Vagabond Dreaming

I can't help it; my mind keeps bouncing back to this idea of jumping in a vehicle, specifically a VW Westfalia Vanagon and hitting the open road. I want to break free from the normal day to day grind, the land of grey..cubicles, and see the coundtry, see the world. Hats off to these adventurous folks who took that notion to the extreme http://www.vwvagabonds.com/ .

I'm sure I'll have to start a little closer to home but now I know what is possible. Once you know what is possible you've then got a spark; and it only takes a spark to get a little smolder going, and then, with enough of a breeze, a real blaze can break out.

I haven't posted in a while and that's because life was all about the wedding of my daughter. The wedding was a huge success and took place last Saturday. I'll post more details (yes, with pictures) very soon. Maybe it's this post-wedding lull that has me back in that Westy, truckin' down the highway, looking for adventure. Now to convince big D. Ha!

zucchini season...

It's that time of year again - the zucchini is coming in droves. My friends and I have a subscription to an organic farm delivery service - Farm Fresh To You. We've been trying to push our different zucchini breads off on each other and come up with new and different zucchini recipes. I love going to Tasty Kitchen over at the Pioneer Woman blog. http://thepioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen/?s=zucchini&search_for=Recipes&sort=rating

P.S. This is my first link to another site. Hey - I might be figuring this bloggy stuff out. Ha!

Looking good - for a mom

Well the pieces are coming together with regard to the MOB outfit for L's big day. This Spiegel, deal of the century jacket, arrived yesterday by mail and I could not be more pleased. When you order on-line it is a bit "chancy" especially when considering the fit. You can get the feel for the style all right but the models have nary a bump or curve and you know they are all wearing it in a size 4, right? Ha! I plan to wear this for my entrance to the ceremony atop my royal blue satin fitted shift dress. It has tasteful ruching (sp) and hits at the knee. Let me just say when I tried it on I nearly cried - so hot - so cute...for a mom. Actually I think I better be prepared for L to borrow this down the road - it's that cool.

Well the Mr. and I have the whole long weekend at our feet and no official plans. The family is all busy with other plans and so we'll take it day by day. There's plenty to do around the yard to get ready for out of town guests and entertaining. Today he promises we'll start with a nice long walk before it gets too hot. Now to just get him out of bed. GRIN. I am thinking again about making plans for the 12.5 mile fund-raising hike at Westminster Woods in September. So beautiful - such a great challenge and accomplishment. Can I do the work outs leading up to it? Stay tuned...

Cherries at last...the last cherries

Somehow I nearly missed cherry season this year. I guess if you blink - they are gone. :-) I did receive a nice basket of them in my organic food delivery which comes every Friday, so on Sunday morning I decided cherry cobbler for breakfast sounded divine. I give a hat tip to Heidi over at 101 Cookbooks (love her site/blog) for the clean & delicious recipe. http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/cherry-cobbler-recipe.html Her recipes never disappoint!
On the subject of food - I went to the county fair yesterday to watch the horse races and while there got a chocolate covered frozen banana - rolled in nuts. OM-gosh - yummy!

How fast can an old -er woman pedal...

How big is the dog chasing her? Har har har! I just got back from a solo bike ride - huf, puf - been a long time but it felt (mostly) good. I had a rough day, what can I say. I really did. I have no explanation based on my situation or surroundings. And so I think, I just think, I might finally be feeling the effects of my surgical hysterectomy in my crazy hormones.

Dear God,
Is this menopause? What were you thinking? How are we supposed to survive if we no longer recognize our own personalities or dispositions? OK, I get it...something good will come out of this season in my life. I'll somehow be stronger and wiser on the other side. But today, God, really stunk!
Love,
Karen L.

I do thank God for amazing friends, who, here at the end of my week will welcome me - in any disposition - to their friendly Friday Night gathering where everything is all right. :-)

30 day count down

Yes, I am the MOB (Mother of the Bride). My beautiful daughter will be married on July 24th to a really loving and fun guy. We are very pleased - they seem quite well suited for each other. But, yikes - 30 days. The lists abound. My brain really swims when I try to get a grip on the details between now and then. Thankfully "the girl", as her father affectionately calls her, has a sharp mind for details. Well, I like to think I did too, when I was 25. GRIN. Today we paid the DJ and went again to alterations on the dress - the bustle has been a challenge but I think we have it licked now and we'll pick up the dress Saturday.
A bocce ball outing with my work was a fun diversion from my normal 8 - 5 grind today. Isn't it odd that I have worked at this place for more than 3 years and I could not name half the people there - not by looking at them. Technology has really isolated co-workers which is so odd because I work in Information Technology and one of our main strategies is driving collaboration through new technologies. We design and deploy the stuff that actually allows people to be so productive they no longer have to leave their cubicle, office, home office, Starbucks, hotel room, etc., to work on the same team, project, solution, etc. FANTASTIC! 'Doh!

I start things...

Here we go..my first blog post ever. :-) One wonders if I am the last person to begin a blog. I have all these thoughts and ideas that come and go. Why is it when I was younger the vivid engrossment's of the day were much easier to identify? They had staying power. Now firmly entrenched in my middle years I find I'm chasing them down at the end of the day. What kept me fully and gladly occupied? Did I really "think" about anything or just float on the surface? Here, in this space I plan to sort it all out for myself - if others care to follow along - if anyone can learn anything from me or be entertained by my words, so be it. Ha!