Provisions

I've been slightly absent the past week or two and not for nothin'! Since recently making the decision to jump back into the nanny game, it's been a trial juggling my priorities. Before nannying, I considered Betty Jane & Co. and blogging my work when it dawned on me that taking care of little ones is currently my main source of income. I honestly enjoy watching kids so much that I kind of feel like the income side was a surprise perk. I was somewhat taken aback at this revelation and it gave me the freedom to simply decide - I don't need to blog every second. I can't tell you how much I've loved doing Tasty Tuesdays, Wed-spirations and Color Me Thursdays and I'm certainly not  tossing them altogether but they are not at the top of my priority list and I can't imagine a reason why I should scramble the second a parent picks up their little one to fill up my ONLY free time with blogging. Betty Jane & Co. is my business and is still a priority when the orders come in but it's great to remind yourself that some of the things at the bottom of your totem poll you can easily block out of your life temporarily in order to focus on what's important. I thank God for how He has provided for me in the past few weeks. As usual, the moment I think we're in trouble His solutions seem to fall right out of the sky and into my life.

Today is a perfect example of God working in my life in a BIG way. I spent Monday and Tuesday on "night shift" with Hunter where I had him from the afternoon until evening and then the switch over to early morning until around dinnertime from Wednesday to Friday. So there we were, all half awake this morning .. okay .. so Addison and Hunter were chipper and enthused about the day while I felt like bleh. Today is also the first day of my 3 day cleanse, somewhat like fasting. I'm doing 3 shakeology drinks, one salad and one fruit as well as 64oz of water. I've clocked in 3.5 weeks of healthy eating and regular workouts with my challenge group and thought today felt right to do a cleanse. There I was around 1030am, not worried about the cleanse but wondering when I would start to have enough energy to function. My friend texted me about meeting up for a walk around 1130am. I was quick to mention that I didn't seem to be going anywhere but my conscience slipped in and told me I had 40 minutes to get my butt into gear. Next thing I know it's 1136am and I'm out the door with Hunter, Addison and a double stroller. Up the crazy hill we went while I huffed and puffed (literally because it is steep, let me tell you!). I made it to the lovely Sweet Arts Bakery and met my friend with her lil one and the boy she babysits. We went ahead and ordered the MOST delectable baked goods and had the bonus of meeting the woman who did the logo for the company. She was there with her daughter and we even scored digits - dontcha just love mom dating  :) We decided to head over to Kelly's to check out her new home and have some outdoor playtime with the weather being so nice. So far so good. Not 5 minutes after getting into her house did that terrible feeling of "Where has my purse run off to??" set in. I did the ol' sweep of everything I own and every step I took and then the ol' do it 50 more times in case it happens to magically just show up. I ended up tracing my steps back to the bakery only to find NOTHING. Panic started to set in as I frantically used Kelly's phone to call my own iPhone baby a billion times. My only shred of hope was the fact that the phone wasn't turned off AND no one was screening the calls (assuming someone had the phone). After phoning the police and giving my husband a nice meltdown call, Kelly refreshed my memory about the "Find my phone" setting. Excitedly - I mean completely in an insane state - I hopped online, logged into iCloud and *TADA* I could see my phone on the satellite map. Thank heavens. Right by the bake shop! I gave the phone one more call and, sure enough, a local business answered informing me that the purse had been on the sidewalk and a passerby kindly brought it in. Thank you passerby angel!!!! I rang the police and the AT&T rep who walked me through the find my phone process and speedwalked my way back into town to retrieve my life .. I mean my purse. Am I saying that God handed me patience in all of this? Somewhat. Am I saying God handed over my phone to me? Nope. Has God completely gifted me with little grace and lots of clumsiness when it comes to my personality? Certainly. What God really did for me during all of this craziness was provide me with faith and a few friends. Whoever it was that dropped my purse off may not be my personal friend but they must be a fantastic friend to everyone they know if they could be so gracious FOR a complete stranger. Then there is Kelly who took on 3 toddlers and an infant for a few hours during this mess, she took on my responsibilities and gave me encouragement in an otherwise extremely stressful situation. He gave me trust in Him. I didn't bother with canceling credit cards and deactivating my phone when I probably should have because He instilled on my subconscious that He was taking care of this particular situation.

