Dear Manuela...

What better than a Toile Cake For Manuela! Cake courtesy of Tiers Of Joy

I just popped back in so I could wish our Manuela a very, very happy birthday. May this be a blessed and joy filled day for you! Love and Hugs, Susie Q

Have A Seat...Comfy?

It is gonna be a LONG post! I was off line far too long! I am also just now trying to catch up with my visits to all of you! I have missed you! I will be stopping by soon so get that tea kettle on the stove okay? Do you remember this post? Ah. Of course you do! Or not but hey. The day before Grace's birthday we returned to Jenna Claire and there it was. The. Finished. Tote. The Holy Grail. The Motherlode. Heaven's trumpets sounded and the angels wept. Grace was so excited she had barely slept the night before. She even chose her clothes based on whether they would coordinate with said tote. Can you say "DIVA"? I knew you could. This gorgeous bag was now in her hot little hands and it has barely left those fingers since. She guards it like a crazed mother hawk. She informed her big brother that it was not to be, "touched, held, looked at or breathed on" by him. Do you think she liked it? Yes, she actually teared up when we got into our car. "Mommy? This is the most wonderful purse in the whole world and they are all so wonderful and I am so happy". She even had Daddy put up a special wall peg from which the tote now hangs. A place of honor. I guess that just about says it all. The owner of Jenna Claire, Daina with her precious daughter, THE Jenna Claire herself! Grace with Public Relations and Project Manager Debby and Workroom Manager, Mary. I can not say enough about how lovely these ladies were to us and how very special this shop is. If you are in the Dayton, Ohio area, PLEASE stop by and see them. They also have a splendid web site. Uh huh..mail order!! Thank you Jenna Claire!! The day before her birthday, Grace requested we dine at The Cheesecake Factory. Also in attendance were Grandma and our dear friends, *P* and *M*. We all enjoyed our dinners and then, for dessert, out came singing wait staff and their Godiva Dark Chocolate Cheesecake. Okay, as I am lying in bed dying, attired in a stunning pink velvet gown, getting more beautiful and glowing more with each step closer to death, ala Ali McGraw in "Love Story" AND surrounded by my loving family AND Brian Dennehy professing their undying love for me...I would like to have a fork full of THIS decadent taste touch my lips. Oh whoa. It was so goooood. After dinner, Grace and *M* went to Grace's favorite clothes shop, Justice. We had presented her with the money for a new outfit, top to bottom...hair band to shoes. It was what she requested. This year she did not want a big BD party and this was her idea of a *Real* grownup girl's party! Yeah baby! Shopping with *Aunt M*! Don't worry now, my feeling are not hurt...Mommy fully understands. I adore *M* too! And Grace is probably quite correct in saying that *M* knows much more about fashion then Mom. Hey, they had the best time together and she picked out some wonderful things. Yes, I DO Have pictures of everyone but am allowing the ladies their privacy in not posting them. They hate their pictures shown! You will have to take my word for it that *P* and *M*, just like all my buddies, are the prettiest of ladies! Just ask Grace!On her birthday, Mom picked up and delivered the obligatory Hannah Montana cupcakes for the classroom party! Then Mom picked up the obligatory Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus balloons. (Uh huh, Boo got his OWN balloons with Cars and Mickey. No Hannah lover he!) Then came the opening of the obligatory Hannah Montana gifts..this one from Uncle Jim and Aunt Lisa.

Then Grace blew out 10 candles on the obligatory Hannah Montana birthday cake! Have you been overdosed on Hannah Montana Grace? Grace? GRACE? I think she is stunned! Boo was just so happy to play with his new Thomas trains and to read his new Thomas books. "Bye Bye Grandma! I had a good time. Thank you for everything!"

