wonderful one times one

It's a Smile, it's a Kiss, it's a Sip of Wine, it's Summertime!

Check list for Nashville:

1) 2 pairs of cowboy boots (one pair for me, one pair for J)...check

2) Kenny Chesney & Leanne Rimes concert tickets....check

3) Kenny Chesney & Leanne Rimes songs downloaded on my iPod, so I can learn all the words by Saturday...check

4) Dinner reservations...check

5) Willingness to get completely lost in a new town....check (it's what J and I do best)

6) Camera....check

       

(leaving on a jetplane, see you Monday!)

Tuesday Morning

We must learn to be still in the midst of activity and to be vibrantly alive in repose.
                                                                                                                            -indira gandhi

         

         

         

         

Happy Birthday, Elizer!

The Latest from Hampstead

I've heard that my neglect of this little blog isn't going over well with the true fans (hi mom!), so I'm going to try and get back to blogging every morning.  The problem is, well, I don't have as much to say these days.  Life is just life.  It's good and busy!  But, one big thing is happening soon that I can finally share - we're moving.  I know, I know, you're saying, 'but didn't you just move?'  'Didn't you just finish decorating your little place?' 

Yes.  The answer is yes.

But, the owners are suddenly moving back into town (ah, the life of Marines) and we couldn't tell them that they couldn't have their house back.  No matter how much we love it.  And we do love it.  But, it would have been bad karma.

So, we've found a new place just down the road that we like, so that's that.  We'll be packing up all of this month and moving out at the end of July.  And then there will be more posts about decorating!  And bunnies, since we'll have those in this new place!  The house is bordered by forest on one side, which is neat.  It's a quiet place with lots of room and a nice landlord.  It's a good spot.

In other news, 3/8 Family Day was last week, which was, as J would say, 'motivating.'  And the Clay's visited this past weekend, which was great!  Here are a few pics from the past few days.

         

(J's Battalion Family Day)

         

(the calm before everyone showed up)

             

(I got a new camera lens, so here we are, trying it out with my tripod)

         

(this isn't the best example, but the best part of my new lens is that I can take sharp pictures with low light w/o a flash)

         

(He's such a good pup)

         

         

          

Wednesday Morning

We're trying to go on more walks, Hank and I.   

         

         

                  

         

(Hank, in the intracoastal waterway)

         

         

We saw a snake on this walk, but I didn't want to gross anyone out by posting the picture.  Have a great day!

These Days

Today, I'm loving:

         

(Meg.  Happy Birthday, sister of mine.)

         

(wet noses)

         

(Viva la Vida)

         

(KV activities)

         

(the pup, of course.  Here he is sniffing the air.  There is a forest fire in Northern NC that we can smell down here.  Hope it clears up soon.)

- not pictured is J, who comes home today after almost a month out in the wilderness.  Can't wait!

A Weekend Away

I spent the weekend with good friends in Houston and the laughter abounded at every moment.  It was a perfect little getaway, although it went by too  quickly.

         

(the girls)

         

         

                     

(This is Percy.  She was adorable.)

There were moments of sadness this weekend too.  I was such a Tim Russert fan.  I thought he was such a brilliant man and journalist and for some reason he always reminded me of my dad.  I was standing in line, waiting to get on my flight to Houston, when Tom Brokaw broke the news on NBC.   My first thought was of his son and that this Fathers Day would be so hard.  So, I'm thinking of him.  And thinking of all those who knew Tim personally.  As my plane flew to Houston, I wished wholeheartedly that I had known him personally too.   

Hank in the Hotness

My big plan was to go on a photo drive this weekend, but friends, it is hot here.  It is so hot that I really didn't want to go outside this weekend.  It is so hot that my big black dog is allowed 3 minutes outside at a time because when he comes back inside, he's hot to the touch.  It's hot. 

So, really the only pictures I have are of Hank...inside.  J is off in the middle-of-nowhere Virginia with his BLT for the month.  Poor thing.  I really can't complain about the weather since he's living in a tent with no AC and wearing his full uniform.

         

(J, packing for the field)

            

(two newfs)

         

         

(the coolest place in the house - our bathroom floor)

         

(have a good Tuesday!)

A Visit from the Scarletts

Beecher, Kristin, and Jackson came to visit a few weekends ago.  It was such a great weekend full of laughs, good food, and cold beer.

         

(Beecher & Jackson)

         

(kabobs)

         

         

(godson & godfather)

         

         

(J, lighting a firecracker)

Hello from New York

Hello!  I'm sitting in the La Guardia airport at the moment - my flight is delayed about two hours, which isn't surprising.  Air traffic in Pittsburgh is holding us up.  That's what I get for being a Detroit Redwings fan.  I won $5 off that Stanley Cup win!

I've been running around with an author for the past couple of days.   He's a really loud angry comedian who often appears on The Daily Show.  There, that's all I'll say. 

Like usual, I'm happy to be heading home.   I didn't take one picture!  Anyways, I'll blog more this weekend and next week.  Hope everyone is having a wonderful June so far!

xoxo

Katie

Hank, the Flopper

A quick update from our household to yours.  Hank is fine.  And you didn't know that there was chance he might not be.  He has a growth, yes a growth, on his leg.  And we were worried because, well, we love him so.  And my husband and I are worriers.  But he's fine.  And he's in no pain at all.  Do you want to know why he has this growth on his elbow?  Because he lies down too hard.  Does he 'flop'? the vet asked.  And I nodded, 'oh yes, he's a flopper.'  He has a trauma wound (the vet actually used this phrase) because he lies down too hard.  Or, as I like to say, Hank lies down with passion.

Only Hank, friends, only Hank.

So, now he's got a bandage that he loves (loves!) and has to sleep on a padded floor.  I'd like to see the vet try to make this happen.  I would giggle at the sight.  The boy likes his hard floors.  And he likes to flop on them, like any big pup would.

So, that's the update.  The Hank update.