...weekend visitors

A co-worker/friend asked if I'd dog-sit for the weekend. Nothing was on the calendar, so sure, I'd be happy to help. Meet Mufasa. The coolest little dog I've ever hung out with. I'd like to clone him!

Nate called and asked, "Mama, are you going to be home this weekend?" Yep, I sure am. So he and Andrea came for a visit.

It was a delightful weekend of sunshine, laughter, music, hanging out on the patio, sharing a meal with the neighbors, and a friendly little dog for company. Throw in a bike ride this morning while my house guests slept in, and a good book on the couch after they'd gone--an almost perfect weekend. Life is good!

...things I love

A 'tend friend's recent blog had a list of things she loves, which reminded me of a post I did about a year ago. A nice reminder that life really IS good. If I were to add anything to my list it would have to be my two sweet kids who are good friends...something that really makes me smile.

And I'd have to add....a little girl in pink pig pajamas. What's not to love?

...falling in love again

In the early 80s I was a newlywed in northern Alberta. On our trips back to Oregon we'd pass through Banff and Jasper where all kinds of crazy road cyclists were working their way up and down the mountain passes. I remember looking out the window as we passed a group of cyclists and saying, "That looks like so much fun! I want to do that." To which my dear ex replied, "Looks like a lot of work to me." In the wintertime in Peace River, going crazy with cabin fever, I'd look out to see someone going by on cross country skis. Again, "That looks like fun! I want to do that." And again the response was, "Looks like work." It's not that dear ex was a couch potato. He was passionate about baseball, belonged to a curling league, and had played hockey when he was younger. It's that our interests didn't match up. I spent many hours sitting on bleachers fighting mosquitoes or trying to stay warm (and feign interest) depending on the season. But, I wasn't the kind of person to try something on my own if dear ex wasn't into it.

End result, I never tried cycling nor cross country skiing during my time in Alberta. Our children were born, the marriage ended, and I found myself back in Oregon, back in school to finish my teaching degree. Life was busy.

While the kids were growing up we camped

and hiked and put many miles on our bikes. My first "expensive" bike was a tax refund splurge and cost all of $300, and a trailer for Katie was about the same. I laugh when I think how our car looked, loaded up for spring break or at the beginning of summer vacation--a four-door Geo Metro with a huge storage bin on top (the old kind, not the sleek models you see now), bikes and trailer on the back, and inside, 1 adult, 2 long-legged kids, a dog or two, and a cooler. Ha!

Fast forward a few years...kids were into sports,

and my free time was spent traveling to games.

Life was very busy.

Then all of a sudden, it came to a stop. Kids grew up, went away to college, and I had time on my hands. What to do with myself now that other people's needs and wants don't dictate what I do with my free time? When my friend Kathryn invited me to come out and ride with a group from the LBS, I was ready.

And I fell in love.

In December Kathryn and her husband Charlie invited me to go cross country skiing on New Year's Day. Of course I said yes. I was so excited I could hardly sleep the night before. What a beautiful day to be out in the mountains!

I think I may have fallen in love again.

Oh, and speaking of love....Kathryn and Charlie were just married on 12/27!

And as for falling...there had been a warm spell that melted the top layer of snow, and the trail was ungroomed.

This was only Kathryn and Charlie's third time on skis, and my first, so we fell.

A lot.

And laughed. A lot.

I want to go again.

And speaking of love one last time...today would have been dear ex's and my 29th wedding anniversary. I hope he is also pursuing his dreams. No regrets.

...turkey dinner and a hug

No, I'm not planning for Thanksgiving. This is a different kind of bird story. Several years ago when my kids were young we would spend a lot of time down at the nature trails (when they wild and overgrown and mysterious--not groomed and tidy and park-like). There were many different birds living in the brambles and trees but one that tickled us the most sang out, "Tuuuurkey DINner" on a regular basis. Years flew by, kids grew up, and we went to the nature trails less and less. I had forgotten all about the "turkey dinner" bird. Until today. As I rode out of town on my bike, I heard it: Tuuuuuurkey DINner! A bugs-in-the-teeth smile spread from ear to ear. I was going too fast on a main road to stop and try to figure out which bird was sending me a message of love from the past--a red-wing blackbird? A plain ol' blackbird? Doesn't matter. The turkey dinner bird was just what I needed today.

And a hug: Last October the group that I ride with surprised me with this jersey for my 50th birthday. I had been drooling over it in the shop but just couldn't bring myself to shell out the bucks. So they all went together and bought it for me. It touched me that a group of people I hadn't known for very long would do such a generous thing for me. The jersey is so soft and comfortable--like a hug. Also what I needed today--so that's what I wore.

...Mother's Day

There are many important mothers in my life:

My mom, mother to 7 of us!

My aunt Nanie, mom's sister, mom to 7 cousins

My oldest sister Arlene, mom to my first nephew, grandma to my first great-niece

Her daughter-in-law Coryn, Jadyn's mama

My youngest sister Lani, mom to 1 nephew and 4 nieces

My sister-in-law Kim, mom to 1 niece (who just got married!) and 1 nephew

My sister-in-law Vickie, mom to 2 nephews and soon to be grandma to another "great"

My sister-in-law Cheryl, mom to 1 nephew (who also happens to be my birthday twin!)

My best friend Jacque, mom and grandma to a crew who treat me like family

My comadre Maribel, my godson Cristian's momMy mother-in-law EmilyAnd....not mothers....but the 3 people responsible for making me a mom...my two kiddos and their dad!
Thanks, guys!

Happy Mother's Day!