Made With Love

a little bit of this
and a little bit of that
a dash of color
a careful eye
a little planning
looking forward
taking the plunge
creating
imagining
living
and loving.

todd's lesson

it was just a flat water paddle, but todd took his first lesson on a stand-up board. i only saw him fall off once. :-)

my fisherman

catch and release

Skiing

some of our happiest times have been spent in this white stuff.
this is love.
right here.

Happy Birthday, Lover!

Today you turn 37.

What a wonderful day we've had
eating breakfast out with extra pancakes
opening gifts and games to play
napping and cuddling
easting cake and ice cream
dinner out with gift certificates
cards and notes and calls from your family
and to finish the day right,
a contra dance here in town
sweating and laughing and swinging our partners.

to my valentine

to the man who will shave himself in funny ways, just to make me smile, and then will let me take his picture.
to the man who knows just how to hold me and when to just let me be.
to the man who sits by the window just to watch the geese with our dog.
to the man who keeps the cupboard stocked with sugary cereal and a freezer full of candy.
to the man who chats with me until we both fall asleep exhausted.
to the man who can make me smile just by saying my name.


to the man who i hope to laugh with for the rest of my days.
to the man who may someday be the father of our child.
to the man who loves me even when i am cranky and tired.
to the man who makes the best breakfasts.
to the man who cares for me when i am sick on the couch, making me toast and jell-o.
to the man who knows me.
to the man who is my best friend.


i love you.
i love you.
i love you.

at home again

i feel so blessed with my little life.
how nice it is to have the reunion after being away on a trip.
how nice to spend QT with todd and eat delicious meals from the garden.
how nice to work in the garden.
today was the perfect day for it...
hot, not humid, a slight breeze, sun pouring down.
the beans all got washed out
but
the squash and the pumpkins and tomatoes and basil and cucumbers and cantaloupe abound.

sweet memories

one wonderful things that happened during my visit to the boston area was that A and E gave me a three-year belated copy of the wedding pictures that they had from my big day. it has been so much fun to look through the photos and relive the fun.

for those that were there, and those who were not, here's a few of my favorite reminders.
the details, carefully chosen, the cake, the flowers, the teacups and teapots full of flowers, the petals spread, the flowers saved from my ceremony, displayed with other artifacts at the reception (held two months later), the dessert table, the games, the huge yard full of family and friends.





did i mention friends?
here i am with E, looking as beautiful as she does now as a glowing new mom.
and me, in my mom's 'vintage' wedding dress. i never imagined i would wear my mom's dress, but it was just so perfect, so me.


and then there's the college comrades.


and my lovely friend R, who herself is now planning her big day for later this year. (i can't wait!)


glorious E and C, and then E with K. i was so happy to see so many of these fine friends on my recent trip.


and there was the dancing... the contra dancing with a three piece band and caller and the photographer brave enough to get right in the middle of all the action.


this was our day, our day in every way. i loved every bit of it and love reliving the memories.

happy anniversary

its three years now.
three happy years.
thank you for a wonderful three years,
to a man who is everything that i ever dreamed of and more.

who knew that when we met, it would all lead to this.
i could not be happier
or more in love than i am today
(except maybe tomorrow).

how lucky we are to have one another.

happy birthday, toddo

to my love:
may your day be full of
love
peace
happiness
strawberry pancakes with homemade whipped cream
smiles
laughter
chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and ice cream all over it
hugs
kisses from your two best four-legged friends
calls from family and friends
piles of presents
walks and talks
cards
cuddles
love.


i'll do my best.

my love, my valentine

its been snowy here all day, and i have still been under the weather... but naps and popsicles have brought me a long way.
i thought i'd backtrack and post some of these fun valentine's day pictures that i forgot i had.
todd and i had a quiet evening in with hot chocolate in the garage as we grilled up my favorite treat on the grill outside, ribs. yum. yum, yum. ribs and roasted veggies and baked potatoes in front of the warmth of american idol.
i gave todd this new ho scale barn for his train set- and it sits right now in a barren desert of plywood until we get our real set-up built downstairs.
i love these next two shots of my love- one of exasperation and the other of joy. i am glad he has his new new hobby.
i am glad i have him.