Hello, friends. We have been really busy this summer traveling to Europe, Chicago and California, and I'm ready to be home for a bit. First, however, we go to California again for 10 days - this time for a vacation. My parents are joining us for 5 of those days. We're staying in a friend's house while they are in China for the Olympics. They live just a few blocks from the beach and you can see the whole ocean from their rooftop patio. I'm looking forward to sunning and reading and cooking.

The wedding was really wonderful - so simple and heartfelt. We really don't like the idea of spending scads of money for one day, so we set a price and let the girls keep whatever they don't spend. You can see pictures from the wedding online. The site is www.audreyhannahphoto.com Once at the site, choose 'view site' and then click on 'clients'. You'll see their wedding listed on 7/16/08 as Kayla and Iain's wedding, the password is 'Andersonwed' and on down a bit at 06/02/08, you can see their engagement pictures. The password there is 'KaylaandIain' The photographer is a friend of theirs and she is really remarkable, I think. Her blog is pretty cool, too.

Iain just got a job as the manager of a coffee shop that some friends of ours are starting up. In fact, they have bought the franchise rights for the state of Colorado and plan to open numerous stores. Iain will be their first manager and they would like for him to one day be regional manager or own his own store (all if he does well for them). He will work in Denver for now, although they probably won't move there because of Kayla's job. They are going to get an apartment just north of the Springs, so they'll both commute a bit. The possibilities for him are worth the commute and the cost!

Kinsey started a new job at the Denver Library. She'll be part of a small group of people that will scan and catalog thousands of documents that relate to Denver. They will be archived by sections of the city. The library is well-known for its geneology records and I suppose this is more of the same. She likes it so much already.

I just finished a large deadline and have nothing else on my plate right now. I'm wanting to practice calligraphy and finally use it to produce some art. It's scarier to do that than it is to work on the stuff I usually do, but I really want to try. We're going to finish off our basement so that we both have a place to work - Don for his instrument building and me for art.

Would love to hear from you all!
Cecelia

pray for Deb

hello friends,
i want to ask you to pray for our friend, deb, over the next couple of weeks. she is having her back surgery this morning. they are fusing 2 vertebrae and doing some other work as well. she faces a long, hard recovery, especially in the next 3 weeks. her address, again, if you'd like to send her a card is:
Deb Strawn
209 Rockledge Ct.
Manitou Springs, CO 80929

Here's the web addres to see more pix of Kayla and Iain's engagement pictures.
www.audreyhannahphoto.com
Click on the web portion; click on clients in upper RH corner; choose kayla and iain's name from the list and enter the password kaylaandiain

Love to you all,
Cecelia

It has been a long time since I have written, but have been thinking about you all and reminiscing about our gathering for Cecilia's birthday and what a very special time that was. Thank you again for that gift of hospitality and friendship. I have also be thinking about you ,Cecilia, and your upcoming wedding and wondering how you are holding up. I am sorry Bill and I cannot make it, I tried to swing it but other commitments got in the way. I enjoyed reading Kayla and Iana's website and am really sorry to miss the food among other things, like seeing the happy couple and my new friends! I also finally finished the photo album from the birthday weekend (could 4 months really have past so quickly?), so Cecilia should be getting that in the mail anyday. You know you all are quite intimidating with your art talents, so remember it is the thought and not the quality that counts. Also, I was not sure about RSVPing for the wedding. I did not RSVP as we are not able to come, did I do that right, it did not look like it was for regrets.

We are having a very wet late spring early summer here, a bit depressing, but the yard and garden look great with all the water. I am still trying to figure out what I can grow here. so many of my favorite plants are Zone 5 and it is only a zone 4 up here in South Dakota. The good news is the soil is wonderful, unlike the hard packed clay i tried to mend every spring in KC.

Kristina (my youngest) graduated from college this spring and is working at a camp on flathead lake in MT this summer before she goes to graduate school in PA this fall. the rest of us in SD have no news to report. Take care dear friends, Kathy

my 35th

I'm scanning pics to put in a digital frame for my folks and came across this fun picture of my 35th birthday. Looks like the Harrises and the Stones keep recycling with my birthdays. Ironically enough, this one and my 50th are among my most memorable. Thanks for sharing girls.

where, oh where is Spring?

