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