wonderful skiing

It was breathtaking every time we came around the corner and saw this windmill... This photo does not do it justice. It was majestic and beautiful. Jiminy Peak was a great place for skiing the other day. I played hookey from teaching skiing at Sundown, to ski with my friend Sarah at another mountain. So glad we drove the 2 hours to spend the day here! The skiing was great, it wasn't crowded, and it was nice and warm. and because I teach at Sundown, I was able to get my ticket for only $15! yay!

Apparently much of the power at Jiminy is from this windmill. They are very 'green' there. I will definitely be going back here. I loved the slopes and had such a wonderful day! It is nice to hear (from a few people in the last few days) that I seem to be a "graceful skier". I absolutely love skiing. I am very happy when I am skiing. I forget everything else, and just concentrate on what I am doing, how my body is moving, how much fun it is to ski, and how beautiful are the vistas from ski areas. I love mountains.

Emmett's karate

Emmett has been doing great at karate. He is really dedicated and has been going 4 days a week for a few months now. He is learning respect, focus and discipline. Fabulous!

Almost 2 years later....

It's been almost 2 years since my bunion surgery. I am so glad I had the surgery! I find it interesting that many of the hits I get on this blog are from people hunting things about bunion surgery.

People had told me it hurt (or asked me if it did)... well of course it did!!! They cut my foot open, hacked away at bone, did things to it that I don't want to know details about, and sewed it back up again. It hurt like mad! but, that said... I was hobbling on it within a week, and putting enough weight on it and walking well enough, to have the other done 3 weeks later. And yes, I used meds to keep from being in pain. Pain meds were my friends. They got me through and now my feet are great.

I don't regret it for a minute. And more than that, I am soooooo happy that I did it! My feet look like normal feet, I have no pain, and I can wear great shoes without any problem. I don't have full range of motion in my right toe, but that was the second foot that I did, and I ran out of patience with doing physical therapy. Hindsight, I would have been more vigilant about it.

Anybody debating whether or not to have the surgery? Do it!!! don't wait any longer! I have had other friends use my same doctor, and they have been happy too. The foot surgeon I used was wonderful. His office does about 300 bunion surgeries a year. They know their stuff! Ask questions about that to your doctor. How many they do a year. Are they a podiatrist? or a surgeon? 

And then get it done! One foot at a time. Your recovery will be easier, and you won't ever be totally incapacitated by not being able to walk at all. At least with one at a time, you can hop when it is really painful in the beginning. And you can put weight on the other foot, and gradually put more on the 'new' foot :)

You won't regret it!

Skiing in Maine

Took the boys up to stay at my cousin's house in Maine. She has offered in the past for us to use it. I finally took her up on it, and the boys and I were treated to a weekend near Shawnee Peak. We could basically walk to the lodge from the house. 

The house itself was great to stay in, had a big screen TV for the boys to enjoy, and also foosball (which I apparently stink at). The hot tub n the deck was wonderful, and the boys and I cranked it up to be nice and warm, so we could sit out at night, in the freezing cold weather, but be incredibly warm in our bathing suits! We could hear the people on the slopes, and see the lights on the trails.

great farewell lunch

great lunch at Toshi... before sending them off back to Florida. It was a wonderful week. Can't wait to see them again!

Visit for days....

My old friend came to visit. We hadn't seen each other in 18 years. We had a huge fight back then, and hadn't spoken to each other since. She lives in Florida now, and has 3 kids. Facebook brought us back together, and she and her 3 kids came and stayed with us for 6 days!
Amazingly... 5 kids who have never met, in the same house, for 6 days, only one tiff! fantastic! we went sledding, they did video games, went to the movies, saw fireworks downtown on New Years Eve, and more... was so much fun! Emmett was so sad when they were leaving. He wanted them to stay!

they had so much fun in the snow. when you live in florida... snow is a blast!

yummy cheese log

I had this at a party last week, and got the recipe, as it was soooo good that a friend and I could not stop eating it!

