Friday Letters

Dear Rhododendrons - Out of the 4 of you only one actually bloomed. But boy, you are pretty! I just have to figure out why the other 3 are so wilted and pathetic looking. You must have been planted in a magical spot with just the right shade to sun ratio. Dear Deer I Hit Earlier this Week - .... :( I'm really, really sorry. That was probably the most traumatic thing that has ever happened to me and I still feel absolutely terrible about it. I don't think I've ever cried so hard in my life.  I'm just thankful Steven was there to handle things so I didn't have to be there when they put you down... Dear Cabo - You are 6 weeks away! Still kinda feel like forever to me, but I have a feeling these next few weeks will fly by and I neeeeeeed this vacation. Dear Yard Work - Are you two words or one? I don't know. But either way, you seem unending. The grass grows too quickly, that dumb brush pile still needs to be burned, and the weeding....will it ever end? Probably not. Thankful to have a beautiful yard to work in though regardless.

This weekend I'm planning on taking it easy. Maybe go to one or two hot yoga classes, cuddle with Steven and my fur babies, and catch up on reading some of your lovely blogs! I've been feeling a little out of the loop lately and I don't like it! 

Happy weekend, friends!

My Everyday

It's day 15 of the Blog Every Day in May challenge! Secretly, this was my goal from the get go --to make it to day 15, the half way point. And now that I've made it, I'm not sure if I'll continue on with the challenge, because let's face it, sometimes you need a break from this whole blog thing and that's where Saturdays and Sundays come in. 

The day 15 prompt reads, "A day in the life. Include photos throughout your typical day." My typical day is not very exciting. It starts around 5:30. I get up and move zombie-like into the shower and proceed to get ready for work. I have to get up rather early because I have a 45 minute commute and because, well I move really slowly before 10 am. Mornings are not my thing.

From 8-5 I am at work editing proposals, writing past performances for our company, and reading blogs. 

My evenings vary. I either rush to a hot yoga class after work and then eat a late dinner with Steven that evening as we catch up on our favorite TV shows and just hang out. We may take Huck for a walk, run a few errands, play a board game, or even tackle a house project, but most nights are pretty low key. Lately though, I've been coming home and working a lot outside in the yard --weeding the arbor and taking care of our new tomato plants! 

Yoga ready...oh, that thing behind me on the wall?? Just a built in gun rack IN THE MASTER BEDROOM. No big deal. (Thank you previous, redneck owners for that..........not.)

The tomato plants we picked up earlier this week. I like to pretend I have a green thumb. I just hope these guys survive!

Our arbor. So far we have grapes and raspberries. I'd love to have strawberries as well soon!

And my gardening companions. Herschel likes to taunt Huck by climbing the apple tree and jumping from branch to branch out of his reach. Huck likes to eat bees. 

I know my "typical" day doesn't sound very exciting, but that's how I like it. I wouldn't trade mine and Steven's life together --our little family, our little home, or are little garden --for all the world! I feel pretty blessed to live this life :)

So what about you? What's your typical day look like?

Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy!

It's Day 14 of the challenge! And I've decided to mix today's prompt up a bit. So, instead of "ten things that make me happy," I'm only going to talk about two.

1) Birthdays. Birthdays make me happy. Like really, really happy. And I believe they should be celebrated for anyone and everyone no matter how old you are or what species! (Obviously, Huck gets birthday parties. That's a no brainer.) And gosh darnit, if you don't like your birthday celebrated too BAD! I'm going to celebrate it anyway. And Lord forbid, you forget my birthday...because I'm one of those obnoxious people who will hold a grudge towards you until you repent of your sin or make it up to me 364 days later. Just saying...

2) Steven. Steven also makes me happy. So happy in fact that I decided to bind myself to him in holy, happy matrimony before God.

But there is one little problem between those two things that make me oh so happy! Steven doesn't like to celebrate his birthday. *Gasp* I KNOW! Total bummer.

But I choose to ignore that little fact, because I think he is worth celebrating. I think he deserves having that day where people buy him gifts, and make him cakes, and pick up his tab. I want to celebrate the fact that he's in my life and has drastically changed it since I met him. I want to celebrate how much he means to me and how much I love him. 

Birthdays are worth celebrating. So if I love you, whether you like it or not, we are celebrating your birthday! 

Also, I make dope cakes.

The point is: Birthdays + Steven = Happiness! 

Happy Birthday, Steven! And thank you for letting me fuss over you today. You deserve it more than you know. I love you.

My Apologies!

Well, it's Monday, but it doesn't really feel like it. It feels more like a never-ending Friday and I'm chomping at the bit waiting for the weekend to finally begin. I've worked 30+ overtime hours since last Thursday. My eyes are red and dry from staring at the computer screen till ungodly hours in the morning and my brain is fried. But really, I can't complain because my two bosses have been working so much harder than I have even, and are really just blowing me away with their drive, resilience,  and ingenuity. It's inspiring working with such talented, people! And I'm not saying that for browning points! They don't read my blog....they really are just that impressive. 

But back to being impressive, let's talk about the fact that despite working on this proposal all weekend, I haven't missed one stinkin' day of this challenge. *patting myself on the back* And I definitely wasn't about to miss writing on today's prompt (issue a public apology), because truthfully, there is something I genuinely need to apologize to all my readers for.

I, Danielle, brilliant mastermind behind Taking Notes...Coast to Coast, hereby publicly apologize to all of my loyal readers for the asinine amount of photos I publish of my dog on this blog.

 Well, crap. I did it again. sorrynotsorry.

I Miss...

The #BlogEveryDayInMay challenge for today is "something you miss." This prompt couldn't have fallen on a better day, because one of the things I miss most in this world is my mother. 

My mother and I haven't always had the smoothest relationship, but now that I'm older, I've realized the reason for us butting heads all those years are a) because well, they were my teenage years so I was a brat, and b) my mother and I are so similar. We are both very stubborn,opinionated, and independent. We've never been ones to care to do whatever everyone else is doing. We march to the beat of our own drum in many ways, whether you like it or not. And we love deeply --it may be a spouse, an animal, a home --we form attachments and we love what we love a lot. And one thing I love a lot is her. And gosh darnit, it's hard living so far away from her. Sometimes I feel like I just need her more than ever.  I'm just glad my stubborn brain has finally recognized what a blessing she is to me in this life. 

So thank you, Mom. Thank you for instilling strength, independence, and a fierce love within me. Forgive me for my bratty years. I'm sure the favor will be returned when I have a daughter of my own one day ;)

And seriously, you and Dad should just quit your jobs and move to Washington. Just make sure you bring some of that sunshine with you.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom! I love you.