Periodically the Sundance catalog shows up in my mailbox.  Sidebar: If anyone wants to buy me a gift certificate for this catalog, feel free.  I love turning the pages and picking out what I'd like to buy, but....I don't.  I've never bought one thing from Robert Redford's wish book (yet).  I just can't bring myself to pay the outrageous asking prices.  For example:  

See this beautiful gemstone wrap bracelet for $188:  

 photo courtesy of sundance catalog

My mother-in-law bought me this beauty from Etsy for my birthday for $48.  The seller is StringofJewels:

photo courtesy of StringofJewels

You can't see it from this angle but there is a charm with my initial on the side.  So...my Simply Saturday advice to you is: The Sundance Catalog is awesome; however, if you fall in love with something on its pages, check out the artists on Etsy.  You might find something just as great!

Hipster Julie

Since I've decided to start blogging again, I thought I should break out the ol' DSLR camera.  While I love my DSLR camera, my phone is so much more convenient.  

I decided that I wanted to replace my basic camera strap with a scarf strap so I headed to my favorite place on earth, Etsy.  I ordered this pale pink scarf strap from EarthtoEmerald on Sunday, and it was in my mailbox on Wednesday.  It is every bit as comfortable as I had imagined. 

I'm pretty sure it makes me look way more creative than I am.  I also have a feeling that no man will want to carry my camera now....  Oh well. 

Tractors: The Sequel

I thought I'd share a couple of pictures my brother sent me of my nephew driving me around in the back of his tractor. 

If you look real hard, you will see that Daniel is pointing to something in this picture.  I would have loved to have heard what my little tour guide was explaining to me.

Dogs and Tractors

Saturday, Kevin and I took the kids to the Fall Paw Dive at Pet Essentials.  This is an annual competition for the Dock Dogs organization.

When I was younger, I dreamed of living on a lake so that I could have a "dock diving dog" and enter him into competition.  Looking out my window today, I don't see a lake anywhere.  Oh well.
The kids had a great time...

Afterwards, Daniel showed me the tractor and trailer that Papaw gave him.  I thought he was kidding.  Turns out, my dad really did "give" him his very own tractor.  

I sat in the trailer while Daniel drove me around the yard.  I think I was just so shocked that a 5 year old was driving me around on the back of a tractor to even get out.  Later, his dad (Kevin) tried to drive us around the yard but the tractor kept cutting off.  I asked Daniel if he was a better driver than his dad.  He said, "Yeah.  I know how to use the choke."  That is word for word what he told me.  After Kevin's failed attempt, my dad drove Daniel, Laura and me around the yard.  Dad didn't have any problems with the tractor cutting off.  I guess he knows how to use the choke as well.  :-) 

Let's Try This Again

So...it's been a while.  The blog about nothing in particular is back!  I guess I've just been busy cleaning up toilet paper that Blossom has either shredded or pooped in the yard.  

This is some of what has really been going on: 

In June, we found out that our 15 year old cat has "renal insufficiency".  This means that her kidneys are not working as well as they once did.  Our doctor advised us how to give her saline fluids/electrolytes by needle every night, for the rest of her life.  Learning how to hold the cat down to stick her with a needle for 5 minutes has been an adventure.  I'm the holder, Scott is the sticker.  Before her "wellness" blood test, we had no idea that Greta was feeling bad.  When we started to give her daily fluids, she immediately began running around and acting like she did when she was a kitten.  She still hasn't warmed up to the needle yet though.  I guess she never will.  Thankfully, her prognosis is great.  The doctor said she may live a few more years.  No matter how long she has, we are thankful for every day with our kitty and grateful that we are able to make her feel so good. 

Blossom and Balto are still eating toilet paper.  

Well, that's some of what is going on with me.  I promise to post again this weekend. 

Birthday Week...

Last Sunday was Daniel's birthday.  Then, on Wednesday, my dad turned 79!  Here's a picture of Daniel helping Papa open his presents...

 Oops.  Try again...

I've always been a "Daddy's Girl" and my dad has always been my superhero but as I've gotten older I've started to realize what I put the man through just because he had a soft spot for his little girl.  Did I mention that he took me and a friend all the way to Chapel Hill to see the Monkees in concert?  Yes, the Monkees.  Not only did he drive us all the way there, we sat 2nd row from the very top in the Dean Dome.  That is love.  

I grew up going to watch my dad play in tennis matches and softball tournaments.  I realize now that he could've left me at home, but he didn't.  Some of my favorite memories are of all of the NBA & college basketball games we attended together.  My dad instilled a love of sports in me.  It's a good thing that I'm a sports fan because my brother was too busy reading books and watching science fiction shows.  

Friday was Rana's birthday (Birthday #3).  I watched the kids while Kevin and Rana enjoyed a quiet dinner at Olive Garden.  

Saturday brought the Mitey Riders Spring Festival.  Mitey Riders is the horse therapy program that Laura attends.  We know that she was excited because she was getting very impatient just before time to leave. She kept saying "Horse?"  That in itself is a blessing.  We couldn't have asked for a better day; the weather was perfect.  Full sunshine is not a friend to the cameraman.  I tried to lighten the photos a little so you can see them better.  

Laura rode Cosmo.  I don't think she stopped smiling from the moment she mounted until she got home. 

The man standing beside Laura introduced her to her volunteer sidewalker.  He thought it was funny when he said "Say hi Laura" and Laura said, "Hi Laura".  She wasn't trying to be funny.....that is what she always does...repeats what you ask her to say. 

This picture was taken after she received her gold medal for the year.  Here she is checking it out: 

Proud dad Kevin  (Rana was at work):

Here's my dad, Laura & Daniel...

Proud Nana (my mom)...

 Since they were running 45 minutes behind schedule, I was in charge of entertaining this one...

He had a great time at the festival.  When we returned home it was a different story.  Daniel learned that even though your helium "Cars" balloon is not floating inside the house, when you take it outside, the wind can pick it up and carry it far away....

Oh the tears...

I am happy to say that Sunday was a day of rest for Julie.  Well, compared to keeping up with the kids.  I don't know how my mother does it day in and day out.