The New Coffee Break

Apparently, this Monday morning, I don’t have anything better to do than to play cat and mouse. Literally: I am the cat. I have a mouse. I have been stalking a mouse for a couple of days now. I don’t know why this is so entertaining. Armed with my camera, I have been determined to shoot this mouse. Preferably as he rests under a green pepper plant leaf. I am a world class photographer and that is what we do. (Not really, but it sure sounded good.)


Last week, the patio door was open while the kids were napping and I heard a scratching on the dog’s dish. The mouse was stealing dog food! It was a hefty load for a mouse of his size. Then yesterday, my husband told me that we needed to put the dog food back inside because the WHOLE bowl, filled up the night before, and was gone. That would have been an all night heist for my tiny little friend. I am assuming that it is the lazy neighbor cat that stalks my birds under the feeder in the back yard. I don’t know what is up with that cat. That was a bowl of expensive dog food. The least it could do is top it off with a side of mouse.


As I was on my conference call this morning, I glanced out to see the brazen little mouse leisurely strolling about my patio like he owned it. What’s worse, he’s been exploring the patio for about an hour and half now. With no fear! He runs and hides in my pepper plants that are still growing next to the house. He’s really not cool like Ralph, he doesn’t have a motorcycle. And he doesn’t seem to be a vegetarian, because he rejected peppers and the tomato that was on the ground. He really liked that dog food. This isn’t a surprise, because it is one of the best foods for small dogs. They tell you this at the store. Its twenty bucks for a tiny bag, but the returns are great. Well, minimal I should say.


So after observing the brazen mouse, I decided to sic Lewis on it. Because you know, he IS a Chihuahua/Rat Terrier kind of dog. Isn’t that what they do? I put the dog out. Anxiously I waited for the great hunt to begin, only to see Lewis walk out to the grass, spin three times, do his duty and then scratch at the door to come in. Whoa! Are you kidding me? Lewis made it abundantly clear that hunting is a lost art in his family tree. They have no function except to wear cute sweaters and curl up on your lap.

Next, I went for the photo op. You know, how fun! Cute little mouse in the garden. Very Beatrix Potter-esque, right? It does have cute ears: round ones. When it hunches it up, it is almost adorable. But I am really not sure how I feel about this creature. You’ve seen Ratatouille! Where there is one, there are millions. I waited and took a few pictures from behind the sliding glass door. It ran off into my garden bed after seeing the movement. Then it stepped out, did a cruise around to see if maybe he’d missed the food dish by chance. It was getting pretty bold coming up to the carpet next to the door, really scrounging for some crumbs or something. I decided to really go for it and stepped out the door.

After chasing it back into the garden bed, I willed it to pose. I had my pink camera clutched in my tight little hand. I realized in a panic that I had left the door open to the house. I dashed across the patio, confounded at my stupidity in leaving the door wide open! The mouse is outside! That’s a great place for it! It was about that time that I realized that. Even though leaving the door wide open wasn’t my brightest idea; neither was playing real life cat and mouse with a mouse.When I came up with the Facebook status: "Note to self: when stalking said mouse, for crying out loud SHUT THE DOOR! Mouse: outside: good." I recognized this had gone a little far.It’s been about two hours of stalking this mouse, taking its picture like paparazzi. I think that it’s time to give it a rest. Coffee hour has really changed, but it still is entertaining.

Legacy of Love

On the way back from Lowe’s today, I listened with glee as my second daughter told me that this was HER plant and SHE rescued it.  She was so emphatic about the ownership, pride emanating from her big grin. When we got home she ran into her bathroom, where she was going to keep it and watered it.  My husband, rolling his eyes due to the crazy amount of plants already existing in our home, strained to see the value of another dollar spent on a plant. However, my heart soared, seeing my passion alive and lighting up my daughter’s face!

I have had a fascinating span of reading this week that took me from pioneers to penthouse apartments in New York. The ironic theme seemed to be survival. The alarming issue was more the prioritizing of what made you a survivor. I suppose it isn’t necessarily fair to put them in the same category with hundreds of years separating the eras for which they were written. However, one was primarily based on money and getting something for an insane price, the other was based on starting a new life based on adventure and experience out of necessity. Alarmingly enough, the arrival of their success or at their destination wasn’t the end. Most people were dissatisfied and still faced the need to obtain something more or deal with other issues. Some were content to just exist in less than satisfactory situations as to not interrupt their new life style or status. Are we really making a living off of this stuff?

In the New York books, artists, writers and actors were shown in an excessive light of constantly being dissatisfied after having gained TOO much. Most of the things that we strive for as regular people would not even be considered good enough for them by their standards. I find it so overly sensationalized that my own desire to go and visit and view New York has significantly been jaded. Having been born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, I find myself reminded that most of us that have been born and raised out here for several generations are the descendants of pioneers, frontiersmen and the lawless. What I found significant in this was the distinct difference in what is important to me versus what is important to those struggling to maintain their lifestyle in the big Apple.

