Just A Few More Hours . . .

and I'm getting on a plane to go see these girls! We've been waiting over a year for this trip and I can't believe it's finally here! It's going to be great. So much has happened to us over the last year, especially the last 5 months. Let's just hope the length of time between our next visit is not so long! Get ready gals - here I come!

Memorial Day

Before you head out to enjoy your barbecue today, let us not forget those that gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we may enjoy our freedom.



. . .especially the women!

Enjoy your holiday and thank you to all those who serve!

In Search of Zen or Just Peace Amid the Chaos!

So in the midst of the chaos that is my life right now, especially the front and back landscaping, I was feeling a little overwhelmed yesterday and in need of some outdoor therapy. Seriously, I think I was channeling Colleen as this was the exact type of day that she was at her happiest puttering in her garden. After all, who could blame me; the flowers at the nursery were just too beautiful to pass up.

All of the planters are currently dug up and awaiting either bricks to be built around them or concrete, so planting in them is not an option right now. I opted to create a little Zen garden of my own in the front patio. I think I have all my bases covered:

Lots of gorgeous flowers
An herb garden

Mr. Mark even got into the act because according to him, “it’s not the beginning of summer with out planting tomatoes”! I also love that he bought me some fennel because he knows how much I love licorice.

The best part is that I can come out and enjoy my creation. Hmm, better remember to pick up some more wine so I can truly enjoy it tonight!

Oh, and Laura just in case you were wondering, Mr. Flamingo thinks the view from our patio is much better than the view from a balcony in Omaha so he plans to stay put – thank you very much!

Memorial Day Weekend!

Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer around here. Typically it means we stay home and do some sort of home improvement project and this year is no exception!



Yes, we have decided to tackle our landscaping. Over the years we have done things piecemeal and never really had the yard fixed up the way we would like.

Here comes Nate to the rescue!



Nate is an old family friend from the neighborhood that now has a successful construction operation. He is one of the hardest workers I know, and has graciously offered to help us get our yard in shape. So on his weekend off he is spearheading a crew of landscapers to turn this mess of a yard into as he puts it “will host a kick ass party later this summer!”

There will be a retaining wall put in to hold back the hill of ice plant from growing into the lawn. For those of you non-Californians, ice plant is a succulent that grows well on hillsides and is a great fire deterrent.
New sprinklers are being installed as well as concrete slabs on both sides of the house. We are trying to be environmentally sensitive as California, especially Southern California, is in the midst of a terrible drought. Our backyard is at a slightly higher elevation than the front and so we are having a “French drain” installed under the concrete which will allow any excess water from the back to flow out to the front. Who knew the French were so clever??
There are a few remnants of the old yard that will stay and a few new ones to brighten up the new landscape.


The hardest part for the workers so far has been the combination of rocky soil and the massive tree roots from our ash tree. Hard to believe that tree is only 12 years old.
But, truly, the best part of this whole project is that I am paying someone else to do this back breaking job.