We had a delicious dinner and smiling kids and Hannah Montana. What more could we ask for? We were unable to get out of our driveway until late Sunday afternoon. Great timing though! We had been invited to my buddy *T's* for another birthday celebration for Grace! Dinner was fantastic, the conversation great fun and we even were able to watch "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" which I had been anxious to see. So just what did the young eyes at the party do while the older ladies were viewing Clive Owen as Sir Walter Raleigh? They were spellbound by a marathon of Hannah Montana. What else? This is the fantastic gift I received from Lisa Oceandreamer! I was lucky enough to be one of her winners in the One World One Heart Giveaway! To say I was thrilled is a great understatement! Lisa is one of the most talented of women. She is giving, funny, open, honest, kind and gentle. Thank you dearest Lisa. This plum of a prize is on my blue dresser, right next to my side of the bed. It looks perfect there! Then, look what else arrived! You know the contents will be exciting when the box is hand painted like this! I was lucky enough to win Lisa's giveaway but I also won Michelle's!! I could not believe my double luck! Michelle, The Mosaic Queen sent me these wonderful treasures. I absolutely adore them both. The cupcake is on my mantel and the wall heart is above the dresser, right next to our bed. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for these gifts.

Please visit both of these amazingly gifted artists. You will be so happy you did! So, how do you spend a snow day? Well, here at Rabbit Run Cottage, we painted! Here is Grace working hard at the priming coat. She and Bill did a super job. Then it was time to slap on that burgundy coat. Dan and I stepped in to help and it is now done. Okay, so there needs to be a few minor touch ups and we must re-arrange the furniture but, in essence, it IS done. Oh yes! We also picked out a new dining room table and 6 chairs. I am so excited about that! We moved the old oak set into the kitchen, keeping the oak and rush seat chairs from the kitchen set. It looks good together. I will post pictures of the completed dining room soon...I hope! But how did the other family members spend THEIR snow days? Gazing out of doors and windows and trying to imagine Spring... Taking a cat nap and dreaming about Spring... Tiring herself out searching the World Wide Web for signs of Spring... Piles of snow to the rear of the house... Buckets of snow to the front...

Nothing to do but make a snow angel...and wait for Spring. I have a few more photos to share, like one of Cassie's sweet gift and my wonderful giveaway win from Gretchen, but Blogger would not allow any more. Is it trying to tell me sumpthin'? I will get those posted tomorrow! Till then, stay well, safe and happy. You look so pretty when you smile! Love and Hugs, Susie Q

Winter's Last Gasp, Wheeze, Pant, Puff...

...sniffle, snort, sniffle and gag. We are at almost 16 inches of the marshmallow fluff now. It is quite beautiful really. It is so quiet outside, no one is moving about, no cars on the road. The snow is of the powdery variety, not the sort that makes for great snow people building. Oh, it is lovely but sheesh. 16 inches and perhaps more on Monday. March should be the harbinger of Spring right? Instead, it seems to be heralding 6 more weeks of Winter. Old Punxatawney Phil was right. Thanks Phil...what a guy. I have been having Internet issues all day due to weather so I am unable to spend much time visiting or posting. I will do so soon I hope. Till then, here are a few photos I took this afternoon. I hope you are all well, staying safe, warm and happy.

Love and Hugs, Susie Q

Birthdays, Craziness And More Snow?

Uh huh. So they say. Up to 6 inches of the white fluffy mess. Sheesh. Winter is doing more than gasping his last...he is being quite the bully and treating Spring miserably. Each time that sweet season tries to bring us a little respite from the ice, old man Winter rears his hard head and slams it right into little Spring. Poor bruised and battered girl, she hangs back and retreats but each time she does so, she gains strength. Soon she will be strong enough to tackle that mean old coot. Knock him right back where he belongs. We do have a few St. Patrick's Day decorations out now and really enjoy all the green...Bill's family is Irish by heritage so I guess that makes me *just a wee bit* Irish too! I will get photos up soon but wanted to do ahead mention my sweet mail! I have been quite remiss in posting about both of these...I have the most glorious, fantastic and *Grace is holding it hostage in her room but I will get it back I swear* hand mirror from Lisa Oceandreamer & the most wonderful, ever so useful and *will I ever get it back from Grace I do not think so* sewing book from Gretchen. Both were giveaway gifts and are loved and so appreciated. I DO want yo both to know how wonderfull I think you both are. Thank you, thank you, thank you. And Cassie. You are a sweetheart. I am now the proud owner of the sweetest vintage English tin. It has a precious doggie on the lid and I love it. Cassie also included 2 of her adorable tags. It was such a sweet thing for her to do and I really appreciate it. The photos will follow soon... I truly do apologize for not visiting everyone as I should be and LOVE to do. This is Grace's birthday AND my nephew Boo's birthday! It has also been a week of sheer crazy business! Please accept my apologies and know I will be back with you all sometime tomorrow! Grace is 10 today and Boo is 5. I have no idea where the years go. Oh yeah...they go straight onto me! I am 51 and running kids to school, lessons and doctor appointments. I am slow and I limp a bit but I am steady so I do hope to, at least, place a solid 4th in this race! I love helping my brother and sis in law out with Boo while they are at work. I am also letting their new doggie, Casey, out in the afternoon and that is a huge treat! She really is so dog gone sweet! Of course, Kipper sniffs me and gets a bit miffed...He is sniffed miffed. Kip has yet to meet the new family member so I am sure he wonders just why I come home smelling like another dog! Such behavior for his Mama! I will have lots of BD jolliness and photos and other fun to report tomorrow. Thank you for bearing with me. I think you all know how I feel about'cha...

