Thursday, March 31, 2011

Hi Larry...it's me, Colleen...

Just thought I'd send up a little note with some great big news....

On Tuesday, in the wee hours of the morning..you became a Great-Grandfather!

Yeah, your beautiful first grandgirlie, Emily, gave birth to a little baby boy....well..not so little a baby boy..all 8lbs. 14oz of him...}


I know you are so proud of her and Cam..and didja know they named him Calvin Lawrence? Yeppers...your name will be carried on with little "Cal" just as your memory is carried with all of us.

This has been a wild year since we said good-bye to you and then found out the family was being blessed with a new life...


As as the spring approached, it brought a renewed excitement and love..more family feelings and thoughts..and of course, rememberies of you..and of Emily...as you danced with her when she was so young..


...and again at her wedding....still just a wisp of a girl.



Isn't she beautiful?  ...and I know you're smiling up there now..looking at your legacy of love..



Well, that's about it for now.  Say "Hello" to Daddy & Mother...Cal's GREAT-Great-grandparents!

..wait........what? That makes me a GREAT-grand-Auntie??!!  Are you sure??

Hey, it's a "great" promotion :-)

Love you brother!

XXOO

-me

Saturday, March 26, 2011

We're almost back together..

No silly, this isn't a post about me & Mr. B...we're always together.

Well, we like to think we're "all together"..

This is a continuation on the lovely kitchen semi-remodel. 

And at one point, it actually looked like a semi had been run through the kitchen.

But, it's always calm before the storm..um..that's not fitting here..it's always darkest before the sun comes up..it has to get worse before it can get better?

Yeah..that's the one.

We are lucky to have great neighbors..Jenny, the pie-making-chicken-mama-great Mommy of 2 little boys..happens to be married to a really neat guy, Brooks.

And whenever, we get in "over our head" {you'll realize how funny that truly is in the following photos..ah..I crack me up.}

Anyway, when the plea for help was sent over the chicken coop...Brooks came right over..

And, did I mention he's talented too? Doing full-on hand stands in the kitchen!



OK, you got me..flipped the pic.

Here he is with the lovely and talented Mr. B..

Yep, the sheet rock {wonder why they call it "sheet rock" anyway?} is up and our other neighbor {no, not Jenny} Robert will be over in the morning to "mud and tape" ..or is it tape & mud? ..anyway, the whole thing should be ready for Mr. B to paint tomorrow evening :-)

Happy happy.  I will have light, clean floors and an actual roof over my head..

OK, OK, a ceiling if you must..

So, when you look up at your ceiling....remember it didn't get there by itself....not to say Brooks put yours up..but someone did, right??

Have a Fun-Sun-Day ~

-me

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Happy Birthday Buddy!

Today is my very first grandson's birthday.


And his name is not 'Buddy'..but that's what I have called him... for years.

24 to be exact.  Today Brian is 24..on the 24th.

Hey, I was 6 on the 6th once.  Guess we all have that once in our lives..

Not that you were 6 on the 6th..but you were your age on your birthday.

Wait, we were all our age on our birthday..that's not what I meant.



I mean, up until the age if 31..we have all had out birthday year match the day of the month...

So, unless there are 62 days in some month..I think we should stop counting birthdays at 31..

I think I may need more sleep..math at 5am is just not my forte..{nor is it at any hour of the day..}

I think I may have just blown a gasket in my brain..sooo much thinking sooo early.  I may have used up all my brain power for the day..

So Happy Birthday Brian.  You've been a pure delight..you made my heart expand to sizes I never imagine it could..

I couldn't be more proud of you..yet each passing year I seem to be.

You were a delightful baby..amazing toddler..a sweet little boy..a very respectful teenager and now a strong, smart, handsome young man.

You bring me such hope for the generation in which you will be leading this country in..

And your Grandpa and I love you more than you can even fathom.



Always have..always will.

XXOO
-me  aka Grammie

ps..if 'Grammie' sounds a little young..you can call me G-ma..or Gram..or even Grandma.  But I will always call you 'Buddy'...or Bud..or even Brian..

Monday, March 21, 2011

Fun-Mun-Day is YOURS once a week! Make the most of it, OK?

..um.. yes, I know Mun-day is technically Mon-day or Monday....if you're persnick-ular...but I like my version better..and... this is my world..



Now this is the kind of thinking I like! Science AND optimism!

{By Selin Jessa via Jade Leth on Pinterest}

..as seen on ...

-me..happy happy me   ;-D

Saturday, March 19, 2011

..it aLWaYs starts out with an innocent little thought..

"..what do you think of some can lights in the kitchen??"

{this is not our kitchen..}

Simple.  Just remove the big old light box in the ceiling....no biggie..right?



Uh-huh.  and....that would be a "no"..

{this is our kitchen..}

Oh..and this is our kitchen...

