Today's Post

Saw this on my friend Mimi's Live Journal and had to copy it. Mimi, you are just too funny and always the clever one! Thanks for the laugh.

Color Me Happy

Last week my mom and I took a trip to the Kimball Art Museum. They were having an Impressionists exhibition with works of art on loan from the Art Institute of Chicago. The line was huge to get in. I was very excited about this exhibit because my favorite painting by Van Gogh was there. It's called The Bedroom (2nd version). This has been my favorite since I saw it in a book in college. Art History was one of the hardest courses I took, but I took so much away from it. It is a dream of mine to some day have a home with an extra room in it so I can re-create this painting with real live furniture, painted wood floors, etc and then hang a print of this painting in the room...

Back to the museum...the minute we walked into the exhibit I told my mom all I wanted to see was this painting...as luck would have it, it was all the way toward the end of the exhibit, so we were the first ones there to see it that day...I actually got to stand there, uninterrupted, for at least 5 minutes. Painting took my breath away and I was so estatic I almost started crying. Went back to the picture at least 3 times after looking at the others. I really enjoyed the other paintings, too. Unbelievable to see the real mccoys. Next to each painting they had information about the history of each piece. For The Bedroom, they talked more about his first painting of this room and a letter he wrote to Gauguin about the painting. Here is what he wrote:

"It's just simply my bedroom" he wrote his frined (Gauguin) "only here color is to do everything, and by giving its simplification a grander style to things, is to be suggestive of rest or of sleep in general. In a word, looking at the picture ought to rest the brain, or rather the imagination...The shadows and the cast shadows are suppressed; it is painted in...flat tints like Japanese prints".

Thinking this explains why I'm so drawn to this painting. I've always loved very simple furniture with lots of wall color.

It was a wonderful afternoon. When picked up Peanut from school after that and the rest is for another blog...

A Day at the Patch

Caught on the wire?!
Peanut in the sky

My Peanut!

Kissing Nana

Showing some "tude"

double the "tude"

Pumpkin head to pumpkin head

Nana was in town this weekend and we took her to the Pumpkin Patch for some fun. Along the way we picked up one of Peanut's friends. This is the 3rd year the girls have gone to the patch together. We also met up with other friends. It was a really nice day. The sun was really bright so the photos were harder to edit...but I think I captured some fun moments.

If I Only had a Scarecrow...

Peanut and I decorated the front yard last night. We will get more pumpkins when Nana comes in this weekend. Think we have enough scarecrows! No, I did not dress her yesterday (still a little too warm out for turtlenecks). She slept over Mimi and Paw Paw's Sunday night and this must be all they had to put her in...mosquitoes are still out, so I just let her stay in those clothes so she wouldn't get any more bites... hmmm... wonder if the scarecrows can scare away the mosquitoes?

Butterfly photo was posted

Here's the exact link to the butterfly post on Journey North's website. Same as the photo in my earlier post here, but neat to see one of my photos on a website (besides my blog!)

http://www.learner.org/cgi-bin/jnorth/jn-query-byday?1223322897

It was a Monarch Butterfly migrating to Mexico!

I looked up butterflies and discovered that October is a big month for the Monarch butterflies to migrate south. People have been seeing hundreds of them at a time. Found a fun website and was able to post my sighting. http://www.learner.org/cgi-bin/jnorth/jn-query-byday I think you need to click on Monarch/Other sightings to see my post which is dated 10-04-08 (the date I saw the butterfly).

Visitor

Saturday night I went outside to water the flowers and other dying foliage by my front door. It was about 9pm. Never expected to see this beauty hanging around! She was very large and the colors on her were spectacular. What a treat. Ironically I posted to the blog about this time last year with the story of the "moth-erflies" and my Grandma Ann. I mentioned how they always showed up around a significant time. Grandma Ann's birthday would have been this October 9th. I like to think the buttterfly knew I was thinking about her...and as corny as it sounds, when I see a butterfly it is nice to just pretend it is a visit from Grandma Ann...and my heart fills up.

First Position at Age 39?

I haven't taken a ballet class since I was 8 (31 years ago)...Peanut's ballet studio started offering a beginning ballet class for the moms to take while their little ones are in their class...was a bit hesitant at first, but I really enjoyed it. I like the bar work the best because it feels like I'm getting a workout and it is actually quite relaxing (good music too). Did NOT like learning a ballet routine...felt kind of juvenile. Thank goodness we don't have to be in the recital! And thank goodness we don't do the "dolly dance" at the end of each class like the little kids do. Though I wouldn't mind getting a skittle candy...THERE WILL BE NO PICTURES POSTED OF ME IN BALLET CLASS! :)

"Please take a picture of the royal princess"

This is a first! Peanut actually asked me to take pictures of her sitting on her throne. Took these Tuesday morning before she went off to school...hmmmm...think she might have been trying to delay leaving the house!

The Little Mermaid's Real Name is Michelle?

If they're gonna change the characters' names

we might as well invite Nemo to the party

Ariel & Flounder aka "Michelle" and "Phil"

Sebastian aka "Crabby"?

Took Peanut to see a puppet show on Labor Day. It was the last showing of The Little Mermaid at this one playhouse. Was pretty excited to introduce her to puppets, but was a bit disappointed with the show. The puppeteers were really good at their craft, but I guess due to copyright reasons they were not allowed to use the Disney character names...so, she sat there for the first few minutes wondering why they were calling Ariel "Michelle" and Flounder "Phil" (as in "Fillet")...turned out to be quite a corny show and they used music from the movie Titanic...this is just wrong on so many levels! And it wasn't cheap, either. All in all she enjoyed the show, so that's what really counts....wonder if she's going to ask me to find a Michelle costume for Halloween now instead of an Ariel costume....hmmmm? She did get to watch the show with one of her good friends, which is always a treat!