There are people out there who read testimonies like this and think, "How silly is she?? ...rambling on that God gave her the tools to find her phone, purse, whatever!! How ridiculous." Sorry to burst your bubble but He can provide in small ways with very miniscule situations and in moderate ways in situations such as this. In an extreme situation where someone untimely passes away, non believers are quick to question why God would let something so tragic happen and we completely diminish His seeing us through such events. He may not provide the way we expect Him to, I mean, He couldn't have just had my purse lying at the end of the driveway?? But in the midst of crisis, minor or major, God reminds us of His provisions such as people that reframe our minds and help us get to where we need. My purse could have stayed lost or stolen. I could have ended my day with cancelled cards, an appointment for a new license, an outstanding police report and coughing up $$ for a new phone and although that would have really grinded my gears I would have been grateful for signing my daughter up for dance in order to meet the person who helped me out big time today.

With glee smeared across my face I happily walked back into Kelly's house ready to take back on my responsibilities. She invited us all to head out back to her beautiful yard where the kids spent hours running around. Hunter fell asleep in my lap while Kelly and I caught up on our lives, forgetting the past few hours completely. The sun was sweet and the breeze was soothing. This day started out questionable, turned chaotic and ended up to be absolutely perfect!

Color Me Thursday : Salmon

Ahhh yes salmon. An acquired taste for those who enjoy this hue. I must admit, I am a lover of the fish and the color.

Double Door Antiques on etsy is selling this one of a kind chair. Salmon, ya'll!

Thanks WineKnow on etsy, for this lovely vintage typewriter ... in salmon.

I'm impressed Twirls With Pearls. This vintage 1960s dress is in ... well, salmon!

Wed-spirations : Nautical

Ever since reading Coastal Living Magazine, I'm a lover of many things nautical. Home decor is flourishing with their sea-oriented designs such as divers or shells or beta fish on a pillow and so on. Here are some great finds for YOU!

Sakura on etsy is carrying this lovely knot!

I love a nice oar (or four!) for home decor. Find these at Castaways Hall  on etsy along with MANY more of their nautical products!

How about this 50s vintage swimsuit from Mouse Vox Vintage on etsy?

Coastal Living Magazine featured this Red Suit Pillow from Oxbow Decor.

This badboy is now in my home (in our nautical themed bathroom!) and was purchased from Michelle Lisa Treasure on Etsy for only $12!

Don't miss this vintage 1960s ladies scarf from Last Dance Vintage on etsy!

Color Me Thursday : Rainbow!

After weeks of watching our friends go through bouts of colds and other illnesses, they all finally caught up to Addison and I. Fortunately, Addison has overcome her 6 days of fever, ear infections, cough and endless tissues and she's able to go to dance class tonight ... with daddy. Yes, I am here blowing my nose ever so loudly and coughing, and coughing, and coughing, and .. you get the idea! So what do we do when we're feeling blue?? Use rainbow colors of course!

Red

The beauties can be found at Nonas Jewelry Shop on Etsy!

Orange

Pumpkin Truck on etsy can provide you with this fabulous vintage bed sheet for repurpose! 

Yellow

Water Path on etsy is carrying this sweet dandelion clutch. 

Green

Perfect for a spring accent to your home. Glorias Glass Garden has this lovely birdbath currently available.

Blue

Have a coastal home or love coastal decor? This lovely print can be found at Seaside Prints on etsy.

Indigo

Love this dipped look I'm seeing everywhere. Jeanie Deans is where it's at!

Violet

I am absolutely digging this vintage 80s dress from the etsy shop, Meadowave!

Wed-Spirations : Spiritual and Physical Wellness

I was going to do one of my usual fun pinning adventures with all sorts of colorful odds and ends but I'm going to keep it real .. really real. This week, literally as of Sunday, I'm been reframing my priorities each day. With Micah's ever changing work schedule we've been having a difficult time making it to church, followed by less focus on our daily devotional or even daily prayer. Addison and I have been sick so even her nightly prayer and bible reading have been lost. Knowing the importance of keeping God at the forefront of my life, our family seems to zip into chaos the less time we devote to Him. We're unfocused, impatient, scatterbrained - you name it.