..and this...


..and this and this and this...


 Oh..and let's not forget this...





So, we'll be in construction mode for a week or so..or until Mr. B can rest at night without designing-in-his- mind..



Have a restful Sunday..and the next time you think of a teensy-easy-quick project...

Think again!


"I don't know what to tell you pups..Daddy's too busy/tired/dusty to walk you tonight..you'll have to take Mommy instead, OK??"

Have a happy Sunday..and give your lighting a hug..
-me

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Can you believe it?

This is my neighbor Jenny's sister Mindy..she is beautiful and talented..and so is her sister, Jenny, the ultimate pie-maker-photographer-massage therapist-wife-Mom-daughter-sister and Chicken-Mama!




Can you even imagine the talent in their family?? She is awesome!

Hey, we can..uh..cross one eye..make corned beef..ride horses..Hula {that's Kathy..not me}..and oh, I know.....
Chicken-Sit!

*remind me to tell you the latest.."Adventures in Chicken-Wrangling"

-me

The wearin' of the green...

Makin' Corned Beef and Cabbage and Boiled potatoes for work today {yeah...I'm the only vegetarian at work, remember? }

..wearing my Irish tam with the red "hair" that Larry always wore on St. Paddy's Day...


And having a great day...remember, the Irish were GREEN before it was the "thing" to do!!!!

-me {Colleen Marie Theresa Sullivan...)

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Meet Mia..my new grand-Puppy..

Have you ever gotten a call and thought.."they really don't need another mouth to feed right now" ?

That's what I was thinking when Ella called me to tell me "Grammie, you've got another Grand-Dog!"

I tried not to let my feelings show in my voice..after all, she's only 7 and doesn't need to hear her Grammie being all  judgemental or stuffy ..

"Oh, tell me all about it..is it a boy puppy or a girl puppy? What's it's name?.."

"it's a girl..named Mia..and she has..water on the brain.."

"wha?? Um..uh..oh..my.."

" It makes her head kinda look big..Mommy will tell you more.. I really loooove her....she is soooo sweet..."


Mia is a 2 year old chihuahua..She has Hydrocephalus, which is water on the brain.



She was scheduled to be euthanized when a lady said she'd foster her until someone could {would?} adopt her..but the chances of that really seemed pretty grim..

Through Brandi looking to purchase dog toys on Craig's list..she was introduced to the woman she was fostering Mia..and found out the woman, who had great intentions, really wasn't ready to give Mia the care she deserved..

Mia was put in the bathroom all day while the woman worked..alone and tiny..it broke Brandi and Johnny's hearts to see her have that lack of quality for her life..not knowing how long that life would be..

They discussed it between themselves..told Ella what could happen..in a few months..or a few years..

..slept on their decission..

..and brought Mia home Friday night.

Introduced her  to Marley {mini pincher} and Chloe..{ mini mutt} and made both of them look like GIANTS!

They instinctively took to her and are very careful with her..somehow they do know..and Mia is loving all the attention.

Happy ever-after..no matter how long 'ever-after' is..



I am proud of them, the commitment to this teensy (less than 2 pounds} of much-needed-love-pup.

It will be a tough go, and when Mia is finished with her work here..it will be hard to say 'good-bye'..but her little life will be full of love and comfort with Johnny, Brandi, Ella, Marley and Chloe.

And that's what counts.

"Welcome to our world, Mia.."

Thank you little family of mine.  I am so happy for you!

-me

Friday, March 11, 2011

Do you love this as much as I do??

Thinking we all need something to smile about today, even as we say our prayers for all the world, especially those suffering in Japan.



Love and healing prayers..and {smiles} for your heart..

-me

Thursday, March 10, 2011

very {VERY} random blatherings..

OK so, here's how to determine if you are dog crazy:

1. You think every dog is a lap-dog.
     {uh, aren't they?}



2. You know every dog in your neighborhood on a first-name basis.
     { Hmmm..there's Clementine, Lola {the little black pug in the pink tutu who is Lulu's rival for Braxton's attention}  Big Bubba, and Thor..}

3. When your dog sits in the chair first - you find another place to sit.
      {yep..they were there first, right?}


4. You talk to your dog frequently...and always follow her advice.
      {Lulu's advice is usually more, uh, direct while Braxton's is a but more laid back}


Yep.  That would describe many of you I suppose..it does me and Mr. B for sure..

You know how I wanted to get a tattoo for my 60th?  Well..that didn't happen then..but this October I'll have the second anniversary of my 60-th, so I have decided {finally!} on what I want to get tattooed and where..

A blue-bird on my shoulder!  

You know, as in "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay, My oh My What a Wonderful Day"..??

OK sing along with me...



{yes, I know he's not blue..use you imagination..}

Mister Bluebird's on my shoulder

It's the truth, it's actual

Ev'rything is satisfactual

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay

Wonderful feeling, wonderful day, yes sir!