Love and Hugs, Susie Q

Winter's Last Gasp?

That is what I am hoping today is bringing us. Flooding rains, icy cold wind and quickly falling temperatures. I have a big pot of chili simmering in the stove and am preparing a salad to take to a women's gathering at our church this evening. I was puttering around the house today and stopped to think about these suitcases. A dusty shop find a year ago, they now sit proudly in our living room. I often wonder just who Mrs. Thompson is, or was. What was her first name? Obviously beginning with the letter M, was it Mary? Mildred? Myrtle? Where did these suitcases accompany her? A Spring visit to Florida by bus? A car trip out West to see the Rocky Mountains? Perhaps she even ventured across the wide Atlantic Ocean to Europe. Did she spend a week on a lovely ship or get there more quickly by airplane? I will never know the answers to these questions but it is such fun to ponder them, especially on a cold, gray day like today. I just had to show you my new kitchen light fixture! I bought it at a JC Penney's close out sale....a year ago! I am a procrastinator did you say? Hmmm...but my brother came over and put it up for me last week and I adore it. Something so simple can change the entire look of a space. It *lightened* my mood today! A fun new item and a sweet brother who helped me add it to my home. Now that is something special to bring a bit of warmth to a dreary Tuesday!

Stay warm, dry and happy! Love and Hugs, Susie Q

Words To Live By

Dr. Randy Pausch... an amazing man with words from which each one of us can benefit. I choose to take his words to heart...

You will need to go to my music player and push the stop button so you can hear this lecture but I promise you...if you have not yet heard this man, it is well worth your time.

Love and Hugs, Susie Q

May I Have A Drummroll Please?

Presenting my new *niece*, Casey! On Saturday afternoon, this precious dog joined our family. You probably remember when my brother and sister in law lost their dog, Haley, to cancer. That was last Summer and I guess the time was just right to add a new fur baby to their family! Casey is a *rescued*, half black lab, half German Shepherd, ALL sweet girl. I guess it is no surprise to anyone who knows me that I am already quite in love with her. She is gentle and loving and such a pretty girl. Gonna be a BIG dog, she is just 4 months old and still trying to learn how to use those confounded long legs! I guess that gracefulness is something one has to learn, not that *I* have ever been able to develop that trait myself. Ahem...so no lessons in being nimble from Auntie Sue sweet Casey!

A little blurry I know but Casey is a not one to sit still for long! I was able to capture the first kiss she gave my nephew, Boo. I think they will be great buddies! Casey? Meet your new Daddy! Yup Casey, ask your pretty new Mama there...Auntie Sue takes LOTS of pictures so get used to it! This weekend, and today, were just so beautiful. Just a taste of Spring with warmer breezes and clear, blue skies. Oh but the sun was bright and cheery. Ah....I think Casey and I will just stay out here on her deck & enjoy it a little more. Have a wonderful week dear friends. March is finally here and Spring is right around the corner... Love and Hugs, Susie Q