April Fools Day here and it's snowing and gray. We've had some really wonderful days sandwiched between winter ones. I'm really trying not to complain. I want to live in the 'now' but I'm ready for warmer weather. I'm trying a new creative endeavor - actually two. I've committed to creating and sending out a postcard every day. So if you get one from me, you'll know what it is. (I'm going to try to show one with this post.) I've also got reacquainted and excited about quilting - art quilts, specifically. They're really wonderful pieces of art made from cloth (and other stuff). There's a great new quilting store here that carries wild and crazy fabrics and has great classes. I'm really excited about the whole thing. I miss hearing from all of you! Write soon.

hey friends!

hello dear friends! thanks so much kathy for posting "the list" - debbie, i hope you are feeling better! debra - was so sweet to hear leah's voice the other day. cecelia - that recipe with brown rice and root veggies sounds amazing!!! have been so busy with kids birthdays, bakery, life, etc.... we have just launched our easter menu/offerings on the website (merridees.com) - check it out! feels like spring this week after 4 1/2 inches of snow last weekend! hope this finds everyone well. love to all, marilyn

Spring is on its way...

Hi again everyone,

Cecelia, love roasted vegetables! So good - so good for you. Brussel sprouts is one I haven't added, but I'm gonna now. = )

Gary & I are having a glass of wine by the fire (in our chiminea out back). Digoirno pizza in the oven. Coyotes were a-howling just before I came in to check the blog! We love to hear them- reminds us of the wilds of Wyoming.

That's all for now. Love, Debra

more light

i love daylight's savings time!! i'm composing this at 6:37 and it's still light. i am so looking forward to spring. i know you nashville girls are probably already having spring - that's one thing i miss.

here's a new recipe that don and i are loving for brown rice:
1 cup brown rice
1 cup coconut milk
2.5 cup water (we require a little extra here in colorado, so you might use a little less)
1 teas. salt
2 teas. sugar
cook in rice cooker until done

yummy with indian food or roasted root vegies (recipe also to follow)

any of the following cut into 1" cubes:
sweet potato, carrot, brussels sprouts (whole if small), parsnip, rutabaga, pearl onion

coat with olive oil; season with salt & pepper and basil. i also add mrs. dash, table blend. roast covered in oven at 350 until done (30 to 45 min.) yummy!

bye now!

Hi BD Girls!

I'm wishing I had one of Deb's  biscotti this a.m. to celebrate Daylight Savings time right about now.  = )

  Hey Deb, would you share your recipe? I used to purchase our favorite biscotti from Sam's Club, but they've stopped carrying it. Yours was the closest to that one (but truly better) that I've ever had. While doing my initial Weight Watcher's menu, I limited myself to 1/2  - hard to do.  

   I do enjoy reading everyone's posts. Blessings to all of you! 

check comments

Hi girls,
I'd like to remind you all to check the comments area on each post so that you see what everyone is writing. If you post, you don't have to use these buttons, but you should see if anyone else is.
Cecelia

Hi Cecelia,

It's snowing like crazy here tonight - memories of the wine-tasting evening you threw in Franklin! Hope all is well there. We received - and love - the save the date postcard for Kayla's day - so wonderfully creative!  = ) Love to all, Debra

thank you

hey miss tennis shoe, thanks for giving us that again. believe me when i tell you that it did not lose any meaning since you gave it to us that weekend.

A few of my favorite things

I hesitate to print this as the fond memory and spontaneity of the moment may make it loom bigger in your minds than it ought. Bare in mind that this was very off the cuff and heart felt, but not to be analyzed too heavily. I will be getting the photo album together as soon as Lonnie geta a chance to photo shop-not pressure Lonnie, I know your plate has been very full and challenging.

Kay: You are the marble counter top, beautifully developed through time and pressure. You have substance, endurance, and are not only functional but ornamental as well. You can take the pressure and the heat and hold up remarkably.

Deb: You are the hand made pottery, hand-shaped by God and uniquely one of a kind. You are not only decorative, but you put the ‘fun’ in functional. Your whimsy puts a smile into the ordinary.

Lonnie: You are the color on the walls. You make the non-descript, alive, pulling out the best the room has to offer. You can set the tone with deep rich color or just eye popping brightness.

