Autumn Leaves

Autumn is one of my favorite times of year & this autumn has been glorious. The changing of the seasons has been absolutely gloriously dramatic. And so refreshing after the most decided lack of seasons' change in SoCal. Here's a glimpse of what we experienced here...along with the lyrics of one of my all time favorite songs...especially if sung by Eva Cassidy or Patricia Kaas.

The Autumn Leaves

The falling leaves drift by the window
The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sun-burned hands I used to hold

Since you went away the days grow long
And soon I'll hear old winter's song
But I miss you most of all my darling
When autumn leaves start to fall

C'est une chanson, qui nous ressemble
Toi tu m'aimais et je t'aimais
Nous vivions tous, les deux ensemble
Toi que m'aimais moi qui t'aimais
Mais la vie sépare ceux qui s'aiment
Tout doucement sans faire de bruit
Et la mer efface sur le sable les pas des amants désunis

(French lyrics by Jacques Prévert, English lyrics by Johnny Mercer, Music by Joseph Kosma)

(Photos by Moi, of course!)

Thanks Tash!

So while I was with the Posey clan, I got yet another great haircut from Natasha. Not only does it look great straight (which Tash did but I probably won't due to stupid physical issues), but I can go from showered to bouncy curls in just 30 seconds.

Which is great since getting ready in the morning is rather tough right now...

While the move to WA has (overall) been good for my health in relation to the peripheral polyneuropathy (way fewer flare ups), my fibromyalgia has been acting up with the onset of cold weather & rain. It been taking me longer to get up & get going in the morning.

Due to pain & stiffness, it has typically been taking me 1-2 hours to really be able to move after getting up each morning. Today, however, was classic: mom litterally had to pull me out of bed. I think my 12 hour drive through torrential rain on Saturday, kinda screwed me up a bit! I was in so much pain & so stiff I really couldn't get out of bed. Which sucked cuz I had to return the rental car I'd used for my CA trip. (Figures--usually not being able to move wouldn't be such a big deal: I have a very boring life, but the one day I've gotta be somewhere early, I have a completely non-functioning body!)

But at least I look good while immobile, right? Always a bright side! Thanks again, Tash, for doing my hair...you rock!

Demetri

Don't get too excited: he hasn't arrived yet...BUT...

Check out his latest ultra sound pix! He is soooo cute!!!!!!


Ok...neeed a little help? Here you go...all mapped out for you. (Dani says if you picture him wearing sunglasses, it helps...and doesn't everyone like to sit with their feet up by their ears?!)
Here's the kicker....is this a beautiful profile or what?!?!?!

Yup! It's happened again: I'm head-over-heals in love!
Hurry Up, Demetri!!! I want to snuggle you in my arms!!!!!

Let's Hear it for the Boys!

Let's all give a HUGE shout out to Isaac for fixing my freakin' computer so I can get online again!!!! Amazing guy: while his wife takes me out for a terrific dinner & drinks, he stayed home with the kids AND fixed my computer. Too bad he's taken... ;-)

I'm in Redding, CA where my dear friend Natasha lives~with the afore mentioned husband~and her 2 beautiful boys. I actually drove down from WA thinking that a 12 hour car trip wouldn't be that bad...and overall, it wasn't...except I still have to drive back...(sigh). But so wonderful to be with Tash again & to see how big the boys have gotten since I saw them last.

Jackson is 3 years old now, talking non-stop, and has amazing hearing: he can identify all sorts of different vehicles driving in the near vacinity while he is playing in the back-yard, unable to see them. He also has an afinity for hats, which is nice since my knitting-maniac mom made hats for both the boys!

Sawyer will be 2 years old in a mere 2 weeks & is talking more & more and is into all things "boy." He has an afinity for shoes, but (luckily for him) my mom hasn't figured out how to knit those yet! (Hey mom, you know I love all the things you create for me & others!!!) Funny thing is, for liking shoes so much, he had the best time this afternoon running about the back yard in his socks in the rain! Too funny!

Both boys are totally into tractors (real) and cars & trucks (real or toys)...and really: who wouldn't be. The local Walmart has been awfully accomodating in that it's remodeling & is using lots of tractor-type vehicles. Tash can just drive the boys over there for an afternoon of fun entertainment!