Well, we finally made it back to church last Sunday and our Pastor, Pierre DuPlessis, nailed it with another moving service regarding our need for Him, our shepherd, without whom we follow no one else but each other like a herd of lost sheep and if you haven't heard, sheep will follow other sheep off of cliffs, you follow?? He really knows how to hit home! I'm so grateful for God providing us with The Father's House. With the refreshing time spent in God's presence I was eager to reread the book that brought me to the revelation that I'm a Christian, A Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. Immediately, I contacted my friend Kelly and asked her if she'd like to do a little Bible study with me using the book as I had an extra copy, I always do!, and it was a new book for her. She loved the idea and here we are in our first week of readings!

On the physical front : Boy, have I been blessed this week!! I'm an avid Instagram-er and meet many a find folk on the IG platform. About a week or so ago I noticed a LOT of before/after photos of women on the popular page and here and there I'd begin reading some of their stories. There was one photo of a woman who had lost weight and her "after" photo had her child in it - it was admirable so I left a comment at how beautiful and happy she looked. Before I knew it I had a response - it wasn't actually her in the photo but one of her group members. Group member of what you might ask! Mindy Rose is a Coach for Beach Body. I'm sure many of you have heard of the Insanity workouts. I would see posts about those on Facebook but never really looked into it. Beach Body promotes Insanity as well as many other successful workouts as well as products like Shakeology. Mindy and I got talking and I realized I was connecting with her for a reason. It just so happens I was a few days into a healthy eating regimen and her support group seemed to be exactly what I needed. Let's face it, I had my daughter over three years ago and I'm still struggling to lose the majority of the weight I gained during my pregnancy. Let's be clear - I gained A LOT! I've gone through awesome spurts of healthy living whether it was running a 5k or months at the gym or consistent healthy eating but it was always on my own with no real long term support, certainly not a daily check in. Mindy invited me to one of her private Facebook groups along with several other women and together we began our 90 day journey. We check in daily and have daily assignments as well as challenges. This has been huge as far as accountability goes. I would feel pretty disappointed and would expect my fellow health seekers to be disappointed in me if I couldn't stick to these fabulous habits and just quit the group. Here we are days later and I've been eating well and working out daily which is HUGE for me. It's scary to wonder where I'll be after a month but I'm already connecting with these awesome women and hoping it's all I was missing in the past.

I hope I'm finding my readers in good spiritual and physical health. Here is to a wonderful day and I'll blog you all tomorrow!!

Tasty Tuesday : Berry Cobbler

This was so awesome!! We had an Easter Egghunt for the kids today and this was the perfect, healthy quick fix dessert. I didn't have much time after taking care of my sicky all night and doing as much cleaning as possible this morning before guests came around 10am and this simple recipe could not have been more perfect.

INGREDIENTS : 2 12oz bags of frozen berries and/or fruit (I used strawberries)

 1 box white cake mix

1 can of diet sprite or sierra mist

INSTRUCTIONS:

Place frozen fruit in a 9x13 baking dish and spread to cover the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle the dry cake mix over the fruit. If you'd like to mix, now would be the time (I didn't). NO MIXING AFTER SODA as it creates the crust/cobber effect. Slowly pour soda over the cake mix.  Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes, let cool. 

Serves 16.

 4 PointsPlus

Apparently this is Weight Watchers friendly. I wouldn't know but, let me tell you, it was fabulous!!!

Mom Date!

The friends I have made over the past few years are a blessing and hold much value in my life. I don't know what I'd do without my fellow moms! When I lived in Glens Falls, my two close girlfriends and I did a monthly get together. It is a great way to commit to one day away from the family each month. Although we moved across the state, I saw no reason to quit something I so eagerly awaited. With 2 new wonderful friends, Aimee and Sam, in a new area, I was excited to start up again. We've done a decent job but with the holiday months of November through February we didn't expect to keep up with it until things settled down. Well, last month we all buckled down on a date and today we finally were able to have our "free" day. Sure it lasts about four hours but, goodness, it's the most refreshing four hours! This mom date was extra special because we could include our newest crew member, Kelly. Her daughter and Addison attend dance class together and I'm so glad I took the plunge and scored her digits. (We all know the world of "mom dating" where we scour the playgrounds, library groups and so on for potential friends/playdates!) The four of us really seem to compliment each other as do our kids and I'm so thankful to God for providing us all with each other. 