Deborah: You are the decorative pillow, lovely and tasteful to look at, but more importantly, comfort with which to relax. You willingly lend your support even if it means it puts you in someone’s shadow.

Marilyn: You are the bowl of fresh fruit, full of much life sustaining substance and yet so easy to entreat, sweet and colorful. Your fruit is ‘produced’ from strong trees with deep well watered roots.

Debbie: You are the fanciful water pitcher, delightfully quirky and fun, but of a quality that is unique and timeless. You are as transparent as water you offer, and essential as water is for life, so is the joy and laughter you serve with it.

Cecelia: You are the table, bringing people around you and providing the framework in which friendship and connection can happen. As with fine wood that has served well, has developed a patina with age that has only made her more rich and beautiful, yet unwavering in function and undemanding for attention. You function well for both work and play; practical, stable, essential and productive.

Kathy: I am the tennis shoe, a bit worn and stinky, but always willing to go.

Hi friends!

It's been so long since I've done this that I couldn't remember how to post...hope this works. Kathy, please do write out those words you had for us. We're fine here, the weather warmed way up and is now very cold again, but spring is coming and the robins showed up all of a sudden! I've had a migraine almost every day for 3 weeks and we've been trying to get to the bottom of it, so I could use prayer -- am having a good day today, though and went swimming. Our weekend inspired me to get in shape again, so I've been going to the gym and my pants are baggier! Let's please try to have a weekend once a year at least. Wouldn't it be fun? Love to all of you.
Debbie (Stone)

words of encouragement

kathy - do you think you could type those wonderful words that you wrote about each of us and put them on the blog? i've thought of them often and would love to read through them again. i'm sure everyone else would agree with me!

sunshine and warm

it's so nice to get a bit of fresh, warm air. it makes me hunger for spring. it's supposed to be in the 60's tomorrow and then snow and the 30's for sunday. it's been a wild winter. not much new here. kayla and i continue to work on the wedding, but it's fairly easy at this point. she's doing most of it and it's pretty laid back, so i hope it continues at this pace. hope you all are enjoying some spring weather in 'your neck of the woods'.

Bloggin' in. = )

Hi BD Girls,

It's  been a while since I 'blogged in.' (Looks like the rest of  you are at about my speed. = )  

I had a week away with  my hubby to beautiful, sunny, & crowded (St. Pete) Florida. We were visiting family - another birthday trip! - this time for Gary's brother. 

Hoping everyone is well. Still feeling strength and refreshment from our wonderful weekend, Cecelia! 

Praying for Brad & Lonnie's family. 

Blessings to all, Debra

pray for Lonnie's husband

Brad's mother died last night in Salt Lake City. She found out she had cancer just before Christmas and it was pretty far gone by then. Brad has gone already and Lonnie will leave soon to go to Utah. There are lots of decisions to make about his mother's estate and some past tensions among siblings that may make it an even more stressful time, so pray for them all.

Hello Everyone!
Been busy last 2 weeks trying to get 3 business cards and one spa menu done on a computer that was slowly crashing....now, $1,700.00 later, have new bigger,faster,better computer...but way behind learning new things and trying to catch up.(nothing new here!)

Will try to fill in some holes....yes Kat, send me all pics you have to: wattsdesigns@comcast.net
I can photoshop, and then resize anything that needs to be done, and send them back to you for the book.
Birthdays you're all missing from Colorado are: Kay- yesterday- Feb.21, Deb Strawn-Dec. 2, and Me-Nov.10.
Good job on the cleanse Cecelia! Dinner at Deb's next week is going to be SOOOO Good No?!!?
Off to look at the snap fish pics....
Hugs to all of you, Lonnie

cleansing fast

Hi Girls - Don and I have been on a cleansing fast. We just completed Day 7. It's called Master Cleanse and it involves a salt water flush in the morning and 'lemonade' made from freshly-squeezed lemons, maple syrup and cayenne pepper. Some of you have probably heard of it. Anyway, we're almost never hungry but it gets a little boring and I would just love to eat. We are hoping to make it 10 days and then we'll have 3 days to ease back into regular food. The plus is that I'm losing weight and hope to make some changes that will allow me to keep it off when we're done. The purpose of the cleanse is to flush out toxins. Don and I hope to do it once a year, just to keep fit. Hope you all are doing great.