1 scallion, the green part only- sliced (or use kitchen scissors to snip into rounds)
1 block of cream cheese (neufchatel), room temp
2 Tbsp crushed pineapple
1/3 cup pecans, chopped - to mix into the cheese
2/3 cup pecans, chopped - to roll the log in afterwards
1 box of Wheat Thins. MUST be wheat Thins!!! this makes a huge difference. trust me.

chop the scallions (with a knife or with kitchen scissors)

mix just the green part with cream cheese and pineapple

mix all together

chop 1/3 cup pecans

mix into the cream cheese mixture

mix well

blob onto  2/3 cup chopped pecans

and sprinkle some on top also

put your hand inside a sandwich baggie and carefully roll in the pecans

ayyyaaaa!!

It is loud, and the kids love it! Emmett started karate and is doing great!
He seems to be singled out frequently to demonstrate good form. He's into it!

 

Sarah's... I'm in heaven

I love being at Sarah's... life is good there. I love being around all of the animals, and the natural beauty around the area. Virginia in the fall....

notice the pig in with the horses? (his name is cheetah)

I love this... peaceful puppy....

damn it was fun!! just all out cantering along the pond!

Visited an old friend from Meredith Manor.... hadn't seen each other in more than 20 years!!! We've been in touch on the phone a few times in the last few years, but this was so much fun to actually see each other. Her daughter was at a horse show in PA, and I drove to meet her there.

me and Val

I had forgotten how much "bling" there was with western riding! The gaudier the better.... crazy! was interesting to also see how many of the riders now wear hard hats in the show ring... but as soon as the class is over.... on go the western hats!!

 

 

Amazing Barbeque!!!

It was truly a delicious stop! It was one we couldn't pass up as we drove by. and thank goodness we didn't! The onion rings were to die for. The best I've ever had, with a dipping sauce that was delicious and unique.

and the sampler of meats was the obvious choice...

Reading

 I love that he has started reading on his own finally. Both of my kids just didn't want to, until they were ready... and now he is!!! love it!!! lying in bed at night, a good book..... yay!!!

house to flip

I am thinking that I'd love to flip a house. I've wanted to do it for many years, and I think maybe now is the time.
I found one that I looked at today, which seems to have good potential, as the kitchen is horrid and needs an overhaul, and a new layout.... and the bathroom upstairs is terrible too.
But the house is sunny, and bright, nice hardwood floors, good area, and I liked it. I think the problems are fairly easy to fix, and hoping I can figure it all out, do it, then sell it and make some money :)

writing

I'm trying to write for an article about personal organizing, which I happen to be REALLY good at. Why is the writing part so hard for me when I've been doing it here for so long? I can go into someone's home and help them overhaul and organize, and move furniture around to make it work much better. So why is it so hard for me to write about?

I just did it over the weekend at my parents cottage, (which they don't use, but instead mostly just store things in it). The bedroom was virtually unusable, and had twin beds piled high with boxes and more. When you walked in the door, all you could see were beds with boxes, bags and boxes filled with "stuff" all around the room, and basically utter chaos. (ok, and I forgot to take a "before" photo... again)

Now there is one corner that now has boxes piled high in it, but is hidden from view when you first walk in. So when you first approach the room, and enter it, you see a beautiful king-sized bed, a comfy chair for reading, a "tiny tim" piano in the corner with a table and chair beside it. There are a few prints on the walls, and some treasured items creatively placed around the room to enhance it. There is a sense of peace now in the room, and it is enjoyable to sleep in!

I know I am good at this, why can't I figure out how to make money at it? I know I do better with "company" so it would be great to have a business partner. I need an income. I need to work and feel useful other than what I do in my own house. I seem to always struggle with this.

I have an opportunity to apply for a job writing articles about organizing. I am struggling with writing the one to apply for the job! Aargghhhh. I will keep trying, now that I have vented about it here.