We met at Simply Crepes for a late breakfast with a desperation for some caffeine and a taste for something delectable. Having already read some reviews it didn't take Sam and I long to decide that it is absolutely necessary to add the Oatmeal Crème Brulée with whatever crêpe we went with. I opted for the Crêpe Épinards loaded with fresh baby spinach, Roma tomatoes, scrambled eggs and feta cheese. Both are shown above in all of their glory. We also shared Home Fried Potatoes with cheese which were some of the best I've had, not greasy and full of flavor. We had a wonderful time gabbing away and enjoying our delicious meals in such a lovely and intimate restaurant.

By the time we headed out we realized there were still about two hours to kill. YAY! We headed over to a shopping plaza and literally enjoyed walking around and browsing as opposed to the usual, "Stay close to mommy!!" and "Mommy can't see you!" that comes with most child-full shopping experiences. We couldn't help but joke while on the escalator that we needed to really appreciate this "private" escalator time. Normally our only purpose on an escalator is for the fun of the kids with a lot of enthusiasm and a big jump at the top and bottom. Nope - we straight up took it easy and laid back on the escalator today folks. 

There is so much joy in getting out of the house to share quality time with close girlfriends. We see each other regularly but are normally rushing through conversation with constant three year old interruptions. Not only were we able to reward ourselves with an afternoon spent together but our children were able to spend time with dad without us around. If you're a stay at home mom, you know how important and special it is for your little one(s) to have that time with daddy who is often away working. There's a slight feeling of, "Well, that's that" and, "Until next time," as we pile back into our cars but then we arrive home as we pull into our driveways. Waiting for us are those little arms and squeals of, "Mommy!" Okay, in reality Addison was whining and her stuffy nose was really getting on her nerves, but she was happy I was back and no matter how fed up we get on the tough days, those few hours away allow us to miss them too. I mean, while shopping, we tried to steer clear of the children's section but, of course, we ended up there. I know my lovely friends have my back but we are all certain our "babies" hold our hearts. Oh, and a big shoutout to Steve, Jeff, Micah and Brian for taking on our stay at home role for a short time!

Color Me Thursday : Fuschia

Taking a cue from yesterday's spring pastel post, I really loved the fuschia/turquoise/yellow on the wallpaper I had posted. And so - we go with fuschia and all of the vibrance it carries. 

All That Sass Designs  on etsy is currently selling this one of a kind necklace.
I can hardly resist the textures, colors and patterns!!

The Fabric Art Shop on etsy is carrying this lovely fabric covered in fuschia poppies. When you visit their link, notice the other image using the fabric in a handbag. Adorable!

The beautiful quilt before you is going to cost a pretty penny but it certainly is a guaranteed eye catcher/conversation starter. And who doesn't love a beautiful handmade piece such as this. I wouldn't know to use it for art or as a blankie. Color Quilts by Carolyn can supply this to those interested.

I love pieces like this. One look tells you no one else in the world will have this very scarf if you choose to purchase it at lamamadesmatous on etsy. 

Looking to change your look this spring?? Pair an yellow top with fuschia lipstick. How fabulous is she??

What an arrangement and another perfect example of the harmony between fuschia, yellow and orange. So good. 

Don't miss this vintage gem from Zwiggy Austin Vintage on etsy. The body of the dress is quite simple but contrasts beautifully with its vibrance and floral design.

Wed-spirations : Pastel Spring

With the snow sneaking up on us each time we expect the spring to stick around I can't help but think of the lovely pastel yellows, blues, pinks and greens that await us. Today is officially the first day of spring, though the white blanket outside my window may disagree. Perhaps in the way that a rain dance may bring a rain, good thoughts in all shades of pastel and florals will soon bring spring, it's fresh air, sunshine and growth. 

This bouquet of paper, yes paper, flowers grabbed me instantly. Those are the freshest pieces of spring colored paper I've ever seen. 

I love these somewhat kitschy floral patterns that are making a comeback. Although reminiscent of an 80s pattern on a wall border or plastic upholstery of a vintage high chair, I can't get enough of the vibrance and painterly fun of this wallpaper found on etsy.

How absolutely adorable is this for a spring centerpiece.  A great way to bring the pastels of outdoors into your home. 

I have brought you melmac heaven. The shades, the melmac - can you smell the vintage love?? Find this fabulous buy on etsy.

This shade of aqua and the lacing make these shorts a one of a kind look.

I don't know what exactly makes me love an extremely unique yet unnatural hair color but some people can just pull it off. I think the most recognizable person sporting this look is Kelly Osbourne but she's certainly doing it right as is this model!

