how to do clay faces ... and toying with making dolls (nice pun, huh?) and then there are the flowers I want to plant, and the flower beds I need to get ready ... oh, yeah and taxes need to be done since it's the 3rd already.

We are finishing up the Spring Marketing brochure at work, which has taken 5 solid days of my life, as well as more brain cells than I actually have! (OH MY!) and, I'm getting the website all up to date and current. Then there are all those spread sheets and preparing our office for the opening of the Golf Course on April 25th. (YIKES!) I go to sleep a lot earlier than I used to, except for Monday and Tuesday when I still teach dance after work. It's coming up to recital time - costume frenzy, and mania all around! It's a busy time ... for everyone.

Paul is training now to be a "fitter", which he has been anxiously waiting for. The fitters put the big beams and brackets and things together per blue prints that are written (not drawn!) and tack things into place. Then the welders weld everything up. He has been lusting over the fitter position since he got there .... apparently it requires a brain and thought, as well as the skill to weld beautifully. He's much more confident about his welding, but says there are guys there that put him to shame. I can't imagine that - but I'm not a welder! I'm so happy that he's getting to train and it makes his night less stressful. I can seriously NOT imagine holding a welding rod for 7-1/2 hours with my head bent forward from the weight of a welding mask, holding my arm in mid air, welding literally 1,000's of pounds of steel. I'm sure the option to put things together has been a delightful change for him. He also seems to be adjusting to the hours and it suits him, as he never has been an early riser (nor have I been, but that's another story).

My son-in-law, VICTOR (we call him Vic) celebrated his birthday yesterday. Happy Birthday, Vic! My daughter will celebrate hers on April 8th. It's always a HUGE plate of gratitude when Jenn gets to celebrate life and living and health and all that. Happy Birthday, my sweet girl. Vic and Jenn are flying out to Vegas tonight to do a fitness show this weekend. I hope they actually get some play time while they are there. Two people who deserve a real bit of R&R!!!

My Pennisu is still reeling with adjustment to all kinds of extremes. Please send out good thoughts and spare prayers to Pennisu and her family, who are seriously going through "the wringer" and could use some extra energy! We love you guys, hang in there!!!!

I was thinking the other night about how lucky Paul and I are. We all have our "challenges" and such, but I always think it's nice to have friends and family to help with the rough spots and a warrior spirit to help with the "stamina" and courage part. We often count our blessings and try to not take anything for granted. As the newscasters are quick to point out things are changing daily. On the grand scheme of things, we are pretty insignificant little human beans (yeah, that was on purpose ... I know we're beings) and I'm always astounded and thankful when the day is done and I can count my blessings. Life is precious. Maybe that should be a mantra we all chant! We are especially grateful for all the new friends we've met since we moved here ... and very tickled that we get to keep the ones we knew before as well!!! What a treasure trove we have acquired!

Hope this finds everyone healthy, happy and blessed. Cheers!

From our schizo weather nestled in the mountains,

Paul & Cheri