Hope springs eternal in the mind of the romantic. Where do I fit? I ask. Because of my passion for gardening, my home and taking care of my family and friends, I feel as though it is my legacy to leave a romantic's version of life and of love, encouraging people to live their passions. There is no finish line, no arrival point, only living with one hundred percent of what your abilities and ideas are. I have been constantly amazed by the fact that even though the lifestyles differ so much, no one seems to have gained anything different or better than anyone else.  They still face life and lack and desires. I know as families we get caught up in the money dance, thinking we’ll make some, work hard for a few years and then live or have fun or enjoy the kids. Truth of the matter is, we only have one shot at this. We are shaping our future and what we leave behind RIGHT NOW. Money does make the world go around, but this is it.

I thought, working my way up through the medical clinic, that I was building my success. Five years into giving it completely up to be a stay at home mom, the world has another message for me. My experience in the medical from five years ago doesn’t mean anything to anyone right now. It doesn’t better qualify me to get a job.  We get so wrapped up in what we think success and wealth look like. This morning, I saw what it looks like. It looks like love.  It looks like a passion that transforms one ordinary day into the best ever, just in doing what you love.

Breaking the Monotony

Almost anyone who knows me knows that just about anything and everything in life is a palette. I love to be creative. I live for my monthly Better Homes and Garden magazine. I check In Style online right before every season. My home, my clothes, my hair and my face are my favorite canvasses. I really just love watching what is trending.

Right before Katie Holmes cut her hair off short, I was digging through People.com to find the hair cut that Meg Ryan had in You’ve Got Mail. I love thrift stores and last year, grabbed a fur wrap that seemed ridiculous only to find that those were an it item for Fall. I track colors and themes. I really love watching movies and seeing themes in decorating that come up and then continue. One of which, is applied in my living room that I frequently get compliments on: the picture collage.

 The season of ins and outs makes it a great time to try something new. My favorite thing to do is research something of interest then practice application. One such thing is scarf tying. Scarves aren’t necessarily a new trend. In fact, if you look up scarf tying, you don’t bring up much. However, if you look up Pashmina tying, it gives you many more resources. One of the best sites I found for tips on wearing your scarf is here: http://www.rockymountainemporium.com/wearingpashmina.html

Another thing that makes life a little more exciting is researching a specific makeup technique to try. It takes practice. I will be the first to tell you that the bold colors and crazy things I have cooked up successfully came as a result of several what NOT to do’s. One thing I looked up and really enjoyed trying and customizing for myself was Marilyn Monroe makeup. http://getglamorous.blogspot.com/2007/07/how-to-do-marilyn-monroe-makeup-step-by.html

If you haven’t used liquid eyeliner that you could manage, try a hard tip applicator. If you like bolder eyeshadow colors, wet a sponge tip applicator. If you like the color to blend more, use a brush. Really, I think the key to most of this is the bright white eye shadow. White against the dramatic line of liquid eyeliner opens up the eyes.

Recently, I swapped out the flame hued fringe of bangs for an all over black color with some highlights in a warm brown for some depth. I love changing my hair with the season. It is a quick way of livening things up and making you feel vibrant again. Even at the professional beauty supply, a good bottle of developer and a color won’t cost more than an over the counter treatment from the drug store.

Today’s thrill was “trimming” my hair. I had been transitioning from the popular wedge cut into maybe a longer style. My patience always gets the best of me, though and the growing it out thing doesn’t seem to work very long. After my shower, I quickly grabbed my hair cape and scissors going to work before I changed my mind. There’s nothing like taking off an inch or two. I have been trimming my own hair for years. It takes quite a bit of practice.

If you are in need of an instant refresher, I would strongly suggest just trimming your bangs. My general rule is always to cut another finger length below what you think you want. Then, leaning over a sink with a trash can, I cut in a zig zag pattern to give it some life and movement. A small zig zag will break up the “I just cut my bangs” look (think pinking shears). A larger zig zag will give you a more sweeping bangs look (an A shape), but be careful not to get too carried away with it. If you have a daughter, friend or a stylist that has told you NEVER to touch your bangs, but to call or come by when you need it, then DO NOT DO THIS AT ALL.

We all get stuck in ruts and routines. Fall brings a barrage of schedules and upcoming holidays. Sometimes the best thing to snap out of the constant bustle is simple. Try some new throw pillows or a vibrant rug in your living room. For a more personal touch try buying a new daring nail polish color, do something new with your hair or your makeup, or brush up on wrapping that scarf you love. Whatever you choose to do to spice up your life, do it for you and enjoy it! Take some time to figure out something fun and new that you haven’t done before. Freshen up and take a walk on the wild side!