It's been a relaxing trip & I love being with Tash...don't cha just love being with friends where you can pick up where you left off as though you just saw them the day before~even though it's been a year since you've last managed to get together?

Anyway...it's nice to be with good friends and (almost) as nice to be able to get online again!!!! Now I shall have to think about all sorts of creative things to write about...you know, act like I have a life!

Upcoming posts will, of course, include pictures of my beautiful TeaRose who has somehow gone from a baby to a little lady of 8 1/2 months who is crawling everywhere, is close to walking, and has (finally) gotten her first tooth. In all her busy-bee activities, she still likes to cuddle & loves to listen to books....

And sometime within the next couple weeks, I should have the wonderful gift of becoming an aunt again as my brother & sister-in-law's baby is due anytime now. Hurry up Demetri: I can hardly wait to hold you!!!!!!!

The Pink Door

My friend, and former co-worker, Scott was in town for business this past week & I had the pleasure of hanging out with him a couple times in between his business meetings. (He insists on actually working while on business trips...go figure.)

Even though I've lived in WA for about 9 months now, this was the first time I've hung out in Seattle~which is rather pathetic seeing as it's 20 minutes from my house to downtown. It was kinda nice to see that some of the stores & restaurants I enjoyed going to 10 years ago are still around...like Kell's Irish Pub.

Scott & I had dinner one night at The Pink Door. This place has been around for years & is nice in that it has a formal dining room, a more casual lounge, and a very casual outside patio area with an amazing view of the Sound. And their food is incredible...they change their menu seasonally & the chef is quite talented!

Since we sat in the dining room we were able to enjoy the unusual & spectacular entertainment of Zita~an arialist. She had 3 performances...2 using a hamock-like sling hanging from the restaurant's ceiling and another using a trapeze. She was~to put it mildly~incredible! The best was when 2 older couples were being seated directly under where Zita was hanging from the ceiling...this sweet little gray-haired woman had no idea what was going on above her until Zita quietly lowered herself (upside-down like a spider on a thread) until she was face-to-face with the woman, who promptly screamed. It was hysterical!

I was so impressed with her talent...and (let's be honest) a bit jealous as well. When we spoke later, she insisted that I too could learn to do what she does. Flattering but highly amuzing as well. I can see me now, accidentally hanging myself. And let's face it: no way am I going to look anywhere near as good as she did in fishnets & teddies. I guess I could use this as a weight-loss goal, but let's get real here: ain't happenin'!

Anyway~it was good to see Scott, get caught up on things, & get out of the house & have some fun. Need to do that more often!!

And now for some more pix of the amazing Zita! Enjoy!

Baby Talk

Yeah...ignore the date listed on this post: it's really Sept. 25th!

Our little TeaRose is now 7 months! Crazy! In the past month, she went from just starting to roll over to sitting up...to crawling...to pulling herself up to stand & walk along tables.

She talks (oh, okay, babbles) to herself & others...including her stuffed animals. Her pediatrician was blown away by her today. She is also up to 17 lbs! That's 10 lbs since her birth! And she's grown 2 1/2 inches since last month. Our little girl is growning up!

She also has her first boyfriend...an older man: Aidan is already a year old! They have lots of fun together!

Yesterday she became the stair master! Look out, mama! She's truly mobile now!

Be sure to check out my sister's new blog: http://www.bambinobistro.blogspot.com/ to view the recipes my sis has created for Teagan now that she is eating solids!
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In other news...Demetri is also still in the womb...which is great news since he gave us a scare by trying come out at 29 weeks gestation! His mama is slowly coming off of bedrest & hasn't had any further contractions! All great news! He is very playful already: if you poke or pat his mama's tummy, he pokes back. You can play games with him across D's tummy. Gramma had the pleassure of spending 2 weeks in SoCal with J&D helping while D was on complete bedrest. She had a lot of fun getting to know Demetri before he's even been born! We are looking forward for his arrival in mid-November.

This was in late July--imagine how big D is now!!!!

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As for me...I love living in WA more each day! I am feeling healthier...and I love love love the weather! Fall has fallen here & I love it!!!!!