Spreading the love

3-23-10 grateful brain
I am surprising myself. I usually dread the switch to Daylight Savings Time in the spring, but this year I seem to be adjusting better. Perhaps being forced into it last week due to the training workshop in Iowa City was a good thing. This week too, I have been able to get up early and enjoy the morning sunrise. After that long, hard winter, I vowed to myself to enjoy every moment of springtime that I can. I am back in a good mood and back to spreading the love.

The tree guys were back bright and early today and I provided them with coffee and donuts. Such a great crew deserved some appreciation and praise. From my experience with them, I can recommend Wright Tree Service in Des Moines.

I am also grateful for two sunny warm days in which the trees work could be completed.

Manic Monday

3-22-10 spring cleaning brain

Monday was an interesting day, and luckily a sunny warm spring day close to 60 degrees. The "tree lover" that I am, hated today, but it HAD to be done.... This was the planned day to have our front tree removed. We had been thinking about this for several years, but in January, during the ice storm, a branch almost took our power line down…… so we knew it was time to act.



When we first moved into this house spring 1993, there were three of these soft sliver maple trees in the yard. We were told they are just “giant weeds”, since they are fast growing, and drop limbs easily. At first we had all three trimmed up, then as the years passed and when our new sewage line was put in, two of the trees came down. To replace them, we planted a wonderful hard maple tree which has beautiful red autumn leaves, and we planted a small service-berry tree which has pretty blooms in the springtime.

Part of the day I was without power since the lines where let down for safety reasons and I am happy to report that I started a great cleaning project in my home office. I was in the mood to do some real spring cleaning! I’m so happy that I was motivated.



Now tomorrow, the tree guys will be in the back yard to trim those trees, since one had a limb fall on our garage roof during the ice storm. Luckily no damage was done.



The stump will be removed at some point tomorrow also.

Sunday sunshine

3-21-10 spring brain
I returned from my successful training trip from Iowa City on Friday late afternoon, just in time to see snowflakes in the air. Des Moines got 6 inches of wet heavy snow Friday night. By today, Sunday, all is melted and I am enjoying a sunny day with temps in mid 40’s.

I am not going to be able to blog this week until I spend time unpacking fully, organizing for my next trip, and picking up the house, since my housekeeper is due in tomorrow. It’s been a month since her last visit, although half that time I have been away, somehow I still manage to have the dirtiest kitchen floor. We are still tracking in sand that was on the driveway.

So happy to find these sights outside today. Everyone seems to be in a much better mood now, including me. WELCOME SPRING!

March Birthdays

3-15-10 birthday brain
When I was in my February funk, a friend suggested I get a gratitude journal. Well, of course I already have a gratitude journal, but it’s true, I had not been writing in it for awhile.

I do believe strongly in gratitude and practicing gratitude is a good way to keep your attitude adjusted properly. So this weekend, I was very grateful to spend time in my hometown with my family, celebrating my Mom’s 82nd birthday. Greg and I drove up Friday night.

I know I am blessed to have my Mom in my life all these years.

For years Mom has been throwing a luncheon for close friends who also have birthdays in March. Several have passed on, but there are still three left in this group of March birthdays, Sherri 62, Terry 72, and Mom 82.



My sister was also there for the party and is spending the week in Iowa with Mom and Dad.


PS: Greg and I enjoyed playing with the cat. This is a rare shot of Trey-kit being quiet. Usually he is a wild man who love to play.... being just a kitten, he is full of energy.



This week will be an intense week at work, since I will be giving training Wednesday - Friday, so this blog will probably be silent all week long.

Tax time

3-12-10 creative brain
February was tax month for Greg and I. We had all our papers in order and went to visit our tax guy Jim. Boy does Jim have his job cut of for him….. Two residences; one in Iowa, one in Kansas. My income from Iowa, Greg’s income from Missouri….. but Jim has other clients with dual lives like us, so we are confident he knows his stuff.

I love going to Jim’s office, since it is decorated with original art and photography. His personal office had several “tree” type pieces of artwork, and I thought one of my “leaf” pictures would go great. So I have been working on a small 8 x 8inch piece to give him as a gift.

I finished up last night and will deliver soon, when I pick up our tax papers that need our signature to finalize. I can’t wait to surprise him. I call this piece “Tax Re-LEAF”.

Re-entry.... spring!

3-11-10 refreshed brain
First thing Tuesday morning, back in Iowa, I walked a survey around the yard, noting changes from my two weeks away. The temperature was a mild 38 degrees and the snow pile out back was half melted. There are even patches were the grass is showing.

Monday night when I returned to town and drove by the mall, I still saw 10 to 12 foot snow piles in the parking lots, but there has definitely been an improvement from when I had left town the end of February. I am also happy to report my mood has improved. The time away was just what I needed, and time with Greg was wonderful.

Since my return, things have been very damp here in Iowa. Fog or drizzly rain for several days and still above freezing temperatures are turning everything to mud. I’m glad I bought these black rubber boots two weeks ago when I was in KC. I wanted something high top to walk in the snow, but now these will be perfect to wear in the rain and walking on mushy ground... or in flood waters (?)... rivers are high already in Iowa with much more snow to melt!

I was surprised on my outdoor yard survey to find my crocus and a few daffodils on the south side were making their appearance. It’s now official…. Spring has arrived!

Sedona times two

3-10-10 inspired brain
I love the red rocks of Sedona.... not as "grand" as the Grand Canyon, but just as beautiful! Greg and I traveled back up to Flagstaff via Sedona again. I just can never get enough of these views!





There is a church built into the rock and we visited this on the trip down to Flagstaff. It was worth it. No fee and a very cool place to visit.



Greg lending a helping hand to others. It's right to practice good Karma, always, but especially in Sedona.