Ballet, Hooray!

Peanut started her ballet classes back up on Saturday. Only 3 kids showed up to the 8:45am class since it was a holiday weekend. Her instructor wanted to see how she'd do at the 9:30am class (with the 5 year olds), so she let us stay for the second session. She did pretty well and I think this will be a better class for her because older kids always seem to motivate her. Photos did not come out as well as I'd like, but just don't know how to adjust my camera for the lighting in the room. Thanks to the digital camera lag, I caught her with some strange faces...she did have fun, really! The littlest girl was not participating at all. First timer. Didn't get any shots of the 9:30 class...wanted her to not have to think about mom snapping pictures! This was one of the rare occassions where parents get to watch, so I just had to capture the moment. Right?

Baskin Robbins, Bring Back My Daiquiri Ice!

Baskin Robbins had a flavor called daiquiri ice. I'd been enjoying it since at least the 1970's (fond memories of trips to the Kendall Mall with my best friend, Tricia to get it). Recently at a local BR I discovered that they replaced it with this toxic green looking Lime daiquiri ice! What were they thinking?! Normally I'd "write a letter", but this time.... I called them. The took my name, my number and I promise I was very nice when I told them at least 3 times to "Bring it back!"

:)

This was a perfect flavor, light, refreshing and belongs on a sugar cone. I like it almost, if not as much as Carvel Ice Cream Cakes.

When I googled daiquiri ice this morning there were tons of posts, etc about this topic...I am not alone apparently!

Last month when I was in Seattle we did find a BR that still had the original, but I have a feeling that was the last of it...darn, should have ordered a double scoop! :)

Anyhoo.....if you feel the same about this flavor you can call them at 1-800-859-5339.

Next thing you know there will be no more Cadbury Eggs! Oh the horror......

Removed the Restriction

I took the restriction for viewing my blog off as not enough of the people who view it have gmail. Happy Viewing! Been in a blogging mood lately, so I may go back and post some pics, etc from trips, parties, etc that were in May, June and July.

Blog You Later!

Stephanie

The New Windex

We've discovered something almost as good as Windex for curing what ails you in our house...Vaseline...Nana Rose was in town a few weeks ago and was trying to give Peanut a bath. She had so many mosquito bites that it hurt to get in the water...even cool water. Nana put Vaseline on the bites and instantly everything felt better. Problem solved. Now every time Peanut has a "boo boo" she asks for "the stuff that Nana uses that makes everything better". Last night she was said she had a boo boo on her foot...I couldn't find anything wrong with it...but the magic stuff cleared it right up. Thank you, Nana Rose!

Blog Settings

If you are viewing this then it means you were added to the "approved" list for viewing my blog. Didn't realize that you have to have a gmail account to view the blog (they'll let you do this for 30 days as a "guest"). May need to re-think having this restriction. Frustrating because I get comments from random people who weren't invited to view my blog.

Thoughts?

Comments? :)

Also, last few weeks have been a bit emotional...lighter posts with more pictures do exist...

Lastly, is it Cadbury Egg Season yet?

PL (Post Lastly), FSU FOOTBALL SEASON IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!

First Day of Pre-K

Peanut officially started pre-k at her daycare today. Had to take a picture, of course!

Peanut can now do commercials

DVR'd a show for Peanut to watch and turned it on for her this morning while she had breakfast. I was getting ready for work and came in to check on her and she said "Mom, did you know that you don't need to water your plants every day. You can put a water globe in the soil (seriously, she said all this) and you don't have to water any more. You're going to need 4 of them (what they advertise) and you can do it using only one hand"...she was talking about those devices you can put in your plants that automatically release water when your plant needs it...was actually thinking of getting one (news station said they were a "Deal" -not a dud)...but now I don't want her to think we'll buy everything we see on tv. Normally I forward thru commercials so she just doesn't see them...interestingly enough, she has seen other commercials for toys, but never gave me the run down on them before. She could have done this commercial herself.

Her whole name!

My daughter can spell her entire name....including all 12 letters of her last name! Whoo hoo! Had to boast a little...which is why this post is in BOLD.

Off Duty Mom

It is interesting how my ankle felt pretty good Sunday (for the circus), Monday and Tuesday (nights I have Peanut)...but when I came home yesterday and could actually put my foot up to give myself a rest...it started to hurt...like mother nature saying "You can take a break now and feel the pain of your sprained ankle b/c this is not your night to be a mom"...so yesterday I thought by today I'd be in regular shoes (flats, of course) instead of wearing this ankle brace...today I'm back to the brace...and taking care of my ankle. While I realize I am a mom 100% of the time...when I'm "Off Duty" it is time to recharge and refresh...and feel what I feel. So I guess when you have a family that is "in-tact" your spouse can give you those down times (and vice versa)...and when your family is divorced you learn how to give yourself the time...and that it's okay to need it...a bit lonely this way...

Damages- Big Screen Magic in a One-hour Show

If you are able to rent the first season of the show Damages (I know it's now out on DVD, so probably also at the rental stores)...omg...you have to watch this show. It aired last summer but I missed it. Then, when I saw that it was nominated for 6 Emmy's I thought I'd check it out. They had an all day marathon a week or so ago (love my DVR) and I've been watching a couple episodes a night. Well, last night I watched the five remaining episodes and sat on the edge of my seat (couch...foot propped up, of course).

One of those shows best seen from start to finish b/c a bit complicated to follow if you have to wait for the episodes each week...normally can't stand Glenn Close, but was totally sucked into her character...Can't say enough about this show. "Big Screen" magic in a one hour show...found myself totally brain waisted (mind f'd) about 2 episodes from the season finale...thank goodness the final episode did not leave me hanging....just left me wanting more...and I have to wait until January 2009, I think. bummer