I RAN!

It wasn't necessarily the best idea, though.
It was too much for my weak muscles and ligaments,
and even though it's already been a week since I did anything
very active, I'm still much more sore than I was beforehand.
Not only are my ankle and tendon area (up the side of my leg) aching,
but my KNEE has joined the rebellion.

Let's end this little story on a GOOD note:
IT WAS AMAZING to run, even just a little bit!
I will keep the dream alive.
Hopefully someday I'll be able to run regularly again.


A lot of weather things have been going on around here
because our favorite time of the year has arrived!
Here are Juvy and Greg enjoying the patio.

 Cindy and I drove out to enjoy Canyon Lake.
I didn't hike or climb around on the rocks much,
and I enjoyed being outside!

We took a picnic and had a lovely time.

Awwww! 

Four cats enjoying my office with the window wide open:

Cute little Stephen:

Allistair yawning:

Allistair being cute:

More cuteness -
I was cooking and baking and had Beethoven turned up VERY loud on the stereo
and Allistair wasn't sure he enjoyed it.
He was begging with his eyes that I would turn it down.

"Momma - look at my fangies!  Does that convince you?!"

Juvy being cute - we think she scratched her eye or something

because it keeps watering, so it's a little squinty.

Juvy yawning (she has pretty patterns on the inside of her mouth!):

Here's what I was making - potato veggie chowder:

and banana bread muffins and doughnuts.  Yum!

This was my favorite outfit lately.

sweater: Charter Club (Macy's) - it has tiny bows!
skirt: Rekucci (Amazon)
sandals: Sketcher's (Amazon)
bag: Betsey Johnson (Amazon)

Here's what I wore yesterday, when it was chilly and rainy:

bag: Betsey Johnson (Amazon)
sweater: Ross
blouse: Target
pants: Inc (Macy's)

Here is one of our Thanksgiving artworks - this
student pasted leaves all up and down the trunk and it was cute.

More cuddling!

One cat: 

TWO CATS!

Stephen wanted to be underneath the scarf I was crocheting.

Isn't it pretty?

Our weather has been great.
The last three days have been quite rainy.
On Thursday THREE different thunderstorms came through!

The sky has been beautiful throughout all the storming.

The flowers were pretty too.

These are two different lantana plants.

After the storms,
these cute birds were picking up seeds
and dipping them in the puddles.  It was fun to watch!

I love the rain!

The cats need to be tucked in when it's chilly and damp!

Allistair runs around, doing every naughty thing he can think of
until I sit down, cover him up so he's warm, and snuggle him.
It's definitely not the worst problem in the world!

Bonus cuteness: Squirrel!

And bonus scary thing: the for-sale house across the street has been
broken into multiple times, again today.
The police and the forensics unit came.
So far we haven't seen or experienced anything, but it's a bit scary.



Stay safe and lock your doors and windows!
Happy weekend!

Birthday!

I have been disinclined to write up what's been going on because

other than my birthday and continued ankle healing,

there hasn't been much.

The cats are still cute, that's for sure!

My sweet husband bought me birthday flowers -

this one fell off when I was putting them in a vase.

We went for a short walk (I should have worn the ankle brace but I didn't - oops!)

and saw these pumpkins.  This is what happens to pumpkins in the Arizona desert.

There is no time of year where pumpkins will last more than a day outside.

Then we came home, I put my feet up,

and I opened presents!

Greg got me lots of books and music (yay!)

He bought me a good number of theology books (insert thumbs-up sign here!)

My parents bought me a bunch of cool stuff - mostly house things

like thiis beautiful pot holder and oven mitt.

They also sent this beautiful starburst photo frame.

I'm going to put in a picture of Greg & me from our trip to California.

Greg's Dad and Step-Mom sent me a very cool pink yoga kit.

I've never had a yoga block or a yoga strap before, so this is definitely an upgrade!

And it all fits in this cool zippered carrying bag!

Another cool thing from my parents was this heating/cooling bag filled with yummy lavender.

It smells lovely and will be nice for cold tootsies or achy parts.

They also got me a BLUE knife set!

And some little silicone cupcake liners (reuseable!)

And (they're very generous) some blue hand soap dispensers.

Such a pretty color!

Mark and Jillian (and Cora & Esme) got me some cool stuff, too.

This Arizona cutting board is one really neat-o thing:

This little turquoise cactus vase is on the bookshelf in the bedroom

where I can look at it all the time.

I like it.

They also bought me this Pale Waves CD (which I very much like).

THANK YOU to everyone who made me feel special and loved.

Outside of my birthday, here are some interesting things that

have been happening.

Greg went to an axe throwing event.

He was quite good at it.

Here he is with friends Scott and Anthony.

I bought some boots.

I bought a dress (Target):

It has gotten quite chilly

(today it's rainy and only 68!)

I've been eating a lot of black bean and rice burgers

(in fact, I think I should make more tonight!)

Cora carved a pumpkin with Grandpa.

She gave it freckles!

Esme dressed up as a leopard for Halloween:

Here she is at her school parade:

And Cora was Elsa.

My Mom got to see her favorite small people on her

BIRTHDAY!

Happy birthday to the best Mom!!!

Greg gave out candy dressed like Slash from Guns -n- Roses:

I've done lots of cat snuggling

(can you count THREE?)

I made pumpkin muffins and potato corn chowder for a get-together

with a couple of friends.

And the lovebirds were back at the feeder!

It has been fun and fairly interesting after all!

xo