Pink & Red Thursday

Jaden is my living example of pink & red Thursday seeing how we found out today that he has scarlet fever. However I think it's mean to post pictures of rash-y children. Also all day I thought it was pink and PURPLE Thursday so maybe there will be pink & purple Saturday instead. Now I'll have to use some more of my iPhoto stock for today's entry.

vintage glasses from Oma

one of my first glimpses of Spring this year

I am tickled pink that our Farmer's Market opened today

Nature's glorious and colorful bounty!

Orange Wednesday

For Color Week I had every intention of taking fresh photos outdoors daily. Alas, life had other plans. My noodle has a sore throat, fever and "sore arms and neck Mama."

Ready for a shocking photo (with a hint of orange)?

Everyone who knows Jaden knows he has NEVER EVER put himself down for a nap as evidenced by this photo taken an hour ago. In fact he hasn't even napped since the preschool switch in December.

Luckily we have quite a few orange items around the house!

I see that most of my favorite crafting tools are orange.
Wonderful tools that help me make fun things with paper.

Like Jaden's 5th birthday party invitation.

I can't possibly overlook the largest orange item at home!
The Orange Car.

Although this one was taken months ago at Santana Row,
that spot of orange jumps out at me today.

And who could forget the Orange Ornaments?

Yellow Tuesday

It's quite windy here today on Yellow Tuesday.
I like it though.

Green Monday

I have been wanting to participate in a Color Week for over a year now. I am giddy that I stumbled across Curious Bird's invitation last night, just in the nick of time. Thank you House on Hill Road for the heads up.

Without further ado, here are my offerings for Green Monday:

All of this splendid greenery is courtesy of the lovely town of San Carlos.

Belated

Friday night we had a belated birthday party for my MBE.

We had presents,

lots o' balloons,

MC Tiki,

itchy (but colorful) leis,

Betty's first Silly String fight,

new Pneumos,

blackberry pie,

and one drooling puppy.

Better late than never, right?!

27 Inches

There has been a bit of a duvet crisis here at the Nichols. (Why is all boys bedding navy and hunter green featuring trains, cars or major league sports?)

Therefore, there will be some sewing going on, more like some beginning quilting going on. More like I've decided to sew some big old squares together in order to minimize the amount of quilting and sewing.

As in TWENTY-SEVEN INCH squares.

Just so happens some cute, twinkly goodness was found to match.

Stay tuned.

TiVo?

Hello world, I am back after 11 days in "acute viral illness" land.
I am here to share the following delightful little story from this precious time in my life.

One day Sickie hobbles out to the couch for a bit and tries to watch tv.
She looks down at the remote and presses the "TiVo" button.

Nothing happens.

TiVo?

No response.

TiVo?

No response.

TiVo? (She presses harder this time.)

No response.

She stares at the remote.
She uses all her strength to punch the button.
She raises her voice.

TIVO?!!!!

NO RESPONSE.

She finally looks up:

Oh.
Duh.

Friday Poems

The Bottleneck

Weariness brings men together
by the forging
of the years.
It also brings their nerves to end
by the ripening
of their fears.
But, ever is it wonderful
how the women
shed the tears.

A Jess Harajuku

With all the sass that's not fit to print in my real life!
(the red hair! the black boots!)

(Who knew HP had such fun things on their site?
Hey! I bet Mr. Bright Light knew!)

Spring Fever

Sadly I'm talking about the kind that involves thermometers, body aches, general malaise, husbands working from home, epsom salts in my near future and the disbelief that these germs made a touchdown in my body JUST as the temps are starting to climb to a decent level outside!

pre-Tylenol

post-Tylenol

Hopefully my birthday gift to Jeff will be a healthy me. I have three days to accomplish this goal. We are supposed to have a nice dinner at Town Saturday night and I want to enjoy it.

In Bloom

All but one of these lovely leaves & blooms
are from Lara's Garden.

This is an active image.
You too can have fun with Flickr.

Friday Poems

I'm getting anxious
I don't know why
maybe something
I just wrote
My nerves are
your nerves
My time is
your time
and there ain't
too many hippies.
I think it's the same show
over and over
and over again
I wonder how long
it will go on?
Are the prophets
really that good?
that they're wanted
so bad?
Or is the need so bad,
that it's good
to want them?
Grapes are growin
out of season?
Never, Never, Never!

Captions Please

"_____________________"

My wit is no match for my son's personality.
Oh wide readership (snicker snicker) -- I need captions for this photo.

March Madness

Thanks for sharing your birthday with us Toots!

And Jeff?
GO BRUINS!

Happiness is...

....more Sean & Amy in my in-box this fine Monday morning.

Hey, what are you two lovebirds giggling about?
(Never tell!)

Friday Poems

Untitled

The river runs across my forehead
Too many words been spoken
Not enough's been said.
I'm gonna be mighty mad
If I'M living to be dead.

Born a poor boy
But I don't mind
Life's a joy
So hard to find

I chased a girl
Around a world
Until my heart
Broke my mind

Love is Love is
There to find
Follow your heart
To repair your mind


(I will always type these things exactly as my dad did, so all capitalization, grammar, etc. was a poetic choice. Or so I assume. No scan today, lately my scanner is really breaking my mind!)

58.5 Months

Jaden,

I remember counting your age by the month as if it was, well, yesterday (like when I took this picture of you). I am in shock that it's time to plan your fifth birthday party. It certainly is a rollercoaster ride, being your mom. Who needs Disneyland?! It's true what they say about being a mom though, my heart is not in my body but out there walking, nay galloping, around the house, park and neighborhood. Not to mention bouncing off the inflatable walls at the now-weekly Pump It Up parties, which I do apologize for finding them so cliche. I am a challenge myself, I know that sweet boy. I am not a lot of things (easy-going, loosey-goosey, tooty-fruity, silly-nilly, CatWoman) but there are a lot of things I am (in love with you).

Love,
Your Sicilian Mama Mia

A Light Exists in Spring

(photo taken yesterday at the Mission Playground & Pool, SF)

A light exists in spring
Not present on the year
At any other period.
When March is scarcely here

A color stands abroad
On solitary hills
That silence cannot overtake,
But human nature feels.

It waits upon the lawn;
It shows the furthest tree
Upon the furthest slope we know;
It almost speaks to me.

Then, as horizons step,
Or noons report away,
Without the formula of sound,
It passes, and we stay:

A quality of loss
Affecting our content,
As trade had suddenly encroached
Upon a sacrament.

Emily Dickinson

(Thanks Julie)

Spongee Jumping

Never thought I'd do any kind of Spongee Jumping (as Jaden so adorably called it) -- but lately I am increasingly aware of the ticking time bomb in my body so figured, why the hell not?

The sad thing is that, upon review of the video, I was not nearly as high in the air as I felt. Yet I was totally terrified and so I think I'm rather pathetic. Still I tried it, and was proud of myself at the time, so I guess that counts for something.

To be a kid, eh? Look at Jaden's face in that close up picture! Pure glee...