Thank you Melissa

Thank you so much for sending a little piece of Hawaii to us this Christmas.



Here is Max modelling his TShirt
And here is GG with her new tshirt.

Thank you so much........... we love them all


From Dan, Ger, Margaret and Max

Red Neck Cook

We caught glimpse of this "Budding"chef.

Sand Artist

Kseniya Simonova is a Ukrainian artist who won Ukraine's version of "America's Got Talent." She uses a giant light box, dramatic music, imagination and "sand painting" skills to interpret Germany's invasion and occupation of Ukraine during WWII. Just watch the video...... she is amazing!

Anniversary - 11th

Our 11th anniversary was on Sept 26, so we decided to celebrate it a little early. Dan took us for a long weekend to Chicago. It is on my list of places to see in the US and I needed a "big city" fix. We did a lot of walking, rode the train, took the "L" and of course, ate Chicago style pizza.

We queued for nearly 2 hours to go up the Sears Tower (now called the Willis building) to see the view of Chicago from 103 stories up. It was worth it. At the top there are 4ft glass enclosed "balconies" that you can go out on. Sounds easy but it does make you queasy when you look down. See for yourself from these photos.

Millennium Park had so many things to see and a great place to people watch, especially around The Bean. We must have counted about 7 wedding parties there having their photographs taken there and and boy were some very interesting color/dress combinations!

We had a blast celebrating our Anniversary.

Dan ............... you rock!

Chelsea

Dan sent me a picture today that he took on his camera phone. Chelsea, you're looking great.

Thanks Dan

Dan bought tickets to Heart for my birthday. After work we went to the local deli, got sandwiches and headed off to the venue so we could tailgate.

About 7:00pm we headed into the concert with our lawn chairs, found a good spot not too far from the stage, sat back and enjoyed the evening. When Heart came on, gosh......... it was just like listening to their CD.

They opened with Barracuda, played some of their older songs, did cover versions of:- Led Zepplins "The Immigrant Song", The Who's "Love, Reign o'er Me, and an ACDC song (can't think of the name right now) and closed with Magic Man.

Thanks Dan, I had a fab time!

Look at this little guy!

Today we brought Kerbi to Doggie Park and found this little guy on the ground. I guess I just happened to look down at the right moment 'cause he was very well blended into the background. The red stuff on his back is the red clay that is around here. He was a fast little mover when he got going.

There is a happy ending to this little story. We walked out of the fenced in area and walked to the lake nearby and set the little fella free. He swam off and then turned around and came back to the waters edge, stuck his head up as if to say "Thank you" and turned around and swam off to the center of the lake where he was eaten by a giant crocodile.

Happy Birthday Dan

Happy Birthday Dan.

It was Dan's Birthday yesterday. He took the day off work and took some of these photos.

Our Plumeria is blooming again this year and the first flower opened on Dan's Birthday. Not only was it the first bloom of the year but it was a 4-petal plumeria.

Now I am no Plumeria expert but I have never seen a 4-petal plumeria flower before. Perhaps it is like a 4-leaf clover and is lucky! That being the case then........ may it bring you luck Dan.

The other Plumeria will be blooming in a month or so and I have no idea what color it will be ....... Oh the anticipation.

Back to Dan's Birthday........... the lucky fella got a laptop.

We went out for dinner last night and I can truly say......... the dessert was amazing (sorry no photos). It was a caramel chocolate tart with Burnt Brandy Ice Cream ......... deeeeeeeeeeelicious.

Fruits of our Labor...... literally

Today we just went out and took photos of our garden. It is so hot and humid here at the moment that you can't stay out for too long.



We went to our Vegetable garden and picked tonights dinner (well the veggie portion anyway)We have lettuce too but didn't take a photo of it.... my bad). There are figs, a pear, persimmons, Graffitti eggplant, tomatoes, basil and mint in this display. Actually we were just having fun arranging the Veggies/fruits and taking the photos. The mint we will use in a Mojito Mmmmmmmmm

SKINKS


While out in the front garden I spotted this little guy. They are Skinks. You see them scurrying across the front porch all the time. We sat and watched two of them chase each other around the driveway. Their tails are bright blue so if a predator catches them, it breaks off. They always startle me when I am watering the yard as they climb up the side of the wall or scurrying across the front porch but they are cute.

6ft Glad

I knew gladioli grew tall but I have never seen a 6ft one until now. We planted these bulbs when we first moved into the house and they usually grow to 4ft+.This one obviously like the spot it is in and grew straight up without being staked.
Shame it only lasts about 2 weeks!

Chelsea and Jimmy's Wedding June 7th, 2009

We had a quick visit back to San Diego for Chelsea's wedding.
It was great seeing family and friends. The photos below were all taken from the trip.

Dan at the Kwik-E-Mart

Well Dan...... you've always liked the Simpsons, now you are a part of it.

Memorial Day

Dan the Wii Penguin

Meet Geraldine

Isn't she cute?
Geraldine was born on St Patrick's Day. A girl in work raises sheep and one of her ewe's had lambs. She called the little white lamb after me as I was the only Irish person she knew.
The little black lamb is called Megan.
Oh yeh........ she raises sheep for their wool and not for the dinner plate, thank goodness!

St Patrick's Day 2009

I have to say, I haven't had as much fun on St Patrick's Day in a long time. I arrived to work on Tuesday, and my boss Brenda had decorated my work area. On my desk there was a tiara, beads and glasses

I had been teasing everyone that I would love them to do "Riverdance" (NC style) for me and that Donna could sing me Danny Boy. Well........ they all came through for me on St Patricks Day. Brenda brought us all out to lunch and sure enough, they got up and did Riverdance .........and the Electric Slide and some other dance. I tell you, after lunch everyone was in great mood.

Brenda had baked an apple cake from my Irish Cook Book so we all enjoyed that later in the afternoon. Donna enlisted the help of her sister Kim and Deborah to sing Danny Boy. They had only practiced about half an hour before. Kudos to them for singing it as it is not an easy song to sing.

Well I am looking forward to 2010, how can we top this one?

Well does it?

People here often ask me "Do they get snow in Ireland?" Well the answer is "Yes they do." Aileen my friend in Dublin took this picture of her daughter Kerri last week. Kerri is 8 years of age and it is the first time she had ever seen snow! When I spoke with Aileen during the week, they were still having snow! Now that is unusual to have snow for that long over there!

Kerri, I hope you built a snowman

Good Laugh

I came across this short video the other day that I had forgotten all about. Each time we watch it, it makes us smile as Margaret is obviously enjoying herself.

Next stop .........Nascar!!

BBBrrrrrrr

This is a photo of our house on Tuesday after 5 inches of snow. As some businesses were closed, Dan was off and took these photos while taking the dog for a walk. Thankfully the snow only staid 2 days and today… well there’s not trace of it at all.

I shouldn’t complain as other parts of the country get it a lot worse but 2 days of snow is enough for me.