Yessirreebob..that's what it will be.  Oh, I feel so much better now..

OK, enough about me..how's things in your little corner of the world?

Have a great rest of the month and remember, March 17th's just about here!  Get  out your Irish soda bread recipes...the following is from http://www.sodabread.us/Recipes/sodabreadrecipes.htm {except the photos of my materhal grandmothers..}

All recipes for traditional soda bread contain flour, baking soda, sour milk (buttermilk) and salt. That's it!!!


This was a daily bread that didn't keep long and had to be baked every few days. It was not a festive "cake" and did not contain whisky, candied fruit, caraway seeds, raisins (add raisins and it becomes "spotted dog" not to be confused with the pudding made with suet of the same name), or any other ingredient.


There are recipes for those types of cakes but they are not the traditional soda bread eaten by the Irish daily since the mid 19th century.

Here are a basic recipe. Note that measurements below are in American standards. (An Irish teaspoon is not the same as an American teaspoon measurement.)

Note for New Bakers: a fluid cup contains 8 ounces of liquid. A dry ingredient cup contains around 4 ounces by weight. Don't use a liquid measuring cup for dry ingredients. Tsp means Teaspoon.

{my Great-Grandmother..Bridget Rice - Keane}


Of course our great grandmothers just grabbed a handful of this and a pinch of that to make their bread. We modern bakers need help since we don't do it every day.

{my Grandmother - Kathleen Maude Keane-Sullivan}



4 cups (16 oz) of all purpose flour.


1 Teaspoon baking soda

1 Teaspoon salt

14 oz of buttermilk

Method:

Preheat the oven to 425 F. degrees. Lightly crease and flour a cake pan.

In a large bowl sieve and combine all the dry ingredients.

Add the buttermilk to form a sticky dough. Place on floured surface and lightly knead (too much allows the gas to escape)

Shape into a round flat shape in a round cake pan and cut a cross in the top of the dough.

Cover the pan with another pan and bake for 30 minutes (this simulates the bastible pot). Remove cover and bake for an additional 15 minutes.

The bottom of the bread will have a hollow sound when tapped so show it is done.

Cover the bread in a tea towel and lightly sprinkle water on the cloth to keep the bread moist.

Have fun!

-me







Monday, March 7, 2011

Good Monday mornin'! **Edited: I think I got the pictures to work!!

Yep...good MONDAY morning.

Had a very very fast week-end.  Don't know why sometimes they just seem to fly-by even when we didn't do too much..?

Oh well..it's back to Monday and back to organization and routine and getting up waaaay too early.  Mr. B is now starting work at 5am..yikes!

So, here's what one finds to smile about on a Monday at 4:30 {a.m.}


haa haa..and here's another..


Me and Mr. B??


so..how many of you "get" this one??


I leave you with my thought for Monday..

"Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.."

Have a great one and be grateful we GET another  Monday..

-me

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Where have I been???


I don't know...where?

Hmmm..busy.  Well, in the "running-around-not-sure-what-time-it-is-even.." busy.

Morning dog walk, Dentist's for Grandma Evelyn..pharmacy..phone calls..dealing with insurance..laundry..dealing with pharmacies..afternoon dog walking...and a special surprise...

A visit from my Canadian cousins :-)

Wilf and Janie..

Janie is Daddy's cousin's daughter..so we share a great-grandma..from Ireland.

And what's kinda amazing..we didn't even know we had Canadian Cousins!


{ Janie is such a great crafter/seamstress! She always brings lovely hand-knitted gift and this year a card with a photo that their son, Paul took...he calls himself  "an enthusiastic amateur"..."but I'd like to argue that amateur status ~ his work is amazing! Check out his photography:http://pbruch.com/ }


And, it all came from a trip to Ireland that Larry took some years ago..a chance encounter in a pub..leading to an elderly woman named MaryKate in a nursing home..( a distant cousin)and  her recollections of her family {our family}and my brother discovering a niece that had visited her Aunt MaryKate who told Larry about the "Canadian Connection"!

Whew!

So, we have lovely Canadian Cousins from  beautiful Victoria,  in wonderful Canada.. and..... we had our "3rd annual stop-over-on-the-way-back-to-Victoria-dinner-visit-catch-up-night".night...tonight..on their way back to Victoria after wintering in Arizona..

Conversation, talk of their trip to Egypt , laughter, playing with Braxton & Lulu..visiting with Grandma Evelyn..dinner out..laughter..tea at home, kiss kiss hug hug..safe travels..see you next year..


What a great, busy, fun, exciting, exhausting and happy day!

How was your Wednesday?

-me

Wanna see what I've been up to ??

 I always wanted a dollhouse. My dad was a carpenter and was asked by one of his wealthy customers to make a dollhouse for their daughter. I...