I Have a Winner in my Spring Contest!!!!!

I have a winner of my Spring Contest! This was so very exciting!
Here's my winner!!! Congratulations to...

***Roberta!!!*** You won!!!!

I was just elated to have so many of you visit my blog and sign up for my Spring Contest! Thank you, each and every one - It was such great fun! Since so many left comments, I decided to go ahead and put a few things together for a 2nd place draw! And the winner was:
***Pink 23!!!*** Congratulations!!!
(Winners: Please send me an email with your addresses to: sjb2358@Hotmail.com)
Thanks again to all participants! I wish you all luck in all the other drawings coming up!!!!

Happy Spring!

Look what we have here!!! I finished my shopping and projects for my Spring Give-Away!!!

I found this list of Ten Rules for Happier Living:

1. Give something away!!!!!
2. Do a kindness.
3. Give thanks always.
4. Work with vim and vigor.
5. Visit the elderly and learn from their experience.
6. Look intently into the face of a baby and marvel.
7. Laugh often - it's life's lubricant.
8. Pray to know God's way.
9. Plan as though you will live forever - you will.
10. Live as though today is your last day on earth.
    

Spring Contest!

Spring Give-Away Contest!
Yes, it's here! I'm hosting my semi-annual "Spring Contest"!!!!
I will have a drawing for one lucky winner on March 15th. I will post the winner's name, and they must contact me and give me their email address. All you have to do is leave me a comment on this post! What could be in the Spring Prize Box? Think spring! The surprise box will be loaded with Spring items, and will be mailed to one lucky winner by the first day of Spring. I don't believe you have to log in to be able to leave a comment, just click on the anonymous button, or email me and join in on the fun!

Santa Cruz Wharf Surprises

What an interesting evening Bruce and I had at the Santa Cruz wharf on Saturday. We love to drive over to Santa Cruz and enjoy our usual routine: Minestrone soup and sourdough bread at Gilda's, watching sea lions under and around the wharf, candy and coffee-tea-rootbeer. But on Saturday, after our soup, we noticed quite a crowd on one side of the pier. We were told a whale had just come up to the wharf and had been seen again just on the other side! The ocean was smooth that night, and the whale was spotted in the waters just behind us in the picture! We looked and looked, and I took several pictures hoping maybe the whale would surface as I took the shot. But we didn't see it. We bought our candy and drinks, then as we were loading up in the car I noticed the gorgeous red moon on the other side of the wharf. I took several pictures, but didn't realize I'd seen a lunar eclipse until we got home that night. (My picture is terrible, but just use your imagination and try to picture this unusual full moon, reflecting on the glass smooth ocean that night. What a site!) The usual sea breeze was still, and it was mild and warm that night, so very pleasant. Bruce wants to go back tonight!

Roses from a Birthday Past

Ah! Roses, roses, roses...Here's a picture I'm so thankful I took. It brings back memories of my last birthday, made ever so special by the surprise of this gorgeous rose bouquet being delivered right to my door. It was sent to me by my sister Roberta, from North Carolina. (Are we supposed to use real names here?) The presence of the roses just set the mood for the day, making me smile and smile. I'd seen the ad for this very bouquet in a magazine at the gym, and remember looking and looking at it - probably for about 10 minutes, while on a piece of exercise equipment. It really helped the time go by, to daydream about these beautiful colors. All of a sudden, this vase of rose graced my house for real. Um...Roses, birthdays, smiles, sisters.

Cows Thru the Eyes of a Fifth Grader

I took these pictures when I was in 5th grade. We lived in eastern Washington at the time in a tiny town called Fairfield. I was in a Campfire Girls club and to earn a "bead" we had to go on a nature hike and take pictures. I guess my appreciation of cows was already in place. Both of my sisters have been talking about cows cows cows on their blogs, and my niece even wrote a lovely "Ode to the Cow". But, my goodness, I too am on board the cow-train...appreciating their supposed serenity. Actually, I think I liked them because of their lack of teeth! Has anyone ever seen cow's teeth? I mean, without teeth what's there to fear? I'm afraid of large dogs because of the size of their teeth and any other large animal - except cows. I just figured that out. It's the teeth. Just thought you'd like to see I've treasured these pictures of the cows that lived near us, all these years.

Daddy's 80th Birthday!

Well, I guess it's true. It's really March! I must say good-bye to February, and all the fun it was. The big deal about February this year, was that it was my dad's 80th birthday! And woohoo! did we kids celebrate!!! Our family loves to make a big to-do when it's someone's birthday. And he actually was the recipient of 6 different occasions to have "Happy Birthday" sung to him! And at several of those occasions, over a period of several days, he received candles on 3 different cakes plus a peach pie!!! And he was so gracious and appreciative at each singing and never tried to diminish our enthusiastic voices. How gracious, loving and distinguished he is really shows! Here he is at Bennihana Japanese Restaurant! I made him the 80 plaque, and next to him is his dear wife, my mom! Happy Birthday, Daddy!

February also brought our first snow here in the foothills, the first blooms of my calla lilies and camelias, the first season's thunder, Valentine's Day, Roberta's brief but fun visit from NC for our Dad's birthday, and many other memories of happy times.

Talking about being happy, here's a few quotes for you:

"Happiness, not in another place, but this place...not for another hour, but this hour..."
Walt Whitman
"Even if happiness forgets you a little bit, never completely forget about it." J. Prevert

March is here! Happy Birthday today, Heidi! Like I said, our family LOVES birthdays and we have 7 (*seven*) March birthdays to celebrate!