Lavender. mmmmm. What more can you say? Smells good, looks good. Wouldn't this be a lovely view from home?

There is no inspirational focal point in this image but the inspiration runs rampant! The blue candle holder, the baby pink and white polka dotted vase, those lush roses and the patters in the background. Let's not forget the details of this footed tray. Doesn't get much better for a spring look.

Girls' Weekend : Newark, NY Edition

C.S. Lewis said, "Is any pleasure on earth as great as a circle of Christian friends by a good fire?" My friend Susan is such a blessing in my life. Not only are we  close, understanding of each other and care deeply for one another but we are sisters in Christ and I'm so blessed to have her. As a way of staying connected (aside from endless phone conversations) since we live a few hours away from each other, we plan a get together with our daughters each year. We see each other now and then apart from this annual event but this is a weekend we can definitely depend on having uninterrupted quality friend time as well as build the friendship between our girls. Last year we took the girls to a Fresh Beat Band concert in Buffalo, NY. We stayed at Hotel Indigo (for those who've been there you know how vibrant  it is!) which, of course, gave us plenty of pool time. This year we opted for a Bed and Breakfast getaway. Considering the various B&B's in the Finger Lakes region, we knew this was the way to go. We could meet each other halfway and not drive ourselves crazy with a busy itinerary, instead relaxing the weekend away. 

I need to take a moment to give a HUGE thanks to my former Women of Faith rep, Kim, who actually grew up and currently resides in the area we stayed. She really gave me a breakdown of places for us to  visit based on our requests (food, thrifting and history). After choosing the B&B best suited for us, we made our plans for the weekend. Knowing we would be checking in at the B&B around 3pm, we decided to meet for breakfast and fill the day with shopping and lunch before heading over. Our first stop was Victoria's Treats Bake Shop. We stepped into this quaint and cozy establishment only to be greeted by comfortable conversations of others as if we stepped into a family gathering. The several older gentleman were helping themselves to coffee and even refilling the coffee when necessary. We knew instantly to make ourselves at home and took a seat at the single large table. A laid back woman came over to check on us and after we put our order in she took the easily excitable girls into the kitchen to pick out sprinkles for their pancakes. When it was time to eat we were introduced to the largest, most fluffiest pancakes I've ever seen and they tasted as great as they looked. For their moderate prices, you're really in for a worthwhile treat. On our way out, we made small talk with all the friendly patrons who were thrilled to have us in town and wished us well for the weekend.

This area of NY holds a great deal of Mormon history which we had intended to spend time learning more about but we made the so wrong, but oh so right, choice of stopping into a thrift store first. Reflections the name, never leaving was the game. The top left photo in the collage below is about a quarter of the shop. We literally started in the back and worked our way through this place...for 4 hours. No joke. Thank goodness for Lola, Sue's daughter, because she could really be a sitter to Addison. Addison adores her and never leaves her side and Lola is old enough to know to stay close by. Susan and I were able to sift through everything before us whether it was odds and ends, records, clothes and so on. The girls kept themselves busy spying on us and playing with various items. Every time we felt guilty about the length of time we were there we reminded ourselves that this is what this trip was all about. I certainly couldn't accomplish (and by accomplish I mean spend a chunk of change on random things I could have lived without but am so grateful to have and use!) any of what I did if it were only Addison and I. The highlight of this venture was our time in the 4x4 dressing room the four of us squeezed into. Sue and I tried on clothes, simultaneously maneuvering ourselves, while the girls sat with their feet up on the extremely narrow bench, if you can call it that, within the dressing room. Our exit was that of a clown car but such is ... us! Next stop was lunch at Parker's Grille and Tap House. This place was basically across the street from where we had breakfast and was delicious. 

 And now the time had come ... Vintage Gardens Bed and Breakfast. We really talked this place up to the girls for quite some time. The idea was to give them this Victorian Princess experience. Let there be no mistake, Sue and I both had our bags loaded with play makeup, dress up clothes and all the accessories a princess should have. They had expectations of luxury, robes .. a large tub to play in. After pulling in we were greeted by a very sweet man, Michael Meeks, who owns and dutifully tends to the house with his wife, Kimberlee Meeks. He walked us through the downstairs as we went through each room with the same awe as the girls. From the beautiful sunroom we walked into, to the library (accompanied with a lovely fireplace and cozy chairs) and past the delicious scents of their Vintage Gardens products like hand cream and soaps we simply drifted up the stairs, anxious to see the room we reserved. One doesn't want to scare other adults with giddy reactions but I believe both Sue and I respectfully contained our excitement as Mr. Meeks showed us around our room (Asian Lily Suite), hehe. Of course, the girls need not worry about that and swiftly ran from our living/sleeping area, towards the bathroom in the back .. the large clawfoot tub being a fabulous center point. Once we had brought all of our things up and were settled we decided to stroll down to the sunroom where Mr. Meeks was servicing the pellet stove, which, in itself, has a very Victorian feel! He was so kind to bring us hot apple cider which didn't last long. The fire he started in the library fireplace drew us. Addison, much like her mommy, scoured the books and movies while Sue and Lola took comfort by the fire for a while. We headed upstairs to let the girls have their tub time. They were met by little rubber ducks waiting to be played with. While they enjoyed their bath, Sue and I dove right into our lush robes, only to find the girls DID, in fact, have mini robes to use. They were elated, and why shouldn't they be?? It didn't take them long to see the homemade cookies by the bed once finished with their bath. I believe they were some sort of pumpkin spice recipe and oh so scrumptious. Susan and I each got a nibble in out of four cookies because the girls couldn't seem to stop eating them! Suddenly, dinner time had come and went while Susan and I aimlessly sifted through menus, the girls playing in their pajamas and restless. We literally had to get dressed (and out of the robes - BOO!) in order to think. THAT'S how comfortable we were. We decided to go with Mexican and brought it back to eat in the sunroom. It seems that all the tinkering had worked as Mr. Meeks had the pellet stove up and running, perfect so that we could dine in the sunroom. We headed upstairs with a bottle of Wagner Vineyards wine (made in Lodi, NY) and 2 sleepy angels. The girls didn't take long falling asleep to one of my favorites, A Little Princess. Susan and I used our "free" time to talk and catch up on as much as possible, but let's face it, there's never enough time for that, right Sue? 

Eventually, we transferred the girls from our bed to their twin bed and we curled up in the most comfortable of sheets and blankets only to wake up to the sound of the alarm and girly giggles several hours later. Now, as large fans of Downton Abbey, Susan and I were really looking forward to breakfast in this truly stunning home and we really can't say enough about it. We were accompanied by the only other guests in the house at the time, an older couple who were so sweet. Who can blame them after they mentioned having raised six, yes SIX, daughters! I can imagine that takes a great deal of patience! We all sipped on warm, creamy coffee and apple juice while waiting to see what breakfast awaited us. Immediately, Mrs. Meeks came out and announced she had a special breakfast for the girls. They didn't need to harbor any anticipation as she was quick to come back out with the sweetest (literally!) breakfast I've laid eyes on. On top of fluffy green, for St. Patrick's Day!, whipped cream and berries of all sorts were three waffles in the shape of zoo animals. Are you kidding?! They absolutely ate up the idea and their breakfasts. By the end they were spooning the cream off of the plates. She left several chocolate gold coins for the girls, as well, via the sneaky little leprechaun. Susan and I couldn't help but devour our breakfasts and it was worth every bite. 

The Meeks truly outdo themselves with their extreme attention to detail. Everywhere you turn in any room of the house and particularly the room you stay in, you're invited in by something whether it's the delectable lemon meringue pie scent of the hand cream, the flicker and warmth of a fire, the softness of every blanket or simply the gentle voice of Mr. Meeks during informative and enjoyable conversation downstairs. It's been about 10 hours since we left and I just texted Susan how much we miss it already. I've decided that when we have a few days free, Micah and I will go ourselves one day and enjoy one of their couple packages. If you're in the Upstate NY area or plan to visit and spend a special weekend away, this is your destination. 

Susan, Lola Addison and I wrapped up our weekend-that-went-by-too-fast-as-always by driving over to Palmyra to do some last minute thrift shopping. Again, we found great buys and a greek spot with character for lunch, Athenia Family Restaurant. We've already begun brainstorming for next year because, let's face it, it'll be here before we know it. I treasured this splice of time. Beauty and appreciation and enjoyment don't have to come from abroad, or even across the border. It can be next door, in your own back yard or just a few hours away. Who you spend your time with and what you choose to spend your time doing makes all the difference in the world and I'm so glad for every minute I have to do something worthwhile.